Snook shift toward docks and bridges as fall settles in

What's biting

What's next

Tides set the schedule today. Station 8726724 shows a high at 1:41 PM and the next low at 6:52 PM local. Station 8726520 shows its next high at 4:42 PM. Falling water through the late afternoon and evening should pull bait off the flats and past structure, which is where snook ambush it.

With a New Moon, expect strong tidal movement over the next few days. Moving water around docks and bridges is the best bet, especially at first light and dusk. Grassett suggests smaller lures and flies this month, so downsizing is a sensible first adjustment if fish ignore larger offerings. Warm water keeps snook feeding hard, so we'd expect the dock and bridge bite to hold as long as the water stays this warm.

Saltwater Sportsman notes that the fall mullet run begins in September and runs well into November, on the Gulf as well as the Atlantic. Across the state in Stuart, Snook Nook reports snook, tarpon and jacks feeding on mullet schools, with the best fishing early and late in the day. We can't say that pattern has reached our stretch of coast yet. Still, watch for mullet moving along the beaches and inside edges, because snook and redfish will follow them.

For anglers who want to sharpen their fly skills, CB's Saltwater Outfitters will hold an Orvis-Endorsed fly fishing school on Saturday, October 24, led by Capt. Rick Grassett.

Context

Mid-October is a transition period on Florida's Gulf coast. The summer pattern of snook on the beaches and around the passes gives way to a fall pattern, as fish drift inside toward winter holding areas. This looks on schedule. Grassett's forecast describes exactly that move, and Kurtz's report of snook and redfish in Sarasota Bay fits it.

Water in the low 80s is still warm for the date, and it keeps fish active and willing to eat through the day. Cooler fronts later in the season will push fish deeper into protected areas, but that is still some weeks off.

Tarpon follow the same seasonal logic. Grassett's September forecast said adult migratory fish would move to inside waters, resting and eating around bridges and over deep grass flats before leaving the area. By now most are likely on their way out, though a few can linger around structure. Snook rules are seasonal and change, so check state regulations before harvesting any fish.