St. Lucie Flats Fishing Charters
Bob with a solid over slot snook that ate a well-placed live croaker.
October is a great transition month for our inshore fishery along the Treasure Coast. Cooler mornings, shorter days and the first real taste of fall begin to change the inshore bite, while bait remains plentiful throughout the Indian River Lagoon and along the beaches. Trout, snook and tarpon should all provide excellent opportunities this month, with conditions improving as October progresses. The mullet run should be in full swing this month providing excellent action all through our region.
Trout should become a major focus in the lagoon as water temperatures gradually fall. Look for trout around shallow grass flats during the early morning, particularly where clean water, moving current and concentrations of mullet or other baitfish come together. Topwater plugs can produce some explosive strikes during low-light periods, while soft plastics and suspending plugs become increasingly effective as the sun gets higher. Deeper edges and potholes can also produce quality fish later in the morning.
Snook should be another major focus around Fort Pierce. October is an excellent month to target fish around docks, mangrove shorelines, bridges and deeper areas where snook seek current and ambush opportunities. As temperatures cool, larger snook will increasingly position themselves around structure and deeper water. Live bait such as mullet and croakers can be deadly, while artificial anglers should have plenty of success with swimbaits, jerkbaits and topwater plugs. The Indian River Lagoon snook harvest season is currently open from September 1 through December 14, with a 28–32 inch slot and one-fish daily limit.
Tarpon should remain available throughout October, particularly around the Fort Pierce Inlet, bridges, deeper channels and along the beach when the mullet schools are present. Smaller resident tarpon can provide consistent action on light tackle, while larger fish may still be found around schools of mullet and other migrating bait. Early mornings and periods of moving water will generally offer the best opportunities.
Overall, October should offer some of the best all around inshore fishing of the fall. As the month progresses and cooler weather becomes more consistent, expect trout and snook activity to continue improving while tarpon provide an exciting bonus for anglers willing to chase them.
Capt. Adam White
St. Lucie Flats Fishing Charters
(609) 820-6257
www.stlucieflatsfishing.com
