As we roll into October there will be great opportunities for
fishing both offshore and inshore.
The waters of southwest Florida come alive with bait and you
can be sure where there are concentrations of small fry there will be plenty of
predators for some rod bending fun. Our
waters hold a large supply of forage or bait fish most of the year, take the
amount that is already in our waters and add the large masses moving down the
coast as water cools in the northern gulf and the potential is there for some
wild fishing when bait and predator collide.
You can target a specific species of fish or just get in the
mix of a feeding frenzy and see what’s there. Often a host of different species
are ganged up on the same bait pod, its common to catch a half dozen or more
different species from one area. Don’t be surprised if there are some larger
fish lurking, keep a heavy rod rigged and ready for that cobia, tarpon, shark,
or whatever else might make a presence.
While targeting a specific species of fish can become challenging and
frustrating, looking for action with whatever might be feeding around bait schools
will give you plenty of action and fun. Plus, that elusive fish that you were
targeting might just show up when least expected. 
Offshore, look for bait balls from just a few feet of the
beaches out into the gulf about as far as you dare to travel. Birds are the best indicator to locate the
schools, watch for terns, gulls, or other birds grouped up and dipping to the
water. Look for rain on the water, even
though the sky is bright and sunny, watch for feeding activity and the silver
torpedo shapes of mackerel sky rocketing from the water, if you see that you
are about to have some fun. Grouper
diggers should return to the docks with impressive catches with many of the
fish coming from depths between 35 and 70 feet for the gags and 50 to 90 feet
for the larger reds. As the water cools down larger fish should move closer to
shore.
Inshore, watch for the same key signs as offshore when over
open water or deeper grass flats.
Looking along shorelines and shallower water you are more likely to
notice the same raining or nervous bait with fish busting them at the
surface. This is where you can expect to
catch snook, redfish, snapper, and some big trout. Don’t ignore mullet schools,
there is almost always something hungry and often big either mixed in or hanging
around the perimeter of the schools. Large trout and redfish look for food
flushed out from the schooling mullet, and there is always the possibility of a
large bull shark or two cruising around the perimeter of the schools, often in
only a few feet of water. If you are a wade fishermen take note and keep your
eyes open. 
October is one of the best months of the year to fish. It has it all, great weather (not to hot, not
to cold), the waters are not crowded, and a seemingly unlimited supply of hungry
fish. Put those with an endless supply of bait to fuel all those hungry
gamefish appetites and it’s a great time to be on the water.
If you have a fishing story or for
charter information, please contact us at:
“Catch the Action”
With Captain
Bill Russell
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