With water temperatures dropping into the 70s, many species were feeding aggressively ahead of winter. Speckled trout were thick on deeper grass flats, while redfish were still in their fall patterns, schooling up in big numbers on shallow sandbars. The kingfish run peaked, providing fantastic nearshore action. Spanish mackerel, cobia, and even a few late-season tarpon were also mixed in. For bottom fishing enthusiasts, gag grouper and mangrove snapper were excellent targets,

October brought some of the best fishing of the year, with large redfish schools moving across the flats. Many of these fish were upper-slot and oversized, making for exciting battles. Live mullet and pinfish were top baits, and those fishing incoming tides around mangrove points found nonstop action. The kingfish run was in full force, with big smokers hitting slow-trolled threadfins and live blue runners just off the beaches. Spanish mackerel were thick as well, providing f

With cooler mornings and slightly shorter days, the inshore bite began to pick up again. Redfish started schooling up ahead of their fall spawn, with large groups pushing across flats and sandbars. Live and cut bait worked well, but topwater lures also became more effective. Snook started moving back into the bays, and the trout bite improved significantly, especially on grass flats near Longboat Key and Palma Sola Bay. Nearshore, the gag grouper bite started shifting shallow

August was one of the hottest months of the year , meaning the best fishing was early in the morning, late in the evening, or in deeper,...

July brought sweltering temperatures and afternoon thunderstorms , forcing anglers to adjust their schedules. Snook remained active at...

As summer hit its stride, rising water temperatures in the mid-to-high 80s pushed many inshore fish into deeper waters during midday....

May signaled the official start of tarpon season , with large schools of silver kings migrating along the coast . Early morning live...

April brought some of the best fishing of the year , with warmer waters and active feeding behavior across the board. Tarpon were...

Spring arrived early, and with it came warmer water temperatures and an influx of baitfish . Snook fishing began picking up in the bays...

By February, hints of springtime fishing began to show. While cold fronts still influenced fishing, warmer days triggered fish to feed...