Septembers Fishing Report for 321 Fishing Charters

September Near Shore Fishing Forecast We will lose our Summertime water clarity but no worries because September can bring some great fishing opportunities. Spanish mackerel, blue fish and big red drum will show up toward the latter part of the month and the big sharks will be in the mix to feast upon them. Nothing is simpler or more fun than casting diamond jigs at schools of spanish mackerel and blue fish, save a few for the dinner table and a few for bait. Anchor in the vicinity of these schools and let a half of spanish mackerel or bluefish soak with #6 wire and a 6/0 circle hook with whatever pound test main line you choose depending on how sporty you feel but a reel loaded with 40 to 60 lb braid is a good place to start. Kick back and relax then have a blast pulling on black tip sharks and big red drum when things come tight. Snook fishing should remain very good throughout the month but if the water clarity is absolutely trashed from major storms you might need to wait it out a bit. Triple tail will stack on the buoy chains so hand pick live shrimp or small white baits to your favorite jig head or keep it simple with a knocker rig. The idea is to have your bait sink slowly down in the water column along the buoy chain or flotsam holding the fish. Tarpon fishing typically remains strong and they can be found up and down the beach wherever bait fish are abundant. Slot size red drum, black drum and sheepshead will also be abundant fishing the surf and jetties. Sliding sinker rig with live shrimp or clams will be the best all around baits to use. September's Offshore Fishing Forecast We will be looking to the deep water for answers in September. I say this with tropical storm conditions on my head as I write this so it is influencing my report quite a bit. Not all is bad when this happens. We can get awesome color changes offshore that depending on what depth can produce phenomenal fishing. I will start with the obvious, dolphin fish fishing can be really good after these conditions and I expect to see a handful caught this month along with the occasional sail fish, wahoo and black fin tuna. We may see more color changes closer in and this could give us some extended cobia time. I think the real home run for the month will be working the bottom in 140 ft or better. The snapper will be thick as they always are these days but the real way to produce a great bottom catch for the dinner table will be to target the trigger fish, sea bass, porgies and vermillion snapper using chicken rigs with small pieces of cut bait and squid. Of course always lower at least one  big bait for that bonus grouper or nice amberjack. If the water has a chance to clean up to a clean green within 60 to 100 feet of water September is a good month for king mackerel but for some reason my gut is telling me we may get on a pattern this September that will keep that water dirty inside of a 100ft but I hope I am wrong. We have lots of options and I am excited to get back out there to try it all