Winter kills me, but I have it in my head that once March 1 hits winter is over and striper season starts, would you guys consider this to optimistic?

It all depends on where you fish. There are plenty of places to catch stripers in march if you don't mind some bad weather and spotty results. March is when I usually start getting my gear ready.

haha well, in march, i have no choice but to still be ice fishing. like fishbones said, it all depends on where you are traveling to. if ure going down to dirty jersey or OBX, the fishing is probably good there around that time though i have never personally fished there. i do know this, hitting a bass or blue in march in nantucket or vineyard waters would probably be slim pickings.

Big, migratory fish are May 15th for RI and SE Mass, give or take a few days. Before that its mostly dinks and local fish. Prior to May 15, I pound the freshwater ponds in my area.
Prime fishing for bigger stripers really doesn't occur until Memorial Day or thereabouts.
Don't wear yourself out early in the year for minimal returns as its a long season and endurance plays a key role in your success. Know when to fish hard and when not to. May 15 to Nov 15= fish hard.

I'm usually still icefishing in March myself.......once ice out happens, I hit my (unheated) shop and start turning wood.

I don't care if it's 20 degrees, march 1st is spring. It's time to fish for something

Not March 1.....St Patrick's Day , that's when it all starts here