September Fishing Report - 9/05/07
As we enter September, cooler weather is on the not too distant horizon. Some years, this first cool morning will be in mid September, in others, like last year, it pushes into October. Whenever this occurs, it signals the beginning of the fall snook bite. Already, these fish are beginning to move back inside. In the last week, I have seen groups of snook on typical early fall transition areas such as spoil islands, inside points and oyster bars surrounded by deeper water. For the most part, these fish swim idly by your bait, showing little interest in eating. The best times to entice these less than aggressive fish are during periods of low light and on strong tides. Once the snook feel the water temps beginning to drop, it will signal to them that it’s time to fatten up for the long winter, and they will feed much more aggressively. Although the catch numbers are not as great as they are in the spring, you can still have some very productive days catching large snook in the fall. Baits include white bait, grunts, ladyfish and pinfish. As you go out to catch your first snook of the fall, remember that the regulations have changed. Most importantly, the new slot limit has been tightened to 28 to 33 inches. Also, the season has been shortened. The only months during the year when you can legally keep a snook are now September, October, November, March and April.
Redfishing through August has been very good, and this bodes well for September and October, which are typically some of the best redfishing months of the year. Fishing shaded dock areas, the mangrove shorelines on high tides, and certain grass flats has yielded many quality fish. Larger fish will school up even better as we head into fall and, with the prolific catches of smaller fish last winter, I would expect some fantastic fishing on the grass flats in the next few months. Although I prefer to fish incoming higher tides, large fish can be caught during the last of the outgoing tides as well. Look for potholes near areas where you have seen redfish as these low tides will “force” them into the holes. Again, the trick to redfish is finding them. If you do, and you don’t spook them in the process, they will eat most offerings…shrimp, pilchards, pinfish and cut bait.
Small trout are still readily available on our local grass flats but you’ll work hard to catch those quality fish that you find in the winter. This being the case, I leave them alone until November rolls around. Thanksgiving usually signals the return of the “big boys” in sizable numbers. That will be here before you know it.
With the abundance of small bait in St Joseph’s sound and around the beaches, the Spanish mackerel invasion should start soon. I’ve been catching them sporadically over the last few weeks. For the best chance to keep a couple of rods “bent over” near shore, go out early before the wind comes up and look for the small bait schools. The birds will help you locate them. Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and trout will be following these schools around and a very small silver spoon or jig with some flash will work well if cast into the schools and retrieved quickly. A free lined shrimp in these areas does the job also. Fishing should be getting better by the day, so get your tackle ready and get out there.
Captain Stewart Ames
727-421-5291
