For those of you that have been waiting to catch something different, other than kings and tarpon, (or I should say, take some fish home for dinner because you can’t eat a king…but let’s not even go there), wait no longer as the fall run is upon us.
This is a great time of year to target the fish that migrated north in the springtime that now migrate back south (if in fact that’s what’s going on). Mahi, wahoo, blackfins and sails will start to show up. We’ve already started seeing many green fish hit the fish boards, along with many blackfins. Nothing huge, but a few decent ones for sure. King fishing starts to heat up again as well; in my opinion, the best fishing around. Although November is historically the timeframe that the larger schools come in, this is when they start showing up.
The fall run is generally not as great as the spring run, but it’s still usually awesome fishing. It seems like many fish are being caught shallow and on slow-trolled live bunker while king fishing. Now is the time to start rigging your ballyhoo and concentrating on the temperature breaks and weed lines again. Start out in 100 feet or so, then go deeper. Don’t pass fish to find fish. Be sure to put out some naked ballyhoo for the sails. And don’t forget the shotgun rig. Wire rigged and sent way out there, black and purples work well.
Continue to use live bunker and mullet working the regular reefs. Don’t pass up the wrecks. Chances are if there’s piles of bait on it then something’s there. I had a slow day last week and decided to go try a wreck. The water was boiling with small sardines. My first pass through I was doubled up with a fat king and bonita. Then it was a bonita fire fight. Was a lot of fun! Excellent fish to make strip baits with and, of course, eating!!! (You eat a tuna, right?)
Beach fishing is heating up as well. I know many are taking advantage of the nice weather and bait on the beaches right now. Lots of pompano, flounder, snook and whiting are being caught. Sharking from the beach is going off good too. The mullet run is in full swing!
Capt. Chris Cameron
Fired Up Fishing Charters
firedupcharters@gmail.com
www.firedupcharters.com
www.sharkfishingcocoabeach.com
(407) 222-3573
Your premier fishing guide charter for shark fishing Cocoa Beach,
offshore fishing Port Canaveral, and nearshore fishing Cape Canaveral.