Tampa Bay Fall Fishing Report

Fall is starting to show itself around Tampa Bay, and the fishing is only getting better. The bait is getting bigger and more consistent, water temperatures are slowly coming down, and the fish are starting to feed with a little more urgency.

The redfish bite has been steady, and I expect these fish to really take center stage as we move through September and into October. We’re finding reds around the mangroves, oyster bars, and shallow flats, with the outgoing tide producing some of the best action. When the water gets low, I like finding schools of mullet and working the edges. The reds have been willing to follow those bait schools and eat whatever gets in their way. Live sardines, cut pinfish & threadfin have been working well.

Snook are another fish I’ll be targeting heavily this fall. A lot of the fish that spent the summer around the beaches and passes are beginning to work their way back into the bay. Mangroves, docks, points, and areas with good current are holding fish. Live whitebait has been my go-to, especially when I can get a good chum line going, but don’t overlook the artificial bite. A topwater plug early in the morning can be absolutely deadly when the conditions are right.

Trout are still around the grass flats, particularly early in the morning and during moving water. As the sun gets up, I’ll usually move a little deeper and look for grass edges, sand holes, and drop-offs. Live sardines and soft plastics on light jig heads have been producing.

We’re also starting to see more tripletail around channel markers and deep-water structure. They can be a little hit-or-miss, but spotting one laid up on a marker and pitching a live shrimp to it is about as much fun as it gets.

Overall, this is one of my favorite times of year to fish Tampa Bay. The fish are getting aggressive, and the fall transition is just getting started. If you like chasing redfish and snook on light tackle, September through November is when things really start to get exciting. Give me a call/text to get on the books!

Capt. Charlie Howell

www.ebbandflowcharters.com