Red October
Its that time of year when temps begin to cool and Redfish begin to school. But let's be real, cooling is a relative description in Southwest Florida. It is still quite warm and humid here in the first week of October. We are on the back side of a cold front that left cooler, drier air behind it and for 20 minutes it felt like fall. However mid to high 70's quickly becomes high 80's and even 90 degrees depending on cloud cover.
Despite air and water temperatures remaining stubbornly summerlike, there's no question the days are shrinking and fish are circulating the memo its chow time.
Particularly Redfish, that can be rather stoic in the peak warmth, have begun to gather and peek out from the mangrove roots (ever so slightly) for some breakfast and occasional snacks. Landing a bug under the branches is still your best bet, but outgoing tides can persuade clusters of spot tails to collect on flats and alluvial fans throughout the harbor.
I like black flies in the morning, then baitfish and shrimp patterns later on. And if its too windy to thrash your buggy whip to and fro, relent and chuck a live shrimp to the shrubs and hang on!
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