Inshore or offshore? Why Tampa Bay anglers have lots of fishing options in fall weather

Trick or treat? Or should I say inshore or offshore?

Following the strong mid-October cold front that had winds blowing from the north for about a week, beautiful weather set in for anglers with 80-degree plus days forecast ahead.

Water temperatures dropped into the low 70s, but have since risen to the magical high 70s. That puts fish in transition mode, and on calm days anglers may need to decide if they want to target fish inshore or offshore, as both can be productive.

For offshore recreational anglers, there will be two more weeks of red snapper. The first, Nov. 11-13 and final Nov. 25-27, may be the last time in many years both gag grouper and red snapper can be kept on the same day when changes are made next year. That will be the target for most if nice weather allows.

For those sticking closer to home than the usual 40-plus mile runs for red snapper, big kingfish have been sporadically caught by anglers fishing shallow waters.

Now that temperatures have begun staying in the 70s, we may see more fish showing for those who love drag screaming runs from the speedsters.

One of the big factors for kingfish is water clarity. It’s improving from the post-Hurricane Ian effects, but still not what we normally expect in the fall and winter.

Kingfish are heavy visual feeders, so clean water and schools of offshore bait should be sought for those looking to target them.

Fall time often brings strong east winds, and with it cleaner water off the beach can be expected.

Right now, mackerel have been everywhere both in the bay and beaches despite the water clarity. Those fishing around the Skyway and bay reefs have caught limits fishing live bait and shiny artificial like Got-Cha plugs and silver spoons.

Tripletail have also shown up well for anglers off the beach as stone crab season has been underway since mid-October, and with it crab trap pots they love to float behind are everywhere.

A shrimp or small white bait is a great way to get a tripletail and usually finding them is the hardest part.

Cobia have also caught more consistently, and big ones at that. Anglers fishing reefs and wrecks in the Gulf have caught the brown bombers as they migrate south.

A few have also been seen on the flats and more will show up as the water cools offshore. Chumming and fishing with a pinfish or blue runner in the mid water column is rarely turned down by a cobia.

For those who truly want to stay inshore, snook and redfish are still biting and in high numbers. This year has continued to provide some of the best of both that we’ve seen since past red tides and freezes have closed both fisheries at times.

This is the best time of year to catch a variety of fish. On a given day you could be offshore for grouper, snapper and kingfish then come back to catch snook, redfish and trout. A beautiful week of weather ahead should keep the diversity of catches coming.

This story was originally published October 30, 2022 at 7:00 AM.