This is one of my favorite months of the year. Since it normally doesn't cool off significantly until late October, we are experiencing the first fall weather of the year. Along with that, most species of fish are on the move. Snook will be staging on the flats as they make their move toward the backcountry, reds will scatter on the flats following schooling in September and October and "gator" trout will venture into skinny water to feed. In the coastal gulf, look for Spanish mackerel, bluefish, little tunny, cobia and more.
Snook will move away from the beaches and passes with each cold front and stage in various areas as they head for their wintertime haunts. In the ICW, you should find them around docks and bridges particularly from Sarasota to Venice. The best action will be at night where they should feed aggressively on glass minnows and shrimp. Fly fishing is very effective since you can make delicate presentations with just the right size fly to duplicate what they are feeding on. Plastic baits and live shrimp will also be very effective.
On the flats, snook will stage around sand and oyster bars as they move toward creeks and canals. I typically find some of the largest snook of the year on the flats around sand bars in the fall. Sarasota Bay is like a giant bowl and has a sand bar that runs all the way up the east and west sides and Long Bar, running east and west at the north end. Snook might be found along any of these bars. Wider profile flies, poppers and Gurglers will work well for fly anglers. Anglers using conventional tackle should score with top water plugs, plastic baits and pilchards.
Reds will break out of schools that they travel in during September and October and scatter on the flats. Although it can be a lot of fun to find a big school of aggressive reds, if you spook one you may spook all of them. I think I'd rather have lots of fish scattered around. You may find reds tailing on shallow grass flats in Charlotte Harbor on the negative low tides during the 1st, 3rd and last weeks of the month. Weedless-rigged plastic baits or live shrimp will work well for tailing reds. Cast past the fish when it is tailing, reel your bait across the surface, drop it next to the fish and give it a twitch when the fish becomes horizontal and its tail disappears. Fly anglers should score with flies that suspend or sink slowly. They can use the same approach, although since a fly can be presented more delicately they can cast closer to the fish. Just be sure you don't cast anything, especially the fly line, over the fish or you will most likely spook it.
Trout season will close in our area during November and December, so any trout caught must be released. I use extra care when handling trout since they are more delicate than other species. Bend barbs down on flies and lures and if you are using live bait, I recommend a circle hook. Leave the fish in the water if possible and if the hook should be deep, it is better to cut the leader close to the hook. Since they have a very delicate slime coating on their body, handling them with a dry hand or towel can be a death sentence to them. Wet you hand or better yet use a "J" hook release tool that allows the fish to be released without touching them.
Big trout will move into skinny water to feed, particularly early in the day. Throw top water plugs and fly poppers at that time and switch to plastic baits jigs and weighted flies later in the day. Trout are making a strong come back in Sarasota Bay, which is a great are to fish for trout. I have been releasing all trout for the last 2 years in Sarasota due to the impact of red tides in 2005 and 2006. Other favorite trout areas of mine are the Terra Ceia Bay area and Gasparilla Sound.
Spanish & king mackerel, little tunny, tripletail and cobia should all be options this month. With water temperatures falling into the 70's, bait fish will move out of bays and school in the coastal gulf where predator fish will ambush them. Look for surface activity of birds to find fish or fish over structure, such as natural hard bottom or artificial reefs. With stone crab season open now, tripletail should be found on crab trap floats, particularly when the wind is out of the southeast. Cast jigs and plugs on spinning tackle or troll plugs and live bait for king and Spanish mackerel. When targeting breaking fish, watch the direction that birds are moving and set up ahead of fish much like you'd do when tarpon fishing except they'll be moving faster. Fly anglers should score with Clouser and Enrico Puglisi baitfish patterns and Crease flies on the surface. Of course, whenever targeting king and Spanish mackerel you'll need to use wire.
Cobia will require at least a 9-weight fly rod and medium to heavy spinning tackle. I like big, dark flies like a Deceiver or EP fly or a large jerk worm on a jig head with spinning tackle for cobia. You can go with a little lighter tackle for tripletail. They are a sucker for live shrimp, but plastic shrimp and other plastic baits also work well. I've also caught them with a variety of shrimp and baitfish fly patterns fished on a floating fly line.
I like to fish the coastal gulf this month whenever conditions are good to do it in my flats skiff. It's always worth a look. It is also one of the best months for reds, snook and trout in skinny water. Whatever you choose to do, remember to always limit your kill, don't kill your limit!
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc.
FFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
(941) 923-7799
E-mail snookfin@aol.com
www.flyfishingflorida.net and www.snookfin-addict.com