September and October are the months where East Central Florida anglers are able to catch and release huge bull redfish in the 30 to 40 pound category.

These mogan breeder fish are loaded with sperm and eggs and start to weigh in at about 18 pounds. 

The tight schools sometimes number in the hundreds and unlike fish in other areas, the Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River redfish do not spawn in the Gulf or Atlantic ocean. 

This rare population of "landlocked" redfish spawn and live their entire lives in the shallow estuaries of the northern Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon.

Many of the bull redfish from the Mosquito Lagoon move through Haulover Canal in the early fall to gather in the northern Indian River where they seek deeper water for their spawning activities.

The fish group up in 5 to 6 foot deep water east of the Scottsmoor and Mims boat landings in relatively large schools where they will eagerly devour cut baits, live pinfish, grunt, finger mullet and a variety of artificial baits.

The trick is to find the schools. 

Unless you have a trained eye it's difficult finding a school of reds, even when there are a couple hundred fish in the school.

The best chance for success is on calm days with a clear sky. 

When the fish are moving they are much easier to spot.  The lead fish (usually the larger female breeders) actually push a wall of water ahead of the school.  This makes detecting a school and keeping up with their direction relatively easy.

Once you catch up with them, if you don't spook them, they will readily take live baits and artificials.

I have yet to catch one on a fly rod but from what the guys tell me it's a blast.

If you're looking to catch a trophy redfish, now through November is the time to do it.

The gator trout are finishing up their spawning this month and can still be caught along with the giant redfish in the same general areas.

Target active schools of finger mullet on the grass flats or creek mudflats and you'll find sea trout on the perimeter.

The best baits are pigfish and live mullet for live bait and a variety of top water plugs when throwing lures.  I personally favor the Zara Spook Jr., Chug Bug and small size trout color SkitterWalk.

The higher than normal water levels for this time of the year has allowed the fish to forage in areas that have not been accessible for the past few months.

The newly flooded shallows have produced many new feeding grounds for the resident fish population that many anglers don't even think about fishing, especially in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

This year we have had the best showing of Tarpon inshore in this area since 2009.

Typically, the last month to find consistent Tarpon action before they migrate out of the area is September. Most of the inshore fish will be pushed out into the ocean along the beaches and gone by mid to late October.

The best action this time of year is in the ICW between Ponce Inlet and the Mosquito Lagoon.

Most of the fish are juveniles in the 20 to 40 lb class and a few adults have been caught in the 80 to 100 lb plus category.

Early morning is the best time to target these acrobats and when the conditions are right, they will take almost anything in their paths.

Pinfish, live mullet and menhaden are the preferred live baits of choice in Central Florida.

Swimbaits, DOA baitbusters, and Hogy's are the most productive lures of choice.

Haulover Canal will continue to be a hotspot for over sized bull reds this coming month. 

 

As the fish migrate through the canal into the north Indian River to spawn, they tend to congregate at the entrance of the canal where they can be caught using blue crab, cut ladyfish, pigfish, pinfish or finger mullet.

 

I have caught a few bull redfish over 44" on gold Johnson spoons when the current in the canal slacks up. 

 

Fish the spoons just off the bottom as slow as possible when fishing from shore and hope they don't cut off on the coquina rocks when you bring them in.

 

Haulover Canal is always great fishing, but October can be an exceptional month.

 

 

If you care to drive down to Sebastian, you can still pick up fair numbers of flounder using mud minnows, shrimp or small finger mullet on a sliding sinker rig.

Short 12" to 14" fluorocarbon leaders will keep the baits on bottom.