Boating & Fishing Insider

Capt. Justin Rieger with a cobia caught off Stuart. Credit: Terry Gibson

Over the past week, I've seen some spectacular things that indicate an early spring is upon this great state. On Friday, a large school of huge redfish surfaced right off the St. Lucie Inlet. Here in Stuart, the cobia run has started on the Atlantic coast, and we found a school of jumbo tarpon off the beach. Water temperatures have risen above 70 degrees here on the Treasure Coast, and 70 is the magic number for spring runs.

It's time to start adapting to spring weather and migration patterns. If you're planning a fishing trip, here are five best bets that occur annually. I think these opportunities will happen a little ahead of "schedule" this year.

Cobia

The bronze bombers migrate south along both coasts as water temperatures rise. These fish take flies, jigs, plugs and bait with abandon, fight like they have mixed martial arts skills and taste divine. March through May offers peak action. They're mostly caught by sight-fishing to cruising fish, or fish laid up on the surface and/or around channel markers and other structures. Destin is one of the best places to intercept them, and the city's own HarborWalk marina hosts one of the state's largest cobia tournaments, the Destin Cobia Tournament.

Tarpon

Tarpon are sneaky creatures and like to show up un-announced. One of my favorite places and times to catch them by surprise is Everglades National Park, in the backcountry, after a string of warm days in March. These fish are laid up in off-colored water on the surface, and take a well-presented fly fairly readily for this persnickety fish. The bulk of the run lasts generally into early July, and other top places to intercept it include the Keys, Boca Grande and Homosassa Springs.

Dolphin

Better known internationally as "mahi mahi," dolphin fishing can be good year round but really picks up in the spring as the prevailing southeast tradewinds return and push the fish to this side of the Gulf Stream. The action typically peaks in April and May. Anglers usually troll for dolphin, but you can chum up the schoolies for light-tackle action and cast to floating debris. If you get a lure or even a fly in front of them, they'll likely attack it. And I don't think there's a bad way to cook this delightful fish. Top places to intercept them include the Keys, Jacksonville and St. Augustine, and any port of call out of southeast Florida.

Speckled Trout

In the spring, spotted seatrout or "specks" as we call them go into feeding rampages ahead of the summer spawning events. Fishing with topwater flies and lures can lead to explosive strikes. And it's the best time of year to catch a "gator," defined along the Atlantic seaboard as a fish over 10 pounds. Top waters for trophies are the Indian River and Mosquito lagoons. On the Gulf Coast, it's hard to beat Everglades National Park for numbers, Tampa Bay grows some big fish, and the creeks and marshes of northwest Florida support large numbers of trout in gorgeous setttings.

Largemouth Bass

It's spawning season for bass throughout the state, and the biggest lunkers will come off the beds a few days ahead of the full moons. Check out the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission's list of top-rated lakes.

Spawning takes place year round, but really ramps up in February and March in the southern half of the state, and in April and May north of Orlando. By May and June, the schoolies will gang up and make for great fly-fishing action with popping bugs.