Targeting Redfish, Speckled Trout, and Snook During Early-Spring Warm-Ups

As the inshore saltwater areas are starting to heat up, some species are changing their habits. Redfish, speckled trout, and snook are all great fish you can try for this time of year, and here’s how you can go out and have a successful day on the water targeting them.

In the early springtime, inshore waters begin to heat up. The best indicator is when temperatures are rising anywhere from 2 to 5 degrees due to the sun, wind, and even the tides. These temperature increases don’t usually last all day this time of year, though. Usually, it will happen at midday and remain through the afternoon until the evening when the water cools back down.

This shift is what will trigger fish into feeding mode. Since the overall temperature is still low, they’re going to be pretty selective and far less willing to work hard for food than they are in warmer months. These small rises in temperature help to override that, making the fish ready to eat for a few hours during the day.

While generally speaking, these warm-up periods are going to make the fish more likely to eat, each different species is going to respond a little differently.

Of the three inshore species we’re talking about, redfish are pretty much the least affected by colder water temperatures. This helps as they’ll be even more ready to feed once the warm-ups happen. As the water warms, the redfish are going to push up shallower faster than speckled trout and snook will, and they’ll feed super aggressively.

To go for redfish during a warm-up, you’ll want to look for shallow mud flats or protected back bays. Look for these areas in 1 to 4 feet of water. Redfish are also more likely to stay in the shallower water longer than the other species as the water temperatures start to drop back down again, allowing you to have a big window of opportunity to fish for them.

Speckled trout are going to be a bit more sensitive to the colder water than redfish, but less sensitive than snook. As the warm-ups happen, you’ll usually notice speckled trout pushing toward the shallow water areas but holding short along edges.

To find them, you’ll want to look for drop-offs near the flats or in channels next to the shallows. Look for areas like this with water between 3 and 8 feet deep. Speckled trout are going to have a relatively short feeding window, as they’ll drop back down into deeper water as soon as the water temperatures go down again.

Of the three species we’re talking about, snook are the most selective and sensitive to colder water temperatures. During a warm-up period, snook are going to move very slowly away from the deeper water and structure. They’ll only go up to the shallow water once the temperatures are at their peak for the day.

Some great places to look for them are going to be mangrove edges, canal mouths, and deep pockets of water near shallow flats, usually in the 4 to 10 feet of water range. As a warm-up starts happening, start by fishing them deeper near structure. As temperatures hit their peak, move up shallow, and as soon as temperatures drop again, go back to where you started.