September Can Be Warm, But Highly Productive
CAPT. RICK GRASSETT'S Monthly Fishing Forecast       

September is a top month to catch a slam in southwest Florida. Snook will be found in the surf and close to passes, reds will school up on shallow flats, tarpon will feed in bays and estuaries and trout will be found in skinny water at dawn. Deep grass flats will have a mix of trout, bluefish, ladyfish, Spanish mackerel and more. Fishing before dawn or early in the morning will be the most productive.

Snook season reopens on September 1st. Regulations have changed several times in the last few years. Snook now have a bag limit of one per day per angler between 28” and 33” on Florida’s west coast. Prime locations to find them will be in the surf and around lighted docks and bridges close to passes. Many beaches in my area from Anna Maria Island to Gasparilla Island are usually holding snook this month. Several factors that make an area productive are availability of baitfish, beach geography (a distinct trough with natural sand) and structure (rocks, pilings, etc.), although structure is not a requirement. Walk along the beach in the morning and look for snook cruising in the trough, hanging around structure or actively feeding on baitfish. Polarized sunglasses are a requirement to be able to spot them. Cast small white flies, jigs or plastic shrimp to them after you spot them.

You’ll also find lots of snook around lighted docks and bridge fenders. Snook will feed best when the tide is strongest. Make presentations along shadow lines with small white flies, jigs and plastic baits. When fishing dock lights it is important to not hit snook on the head with your lure or fly, since that will put them down and usually shut down the action. You might find larger snook or juvenile tarpon around bridges. Usually a 6 through and 8-weight fly rod or medium spinning tackle is adequate for most snook that you will encounter, although when tarpon are present you will have to beef up your tackle. I have seen tarpon as large as 100-pounds mixed with 10-pounders around bridges. The area from Siesta Key south “snook alley” near Venice should be productive for snook this month.

You’ll also find juvenile tarpon in creeks and canals from lower Tampa Bay to Charlotte Harbor. I prefer to fish the canal systems of upper Charlotte Harbor in the Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda area. There are miles and miles of canals, but not all will hold fish. The best ones usually have significant tidal flow and hard bottom that is 10’ or more deep. Look for rolling fish and cast flies on sinking lines or plastic baits on medium spinning tackle. You may find large tarpon in open areas of Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay and Charlotte Harbor. They move into these areas to feed after they are finished spawning. Although they won’t be tightly schooled, they will usually be feeding when you find them. Look for rolling fish or fish that are feeding around bait schools. Prime areas are north Sarasota Bay, Gasparilla Sound and upper Charlotte Harbor.

Reds will be found in large schools this month. Look for areas of nervous water or large wakes. They are easier to find when the tide is low but they could pop up at any time. I recently had a large school of reds find me while I was trout fishing close to a sand bar. The school of reds erupted on a school of baitfish as they pushed them past my boat giving us a shot at them. They will aggressively strike top water plugs and fly poppers. Wide profile flies, such as Deceivers and Enrico Puglisi (EP) flies are usually the most productive. Longer, deep body jerk worms are a good bait to throw with spinning tackle. Running the flats to find them is not good for the environment or the fish. After they are pressured a few times, they may retreat to deeper water and become much harder to find.

You’ll find a good mix of fish on deep grass flats. Trout, bluefish, pompano, ladyfish, jacks and more will be found feeding in and around bait schools on deep grass flats. You might even have a school of reds or tarpon come into a feeding frenzy, so be ready for anything. Fish areas where grass meets sand or fish around baitfish schools to locate fish. When predator fish force baits to the surface, anything can happen. Usually the longer the frenzy lasts, the more likely that other species of fish may find it. I’ve seen a food chain develop that started with a few baitfish on the surface and ended with sharks attacking tarpon in the fray. Cast jigs, plastic baits and flies around the edges of bait schools or feeding fish for the best action.

This a great month for catching quality fish. You might have an opportunity for a “bull” redfish, a large tarpon or snook and a “gator” trout. Fish early in the day for the best action. I often begin my trips at 4 or 5 AM and am done before noon, when heat starts to affect fishing.

Whatever you choose to do, remember to always limit your kill, don’t kill your limit!

Tight Lines,

Capt. Rick Grassett
Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc.
FFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
(941) 923-7799
E-mail snookfin@aol.com
www.flyfishingflorida.net and www.snookfin-addict.com