Gulf of Mexico, Florida Fishing Report Today

Artificial Lure here, bringing you your Saturday, November 8th, 2025 fishing report for the Gulf of Mexico, Florida. Folks, the fall transition is in full swing and if you’re anywhere from the Panhandle down through the flats and islands, you’re seeing classic November pattern shifts across our local waters.

First off, let’s check the sky: today, the sun came up at 6:47 AM and will set at 5:42 PM—so we’re working with about 11 solid hours of light to chase fish. According to Tides4Fishing, we’re on a very low tidal coefficient—right around 34—so there won’t be much water moving except during the changeover moments. That’s a good call to focus your effort on those peak tidal turns if you want to maximize your chances. High tides will be scattered through mid-morning to mid-afternoon along the coastlines, depending on your spot, but don’t expect any ripping current today.

Weatherwise, we’ve cooled off with these recent fronts slipping through—think mild mornings in the low 60s and highs nudging the mid-70s, some scattered clouds and a gentle northeast breeze. According to On the Water from the Pine Island Eagle, these conditions are nudging everything from snook to trout to shift into winter behavior, but we’re not quite at frigid levels yet—so the bite is still pretty lively, especially on shallow edges and grass flats.

Here’s what’s biting: **seatrout are thick on the open bays and grass flats**, often feeding hard on the schools of small baitfish left over from the late fall run. If you want numbers and something for the table, this is your best pick right now. As baitfish thin, shrimp and shrimp-style lures dominate, both live and artificial like Gulp! or D.O.A. shrimp. Don’t overlook popping corks to keep the presentation in the strike zone.

**Redfish are still tailing on shallow flats on these lower tides**, but the big schools of summer are breaking up. Look for singles and small pods, especially early and late, and sight-cast with soft plastics or gold spoons. Keeper reds are turning up around oyster bars, mangrove points, and deeper potholes. If you find them, chances are good you’ll pick up snook and big trout nearby—the classic trio this time of year.

**Snook are prowling inshore and haven’t all pushed deep yet** since the water hasn’t taken a sharp dip. Toss paddle tails and jerkbaits along creek mouths, deeper mangrove edges, or around dock pilings in the afternoons when the water’s warmed.

**Spanish mackerel, bluefish, jacks, and ladyfish are working the bait pods in the passes and along the beaches.** Fast-moving spoons, glass minnow jigs, and flashy plugs all work great—just crank ‘em fast and hang on.

**Pompano catches are climbing**—work sandy drop-offs near passes with bright yellow or pink jigs and tip ‘em with a bit of shrimp for good measure. When you see ‘em skipping in your wake, swing back and line up; they’re usually stacked in schools.

Sheepshead are just starting to stage up around structure—docks, bridge pilings

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Artificial Lure here with your Friday, November 7th, 2025, Gulf of Mexico Florida fishing report.

Sun’s up at 6:47 this morning, setting at 5:42 this evening—so you’ve got a solid window for those magic hour bites. Over at Indian Rocks Beach, check your tides: high hit at 12:44 AM and again at 2:48 PM, with lows at 8:11 AM and just before 8 PM. That early-morning fall around first light is prime for snook and trout hunting, especially around mangroves and creek mouths, while that afternoon push brings your best shot for redfish and pompano action up shallow according to the recent Spacefish and Tide-Forecast.com updates.

Weather’s settled, mild for November—mid-70s at dawn with only a faint breeze, so expect clear water and good visibility. The Gulf’s cooling, holding upper 60s to low 70s. These temps have fired up the flats species and put snapper, trout, and red drum on the feed. Spacefish reports locals landing plenty of slot-sized snook, hefty mangrove snapper, and even a few bull reds right outside Tampa Bay passes and Cape Coral canals.

Baitwise, live shrimp are getting slammed right now, especially on popping corks around grassy potholes. Paddle-tail soft plastics in chartreuse or silver are pulling good numbers of trout and slot reds—chartreuse is the standout, with several recent reports calling it the “secret weapon” along Florida’s Space Coast this week.

Artificial swimbaits and jerkbaits have also been putting in work over deeper grass for trout, and don’t sleep on gold spoons or root beer colored jigs along sand bars for stray flounder and reds. If you’re chasing big snook before sunset, live mullet or pinfish just off the mangroves and under dock lights has been hot, with a couple 35-inchers reported pulled since last weekend.

Offshore, southwest Florida continues to produce with strong bites of red snapper and trout, plus reports of solid lane and mangrove snapper catches lurking around nearshore structure. Redfish action has especially picked up around Fort De Soto and the passes, with anglers drifting cut bait or shrimp soaking on the bottom during high outgoing tides, as heard on Spreaker’s Gulf Grappling.

If you’re planning your run, a couple of hot spots to hit:

- Lower Tampa Bay, focusing on the spoil islands and the edges of Fort De Soto for trout and redfish.

- Cape San Blas and the grass flats near Indian Pass, which have put up nice numbers of slot reds and the occasional over-slot snook.

Spoons, paddle tails, and topwaters at sunrise are your best ticket in both these areas, while offshore folks targeting snapper right now are getting best results on cut squid and live pinfish dropped to nearshore reefs.

With the November tides swinging hard and the weather so stable, just about every local dock has a story of tight lines this week. Keep an eye on the moonrise if you’re planning that after-dark mission—snook have been getting aggressive right around dusk and after sunset, especially if you’re working shadow lines

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Hey anglers, this is Artificial Lure coming to you with your Thursday, November 6th, 2025, Gulf of Mexico Florida fishing report. Settle in for today’s tides, weather, hot catches, and the inside scoop on what’s biting and where.

First up, the sunrise is at 6:38 AM with sunset coming up at 5:43 PM, so you’ve got a solid day window to work the water, but remember those shortened days as we slide deeper into fall. According to the NOAA tide chart for Fort Myers, we’ve got a high tide rolling in at 1:18 AM, followed by a negative low at 8:21 AM. Our next high peaks at 2:22 PM and there’s another low at 7:42 PM. If you want the best shot at fish pushing into the shallows or ambushing bait, aim for that moving water around dawn and the afternoon high.

Weather-wise, this morning starts mild along the coast, with highs in the mid-70s and a light breeze from the northeast. Humidity's not bad, water clarity remains fair after those early-week rains CBS News Miami mentioned, and a passing shower is never out of the question, but it’s mostly dry until this evening. Pack your lightweight raingear just in case.

Now let’s talk about what’s been snapping lines this week. Islamorada Florida Fishing Report Daily has been buzzing about steady offshore and nearshore success — “mahi, tripletail, snapper, and sailfish running strong, snook holding inshore.” Moving up the Gulf, Hillsboro Beach reports the snapper bite is “strong on the reefs,” while inshore, anglers are tangling with tarpon and good numbers of trout and snook.

Here in the middle Gulf, reports from the Sanibel and Captiva area say redfish and spotted seatrout have been thick around grass flats and mangrove lines, especially when outgoing tide lines up with early morning or late afternoon light. Redfish Pass, as the name suggests, has been a solid go-to for slot reds and a few upper-slot snook.

Snapper anglers—heads up! The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission just announced (Nov 5) an increase on the minimum size for lane snapper in Gulf waters, now 10 inches, with a 20-fish bag limit. These aren’t in effect till April but worth keeping on your radar for planning trips and keeping the fishery healthy.

Let’s talk bait and lures. If you’re targeting reds and trout, nothing beats live shrimp under a popping cork on the flats, but those artificial paddle tails rigged on a 1/8 oz jighead have been crushing them, particularly when worked around oyster bars and current seams. Up your game with gold spoons if water’s stained, or try topwaters right at dawn for a fun surprise, especially with active snook.

For snapper and grouper, fresh cut pilchards, pinfish, or squid will do the trick on a knocker rig just off the reefs and deeper ledges. Offshore, trollers are picking up mahi on bright skirted ballyhoo and pulling in sailfish with small naked ballyhoo or live goggle eyes.

For hot spots today:

- Redfish Pass (Captiva Island north end): consistent redfish and snook, especially at the cha

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Artificial Lure here with your up-to-the-minute Gulf of Mexico Florida fishing report for November 5th, 2025.

Let’s start with today’s conditions. Weather’s shaping up nicely after a breezy start earlier in the week—winds are easing, shifting from northeast to more of an east-southeast flow heading into the weekend, and daytime highs should climb back into the low 80s with low rain chances. All this makes for comfortable days on or near the water, but do plan for brisker mornings through midweek, especially near-shore, before things settle down. Sunrise today was at 7:41 AM, and sunset clocks in at 6:47 PM, giving over 11 hours to chase your target species.

Tidewise, November’s king tides are peaking across the coast through the 8th, but unlike previous years, the expected highs aren't forecasted to cause widespread flooding in most spots. Still, it’s smart to double-check local tide charts, as areas around the Panhandle and West Palm Beach can see surprise “sunny day” flooding especially on outgoing tides, so be cautious around low-lying ramps and parking lots. The tidal coefficient today is low—about 34—meaning not much water movement and milder currents compared to earlier in the week, which can make inshore action a bit more technical.

Hot topic lately: Red Tide. WUSF reports high concentrations right now along Bay and Gulf counties, especially around St. Andrews Bay and Mexico Beach up in the Panhandle. There’s been fish kills, health advisories against eating local shellfish, and warnings to keep sensitive folks out of the water due to air-borne irritants. On the plus side, the southwest Florida coast is currently clear, so from Clearwater down through Fort Myers and Naples, things are looking much better for safe and productive fishing.

Now, let’s talk fish! Reports from Spacefish and local captains put snook, tarpon, mangrove snapper, and even a few late redfish still in the mix inshore, especially on the Space Coast down through Tampa Bay. Recent catches include plenty of hard-pulling snook hugging mangroves and dock lights at night, and the last of the silver kings blasting baits near residential canals on mullet runs. Mangrove snapper up to 14” have been thick in passes—don’t be afraid to throw live pilchards or shrimp into the rocks. Red drum are providing solid action over grass flats and, on the high outgoing tide, along the muddy creek mouths near Estero and Charlotte Harbor.

When it comes to lures, chartreuse has been the secret sauce lately, both for soft plastics and hard baits—Knox Robinson of Spacefish swears by its effectiveness, especially when water clarity’s a bit off after strong winds. Paddle tails, jerkbaits, and swim jigs in chartreuse or white are getting hammered. Topwater lures around dawn—think Skitterwalks or Zara Spooks—can draw big blows from snook and trout when the surface chop is light.

Live bait’s still king, though. Cast net fresh mullet, pinfish, or pilchards early, or simply grab a few dozen shrimp

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Artificial Lure here, bringing you your fresh Gulf of Mexico Florida fishing report for November 4, 2025.

We’ve got a **cool, clear morning** rolling in with moderate winds and another classic fall forecast: temperatures starting in the upper 50s and warming into the low 70s by mid-day, thanks to the recent cold fronts. **Sunrise hit right at 6:24 AM, sunset will be at 4:50 PM**, giving us a little over eleven hours of sun—short days so make the most of the light, y’all. According to tides4fishing, tidal action is **pretty low today**, with not much swing between highs and lows, so current will be gentle. Best fishing windows will be early morning and late afternoon when water’s at its moving points.

**Fish Activity:**

The transition to classic cool-season fishing is underway. Speckled trout are still spread out over the grass flats, but with every cold snap, they’re moving into their winter holes—look for them in muddy bayous and those deep sandy pockets around the bay. The bite’s active with lots of small trout, but stick with it and tweak your presentation to find those bigger bruisers. Plugs, twitch baits, and soft plastics in natural colors are pulling in solid numbers right now. If you’re after trophy trout, upsizing your bait just a notch can help weed through the dinks.

Redfish are on the move in the shallows during lower water times, visible by wakes and sometimes those tails sticking out as they dig for food—killer sight-casting opportunities. Soft-plastic shrimp and baitfish imitations work best, especially when you match the hatch. If you’re fishing structure—docks, bridges or deeper reefs—don’t be afraid to lob a live shrimp or chunk bait right against the pilings.

Off the beaches, you’ll find **Spanish mackerel, pompano, drum, and flounder** hanging around, but as water temps slide, expect some migrations. Mackerel are chasing flash—chrome spoons or Gotcha plugs are tried and true—while pompano and drum will take sandfleas or shrimp fished right in the trough. Plenty of red snapper being caught inshore, especially over bridge rubble and artificial reefs; most are in the 16–20 inch range, with a few pushing up to 30 inches and double-digit pounds. Best approach has been flat-lined cigar minnow chunks or squid, but don’t overlook oversized soft-plastic jigs for those bigger snapper, especially with a 30–40 lb leader and a 6/0 circle hook.

Over on the offshore grounds, **mangrove snapper, hogfish, grunts, porgies, and red grouper** are biting strong. Mangroves and hogs are loving live shrimp and small pinfish, while the red grouper and grunts will take squid strips on the bottom rigs. The cooling water is really firing up the bite—now’s a great time to get out there.

**Best Baits & Lures:**

- For trout: soft plastics in natural or translucent colors, live shrimp.

- For redfish: soft-plastic shrimp, live baitfish, chunk baits near structure.

- For snapper: cigar minnows or squid, oversized soft-plastic jigs.

- For mackerel: shin

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Artificial Lure here, bringing you your Gulf of Mexico, Florida fishing report for November 3, 2025.

We’ve got a classic cool season morning shaping up, with the sunrise hitting at 6:46 AM and sunset at 5:42 PM, so your prime windows on the water are tightening up as the days get shorter. Over near Florida Power, tides today are running with a high at 11:08 AM just shy of four feet and a second low at 5:37 PM. Expect a mild fall tidal swing—good movement for most inshore bites per Tide-Forecast.com.

The weather offshore is moderate, with NOAA and the National Weather Service calling for north winds at 10 to 15 knots, seas about 2 to 3 feet—so it’s fishable for most bay and nearshore craft, but keep it honest if you’re venturing past the second bar. Conditions are matching up for a classic November outing: a little north breeze, but nothing to knock out your plans unless you’re chasing far offshore.

Anglers up and down the Middle and Lower Gulf Coast have been weightin’ coolers this weekend with a real fall mix. Inshore, the speckled trout bite is up early—soft plastics in white or chartreuse on a 1/4-ounce jighead have done best at first light. Shrimp under a popping cork produced plenty of slot reds and the occasional flounder at creek mouths, marsh cuts, and oyster bars. If you’re heading out around the passes or the grass flats near Dunedin, Saint Joseph Sound and Alligator Point have produced good numbers especially on the last of the incoming and the start of the outgoing tide according to recent activity from FishingReminder and Tides4Fishing.

Keep an eye out for the late morning and mid-evening tide swings; that 11-ish high tide is setting up a solid ambush window for predators moving up onto the flats.

Offshore, gag grouper and red grouper are in play, especially on structure 10 to 30 miles out. Fish Emeryville’s recent dock totals on the Gulf side show solid catches of red grouper, lane snapper, and even a few late-season mahi, brought in mostly on frozen sardines and pinfish. Deep-jigging butterfly jigs in glow or pink, plus large bucktails tipped with squid, also turned some heads. If you want to pull a bruiser, amberjack have been hanging around deep wrecks out of Clearwater and St. Pete—stout tackle and live blue runners will do the trick.

For beach and pier anglers, the pompano and Spanish mackerel bite is steady. Bright metal jigs and sand flea imitations, plus fresh shrimp, have put fish on the sand near Indian Rocks Beach and Pass-A-Grille.

Hot spots this week: launch out of Saint Joseph Sound in Dunedin for inshore action at daybreak—work the potholes and grass lines. For offshore, hard bottom near Redfish Ledge or the artificial reefs off Clearwater hold variety and quality. Closer to the Big Bend, Alligator Point flats have lit up for trout and reds on moving water.

Best baits today:

- **Live shrimp** for reds, trout, and pompano.

- **Soft plastics** like Gulp! in new penny or chartreuse for trout and flounder.

- **Fr

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Good morning, this is Artificial Lure with your Sunday, November 2nd, 2025 Gulf of Mexico fishing outlook. Conditions are lining up for a solid morning on the water here off the Florida coast.

Sunrise is just ahead at 6:44 AM, sunset tonight drops at 5:44 PM. Tides are favorable: a low tide started early at 5:19 AM and high tide hits at 11:08 AM, with another low tide rolling in around 5:37 PM and high tide closing out the night at 11:04 PM. According to Tide-Forecast.com, water movement is strong today, making for high current and bait activity—a good setup for gamefish hunting. Over on St. George Island, the tidal coefficient sits at 70 this morning, climbing to 74 by midday and 78 toward evening, indicating noticeable tide movement and solid current on the bottom.

Weather today around the Gulf is mild, with morning temps in the low 60s, warming to the mid-70s under mostly clear skies. Wind is light out of the north early, shifting to a light east breeze by midday, so conditions offshore and inshore should stay calm and clean—ideal for both boaters and wade fishermen.

Fish activity is rated "fair" for this morning based on the Farmers’ Almanac, with better action on the incoming high water and slack tide late morning. John’s Pass, Madeira Beach, and Clearwater have seen excellent numbers of snook, hefty redfish running the mangroves and flats, plus spotted trout in the potholes. Hubbard’s Marina reports snook are aggressive right now, hitting artificials and live baits, while reds are feeding heavy on cut bait and shrimp. Offshore, king mackerel have pushed in close with schools of threadfin and pilchards, while snapper and grouper remain steady for anyone bottom fishing out near the 20- to 60-foot mark.

Lure-wise, today is a prime day for throwing topwater plugs and paddle-tail swimbaits at first light around grass edges and mangroves—natural colors are best. For snook and reds, white and chartreuse jerkbaits, soft shad lures, and gold spoons have been producing. If you’re working deeper docks or bridges, slow-rolled bucktail jigs tipped with shrimp or cut bait will do the trick. Offshore, drop down hard jigs or live pinfish for grouper, while drifting flat-lined sardines or cigar minnows can trigger mackerel and the occasional cobia.

If you’re fishing bait, live shrimp and fresh cut bait remain top choices inshore, especially if you’re fishing around structure or oyster bars. Offshore anglers will do best with live sardines and pilchards, or squid and cut mullet if you’re working the reefs.

Hot spots this week include Honeymoon Island flats for trout and reds, and the north end of Egmont Key for snook and mackerel action. For offshore folks, the nearshore reefs out of Clearwater and Indian Rocks Beach are producing grouper and snapper. Pack your cast net—bait is thick in the passes and around the causeway pilings.

Remember, fish smart and check those regulations before heading out—snook and redfish slot limits are strictly enforced.

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Artificial Lure here with your November 1st, 2025, fishing report straight from Florida’s Gulf Coast.

First light this morning broke at 7:05 a.m., with sunrise golden over a calm Gulf; sunset sets up for 6:02 p.m. tonight, giving us just over eleven hours to be out wetting a line. Tides today along the Gulf are mellow—expect high tide at 7:56 a.m., a low at 5:04 p.m., and another high rolling in about 11:33 p.m. The tidal swing is modest, just over a foot, meaning not much current but plenty of time to fish those inshore flats and nearshore reefs. Low tidal coefficients—reported by tides4fishing—mean the bite may be less frenzied midday, so aim for dawn and dusk for the best action.

Weatherwise, it finally feels like fall on the Gulf: cool mornings, a light breeze, and pleasant afternoons. Water temps are still holding in the low 70s. Coastal Angler Magazine notes this cooling trend is firing up the fishing: after a muggy October, things are just right for both inshore and offshore adventures.

Now, for what’s biting! The red tide status from FWC is mostly clear along much of the Gulf, with some bloom activity reported way up in Gulf County, northwest of the typical hot spots—so most popular stretches from Tampa to the Panhandle are wide open for action. Just keep an eye out if you’re near St. Joseph Bay, but the rest of us are in luck.

Inshore, the *redfish* bite is picking up all over—look for them around the mangrove edges, oyster bars, and those wind-protected flats. Snook are staging near creek mouths and cuts, feisty and hungry. Trout are consistent on grass flats, especially early. Hubbard’s Marina reports solid action on all three, with anglers landing multiple slot snook and upper-slot reds on live shrimp, pilchards, and soft plastics.

Offshore, snapper and grouper action stays steady, with mangrove and lane snapper and the occasional gag grouper coming from ledges in 60-to-90 feet. Hogfish are starting to show up as water cools—target them with shrimp on a knocker rig over hard bottom. The mackerel migration is in full swing; Spanish and even king macks are shadowing huge bait schools just off the beaches. Troll Clark Spoons or Got-Cha plugs behind a planer for kings, and use lighter mono or flouro for those schooling Spanish—just add a short wire if you keep getting snipped.

Tripletail are another November prize: look for them set up on crab trap buoys and floating debris a few miles out. Toss a live shrimp or a gulp shrimp right up to the float and hold on. Patient presentation is key—let it sink and wait for that thump.

Best baits right now:

- Live shrimp: top pick for almost everything, inshore and off.

- Pilchards: deadly for snook and redfish near structure.

- Soft plastics: white or rootbeer paddle tails are catching trout and flounder.

- Spoons and plugs: troll for mackerel; match size to the baitfish you see flipping.

For hotspots, don’t miss:

- The flats inside Pine Island Sound: redfish and snook cruising all day.

- Cl

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Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure bringing you the October 31, 2025 fishing report for the Gulf of Mexico coast of Florida. Sunrise greeted us at 7:41 AM with sunset due at 6:47 PM. Conditions today feature a modest tidal swing, peaking with a 1.2 ft high tide at 2:08 AM, another rise to 1.8 ft at 7:52 AM, falling to a 0.3 ft low at 3:11 PM, and a final 1.5 ft high tide around 10:03 PM, as charted for Egmont Key. Tidal coefficients are average—around 54—so expect decent but not extreme current, which helps spread your options for both inshore and nearshore action.

Weather-wise, it’s a classic late October Florida morning: temperatures in the low to mid-60s at dawn, patchy clouds building through midday, and a light north to northwest breeze settling the chop. Excellent visibility, with minor coastal flooding possible in spots later today, especially around the afternoon high tides, so keep an eye on the shoreline according to the National Weather Service briefing.

Fish activity is robust thanks to stable water temps and significant tidal movement. Recent catches report outstanding mixed bags out of Clearwater, St. Pete Beach, and Sarasota, with snook, redfish, and speckled trout all bending rods in the back bays—good numbers coming in, especially early. Spanish mackerel are in thick off the piers and passes, marauding bait balls. A few early fall king mackerel have shown outside the Egmont Channel and north Skyway bridge area, mixed with big jacks and the first push of pompano.

Offshore, anglers working bottom structure in 40–80 feet have been loading coolers with lane and mangrove snapper. Grouper bite is still consistent for those dropping live pinfish or fresh-cut squid. Near reefs, the morning hours have seen multiple slot cobia caught, with smaller amberjack and the occasional hookup on red grouper.

Best baits offshore continue to be live pinfish, large shrimp, and cut squid. Inshore, the top lures are white paddletail swimbaits and gold spoons for redfish and trout, while silver Got-Cha plugs are landing mackerel right now. If you’re after snook, try free-lining small live sardines or shrimp around the shadow lines near docks and bridges—night bite has been outstanding.

Hot spots to consider:

- Fort De Soto Park flats and Egmont Channel for snook, trout, and mackerel.

- Skyway Bridge pilings and north shoreline producing Spanish mackerel, kings, and pompano on outgoing tide.

- Sarasota Bay grass beds, especially near New Pass and north Big Sarasota Pass, for consistent trout and red action.

For those thinking about further north, Mandalay and the Aucilla River reports high tidal coefficients and strong currents—fish key structure and marsh edges for big reds and flounder.

Don’t forget to keep an eye on those tides and afternoon winds, and remember, the early bite is still king. Thanks for tuning in, and be sure to subscribe for more expert local fishing updates. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out

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Artificial Lure here with your October 30th Gulf of Mexico, Florida, fishing report. Sunrise hit at 7:42 this morning, sunset’s coming at 6:46 tonight, giving us right at eleven hours to fish – nice and cool with water temps running upper 70s in the Gulf and low 70s in the bays, according to Mullet Wrapper’s Pier & Shore Outlook.

Today’s tide action is subtle, with low at 2:52 AM, high at 7:50 AM, another low at 4:03 PM, and a final high at 10:20 PM as reported by Tide-Forecast.com. The tidal coefficient’s 34—plenty low, meaning slow currents and not a big swing between highs and lows, so expect fish to hold to structure and edges, especially during those morning and evening moves. With the moonrise at 3:08PM and a gentle NNW breeze predicted, the bite should perk up this afternoon.

Weather-wise, the fronts moving through brought in dry air and northeast winds. Seas offshore are moderate but watch for a chop if you’re running deeper, according to the National Weather Service Marine Forecast. Thankfully, hurricane activity is steering clear of our waters for now.

Fishing’s been lively on the beaches, piers, and inshore passes. Mullet Wrapper reports bull reds staging up off Dixey Bar and the passes, gorging on menhaden. Double-digit red and black drum have been coming in—best catches on big cut mullet and crab, or hatchet jigs and big swim baits. Slot reds and the odd speckled trout are mixed in the surf, especially if you can find live LYs (scaled sardines) or pinfish for bait.

Spanish mackerel are darting in and out, hitting hard when water’s clean. Bigger kings have been landed fishing heavy spoons (Clarke or Krocodile) behind a weight, and the local favorite Looney jigs, ½ to ¾ ounce, are still producing in the troughs. Expect mackerel and bluefish action to spike a couple days after a front passes—watch for clear water and thick bait clouds around the Gulf State Park Pier and Sanibel Island.

Pompano action is slowly ramping—keepers showing along clear edges on sand fleas, ghost shrimp (if you can get ‘em), or Fishbites. Whiting are hitting strong on small bits of fresh shrimp or pink Fishgum. Flounder have shown up but remember, as of October 15th, it’s closed season for them in Florida to protect the breeders.

Live bait’s golden, but if the pinfish are thick, switch to durable options—shrimp-tipped jigs produce, as well as silver spoons and Gulp curly tails on a light jighead. When the wind’s up and water is murky, anglers are scoring better working cut mullet on the bottom for reds and drum.

Recent catches have been solid: bull and slot reds, black drum, a few late jack crevalle, keeper pompano, mackerel, and whiting coming in off the surf, piers, and inshore bars. Fish counts per angler have ranged from a handful up to double digits, especially for reds and whiting. The biggest drum and reds are almost all catch-and-release, with photo ops galore at the sandbars and inlets.

Hot spots to consider today:

- **Perdido Pass** and the **

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