Tampa Bay Fall Fishing!!!!!!

Great fishing Going into the Last Part of the Year!

Fall offers some of the best fishing of the year. Kingfish are starting to show off the beaches offshore, Snook are starting to move up on the flats, Redfish continue to school up on the flats, and Trout fishing really begins to take off. Whether you’re an offshore fisherman looking to catch Grouper and kingfish or targeting Snook and Reds on the flats this is some best fishing of the year!

Kingfish has to be the featured fish to talk about this month as water temperatures ease into the perfect temperature range. Look for big Kingfish to run up the coast in search of bait. There are numerous ways to target Kingfish. My favorite is to anchor up and chum them in. Look for the fish to be as just off the beaches around the hard bottom areas cruising around. My favorite method to use when King fishing is to anchor up and chum a bunch of Scalded sardines to draw them in. Tackle of choice is very simple. I like to use a Stinger rig with 30 lb wire. Just bring your Tarpon Spinning gear and you will be ready for Kingfish.

Snook fishing will also improve as we head into the later part of fall. Look for fish to stage in the creeks, river mouths, and deeper mangrove cuts as they get ready for winter. Remember Snook are ambush feeders so finding areas with good tidal flow will be good starting points as the bait will flush in and out with the tide. Greenbacks are by far the best bait when targeting Snook in the Tampa Bay area and you can find vast schools around the flats and markers. There are a few ways to get bait but the easiest and fastest way to fill your bait is to throw a cast net. Having a quality net that will open and have the adequate weight to get down is a must. I have found both in a Humpback net. Look for the BIG Snook to start making the journey into the rivers and residential docks.

Trout have been excellent all year but fall is when the trophy fish move up on the flats. Throwing artificial baits for Trout is one of my favorite’s ways to fish for Trout. Tossing the Zman pearl white paddle Z hooked to a 1/8 once jig head is a deadly combination that will put the big one in the boat. If your fishing thick grass it is essential to go to a weed less rig in which Ill use the 5 inch scented jerk shadz rigged weed less with the Trigger hook. If live bait is your gig then try a greenback suspended under a Cajun Thunder popping cork. Not only are Trout fun to catch but they are a great table fair. Remember only keep what you are going to eat.

October in known to be the

Month for Redfish. You can find big schools of breeder fish lining Tampa Bay it’s a great time to get out and find those trophy fish. Fishing around oyster bars, Mangrove cuts and on the outside of the bars on low tide will prove to be the most productive. Fishing around the New or Full Moons will increase your chances to find the big school. Bait of choice would have to be artificial bait that can be thrown a mile to reach the schools. You can’t go wrong with the Mirrodine bait as they have plenty of action and flash to them. Don’t forget the old Gold Spoon as well. Tight lines

Captain Jason Prieto is a native resident of Tampa and has fished Tampa Bay and its surrounding waters for the past 30 years. He is owner and operator of Steady Action Fishing Charters which is based out of lower Tampa Bay and has been operating since 2004. To book a charter, you can reach him at 813-727-9890 or www.steadyactionfishingcharters.com. If you would like to catch him on the radio tune into Tampa Fishing Outfitters Fishing Report On YouTube and Facebook live on Tuesday from 6 to 7 Pm Tight lines!!!!