OCTOBER IS A GREAT MONTH TO INTRODUCE A KID TO FISHING
Capt. Mike Anderson
October is easily one of the premier fishing months in Florida’s waters. The water and air temps are coming down, and the fish are in full-blown transition to their winter haunts. That is what makes it such a great month to get our sons, daughters, grandkids, nieces, nephews or even the neighbor kids on the water. The bait, which can be a little tough to find in the warmer months, seems to be everywhere, and we all know that a livewell full of live bait can keep some youngsters occupied for hours.
The flats come alive with giant hungry redfish schools and speckled trout of all sizes along with ladyfish, bluefish, flounder and jacks. The cooler water temps induce a feeding frenzy on the flats. You can even feel it in the extra energy of the fight. The snook bite goes crazy this month. Even they know that Mother Nature is fixing to make life a little tougher for them. Target the mouths of the rivers, residential canals and those flats adjacent to deeper water. They’ll start to stack up in these areas with easy access to safety.
Off the beaches, the fall kingfish bite fires off this month and, with any luck, will last a while. Any sharp cool down could cause them to blow right through, but most years have us in a good number of healthy kings for most of the month. You can anchor up over hard bottom and chum for them or slow troll with live baits if trolling is your thing. Be sure to leader up with a short piece of wire, as the toothy kingfish will normally make quick work of a mono or fluorocarbon leader. Be sure to fish a light drag on these fish, their strike is quick and fierce and giving that fish a little room to run before tightening the drag will up your catch rate. Kids love catching kingfish or for that matter any fish with lots of teeth.
Try making it a rewarding October for yourself, and introduce a kid to fishing. You never know what might happen. My dad took me, and look at all the trouble I’ve been able to get into. You won’t regret it, I promise!
Catch Capt. Michael Anderson every Saturday morning on News CH8 at 6:30 a.m. for the Reel Animals Fishing Show and Saturdays for Reel Animals Saturday on 970WFLA from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and Sunday mornings on AM620 for the TA Mahoney Co. Reel Animals Radio Show from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. or to book a trip call 1-866-Gamefish.
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