Fall is always an iffy proposition offshore because of the cold fronts that follow each other week by week. The wind increases, swings around to the south and southwest. Then as the front moves through it turns northwest and eventually howls out of the northeast. It’s those couple of days in between fronts that can provide anglers an opportunity to cash in on the fish.
My son, Tom and his fishing partner Jason did just that this last week. On a day that made the ocean look like a lake, they took two boats offshore from northeast Florida. After locating and catching plenty of live bait in the form of Spanish sardines and cigar minnows, they headed for some numbers in 90 to 110 feet of water.
Their entire day was filled with short red snapper and short gag grouper – fun to catch, but illegal to keep. They did manage to limit out on both along with a variety of other fish. Their fish box had vermillion snapper, one of which was the biggest I have seen lately, mangrove snapper in the four pound class, lane snapper, and a kingfish that went about fifteen pounds. All in all, it was a pretty decent catch.
This entire past summer found the lower east coast of the US floundering (no pun intended) under a cold water thermocline that made offshore bottom fishing turn off like a light switch as the fish moved to find warmer water. The surf temperature as far south as Fort Pierce was in the fifties in July – something I never saw before in all my years of fishing. More normal temperatures now exist, and the fish are definitely back.
Small boaters need to be aware of sea conditions before venturing offshore this time of year. That northeaster that just went through can leave behind some heavy ground swells. Even a small chop on top of those swells can wreak havoc. So when the weather guessers say two to four foot seas make sure you go online and check the latest report from the offshore weather buoy in your area. That can provide you near real time information on wave height, wave period, and wind direction.
If you plan to head offshore to take advantage of the fall run, pick the right day. Fishing the backside of a cold front in all that high pressure means the fish will generally have lock jaw. Go two to three days after the front went through, and before the next front arrives. Ideally, the best bite will always be on a falling barometer ahead of an approaching cold front.
Last of all, take some pictures of your catch and send them to me! I’ll post them so everyone can see what you did! Tight lines.
