Fishing

Who knows whether Al Gore is right or wrong about global warming, but in all the mess of what we call weather, there is one theory I will claim to and stand by: Weather is a balance.

As bad as it may have been in March and early April, it will eventually turn and be equally as good. And thus, the weather finally turned last week after months of wind and unseasonably cold weather. We have experienced a stretch of beautiful weather that looks to continue for some time. The result is the fish are finally getting their acts together and starting to do what they are supposed to.

Fishing has been good inshore depending upon the weather. Storms combined with an often-howling wind have kept anglers inside at times, but when they have gotten out they have caught fish. There is good news from all areas—the piers, the surf and the backwaters.

The biggest news in the early pier fishing has been the good catches of sea mullet. These tasty panfish, also known as whiting, have been coming over the rails in sporadic runs and in good size. Sea mullet hit cut shrimp and other baits fished on the bottom.

We have finally had a nice weekend of weather. Whether you went fishing or mowed the grass, it was one of the finest weather weekends I can remember. And the good news is the fish recognized they were supposed to show up as well.

Spring fishing has been terrific so far, at least when the weather has cooperated. Stormy and windy days have troubled pier anglers and boaters, but when the blue skies have been out, people have been catching fish. The biggest successes have been on sea mullet (whiting) on the piers, redfish inshore, and black drum everywhere.

I talked to Capt. Patrick Kelly of Captain Smiley Charters, and he told me on some days he has had to go to the dependable black drum for his clients.