September in Southwest Florida means 2 things – early teal season, and redfish.
Although the change is slight, you can feel the weather shift oh so little in the direction of Fall . . . This means the redfish will begin to school up and roam the flats, gorging themselves on anything in their path.
My typical September pattern is to find the mullet schools . . . The Reds will almost always hold in the same areas. Watch for surface activity, as I’ve often run across reds and jacks schooled up together, busting the surface.
My clients will be throwing a variety of baits at these upper slot torpedos – staples include gold spoons; the Mirrolure Mirrodine (I prefer the pearl colored version); the white Aquadream spoon; and any type of live or cut bait. Our groups typically prefer artificials while we’re tracking the fish down . . . It allows us to cover more water and deal with fewer undesirables (read: catfish) . . .
If you want specifics, think Turtle Bay, the West Wall, and Bull Bay proper, as well as the flats out in front . . . Find some pockmarked bottom in the grass flats and see what it holds . . .
Snook, too, should begin to move off the beaches and into the backcountry – September is one of the better months for a “keeper slam” – slot trout, snook, and redfish . . . There isn’t a mangrove shoreline in Charlotte County that won’t produce this slam on a given day. Work soft plastics under the tree roots, look for the aforementioned mullet, or any promising surface activity. Or black out the livewell and pin a whitebait or pinfish under a popping cork for all-day action.
Speaking of bait – it’s everywhere now, and should continue to stick around for a while . . . Chum with fish food or whatever your special family blend of chum is, and watch for the silver flashes – it hasn’t been taking long . . . As of this writing, the bars from Devil Fish Key to Bull and Turtle Bay are loaded with 4-5″ bait, all you can catch.
Make sure you purchase your snook stamp if you plan to keep one for the fryer – but please cherish the resource as best you can . . .
Don’t overlook the Spanish Mackeral – hang a chum bag over deeper flats and have a fun filled morning of cut lines and screaming drags. The Goliath grouper bite is still on around the phosphate docks or the area bridges. Snapper should be slower inshore, as most move off to spawn.
Finally, don’t forget waterfowl season is fast approaching – if you’re interested in applying for an FWC quota hunt, the dates for application are September 16 – 26th. Early teal season will be upon us in late September as well, and I’ll spend every morning in a duck blind chasing those little brown birds. Get out now to scout area waterways (hint: start with Okeechobee) and put your time in to find some great wingshooting. Remember to be respectful of other hunters, putting a safe distance (and then some) between their blind and yours – Florida has some great duck hunting, but we all need to work together to ensure everyone has plenty of opportunities.
If you’re looking to come fish Northern Charlotte Harbor, come look me up – @travisthompson on social media, or www.gasparillacharters.com – we still have a few open dates in September to get on that big snook or a 25 redfish day!
