Well fall is supposedly here but don't tell Mother Nature that. This time of year is always interesting both weather wise and fish wise. So much of our fishing this time of year is based on the circumstances of our weather. During our first few cold snaps the Speckled Trout and Grouper will start to move in closer to shore in search of an abundance of food. Two weeks ago we had a few days where the temps dipped into the 50's only to warm right back up to the high 80's later in the day. It's cooler weather like this that has the biggest impact on water temperatures which in turn rings the dinner bell for a variety of species up and down the Nature Coast. The key however is a sustained cool weather impact. When air and water temps fluctuate for only a couple of days the impact on the fishery is minimal. However, when a cool shot of weather is sustained for a longer period of time this will allow most fish to switch into their fall and winter patterns.
As of right now most Redfish, Grouper, Snapper, Speckled Trout and Sharks are still in their summer patterns. But there are plenty of days were you can see instances of change up and down the Crystal River and Homosassa coast lines. The major instances occur during the extreme low tides of the New Moon. A few weeks back I had the opportunity to work a kayak fishing trip in Ozello for Van and Jane Sayler of Tampa. We started the morning targeting Speckled Trout in and around 4-5 feet of clear water. We tried everything to get a bite during the higher stage of the tide with no success. It was only during the bottom stages of the tide that we really had any opportunities to sight cast fish. This is definitely a fall pattern because during the dog days of summer most fish will seek out areas of moving water or deep water in search of a more consistent water temperature. The Trout and Reds we were able to land during this trip came in extremely shallow water and during a slack tide. 9 out of 10 times throughout the year this is not what you're looking for but today was a different day.
More signs of a seasonal change are also occurring in our deep water areas. Depths ranging from 25-40ft have been the most productive for the Mangrove Snapper, Red and Gag Grouper, Bonita, and Sharks. During a recent charter with Todd Dobrinsky, and Jay and Nancy Allen we had the opportunity to fish a variety of structures in water from 20-60 ft. The most fish we found was in water from 20-30 ft however most of the Grouper and Snapper that were caught were well under the slot. The further out we got from 40-60 feet the bigger the Grouper were. Not to mention that the waters 40ft out were loaded with tons of Spanish Macks and Bonita all of which area BLAST! on light tackle. Long story short my clients and I managed to land over 80 fish on the trip with a limit of Red Grouper, 2 nice gags and a few Mangrove Snapper that would make anyone proud. The kicker to all of these fish is that they opted for the Sardines over the Pinfish 4:1. Those are the typical odds you will see in the late fall and early winter.
All in all there are tons of excellent angling opportunities here along the Nature Coast of Florida. The Crystal River and Homosassa areas are famous for their BIG Trout and Shallow Water Grouper fishing this time of year. So if crystal clear water, long drag screaming runs and unforgettable fights is what you've been craving, give Red Hot Fishing Charters a call today.
Capt. Kyle Messier
(352) 634-4002
kylemessier@yahoo.com
WWW.REDHOTFISHINGCHARTERS.COM
