For anglers who split the year between New England and Florida, the calendar works in their favor. The fall run on Cape Cod peaks as the water cools in September and October. By the time it winds down, the cooler months are bringing some of the year's steadiest inshore fishing to Southwest Florida.
Cape Cod: September through November
Fall is when Cape Cod's fish feed hardest before they move south or offshore for the winter.
- Striped bass. The fall migration moves down the coast from Maine, through Boston and Cape Cod Bay, and past the Cape Cod Canal, the Outer Cape and the South Side. On The Water's migration guide puts peak timing in the Canal in mid to late September, with fish passing the Cape into October and November.
- False albacore and bonito. These fast, light-tackle fish arrive in late summer and can run through October, often along the South Side from Falmouth to Harwich and in Buzzards Bay.
- Bluefin tuna. School-size and larger bluefin feed east of the Cape and off Provincetown and Chatham, and in some years stay into November when the weather allows.
- Tautog. As the water cools, tautog move into shallower rocky areas, and fishing for them improves through October.
Fall weather windows are shorter, and conditions change quickly. Plan offshore runs around the forecast, not the calendar.
Southwest Florida: December through March
Cooler water in Southwest Florida brings clearer conditions and steady inshore fishing around Sanibel, Captiva, Fort Myers Beach and Bonita Springs.
- Sheepshead. A dependable winter fish around docks, bridges and other structure.
- Redfish and spotted seatrout. Both hold on the flats and in the backcountry through the cooler months.
- Pompano. A winter target nearshore, and a popular fish for the table.
- Snook. Snook stay in the area, often moving up rivers and into warmer water during cold spells. On Florida's Gulf coast, snook harvest is closed from December 1 through the end of February. Catch and release is still allowed.
- Offshore. On calmer days, nearshore and offshore reefs hold grouper and snapper. Check current state and federal seasons before you keep anything.
Planning the move south
The gap between the two seasons is the time to get the boat ready for the next one. In New England that means winterizing and storage, or preparing the boat to head south. In Florida, it means having the boat commissioned and ready when you arrive.
Flying Bridge has locations at both ends of the season, from Falmouth, Woods Hole and Harbor Lights to Sanibel, Fort Myers Beach and Bonita Springs. Talk to the team about storage, service and slips in either region.
Call the New England team at 774-255-3457 or the Florida team at 239-504-4660, or see all locations.
Fishing regulations change. Check the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for current seasons, sizes and limits before you fish.
