Sheepshead & Black Drum on Amelia Island, FL
March is one of the most consistent months of the year for both sheepshead and black drum around Amelia Island. Water temps are climbing, fish are transitioning, and if you understand where they’re staging, you can have some of the best action of the spring.
Water temps are starting the month around 57 degrees and improving daily. That steady warm-up is waking everything back up after the winter cold fronts.
Sheepshead Spring Spawn in Full Swing
Chris Beasley and 8.73lb Sheepshead
Sheepshead are actively spawning offshore right now, and that migration has fish stacked in several key areas:
- Jetties: St Mary's Jetties, Mayport Jetties, Ft. Clinch Finger Jetties
- Bridges: Nassau Sound Bridges, Shave Bridge, 14th St Bridge
- Dock pilings: 1000 to choose from, look for pilings with heavy barnacle growth
- Nearshore reefs: KBY
Best tide: Low incoming tide has been producing the most consistent bite.
Jr. Miller with a good one
Size Breakdown:
- Inshore structure: smaller fish
- Jetties: 2–5 lbs consistently
- Nearshore reefs: 4–11 lb fish showing up
If you're targeting bigger fish, that nearshore bite is where the quality has been.
Best Baits Right Now:
- Live Fiddler Crabs (top producer)
- Live Sand Fleas
- Clams
- Mud Crabs
Jason Doubling Down
Cold fronts recently slowed the bite and pushed bait around, but things are stabilizing quickly as temperatures rise. Expect the bite to improve week by week through March.
Pro Tip:
With the wind we’ve been having, position yourself so the wind is at your back whenever possible. It makes boat control and vertical presentations much easier around structure.
Best Rigs to use and where:
- Bottom Sweeper Jigs
- Use these jigs when fishing in shallow water (4-12ft).
- Better sensitivity because the line goes directly to your hook
- Inshore setup/Jetty
- Short Leader Carolina
- Egg sinker on main line to barrel swivel-> 8" 30# Fluorocarbon leader to a short shank 2/0 live bait hook, octopus hook or kahle. Different preferences
- Better nearshore/Jetty set up. Deeper water, heavier current, use heavy enough weight to keep vertical and hold bottom. 1.5oz-3oz
Jay with a Nice One
Black Drum, From Puppies to Giants
Puppy Drum (Slot & Under):
Quinn Found a Lost Puppy
- Holding in creeks and rivers
- Jetties
- Holes in front of docks
Large Black Drum (50+ lbs)
3 Generations of Drum Fishermen: Moi, Mason & Mathew
By mid-March, expect the big breeders to start showing up in deeper water. These fish are powerful and often school up by the hundreds or even thousands. You may wait for hours for that school to come through, but when they do, it's absolute madness!
Best Baits for Drum:
- Live Blue Crab (hands down best for giants)
- Clams
- Large Fresh Shrimp
Crabbing has been slow this year due to cooler water temps, but as temperatures continue to rise, availability should improve.
Rigging:
Rigging is pretty simple for these dinosaurs. You're going to be fishing right on the depth break in deeper water. I suggest using a fish finder rig with a egg sinker or sinker slide with a bank sinker. Weight will be what ever is going to give you hold on the bottom with a half blue crab. Typically 6oz will do the trick. Tie you main line to a heavy barrel swivel and run 18-24" of 50# leader. Tie to a 7/0 kahle or circle hook. If you'd like to reference on how to fish with live blue crab, check under our "education" section on our webpage for a video on how to do that.
Bonus: Redfish Update
Redfish are currently holding in the creeks and on mud flats, especially on warmer afternoons. Look for sun-warmed shorelines and areas protected from heavy wind. This time of year, reds hang in these areas to consistently find bait and protection from feeding dolphins.
30" Copperback
Conditions Report
- Water temp: ~57° and climbing
- Clarity: Generally clean, minor staining after recent rains
- Cold fronts: Slowed bait temporarily, bite improving
- Wind: Plan your drift and anchor position carefully
March is about reading the conditions and adjusting daily. Check out our weather feature on our main page.
What You Need Right Now
If you're targeting sheepshead and drum this month, make sure you're stocked up on:
- Live Fiddler Crabs
- Live Sand Fleas
- Live Blue Crab
- Clams
- Proper jig heads and bottom rigs
Stop by Amelia Island Bait & Tackle and we’ll get you dialed in with the right setup for where you're fishing, whether it's the jetties, creeks, or nearshore reefs.
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- Live bait updates
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- Customer catches
- New gear arrivals
March only gets better from here.