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LOCAL REPORTS & CATCH PHOTOS VOLUME 31 • ISSUE 378

PHOTO CREDIT: CAPT. SHANE TROTTIER WHATEVER TURNS U ON FISHING CHARTERS WWW.WHATEVERTURNSUONFISHING.COM IG: @WHATEVERTURNSUON

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PRO FISHING TECHNIQUES

Snook Season Must Haves

CAPT. MIKE SMITH

inally, September is here and everyone’s favorite inshore fish is back on the menu. This article will cover the best bait and tackle to hunt down slot-sized linesiders. Check your local rules and regulations before keeping any snook. You can do jail time and get heavy fines by harvesting under- and over-slot snook.

WHAT TACKLE DO YOU NEED TO CATCH A KEEPER SNOOK?

It really depends upon where you are fishing for them. If you are out on the flats or on the beach, then you can get away with lighter tackle. You can land a slot snook with a medium-action rod, a 2500 series reel spooled with 10 pound braid and a 30 pound leader. You don’t need heavy tackle when there is no structure around to get cut off on. If you are fishing for snook around docks, bridges, rocks, mangroves or oyster bars, then you might want to use heavier tackle. A medium/ heavy rod with a 4000 series reel spooled with 20 pound braid and a 40 pound leader will usually do the trick.

WHAT ARE THE BEST BAITS FOR CATCHING SNOOK?

Natural baits usually work the best for snook. Snook love croakers, pinfish, mullet, shrimp and white baits like threadfin herring. The key to using natural baits is using the correct sized hook for the bait that you are using. You wouldn’t want to use a 5/0 hook with a shrimp or a white bait because it’s too heavy to allow the bait to swim. You would want to use a 1/0 or 2/0 hook for those smaller baits. Conversely, you would not want to use a small hook for a large, 10-inch mullet. The small hook would most likely not set properly once the snook ate it. You would want to use a 5/0 or larger hook for a large mullet. You want to match your hook to the bait

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SEPTEMBER 2026

size, not the size of the fish that you are trying to catch.

WHAT ARE THE BEST LURES FOR SEPTEMBER SNOOK?

The best thing about September is the mullet run typically begins about then. Millions of mullet will flood the inshore and offshore waters of Florida; a little later for Georgia and the Carolinas. Every marine predator will be gorging themselves on these delicious baits. Mullet imitations of varying sizes will be a good bet when the schools are passing through. The key is to match the size of the mullet in your area. Mullet within the schools might range from 15 inches down to 4-inch finger mullet. Large topwater lures work great around the outer parts of the schools. My personal favorites are Heddon’s Super Zara Spooks in pearl white, but oftentimes they will hit any color that mimics the size and profile of the fish they are feeding on correctly. Another great choice is the D.O.A. Bait Buster Shallow Runner. This is a soft plastic topwater/ subsurface lure that perfectly matches 4- to 5-inch mullet. Go get ’em. Capt. Mike Smith, owner of Fish Your Ass Off Charters, has been fishing the inshore waters, oyster bars and grass flats of Florida for more than 40 years. Reach him at (561) 339-2317, email: contact fishyourassoff.com or visit fishyourassoff.com.

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TIPS FROM A PRO •

DROP SHOT FOR THE TOUGH BITE

TYLER WOOLCOTT

he end of summer is drawing near, and the !shing is getting a little tough. From !shing pressure through the summer to warm water temps, this September can be a grind at times. Fish tend to get a little lock-jawed, and this can be really frustrating. When this scenario presents itself, I pull out a spinning rod, downsize my line and bait, and slow down my presentation to get !nicky !sh to eat. One of my favorite techniques this time of year is a drop shot. My drop shot rig consists of a weight tied to the end of the line with a hook and soft plastic tied in about 12 to 18 inches above the weight. #ere are two styles of baits I like to drop shot. One of them is a !nessestyle worm like the 13 Fishing Rabbit Ear Joy Stick Ultra #in 4.5’ worm. I like a worm on my drop shot when I’m targeting largemouth, especially in Southern states. #ese !sh are usually feeding on a little bit larger forage, and the !nesse worm is a perfect !t. Rig this worm on a 1/0 Hayabusa FPP Straight hook with a 1/4- or 3/8-oz. WOO! Tungsten weight for the perfect presentation. #e other soft plastic I like on a drop shot is a small bait!sh imitator. #e 13 Fishing Vertigo Minnow gets a ton of bites. When you !nd !sh chasing small bait!sh or you’re up north where there are smallmouth bass, this style of soft plastic gets the job done. Rig it on a Hayabusa DSR132 #1 !nesse hook with a 1/4- or 3/8-oz. WOO! Tungsten weight, as well. I like to keep things simple when it comes to colors. With !nicky !sh, you want your bait to look as natural as possible. I match colors to the forage in the lake. When throwing the !nesse worm, my favorite colors are the green pumpkins and even pinkish colors like a morning dawn. With the bait!sh, I stick to white and pearl or your green pumpkin and brown. A drop shot is an awesome way to get bites when it gets tough. With the bait suspended o$ the bottom above your weight, it gives !sh a di$erent presentation than the normal Texas rig. Pitch it around hard cover like

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wood and rock, drag it through grass or throw it around dropo$s or deep spots. I always have a drop shot rigged this time of year, and it puts !sh in the boat. Drop Shot Gear: A drop shot is a !nesse approach. I use a 13 Fishing Omen Black 7’1” medium fast action rod paired with a 2500 size spinning reel. Spool this combo with Seaguar 10-lb. Smackdown braid leading to an 8- to 12-lb. Abrazx fluorocarbon leader depending on the cover and water clarity you are dealing with. Capt. Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler, as well as owner/ operator of Florida Big Fish Adventures, providing bass and saltwater guided fishing trips: www.floridabigfishadventures.com.

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LAUGHTER, LUNACY & LOBSTERS

PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES®

here is a special kind of chaos that happens when you put your entire family on a center-console boat in the Florida Keys with a pile of lobster gauges, oversized gloves, nets and tickle sticks. Everyone starts the day believing they are an expert lobster hunter. #at con!dence usually lasts until the !rst person gets into the water. Our mission was simple: catch Florida spiny lobsters. #ey have long antennae, great camouflage, and the ability to shoot backward faster than you would think possible. #e basic idea sounds easy. You snorkel across the shallow reef, look under rocks and ledges, and watch for antennae sticking out. Once you !nd a lobster, you slide a tickle stick behind it and gently tap it forward. #en you position your net so that when the lobster shoots backward, it goes right into the net. At least, that is how it is supposed to work. With my family, it looked more like an underwater comedy show. At one point, my teenager managed to guide a lobster straight toward his own shorts. #en we tried to measure our !rst catch underwater with the required lobster gauge and accidentally let it escape.

S By Capt. Michael Okruhlik Watching it disappear while everyone was laughing through flooded masks was probably the funniest part of the day. For the !rst few hours, the lobsters were winning. We missed with the nets, bumped into each other and wasted plenty of time chasing lobsters that had already found another hiding place. Eventually, though, we started to !gure it out. We found several lobsters tucked beneath a patch of seagrass and !nally got into a rhythm. One person worked the tickle stick while another handled the net. Every lobster was measured carefully before going into the bag. By the end of the afternoon, we had a legal catch and enough lobster for a meal none of us would soon forget. One of the best things about lobstering in the Keys is that some dockside restaurants will cook your catch. We pulled up to a restaurant o$ering “Hook and Cook,” handed our bag to the chef, grabbed a table seaside and waited. #e chef served the lobster !ve di$erent ways. We had split tails grilled with garlic butter, lightly fried lobster, blackened, chilled lobster with mango and lime,

and a few others. Every dish was di$erent, and every plate came back empty. By the end of the night, we were tired, sunburned and covered in dried saltwater, butter and mango juice. We didn’t catch the biggest lobsters in the Keys, and we de!nitely didn’t look like professionals doing it. But we caught enough for an incredible family meal—and made the kind of memories we will probably laugh about for years.

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Rahill Wins 2026 Florida Python Challenge

he Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and partners announced the results and winners of the 2026 Florida Python Challenge, an event intended to raise awareness about invasive species while engaging the public in Everglades conservation through removal of invasive Burmese pythons. Over the course of the 10-day event, 907 Python Challenge participants from 30 di$erent states, as well as from Canada and Vietnam, collectively removed 280 invasive Burmese pythons from south Florida. A highlight of this year’s event was the return of Everglades National Park as a partner and one of eight o&cial Python Challenge competition locations. #is year’s Ultimate Grand Prize winner of $10,000 was Tom Rahill (pictured), who removed 96 Burmese pythons during the competition—all of which were removed from Everglades National Park, contributing directly to Everglades conservation. #e longest python of the competition was also removed from Everglades National Park, measuring 16 feet, 5 inches, and removed by Rahm Levinson. “#e number of invasive pythons removed from the Everglades during the 2026 Florida Python Challenge is a major victory for Florida’s native wildlife and a testament to what can be accomplished through strong partnerships and public participation,” said FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto. “#e 2026 Florida Python Challenge was a resounding success, made possible by the dedication of our sta$, the generous support of our partners, the continued leadership of Gov. DeSantis and the commitment of the many competitors who participated in this year’s event. With more than 1,600 pythons removed through Florida Python Challenge events to date and more than 19,000 removed by FWC and South Florida Water Management District contractors since 2017, these collective e$orts continue to reduce the threat Burmese pythons pose to Florida’s native wildlife and ecosystems.” #e 2026 Florida Python Challenge was hosted by the FWC and the South Florida Water Management District, working closely with partners at the National Park Service and the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida.

For more information on Burmese pythons, visit MyFWC.com/Python. The public can also help by reporting pythons and other nonnative snakes, tegus and monitor lizards to FWC’s Invasive Species Hotline at 888-IVE-GOT1 (888-483-4681), and by reporting sightings of other nonnative fish and wildlife online at IveGot1.org or by downloading the free IveGot1 smartphone app. More information on nonnative species can be found at MyFWC.com/Nonnatives.

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LAST-MINUTE TRIP PRODUCES RECORD BLUE RUNNER By CAM Staff

last-minute invitation to go !shing turned into a trip for the history books when Danny Ireland landed a 10.1-pound blue runner, breaking a Florida state record that had stood for nearly 30 years. #e !sh surpassed the previous Florida record of 8.5 pounds by nearly 2 pounds—and came within 1.1 pounds of the 11.2-pound world record. #e remarkable catch happened Saturday, April 18, after his friend Brandon called Ireland late on the night before to invite him along on a family o$shore !shing trip in Southwest Florida. Ireland’s original plans for the weekend had fallen through, so he jumped at the opportunity. #e group started at one spot that produced little action before moving to a nearby reef and began to chum. Brandon quickly got some yellowtail snapper !red up and started catching them one after another. After trying unsuccessfully for mangrove snapper with his girlfriend’s rod, Ireland switched to his go-to setup: an 8-foot Shimano Teramar paired with a Penn Slammer 4500 DX, rigged with approximately 20 feet of 20-pound leader and a 1/0 hook. He free-lined a piece of thread!n to the left of the yellowtail school. “A couple left the school to come over to my bait, and before I knew it, the bait disappeared on the surface, dragging and ripping instantly,” he recalled. At !rst, he thought he might have hooked a mahi-mahi. But the powerful run quickly suggested otherwise. #e !sh took him around the back of the boat and became tangled in several lines, forcing the crew to cut them in an e$ort to keep the !sh hooked. Ireland was doing everything he could to end the !ght, even cupping the spool and tightening the drag in hopes of breaking the line so he could get back to !shing for snapper. But when the !sh !nally came within sight of the boat, everything changed. “#at’s a record blue runner! Get it in the boat!” Brandon yelled. #ere was just one problem: the landing net broke.

With no other option, Ireland grabbed the blue runner by the tail and managed to pull it aboard. #e group took photos before getting back to !shing and continued catching !sh throughout the day. It wasn’t until they returned to an area with cell service that they realized just how signi!cant the catch might be. Ireland looked up the existing records and quickly realized the !sh was going to be close. A shrimper at the dock weighed the !sh at 10.5 pounds on his scale. Two days later, after the !sh had been kept on ice, Ireland took it to a certi!ed scale at Marina Jack’s in Sarasota. #e o&cial weight came in at 10.1 pounds, enough to break the longstanding Florida blue runner record and just 1.1 pounds shy of the recognized 11.2-pound world record. “I’ve been !shing my whole life and never would’ve imagined I’d break any record, let alone on a last-minute trip,” Ireland said.

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Capt. Glyn Austin

Charlie McCullough

Tyler Bean

Capt. Troy Perez

Capt. Lukas Brickweg

Capt. Jim Ross

Capt. Chris Cameron

Capt. Jamie Thrappas

Capt. Alex Gorichky

Capt. Terry Wildey

MOSQUITO LAGOON & INDIAN RIVER FORECAST

eptember is the start of snook season! Try fishing in the surf and along the jetties at local inlets. The “mullet run” usually gets started by midSeptember or early October, depending on tropical storms. You will see the mullet exploding in those areas and along the beaches. Tarpon, jacks, bluefish, Spanish mackerel and sharks will be feeding on the mullet schools, so there can be a lot of action. Use a cast net to catch finger mullet as bait. I use 15-20# braid tied to a 30-40# fluorocarbon leader with a 3/0 J hook. If the tarpon are big and the sharks are around, use wire on the sharks and heavier rods with 20-30# braid and 60# leader and up-size to a 7/0 circle hook. Try adding a 1/2-ounce slip sinker or split shot to your mullet to have a better chance to catch a flounder or redfish. Free lining mullet will also produce bites. The redfish, trout, black drum, etc. bite will heat up in September because of the finger mullet run, change of weather and shorter days. Also, tripletail fishing will pick up with the change in the weather, especially after we get a few of the season’s northeast blows. When the water is high from summertime storms, fish the Indian River and the Mosquito Lagoon closer to the shoreline. Try fishing underneath the mangroves; you never know what you will catch when the water is high. This is one of the best times of year to use artificials. Use a light 1/16 or 1/8 oz. jig head with a paddletail, or a softplastic jerkbait. I use 8-10# braid tied to a 25# fluorocarbon leader when using artificials. After the rain, find drainage ditches or where culvert pipes are dumping into the river. If you prefer using bait, use live shrimp, finger mullet or cut bait. Fish points of land and drainage pipes where the wind is blowing onto it. The drainage pipes will often have smaller tarpon and snook around them. Fly fishing small flies and small jigs, like mini jigs, work best for small tarpon and snook. The day after heavy rains and strong winds can be the best day to fish. I catch the most snook in September in the river due to the water levels being up and flowing to push the snook out from the mangroves and out of the marshes where they like to hide. Troy’s Tip of the Month: Fish after a hard rain.

CAPT. TROY PEREZ

Troy Perez Fishing facebook.com/captaintroyfl capt.troyperez@gmail.com (321) 607-2033 These guys got some beautiful reds on a beautiful day on the Indian River Lagoon.

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of year l, or a when pes are mullet owing round small he best water nd out

On Kenansville Lake

ong before the sun crested the Florida horizon, Kenansville Lake was already alive. The humid summer air hung heavy over the sawgrass and maidencane, and waves of insects surrounded the launch as three Nucanoe kayaks quietly slipped into the water. It was the kind of morning every Florida angler knows well, hot, muggy, and full of anticipation. Fortunately, once we paddled away from the shoreline, the bugs slowly disappeared and the fishing action began almost immediately. Located between Indian River and Brevard counties, Kenansville Lake has become one of Florida’s premier destinations for trophy largemouth bass. Unlike many reservoirs that rely on deep structure or rocky shorelines, Kenansville is a vast, shallow fishery dominated by hydrilla, maidencane, lily pads, and expansive vegetation mats. During the summer months, the early morning hours often provide the best opportunity before Florida’s intense heat settles over the lake. As daylight spread across the horizon, the first pattern quickly revealed itself. Thick floating vegetation mats held aggressive largemouths waiting to ambush prey moving across the surface. My first productive mat produced three quality largemouth bass on a hollow-body frog in short order. It wasn’t an isolated pattern either. Fishing alongside me, Andrew Blair and Greg Matakaetis were both finding success on similar vegetation mats using frogs to trigger explosive surface strikes. Every cast carried the anticipation of a violent blowup, making for an unforgettable start to the day. Like many Florida summer patterns, however, the frog bite gradually slowed as the morning progressed. Rather than

continuing to force a fading pattern, we began covering water in search of active fish. Before long, scattered schools of largemouth began revealing their location by pushing baitfish to the surface. Every so often the calm water would erupt into a feeding frenzy as bass crashed through schools of bait before disappearing just as quickly as they had appeared. Those brief surface explosions provided an important clue. Instead of chasing every busting fish, I turned to my electronics to locate the bait beneath the surface. Side imaging allowed me to identify schools of baitfish holding in slightly deeper water, and it quickly became clear that the largemouth were positioning themselves nearby, waiting for opportunities to feed. Once the bait was located, the presentation became simple. A slow-rolled bladed jig worked alongside the schools consistently triggered aggressive strikes from bass keyed in on the forage. The adjustment completely changed the remainder of the day. Several quality largemouth in the four- to five-pound class came to the kayak using this approach, proving that the fish had simply relocated rather than stopped feeding. Then came the fish every angler hopes for. As the bladed jig worked slowly past another school of bait, the rod loaded up with the unmistakable weight of a true Florida giant. After a tense fight in open water, an impressive 8.5 pound largemouth finally slid close enough for me to grasp, a fish that made every early alarm clock worthwhile. The day reinforced an important lesson about summertime bass fishing in Florida. Success often depends less on finding fish than

By Tyler Bean

on recognizing when their behavior changes. Early in the morning, the bass were positioned shallow beneath vegetation mats where frogs produced explosive topwater strikes. As conditions changed, the fish followed roaming schools of bait into slightly deeper water, where electronics became the most valuable tool on the kayak. Being willing to adapt and allowing side imaging to locate active baitfish turned what could have been a slow afternoon into one of the most productive days of the trip. Fishing from our Nucanoe kayaks proved to be another advantage throughout the day. The ability to quietly maneuver through shallow vegetation, stand comfortably while casting, and transition efficiently between shallow mats and open-water bait schools allowed us to cover water without disturbing feeding fish. Combined with modern sonar technology, the kayaks gave us the versatility to stay on active bass as the pattern evolved. Kenansville Lake once again proved why it has earned its reputation as one of Florida’s finest bass fisheries. From explosive frog bites at sunrise to offshore feeding schools later in the day, every adjustment rewarded us with another opportunity. Sharing the experience with friends, watching patterns unfold in real time, and ending the trip with an 8.5 pound trophy bass made for a day none of us will soon forget. Some fishing trips are remembered for the number of fish caught. Others are remembered for a single unforgettable bite. This one delivered both.

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SEPTEMBER 2026

BREVARD 3

CAPE CANAVERAL SEPTEMBER 2026

PORT CANAVERAL NEARSHORE FORECAST

t’s the most exciting time of the year once again and I hope that you anglers are just as excited about the near-coastal fishing around the Port Canaveral area as I am. This is the time of year when the mullet start their annual migration toward their wintering grounds in South Florida, but we commonly refer to this as the “Fall Mullet Run.” As the mullet begin their pilgrimage, just about every known predatory species of fish that swims in the ocean will be waiting to ambush them. Now for the best part—they become reckless in their pursuit of a mullet meal and lose all inhibitions as they aggressively feed on the schools of silver and striped mullet that are working their way down the coastline. This makes for some exciting fishing and some of the most explosive strikes of the year. The mullet can be seen leaping or getting knocked into the air Big snook love to eat mullet by predators as they try to gorge during the fall migration. themselves and fatten up for winter. If you have never seen this type of phenomenon, you owe it to yourself to get out fishing during the September time frame and see this spectacle for yourself. If you need to book a charter you can always give me a call and I’d be happy to get you out for this incredible show. Let’s go catch your next memory!

CAPT. JIM ROSS

Fineline Fishing Charters www.FinelineFishingCharters.com (321) 636-3728

The annual mullet run...an event not to be missed by anglers! 4 BREVARD

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hat a great August we had! Gotta love it! The bunker have been easier by the day to get. They’ve been in the port and, for a change, fairly easy to catch. Here’s the kicker: now that you’ve got the prime choice in bait, they don’t want it—they want frozen! Yup, that’s right. So here’s the lesson: try both. Put out one dead and one live and see which one gets hit better. We couldn’t figure out what the deal was with the live bait after marking fish, until we finally switched things up. Who would’ve thought? Also, don’t forget about the cans. They’ve been holding sardines, and a sardine will always get hit. Even when the ocean presents itself as the socalled “dump!” COBIA: Cobia are all over! Get out there with your bucktails and start looking around. There’s no one specific place to find them, but the reefs are a great place to start—hint, hint. Also, give the big drop a try. We’ve had cobia swimming right up to the boat lately! Later in the day, they’ve been surfacing around rays, turtles, and even free-swimming. And yes, they absolutely love some live bait! WRECK FISHING: September is a great month for wreck fishing. Use all your normal tactics, from three-way rigs to knocker rigs. Live bait has definitely been working the best. Try using lighter tackle for even more fun. The amberjack and plenty of other species have been

sitting right above the wrecks, and the action has been great! You can also try anchoring up and chumming. Use some lighter fluorocarbon for the mangos— they’ve been plentiful! We’ve even been seeing some muttons coming up to feed. SEA BASS & TRIGGERFISH: And don’t forget about chicken rigging for all the monster sea

Fun days right now catching variety of fish off Port Canaveral!

bass and triggerfish! Man, we’ve had some studs lately. This is especially a lot of fun for the kids and a great way to keep everyone bent over a rod. Get out there, enjoy the water, and make some memories. You never know what’s going to bite! CAPT. CHRIS CAMERON Fired Up Fishing Charters firedupcharters.com sharkfishingcocoabeach.com (407) 222-3573

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SEPTEMBER 2026

BREVARD 5

SNOOK O N O SEAS

SPACE COAST SURF FISHING FORECAST

T 1ST P E S S N OPE T RUN!

+ MULLE

ne of best times of year to catch snook in the surf! September and October hold the combination title with the peak of the mullet run along the Space Coast. Throughout East Central Florida, mullet and other baitfish will be pouring down the beaches. With that being said, the predatory fish including snook and tarpon will be acrobatically attacking this once-a-year phenomenon. Depending on the annual waves of migratory mullet, each week will hold alternating peaks of heightened fish activity. The preferred method for targeting snook in the surf will be a gorilla style surf fishing approach: armed with a single casting rod in the 7- to 8-foot range and reel sizes in the 4000 to 5000 series. This light and mobile attack leads to a strategy that gives the angler freedom to move Snook along the shores with ease. Cocoa surf Beach Surf Fishing Charters employs fishing this method with our clients to catch fun! snook, jack and tarpon while actively fishing for pompano and whiting. Swim baits, jigs, plugs and live bait are the preferred choice when rigging your light tackle casting rods. Oftentimes, I will begin my search for targeted areas by approaching several beaches and looking for crashing birds, exploding baitfish or surging snook crashing the shores. One of the beauties of this specific fishery is the fact it can be so visual with the sight of aerialist snook and tarpon leaping from the water. This sight can be easily depicted, making for a focused attack easier to come by. Shark fishing charters will be a big hit this time of year, too, as the heightened activity creates opportunity for feeding sharks. Not only will the snook and tarpon be in full swing, but we also start to see pompano pushing into Brevard County waters. The real pompano activity doesn’t start to heat up until November, but some of the first schools may appear on northern beaches. Pompano rigs with clam and crab flavored Fishbites tipped with fresh shrimp or sandfleas will hold success for most catches. CAPT. LUKAS BRICKWEG

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D R A O B G A R B 10-year-old Tre nt had to see if Breiner taller than th he was is nice 48” barracuda he caught out of Sebastian Inlet.

in oss reeled g R a ic s s e J usin hy snook this healt ve bait. some li

b Todd Hingle with a sla nd sa on ht pompano he caug rth no t fleas in the surf jus was if Sebastian Inlet. It — 18.75 inches to the fork ! st be al and his person

Christina George caught this great barracuda offshore on a live goggle eye.

a hooked this Joseph Bologn e hile doing som hefty cobia w Said it was bottom fishing. ughly 30 lbs. ro 49 inches and

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bs.

young with 92-year- ell. t) f e (l ll e ow P Jeff Bill Pow L statesman dad, former F herman, he served as is Still an avid f the Florida House of of and a member rom 1967 to 1972 sing f s ve ti ta n e s pass Repre ificant role in an Inlet played a sign ti s turned Seba t a th on ti la s addition legi ark and the P te ta S a eum. into Treasure Mus y rt la cC M e of th

On Beth Dillon’s first solo fishing adventure, she cast her line in Port Canaveral with zero expectations, but mana ged to reel in this sweet 10.5-inch flounder. Upon landing her first catch, she said, “B eginner’s luck or pure fluke? Either way, I’m hooked!”

33-inch pectable nds s re is h t sla ked Smith hoo ach’s Thousand I llet. e Chandler B m using u Cocoa redfish in he break of dawn right at t

GET YOUR BRAGGIN’ ON! Cowgirl Courtne y this seatrout Marquis caught alo banks of the ng the grassy India Lagoon in Titus n River ville.

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SEPTEMBER 2026

BREVARD 9

SEBASTIAN INLET TO EAU GALLIE CAUSEWAY FORECAST

eptember is one of my favorite months to fish both inshore and nearshore from Melbourne to Sebastian. The bait is plentiful and the snook, trout and redfish are as well. Snook season opens September 1, and anglers will be out in droves trying to get their keeper fish. With the opener this month, the inlet will be packed day and night with people on the jetty and people in boats. The crowds don’t always bring out the patience that is required when fishing, so keep a cool head in the heat of the day and night and you will get your limit. Live bait during the day is best and live bait, jigs and lures all work well at night. We have had schools of mullet from Palm Bay down to Sebastian and south, but the best part of the run normally starts late in the month. Threadfins and sardines, as well as mullet, will be on the beach nearshore—and so will the tarpon, snook, sharks and jack crevalle. There will also be kingfish following the schools of bait looking for that easy meal. Best bet is to use some of that live bait and fish the outer edges of the bait pods. The mullet should also pour into the creeks from Melbourne down to Sebastian later in the month; the gamefish are sure to follow. Hopefully the rains won’t be too bad and the freshwater runoff into the lagoon will be minimal by then. There is no need to go way back in the creeks; anglers can fish the mouth of the creeks and around the many oyster bars and docks closer to the Indian River Lagoon. I use the same baits in the creeks as I use in the lagoon during the bait run. The sea grass is returning in many spots in the lagoon on the flats as well as around some of the spoil islands and mangrove shorelines, and they have been loaded with bait most of the summer. The grass will keep the bait around and should help the fishing tremendously as long as we don’t get too much rain like we did last fall. My favorite hard baits to use are Rapala’s Skitter Walk

50-foo that d over a (threa place for som action

Couple of big beach tarpon for Brandon and Aaron.

topwater and Twitchin’ Minnow and Twitchin’ Mullet subsurface baits which always work well for fishing the mullet run. If soft baits are your preference, D.O.A. jerkbaits or D.O.A. C.A.L. 3” shad or Rapala’s new Crush City Jerk, Mooch Minnow and The Mayor paddletail will all work well during the mullet run on jigheads, but with the grass returning we may have to start using more weedless hooks. CAPT. GLYN AUSTIN

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SEBASTIAN AREA OFFSHORE FORECAST

y September the tropics usually are heated up and stirring up our water pretty good. Assuming the waters are not too stirred up, the fishing should still be good. We should have some decent kingfish around bait pods in the 40- to 50-foot range as well as the artificial reefs. For those of you new to the area that don’t have any spots in your GPS, that’s a good place to start. There’s over a dozen reefs listed on the internet for our area. These reefs hold bait (threadfins) as well as snapper, kingfish, cobia and barracuda. Always a fun place to take the kids for some rod bending Corine with action. a nice gag The 80- and 90grouper she foot reefs should also caught off produce a few big the Big Easy. mangrove snapper this September, providing you’re geared to crank them past the sharks. Looks like the shark problem is here to stay until our South Atlantic Fishery Management Council does something to control the imbalance in our fishery. The water temps should be pushing over 85 degrees, so this should make for a picky, almost lethargic, bite. Light fluorocarbon leaders and a variety of live baits should help pick up the bite. I like fishing the smaller pieces of bottom when it’s like this. Some of the little 2- to 4-foot pieces that only mark a little fuzz on. Spots that most people wouldn’t waste a drop on. This usually will produce some nice lane and vermillion snappers, as well as triggerfish. Pick your days and weather. Even if we don’t get the storm, sometimes we’ll still get a big groundswell that will stir things up and shut down the bite. Take advantage of this time to do your boat maintenance that gets overlooked when you spent all July and August on the water. September’s when I always go through all my safety gear, such as life jackets, flairs and fire extinguishers. Do it all at once; this might save a life or, at the very least, save you a $250 ticket. As always be courteous to your fellow anglers; you never know when you might need a tow—LOL! And take a kid fishing; he or she might return the favor when you get old. Fish On! Gotta Go...

SEBASTIAN INLET SEPTEMBER 2026

CAPT. TERRY WILDEY

Big Easy Fishing Charters www.bigeasyfishingcharter.com (772) 538-1072

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BREVARD 11

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PONCE INLET & BACKWATERS FORECAST

eptember is the beginning of my favorite part of the year, fall fishing! This is when the mullet run happens; everything we try to catch all year comes together to take advantage of the bait that will be readily available like big snook, bull redfish, tarpon and the mighty jack crevalle. Plus cooler weather is right around the corner, making it much more enjoyable on the water! The mullet run can make for some exciting fishing, and if you can time an outgoing tide around sunrise or sunset, you’re setting yourself up for a chance of a day you won’t forget. I recommend a 6000 series reel up to an 8000 for this time of year. You don’t want to get outgunned by a trophy fish. Pair that with 4060# braid and 40 lb. fluorocarbon leader and you’ll be in a good spot to land a 35-inch snook, a 40-pound redfish, and a 80-pound tarpon all in the same day! Mullet are my go to bait in the

beginning of the mullet run. As the migration goes on I do feel like mixing it up with pinfish, croakers, live and halved blue crabs will also help you produce hook ups. With school back in and with the holidays right around the corner, you can get the inlet almost to yourself if you’re able to sneak out and fish on a weekday. Watch the tide and moon charts and if you can get a day that’s 1/4 moon and an outgoing tide that work in your favor, get out

there and make a memorable day of fishing. As always, if you see us out there say hello, and if you want to schedule a trip to see what fall fishing is all about give us a call today to set up a trip! CAPT. JAMIE THRAPPAS Yellow Dawg Fishing www.yellowdawgfishing.com (386) 366-3424

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SEPTEMBER 2026

BREVARD 13

2Th

4Sa

12:23 AM 2.0 6:19 AM 0.3 12:46 PM 2.1 6:54 PM 0.3 1:12 AM 1.9 7:11 AM 0.4 1:30 PM 2.0 7:45 PM 0.3 2:06 AM 1.9 8:05 AM 0.5 2:18 PM 1.9 8:37 PM 0.3 3:02 AM 1.9 9:01 AM 0.5 3:10 PM 1.9 9:27 PM 0.2 4:00 AM 2.0 9:56 AM 0.5 4:04 PM 1.9 10:16 PM 0.1 4:57 AM 2.1 10:46 AM 0.4 4:59 PM 2.0 11:03 PM -0.1 5:50 AM 2.2 11:34 AM 0.3 5:51 PM 2.0 11:49 PM -0.2 6:40 AM 2.3 12:21 PM 0.2 6:42 PM 2.1 12:35 AM -0.4 7:28 AM 2.4 1:06 PM 0.1 7:31 PM 2.2

10F

1:21 AM -0.5 8:15 AM 2.5 1:51 PM 0.0 8:19 PM 2.3 11Sa 2:07 AM -0.6 9:01 AM 2.6 2:38 PM -0.1 9:08 PM 2.4 12Su 2:55 AM -0.6 9:47 AM 2.6 3:26 PM -0.2 9:58 PM 2.4 13M 3:44 AM -0.6 10:34 AM 2.6 4:16 PM -0.3 10:50 PM 2.4 14Tu 4:36 AM -0.5 11:22 AM 2.6 5:08 PM -0.3 11:44 PM 2.4 15W 5:31 AM -0.3 12:11 PM 2.5 6:04 PM -0.3 16Th 12:42 AM 2.3 6:30 AM -0.2 1:04 PM 2.4 7:04 PM -0.3 17F 1:43 AM 2.3 7:33 AM 0.0 2:00 PM 2.2 8:05 PM -0.3 18Sa 2:48 AM 2.2 8:37 AM 0.1 3:00 PM 2.2 9:07 PM -0.3

19Su 3:54 AM 2.2 9:41 AM 0.1 4:03 PM 2.1 10:08 PM -0.4 20M 4:58 AM 2.3 10:42 AM 0.1 5:05 PM 2.1 11:05 PM -0.4 21Tu 5:57 AM 2.3 11:38 AM 0.1 6:03 PM 2.1 11:58 PM -0.4 22W 6:50 AM 2.3 12:29 PM 0.0 6:55 PM 2.2 23Th 12:48 AM -0.5 7:38 AM 2.4 1:17 PM 0.0 7:42 PM 2.2 24F 1:34 AM -0.5 8:21 AM 2.4 2:02 PM -0.1 8:26 PM 2.2 25Sa 2:17 AM -0.4 9:01 AM 2.4 2:44 PM -0.1 9:07 PM 2.2 26Su 2:59 AM -0.4 9:38 AM 2.3 3:25 PM -0.1 9:47 PM 2.2 27M 3:38 AM -0.3 10:14 AM 2.3 4:04 PM -0.1 10:26 PM 2.1

28Tu 4:17 AM -0.2 10:50 AM 2.2 4:42 PM 0.0 11:06 PM 2.0 29W 4:55 AM 0.0 11:25 AM 2.1 5:21 PM 0.0 11:46 PM 2.0 30Th 5:35 AM 0.1 12:02 PM 2.0 6:01 PM 0.0 31F 12:30 AM 1.9 6:17 AM 0.2 12:41 PM 1.9 6:45 PM 0.1 1Sa 1:18 AM 1.8 7:06 AM 0.3 1:24 PM 1.8 7:34 PM 0.1 2Su 2:11 AM 1.8 8:02 AM 0.4 2:15 PM 1.7 8:29 PM 0.1 3M 3:12 AM 1.8 9:02 AM 0.4 3:13 PM 1.7 9:27 PM 0.0 4Tu 4:15 AM 1.9 10:02 AM 0.4 4:16 PM 1.8 10:24 PM -0.1 5W 5:16 AM 2.0 10:59 AM 0.3 5:18 PM 1.9 11:19 PM -0.3

nook, mullet, and the magic of a mass 5Su migration. For kayak anglers, there is hardly a better time to hit the water than the month of September. Of course, there isn’t a wrong time to go6M fishing on the Space Coast, but the best is easily discernable. Several factors lead to this common conclusion, but one event/scenario takes the lead 7Tu of that list: the fall mullet run. This annual event is a highlight of my fishing year, and gives kayak anglers of every skill level some of the best action8Wyou’ll see all year. This month(s) long phenomenon kicks off and continuously increases in intensity until late fall. 9Th Though the name in itself is a great descriptor, a bit of explanation is in order. The fall mullet run is a mass migration of mullet. One of the most prevalent inshore/near-coastal baitfish Leo n Inlet Ft. Pie rce Inlet, S. Jetty speciesPoinnce thede entirety of the Southeastern United Hig h Ti de -11 min ute s Hig h Ti de -31 min ute s w Ti de +19 minto ute stemperate ranging Lo w Ti de -18 min utes States. This Losubtropical to understand that this means a bunch of predator fish willPopopulate coastal waters along that range nce Inlet, Halifax Rive r Jensen Beach action chasing massive schools of migrating in summer. Hig However, they the h Ti de +5 min ute s cannot survive Hig h Ti de +2 ho urs, 17 min these ute s Lo w Ti de +33 min ute s w Ti defood. +3 hoThis urs, 4ismin ute sour local “National Geographic” truly harsher winters felt north of Florida. The Lo first moment. A display that is something every angler low pressure “cold” slide Port Canave ralfronts (Tr i dent Pie r)into the southeast Sewell Pt Dailybefore Pre dictio h Ti de +1 ho urs, min ute s Bait schools that go for miles, should take13 part in. typically weeks wens ever see a break inHig the Lo w Ti de +2 ho urs, 9 min ute s temperature outside. The shortning days and that and every manner of hungry fish taking part in ick Airsignals Force Base Jupite rand Inlet, the S.Jetty feast. weatherPatr change this baitfish to school Hig h Ti de -1 ho ur, 4 min ute Hig h Ti de -10 min ute s Though migrate southLo wenTi de masse, flooding out of the bays -38 min ute s Lo w Ti de -9 min ute smany fish will be caught, there is one and estuaries to the beach for their epic journey that stands out as a favorite among the mullet Sebastian Inlet Br i dge Port Eve rgla de s - Tur ning Basin run—the snook! These fish will feed hard along to warmer winter waters. It sdoesn’t take a twoHig h Ti de -48 min ute Hig h Ti de -31 min ute s Lo w Ti de -24 min ute s Lo w Ti deambush -13 min ute s as this moving buffet comes to town. areas decade fishing guide and life-long obsessed angler

The lagoons, inlets and Port Canaveral will swell with bait, and you can bet the ever-increasing snook population will be ready to take part. Live mullet, larger swimbaits and topwater plugs will all get you in on the action. Try beach fishing or nearshore! CAPT. ALEX GORICHKY Local Lines Guide Service www.locallinescharters.com (321) 480-3255

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catchi doesn’ storm fish fr find fi small water on ea and w curren the ri flakes, accent the aft is not Cr here. usuall the Sh but d Octob slip ou in. Bl found along in the a whit it thre gunni Ca the su and u (stripe both t sunris

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ST. JOHNS RIVER FORECAST

ater levels are up like they are supposed to be this time of year. The Florida cool down begins soon. Fish are behaving in their summertime patterns. Water temperatures will be the key to catching bass – they love cooler water during the daytime hours. The ‘bite’ doesn’t last long - daybreak, moon over, moon under, and right before a storm are when they feed aggressively. Downsize your lures and mimic fish fry that are schooling. Rattletraps, crank baits, Senkos, and flukes will find fish. High water means the bass have many places to hide – look for small creek runoffs that have water flowing out. Start outside on each side of the runoff and work your baits with the current. Soft plastic colors for the river: 1) black with blue flakes, 2) black with light blue accent, 3) dark colors. Watch the afternoon storms, lightning is not forgiving! Crappie season is almost here. The largest specks are usually caught in November in the Shad and Crappie Derby, but during September and October the word begins to slip out that slabs are coming Hybrid striper, aka sunshine bass. in. Black crappies are usually found jigging structures all along the river and near bridge and dock pilings in early season. Deep water in the bends and overhanging or fallen trees is a great combo for slabs. Try a white curly tail on a 1/8-ounce jig head, then drop to the bottom and jig it three times every two feet on the way up. Patience is key, running and gunning fills the frying pan. Catfish up to 20 lbs. and sunshine bass up to seven pounds round out the summer targets. Fish for cats with peeled fresh shrimp or red worms and use just enough weight to hold the bottom. Look for sunshine bass (stripers) to bite hard plastic lures at the mouth of the Wekiva River and both the south and north mouths of Lake Monroe at sunrise.

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n June 12, 2026, Ronald Patella had an incredible day of flats fishing in Biscayne Bay, Fla. He landed an impressive permit along with a tarpon and Atlantic bonefish to earn himself an International Game Fish Association (IGFA) Inshore Grand Slam! For more IGFA records, visit IGFA.org.

GREATER AMBERJACK SEASON OPENS IN GULF SEPTEMBER 1

he Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) issued an executive order to modify the 2026 recreational season for greater amberjack in state waters of the Gulf of America. #e recreational season will be open Sept. 1 through Oct. 13 and will close at 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 14. #is season is consistent with NOAA’s recently announced season in adjacent federal waters. Maintaining consistent state and federal recreational seasons for Gulf greater amberjack is intended to prevent quota overages and help ensure the stock continues to rebuild. If you plan to fish for greater amberjack or other specific reef fish species from a private recreational vessel, you must sign up for the State Reef Fish Angler Designation (annual renewal is required). As a State Reef Fish Angler, you could be selected to receive a mail survey component of the State Reef Fish Survey. Data from the State Reef Fish Survey is now being used for greater amberjack management, and through your participation, the data collected will be used to improve management and increased recreational fishing opportunities in Florida. To learn more about the State Reef Fish Survey, visit MyFWC.com/SRFS. For current recreational greater amberjack regulations, visit https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/amberjack/

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merican shad will now be designated catch-and-release only a!er the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) voted to approve a proposed final rule during its August meeting. According to FWC, the decision aims to ensure the sustainability of American shad stocks in Florida waters. American shad are a migratory species found along the Atlantic coast of North America, from Newfoundland to Florida, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. #ey are born in freshwater, grow up over the course of four years in the saltwater of the Atlantic Ocean, then return to freshwater ecosystems to lay their eggs and end their life cycle. In Florida, American shad are found primarily in the St. Johns River, where abundance continues to decline. FWC sta$ worked with stakeholders to gather feedback on the proposed final rule and received broad support for a catch-and-release-only fishery. #is approved rule prohibits the harvest, possession, sale, and exchange of American shad in Florida. To learn more about American shad, visit myfwc.com/americanshad.

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uring its August meeting in Panama City Beach, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced harvest levels for the upcoming Oct. Apalachicola Bay oyster season and discussed the development of future management and restoration initiatives across Florida’s Big Bend. #e season begins Oct. 1, 2026, and will continue through Feb. 28, 2027, for endorsed commercial and permitted recreational harvesters. During this season, harvesting in Apalachicola Bay will be allowed at three reef sites, NWFW Cat Point, Cat Point Spur and Peanut Ridge, with a total annual harvest limit of 2,560 bags. FWC sets harvest levels for each season based upon oyster abundance. “We’ve opened a fishery that has been closed for six years and now we have it in a restored fashion where people are able to get back on the water, this is a huge success,” said Vice Chairman Joshua Kellam. In the Big Bend, oyster populations have experienced long-term declines, and harvest regulations no longer reflect the current condition of the resource. As a result, FWC sta$ are developing updates to oyster harvesting regulations specific to the Big Bend. Public workshops will be held throughout the summer and fall to gather public input and comments. In addition to these proposed regulatory updates, sta$ are initiating restoration e$orts in Dixie, Levy, and Citrus counties to support the longterm recovery and sustainability of oyster populations. For more information on commercial oyster harvest regulations, visit https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/commercial/oysters/. For more information on recreational oyster harvest regulations, visit https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/shellfish/

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Fishing the Wild Waters of

Cay Sal Bank By A. deGruchy

ur Cay Sal trip started at Cat Cay, just south of Bimini, where we checked into the Bahamas before heading south in a 47foot Freeman. Once you leave Bimini behind, the water keeps getting better. Cay Sal Bank is remote, beautiful and surrounded by the kind of bright blue tropical water that makes you want to stop the boat and jump in. The fishing was just as good as the scenery. We fished everything from shallow reefs in about 50 feet of water to deep drops reaching nearly 1,500 feet. On the reef, we caught yellowtail snapper, mutton snapper, rock hinds and several other types of grouper. You never really knew what was going to eat next, which kept things fun. Our main setup was Penn International VISX reels paired with custom Connolly rods. We mostly used chicken rigs baited with squid. We also used a ton of virtual jigs. The deep water was one of the coolest parts of the trip. Dropping a bait more than 1,000 feet takes some patience, but it is always exciting when the rod finally loads up. We caught mystic grouper, yelloweye snapper and queen snapper. Watching one of those bright red deepwater fish come into view after a long fight never gets old. We also found tuna and mahi while moving between spots and fishing along the deeper edges of the bank. Out there, you always have to keep an eye out for birds, current lines or floating debris because the action can happen fast. Cay Sal is not only about fishing. We spent time snorkeling, exploring

the reefs and checking out the area’s historic lighthouses. The water was incredibly clear, and it was great to take a break from fishing and see everything below the surface. The lighthouses also give the trip a little bit of history. Being that far from land, surrounded by reefs and open water, really makes you appreciate how wild and remote the area is. A trip like this takes planning. Cay Sal is a long way from help, so having a capable boat, experienced crew, plenty of fuel, reliable navigation and the right safety equipment is important. The 47-foot Freeman gave us the speed, range and room we needed to explore comfortably. Between the reef fishing, deep dropping, tuna, mahi, snorkeling and tropical scenery, Cay Sal delivered a little bit of everything. It is the kind of place where every stop feels like a new adventure, and you never know what might come up on the next drop. Follow all of deGruchy’s adventures at @bean_sportfishing on Instagram and YouTube.

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SEPTEMBER 2026

NATIONAL 5

The September Season of Change TIM BAREFOOT

T NORTH CAROLINA’S TWO-WEEK RECREATIONAL FLOUNDER SEASON OPENS SEPTEMBER 1

orth Carolina anglers will get a short window to target flounder this fall when the state’s 2026 recreational harvest season opens September 1. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will open the 2026 recreational flounder harvest season from September 1 through September 14 in Inland Fishing Waters and Joint Fishing Waters. Anglers may harvest flounder by hook and line during the two-week season. The regulations allow anglers to keep one flounder per day, with a minimum size limit of 15 inches. The limited season is part of North Carolina’s ongoing effort to carefully manage its flounder fishery while still providing recreational anglers with an opportunity to harvest the popular coastal species. The season and regulations are consistent with the state’s flounder fishery management measures. Anglers should be aware that the season applies specifically to the waters and fishing methods covered by the Wildlife Commission’s regulations. With only two weeks available, anglers hoping to put flounder in the cooler will want to plan ahead. As always, checking the latest regulations before heading out is recommended, particularly for anglers fishing waters where jurisdiction can change. For North Carolina’s flounder fishermen, September 1 marks the beginning of a short but highly anticipated opportunity to get back after one of the state’s most popular coastal game fish. Visit https://www.ncwildlife.gov/fishing to learn more.

he middle to end of September is when we should start getting our first good cold fronts. This will start to change the surface temperature and begin the mass migration of cigar minnows and sardines to the traditional nearshore spawning grounds. This will trigger the migration of a lot of the pelagic and bottom fish that are following these huge schools of bait. September is also the height of hurricane season, which can change things drastically, but we always work around that. Hopefully it will be like last year with a minimal amount of hurricanes. Of course we are hoping for zero hurricanes, but we’ll see what happens. September is always the month of surprises with wahoo and yellow tuna very close to the beach in and around big schools of bait. This is also the time of year when the bottom fishing starts to kick into gear. You can expect the best snapper fishing of the year for the next couple months, and certainly the grouper action is just starting to take off. Some of the best scamp bites I’ve ever been on have been in September. I understand that it takes precious time away from the fishing day, but I would strongly suggest spending the first hour or more catching live cigar minnows and sardines. Certainly, I always take two boxes of frozen cigar minnows in case “Plan A” doesn’t work out. Yes they will eat frozen cigars, however, a live one is an instant bite they cannot deny. If you have at least two people on the Sabiki and you get into decent schools of minnows, you will quickly put 100 baits in a live-well in an hour. This will definitely pay dividends. September is also the time of year to go to the edge to bottom fish and keep someone specifically in charge of the light line. Depending on the current, you may not need a float, but if there is not much current, a float tackle is always a good idea. Again, don’t be surprised if there’s not a wahoo bite on the light line. Blackfin and dolphin are given the light line and if they don’t want frozen cigar minnows, a whole squid is an excellent choice. Dolphin simply cannot swim by a whole (frozen) squid on the light line. The bottom line is this…bag all the trolling and go sit on some pretty bottom. Put some baits out on the light line behind a boat and let the fish come to you. Cut off the motors and the radio and listen to the beauty of the ocean and reels screaming. Sound travels long distances underwater, and the fish are very much aware of you if you’re making a bunch of noise, so don’t slam cooler lids or stomp around the deck, and don’t have the music rumbling. Make sure that everyone on board has good raincoat. Please take your children fishing and take plenty of photos and videos they will remember forever. Check out my website for our new 16 ounce Octopus Decoy Jig. To learn more tips and techniques from Tim Barefoot, visit barefootcatsandtackle.com and his YouTube channel: @timbarefoot5698.

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CAPITALIZING On the Summer-to-Fall Transition T

By Pro Bass Angler Joey Bloom

he transition from summer into fall is a great time of the year to chase bass. It’s also one of the most misunderstood. A lot of anglers assume bass immediately flood the backs of creeks as soon as the calendar says fall, but that’s rarely the case. What really gets the transition rolling is a combination of shorter days, cooling water temperatures, and one of the biggest factors of all— heavy rainfall. After weeks of hot, stable summer conditions, a good stretch of rain can completely change a lake overnight. Rising water levels flood fresh cover, increase current, and wash nutrients into the system. That fresh influx of water attracts baitfish, and wherever the bait goes, the bass aren’t far behind. One of the first places I look after heavy rains is newly flooded shoreline cover. Bushes, grass lines, willow trees, laydowns and isolated wood suddenly become prime ambush points. Bass move shallow because they now have fresh cover to hide in and an endless buffet of bluegill, shad, crawfish and other forage moving into these areas. My approach during this transition is to cover water until I locate active fish. That’s where the Bait Cave Customs Bloom Shad really shines. Its realistic baitfish profile perfectly imitates the young-of-the-year shad that become abundant this

time of year. Whether I’m rigging it on a Big Daddy Baits jighead, fishing it weightless around flooded cover, or using it as a trailer on a vibrating jig, the Bloom Shad consistently produces bites from bass feeding on roaming schools of bait. As I narrow down productive areas, I slow my presentation with one of my favorite confidence baits—the Bait Cave Customs Zora. This versatile soft plastic urchin style bait is the hottest bait craze on the water anywhere. During the summer-tofall transition, bass often position around the first available piece of cover just outside spawning flats or creek channels before making a full migration into the backs of creeks. The Zora allows me to thoroughly pick apart those high-percentage areas. Another overlooked factor after heavy rains is water color. While many anglers avoid stained or muddy water, I actually embrace it. Bass become more comfortable moving shallow in reduced visibility, allowing anglers to get much closer without spooking them. I simply adjust my bait colors to match the conditions—natural shad colors in cleaner water and darker, high-contrast colors when visibility is limited. Current also becomes a major player. Water flowing through creek channels, around bridge crossings, or across points positions bass in predictable feeding locations. Even subtle current can turn an average stretch of bank into a feeding

frenzy, so always pay attention to where the water is moving. The key during the summer-to-fall transition is staying flexible. Bass are constantly relocating, and conditions can change daily. Keep an eye on rising water levels, follow the bait, and don’t be afraid to fish newly flooded cover that wasn’t in the water just days before. For me, having confidence in proven baits like the Bait Cave Customs Bloom Shad and the Zora makes adapting to changing conditions much easier. When heavy rains begin to raise the lake and fall starts knocking on the door, that’s when some of the biggest bass of the season become catchable. Stay mobile, trust what the conditions are telling you, and you’ll be ready to capitalize on one of the most exciting transitions of the year. Follow Joey Bloom on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube at Joey Bloom Fishing.

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Coastal Angler Magazine | Brevard County| September 2026 Edition