Sarah Mitchell
Outdoor writer and SUP fishing enthusiast based on the Outer Banks, covering seasonal patterns and conservation.
The fall transition is one of the most exciting — and challenging — times to be a SUP angler. Cooling water temperatures trigger massive baitfish migrations, and predatory fish respond with aggressive feeding behavior. But the patterns that worked all summer will leave you fishless if you do not adapt.
Reading the Temperature Drop
When water temps fall below 78°F, you will notice immediate changes. Mullet begin their annual southward migration along the beaches, drawing snook, tarpon, and jacks into the surf zone. On the flats, redfish school up in large groups — sometimes 50 or more fish — creating incredible sight-fishing opportunities from a SUP.
Adjusting Your Locations
Summer spots on deep grass flats often go quiet in fall. Shift your focus to creek mouths, river bends, and areas where moving water concentrates baitfish. Dock lights become productive at night as bait gathers around illumination. From a SUP, you can silently approach these structures without the noise of a motor.
Gear Adjustments
Upsize your lures to match the larger fall baitfish. Switch from 3-inch soft plastics to 5-7 inch paddle tails and jerkbaits. Topwater lures in the 5-inch range produce well during the fall mullet run. Consider adding a medium-heavy rod to your SUP setup for targeting larger fall species like bull redfish and snook.
Safety in Fall Conditions
Fall brings stronger cold fronts with rapidly shifting winds. Always check the forecast before launching and have an exit plan if conditions deteriorate. Water temperatures below 70°F warrant a wetsuit or at minimum a rash guard for wind protection. Days are shorter, so plan your sessions around available daylight.
Best Fall Patterns by Species
Redfish: Look for schools on shallow sand flats during low tides. Gold spoons and cut bait are top producers.
Snook: Target beach passes and inlet mouths during the mullet run. Large swimbaits fished in the wash zone are deadly.
Speckled Trout: Move to deeper grass flats (3-5 feet) as water cools. Slow-sinking twitchbaits worked with long pauses are the ticket.
