Fishing Can't be Hotter in Southwest Florida
Capt. Lisa Williams
October 5, 2013
Marco Island - Saltwater Fishing Report
A lot of clients ask me "what is your favorite time of year to fish?" And my answer is always the same, "late September into October". There are a number of reasons I like fishing the 10,000 Islands in the fall, but probably the biggest reason is...there are a LOT of fish!!
Redfish are beginning to bunch up on the outside of the channels and around oyster bars. Simplicity is my motto when targeting these fish. Shrimp under a popping cork, or tipped on a ¼ oz. jig are a great way to catch them. Fish close to the banks near the edges of mangrove Islands. Slow and steady, don't rip your baits through the water, instead make good casts and work your bait out a few inches at a time.
Sheephead are starting to make their way back into shallower waters after spending the summer months offshore and are hungry. Very small hooks with shrimp are the ticket to these tasty fish. Try to concentrate on getting your baits near the bottom and keeping the slack out of your line. Sheephead bites are quite light at times, and you need to be ready to set the hook quickly to avoid having your bait stolen.
Trout have been moving into the mouths of the passes, and can be caught using a shrimp on a jig or suspending your bait under a float so that it is just above the bottom, and letting it drift naturally with the tide flow.
Flounder have been pretty easy to find but catching them requires a little more patience. Work a tipped jig across any sandy area with slow small "twitches" then reel slowly for a few feet. When you feel a bite stop reeling and let your bait sit motionless for a minute or so. Usually Flounder will hit the bait once just to stun it, and drop back to watch. Moving your bait too soon after the initial bite will often result in a missed opportunity.
Snapper and Black Drum have also been prevalent when fishing near the mangroves. Be ready for anything! This is the time of year when you never know what you're going to get…you just know you're going to get something good!
Target Species:
Redfish, Sheephead, Flounder, Trout, Black Drum
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