Last Updated on March 23, 2026 by Capt. Bucky

Fishing has been great so far this March despite a few late season cold fronts slowing things down. Like usual, winds have shifted to a typical south easterly pattern, but when the cold fronts come in the winds start pushing from the north and they are no joke. Problem with the north winds is that we still get negative low tides and those strong north winds can make the water levels even lower. Typically, we have higher water levels later in the day this time of year, which is great, but makes it hard for a family man to run mid-morning or afternoon trips. Family first!

I did have one set back. Turns out I had a crack in my truck’s coolant reservoir. That lead me to have to pull over with the boat and trailer. Had to have a buddy come get the boat and had to get the truck towed to the shop. I was back on the water the next day! Definitely and expensive cancellation, but I managed to find someone to take them last minute.

The redfish bite has really picked up and if you have enough water to get out on the flats you can really put a hurting on them. White bait and cut ladyfish have been the keys to success, but bait has been a little tougher this Spring. The cold fronts have had a lot to do with that. Redfish are still staging in the creeks and making their way out onto the flats when the tide pushes in. Just don’t be afraid to get shallow.

Snook fishing is also starting to pick up. We recently lost a 40-inch snook boat side. Heartbreaking to say the least, but the fight was epic. Snook are also hanging in the creeks and canals and  around mangrove shorelines. Like the redfish, they come out on to the flats when the water levels come up. I have seen more snook this year than the previous few years so this summer should be really good. Still have a long way to go to get back to where it was 5 years ago.

Big jacks have been screaming across the flats crushing everything in their paths. Some of these fish have been upwards of 15 to 20 pounds. Just have your head on a swivel and be ready to pitch a bait as they come ripping by. Hordes of ladyfish plague the bay, so there is constant action right now. Tarpon are also starting to show up.

Trout fishing has been steady, but still dealing with a lot of smaller fish. I have not been focusing on them that hard, but some really nice trout have been caught up in some of the creeks. Paddle tail jigs have been working best, while the bait is still rather large. April, May, and June should all be excellent fishing, and thats also when the big snook really start to show themselves and crush baits leading up to their annual spawn.

I highly suggest booking a Tampa Bay Fishing trip as soon as you can. Soon this place will be crawling with fish and you don’t want to miss out. Visit Guide Checker to see some of my other blog posts. Capt. Bucky Goldman of Bag’Em Fishing Charters. 407-977-7650