By: Capt. Bart Marx
The cool fronts have slowed and it’s now easier to travel offshore. The annual migration of tarpon usually comes this month. Tarpon in big schools continue to migrate North and go inland in search for food. This is a great time to head offshore to get a mess of snapper, porgies, b-liners and some grouper maybe where the waters are 70ft. to 100ft., about 20 to 30 miles offshore. Some of the artificial reefs are good places to start, and as you are traveling to and from, keep your eyes on the depth finder and mark some spots while you are under way. Looking for depth changes and small ledges. Also look for a Christmas tree of bait and see if they are on a small hard bottom that is worthy of fishing. There a lot of anglers today that have trolling motors that have the anchor setting. These are nice if you like to run and gun. I feel that the motor running keeps the snapper on the bottom. Well I am old school I like to anchor on my good snapper spots and chum the snapper to the surface. This way you can use lighter setups and have some good fun. I bring several frozen baits, this way we can find out what they like today, and bring live shrimp so, when the bite slows start trying out your live bait. Don’t start with steak and then try to feed them hamburger! I do like to use chum, but sometimes it does attract sharks. This time of year, put a bonus rig out behind the boat with a little wire and maybe pick up a king mackerel. I have learned the fish you bring to the surface are trying to spit the hook out and as they are doing this they’re purging their tummy and creating a underwater chum slick. This will attract kings and sometimes blackfin tuna. This time of year, you may even attract some dolphin fish. Make sure you check the FWC regulations if you stay in State waters 9 miles, and if you go further you are in federal water and the regulations can be different. This would also be a good month to get an inshore slam, a red fish, snook, and a trout. The reds should be scattered all over from the mangroves to the sand bars and creeks. Trout should be out on the grass flats and just outside the sandbars, and snook are looking to go spawn looking for food to get to their spawning areas. Come along with Capt. Bart and see how we get it done! And always remember singing drags and tight lines make me smile. <*(((((>{