Capt. Bart Marx
SWFL in November with the weather changing, is a nice time of year to get out and do some fishing or just spend some time on the water. As the seasons change here in Florida, fishing changes too. With the cold fronts that push the big bait balls south the kings and Spanish will be close behind. Also, as the waters cool the tripletail will be found nose up to the stone crab trap buoys; plenty of anglers like to run the traps and target them. If you like to run deep ,80’+, you can find the AJ’s and blackfin tuna around wrecks and good bottom structure. Offshore in 50’-70’ you can find lanes and mangrove snapper maybe even a gag grouper.
Closer to shore you may hook into some of the breeder redfish while you are trolling for the kings. So, going back and talking about the tripletail, some like to bring live shrimp to cast to these prehistoric looking creatures. You can use most any small live baits to target this species. Travel along the traps and look for what looks like a plastic bag or a lump of grass just under the buoy. Be careful not to spook the fish by backing off the throttle. Be patient, drive past it and turn the boat around. Approach the buoy from the leeward side, this makes it easier to cast and not drift over the buoy and spook the fish away. This is when you have your red fish rod set up with 20lb. leader and a 1/0 hook with shrimp or small fish. Approach the buoy close enough to cast just past it; make the cast and reel the bait within a couple of feet. This is when you may spook the fish; stop reeling, let the bait swim or sink and keep your eyes on the prize! Wait till you feel the fish pulling line before you set the hook. If you miss try again. I and some other guys like to use artificials to do this. I use 3” or 4” D.O.A. shrimp rigged with the hook ready to fish. Use the same technique with D.O.A. shrimp as live. Choose the color to match the hatch, whatever the color of shrimp at the bait shop, try to imitate it. This is also a great time of year to do some Christmas shopping we have Alpha Omega Charters gift certificates for sale. I also do trips for anglers new to the area on their boat, to help shorten the learning curve. I teach how to use the gear you have and where you can take your boat. Always remember singing drags and tight lines make me smile. <*(((((>{