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Venice Inlet and the Gulf of Mexico
Capt. Dave Pinkham
September 23, 2003
Venice - Saltwater Fishing Report
Fall Season Ushers in Excellent Fishing Action
Looking ahead a couple of weeks on my monthly calendar, I’m actually starting to get a little excited with anticipation. With only a few days left in September, the thought of October looming just around the corner brings back all sorts of positive memories of many past successful fishing adventures.
Actually, the first day of autumn this year that is known as the Fall Equinox, was September 23rd. Each year on the Fall Equinox, both night and day are of equal length. As we move forward into the fall of the year, this annual transition when the night hours become longer than the daylight hours is in itself a signal to savvy anglers who have experienced first hand some of the awesome fishing opportunities that the fall or autumn season has been known to usher in.
One big event that happens during this time of year is the annual fall kingfish run. Over the next couple of months, large schools of king mackerels will once again be moving south down our coastline toward their winter-feeding grounds. This annual fall migration brings these fast hitting, hard fighting fish within easy reach of a half days fishing out of most of the local passes up and down Florida’s west coast.
Back in the mid-70’s, due to heavy commercial and recreational fishing, Florida’s kingfish stocks hovered at near decimation. Over the last twenty years or so with much stricter state and federal fishing regulations governing their harvest, kingfish have made a tremendous recovery, thus guaranteeing this awesome game fish for future generations of anglers. The resurgence of all the kingfish tournaments throughout the coastal southeast is a testimony to the value of this vastly recuperated fishery.
King mackerels are fairly easy to locate and catch once you learn their habits. Generally, the best water depths to find the main schools of kings seem to be over hard bottom in 35’ to 65’ feet of water. One of the simplest ways to locate them is to look for birds such as pelicans or terns diving on baitfish. Most fish tend to follow a food source, and kings are no exception.
There are many methods used to catch king mackerels from trolling different types of shiny hardware such as silver spoons and lures, to fishing with live bait such as threadfin sardines or pilchards. Over the next couple months as we move into the height of the kingfish run you can count on this column for more information on where and how to catch kingfish.
For you shore bound anglers, Spanish mackerels should offer some great action in the passes and along the beaches. Casting silver spoons with a fast retrieve is a time-proven technique to catch them.
Remember, if you’re not out fishing you’re wishing you were. Get out and go fishin, cuz’ it’s good fer ya!
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