Spring Like Fishing in Clearwater Beach

Spring like fishing in Clearwater Beach — with the spring-like air temperatures still hanging in the 60s at night and the upper 70s during the day, you want to look for the warmer windows to fish: the last of the outgoing tide, the first few hours of the incoming, or mid-morning and later in the afternoon.

With the water temperature hanging around the upper 60s to low 70s during mid-day, I would first fish the reefs in the morning for Sheepshead, Snapper, and a variety of other species. I'll also put out a flat line for Mackerel and maybe a shark.

As you move up to the flats of Clearwater Beach this month, you'll find a lot of fry bait and nice sardines — and that means the fish are moving up on the flats to feed. In 2 to 5 feet of water you'll find Trout feeding; as you move into that 3-foot range and up toward the mangroves, you'll find Snook and Redfish. In the springtime, I like the outgoing tide to about halfway up the incoming — that's when the water temperature is warmest and the fish are most active.