Most anglers can agree, catching their first fish of the season is a wonderful feeling, especially if they spot the little hitchhiking sea lice on the fish’s backs. Sea lice are a sign that a fish has recently migrated from the open ocean.

Schoolies typically run the migration, showing up in northern areas before their larger counterparts. But no matter the size of the fish, an angler’s first catch of the season is like a flower blooming in late-spring; it proves that warm summer nights are on the way, and it won’t be long until that 18-inch catch is a 38-inch catch.

Gear Used:

• Legend Tournament Inshore series combines St. Croix