Right weather means you'll have plenty to catch

Meteorologists have predicted absolutely beautiful spring weather conditions locally and good fishing should occur this weekend. Hopefully, this is the last of the cold weather for this season and our spring warm-up has begun. Once again, due to the high seas and winds, there were not many fishing reports from local anglers. If the seas are as calm as predicted, I expect plenty of grouper, sea bass and snapper will be located at the inshore reefs. If live bait is available, such as greenies, cigar minnows or pinfish, there also will be flounder caught at these locations. Further offshore in approximately 120 feet of water, dolphin, wahoo and tuna will be found trolling ballyhoo.

This weekend's forecast is just what the surf anglers have been waiting for. High temperatures in the 80s with southerly winds are perfect conditions for the angler looking to catch whiting, summer trout and pompano. The high tide will fall around 9 a.m. and the low tide will occur around 3 p.m.

The bluefish are cruising the surf in good numbers this week, along with the occasional Spanish mackerel being caught. Cut mullet or finger mullet should do the trick for those anglers in search of blues.

The point on Amelia Island State Park has been producing a few flounder, trout and puppy drum on mud minnows and dead shrimp. The George Crady Bridge State Fishing Pier anglers have been catching whiting, blues, trout and puppy drum around the last of the outgoing tide.

Many anglers reported catches of black drum in the 60- to 70-pound range last weekend at the south jetty. Reds and trout are also being caught along the rocks at both the north and south jetty on live shrimp, mud minnows or dead shrimp. Fishing the last of the outgoing tide and the first of the incoming tide with fiddler crabs is still producing sheepshead. The Amelia river and the Nassau river have been producing puppy drum in your favorite holes.

The backcountry will improve when our weather stabilizes. We need some warm sunny days for an extended period. Trout fishing has been good this week with many reports of gator trout being caught. Live shrimp or artificials have both been doing well. The topwater action will fire up as the water temperatures increase a few degrees.

Enjoy this weekend, and I hope you have a great day on the water.

Until next time ... Capt. Jim.