Florida Fishing Report: Florida Fishing Charters

With some luck, she will be the last pest for us, as the blocking cold fronts now seem to be taking shape across the Midwest. We are slightly behind in a consistent fall pattern from last year. Nonetheless, with persistence the fish can be found trying to get in a fall pattern that will now gel on October’s doorstep.

Snook are definitely on the move to the backcountry. While still scattered, we have been taking them in the shallow bays around oyster bars, points and along the sawgrass while targeting redfish.

Unlike snook, redfish tend to be a more fair weather species preferring tranquil settings out of the wind and weather. Since we have had little of that lately, they have been difficult to stay on top of from one day to the next as far as schools. Best results have come by utilizing the run and shoot offense, picking off a few and moving on. Naturally, when the schools are hit, it’s been a bonanza—at least for that day. With the weather, the norm on the following day has been to start all over from square one. Oyster bars, cul-de-sacs, points, sawgrass shorelines and docks have all been producing reds, snook and a few gator trout.

Juvenile tarpon have been active at daybreak through the first hours of light on most days. They have been nestled outside of the traditional prime spots, likely due to the amount of freshwater we have been experiencing all summer, but are available for early risers.

As the water temperature drops over the next few weeks, they traditionally stay active for longer periods throughout the day. The lil' kings are blast on light tackle and often the final ingredient in reaching the pinnacle of Florida flats fish—the Grand Slam.

Prior to the blow, cobia were showing up as consistent catches on the open flats and along the channel edges. The fish are now migrating through the area to the south for winter. They are a possibility anytime on the open flats through the first fronts of winter. With October chiming in tonight at midnight, peak fall fishing is just ahead.

Screaming Drags and Tired Arms!

Robert McCue