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VOLUME 31 • ISSUE 379 OCT 2026 F R A N C H I S E

O P P O R T U N I T I E S

A V A I L A B L E

PUBLISH YOUR OWN FISHING MAG OCTOBER 2026

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W O R L D W I D E

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The Magic Starts in October

his is the time of year I live for, especially for o!shore bottom fishing of numerous species. This year is going to be di!erent, however, thanks to regulations that have completely shut down our gag grouper fishing. October, November, December, and the first three weeks of January are the absolute apex of gag grouper fishing. In my opinion, flawed science and highly extrapolated data are the reasons we are now facing a zero creel limit for gag grouper for the rest of the year. The situation with the Atlantic’s American red snapper is just as bad. Divers report having to wait for the Americans to get out of the way before they can shoot other target fish, and hook-andline fishing is o! the chart. It’s common to catch and release 20 red snapper per trip, yet we are legally forbidden from keeping a single one, at least for the moment. Where did they get the data to justify shutting down and keeping the American red snapper fishery closed? I would love to take these decision makers out on the water, or show them the underwater video footage captured by my diving friends, because it completely contradicts

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OCTOBER 2026

TIM BAREFOOT

the flawed data they are using to make decisions. Despite the regulatory headaches, the beauty of October through January is the gags and snapper will be literally right up on the beach. Last year, some of our best trips were within eyesight of the beach and we caught a serious number of fish. The larger male gags are starting to congregate on the inshore edges now in anticipation of the females coming soon. They will gather enlarged numbers on traditional spawning grounds that typically have good bottom and schools of bait, like cigars and sardines, and the little known fact of it is the same places will hold squid. I always say, “Find the bait … find the fish!” Yes, it’s important to find pretty bottom with some type of structure. If nothing else, look for live bottom and vegetation, but the ultimate scenario is finding big stacks of bait right on top of it. Let’s face it. That’s where your fish are going to be. You wouldn’t hang around in a place with nothing to eat, and neither will they.

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It’s a simple recipe this time of year to catch everything on the bottom. I always make sure to grab two boxes of frozen cigar minnows and whatever live bait we happen to have in the traps at the marina. But one of the best things you could possibly do is put one person on the Sabiki when you get to where you’re going. In addition to the frozen cigars, catch some live snappers or live cigar minnows and/or sardines. A live sardine on the bottom has a life expectancy under five seconds. It’s easily one of the most e!ective baits, especially when attached to a Crab Decoy Jig. The beauty of the shallow water gag and American red snapper fishing in the fall is that almost none of the fish are injured with bladder inflation. You can release them at the side of the boat and they will take o! immediately back to the bottom healthy and unharmed. The biggest problem we have now is the sharks are on to us. Wherever we stop, they hear the trolling motor and the fish struggling, so they come to it. Chances are pretty good you’re going to get a gag bit in half. When that happens, you need to move right away, otherwise you’re just feeding the sharks. They start gathering in numbers - we’ve seen as many as six or eight full grown sharks under the boat at one time. Here’s your sign…it’s time to move. Above all, take your kids out on the water, let them experience these amazing resources, and teach them to be good stewards for the future. To learn more tips and techniques from Tim Barefoot, visit barefootcatsandtackle.com.

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AUTUMN IN APPALACHIAN BROOK TROUT COUNTRY

By Devin Davenport

hen people think of autumn in the Smoky Mountains, they think of crisp,cool mornings, bluebird skies, and the leaves changing into striking yellow, orange and red hues as they begin to fall. What many don’t realize, is that a spectacle just as remarkable is taking place under the surface as well. Southern Appalachian brook trout in autumn put on a show as they prepare for their coming spawn, which usually occurs in mid to late October. As the season approaches, larger brook trout begin to boast the most vibrant colors that they will have all year. Their fins and bellies turn bright orange. Fish also produce more pronounced red dots, blue halos—and aggressive attitudes. This is all in an attempt to attract a suitable mate. It is the best time of the year to catch one of the prettiest fish in North America. Brook trout are the only salmonid species native to the Southern Appalachian region, and a fish that has lost 70% or more of its historical native range. This is primarily due to logging in the 18th and early 19th centuries, as well as the introduction of non-native fish such as rainbow and brown trout. While they are not typically picky eaters, they can be di%cult to find, as they inhabit only the coldest, cleanest, and highest-elevation creeks in Appalachia. Over 99% of native Appalachian brook trout never reach 8 inches in length, so finding a truly large Appalachian brook trout is a real feat for most fly anglers in the Southeast. There are also some areas with stocked brook trout in the southeast, and even these fish in the fall can boast some very impressive colors, and o&en are greater in size. Appalachian brook trout are most o&en found in tributaries that exceed 3,000 feet in elevation. They inhabit creeks so thick with rhododendron that casting room is o&en very limited. They exist below this, but the best place to find them is above 3K as high water temperatures in the late summer months can play a huge role in their existence. In most areas brook trout are found, food sources can be scarce. Bug life is limited the higher

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up you go, and the fish are opportunistic when a fly or lure is presented in a natural manner. The purest way to target a brook trout is with a dry fly, such as an Elk Hair Caddis or Parachute Adams. These flies have withstood the test of time and are a staple when it comes to rising brook trout. It’s a beautiful sight seeing a large, orange brook trout rise from the depths to crush a fly on the surface. Flies such as pheasant tails and prince nymphs are also very productive. One of the best ways to target larger brook trout is with a small streamer or spinner, as they will attack smaller fish that come within range. They are a remarkable fish and we are lucky they still have some strongholds in the Appalachians. Devin Davenport, (@appalachian.trout on Instagram) grew up fly fishing in the Southern Appalachian mountains. He primarily fishes for wild trout, smallmouth bass, musky, and other fish found in western North Carolina and East Tennessee. While he lived in South Florida for several years and loves saltwater fishing, he now resides back in the mountains of East Tennessee.

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PRO FISHING TECHNIQUES

Specks of the Smokies

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

GAME PLAN

PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES®

AN OCTOBER

ctober is one of my favorite months to !sh the coast. Cooler weather makes a day on the water more comfortable, boat traffic begins to thin out, and the bays and marshes come alive. Trout, red!sh, and flounder are feeding on shrimp and !n!sh, and it is not uncommon to !nd all three in the same area. My October game plan starts before I launch the boat. Satellite imagery is a great tool for locating shallow coves connected to drains, bayous, or small cuts. I look for areas with shell, grass, subtle depth changes, and a drain that is still open rather than sanded in. Once I arrive, I slow down and look for bait. A promising shoreline without bait usually does not hold my attention for long. Outgoing tides are my !rst choice because moving water concentrates bait and !sh. Mouths of drains are obvious places to start, but do not overlook bends, narrow sections of a bayou, points extending into a bay, or cuts through a reef. Anything that increases current or funnels bait can create a feeding area. I will occasionally start with a topwater, but most of the time I have a durable paddle tail tied on. A smaller paddle tail helps match the young bait common in the marsh, while a 4-inch version is a dependable choice on open flats. I rig it weedless around grass and other cover or use a jig head in cleaner or deeper water. A paddle tail lets me cover water quickly, and its vibration helps !sh locate it. Add a built-in rattle and the lure gives !sh another reason to investigate. Before changing colors or lures, I change my retrieve. Red!sh often respond to a steady retrieve. Trout may prefer an erratic twitch-twitch action. For flounder, I keep the lure close to the bottom with the rod tip down or to the side and use !rm twitches that make the lure dart forward without jumping too high. Around a drain, I concentrate casts along the edges, bends, and small washouts where flounder can wait in ambush. Fish do not read !shing articles, so none of these rules are absolute. Let the bait, current, structure, and strikes tell you what to do next. Enjoy the cooler weather, try a different approach when the bite slows, and take a kid !shing. Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor and owner of Knockin Tail Lures® — knockintaillures.com.

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OCTOBER 2026

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By A. deGruchy ctober is a great month to chase black!n tuna in the Florida Keys. The weather starts to change a little, the bait gets moving, and the offshore bite can get really good. Black!n are one of those !sh that can turn a slow morning into chaos pretty quickly. Once you !nd them, it is usually fast action, hard runs, and a lot going on at once. Around the Keys, we usually start looking around deeper wrecks, offshore structure, current edges, and anywhere bait is getting pushed around. There are plenty of deeper wrecks and arti!cial reefs scattered off Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon and the Lower Keys that can hold black!n. You do not always have to be right on top of the wreck either. A lot of times the !sh will be moving around the area, especially if there is good current and bait nearby. Birds are always worth watching too. If you see birds dipping, bait getting pushed up, bonito going crazy or flying !sh getting chased, there is a good chance something is feeding underneath them. Trolling is one of the easiest ways to cover water and !nd !sh. Small feathers, skirts, diving plugs, and other smaller tuna-style baits all work well. Black!n are fast !sh, so you can keep the boat moving and still get plenty of bites. We like to spread the baits out behind the boat and work around an area instead of just trolling in a straight line all day. Once you get a bite, circle back through that same area because where there is one black!n, there are usually more. If birds are working, try not to run straight through the middle of them. Work the edge, keep the baits in 4 FLORIDA

OCTOBER 2026

clean water, and let the !sh come to you. Vertical jigging is probably one of the most fun ways to catch black!n. If the !sh are holding deeper around a wreck, drop a jig down and work it back up fast. Sometimes they will eat it deep, and other times they will follow it halfway back to the boat before crushing it. Savage Gear jigs are a great choice for this style of !shing because they drop fast, have a good pro!le, and are easy to work through the water column. Current plays a big role in what size jig we use. If it is ripping, go heavier. If the current is lighter, you can !sh something smaller and get a little more action out of the jig. The biggest thing is keeping it moving because black!n usually want something fast. For this kind of !shing, we like a PENN Authority spinning reel matched with a Carnage III rod. It is a solid setup for jigging, casting, or throwing a bait at !sh that suddenly pop up on the surface. The Authority has plenty of drag for a hard-running tuna, and the Carnage III has enough backbone to put real pressure on the !sh. That matters a lot in the Keys because getting the tuna to the boat is only half the battle. The sharks have been bad, especially around some of the deeper wrecks. You can hook a perfectly good black!n, !ght it halfway up, and then suddenly everything changes. Sometimes you get the head, sometimes you get half a tuna, and sometimes you get absolutely nothing back. It is frustrating, but it is part of !shing these areas right now. The best thing you can do is put pressure on the !sh and get it to the boat as quickly as possible. This is not really the time to play a tuna

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for 20 minutes if you can help it. Once the sharks !gure out what is going on, they can make !shing the same spot pretty tough, so if you start losing multiple !sh, sometimes the best move is to leave the area and !nd another school instead of feeding the sharks all afternoon. Having a heavier setup like the PENN Authority and Carnage III really helps because you can pull harder and shorten the !ght. One of the best parts about !shing black!n in October is that you do not have to stick with one method. Start trolling and cover some water. If you !nd !sh around a wreck, drop Savage Gear jigs. If they suddenly start blowing up on bait, grab a spinning rod and start casting. Things can change quickly, so having a few rods rigged and ready makes a big difference. October can be a really fun month offshore in the Florida Keys. The black!n are fast, they !ght hard, and when you get into a good school, the action can be nonstop. Just make sure you get them to the boat before the sharks do. Follow all of deGruchy’s adventures at @bean_sportfishing on Instagram and YouTube.

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Chasing the Fall Feed T he days may still be hot now, but the nights will begin to cool as fall moves closer. Water temperatures that have been in the 80’s and 90’s slowly drop, and bass start changing their behavior. This seasonal transition can create some of the best opportunities of the year to catch a true monster. During the summer months, many of the biggest bass spend a lot of their time around deeper structure, offshore cover and areas where they can !nd cooler, more comfortable water. As we move toward fall, bait!sh become the key. Shad begin moving, and bass know that an easy meal is available. When I see that transition starting, I want a bait that can imitate those shad and give me the ability to cover water. That’s one reason I developed the Bloom Shad with Bait Cave Customs. Making its debut at ICAST 2026, the Bloom Shad is designed to imitate a natural shad pro!le while giving me plenty of versatility. I can !sh it around grass, brush, docks and other cover, or work it through areas where bass are actively feeding on bait!sh. When the bass are roaming, I want something I can cast, retrieve and cover water with while still having the ability to slow it down when I !nd a productive area. It has quickly become one of my favorite soft plastics to utilize when I’m looking for quality !sh. One of the biggest keys during this transition is paying attention to the bait. If I !nd shad around

By Bait Cave Customs Pro Joey Bloom

points, creek channels, grass lines or the mouths of pockets, I know there’s a good chance bass won’t be far away. I also pay close attention to changing water conditions. Fall rains can raise lake levels, push fresh water into the system and move bait!sh into newly flooded cover. When that happens, some of the biggest bass in the lake will take advantage of the opportunity to feed up. I like to start shallow when conditions tell me the bait is there, but I’m always prepared to move deeper if the bass haven’t followed the bait!sh yet. The transition isn’t always predictable, and sometimes the best !sh can be caught by checking

several different depths until you !gure out where the bass are positioned. For me, the biggest lesson is to follow the food. Bass don’t have a calendar telling them it’s fall— they respond to water temperature, weather and, most importantly, the movement of their prey. When those !rst signs of fall begin showing up, I’ll have a Bloom Shad tied on and I’m going to be looking for that one area where the bait and the big bass come together. That’s when the summerto-fall transition can turn into some of the most exciting !shing of the entire year. Follow Joey Bloom on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube at Joey Bloom Fishing. The Bloom Shad will soon be available at batcavecustoms.com.

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FLORIDA 7

The Fall Kingfish Migration is Coming! A s summer fades and cooler water begins pushing south along the East Coast, one of the most exciting migrations of the year is about to get underway. King mackerel are on the move, and October can be prime time for chasing them. Known as king!sh or “smokers” to anglers, king mackerel are built for speed. They are powerful predators that spend much of their time chasing bait!sh along the coast, and their seasonal movements are closely tied to water temperature and food availability. NOAA Fisheries says kings prefer water warmer than about 68 degrees and migrate north during the summer before heading south for the winter. For East Coast anglers, that southbound migration is what makes fall so special. North Carolina’s Division of Marine Fisheries notes that king mackerel move inshore along beaches and near the mouths of inlets and rivers during the summer and fall. The !sh follow concentrations of bait such as menhaden, mullet, thread!n herring and sardines, and feeding kings can sometimes be spotted skyrocketing through schools of bait on the surface. That makes October a great month to start watching the water. From North Carolina and South Carolina

By CAM Staff

through Georgia and Florida, king!sh can show up anywhere from nearshore structure and arti!cial reefs to the edges of bait schools farther offshore. A moving body of bait is often a better clue than simply !shing a particular piece of bottom structure. Trolling remains one of the most popular ways to target them. Live bait such as menhaden, cigar minnows and other locally available bait!sh can be deadly, while dead ribbon!sh and arti!cial lures also have their place in the fall king!sh arsenal. And when a big king decides to eat, things can get exciting in a hurry. The fall migration also brings tournament anglers out in force. King mackerel support a substantial recreational !shery and are a favorite target in tournaments throughout the Southeast. For anglers planning October trips, the key is to follow the bait and watch the water temperature. Kings migrate south as conditions change, so the !sh that are showing up off one area early in the month may be considerably farther south later in the season. The good news is that the migration stretches along a huge portion of the Atlantic coast. And somewhere between the beaches of the Carolinas and the waters of Florida, the next big smoker is already on the move.

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The Butcher Bird: Part 2

By Capt. Wes Tallyn

ave you ever been walking on a trail or along a fence line and seen an insect impaled on a thorn, branch, or barbed wire? Well, that is the work of a Loggerhead Shrike. They’re referred to as the “Butcher Bird” because of this behavior. If the food is large or there’s a chance their

prey could injure them, they impale it and leave it to die rather than risk injury. Their prey includes several kinds, including small reptiles, insects, songbirds, and small mammals. You will usually see shrikes perched above a field, parking lot, or grassy area. They often mimic insects or bird calls to get unsuspecting prey to respond, giving away their location. The shrikes then swoop down and capture the prey, usually on the ground. The Loggerhead Shrike is the only shrike species that is common here in Florida. While their numbers are in decline in some areas of their range, they seem to have a steady population locally. They can be differentiated from other similar-looking birds by the black “mask” on their face. Look for shrikes near you and see if you

— Captain Wes Tallyn was raised in Florida and is a fisherman, birder, avid outdoors-man, photographer, and environmental scientist. Wes has a focus on conservation and education in the community and is the owner of Snook Jam Outdoors. You can find him on Instagram @snookjam or call 727-410-5853.

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TAMPA 3

CAPT. SERGIO’S CORNER BY: CAPT. SERGIO ATANES

ctober is one of the best months of the year for catching large redfish in Tampa Bay. Although redfish are year-round residents, the bigger breeder fish become more predictable as the water cools and bait gathers along the mangrove shorelines. After the long heat of summer, the lower water temperatures bring new life to the flats, and the big bruisers begin feeding with more confidence around points, cuts, potholes, and current-swept edges. After a short run to catch bait at my secret spot, we headed for Weedon Island. Once we reached the no-motor zone, I lowered the trolling motor. Many islands and keys in Tampa Bay are protected areas, and anglers must rely on a trolling motor or push pole. It pays to know the rules, respect the habitat, and move slowly because FWC keeps a close eye on these areas. We worked slowly toward the southeast point of the key, watching nervous bait, pushing wakes, and mullet activity. Once we found the right mix of current, grass, and mangrove cover, we anchored and waited for the school to appear. Patience is one of the most important parts of red fishing. A shoreline can look empty one minute and then suddenly come alive when a school slides in with the tide. We were prepared for action with several bait presentations ready to go. One rod carried a live pinfish suspended just below the surface under a float, another had greenbacks free-lined beyond the float, and a third was rigged with cut pinfish and a small split shot to keep the bait on the bottom. Rolando drew first blood, and within a split second another rod bowed over. For more than three hours, we had the school to ourselves, battling reds, winning some fights and losing others. Large schools of redfish often congregate around mangrove islands in the

4 TAMPA

OCTOBER 2026

fall. My favorite baits for these fish are 3- to 5-inch pinfish, fresh-cut pinfish, greenbacks, and dollar-size pass crabs. Casting distance is a must because these fish are wary in skinny water. Medium tackle works best: I prefer 15-pound braided line, a 7-foot-6-inch medium-action, fast-taper rod, and 3000- to 4000size spinning reels for long, accurate casts and enough backbone to control a big fish around grass and mangrove roots. Redfish in shallow water spook easily, so stealth is the key. Keep a safe distance from the school, avoid slamming hatches, speak quietly, and use the trolling motor sparingly. The best approach is to position the boat ahead of the fish, stay still, and let the school come to you. I prefer to fish the start of the outgoing tide for reds because, as the water drops, bait and fish are pushed into cuts, potholes, and troughs around the mangrove islands. Get there early, stay ahead of the tide change, and be willing to wait. Never cast directly into a school of redfish; instead, cast ahead of them and allow your bait to settle naturally in their path. On days with stronger current, I will use a float and let the flow drift the bait toward the fish. Capt. Sergio host of Fishing Adventures Florida Show on YouTube, Carbon TV, Waypoint TV, Angling TV and GEN7 Outdoors TV. CEO of Reelfishy.com Fishing Charters. He can be reached at (813) 973-7132 or email atanes@msn.com

— Capt. Sergio host of Fishing Adventures Florida Show on YouTube, Carbon TV, Waypoint TV, Angling TV and GEN7 Outdoors TV. CEO of Reelfishy.com Fishing Charters. He can be reached at (813) 973-7132 or email atanes@msn.com

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TAMPA 5

NEW PORT RICHEY REPORT BY: CAPT. BILL RUTHERFORD

Red October Is Upon Us!

f you like catching redfish, October might as well be Christmas morning on the Gulf Coast. The only difference is Santa is red, has a spot on his tail, and the holiday jingle is the melodic sound of your drag screaming. October means RED OCTOBER in our area as big schools of oversized redfish make their way through the region. The flats from the Anclote River north toward Hudson will be loaded with schools of fish that can number in the hundreds, and these aren’t always the little fellas either. Big slot and oversized reds will be mixed together, and when you find the right school, things can get stupid in a hurry. Cut pinfish is still one of my favorite ways to target them. Find the school, figure out which direction they’re working, and get out in front of them. Fight the urge to chase them around the flat! A chunk of fresh pinfish sitting in their path usually doesn’t stay lonely for very long. The fun part about October is that the flats aren’t the only place to find them. Big redfish will also push offshore this time of year and can be found hanging around structure in the 30-foot range. Plenty of anglers will head out looking for hogfish and end up with a redfish trying to

rip the rod out of their hands instead. Shrimp and small crabs fished on the bottom for hogs will get eaten, but don’t be surprised if that “hogfish bite” is a bit less subtle and weighs a bit more. Just remember that those big offshore reds have to go back in the water, so take your picture, give them plenty of time to revive, and send them on their way. Snook are also on the move this month as the big girls start working their way back from the beaches and toward the creeks, rivers and canals where they’ll spend the cooler months. October can be one of the better times of year to target them because they’re hungry and looking to put on some weight before the first real cold fronts arrive. Pilchards are hard to beat, but don’t be afraid to throw a bigger pinfish, mullet, or grunt at the larger fish. Creek mouths, spoil islands, and areas with strong moving water are great places to start. October is one of those months where you might leave the dock looking for one thing and come home talking about something completely different. Keep a rod ready for the reds, another one ready for the snook, and maybe bring a little extra leader! — Captain Bill is a Florida native who grew up fishing the Gulf Coast. Being a proud Army Vet himself, he founded a charity called VetCatch that takes disabled veterans on cost free fishing trips in the Tampa Bay area. He guides out of New Port Richey fishing a 24-foot Shoalwater tower boat as well as the custom 25-foot VetCatch pontoon if needed for elderly/disabled fisherman. www.rustybucket.fish.

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Fall King of the Beach Tournament & Festival

eady to chase the King? The Old Salt Fall King of the Beach Tournament & Festival is back, bringing three action-packed days of fishing, competition, live entertainment, great food, and unforgettable fun to Madeira Beach! For more than 30 years, King of the Beach has been one of Madeira Beach’s most anticipated events — and this year, the excitement is bigger than ever. With 500+ teams, more than $300,000 in cash and prizes, and the chance to land that elusive King Mackerel, anglers will hit the water with one goal in mind: bring home the crown! Whether you’re a seasoned tournament pro or ready to test your luck as a first-time competitor, this is your chance to get in the game. With low entry fees, a level playing field, and more than 60 ways to win, every boat has a shot at glory. Gather your crew, fuel up the boat, sharpen your hooks, and get ready for three days of fishing fever! But the King of the Beach is about much more than what happens offshore. From Thursday through Saturday, Madeira Beach comes alive with a festival atmosphere featuring: • Exciting tournament fishing and weigh-ins • Live music and entertainment • Delicious local food and drinks • Marine-themed art, crafts, and boat displays • A fun-filled kids zone • A spectacular fireworks show Saturday night And when the big fish hit the scales, the entire crowd gets in on the excitement. There’s nothing quite like watching a tournament-winning King Mackerel come across the dock with hundreds of fans cheering it on!

Why Fish the King? - Because anything can happen.

The thrill of the chase. The adrenaline of a screaming reel. The teamwork between you and your crew. The possibility that the next bite could be the fish that puts you on top. Whether you’re chasing a trophy, chasing a check, or simply chasing an unforgettable weekend on the water, King of the Beach delivers. Bring your family, rally your friends, and make this the fishing trip everyone talks about long after the last fish is weighed.

Fishing for a Great Cause

The Old Salt Fishing Foundation is a dedicated nonprofit organization run entirely by volunteers, with a mission of giving back to the community. Your participation helps make a difference. Last spring, Old Salt provided more than 600 kids with fishing rods, helping introduce a new generation to the joy of fishing and the outdoors. So when you fish the King, you’re fishing for more than a trophy. You’re fishing for your community. Come for the competition. Stay for the festival. Fish for the win. Make memories that last a lifetime. - November 12–14, 2026 | Madeira Beach, Florida Round up your crew, rig your boat, and get ready to chase the King! Visit www.OldSaltFishing.org, follow Old Salt Fishing Foundation on Facebook for tournament updates, or contact amy@OldSaltFishing.org or 727-201-7777 to learn more or register. Don’t just watch the action — get in the boat and be part of it! 8 TAMPA

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OCTOBER 2026

TAMPA 9

BY: CAPT. GEORGE HASTICK

October:

The Month of Opportunities!

ctober is one of the best months of the year for fishing in St. Petersburg, Florida. As summer’s intense heat gives way to cooler temperatures, fish become more active and feed aggressively as they prepare for winter. Surrounded by the productive waters of Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, St. Petersburg offers anglers the chance to catch an impressive variety of inshore, nearshore, and offshore species, making October a favorite

month for both locals and visitors. The most popular inshore targets are the “Big Three”: snook, redfish, and spotted seatrout our inshore slam. Snook remain aggressive around mangrove shorelines, docks, bridges, and creek mouths, where they wait to ambush schools of bait-

Their blistering speed and aggressive feeding behavior provide nonstop excitement from boats, piers, and shorelines. Continued on page 14

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT - By: Capt. George Hastick Pro-Cure Leader Board System by Fisheng New to the Pro-Cure family is the Fisheng Jig and Leader Board tackle management system. You can buy just the leader boards themselves to put in your tackle boxes, or you can buy the complete board(s) and box combo kits at https://www.pro-cure.com/collections/fisheng These leader boards are great for people who like to prep the night before and have hooks, jigs, or whatever else anglers might want ready to go for a quick setup after a cut-off or a frayed leader. They are also great for trolling lures, flies, spinnerbaits, long leaders (large box & board), and hard plastics like MirrOlures. I get tired of my treble hooks getting tangled in my tackle box, and this leader board easily holds many lures in place by both the front and rear treble hooks, so they never get tangled. These boards work for multiple applications and meet every angler’s needs. Key Features • Foam Boards: Made of lightweight, • Included Protection: Combines custom closed-cell foam that accepts hook points storage boxes with high-capacity leader and secures swivels securely. boards (such as the large size). • Tangle-Free Storage: Pre-notched and • Easy Maintenance: Foam inserts can pre-slotted edges hold line and terminal be removed to quickly rinse and dry tackle tightly in place during transport. saltwater-exposed hooks. Available Sizes • Small: 3.75” x 8” for small hooks and jigs. tackle boxes. Fits Plano 2-3715 Pro Latch boxes with • Large: 7.75” x 13.5” featuring multiple some room for extras. slots for trolling flies, meat rigs, and • Medium: 5.75” x 8” for longer leaders and long leaders. Fits the popular Plano 3700 treble hooks. Fits Plano 2-3715 Pro Latch series Tackle boxes. 10 TAMPA

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BY: CAPT. T J SHEA a boat that floats in the air. Does this combination account for every sailor’s story? It is estimated that more than two million souls lost their lives crossing the Atlantic Ocean during the slave trade alone. Countless more perished in untimely deaths at the hands of pirates. Hurricanes and ship failures have also taken a fair share of lives on the open sea. One has to wonder just where all this energy has gone. Stories of ghost ships date as far back as the 1700s, with the story of the Flying Dutchman. A 17th century cargo ship doomed to sail the oceans forever after her captain cursed God while attempting to round the Cape of Good Hope during a storm. Even here on local waters, it is said that the Floridablanca, flagship of Jose Gaspar, can still be spotted on moonlit nights sailing on Tampa Bay. To date, I have not encountered anyone who has actually seen her. Surprising, given the number of people I know who work and play on Tampa Bay; however, something tells me if you’re indulging a bit too much in play, suggesting you’ve seen a ghost ship may just be a fish tale too tall to consider. Now, getting back to my wife, I firmly believe Bigfoot is out there, and it really wouldn’t surprise me if some prehistoric sea animal is still hiding beneath the waves. Ghost ships, though, I am not convinced. Things that go bump in the night, ghosts and goblins--perhaps on All Hallow’s Eve. I’ll leave it to the next mariner who spends an evening on the water this time of year to lay claim to the existence of ghost ships...or not.

Illusions or Reality

t’s an eerie fall evening on the water. You’re sitting at anchor while a fog bank rolls. As your eyes peer into the dark mist, you start to hear the sounds of waves breaking against something in the distance. Is it a ship’s hull? You squint harder, using every glimmer of moonlight in the air, and for an instant, you could swear you saw the outline of a ship. As fast as it appeared, it is now gone. Was it actually ever even there? Many a captain or watchman has struggled with this same question. Did they just lay eyes on a ghost ship? Have you? When my wife asked me this question as we prepped for fall festivities, I had to think hard about my answer. I have spent a significant amount of my life on the water and have often seen things which I cannot explain. On many nights out under the stars, I have seen lights dancing and moving in ways that make little sense. Any boater knows smoke on the water is real, and fog at night can make anyone question what they’re seeing. Exhaustion, the sun’s glare off a flat, — Capt. TJ Shea. Owner/Operator 2 Shea CHARTERS calm sea, and mist that builds on your glasses all play tricks on the eyes. Fishing and Diving Charters. TJ has been exploring Science chalks up many sightings to a superior mirage or an optical illusion above and below the Gulf of Mexico since he was 8 years old. Contact us at in the atmosphere called a Fata Morgana, loosely translated from Italian as 813-385-2169 and at info@fishanddivetampa.com

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St. Petersburg

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for their delicious fillets, but if you’re looking for fun action, jack crevalle are known for hard-fighting on light tackle and will attack schools of baitfish. Pompano can often be found along sandy beaches and passes as water temperatures begin to cool, for another great eating fish. Nearshore and inside Tampa Bay, reefs, ledges, and artificial structures become increasingly productive during October. Mangrove snapper, gag grouper, lane snapper, grunts, porgies, and black sea bass are common catches using live bait, soft plastics, and jigs. As it cools off more, sheepshead will invade these same areas. Offshore anglers may also encounter cobia, permit, amberjack, and the occasional mahi-mahi when conditions are favorable. Whether you’re fishing the grass flats, exploring mangrove shorelines by kayak, casting from the Skyway Fishing Pier, or venturing offshore into the Gulf of Mexico, October provides outstanding fishing opportunities. Comfortable weather, abundant bait, and an incredible diversity of species combine to make St. Petersburg one of Florida’s premier fall fishing destinations.

fish during moving tides. Their explosive strikes and powerful runs make them one of the area’s premier sport fish. Redfish fishing is exceptional during October as large schools gather across shallow grass flats, oyster bars, and mangrove shorelines. Sight-fishing for tailing redfish in clear water is a thrilling experience, especially when using artificial lures, live scaled sardines, pinfish, cut bait, or live shrimp. Many anglers consider October one of the best opportunities of the year to catch redfish. Spotted seatrout are plentiful across the area’s grass flats. They eagerly strike live shrimp, pilchards, soft plastics, and topwater lures, providing steady action throughout the day. Catching trout, redfish, and snook on the same trip is common in St. Petersburg during the fall, making it a great time to pull off an inshore slam. Many inshore slam tournaments are held in our area. As baitfish migrate through Tampa Bay and along the beaches, Spanish mackerel become extremely active. Their blistering speed and aggressive feeding behavior provide nonstop excitement from boats, piers, and shorelines. — Capt. George Hastick of “Fish Hunter Fishing Charters” in St. Petersburg, Fl. King mackerel also begin their seasonal migration, creating outstanding opis the co-host of Florida West Coast Fishing Report and co-hosts Fishing Adventures portunities for anglers fishing nearshore reefs, the piers, and deeper waters. October also offers excellent fishing for flounder in certain areas, black Florida which is on five streaming channels and You Tube. He has been fishing the waters of the Tampa Bay area for over 40 years and guiding over 20 years. drum, sheepshead, and pompano in a variety of spots. Flounder are prized 14 TAMPA

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