Upper Keys / Islamorada

Tarpon are the headline. Capt. Rick Stanczyk reported a day of five tarpon (20–50 lb) in slick-calm water between Sept 28 and Oct 3. Other days that week produced a snook, a bull shark, a lemon shark and a goliath grouper (Oct 5 report).

His Oct 13 update covered four days with a visiting crew, with action every day:

• A three-for-four tarpon day in a stiff south wind.
• A northeasterly day with four shots and one landed.
• Plenty of fall bait around and a “fair” snook trip.

He expects the bite to hold into November (Oct 13 report).

King tides opened new water. Richard Hastings reports that the full moon and king tides pushed permit into the Upper Keys backcountry in bigger schools. They are taking live crabs and crab flies. The higher water also opened new Florida Bay flats where snook and redfish are hitting shrimp flies and tarpon are taking black-and-purple flies (Keys Weekly, Oct 6).

Tips:

• Live crabs and crab flies for permit.
• Shrimp flies for snook and redfish on the Bay flats.
• Black-and-purple flies for tarpon.

Lower Keys / Key West

Reef: After a stormy stretch, conditions cleared. Capt. Jamie Connell reported calm water and a strong yellowtail snapper bite the week of Oct 8–12, with a few other bottom fish mixed in. He also says fall mutton snapper fishing on the Lower Keys patch reefs has been good (Florida Sportsman).

Flats: Late September and early October brought rain, flooding, midday king tides and heavy cloud, which made sight-casting hard. Plan flats trips for stable, sunny days.

Around Key West: Captains report a few smaller tarpon still around, bonefish biting, big barracuda on the flats and slower permit fishing (Saltwater Angler).

Offshore

The Key West offshore roundup lists wahoo, kingfish, bonita, mahi and the first blackfin tuna of the season. Sailfish are around, and snapper and grouper are on the bottom (Saltwater Angler). Kite fishing for mutton and wahoo is part of the move into winter patterns (Florida Sport Fishing TV).

Marathon

Reef and wreck trips in Marathon target yellowtail, mangrove snapper, mutton and grouper. Blackfin are possible at the humps, with mahi and early wahoo also on the list (Hennessy Sportfishing).

What to Expect Next

• Tarpon: Strong through the Upper Keys backcountry into November.
• Permit: Look for bigger schools on the backcountry flats around tide swings.
• Reef: Yellowtail and mutton snapper stay on the menu in the Lower Keys.
• Offshore: Wahoo and blackfin should build as the season turns.
• Weather: Fronts bring wind and rain. Be flexible with dates.