November 2024 - Prime Fall Fishing

With water temperatures dropping into the 70s, many species were feeding aggressively ahead of winter. Speckled trout were thick on deeper grass flats, while redfish were still in their fall patterns, schooling up in big numbers on shallow sandbars.

The kingfish run peaked, providing fantastic nearshore action. Spanish mackerel, cobia, and even a few late-season tarpon were also mixed in.

For bottom fishing enthusiasts, gag grouper and mangrove snapper were excellent targets, with many fish caught in 40–80 feet of water. Hogfish also began showing up, making nearshore trips highly productive.

🔹 Best Bait: Live shrimp for trout; blue runners for kingfish; cut bait for grouper

🔹 Hot Spots: Sarasota Bay for trout; nearshore reefs for kingfish; offshore ledges for grouper