October Ushers in Fall Fishing Season
Capt. Dave Pinkham
October 4, 2010
Venice - Saltwater Fishing Report
What a welcome relief the first cold front of autumn was. The cooler temperatures and dryer air really helped to make getting out and fishing a feel good experience.
The mornings have been cool and I'm wondering if the goose bumps I've been getting are from being chilly or from the excitement of knowing that fall is pretty much here. I love fishing this time of the year because the action can be red hot!
Whether you're fishing back in the bays, along the beaches, or offshore on the gulf the fish will be biting if you know what species to go after, when and where to find them, and of course what they are feeding on. Following is a fishing forecast for the month of October.
Inshore: There has been white baits such as pilchards all over the place. Cast net them up for excellent bait.
Redfish have been and will continue schooling in the inshore waters. You can catch them out on the bay grass flats or around just about any structure near the passes or on the beach. They will hit both natural and artificial baits. These same areas will produce snook and speckled sea trout. There's also been some nice flounder being caught. Flounder love to lay up around rocks, or at the deep edge of a grass flat. Also be on the lookout for schooling pompano running in and out of the passes.
Offshore: The action should really break loose this month. The cooler temperatures will push a lot of the pelagic species down our way.
Grouper and snapper fishing can really be good in October, and it's actually some of the simplest fishing on the gulf. When a change in the sea floor is noticed on your fish finder just toss a marker jug over the side, then drop some weighted baits to the bottom and hold on. Most any natural bait will get them hitting.
Blackfin tuna normally make a pretty good showing in October. Best bet to catch them will be to start looking in at least 100-feet of water. Look for fish busting at the surface. The two methods that have produced blackfin tuna for me in the past are trolling spoons and lures, and fee-lining live baits.
King mackerel usually start making a big showing along our coast this month as they migrate southward. Normally the best water depths to locate the main schools of kings are in 35' feet to 65' feet of water.
Spanish mackerel have been hitting for the past few weeks and the action for them will really crank up in October. Cast netting up a bait well of live pilchards along the beach and taking them offshore is one of my favorite ways of fishing for them.
Cobia are a local favorite all up and down the beaches as well as offshore on the wrecks. A well-presented live bait such as a grunt or pinfish is irresistible to them.
Remember, if you're too busy to go fishin you're just too busy! Get out and go fishin cuz' it's good fer ya!
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