By: Capt. Billy Norris
The bite has been real strong for Pale Horse Fishing Charters, with steady action offshore and a solid mix of fish in the backcountry. Offshore, the mangrove snapper bite was excellent for a good stretch, with a lot of fish in that 15- to 18-inch class coming from inside 20 miles, which made for some very good nearshore fishing. There were also plenty of big sharks around during the month, adding some extra excitement anytime they showed up around the wrecks, reefs, or baits.
We’ve put anglers right in the middle of goliath grouper spawning season, and the fish were exactly where they should be. That pattern matched what was happening offshore all month, where quite a few goliaths were caught, including true giants and so-called smaller fish that were still in the 50- to 60-pound class. A handful of permit also showed up offshore and added a nice bonus to the month’s catch list.
Back in the shallows, we’ve stayed productive with the usual Southwest Florida lineup. Snook, redfish, and trout all bit well in the backwater, and there were also a handful of pompano coming through the passes. Bait has been easy to get through much of the month, with plenty of pilchards and smaller threadfins right on the beach, plus big eight-inch threadfins offshore that made it easy to stay rigged and ready.
Weather-wise, the past few months have been full-on summer heat in Southwest Florida. Water temperatures stayed hot in the mid-80s, which kept the summer pattern in place and made early starts the smart move before the weather built later in the day. Even when the fishing was on, it was important to keep one eye on the sky because summer storms could still pop up fast.
Looking ahead into October, gag grouper season is now open, which should add another strong option to the offshore mix. As the next few weeks unfold and the first signs of cooler water start to show up, the fall transition should begin to build, and that usually means anglers can start looking for more spanish mackerel, kingfish, cobia, and tripletail around the beaches, bait schools, and nearshore structure in Southwest Florida. After a strong summer of snapper, sharks, goliaths, permit, and steady backwater action, everything is lining up for October to bring even more variety, bigger opportunities, and some of the best fishing of the changing season!