10/23/15 October Backcountry Fishing Report

It's finally starting to really feel like Fall.  We had a little taste of it early in the month and then things got hot and calm again though the last week the wind has been cranking and the temperature of both the air and water has dropped somewhat.  Unfortunately the hard winds have made the fishing a little uncomfortable though there is still some things to be caught and it is manageable running around the edges of the banks to keep out of the hard chop most places.  Today we fished deep in the everglades there was a good bit of bait around and we were able to catch it on the way back.  We got into some snook and a few redfish, a few spots were active for a little while, a couple others only had a fish or two, and a few spots we struck out in.  But all in all a decent day.  Yesterday we fished the bay and there were a few spanish mackerel that are starting to show up, mixed in with plenty of ladyfish, jacks, and a few trout and snappers.  This fishing should really get better and better and the mackerel get very strong in the winter.  Capt. Bill Bassett got a few mackerel today as well on his trip plus a few big snappers.  Capt. John Johansen had some nice snook in the everglades the last few days back there.  Capt. Vinnie Biondoletti had some mangrove snappers around the island, and some action with some baby tarpon as well.  Capt. Jeff Beeler reported some decent snook action yesterday and today, though he said the sharks got bad yesterday and shut everything down real quick.  Capt. Jim Willcox reported a mix of some snook and redfish today.  Capt. Mike Bassett had 2 out of 3 smaller tarpon in the everglades a couple days ago fishing the creeks.  Looks like with the cooler weather the bait migration should continue to push this way and when it lays down and gets a little nice we should have some really good fishing for a window.

Capt. Rick Stanczyk