Fall fishing has really hit its peak around south Florida waters. From Biscayne Bay to the backcountry of Everglades National Park. Local waters have produced a fair amount of action on bonefish and permit. As we head into the cooler months you can expect the big barracuda to coast along the inshore flats. And we will see more and more grouper and mutton snapper in the finger channels. This is a great time to bring some chum and anchor on the edge of a deep channel and cast jigs, flies, and livebait. Jacks, mackerel, and an assortment of fish will be in the mix. We had many overcast and rainy days during early fall and the chumming is a perfect technique on those days when sightfishing is difficult.
Flamingo should see improved redfishing from the flats to the creeks. Bring live or fresh shrimp for creek fishing or scent bait jigs like those made by Fishbites or Gulp! On the flats a no brainer lure is a gold spoon. There should be less floating grass this time of year. Soft plastic jerkbaits are another excellent lure that covers a lot of water. For those with larger flats or bay boats head towards the Gulf in search of wrecks and birds. There should be a lot of bait out there and predators like big jacks, cobia, sharks, and goliath groupers. Use the same baits you were using for the redfish but add some weight to the jerkbaits by using split shot.
This is the time of year to start studying and reading water temperature and planning according to that. Expect things to start cooling off and to see a wide variety of species on the flats, in the bay, and nearshore. As the season starts to change so should your fishing game. In Biscayne Bay when winds blow I like to fish protected mangrove shorelines or bridge abutments. Sometimes I'll head behind some islands seeking calmer waters to fish. In the backcountry, it is even easier to find shelter from the wind. And this is a great time to fish.
Boaters should gear up with all updated safety equipment. Here are a few quick pointers: check your steering, oil, navigational equipment like GPS and compass, lights, fuel filters. Change your fuel filters and spark plugs according to manufacturer specs and make necessary oil changes. This is important to the life of your engine. Remember if you are buying a new or used boat, call me! I would love to survey the boat prior to your purchase and help you in making the right buy. Hope to see you on the water catching some fish.