Before this last cold front fishing was excellent up and down the gulf coast.

Maximo Marina says anglers fishing Boca Ciega Bay and Ft. Desoto had excellent speckled trout fishing over the grass flats.

Live shrimp under a cork produced big trout to 5 pounds. Soft plastics were also catching well. Dark colors got the most action. Blue fish, lady fish and a few Spanish mackerel were also in the catch.

Pompano continue to be a consistent catch for anglers throwing pompano jigs in area passes. When the weather was calm, and the water clear, Passa Grille and Bunces Pass were good spots. During windy weather try inside the passes along the grass flat edges. Yellow and pink Buccaneer pompano jigs were doing the best. Tip your jig with a small piece of shrimp for extra action.

Capt. Don Chancey says the trout action in the Homosassa/Crystal River is centered on the deep creeks and back country holes. A ¼ or 1/8 ounce jig head with a horn hooked live shrimp has been working very well. A few pompano are also mixed in the catch.

Sarasota Bay action has been very good on trout, Spanish mackerel, bluefish and flounder. Capt. Rick Grasset has been guiding his clients to excellent catches using CAL jigs with shad tails. Drifting the deep grass flats of Bishops Point and the Middle Grounds has been the best pattern.

Kingfish reports indicate the main school is off the Everglades City area moving north towards the Tampa Bay area. Other schools of kingfish move, and live, offshore and follow the bait inshore as the water temperature rises.

St. Patrick’s Day is a good bench mark for the start of the kingfish run and it looks like the kings may be right on schedule.