Cool weather and water temperature brings better fishing in Florida’s Gulf of Mexico
In the upcoming weeks, there will be anglers making a lot of money chasing one of the fastest fish in the ocean.
Kingfish tournaments will be making their way along the west coast of Florida and they couldn’t come at a better time.
When the first yearly blast of cold air came south across the Gulf of Mexico nearly two weeks ago, it brought the fishing to life. For the first time since May, water temperatures fell below 80 degrees, and that means prime fishing for kingfish and other pelagic species before it gets too cold.
Dropping temperatures in the fall start off the yearly migration of fish masses from the northern Gulf heading south to follow bait. When the conditions are right, bait and pelagic fish come close to the beaches, and that is happening now.
A second blast followed it up this past Wednesday. While not as severe in terms of cold temperatures, it turned winds back to the north for a day before a strong east wind took hold.
That pattern of strong east winds in congruence with dropping temperatures means beach fishing is at its best. Schools of bait bring in kingfish, mackerel, sharks, bonita and more from hundreds of yards off the beach out to the nearshore reefs.
Captains love this time of year. Bait is easy, be it at the Skyway, on the flats or on the beach where schools of pilchards can easily be obtained. By getting out to the beach, an east wind means calm close to shore and birds usually point of feeding fish.
Looking around birds and bait is a great and easy way to locate fish. Anchoring up and chumming live bait will bring aggressive feeders right to the boat. Casting out free-lined baits on spinning rods with a long shank hook or small piece of wire should get quick action. If cut-offs from mackerel and kingfish begin, a heavier piece of 60- to 80-pound leader can usually hold up longer.
Fishing just for fun the action provided out on the beach is hard to beat. The screaming drag of a big mackerel, bonita or kingfish is the thrill many anglers are searching for. Some anglers are heading out to find bigger fish, and that is where the old adage bigger bait for bigger fish is true.
Bigger baits like threadfin and blue runners can be trolled along the beach bait schools in search of big kingfish. This past week has produced fish up to 40 pounds less than a mile off Anna Maria Island.
Kingfish tournaments are now in full swing and next weekend will be the world’s largest with the 30th Annual Fall King of the Beach. The spring version paid out over $107,000 to winning team Laggerhead with a 38.87-pound fish. Fishermen will hope for a strong east wind to keep big, smoker-sized kingfish close to shore which evens the playing field in the distance-limited tournament.