As the last week of September winds down, all signs are pointing towards the start of the fall fishing season. Yard grass isn’t growing quite as fast, monarch and yellow butterflies are floating around and daylight hours are getting shorter and shorter. Coastal water temperatures have come down slightly, but the above clues mean the fish know colder temperatures are on the horizon and it’s time to pack on a few pounds in advance of the winter months.
Water temperatures are ranging from 79.4 in the bays to 81.5 in Santa Rosa Sound in the shallows. There is all kinds of bait still present, including mullet of all sizes, pinfish, pilchards, sardines, glass minnows and ballyhoo. That spread is appealing to the game fish sliding into the buffet line.
With all the mullet around, trout are keying in on topwater and suspending plugs. Rapala Skitter Walks in chrome patterns are working, along with MirrOdine sinkers. Redfish have been tempted by DOA shrimp in root beer/gold glitter in the darker water. Switch to near clear versions or try a Z-Man crab lure in water with good visibility. The reds range in size from “rats” to upper slot. The big bulls will be schooling in the bays and pass as soon as the water dips a few more degrees.
Flounder are active in advance of an upcoming move offshore to spawn. DOA shrimp or CAL minnows rigged with a light worm hook will fool the flatties. A simple plastic grub in bright colors does the trick, too. Or if you want to use live bait, it’s hard to top mud minnows or finger mullet cast-netted along the shoreline.
There were reports of schools of tarpon on the move this past weekend, stretching from Shoreline Park in Gulf Breeze to the 3 Mile Bridge, heading west towards the pass. Silver kings know what the calendar says and they will be heading for warmer climes soon. If you do target these feisty game fish, gear up accordingly so your prize isn’t exhausted at the end of the fight, or they are likely to fall victim to Jaws. As a reminder, keep fish in the water for photos and a $50 tag is required in advance to keep a tarpon only for world or state records.
Friday night’s full moon will usher in some great tidal flows through the end of the week and weekend. The solunar tables are predicting very high feeding activity from noon until 2 pm on Friday with the moon down and again at dawn and dusk, corresponding with the moonset and rise. Of course, any time you can go fishing is a good time and with fall season upon us, it’s all good.
Copyright 2023, Capt. Dave Lear
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