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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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A FAMILY KEYS

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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COASTAL ANGLER North Central Florida/Nature Coast

SEPTEMBER 2026 EDITION

Find Your Outdoors Here!

Cary & Lynn Crutchfield

North Central Florida Nature Coast Staff

ALACHUA, CITRUS, COLUMBIA, DIXIE, GILCHRIST, LEVY, MARION, SUWANNEE

Cary Crutchfield

SEPTEMBER

s I write this afternoon in late August, North Central Florida continues to suffer in Extreme Heat. I just spent a few minutes outside watering my potted plants, and I could not wait to get back inside to the A/C. I really feel for people who have to work outside all day. The little rain that we have had has had a slight rising effect on the Suwannee, but it is still quite low, and thank goodness that the Tropics is quiet-- at least for now. Even with the threat of hurricanes, Fall is my favorite time of year. I can’t wait to turn off the A/C and open my French doors! Recipe this month, see page 2 for Crab Alfredo. (I love anything with cream and cheese!) I served with a green salad and asparagus. Please be sure to thank our advertisers and the good folks at the pick-up location where you get your Coastal Angler Magazine, the world’s finest, most popular FREE fishing magazine. With the coming of cooler weather, also comes the flu and Covid. (Yes, Covid is still here.) Free vaccinations are available at pharmacies all over Florida. Discuss it with your medical advisor. Stay smart, stay well and stay alive! Lynn Crutchfield Co-Publisher Coastal Angler Magazine of North Central Florida/Nature Coast

SALES EDITING & PRODUCTION Lynn Crutchfield

GRAPHIC ARTS & DESIGN Kathleen Stemley

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Dr. Kevin McCarthy Noel Kuhn Capt. Jason Clark Capt. Katie Jo Davis Capt. Tommy Derringer Capt. Andrew Fagan Capt. Jonathan Hamilton Capt. Dallas King Capt. Pat McGriff Capt. Brent Woodward

CONTACT INFORMATION Crutch@CoastalAnglerNCF.com 352-542-0356

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Local Fishing Forecasts Monthly Recipe

Photo by: Suwannee River Water Management District

CRAB ALFREDO

Thank you to The Crab Plant for the crab. Visit their Fresh Seafood Market or enjoy Cooked Seafood to go. You are welcome to sit at their table and view beautiful Kings Bay while you enjoy your delicious, freshly prepared meal, watching manatees, dolphins, pelicans and boats. Or, you can carry it home; your choice. Open Tues-Thurs 10:00-5:30, Fri-Sat 10:00-8:00. 201 NW 5th St. Crystal River 352-795-4700.

DIRECTIONS

INGREDIENTS

Bring a large pot of salted • fettuccine, linguine or water to a boil and cook pasta of your choice the pasta according to the for two package instructions until al • 1 tbsp butter dente. Drain and set aside. COOKING DIRECTIONS • 2 garlic cloves, In a large skillet, melt the minced butter over medium heat. • 1½ cups heavy cream Add the minced garlic and • 1 cup grated Parmesan sauté for about 1 minute cheese until fragrant. Pour in the • 8 oz fresh or canned heavy cream and bring it to lump crab meat a simmer. Cook for 3 to 4 • 1 tsp lemon juice minutes, stirring frequently, • Salt and pepper, to until the cream thickens taste slightly. • Fresh parsley, chopped Stir in the grated Parmesan (for garnish) cheese and continue to cook • Optional: ¼ tsp red until the sauce is smooth and pepper flakes (for a creamy, about 2 to 3 minutes. hint of spice) Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Gently fold in the lump crab meat and lemon juice, being careful not to break up the crab too much. Cook for another 2 to 3 minutes until the crab is heated through. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat it in the creamy crab Alfredo sauce. Transfer the Crab Alfredo to serving plates and garnish with fresh parsley. Serve immediately with a side of garlic bread or a green salad. I chose asparagus. Lynn Crutchfield, Co-Publisher Coastal Angler Magazine of North Central Florida 2 NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST

SEPTEMBER 2026

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FLORIDA WATERWAYS Derogatory Terms from the Sea By Kevin McCarthy

s a linguist my whole career, I have been intrigued by all aspects of language, both the “good,” i.e. approved by most people, or “bad,” i.e. those By Dr. Kevin M. McCarthy parts used by the unsavory or even the ordinary person. Because so much of our history is entwined with the sea, we have adopted into our language many terms and phrases from the maritime world. Some of those terms and phrases are what we would call “colorful” or derogatory. Of particular interest to me, are those terms used disparagingly by those on land, for those who make a living at sea. For example, “landlubber” for an unskilled sailor or someone who is awkward at sea, comes from “land” and “lubber,” the latter from an old dialect that means a lazy, idle, clumsy person. It is like “freshwater sailor” for someone who prefers sailing in inland lakes and rivers rather than the rougher ocean. Secondly, “chowder head” for a stupid, scatter-brained person. The picture of the team on a glass is from the New England Chowderheads, a semi-professional indoor lacrosse league. The staff at the team gave me permission to use the image. Thirdly, “googan” is a term among sport fishermen for a sailor who is inexperienced and clueless and who is liable to put his boat onto rocks or a beach. Fourthly, “three sheets to the wind” describes a heavily intoxicated person wandering aimlessly along. The phrase goes back to the use of “sheet” for a rope that controls a sail. If a boat has three loose sheets flapping in the wind, the vessel is hard to handle and may easily crash into rocks or even sink. Fifthly, "like a fish out of water" is an idiom used to describe someone who feels awkward, out of place, or uncomfortable in an unfamiliar situation or environment. It literally refers to the fact that a fish cannot survive on

A sea slug

Landlubber Pub

Another term for a drunk

A fish out of water

Chowder-head

dry land, because such a condition is outside of its natural habitat. Sixthly, a “sea slug” is a ne’er-do-well, a useless person. In maritime terms, a sea slug is a marine invertebrate that resembles a slug found in the ground. Finally, a personal example from my five years working in the Middle East. I once saw two Turks Where a googan might land his boat arguing loudly, calling each in his name-calling, thought about the other any derogatory name new “curse,” and actually shook the hand they could think of. Finally, one of them of the other man, saying “Darn, that thought about the local variant of “son was pretty good.” Thus no bloodshed or of a bitch,” and came up with the very fisticuffs, just a clever use of language. original “you are the son of 60 shoes,” implying that the mother of his opponent Kevin McCarthy, the author of had slept with 30 two-legged men, or “Suwannee River Guidebook” (Amazon, maybe even 60 one-legged men, and 2009), can be reached at ceyhankevin@ therefore did not know his legitimacy. gmail.com. The other fellow, upon hearing that original derogatory claim, simply stopped

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SEPTEMBER 2026

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eptember is here, and this year is flying right along! Inshore, the redfish bite is stellar and will remain very hot the rest of the year, and easy fishing is exactly what all of us are waiting for. All the bait that redfish prey on throughout their life cycle, is in our area for the next few months. What this means is very simple, FAT redfish and schools of them! Try to locate all the outer banks and points in our area, and sooner or later, you will pattern that at some point in time, each day a school of fish will be on just about every outer point we have. Nearshore September is gag grouper season, and this year they finally gave us 30 days of fishing for them. I cannot wait to get out there and wrestle a few of these hard fighting, good tasting fish away from the rocks. Always check with your local tackle shop for supplies. Captains Cove always has what I need right here in Inglis Fl. All their staff fish, and they will help you in every way they can! Tight lines and good luck folks Ebb Tide Guide Service Capt. Andrew Fagan | 352.818.8927 Instagram : @capt_redfishdrew

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the slu from fi more a fishing Snook oppor they m for the fishing bars, s rocky tidal h movin tides. Rapala DOA ounce use at leader snook Exp redfish and flo combi beginn grass fl easier Try a j minno Nea picks u Septem 30 at m days o Thirty fish in and re pinfish Hog for the larger Fall the yea 6 NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST

SEPTEMBER 2026

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ater temps begin to slightly cool down in September, so the sluggish, summer behaviors from fish ease off, as they become more active again, thus making fall fishing some of the best of the year! Snook season opens—expect good opportunities to catch these fish as they move closer inshore, preparing for the colder, winter months. Best fishing is around the outer oyster bars, spoil islands, and areas with rocky drop-offs. I typically look for tidal highways, where mullet are moving up in down an area with the tides. Recommended lures include Rapala X-rap in olive green, or a DOA Glow nose hooked on a 1/8 ounce jigged. Snook can be feisty; use at least 30 lb. fluorocarbon leader, and ensure you have a valid snook stamp, if keeping a slot fish. Expect increasing activity from redfish (reds), speckled trout, and flounder. Great bull reds are combing spoil islands, trout are beginning to move in from deeper grass flats, and flounder become easier to locate on sandier flats. Try a jig head tipped with a mud minnow or a shrimp. Nearshore/offshore action also picks up. Gag grouper also opens September 1 and closes September 30 at midnight, so that gives us 30 days of opportunity at these fish. Thirty feet of water is holding these fish in great numbers around wrecks and reef. Use large live baits such as pinfish. Hogfish move in closer to prepare for their spawning and are found in larger groups together. Fall fishing is my favorite time of the year to fish. Whether inshore

or offshore, it’s guaranteed to be a really fun time with plenty of action! Captain Katie Jo Davis KD OUTDOORS FiSHING CHARTERS 772-882-8932 www.fishcrystalriverflorida.com

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ey anglers, the redfish spawn is upon us, and MAN, is it exciting, and not only is my favorite spawn happening, but snook are in season as of September 1st! This time of year, I pretty much exclusively throw cut mullet on knocker rigs and the sweet thing about that is, snook will pick them up just as easy as a redfish. Now when targeting reds around shell/oyster beds, I'm pretty impatient during the spawn. They are either in the area or not. So, I don't give a spot more than about ten minutes without a bite. My favorite thing about the spawn is

typically, if you catch one, you are going to catch more! So get on out here and enjoy the best time of year for redfishing! Until next month stay safe out there. Capt. Jason Clark In The Slot Fishing Charters 352-639-3209 www.intheslotfishing.com

434 2nd Street Cedar Key, FL 32625 352-543-5142 steamerscedarkey.com info@steamerscedarkey.com Like us on Facebook! We will cook your catch. We serve fresh local Cedar Key oysters and clams. Try our delicious Gator. We get it directly from the Gator Man himself.

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Bert Deener, of Berts Jigs n Things, with a great trout taken in 90-degree water 3 feet deep

OW it is hot! Fishing is good on the better moon tides, either full or new, and the last of the incoming seems to be the ticket for trout and reds. So I am fishing out in 8 to 12 feet of water for Black Sea Bass for the first half of the incoming. We are using Assassin's Sea Shads in Chartreuse /Glow, Panhandle Moon, Pink Ghost and Laguna Shrimp. Rig them up on Assassin's 1/4 oz. Electric Chicken jigheads and don't forget to spray Bang on your Sea Shads every three or four casts. Trout are in the troughs and deeper washes, or at least set up adjacent to the deeper water, probably so they can ease back into deeper and cooler water after they move up to feed. Expect the reds to be near the creeks’ mouths around bait schools and mullet. We are using live pinfish for our shallow water fishing; 2.5 to 3.5 feet has been my best depths for redfish. Hey, I no longer have the old phone number 850-584-9145 nor the old email onemoreecast@gtcom. net Please change my contact info to read: 850-838-7541 and onemorecast1953@gmail.com Thanks......Meanwhile, Let's Go Fishing! Pat McGriff dba One More Cast

ello guys and gals, August was a typical August, very hot but we kept on catching fish and picking up scallops in between. September usually times up to be an amazing month for redfish. If the schools haven’t started to show up in August, they definitely will through September. So just remember, if you can’t find them, keep looking and looking, and your day can go from 0 to100 in one stop

Hopefully, the trout start to push up with any cooling trends or even rain that we get. The shallower they go, the shallower you throw. Meaning, shortening leader lengths on corks and going lighter on jigheads. Hope everyone has a good September and hope to see you out there on the water. Capt. Brent Woodward ReelNativeFishing.com 352-284-5514

Bert again with a 26-inch redfish

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he fishing around Crystal River has been heating up, and there’s plenty to be excited about as we head into September! Redfish The redfish bite has been solid, with plenty of fish holding around the rocky islands and shallow bars north of Crystal River. Look for reds cruising the edges of the islands, especially around moving water and areas where bait is plentiful. There are also still some big redfish hiding back in the creeks, so don’t overlook the deeper bends and cuts when the tide is right. For bait, live pinfish have been hard to beat. If you’re looking to throw artificial, a gold spoon continues to be one of the best producers for covering water and finding active fish. Snook Snook are starting to show up more consistently around the area. We’re seeing them slowly move onto island points, deeper troughs, and channels, especially where current is moving bait through. When targeting these fish, keep your presentation moving. Fast-moving soft plastics have been working well, allowing you to cover water and trigger aggressive fish. Pay close attention to current seams and deeper water adjacent to structure. Gag Grouper One of the most exciting things this time of year is gag grouper season opening! It’s time to head out to your favorite rock piles and hard-bottom spots in 15 to 25 feet of water. Live bait dropped down to the structure is always a great way to target these fish. If you’d rather throw artificial, try swimming a big soft-plastic swimbait, like an NLBN, around the rocks. Hang on tight—those gags don’t waste much time getting back to the structure! Scallop Season Scallop season has been really good this year, and we’ve been seeing plenty of happy scallopers enjoying the Crystal River area.

It’s a great time to get the family on the water, cool off, and fill the cooler. Remember, September is the last month of scallop season, so if you’ve been waiting to get out there, now is the time to make plans before the season wraps up! All in all, Crystal River is fishing great right now, with redfish, snook, gag grouper, and scallops giving anglers plenty of options. Whether you want to stay inshore chasing reds and snook or head offshore for some grouper, there’s a lot happening on the water right now. Get out there and enjoy it! God bless and tight lines Captain Dallas King Pirate Flag Charters and Tours 352.601.8460 www.pirateflagcharters.com www.crystalriverfishingpros.com

14 NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST

SEPTEMBER 2026

t’s that time of the year; we made it through another summer! And now, it’s onto Grouper Season. Our coast is one of those special places in Florida. You can catch gags here in 4 feet of water or 100 feet of water! There’s plenty of room for everyone. We are so fortunate to live in arguably, one of the most special parts of the gulf, with the most concentrated amounts of gag grouper. September isn’t all about grouper though; September to me is a good transition month. Red fishing is hot, trout start firing up a bit more, and the nearshore fishing is good! Look for redfish to be hot in September. Start looking for big schools around the outside rocky points from Chaz point all the way to the spoil banks. Look for mullet activity on the incoming tides. A lot of guys like to use cut bait this time of the year (mullet, lady fish, or lizard fish). I like to throw spoons or live pin fish. Early on in the tide, look for these schools to float in with the tide. I have had some of my best red fishing in September. For my fly guys, I like to fish with shrimp, or bait fish pattern flies this time of the year. Trout should start moving inshore from the deeper grass, that they like to go to in the hotter months. Thorough out the fall inshore, I like to throw cork rigs (DOA oval cork with 24 to 30 inches of 30 lb. fluorocarbon, matched with a chartreuse 1/16oz jig head). I have the best success with the MirrOLure Lil Johns in glow or watermelon flake. Look for the yellow bottom areas outside Chaz point and

St. Martin Keys. September is the beginning of the fall season for trout, and it should only get better from here! Grouper action will fire up on the near shore rocks, once the water starts cooling down. Throwing plugs or trolling is definitely a sought-after technique on the Nature Coast, however the floating grass can be problematic. So, with that being an issue, I would resort to cut bait or live pin fish. While you’re out there, the snapper, grunt and mackerel action should be good. So, make sure to carry plenty of live shrimp. September is a great month to get out and enjoy what the Nature Coast has to offer! Y'all know that I usually talk something about safety. SO, here I go. I’m thankful that they gave us 30 days of grouper this year. Last year, I witnessed people putting their equipment past their limitations, due to a short 14 window of days that the uppers gave us. I feel like it was irresponsible on their part. We heard multiple maydays daily on the radio, and as we all know, there was loss of life, due to the unfavorable conditions during the 14-day season. So, with that being said, we have 30 days this season. Don’t push the limits on bad weather days. Wait for a better day. Make sure to double check your safety equipment and be observant of the weather. Make a float plan, and most importantly, make sure to get home safe to fish another day. Capt. Stump, Jonathan Hamilton 352-403-2073 www.homosassafishingcompany.com

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he mullet are here! The mullet are here! Not only that, but there are POGIES in the TROUGH! It has been a long time since I have been able to cast net both, from the sand. With all this bait on the beach, it is looking like an epic September. All of the predators will be within casting distance. Whether you are spiked up on the beach or on the pier rails, set your drag light! The Jacksonville Beach pier is having a banner year, when it comes to king mackerel. As of the middle of August, they have seen over SIXTY hit the boards. That action should continue through this month. You can also expect to see Spanish Macks, tarpon and Jack Cravalle moving in to gorge on all that bait. Sea trout will also be caught, using the slip cork live shrimp combo. With the surf temperature in the mid 80s, early is the key or even overnight. All of my Summer charters start at 5:30 AM, because the action just about shuts down by 10 AM. This year has been a great for whiting action with a few pompano mixed in on most days. The pompano are a perplexing fish. Most of them are enjoying the

cool water up in North Carolina. However, they are still catching pomps south of Cocoa Beach. Along with the pompano are the huge permit who have made it all the way to Duuuval! Just because you are using a two hook dropper rig tipped with shrimp, crab knuckle, Fishbites, sand flea, ghost shrimp, ghost crab or clam, SET YOUR DRAG LIGHT! Remember, elephants eat peanuts. Big permit eat small baits also. This month is also the month for big bonnethead sharks and huge stingrays. So, set your sand spikes deep and your drags light. Almost all seasoned fishermen have had a rod ’n’ reel, either yanked off the pier or snatched out of the sand. It’s GO time! Get out there and enjoy a great sunrise and get your string stretched. Do not forget your cast net. Free bait is at your feet. IF you want to take your surf fishing to the next level or learn how to cast 300 to 600 feet, just give me a call. Noel Kuhn 43 years of surf fishing experience, surf fishing guide and long distance casting coach. Founding member of Florida Surf Casters club. 904-945-0660 www.TheSurfAngler.com

16 NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST

SEPTEMBER 2026

t’s been a long, hot Summer, but Fall is coming. How do you beat the lingering heat? Get out at first light, or wait for the last few hours of daylight, right around dusk. Those times are typically the best to catch the fish feeding this time of year. It’s a great time of year to toss top-water plugs inshore, during those lower light conditions and along the beach and in the inlets. The tarpon will be feeding early and late as well. One very important ingredient for catching fish this time of year is to look for the bait. Whether it's finger mullet, shrimp, or pogys, if you find the bait, you'll find the fish. The bait can be easily located by looking for nervous water (small disruptions on the surface, like a very small boat wake). You can be sure that redfish, trout, and flounder will be hanging around the schools of bait looking for an easy meal. Don't overlook the banks along the ICW on the lower tide stages this month. A lot of the baitfish will come out of the creeks and hang along those ICW banks, especially the ones who have oysters scattered on them. Again, the bigger fish will be in close pursuit. September brings one of the most unique and exciting ways to catch redfish on the First Coast. We will have some great "flood" tides this month, and the reds will be up in the grass tailing away. You can use a trolling motor to scout out the best grass flats, but wading or poling your boat is usually the most effective way to catch the tailing reds. Start looking for the fish before the tide gets too high (usually at least an hour or two before the high tide depending on how high it will get). Small

plastic Gulp baits made by Berkley will work great in the grass. Rig your lure weedless on a weighted, weedless hook, and try to present it well in front of, or past the fish, and then slowly drag it towards him. The Gulp is a great option, as the scent will up your chances of getting the fish’s attention. Just make sure you don’t have a direct hit to a tailing red. That will usually send him darting off the flat like an out-of-control torpedo. Sometimes they are so focused on finding food, that they seem to never look up to find your lure. That's when that Gulp will come in very handy. September will still be a good month to look for the silver kings to be feeding early in the morning on the bait pods, just off the beach, as well as the big schools of mullet at all the area inlets. The pogies have been very hit-or-miss this year, with pods all over the beach one day, and gone the next. So it might be a good idea to grab some mullet before heading out. You’ll also find some big tarpon behind the shrimp boats in the by-catch slicks. If the tarpon don't want to play, do some trolling along the beach and the nearshore reefs, for some linescreaming kingfish action. (There will be plenty of them out there.) There will also be plenty of smaller tarpon inshore in the canals and deeper creeks and flats. A back hooked free-lined finger mullet, a free lined select shrimp, or medium sized pogy, will all make for a great tarpon snack. Capt. Tommy Derringer www.InshoreAdventures.net 904-377-3734

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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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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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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 | North Central Florida, Nature Coast | September 2026 Edition