Spotlight On: Florida
Our highlighted destination for March, the Sunshine State hosts big numbers of sailfish this month. From Key West to Islamorada in the Florida Keys, up to Miami and north to Stuart, these light-tackle gamesters will take center stage, especially after a passing cold front. Depending on the region, target sails using live bait suspended beneath kites or by trolling a spread of small circle-hooked ballyhoo behind dredges and teasers to produce more bites. In the Keys, sails can also be found tailing down-sea in rough conditions or showering bait up on the patch reefs, although this phenomenon will tail off as the season progresses. Twenty-pound-test tackle is standard, although many sailfish aficionados will lighten up to 12-pound-test, especially in calm conditions.
Target sailfish throughout Florida with these tips and tactics
More Hot Destinations in March
The bite is heating up across the Caribbean as well as in the Pacific and even in Australia this month.
Casa de Campo
Fish the FADs off the Dominican Republic for multiple shots at blue marlin.
Isla Mujeres
Sailfish will be balling bait under frigate birds at this Mexican hot spot.
San Salvador
Head to the eastern Bahamas for big wahoo, some pushing 100 pounds.
Coffs Harbor
Go for an Australian marlin slam: blues, blacks and stripes.
Chub Cay
The Pocket offers great fishing for blues, whites and sails in the Bahamas.
Columbia
Set a course for blue marlin in this virtually unexplored South American destination.
Costa Rica
Look for big numbers of Pacific sailfish coming from the Pacific coast.
