Fall is Here!

Fall has arrived! Fall is probably my favorite time of the year to fish. Snook season opening, bull redfish spawning in the lagoon and still some lingering tarpon makes for lots of options! September 1st marks opening day for snook season, and anglers can find lots of opportunities this time of year from fishing the inlets and passes, to pitching docks and mangroves in the lagoon. Those searching for their slot can usually have the best luck fishing at night, tossing bucktails, small jigs, and swimbaits even, look for fish crashing bait along rocks, current edges and even bridge pilings from Sebastian all the way to New Smyrna. My go to baits are natural colored 5″ — no live bait needed — paddle tails rigged on 1/2 oz jig-heads, or hard baits such as the bomber wind-cheater. These are great mullet imitators which produce well especially with the mullet migration known as the “mullet run.”

Not only are the inlets and passes good but anglers can find fish spread all down the beach along the entire coast and walking the surf casting 30-50 yards off around any bait activity can have some really good results. The same lures that produce around the inlets will do well in the surf, but it’s hard to beat a free lined live mullet, or even a large croaker rigged with 50 lb leader and a 6/0 gamakatsu octopus style hook.

Another fun and productive way to catch snook is around residential canals and mangrove points with deep water close by, pitching small live mullet, topwater rapala skitterwalks, or smaller soft baits such as the big live bait needed mini mullet are great choices. Early morning or late in the evening definitely proves to be best!

I highly recommend catch and release in the river system as these fish don’t move and migrate as much in our area such as the fish Oceanside, however, keeping within your limits in the surf and staying within regulations is definitely not frowned upon. I hope everyone has a great fall and gets out and enjoys some epic fishing!