by Capt. Brent Bensmiller
You can expect the bite to be on fire in October! Late summer fishing has been awesome and fish will be feeding heavily as we transition into the fall. The water temperature will be dropping slowly and an abundance of bait will be lined along the beaches and inlets. One or two casts with your cast net will suffice and then it’s time to find the fish!
Redfish, snook, and tarpon are everywhere from the mangroves in the back bay to the inlets near any type of structure. Pilchards, pinfish, or mullet will get their attention and you can fish these baits dead or alive, on the bottom or under a cork. We prefer to use medium spinning gear to fight these gamefish. Using slightly heavier gear than is needed will ensure a quick fight and a healthy release. Circle hooks in the 2/0 to 4/0 range with 30-50# fluorocarbon leader will be best.
The bay water is still very warm this time of year and temps will be holding in the high 80’s. The most productive time of day to fish will still be in the early morning or later in the evening. Check your tide charts too, as you will want a nice incoming tide in the back bay to push in the bait and get the fish fired up. Don’t be afraid to fish the outgoing tide with dirtier water as well. The scenery might not be as beautiful, but the bite has been better on the outgoing tides in or near inlets. Oyster bars in the bay have been holding some nice fish, as well. The advantage of fishing from a kayak is being able to get in skinny water where most boats can’t. Sneak around in these shallow spots and get your baits up to the oyster bars to get on a hot bite. If you fish the bay often, we highly recommend rubber/neoprene boots. Having these boots on will enable you to walk the flats worry free while protecting your feet and ankles from any sharp oysters. Good luck out there this fall and we’ll see you guys on the water!
Brent Bensmiller, the owner of Paddle Naples, is an expert at kayak fishing the local waters. He is available for kayak fishing charters and lessons, as well as guided kayak and paddleboard tours. You can reach Brent by email at brent@paddlenaples.com or by phone at 239-301-8888. Check out www.PaddleNaples. com and our FB page: https://www.facebook.com/paddlenaples/ for more information.
