By: Capt. Bruce Andersen
October is one of my favorite months to fish in the Florida Keys. After a long, hot summer, it is always nice to feel the first cooler temperatures of fall. But October is about more than just getting a break from the heat. It is truly one of the biggest transitional times of the year for fishing, and even small changes in the weather can make a big difference in what we find offshore.
The timing and strength of the first cold fronts of the season really dictate how quickly our fishing changes. If we have mild weather early in the month, we can see the offshore fishing in the gulf stream for mahi mahi and tuna continue for quite a while. On the other hand, a couple of moderate cold fronts can change things in a hurry. As the water temperatures begin to drop, we start seeing more sailfish showing up just outside the reef. This area can also become loaded with bait, which brings in kingfish, tuna and wahoo. When all of these fish move into the same area, it can make for some very exciting Fishing!
The cold fronts also signal the beginning of some excellent reef and bottom fishing. As the water cools, snapper and grouper become great targets, and some days we will mix up our fishing by spending part of the day on the reef and part of the day offshore. It is one of the things I really enjoy about October, you can have a taste of summer fishing and winter fishing on the very same trip!
One of the things that makes this time of year so exciting in the Florida Keys is never quite knowing what the next weather system will bring. A few days of warm, settled weather can have us running offshore in search of hard-charging mahi-mahi and tuna. Then, with the arrival of a strong cold front, the game can change almost overnight. Sailfish, wahoo and kingfish move into the picture, while cooler conditions can also set the stage for some of the best reef fishing of the season. For anglers, that changing weather is all part of the appeal, and you never know what might be waiting at the end of the next run offshore.
After sweating through the long summer months, the cooler October weather is certainly welcome. But for me, it is the changing fishing that makes this month so special. There is always something happening, and you never know what you might find when you head offshore.
If you would like to experience October fishing in the Florida Keys, I invite you to come aboard the Captain Easy and spend a day on the water with me.
— www.captaineasycharters.com | You can reach Captain Bruce Andersen at Capt. Easy Charters, MM 85, call 305.360.2120 or email at: captbrucekey@comcast.net