by Capt. Brian Boxx
Fall is in the air and the advertisements that make the girls go crazy are popping up all over town. Its pumpkin spiced moco-choco-what-knot time again and anyone who follows my articles knows that means one thing. Time to go to the proverbial pumpkin patch, time to shine the pennies, time to beat the red drum. As stated in my September article, the redfish bite has been off the charts and this Fall is sure to be one for the books. Redfish can be targeted year-round here, but there is something about catching Redfish in October that just sets it apart from the rest of the year. I guess it’s a seasonal thing for me, seeing pumpkins and Fall decorations everywhere just has my brain hyper focused on Red Drum. There is something to be said about the Fall weather, the crisp smell of the air over the glassy reflections of the flats, the acoustics of the decreased humidity. It all comes together to equal the most enjoyable fishing of the year.
Look for the redfish to be working the flats and undercut mangroves during incoming tide. On the ebb tide focus your efforts on the deeper edges of the flats or pick apart the deeper cuts. Redfish can be caught on a wide range of artificial or natural baits. When I’m fishing the flats just about anything goes, when I’m targeting the mangrove edges, I try to use weedless baits I can skip deep under the overhangs. All around it’s hard to beat a good jig head with a Zmann paddle tail or chunk of lady fish. A reminder that redfish are closed for harvest from the Pasco/Hernando county line South through Gordons Pass, no sooner than May 31, 2020 due to impacts from the red tide event. I personally hope they extend that closure for another year or two. We have seen a great rebound in stocks- just imagine what another year or two could bring. In the meantime, pompano, snapper, flounder, and sheepshead can keep your fish cravings in check. Keep in mind just because you can harvest a large limit doesn’t mean you have to limit out every time you go fishing. Keep what you plan on eating in the near future, then use the “out of fish” excuse to spend more time on the water.
I want to take a moment to introduce you a brand that is making big waves in the fishing industry. Last October I started a comparison study. I wanted to find the most bang for my buck. I purchased 7 spinning reels from the mid-level price range. Penn Spinfisher 3000, Battle 4000, Fierce II 3000 and 6000, Shimano Sahara 2000, and KastKing Sharky III Baitrunners 3000 and 6000. They were all treated equal in care and abuse, used constantly on my chartered trips and personal trips. There was a clear winner. The KastKing Sharky III out-performed and out-lasted the other reels in every aspect. Honestly, the reels still feel and perform like new. I was so impressed with the results that I reached out to the brand to express my gratitude for such a great product. While speaking to the customer service rep she expressed to me that not only did they stand behind their products with a great warranty, but have a program called “Beyond Warranty” where you can get help troubleshooting, servicing, or replacing broken parts. A great product and great customer service. I am now outfitting my guide service with as many KastKing products as possible and would like to invite all of you to take a chance with them; check out the specification’s vs price point. Then order a Sharky III and put it to the test yourself. (They range from $49.99-$59.99 depending on size on Amazon.) I would be happy to talk more in-depth with any of you via my Instagram messenger @ A_Salt.Weapon. Catch you next month, STAY SALTY- CAPT. BOXX
