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© St. Petersburg Times, published October 29, 2002
To most, fall brings the thought of leaves and changing colors. In the bay area, the colors we think of are red, as in schools of redfish found on almost every productive flat and sandbar.
Over the past several weeks, redfish have been on outgoing and incoming tides. Schools can be found along Rattlesnake Key, Terra Ceia Bay, the Bulkhead, Mullet Key, Cockroach Bay, Caladesi Island, the mouth of the Anclote River and almost any other productive flat. Schools have ranged from 20 fish to hundreds. Smaller schools have 18-inch to 27-inch slot fish; larger schools are made of 30-inch-plus bull reds, with a few slot fish mixed in.
Move ahead of the school and let them come to you. Try not to get in front of them, stay on either side of the school and, most important, do not chase it. If you are using live bait, put it about 2 feet in front of the school. I prefer to freeline a live pinfish or whitebait, using about 3 feet of 20-pound fluorocarbon as a leader. If you use a cork, remember that it makes noise when it hits the water, so give yourself a few extra feet in front of the school.
For artificial bait, I prefer gold spoons or scented jerk baits. Cast past or beside the school and bring the baits across the school's path. You want your bait to look as natural as possible.
Once you find a school, you should be able to catch more than your fair share of fish. Remember to practice conservation and that you can't catch a fish if you don't have a line in the water.
-- Capt. Leiza Fitzgerald, Adventure Specialist and Fishing Instructor for Executive Adventures, (727) 450-1585.