As the days get longer and air temperature climbs, shallow water heats up first. Anglers itching for early-season backwater action head south to get a jump on speckled trout and redfish. Starting in North Carolina’s Outer Banks and stretching along the coast to Texas, fish are transitioning from winter hideouts to spring hotspots. Clear, cool water makes the early arrivals finicky, so every detail counts. To score the first fish of the season while other anglers are still shoveling snow, head to one of our picks for the best marsh fishing in March.
Wading for Trout Inside the Outer Banks
One of the early season’s biggest secrets is the red-hot skinny-water fishing along the west side of North Carolina’s Outer Banks. “Fish migrating out of the Elizabeth River and Alligator River congregate in my backyard,” Mikey Sabadic says. The Kitty Hawk-based guide looks for big speckled trout in March. “I catch trout, redfish and largemouth bass in one trip,” Sabadic says. He wades the back side of the island working a MirrOlure 17MR twitchbait so it hovers just off the bottom.
Popping Corks on the Georgia Coast
“Fishing for big trout is as good as it gets in March,” says Georgia’s Capt. Greg Hildreth. He finds the first fish of the spring in deep creeks with a live shrimp under a Harper Super Striker popping cork and No. 1 Gamakatsu Nautilus Light hook. Hildreth says the best way to set the hook with a float rig is to leave the spinning-reel bail open and his thumb on the spool as he feeds out line. “As soon as the float goes under, I jack the rod,” he explains.
Steinhatchee’s Big Trout and Schooling Reds
Along Florida’s Big Bend at Steinhatchee, Capt. Les Hernandez loves the early days of spring. “The weather is nice and cool, and fishing is pleasant,” he says. March sees some of the best trout and redfish of the year. “Our average trout is 21 to 27 inches and redfish are in big schools,” he says. Hernandez looks for trout in potholes as he drifts the bank floating a popping cork or working a Yo-Zuri Pencil topwater. “The best fishing is the last few hours of incoming and first hour of outgoing.” At low tide, he heads for the flats to find schools of redfish with a slow-sinking twitchbait.
Early Season in the Bayou
Only a few miles from New Orleans, Lafitte, Louisiana, is on the edge of one of the world’s most iconic marshes. Capt. Jason Schell points to the location as a key to early-season success. “Regardless of the wind direction, I can find clean water,” he says. Schell uses a float rig for redfish and trout. The float dangles a ¼-ounce jig head and 3-inch Cocahoe Minnow soft plastic tipped with fresh shrimp. “In deeper water, I remove the float and fish the soft plastic on the bottom,” he says.
Artificials by the Tides on the Texas Flats
On a sunny day at low tide, Capt. Jason Catchings finds reds in the shallows around Galveston and Sabine Lake. As the tide drops, he stalks drains and creeks along a flat, sight-fishing with a Z-Man DieZel MinnowZ and ⅛-ounce jig head or weedless hook. By midtide, he moves to mud humps. When the sky is cloudy or the water dirty, Catchings searches with a Chatterbait or topwater. He changes his Chatterbait depending on conditions. “In clear water, I use a dark-colored blade, and dirty water calls for a gold blade.” He also varies his blade size to entice a bite.
FAQ
Where is the best place to fish in the US in March?
In March, some of the best places for fishing in the U.S. include Florida, Texas, and the southern states where waters warm up earlier, providing excellent opportunities for catching species like bass, redfish, and trout. The Chesapeake Bay area is also a top destination for catching pre-spawn striped bass in March.
Where do bass go in March?
In early March, bass are typically found in pre-spawn mode, staging in deeper waters near creek channels, points, and drop-offs as they prepare to move into shallow spawning areas. As waters continue to warm, bass transition to flats, coves, and shallow areas to feed and eventually spawn.
At what temperature do fish stop biting?
Most species of freshwater fish become less active and stop feeding aggressively when water temperatures drop below 50°F (10°C). However, the exact temperature can vary by species, with some fish like trout remaining active in colder waters compared to bass or other warm-water species.
