Welcome to mid-September on the Hudson Beach FL coast. The summer crowds are long gone, snook season is open, the mullet run is rolling down the shoreline, and the fall festival calendar is about to fill up across Pasco County. There is also fresh news for coffee lovers in Hudson, Florida, with a buzzy new cafe pouring shots and a big coffee name headed to the county. Here is your local update from Kathleen Paglaiccetti.
The Mullet Run Is Rolling & the Redfish Are Schooling
September is the month the locals wait for, and right now it is delivering. The fall mullet run is in full swing along the Hudson Beach FL shoreline, with thick schools of baitfish pushing down the coast and every predator in the gulf following them. Look for the tell-tale slicks, the diving birds, and the churn on the surface: that is where the action is.
The redfish are schooling in big numbers right now, ranging from slot fish to oversized bulls. Charter captains out of the Pasco County marina are finding them bunched up over rocks and oyster beds and along island shorelines, often moving right with the mullet. Live pinfish and gold spoons have been the reliable presentations, and the morning light-tackle bite has been the best of the season. Snook season, which reopened September 1, is still open through the fall window, so the inshore game is stacked across Hudson Beach FL right now.
Fishing Tip from Kathleen: The mullet run sets the daily schedule. Watch the bait, watch the birds, and be ready to move when you see a slick. Early mornings and the late afternoon bite remain best as the water cools from the summer heat. For launch points, shore spots, and charter services, see our complete fishing spots guide.
Fall Events Coming Up on the Pasco County Coast
The late-September calendar is filling in nicely, and these are the dates I would circle in Hudson, Florida and Pasco County:
8th Annual Comedy Night
A fun evening of laughs and community at the Elks Lodge, right here in Hudson Florida. A great way to ease into the fall season with neighbors.
Elevated Beer Dinner at Craft Life Brewing
A multi-course dinner paired with brewery brews at one of Hudson's popular local taprooms, a tasty way to spend a fall Saturday. Watch the brewery's social channels for ticketing details, and keep an eye out for the Summer Night Markets that have made Craft Life a favorite gathering spot in Pasco County.
2026 Fall Festival at Funville Farm
The premier fall celebration for Hudson Beach FL families returns September 27 at Funville Farm. The pumpkin patch, hayrides, petting zoo, and jumping pillow open alongside gem mining, all included with the $12 admission (ages 2 and under are free). It runs every Saturday and Sunday through November 2, making it the anchor of the fall calendar in Pasco County.
Why Fall Is the Best Season HereFriday Night Farmers Markets
The weekly Friday night markets continue through the fall in downtown Hudson and New Port Richey, with fresh produce, local artisans, food trucks, and live music. The coolest evenings of the year are the best for a stroll with a hot cup of locally roasted coffee.
For the complete, continuously updated calendar, check our events page.
New Coffee & Cafes to Know in Hudson Florida
The coffee scene along the Hudson Beach FL coast is growing, and two notes are worth a local's attention:
The Hawk's Hive Cafe
A new, affordable coffee-and-tea shop on US-19 in Hudson, Florida (15215 US Hwy 19, Ste F) that has quickly earned a buzz. The brown-sugar shaken espresso and house-baked banana bread are early standouts, and the American comfort-food lineup makes it an easy breakfast or lunch stop before a morning on the water. Open Monday through Saturday; closed Sundays.
15215 US Hwy 19, Ste F, Hudson · (727) 856-1260
And the coffee news keeps brewing: Better Buzz Coffee Roasters, the San Diego-based roaster, has announced plans to open its first Florida location in Pasco County. Nothing is poured yet, but it is a welcome sign of the county's growing dining and coffee scene.
Beach & Water Conditions Right Now
The Gulf along Hudson Beach is holding in the low 80s, warm enough to swim, wade, and paddle comfortably, and the beaches are gloriously quiet now that fall is in the air. There is no red tide to report along our stretch of the Pasco County coast at the moment, though it is always smart to check current conditions with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission or the Florida Department of Health beach advisory before a swim. Afternoon thunderstorms are shorter than they were in July, so mornings are the window for glassy paddling, and the early fall sunsets are already turning spectacular.
A Look Ahead: The Hernando County scallop zone stays open through September 24, a short drive south from Hudson Beach FL for one last scallop trip. October brings the first big fall festivals, and November delivers the Hudson Seafest and the Tarpon Springs Seafood Festival on the waterfront. The good days are coming in fast.
The Bottom Line: Mid-September on the Hudson Beach FL coast is the sweet spot of the fall turnaround. The mullet run is rolling, the redfish are schooling across Pasco County, the Comedy Night and Funville Farm's fall festival are on the way, and new coffee spots are opening in Hudson, Florida. The water is warm enough to swim, the beaches are quiet, and the best of fall is just ahead.
See you out there,
Kathleen
