The right moment
Although the transition from winter to spring is noted on a calendar as being at the end of March, fish feel it more in terms of water temperature. Generally speaking, water temperature is stable during the winter months, but can rise rapidly if outside temperatures are high. From February onwards, mild weather can begin to set in at the seaside, with temperatures reaching 20 degrees in the sunshine, but no longer verging on 0 at night. The water can therefore easily gain one or two degrees in a few days, triggering the biological clock in fish and cephalopods.
It's the perfect time to go fishing, as some species are approaching the coast to reproduce, while others have already finished and are feeding abundantly to resume their normal lifestyle.
Species leaving the coast
As soon as the water begins to warm up, certain species that are usually found near the coast in winter return to the depths. Barracudas, for example, are very sensitive to this phenomenon, and enjoy moving in large groups near harbors on cold winter nights, before heading back to deeper waters and rocky outcrops. The phenomenon is similar for squid, which come to reproduce and lay their eggs in less than 10 meters of water before returning to the deep sea.
If you can determine the exact time of their migration, using weather forecasts, you can obtain very good results for these species. Their obligation to move forces them to be active and to resume an important diet so as not to be tired during their migration.
Species getting closer
The arrival of spring is also a sign of renewed interest in the species you can target. While some leave the coasts, other species that were rarely seen in winter arrive and fishing becomes a lot of fun. Among predatory fish, we find many tassergals, which arrive in large shoals of individuals weighing between 800g and 1 kg, taking advantage of the warm weather to feed. At the same time, adult cuttlefish are approaching to reproduce and are also present in large numbers.
It's also a good time to go out in your boat, as pelagic fish such as pelamids and other small tunas will be on the hunt. Just a few days in bright sunshine is all it takes to get things moving again!
