Red October

October came in with many seeing red. Excellent redfish reports are coming in from Homossasa to Tampa Bay.

Reds can be found just about everywhere the fish roam. Areas worth inspection include the grass flats on the east face of the barrier islands. Mangroves, points, potholes, and oyster bars are sure bets. A flooded oyster bar on a mangrove point is a great place to fish on the top of the outgoing tide.

To the north... Bailey’s Bluff, Green Key, the flats just north and south of the Cotee River, Salt Springs, 3^rd creek, Devil’s Rockyard, Fillman’s Bayou, Indian Bay, Pine Island, and Chassahowitzka Point all are great prospects.

Snook will be found in the creeks, rivers, canals and in the deeper cuts and troughs. A dark moon and cooler water temperatures will help the fishing this weekend if a persistent easterly wind direction has changed. Incoming tides will be favorable for the flats. An ebbing tide gets the nod in the creeks and rivers. The lower than mean tides are great for probing the docks in the residential canals.

Trout are on the flats in 2 to 6 feet of water off of Hernando, Pasco, and Pinellis. The skinny is seeing more and more gators around oyster bars grass stands, and cull-de- sacs just outside the creek mouths.

Mango snapper and jacks will be incidental catches in all of these areas as well. A few tarpon will go bad for those willing to put in the time looking for them (a near forgotten past time in this area anymore).

Mackerel and grouper are being taken from the passes, nearshore flats and out to the 20 foot contour line. A few kings are being taken, but well offshore for the most part. We are a few weeks away from the fall kingfish run. Let’s hope for clean water and moderate falling water temperatures.

Fishing is good…and good for you!

Let’s go Fish’n !!!

Robert McCue