03-30-2001, 07:22 PM
Capt. Kevin Chamberlain<br> <br>March is usually a month where we start to see rising temperatures and good fishing, spring in the air. We've had the rise in temps and the fishing's been decent, but we've also been forced to deal with very windy conditions. More often than not, back-up plans were utilized, like it or not. The days of shallow flats fishing for redfish and snook have been cut to a minimum. With a few exceptions, drifting the deeper grass flats have been nearly the only game in town. <br> <br>In Little Sarasota Bay, trout up to 18", jack cravalle to 3 pounds and ladyfish took Slimy Slugs, rigged on 1/4 oz. jig heads, and tan and white Clouser Minnows in 3 to 5 feet of water near Spanish Point and around Midnight Pass. Jacks also took gold spoons and jigs around oyster bars and sand bars on the east side. <br> <br>Redfish to 4 pounds and snook to 22" ate Slimy Slugs, gold spoons and MirroLures Top Pups in North Sarasota Bay along the east side, north of the Ringling Flats, and near Whale Key on the west side. Trout, jacks and ladyfish are taking chartreuse and white Clousers in the same areas. Ladyfish are all over the bay on the deeper grass. The Middlegrounds, Radio Tower Flats and around markers 5 and 7, just south of the Ringling Causeway, have all been reliable. <br> <br>In Charlotte Harbor, we've had good luck in Gasparilla Sound. Redfish to 5 1/2 pounds and jacks to 8 are taking gold spoons and jigs around the bars on the east side. Trout are still reliable around Three Sisters and Devilfish Keys, with a few Spanish Mackerel and ladyfish mixed in. <br> <br>All in all, the conditions should only improve. A few late season fronts have delivered the winds, but that should fade out. The water temps will rise and the flats fishing should heat up. After that, it's only a matter of time before the tarpon start to show and the fever hits, preoccupying anglers up and down the coast. <br><br>Thanks,<br>Capt. Kevin<br> <br>To see photos from recent trips, click on http://www.flatsangler.com.<br><br><br>