Fishing in West Central Florida in October
Gabriella Svoboda
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October fishing in the west central region of Florida has been good. Inshore, the snook, redfish, pompano, and gag grouper have been biting. Offshore, at this time of year you'll mainly catch king mackerel, cobia, and Spanish mackerel. 
Snook are in bays and around mangrove islands following bait schools. The best way to get a hit is to free line a big pinfish. Snook will also hit a shrimp on a top water plug. For getting these fish at night try around dock lights and bridge fenders. If you are a beginner, I suggest using 30 pound test line to catch snook. But if you like more challenge use 12 pound test line with a 30 pound leader.
Redfish school up tightly inside bays and are all over grass flats. They feed on flood tides against mangrove shorelines. This is a time of year when the big bull reds bite. The easiest way to target redfish is to look for schools of mullet. Casting with a shiny jig through mullet schools is an almost sure way to get a decent size red. However a free-lined finger mullet works the best and if there are any reds around they are sure to hit.
Pompano are showing up along beaches chasing large schools of bait. You can also find them by passes and on the edge of inshore flats. Sand fleas or shrimp work the best for live bait but you'll also get plenty of action with silver spoons or nylon jigs with a short skirt. If you are using artificial bait, it's critical to bounce jigs up and down when reeling
Gag grouper can be found in bays by Tampa. Dropping live baits to the bottom of structures are probably your best bet to catching one. Pinfish or finger mullet are their favorite; however they will also take a shrimp or a chunk of squid. They are mostly medium-sized which ranges from about 18 to 24 inches.
Offshore large schools of bait are attracting king mackerel, tarpon, and cobia. For tarpon live crabs or pinfish work the best. Free line sardines if you are going for king mackerel. Cobia will hit anything. First try using an artificial eel and if they don't take it then switch to shrimp, live crabs, or pinfish.
Snook are in bays and around mangrove islands following bait schools. The best way to get a hit is to free line a big pinfish. Snook will also hit a shrimp on a top water plug. For getting these fish at night try around dock lights and bridge fenders. If you are a beginner, I suggest using 30 pound test line to catch snook. But if you like more challenge use 12 pound test line with a 30 pound leader.
Redfish school up tightly inside bays and are all over grass flats. They feed on flood tides against mangrove shorelines. This is a time of year when the big bull reds bite. The easiest way to target redfish is to look for schools of mullet. Casting with a shiny jig through mullet schools is an almost sure way to get a decent size red. However a free-lined finger mullet works the best and if there are any reds around they are sure to hit.
Pompano are showing up along beaches chasing large schools of bait. You can also find them by passes and on the edge of inshore flats. Sand fleas or shrimp work the best for live bait but you'll also get plenty of action with silver spoons or nylon jigs with a short skirt. If you are using artificial bait, it's critical to bounce jigs up and down when reeling
Gag grouper can be found in bays by Tampa. Dropping live baits to the bottom of structures are probably your best bet to catching one. Pinfish or finger mullet are their favorite; however they will also take a shrimp or a chunk of squid. They are mostly medium-sized which ranges from about 18 to 24 inches.
Offshore large schools of bait are attracting king mackerel, tarpon, and cobia. For tarpon live crabs or pinfish work the best. Free line sardines if you are going for king mackerel. Cobia will hit anything. First try using an artificial eel and if they don't take it then switch to shrimp, live crabs, or pinfish.