Snook on the move along docks and bridges this October
Snook are the headline for Tampa Bay and Sarasota this week. Capt. Rick Grassett's October forecast, posted via CB's Saltwater Outfitters (Sarasota), says snook should be moving away from the passes and along the beaches toward inside waters and their wintertime areas. He expects them staging around docks and bridges in the ICW and on shallow flats. Live shrimp around docks and bridges, or pilchards in shallow water, are his suggested live baits for them. Capt. Kelly Kurtz, also reporting through CB's Saltwater Outfitters (Sarasota), describes an active inshore bite in Sarasota Bay right now, with snook and redfish both in the mix. A redfish landed and released in Sarasota Bay this past week was one of his photographed catches. Water temperature is holding at 82°F at NOAA CO-OPS station 8726520 and 81.9°F at station 8726724, both read at 11:30 UTC. That is warm enough to keep fish feeding well. CB's Saltwater Outfitters (Sarasota) also notes the fall snook season on the Gulf Coast began September 1st, and the warm water this time of year keeps them active. Anglers working early mornings and evenings should have the best shot, which matches what Snook Nook (FL) reported farther up the east coast, where the fall mullet run has snook and tarpon feeding on bait schools.
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Expect the snook shift toward inside waters to continue as the month goes on. Per Capt. Grassett, that means more fish stacking up around ICW docks and bridges and on shallow flats, so those are the places to put your time. Smaller lures and flies are his preference this month, so downsizing is a sensible adjustment if the bite turns picky.
Tides are worth planning around today. At station 8726520 the next low is predicted for 13:14 UTC (9:14 AM EDT), with the next high at 19:51 UTC (3:51 PM EDT). At station 8726724 the next high is 17:02 UTC (1:02 PM EDT) and the next low 22:32 UTC (6:32 PM EDT). Moving water around bridges and dock pilings is typically where snook set up to ambush bait, so the tide change windows deserve attention.
With a New Moon in place, nights are dark, and anglers often find the tide swings stronger around new and full moons. Check local conditions and state regs before harvesting any fish. Tarpon are no longer the coastal Gulf story. Grassett's September forecast noted adult migratory tarpon would thin out of the coastal Gulf and move inside to rest and eat around bridges or over deep grass flats before migrating away, so any tarpon encounters now are likely to be of that kind, on spin gear with DOA lures or live bait.
Context
Mid-October is a transition period on this coast. Summer heat is easing, though 82°F water shows the Gulf is still warm, and snook are typically leaving their summer pass and beach haunts to begin working toward the sheltered backwater areas they use in winter. That is on schedule for the season rather than early or late.
Redfish are generally a steady inshore target through fall, and the bait-rich conditions that come with the autumn mullet migration along both Florida coasts tend to concentrate predators. Snook Nook (FL) described that mullet run on the Atlantic side, and the same seasonal baitfish push is general knowledge for the Gulf as well. Expect fishing to keep improving as water cools a few degrees and fish settle into their fall patterns.
Synthesized from real-time NOAA buoy data, USGS stream gauges, and current reports across regional fishing blogs, captain updates, and angler forums. Check local regulations before keeping fish. Never trust a single source for a trip decision.
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