By Terry Gibson
 

October is a great time for a fishing trip to the Keys, no matter what type of fishing you prefer. Just about everything is biting.

And if the Florida Keys ever experience an "off-season," it's in September and October when you can score great rates on hotels, and probably work out a good deal with a guide if you fish for a few days.

For offshore anglers, cooling water temperatures concentrate reef fish and predators, including dolphin, kingfish and sailfish, along the reef edge. Chances are great you'll catch all three species, and put a few snapper and grouper in the box.

Reef fish numbers also pick up on the patch reefs inside the edge. This is an ideal situation to introduce kids to fall fishing in Key West, or get them to love it even more. The action for yellowtail and other snappers, grunts and mackerel is fast and furious.

For flats anglers, this is one of the best times of year to target bonefish and permit. Those cooling waters make the flats comfortable for these species all day long. And if you make the run back into Everglades National Park, October is prime time for redfish as well.

Just pick a Key. Fall fishing in Key West is great for the whole family!