The Florida summer is officially over, time for some South Florida fall fishing!
As most Floridians know hurricane Dorian came very close to hitting South Florida in September and we’re not out of the woods yet for hurricanes. Offshore kayak anglers will need to pick and choose their days for heading offshore. In October the mahi mahi bite should be very solid with anglers catching some quality fish on an east wind in 180 to 250 feet. They will likely be in small schools, but they will be feisty and hungry. Try keeping an extra pitch rod on your kayak in case you run into these schools. Use 40 pound fluorocarbon leader tied to a 3/0 circle hook and a live pilchard or a flashy Yo-zuri lure.
The kingfish bite has been very solid. EKFT’s previous event saw over 700 pounds of kingfish brought to the scale by over 100 anglers. There haven’t been any monsters, but there has been some nice 25 to 30 pounders caught right out of Pompano Beach. My sweet spot has been 130 to 180 feet of water using a downrigger. I always use 40 pound mono leader to an 8 inch trace of wire to a 3/0 J hook and a stinger. Make sure the stinger has slack so that your bait can swim naturally.
According to EKFT’s Summer Slam part 1 winner Justin Ritchey, who is an expert on blackfin tuna speed jigging, “Drop a 3 to 5 ounce knife jig in 280 to 315 feet. Let it drop to the bottom around the deep wrecks and retrieve it as fast as humanly possible and repeat.”
There have been scattered blackfin tuna reports off Pompano and Fort Lauderdale on the jig over those deep wrecks. You can get some nice 10 to 15 pounders doing a small drift over the wrecks. My jig of choice has always been the pink and purple/black colors. You can also get lucky and jig up a nice cobia, African pompano or amberjack over those wrecks while fishing for tuna. The glow in the dark, tiger striped jigs have always been my go to for amberjacks if you are looking for a great battle.
You can still get the occasional wahoo around the moons on an outgoing tide out of both Pompano and Fort Lauderdale. Look for the color change in 180 to 250 feet. Always remember to use a stinger rig!
Sailfishing has been great off Broward County. The last EKFT event saw 7 caught and released with many more coming unglued. Most anglers do well slow trolling a live goggle eye when you hit 80 feet while making your way to the deep wrecks or color change. Once you hit your spot change your bait and put out a fresh goggle eye or pilchard. When heading back to shore do the same by trolling your bait slowly and you will most likely get whacked.
For more on Extreme Kayak Fishing and Joe Hector, follow us on Instagram @extremekayakfishing or @joe.hector.kayak or visit our website for tournament information and much more.
Joe Hector
954-895-4527
Extreme Kayak Fishing Inc.
www.extremekayakfishing.com
joe@extremekayakfishing.com