I smell the tree blossoms and hear the screeching osprey. Salt spray coats my lips and warmth returns to the sea breeze. That’s when I know April fishing is in full swing. Local fish are hungry, and transient fish are on the move. Get ready for spring’s best fishing at these early-season hotspots.
Long Island Sound ‘Togs
Everyone knows about the phenomenal striped bass fishing in Long Island Sound, but Capt. Bobby Tambascio is excited about tautog. “The blackfish season opens in April, when the fish are still inshore,” he says. Tambascio hits jetties, rock walls, bridge pilings and other hard structures on the west side of Long Island Sound. He holds the boat on the up-current side of structure and lobs ½- to 1-ounce Tidaltails jigs with chunks of crab or clam into the structure. When he’s had his fill of ’togs, Tambascio heads to the mouth of the East River to target striped bass on ledges and channels where the tide sweeps bait. Trolling heavy umbrella and mojo rigs is a good way to find the fish. Once Tambascio gets a bead on the stripers, he switches to jigging 1-ounce RonZ lures with medium-action spinning gear.
Lowcountry Trout and Reds
Spring provides a magical combination of redfish and speckled trout for Capt. Jamie Hough, of Redfish Mafia Charters, in Charleston, South Carolina. “As soon as the small menhaden show up, I live-line them to trout and redfish,” he says. Hough searches high and low for fish. “I catch fish in 2 feet to 20 feet of water depending on the weather conditions,” he says. Using his trolling motor, Hough holds the boat in the current. Then he casts small menhaden on 1/0 circle hooks up-current. “As soon as the menhaden lands, give the reel a couple of quick turns to wake up the bait,” he suggests. As the bait drifts, he reels to keep the line tight. When the bait drifts parallel to the boat, he opens the bail and lets the bait float back in the current. Responding to a trout bite is simple: “Never set the hook!” Instead, close the bail, count to three, and come tight on the fish. If the trout misses the hook, open the bail and drop the bait back again.
Shallow Trout in Mobile Bay
In early spring, speckled trout move shallow to spawn. “As soon as the water warms, the fish move into Mobile Bay,” says Capt. Shane Traylor, of Bona Fide Inshore Charters. He targets big trout on oyster reefs, stump fields and grass beds in 3 feet of water. “We see slicks on the surface indicating speckled trout below,” he says. Anglers can catch an easy limit of specks with a popping cork and live shrimp, but Traylor prefers to target trophy trout with topwaters and twitchbaits. His favorite lure is a Pure Flats The Slick with a 4/0 Owner Beast weighted swimbait hook. The versatile soft lure is heavy enough to cast a long distance, but buoyant to sink slowly. “I slow-roll the lure or work it with a twitch and pause,” he says. Rod position is vital. Hold the tip high to work the lure up in the water column; point it down to let The Slick sink. Set the hook hard. “I swing for the fences,” Traylor laughs.
Unpressured Cali Bottom
Melynda Dodds, owner of New Captain Pete in Half Moon Bay, California, is excited for the opening of deepwater fishing in April. “We can fish deeper than 50 fathoms and target grounds that haven’t seen pressure for months,” she explains. Dodds expects excellent fishing for rockfish and lingcod. New Captain Pete runs up to two and a half hours to reach the fishing grounds. Once the captain marks fish, the order is given to drop lines to that depth. Deep water requires heavy tackle, and Dodds recommends 12- to 16-ounce sinkers and bars. Anglers use a variety of lures and rigs, but Dodds says nothing beats a shrimp fly and squid. When seas are rough, the boat targets striped bass and halibut inshore. Anglers use light tackle and a three-way rig baited with anchovy or herring to slow-troll the bottom for big flat fish. Dodds instructs anglers to bounce the sinker, letting out or reeling in line as the depth changes to stay on bottom with the fish.
