November is a great month to be a fishermen in Florida. You can stroll out along most beaches, Gulf or Atlantic Coast, and catch Spanish Mackerel. These open-ocean predators are cruising close to the shoreline, making easy pickings for anglers armed with good spinning rods.

Capt. Brent Gaskill of Summer Vacation Charters in St. Petersburg has been using live bait on light spinning tackle to catch these feisty fighters but small jigs, spoons and flies will also work. You won't have trouble finding the fish. Just look for concentrations of birds diving on the surface, feeding on schools of baitfish. Where you find seabirds, you will find fish.

But be ready for anything. Mixed in with the mackerel you might also hook kingfish, sharks, barracuda and bluefish. This time of year you might also find large cobia migrating along local beaches. If you go, be prepared with a variety of tackle and baits to take advantage of any and all opportunities that may arise.

To learn more about Florida saltwater fishing, go to www.MyFWC.com.