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October Surf Fishing Forecast
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Northeast Florida Surf Fishing Report for October By Surf-Fishing Guide Cathy Sanders, Fishin’ Girl, LLC
October brings a much-needed break from our excruciating temperatures, along with the threat of increased tropical activity. As I am writing this report, Tropical Storm Ian is pounding rain and winds over our region, bringing massive amounts of rainfall and flash floods to our area as well as the threat of tornadoes. As much as we love to be out in the elements while fishing, we have to exercise caution and common sense when it comes to dangerous weather!
Something else that October brings to the surf-angler’s mind is tournaments! Now that we are in the thick of the mullet run, bigger game fish are running in the surf, giving ample opportunities for catching some nice fish and winning sweet prizes. If you’re like me, you’ve got a few lined up already.
Baits for the Surf
The big news with bait in October is the mullet run. Before the storm hit, they were getting thick! I have videos of birds diving like crazy in front of me and larger fish chasing and jumping as they hunt down their next meal. It’s truly a wonderful sight, causing us anglers to rush to grab our nearest lure-casting rod to get in on the action.
I recently learned how to use a cast net, and that has been a game changer, especially with so many mullet running the beach. Being able to harvest your own bait is awesome, just pay attention to your daily limits and stay within state regulations. Mullet can be hooked live or cut into smaller chunks as fresh cut bait depending on the species you are targeting.
Sandfleas have still been very difficult to find this year, and the only reports I’ve heard of those who have found them were from either digging at least 4-5 inches down in the sand or wading out farther in the surf and using a sandflea rake. I have found a few near structures like pier pilings or submerged rocks, but even then it’s been sparse. Bryan Curlett in Jacksonville, Florida, warns us that as pompano return in October, they may not loiter on beaches with no food or they may stay further out if the fleas are in deeper waters, so keep that in mind when it comes to casting distance. He says to always stagger your baits until you find out where the fish are feeding. Put a line close in, midway, and farther out, then move all the lines to the zone where you are catching fish.
If you can get blue crab, that is always a choice bait, especially for pompano. Cut them up so you have the knuckles to thread onto the hooks. I always have an array of Fishbites in different colors and flavors, as well as glass beads from The Sinker Guy. Even if I don’t have time to stop at a bait shop on a shorter trip, I know I can catch fish with those.
Shrimp, of course, are always a choice bait to use in the surf. On a calm day (which we haven’t had too much lately) you can use a float rig off the pier and hook a live shrimp on a smaller hook attached by a 2-3 foot leader to keep the shrimp off the bottom. My favorite way to hook shrimp is to pinch off the hard shells of the head and tail (leaving the legs) and break it in half. Thread them on the hook and tip with a piece of Fishbites to secure them on.
Weather and Water Temps in the Surf
Here in northeast Florida, our water temperature has stayed fairly consistent the last few weeks at 83 degrees, but we should see that dropping to an average of 78 degrees, which is wonderful news for fishing. And with the tropics heating up, it should start cooling down our waters by stirring up the warmer surface water with the colder, deeper waters. Bryan Curlett says that with those cooler waters we should see bigger whiting returning to the surf zone, as many have summered in the rivers.
Spencer Brogden, of the BrokenReel23 Northeast Florida Surf Fishing group on Facebook, put out a fascinating video on YouTube in February 2021 based on his research from decades of Jacksonville pier reports about what fish species are commonly found at different water temperatures. It will open your eyes up to what species you should be targeting depending on the water temperature. I have watched it multiple times!
Remember in fall we still have super hot days, and it’s easy to get overheated. A few weeks back I was only planning to fish for a few hours one morning, so I didn’t bring anything with electrolytes. I unexpectedly ended up catching my biggest shark to date (almost 5 feet!), and between the long fight and the heat, I was bordering on heat exhaustion by the time I left the beach. So on hotter days, make sure to bring plenty of fluids and keep your body hydrated.
October Surf Fishing Strategy
Look for good beach structure when you head out to the beach and be prepared to move if you’re not getting any action after a while. Have more than one type of rig ready and use the bait that you are seeing on the beach. With mullet running, the fish will be looking for mullet to eat, so if you can catch some live mullet, hook one on a Carolina or fish-finder rig and make sure it’s on a pole with some backbone to handle larger fish.
I always have a double drop setup or two, a Carolina, and a shorter pole ready to throw artificial lures if I see bait busting nearby. Some artificial lures that work well in the surf are spoons, Got-cha plugs, and heavier lures to get longer casting distance. Use a fast retrieve for fast-moving fish like Spanish mackerel or bluefish, or a twitch-twitch-pause retrieve for flounder or sea trout.
It’s always more fun to fish with a friend, so why not reach out to someone and plan a fishing trip together? You’ll learn and grow from each other and create long-lasting memories too! Last of all, remember that it’s called fishing, not catching; so don’t get discouraged if you’re not seeing the results you want—view it as an opportunity to learn more. Don’t be afraid to try new things!
So have fun and enjoy your time at the beach this October. Tight lines!
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