Hello anglers, October is here! Expect some cooling water temperatures and the fall fish migration to begin. I really look forward to this time of year because of the mild temps and the fishing gets exciting.
Inshore: The flounder will be stacking up and getting ready to move. I like to toss soft plastics on jig heads or slow drag bull minnows on various drop offs throughout our bay system this time of year. Redfish will be on fire! If you want slot reds, flip live shrimp around docks or toss plugs and jigs in the shallows and they will be there. The big redfish will be patrolling the bridges, rocks, and deeper structures. Back-country waters should improve for trout fishing if we don’t have too much tropical activity stirring the shallows. The Spanish mackerel always make that last run through the bay as the water temps are falling and spoons, Gotcha Plugs, and free lined minnows will produce this month. Mangrove snapper fishing is great this year. We are seeing some really nice ones caught around docks and bridges. Live shrimp and small minnows on slip sinker or knocker rigs are the ticket.
Offshore: Grouper fishing is getting better every day! You can catch them on just about any bait fish or large fresh cut bait fished just off the bottom near structure. Vermilion, lane and mangrove snappers will be chewing around reefs just offshore. I often drop a variety of cut and live baits on different rigs to catch a variety of fish. I spend some time trolling between bottom fishing locations as well. That big king mackerel, tuna, or mahi-mahi are always lurking this time of year. Drag those diving plugs, and skirted minnows 3-5 mph and you just might catch a memory-maker.
Surf: Heavy casting spoons and sinking plugs will yield a lot of fish this month. Spanish mackerel, ladyfish, bluefish and many others will be smashing anything shiny in the surf. I would also bounce soft plastics on jig heads between the sand bars and on drop offs for flounder, whiting, and redfish. Live or fresh cut baits will produce sharks and a few other species this month. Don’t forget that wire leader if you want to land that big shark.
Thanks for reading and fish on!
CAPT. JASON SHINGLER
Adrenaline On H20
Panama City, FL
(850) 348-2282