Adult migratory tarpon should thinned out in the coastal gulf by September. They will move to inside waters to rest and eat before migrating away from our area. You may find them around bridges or over deep grass flats. Spin fishing anglers should connect with DOA Lures (Baitbuster, Shrimp and TerrorEyz) or live bait.
Snook fishing should be good during September. You should still find them in the surf in the coastal gulf and in the ICW around docks and bridges, close to passes. Since heat is still an issue in September, it is a good time of year to fish dock lights before dawn and then move to shallow flats or the surf. Fly anglers should do well with small white flies, like my Grassett Snook Minnow, which will also work in the surf. Spin fishing anglers should do well with live bait or CAL jigs and a variety of tails and DOA Shrimp.
Reds should be schooled up during September. You should find them on shallow flats when the tide is high or along the edges of flats and sand bars at low tide. Try to avoid spooking them by casting around the edges of the school. You may also find large spotted sea trout, jack crevalle and blues on shallow flats this month. They may be in potholes or mixed with schools of reds. Over slot trout are usually females, which in my opinion should be released since they are breeders Spin fishing anglers should score with live pilchards or top water lures, such as the DOA PT-7. Fly anglers should score with poppers, Gurglers and wide profile baitfish fly patterns.
You may also find trout on deep grass flats where they may be mixed with blues, Spanish mackerel or pompano. When fishing deep grass flats I like to drift and cast ahead of my drift with DOA Deadly Combos or live shrimp under a popping cork. Fly anglers should do well with synthetic fiber Clouser flies (due to toothy fish in the mix). Make a series of drifts to locate fish and then shorten your drift to zero in on them. Since stone crab traps aren’t in the water yet, focus on inshore crab trap floats (blue crab) to find tripletail and then use DOA Shrimp, live shrimp or lightly weighted flies with weed guards, to avoid snagging the crab trap line. Full regulations and details for all species can be viewed at www.myfwc.com.
I like to check the coastal gulf when conditions are good. You may find false albacore (little tunny) or Spanish mackerel in the coastal gulf, although it’s a little early in the season. Look for surface activity (breaking/feeding fish). I use small white flies, or CAL jigs for albies and mackerel. Look for surface action that may also attract sharks and tarpon into the fray. Although it’s too early for stone crab traps to be in the gulf, you may find an early tripletail on abandoned crab trap floats, channel markers buoys or any floating debris. I like DOA Shrimp, live shrimp or flies with weed guards when targeting tripletail.
There are lots of options this month I like to start in the dark before sunrise, targeting snook and juvenile tarpon around dock lights and then move to shallow flats at dawn to target reds and big trout.
Our natural resources are under constant pressure from red tides fueled by industrial, agricultural and residential runoff, freezes, increasing fishing pressure and habitat loss and degradation, please limit your kill, don’t kill your limit!
Rick is the owner of Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc. He's a full time fishing guide and outdoor writer based in Sarasota, FL. He’s been guiding since 1990 and is an Orvis-Endorsed fly fishing guide here at CB’s Saltwater Outfitters, the 2011 Orvis Outfitter of the Year.
Adult migratory tarpon should thinned out in the coastal gulf by September. They will move to inside waters to rest and eat before migrating away from our area. You may find them around bridges or over deep grass flats. Spin fishing anglers should connect with DOA Lures (Baitbuster, Shrimp and TerrorEyz) or live bait.
Snook fishing should be good during September. You should still find them in the surf in the coastal gulf and in the ICW around docks and bridges, close to passes. Since heat is still an issue in September, it is a good time of year to fish dock lights before dawn and then move to shallow flats or the surf. Fly anglers should do well with small white flies, like my Grassett Snook Minnow, which will also work in the surf. Spin fishing anglers should do well with live bait or CAL jigs and a variety of tails and DOA Shrimp.
Reds should be schooled up during September. You should find them on shallow flats when the tide is high or along the edges of flats and sand bars at low tide. Try to avoid spooking them by casting around the edges of the school. You may also find large spotted sea trout, jack crevalle and blues on shallow flats this month. They may be in potholes or mixed with schools of reds. Over slot trout are usually females, which in my opinion should be released since they are breeders Spin fishing anglers should score with live pilchards or top water lures, such as the DOA PT-7. Fly anglers should score with poppers, Gurglers and wide profile baitfish fly patterns.
You may also find trout on deep grass flats where they may be mixed with blues, Spanish mackerel or pompano. When fishing deep grass flats I like to drift and cast ahead of my drift with DOA Deadly Combos or live shrimp under a popping cork. Fly anglers should do well with synthetic fiber Clouser flies (due to toothy fish in the mix). Make a series of drifts to locate fish and then shorten your drift to zero in on them. Since stone crab traps aren’t in the water yet, focus on inshore crab trap floats (blue crab) to find tripletail and then use DOA Shrimp, live shrimp or lightly weighted flies with weed guards, to avoid snagging the crab trap line. Full regulations and details for all species can be viewed at www.myfwc.com.
I like to check the coastal gulf when conditions are good. You may find false albacore (little tunny) or Spanish mackerel in the coastal gulf, although it’s a little early in the season. Look for surface activity (breaking/feeding fish). I use small white flies, or CAL jigs for albies and mackerel. Look for surface action that may also attract sharks and tarpon into the fray. Although it’s too early for stone crab traps to be in the gulf, you may find an early tripletail on abandoned crab trap floats, channel markers buoys or any floating debris. I like DOA Shrimp, live shrimp or flies with weed guards when targeting tripletail.
There are lots of options this month I like to start in the dark before sunrise, targeting snook and juvenile tarpon around dock lights and then move to shallow flats at dawn to target reds and big trout.
Our natural resources are under constant pressure from red tides fueled by industrial, agricultural and residential runoff, freezes, increasing fishing pressure and habitat loss and degradation, please limit your kill, don’t kill your limit!
Rick is the owner of Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc. He's a full time fishing guide and outdoor writer based in Sarasota, FL. He’s been guiding since 1990 and is an Orvis-Endorsed fly fishing guide here at CB’s Saltwater Outfitters, the 2011 Orvis Outfitter of the Year.
