"Bull hockey" I yelled back at the man on TV in front of the computerized map when he announced the meteorological winter technically ended March 1st. Only I didn't shout "hockey." As I finish this column, a wind-whipped snowstorm continues to dump inches of the fluffy stuff across the Mid Atlantic, leaving us to only dream of fishing. When the weather does finally break, legions of anglers will be more than ready, especially after one of toughest, and protracted, winters in years.[gallery type="rectangular" ids="4648,4649,4650"] The first weeks of spring are marked by transition in the Chesapeake as gamefish like mature striped bass head up the Bay to their spawning grounds. The Susquehanna Flats "catch-and-release" season opens March 1st, with Maryland's trophy spring rockfish season kicking off April 19th. At the Bay's mouth, bull red drum swarm the barrier islands of the lower bay. Typically, flounder enter the coastal bays, but with the harsh winter it's anyone's guess as to their timetable. None of us can predict how the fishing will be this month, but I'm certain we'll be glad to get back out on the water, more so than in seasons past. Here's what PropTalk's pros have on tap this month. Captain Harry Nield of the charter boat KingFish II plans to follow up a successful 2013 campaign by starting the striper season "trolling up the fatties on the flats and edges in Tangier Sound." He'll also work the Bay proper from Cove Point to Smith Point, covering a lot of water at different depths, depending on water and air temperatures, which vary considerably in the spring. "I plan to use  tandem bucktails in weights from 2 to 8 ounces," the Deale Island based skipper said. Prior to the April 19th opener, he said he plans to run several "catch and release" trips. Check out Captain Harry's ad in PropTalk's special charter fishing section. Tan, rested, and ready, veteran Chesapeake Bay charter skipper Sonney Forrest of Reel Relief Charters will return from his winter digs Marathon, FL, to fish the Chesapeake spring season. Captain Forrest will target rockfish this month, using light tackle both jigging and trolling in waters around the Patuxent River. You can reach him via his contact info found in PropTalk's charter boat section. Captain Monty Hawkins and his headboat Morning Star came out of the harsh winter none the worse for wear. He continues to sail from the Ocean City Fishing Center in pursuit of tautog, and when sea conditions permit, some days are downright incredible. In fact, on recent trip just a few weeks ago, Captain Monty's anglers tagged 36 fish up to 25.5 inches. The fish that were kept were sampled for age and 15 pounders were found to be 10 years old. Later in the year he will switch to flounder and sea bass, when that season reopens. To book a trip, check out his advertisement in PropTalk's charter boat section. Down the Bay in Virginia, Ric Burnley predicts that March will come in "like a lamb and go out like a lion." Fishing translation: the action will be slow through this month but will fire up by the beginning of April. "Your best bet for early spring action is ‘tog on the wrecks off Virginia Beach and Eastern Shore. Action has been phenomenal all winter in water over 100 feet. Best bait is a chunk of clam on a 3/0 hook fished on a single-dropper bottom rig tied in 50-pound fluorocarbon," he said. For those anglers looking for bigger fish to hook, Ric suggests heading down to Hatteras, where pros expect the big bluefin tuna hang out through late March. "Look for the fish on structure and along temperature breaks. Often schools of bluefin will be spotted swimming on the surface. Other times the fish will give themselves away with a large flat spot on top of the water," he suggests. His favorite kind of action? Bluefin working bait on the surface, which he says you can hook with jigs and topwater poppers. But he says not to go under gunned. Make sure you rig a heavy action spinning or jigging rod with 100-pound braid and a shock leader of 130 mono. He likes to add a short bite leader of 300-pound mono and "tie on a big, burly topwater popper or 7-ounce vertical jig. If the fish are deep, drop the jig. If they are on the surface, throw the plug. Either way, hold on tight and be ready for a big fight." Ric adds that anglers down his way have their eyes on April Fool's Day, which is typically when the big red drum return to the shoals and sloughs of Eastern Shore barrier islands. "Set up near the breakers and cast a whole bluecrab on a fishfinder rig, or motor around the shallows and cast a 7-inch swim shad at fish cruising on the surface," he suggests, adding that by the end of April, flounder should show up around the CBBT, striper will be hitting topwater poppers on the rock islands, and deep-drop fishing will be at its climax offshore. PropTalk welcomes members of the Virginia Charter Boat Association as contributors. This month, Captain Charlie Koski of Island Queen Inland Charters plans to start fishing for flounder as soon as the conditions in the back bays around the barrier islands off Chincoteague Island allow. That means clear water and temperatures warm enough to lure in the bait. Captain Charlie, a Chincoteague Island native with 35 years’ experience as a fishing guide, will also target kingfish and croaker a little bit later in the season. On the western shore, Captain Rick Lockhart plans to start the Maryland trophy striper season, which kicks off April 19, by fishing out of Smith Point Marina. Captain Walt of Light Tackle Charters will close out the rest of March fishing sweetwater of the Pocomoke River on Maryland's Eastern Shore. "We've been catching crappie, yellow perch and pickerel (to eight pounds!) on six-pound test, ultralight tackle," he reports. "The awesome Pocomoke River fishing will remain hot right through the end of March. Then I'll be working the waters of the Susquehanna Flats for the spring ‘catch-and-release’ season for striped bass for the entire month of April. Only a few dates remain open for that fishery for me." Over the next month, Captain Kevin Josenhans of Josenhans Fly Fishing will begin the month of April fishing the Susquehanna Flats, and its striped bass "catch and release" season. By the end of the month, he'll trailer his boat to Fisherman's Island near the CBBT for trophy red drum. His client's largest bull red to date has stretched the tape to 53 inches. "Plan B: If, due to snow melt conditions, the Susquehanna Flats turns into a muddy mess, I will move my operation to the Eastern Shore of Virginia for some light tackle flounder fishing, and maybe even a puppy drum or two," he said. It's always good to have a backup plan. In Delaware waters, according to PropTalk contributing writer Eric Burnley, it's been such a cold winter he won't be surprised if the first flounder of the year may not be caught until April. "Look for them to show up in the Lewes and Rehoboth Canal, the shallows on the bayside of Cape Henlopen and the flats in Indian River Bay," he recommends. "Shiners and live minnows will be the top baits." The elder Burnley, who's seen many a spring season in the First State, hints at the possibility of fishermen catching a few larger gray trout (AKA weakfish) in April. "Try the Coral Beds off Slaughter Beach, the jetty at Broadkill Beach and Roosevelt Inlet," he said. "Nothing beats a white bucktail and purple worm except a chunk of peeler crab." He adds that it's possible to find a few rockfish in late March cruising the beaches in the lower Delaware Bay. This is the time for a clam bait on the bottom in very shallow water, he said. Captain Jeff Popp of the Maryland-based Vista Lady tells PropTalk that he'll be glad to hopefully be on open water after this winter. "We will be fishing the Susquehanna Flats (catch-and-release striper season) using a variety of techniques, depending on water conditions," he said. "Bass Assassins and big crank baits are always a favorite." He adds it's possible water levels from the Conowingo Dam releases, due to the snow melt that runs off into the river, which could result in a good spawn. Captain Randy Dean of the Bay Hunter charter service tells PropTalk he'll kick-off the 2014 striper season by trolling the mid-Bay for the migrant stripers. He's added a new boat to his fleet, making it three full-service charter vessels based in Chesapeake Beach. "I purchased the Afternoon Delight charter boat from long-time Bay skipper Captain Hank DeVito," Captain Randy said. "My plan is to get it certified by June until then it will be a six pack." Randy says Hank will be selling tackle and fishing in warmer climates when he retires. Fair seas, Captain Hank!