Promising Fishing in the Gulf of Mexico: Navigating Weather and Tides for Redfish, Trout, and Cobia

As of October 9, 2024, the fishing scene in the Gulf of Mexico, particularly around Florida's coast, is looking promising despite some challenging weather conditions.

### Weather and Tides
Today, expect partly cloudy skies with a high of around 78 degrees Fahrenheit and a low of 68 degrees. Winds are predicted to be out of the west at about 10-15 mph, which might make the beaches more favorable for fishing if the winds hold. High tide is at 9:35 AM and low tide at 3:45 PM, with sunrise at 7:24 AM and sunset at 6:54 PM.

### Fish Activity
Yesterday saw a decent amount of fish activity, especially in the inshore areas. The cooler temperatures and dropping water temperatures into the low 70s have pushed fish into deeper waters, making them more active. Redfish and trout were particularly active in the flats, especially north of the Hwy 98 bridge in Apalachicola and around Dog Island near Carrabelle.

### Catches
Anglers reported catching a good number of redfish, with some trout and even a few cobia in the deeper waters. Surf fishing yielded mackerel and pompano, especially in the deeper troughs between sandbars.

### Best Lures and Bait
For inshore fishing, live shrimp are always a solid choice. Artificial lures such as gold or silver spoons, traditional grubs in colors like Gulf red, white, or new penny, and suspension lures in greenback or silver are also effective for redfish. For surf fishing, sand fleas, Fish Bites, or Fish Gum worked well for mackerel and pompano.

### Hot Spots
One of the hot spots for inshore fishing is around Postun Bayou, where redfish gather around docks and flats as the water temperatures drop. For offshore fishing, the passes on either end of St. George Island are great spots for targeting cobia using natural or artificial eels or brightly-colored jigs.

Overall, it's a good time to get out on the water, especially if you can navigate the winds and find the right spots. The fall season is shaping up to be an excellent time for fishing in the Gulf of Mexico.