Captain’s Corner: Mike Gore

The Tampa Bay Times

The little cold front should really turn on the snook, trout, and kingfish bite. Not to mention that the redfish bite has been hot since August. 

Offshore and inside of 5 miles, the hard bottom should produce some nice kingfish action. Trolling lures will produce some fish but the best action sometimes comes off anchoring and chumming them to the boat. The fish could be anywhere from 15 – 40lbs. Mix in the Spanish mackerel, bonita, and sharks to the action and you will have a day to remember.

With the cooler weather, the snook will become really active trying to fatten themselves up for the winter. The negative tides will move them out of the mangroves and into the sand holes on the flats. The same sand holes are holding redfish and nice speckled trout.

With the water getting cooler and all the algae starting to die off, you may need to downsize your tackle.  The cleaner the water is, the easier it is for the fish to see you and your tackle. Try taking you leader down to 20lb and use a 1/0 circle hook to increase your bite.  You may also want to use an 8ft pole to help you cast further. Making longer casts to the fish this time of year is the key to not spooking them.

Capt. Mike Gore