David Woods is a South Padre Island fishing guide with over 20 years of experience. He is the author of three books offering expert fishing advice.
My pick this week is to head offshore and get a look at some blue water while the weather is in the mood. Springtime in the Gulf is great for fishing. Red snapper season is closed right now in federal waters to conserve the stock, but there are plenty of other species of snapper to chase and fill your ice box with. Mangrove and Lane snapper can be found on most nearshore structures. They can be fairly-difficult to catch but a lively shrimp on light tackle will do the trick. Further offshore Vermilion snapper are the closest alternative that like slightly deeper reefs than red snapper seem to prefer. If you drop baits and start catching a bunch of reds, move out to the next reefs until you run into the Vermilions. I think they might even taste better than red snapper, only a little smaller in size and stature.
Sharpnose sharks will be in huge schools awaiting warmer water to make their move inshore. These diminutive requiem sharks are subtropical in nature and reach a size of around three feet and fifteen pounds. They are pretty good to eat, for a shark, having a flavor and texture not unlike chicken when prepared well. It is hard to catch anything other than Sharpnose whenever you get into a big school of them this time of year. Federal regulations have changed quite a lot in recent years. Make sure you are familiar with both state and federal regulations. Remember that it is illegal to possess any fish caught illegally in federal waters, even if that fish is legal in state water (up to nine nauticalmiles out) at the time. It can be confusing but it is always best practice to be in compliance. Fines can be steep and the regulations are in place to conserve breeding stock and let over-fished populations recover.
Inshore, redfish and sheepshead made up for other species being slow. Look for the sheepshead fishing to really pick up in the next few weeks. Sheepshead fishing has become popular Gulf-wide and are eagerly awaited by shore-bound anglers everywhere. They have huge eyes and human-like teeth, making them an oddity, but they are also a local delicacy, being a preferred fish by area anglers. A Carolina rig, which consists of a hook, leader, and swivel, with a barrel weight above to slide freely on the mainline, will make fishing for them a snap. Sheepshead love shrimp and fiddler crabs, barnacles, and other invertebrates. While most of the year they are pretty difficult to fool, during their spring spawning season the sheepshead throw caution to the wind and take baits readily, needing the food for the spawning activities to follow. When hooked they make quick and strong circular runs and have become to be known as the panfish of the sea. The bag limit is five fish 15-inches and longer.