By Capt. Michael Savedow, Edgewater River Guide
Fall weather patterns in October bring the first cool fronts of the season, pushing south through Central Florida and bringing breezes off the ocean after a summer of calm mornings. Water levels rise in the Intracoastal Waterway and Mosquito Lagoon. Early morning topwater lures with a louder rattle work best in breezy, choppy water. With higher water on the flats in the Edgewater backcountry and lagoon, fish close to shorelines where skinny-water fish prowl for food. Tail-hooked finger mullet or mud minnows fished tight to oyster bars, mangroves, and shallow flats in 12 to 18 inches of water produce reds, trout, and snook. On lower tides, target oyster and mangrove edges.
The fall mullet run should be in full swing on the beach, inlet, and ICW, with gamefish busting schools. Jack crevalle and bluefish drive much of this surface action, and a live mullet or topwater lure is best for quick hookups. Ponce Inlet draws attention for spawning redfish averaging 20 to 40 lbs. They feed on drifting blue crabs, mullet, and baitfish pulled through the inlet on outgoing tides. Boats can drift or anchor along the western entrance, inner channel edges, or jetty tip. These oversized fish are catch-and-release only: use heavier tackle for quick fights and healthy releases. Hold fish horizontally for photos, never by the jaw. Snook, tarpon, and sharks are also likely here on live bait.
This is the time for trophy mangrove snapper, which have grown in the backwaters all season and are moving offshore. The inlet, jetties, New Smyrna docks, bridges, the ICW, and Edgewater backcountry are prime spots. Use larger baits to target bigger fish: shrimp, finger mullet, or cut bait. Minimum size is 10″ with a 5-per-person limit. Dock light fishing heats up in fall. Oak Hill and Edgewater lights hold trout and snook, with outgoing tides best. Free-lined live shrimp are the top choice. Closer to the inlet, New Smyrna Beach and Ponce Inlet lights often hold blues, jacks, and occasional snook, while ladyfish feed heavily outside the lights along the ICW. Shrimp, lures, or fly casting all work well.
Cooling, clearing water brings variety to the backwaters. Resident trout, snook, redfish, mangroves, and black drum mix with migrating bluefish, jacks, ladyfish, Spanish mackerel, tarpon, and pompano. Live bait options include shrimp, mullet, pigfish, pinfish, or mud minnows: free-line or lightly weighted for holes and channels. Lure anglers can throw topwaters early, then switch to subsurface twitch baits, spoons, or 1/8 to 1/16 oz. jigs once the sun is up. Redfish remain protected (zero bag limit) south of the SR44 bridge in New Smyrna Beach, and flounder season closes Oct. 15.
