Hello anglers! October is here and I speak for many in this area when I say it’s a month we will never forget. Most of us east of Panama City Beach experienced a life changing event on the 10th of October last year. It was months before most of us even thought about fishing. My thoughts and prayers go out to all that were impacted. However, October is a great month to fish so let’s talk fishing!
Backcountry / Bay / Inshore: I get downright excited about the flounder bite in the fall. I like to focus on drop offs, ledges and bayou mouths near structure. Working those Berkley Gulps on jig heads, bull minnows on slip sinkers and many others fished near bottom will produce fatties this month. Redfish will be everywhere! Live shrimp or crabs around structure won’t fail and you might produce a few other species as well. Long casts in the shallows will certainly yield some big trout and redfish this month. Gold spoons, top-water plugs and soft plastics of many assortments will have success. If you can throw a net, live menhaden, pilchards, or finger mullet will be excellent for many applications.
GULF: Grouper will be the focus for bottom fishing near shore. Rig strong and drift those inshore reefs slowly with large live baits for success. I like sand perch the best, but many others will produce. King mackerel, mahi mahi, and a few other pelagics will be cruising our waters one last time this month before the water temperatures drive them south in November. Keep those trolling rigs tied up because we catch a lot of big surface fish in October. I like to troll one high and one low at 3-5 mph. Mix up applications and speeds because success varies greatly from day to day.
SURF: The redfish, whiting, and pompano bite will be there on the bottom. Live shrimp, sand fleas, and crab variations fished on bottom will produce fish. Toss spoons for the Spanish mackerel, bluefish, ladyfish and a few others. Light spinning gear is perfect, but remember they have sharp teeth. I suggest a 30-50 pound fluorocarbon leader for these fish.
Thanks for reading and fish on!
CAPT. JASON SHINGLER
Adrenaline On H20
Panama City, FL
(850) 348-2282