Capt. Rich Knox of Absolute Florida Flats Fishing and guide Service reports early fall fishing conditions on our inshore flats as recent hurricanes and tropical lows have dumped record amounts of rainfall in our area. The inshore fishing has already begun to look like our outstanding Fall fishing with water temperatures in the low 80’s F, gator Spotted Sea Trout are showing up in good numbers on many fishing flats around Tarpon Springs, New Port Richey, and Clearwater just inside the pass’ and on the main shoreline. Trout to 5lb. are taking live pilchards, on the grass edges oyster bars and deep water drop- offs, free-line your bait up tide and let the tide carry it into the fish and down the structure your fishing, they are in tight schools in some ares on the inshore flats.
Red-Fish are showing up for there annual spawn, there are some big school’s in our area, near the river mouths, creek and bayou entrance flats. These fish sometimes go to 40″ and 15-20 lb. all on 10 lb. spinning test, light tackle excitement at it’s best, they also are chewing hard on the recently hatched sardines that have invaded our flats.
The reef and wreck fishing is also going great on less-windy day’s every thing is beginning to show up, gorging themselves on the recent bait hatches, Gag Grouper, Spanish Mackerel, Bonito, Cobia, Shark and more, always have a flat line spolled with plenty of line and a hose minnow for bait on a 5/0 hook out, when dropping for the bottom fish, don’t be surprised when you hook a day maker !
