Spring or Fall ?

[Cranfield]

You are going to be fishing inshore mainly, so when would you prefer to fish,
May/June, or September/October ?

Don't cheat and say "both".

I am also thinking about settled weather, as well as catch prospects.

[Sir reel]

Lots of variables and opinions..... but given your criteria, I like April/May best so I guess I'd have to say May/June. Come in Feb so you can be part of our BigBendFishing Social and then just hang around till the fish'n suit's ya

[Will_Fish_4_Food]

Based on the Cobia factor being in play.....May/June

[Seachaser]

Unless there is a hurricane, the weather is more predictable. I seem to catch bigger fish in the fall, but it could be just luck.

[Eerman]

I like fall; but, like Seachaser said, you gotta worry about hurricanes.

[tin can]

Yes.

Seriously, I prefer the fall.

[wevans]

I, I, I, sorry, I just can't choose I like 365 days a year

[Chalk]

I like 365 days a year as well....If I had to pick, it would be April and May...I laid down some impressive catches this past spring and can't wait for the upcoming spring....I find the fish to be more aggressive, the fish have scraped by all winter and the baitfish are moving back in....the fall is nice, but you throw in the transistion to autumnal equinox, the days get shorter, tides are lower...both are good, I just prefer the spring tides, new life, new year....You need to plan your trip in the fall, cause I'm coming over in the the March/April time frame for you to take me fishing

[Cranfield]

Thanks, I appreciate the comments.

We have been over in the Spring many times and the fishing has been good and the weather quite settled.

Our Autumnal trips have been cursed with short bursts of shocking weather (we were marooned in a house on stilts, on SGI for 2 days a few years ago and have had other major interruptions to our plans), but the fishing has seemed to be even better.
If I am ever going to catch a tarpon ,or a bull red, I have to be there early Autumn.

My Wife is the cautious one and so perhaps it will be a family trip in the Spring and a "stag" trip in the Autumn.

Chalk, have you seen the current rate of exchange ?
If you decide to sell a kidney and still come over, I can hopefully show you some rainbow trout fishing, but March/April is a very doldrums time for fishing here.
My Wife knows lots of nice shopping places to visit.

[jsuber]

I fish 5 to 7 days a week during both periods.

[Littoral]

May/June
Easy choice. Inshore temps are too high in Sept/Oct.
Oct/Nov? I'd have trouble deciding.
And I would pick Jan/Feb over either.