Well made it through the lull of January, this month things will definitely start to pick up Boatless fishing wise, End of February marks the start of Spring for our springaling fish.
Bait for this months will be the same as last, Ballyhoo, Google eyes, Greenies “Thread Herring” and some Mullet in small schools lulling around the shore.
What we should see being caught as the month goes on is Bluefish and they should be on the larger size, every few years we see the 12 to 15lbders move back north and lets hope this springs brings them through, everyone always likes catching the Big Blues. Pompano will start to show in better numbers and will be best caught to the south end of Broward, south of Port everglade that area is always best for the spring. Spanish mackerel will also start to show in better numbers. Snapper, Croakers, Whitting, Margates will be in the mix also.
Snook season Opens on the 1st of February and should be more productive towards the end of the month as shrimp starts to show up more in our waters, Your best bet from the piers and Inlets will be a live shrimp used with a troll rite or a live shrimp live-lined and worked in towards the structure you are fishing. They love those shadow-lines so be ready as you come into them or through them. Another Pier method is walking the dog that is an egg weight on your main line and a 3 to 4 foot flouro carbon leader and a 1/0 to a 3/0 short shank live bait hook and just walk the pier and keep your shrimp at about a foot and half to 2 foot above the bottom you can also bounce it on the bottom as you walk the length of the pier. If you are fishing the beaches for Snook try a olive green xrap at daybreak or sunset that time makes it harder for them to see it clearly and you have a better chance with artificials and you also can try a DOA they work sometimes very well. Snook only opens for the Alantic side and is 1 per day and 28” to 32”
That’s right those pink delicious shrimp that come from the south will hopefully start to make a showing, I have heard that they have been moving in and around the Rickenbacker and have heard of some nice poundage taken and that is why I am mentioning it this early and so its just a matter of timing and wind to get them here to Broward county.
Here is some good indicators that they could run, a good wind from the west at 15 or more for a day or so and then moving to a SE direction and holding for 3 or so days, all this coinciding with a full moon. February is only the start and I have seen shrimp run well into April.
Happy Fishing, the Boatless Fisherman….a Fishing Friend