Fishing Report & Forecast St. Augustine Offshore

By Capt. Robert Johnson

I Identify as Spring

One of the reasons I live in Florida is, I hate cold. Very ready for winter to be over and March to usher in milder temperatures with less cold fronts. Spring also brings in really great Bluewater fishing. In addition to Wahoo and Blackfin Tuna, I expect to see some early season Mahi. Best start is on the shelf edge for Tuna and Wahoo that love to hold on structure. Mid-morning I start looking to the east anticipating an edge that, hopefully, will be holding Mahi / Dorado / Dolphin - whatever name you prefer! These tasty, hard fighting fish are the highlight of spring fishing. Fortunately, for fisherman, this species is not very picky. If you find them, they will eat - Ballyhoo rigged naked or with a same skirt on monofilament will increase your hookups. We always pull something deep in the water column rigged on wire for any Wahoo that might still be around. A staple of the charter fleet is an Islander Hawaiian Eye in front of medium ballyhoo.

If bottom fishing is your thing, there are plenty of species that are open and available. Vermillion Snapper, Gray Triggerfish, Mutton Snapper, and many other species will all be willing and ready to bite.

It’s a great time to go fishing. Not hot. Not cold. Just right. Here’s to an early spring and warmer days.!