Coastal Gulf, Flats, Find Life in Fall

SALTWATER SCENE

The flats should be alive with action this month.

“Schools of reds will spread out on shallow flats where you may find them in potholes or along the edges of sand bars when the tide is low or along mangrove shorelines when the tide is high,” Capt. Rick Grassett said. “Look for trout, blues, Spanish mackerel and pompano on deep grass flats and catch and release snook around lighted docks and bridges in the ICW.”

He added action will be equally good in the coastal gulf where anglers should find Spanish and king mackerel, little tunny, cobia and tarpon following bait schools.

“With the opening of stone crab season this month, you may also find tripletail around some of the many crab trap floats in the coastal gulf,” he said.

SOMETHING TO TRY

Capt. Stewart Ames said he’s been fishing near passes for some big redfish to 36 inches, and most of the big reds have been near Tarpon.

Off the beaches, he said some smaller Spanish mackerel were mixed in.

“Fish near the passes for those big fish,” he said. “They’re a little hard to find right now.  There are a lot of 21-22 inch fish and there are some offshore breeders.”

Fish just inside the passes on pot holes, oyster bars and other redfish favorites.

TIP

Capt. Grassett said to look for diving terns and predators or baitfish coming out of the water to find the nearshore pelagics.

“CAL jigs with shad tails, small surface walking plugs, Crease flies and small white flies, like Clousers or my Snook Minnow, work really well,” he said.

Also, tarpon may join the frenzy as they prepare to migrate away from our area for the winter.

“I have found feeding frenzies in October with blues, king and Spanish mackerel, little tunny, tarpon and sharks all feeding on whatever is smaller than them,” he said.'

GUIDES

Capt. Stewart Ames of Gone Fishing Charters can be reached at 727-421-5291. Web site is www.tampa-fishing-charter.com.

Capt. Rick Grassett of the Snook Fin-Addict cam be reachedat 941-923-7799.