By: Capt. Greg Poland
It’s been a long hot summer, and personally, I can’t wait for the first cold front to push through the area and take the humidity with it. The snook fishing has been consistent in the backcountry, however, I have not been getting out on the water as much as usual over the last few weeks due to the tropical storms and bad weather.
Historically, this is the slow time of year here in the Florida Keys and usually this is the time of year we all seem to spend more time paying attention to boat maintenance in preparation for the upcoming winter fishing season. The timing is right with the consistent stormy weather that has kept us at the dock for some time. Therefore, now is the perfect time to get your gear in order whether it is scheduled maintenance on the outboard or new line on the reels. Take your time and get it done right, as we know come busy season it is hard to find the time for maintenance tasks.
October and November seem to always be my down time to get everything in perfect working order for the season. And when that first cold front hits, I will be ready to be out on the water. The few times that I have been out fishing out in the backcountry, it has been stellar! For snook, I like to use live pinfish and pilchards and a 15lb spin rod spooled with beaded line and a fluorocarbon leader about the length of the rod, and for trout fishing, a popping cork with a pilchard work quite well! With the cooler temps on their way, preparation is the key to a successful winter fishing season. We’ll see you out there soon!