Florida Keys backcountry fishing report Oct 18-31 2013

Posted on 10/28/2013

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Hello everyone! The Everglades National Park is finally open so let's get back to some great Florida Keys backcountry fishing. It's October and the Fall weather patterns are starting to take effect. The water temperature is starting to drop a bit and with less humidity in the air it makes for some very comfortable conditions. Look for the Redfish and Snook bite to be on fire through out the park. Work the mainland shorelines with both live baits and scented soft plastics for a great bite. The shallow bites east of Flamingo is a good place to be for some great sight fishing action. Look for Mullet muds on the deeper bays and basins for some nice Trout mixed in with other rod benders. Drifting thru this muds while popping a cork and Berkley Gulp shrimp combination is a guaranty for finding the fish. Sharks and the occasional Tarpon can be found lurking around the deeper Chanel's in the Flamingo area. Redfish and Snook can be found while working the runoffs and Island moats in the Flamingo area as well. Pilchards have been easily available and a live well full of them will be deadly while fishing the backcountry. Out towards the Cape area look for a great Snook and Redfish bite. Keep your eyes open for some floating Tripletail as well.
The fishing on the Gulf is starting to fire up and it's only going to get better as the Fall and winter patterns settle in. Stone Crab season has open and that means lots of trap buoys for Tripletail to lay next to so keep your eyes open when running towards your favorite gulf fishing grounds. Look for more Spanish Mackerel to continue to show up in our area with more Cobia showing up as well. Overall great action can be expected while fishing out in the Gulf.
Back around town look for the great Bone fishing to continue. Anglers working the shallow flats and banks both bayside and Oceanside have been reporting multiple shots at schools of Bonefish. They have been casting Fly's and live shrimp with great success. Most Anglers have been reporting some amazing Permit fishing on the deeper edges of flats and banks both bayside and Oceanside. Captain Randy Stalling of Key Largo reported having up to 50 shots at Permit last weekend while fishing the Islamorada area. A small crab casted perfectly in their path will get you a hook up. The live bait fishing around the local bridge channels continues to be excellent with lots of Groupers and Snappers with some Tarpon and Snooks as well. Pretty exiting time of the year to be fishing in the Florida Keys so get out on the water and take advantage of it!

Captain Juan Garcia