Port Canaveral March Fishing Forecast

FEBRUARY RECAP

No complaints what so ever about February. Traditionally, February has always been a inconsistent month. Battling sea conditions and daily changes in water conditions such as clarity and temperature makes it very difficult every February to know what is going to work best on any given day. The near shore fishing was action packed. Most of our effort was on sharks because they were everywhere and we had a lot of customers from out of state just looking to bend rods and get out of the cold weather. We also seen good numbers of pompano and sheepshead that made for great light tackle fishing along the beach and jetties.

Offshore was different day to day, and definitely started to get tougher toward the latter part of the month. We had several days in 80 to 100ft around the middle of the month with decent bottom fishing for mangrove, lane and mutton snapper. Cobia were consistently being caught off the bottom while fishing for the snappers. We had some sailfish show at the end of the month when fishing was at its toughest and are always thankful for those day savers.

MARCH NEARSHORE FORECAST

Cobia will be the talk of the town and if we do get any kind of run along the beach this year you better pray you were there on the first day it happened. Those that are into it know that sight fishing for cobia is exhilarating. Cobia fishing is everything you could ever want out of fishing and you get to be lazy. Not many styles of fishing allow you to sleep in, grab just a couple spinning rods and a few jigs, ride around soaking in the sun and if you see a fish make the cast and catch it and if you don’t then spray down the boat and walk away with a very low fuel bill. Cobia fishing brings every local with any kind of boat out of the woodwork to get into the action. Everyone has a buddy and with social media all of us in the charter industry are as much to blame so the word spreads instantly. Combine that with everyone working from home and you won’t be able to move after the first good cobia catch leaks out in a matter of minutes. Sitting on a cobia run for a week is a thing of the past so if you’re not the one who finds them the first day then prepare yourself for combat fishing at its finest.

I’m not sure when the transition happened that all fishing ethics went out the window. I hate to say it but it has become a “if you can’t beat them, join them,” mentality. I find myself rolling black smoke to get into casting distance of rays trying to beat the five other boats that seen the ray jump at the same time. I even find myself purposely pushing rays down by getting right on top of them. In my opinion I have a better chance of finding that ray later and catching another fish off it then instead of watching the ray get bombarded from everyone getting right on top of you. Forget about having several chances at that giant cobia that just won’t eat because three boats down you have an armada of spear fishermen that simply hop in and shoot the cobia off the ray. My report has now turned into a rant LOL.

I still love cobia fishing and have to roll with the changing times but you have to forgive those of us who remember how it was and shake our heads at what it has become. You damn kids get off my lawn!

I would love to hear others input on cobia fishing these days, especially when the fish are with the rays.

MARCH OFFSHORE FORECAST

The best way to describe March is “squirrel.” I am forever riding offshore with a game plan in my only to get distracted by opportunities. Sometimes these distractions pay off and sometimes it’s just a time suck. Most of the time I give the distractions about a 10 minute window of proving to me that it is more than just a distraction.

Here is one example that often happens this time of year. I will mark threadfins on my way offshore and sabiki up a few dozen. While I am catching the threadfins I notice a nice king jump or I notice the little edge that has these baits stacked. This will make me want to try for kings and cobia for my 10 min window. Even if it doesn’t work I am thinking this edge might hold cobia in the late afternoon because March is the cobia month.

Live bait trolling the reef can be great but then again it might not be. The bottom fishing for mangroves, muttons and lanes might be fantastic or terrible. Trolling for sailfish, black fin tuna and mahi might work great but then again it might suck. Amberjack fishing, vermillion fishing, deep dropping for golden tile fish all are great game plans in March until they aren’t. Simply put March is all about reading the water and trying things. It is about being flexible and have back up plans for your back up plans. Switching things up, moving around and being open minded are all key to having a successful trip this month.