March 2024 recap

[inoeatfish]

How did everyone do this March for Macs, pomps, kings and other fishes?

This year is obviously 10x better than last year due to not having red tide blooming so early.

Macs and pomp’s showed up as early as Feb 28th at Fort DeSoto. Water temp was about 64F.

Biggest mac I saw was pulled from a silver spoon at 29”.

The first 2 weeks of March or up to the big overnight storm produced many days of limiting out. They ate literally on all tides.

Guys who use bait caught them faster than guys who use spoon in my opinion but guys who use spoon often caught the biggest Mac with less cutoffs.

Most of the action was on the SSP at the end of the pier facing north, northwest and west side.

Saw a legend Mac master land a 22”on a 6lb test mono ultra light setup using his custom home made jig.

Pomps ate a lot on the SSP and some guys limit out back to back days.

Happy to see ladyfish showed up and now I have fishcakes for this month.



Bonita action was also awesome. Saw an average of 6 Bonita hookup/landed daily for a week to a week and half span and I learn a little bit to how to fish for them by watching the other guys.

Been SKUNKED twice since March 22 and too scared to waste more time/gas/$$

……more to edit.


Love to hear everyone’s input and feedback.

[conureman]

Some snapper are starting to be caught but don't know which species.
May buy a yak or small boat to chase those kingfish.
Hopefully mac activity picks back up but I won't be surprise if it doesn't or is low.
People on the nsp are setting up trolley rigs for kings.
I usually limit out on macs on spoons before the people using live baits do.
Seems another cold front coming in so I won't be out this weekend.

[inoeatfish]

If the water gets cleaner, they might eat right before the next cold front and the rain on Wednesday , April 3rd. I hope someone finds out and let us know.

[inoeatfish]

Edit: Mac’s came to the SSP as early as Feb 27th. A few people limit out by afternoon on pompano jig.

[stuckintherocks]

From what a heard and saw March was a fantastic month for the piers but I unfortunately only made it out twice.. both times limit on Mack’s and caught plenty of redfish in the beginning of the month but that was about it for me. Cold front lull in the middle of the month. The reports of big blue fish on this coast is exciting to me just for nostalgia and its always nice to see the piers full of life.