Inshore Saltwater Fishing Tips for Fall: Spots, Lures, and Tactics

Autumn is a great time of year to be on the water and in this video, I’m going to share my best inshore saltwater fishing tips for fall. Compared to the summer patterns, there are some significant changes in tactics you will need to apply to have a successful day. We’ll look at weather patterns, where you can find the fish, what they’re feeding on, and what lures to use.

If you have any questions or want to share some of your top fall fishing tips, leave those in the comments below. Enjoy!

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Inshore Saltwater Fishing Tips for Fall

Recommended Tackle

• Mulligan 5″ Paddletail
• Mulligan 4″ Paddletail
• Moonwalker Topwater
• Skinny Lipper Twitchbait
• Prawn USA
• Prawn USA, Jr. 
• Hoss Helix Weedless Hooks
• Hoss Weedless Football Jigs
• Dr. Juice Saltwater Slam Formula

➡️ Check out my top fall lure recommendations and how to use them!

Key Takeaways

• Water temperatures are more comfortable, so fish are following the bait more than they’re holding close to deep water.
• Baitfish are plentiful and large this time of year, so focus on using lures that mimic them.
• There can also be shrimp runs in the fall, so switch over to shrimp lures if you see them around.
• In inshore bays and marshes, start looking toward points along river and creek mouths where there’s bait.
• Passes and inlets become very active in the fall with redfish, trout, and flounder all migrating through at different times during the season. Target jetties, docks, drop-offs, and other current breaks for the best success.

Inshore Saltwater Fishing Tips For Fall

Spots to Catch Saltwater Fish in the Fall

As you approach fall inshore saltwater fishing, the first thing to know is that the 90/10 zones are moving.

In the summer, the top areas are close to deep water where the water temperatures are cooler and the dissolved oxygen levels are higher.

As we roll into fall, the water temperatures are cooler and the fish are willing to follow the food further away from those deep points, though structure (especially areas around oysters) are still key. The pathway they’re following leads to their winter haunts in rivers and creeks. Instead of targeting ambush points around passes and inlets, the points around main river and creek mouths are more productive.

Don’t discount passes and inlets, though. There are several migrations that happen in the fall as fish move in and out of open water spawning grounds that make them a solid bet all season.

As fall begins, trout start moving in from open water and enter bays and marsh system. Typically, we’ll start seeing gator trout showing up. At the same time, bull redfish start moving out to head to their spawning grounds. Once the redfish start moving back in, flounder start their migration out.

In those area, look for current breaks where fish can hold. Jetty rocks, dock pilings, bridge pilings, and drop-offs are all great spots to target.

More Inshore Saltwater Fall Fishing Tips: How to Catch Fall Flounder: The Ultimate Guide

Lures and Baits to Use for Fall Saltwater Fishing

The primary food source for fall inshore saltwater fishing is baitfish. They are in large numbers and are running bigger than they did in the summer. You’ll see huge schools compared to the summer pods and it can be an all-you-can eat buffet for hungry fish.

If you’re fishing live bait, match the hatch as always. When it comes to lure selection, go with large baitfish imitations. 4″ and 5″ paddletails and similarly sized topwater lures and twitchbaits are the go-to. Try your best to match the size of the bait you’re seeing.

If you’re fishing passes and inlet, remember to use more weight on your soft plastics to get down to the bottom where fish are holding.

Bonus Tip: Bigger fish tend to work the outside edges of baitfish schools while smaller ones usually bust through the middle. Cast into the middle for the most tight lines or work the edges for higher quality.

There can also be shrimp runs during the fall, making them a good secondary option. Keep your eyes open for shrimp swimming by or flicking on top of the water. If you see them, something will be wanting to eat them.

Both live shrimp and shrimp imitations will work. Like the baitfish, try to match the size of your bait or lure to the size of the shrimp you’re seeing for the best odds.

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Salt Strong Members enjoy access to our game-changing Smart Fishing Spots app. Available on your computer and your phone, it puts a ton of information at your fingertips to help you catch more fish in less time!

Smart Spots point out places that are likely to hold fish. It’s not just a spot map, though. Taking into consideration the season, tides, and more, it updates every 15 minutes to show what areas to target and how productive they should be. You can even look into the future to help plan ahead. 

That’s just the tip of the iceberg. We have A TON OF FEATURES built in:

• Hourly Strike Score feeding predictions
• Tides
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• Public and private lands
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We’re working hard to ensure that Smart Fishing Spots is the best fishing app available. We’re not done, though. Our talented development team is constantly finding new ways to improve the app and make it even more valuable for both planning your trip and making decisions once you’re out there. 

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