Well, October showed off again. The question I was asking my anglers was,( what would you like to catch and how would you like to catch them)? Here is the laundry list of fish we caught in October: Snook, Tarpon, Redfish, Snapper, Trout, Flounder, Grouper, Trippletail, Spanish Mackerel, Bluefish, False Albacore, Cobia, Sharks, Ok is that enough? Well throw in about 10 more species and you see what I am getting at about the great fishing we have in October. It is surprising that more people really do not take advantage of it. The other nice thing about October fishing is that it is much cooler and not so unbearably hot. Well anyhow here is how we caught them. Lets start with the False Albacore and the offshore fish. Cast master Spoons and long Shank Flies that look like silversides were the key for most of the offshore fish. Grouper and Snapper on yellow Jigs tipped with cut Squid. The last week of October the tripletail started showing up on the trap lines 2 miles out of Marco. Inshore species could be found everywhere from the Passes all the way to the farthest Back country creeks. We caught them on poppers, top water plugs, Jerk baits and Muddler Flies. It was awesome fishing. That doesn’t even include the awesome night fishing. I had more night slams this year in October than any other. Trout, Redfish, Snook and Tarpon were on the lights this month. Mostly fished on flies and the fly of choice was a Polafibre Minnow with a Tan back color. They ate them up. Even the Bass in the Everglades are starting to pick up the pace, fished Interceptor caught 30 on poppers and small shrimp flies. Small Peacocks are starting in the GGC also. I can not say anymore, I wish more people would take advantage of our October fishing. A smattering of Pics from October. Jack Allen Popper Fishing for Snook, Ken deep in the glades fishing the new TFO BVK Fly Rod, I cannot believe how light and powerful they are. If you are looking for the new rods from TFO Contact me at info@indianpassoutfitters.com Last but not least one of my favorite species on fly the False Albacore and Rich.
November is now on out doorstep and we should see cooler temps and cooler fishing. I would expect the summer species to start to slow down a little and our winter species to pick up the pace. The ladyfish, and mackerel will start moving inside along with Pompano and Trout. Snook and Tarpon will slow just a bit but still will be plentiful usually into December. Start looking a little more to the back country creeks this month, and the lights will get better. Still will have plenty in the passes until the water temps dip into the low 70’s. Redfish will start to school on all the flats from the Everglades to Pine Island Sound. We were catching extreme amounts of small ones which if they hang around should make for a good Redfish season. I have been catching most of my reds on an Rz Sparkle Shrimp or Kwan type fly. The other species that will start coming on strong is Sheepshead, they are quite the target on a fly, I like small crab type patterns like a Bonefish Bitters. Look for schools on the flats along with Redfish. Tarpon will slow a bit but I had pretty goof fishing for them all the way into December last year. If freshwater is what you want, this is the month for the GGC and the Canals across I75. Go get them they should be hitting on top early and on the bottom after about ten in the morning. Well good luck and I hope all have a great Thanksgiving this year. Roan z.
