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Snook Season Must Haves
F
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
4 NATIONAL
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
T
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
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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$orts continue to reduce the threat Burmese pythons pose to Florida’s native wildlife and ecosystems.” #e 2026 Florida Python Challenge was hosted by the FWC and the South Florida Water Management District, working closely with partners at the National Park Service and the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida.
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For more information on Burmese pythons, visit MyFWC.com/Python. The public can also help by reporting pythons and other nonnative snakes, tegus and monitor lizards to FWC’s Invasive Species Hotline at 888-IVE-GOT1 (888-483-4681), and by reporting sightings of other nonnative fish and wildlife online at IveGot1.org or by downloading the free IveGot1 smartphone app. More information on nonnative species can be found at MyFWC.com/Nonnatives.
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LAST-MINUTE TRIP PRODUCES RECORD BLUE RUNNER By CAM Staff
A
last-minute invitation to go !shing turned into a trip for the history books when Danny Ireland landed a 10.1-pound blue runner, breaking a Florida state record that had stood for nearly 30 years. #e !sh surpassed the previous Florida record of 8.5 pounds by nearly 2 pounds—and came within 1.1 pounds of the 11.2-pound world record. #e remarkable catch happened Saturday, April 18, after his friend Brandon called Ireland late on the night before to invite him along on a family o$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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BIG ADVENTURE I
Fun factor times ten when you’re this close to the action.
By Mark Ambert
’ll admit it - I love big o!shore boats. They’re comfortable, dry, and can From inshore to make long runs feel almost e!ortless. But if I’m asked what consistently puts offshore, small the biggest smile on my face, it’s #shing blue water in a 24-to-26-foot center boats do it all! console on a calm summer day. Maybe it’s because that’s where it all began. Long before giant LCD screens, joystick controls, and enough marine power to launch a rocket, we did our o!shore #shing from smaller single engine boats. We learned to read the water instead of a screen. We chased birds instead of numbers. And when a bull mahi lit up behind the boat, there wasn’t a #sherman on board who wasn’t running for the rod! Even today, nothing feels quite as satisfying as watching a colorful mahi make one last desperate run before a quick flip over the gunwale. No long reach with a ga!. No towering freeboard. Just you, the #sh, and front-row seats to the action. I was #shing recently with my friend David Faircloth on his 27 Path#nder CC as we moved seamlessly from inshore, tight to structure snook #shing to o!shore mahi madness. That’s the beauty of a smaller center console. Simple. Efficient. Maximum fun. And summer is tailor-made for this style of #shing. The winds generally settle down, the seas become more predictable, and those beautiful early mornings practically beg you to point the bow toward the Gulf Stream. One of the biggest advantages of a smaller boat is mobility. I call it run-andgun #shing because you’re never married to one spot. Weed line not producing? Move. Birds disappear? Keep looking. Spot a frigate circling a mile away? Run and investigate. A smaller center console turns quickly, runs efficiently, and gives you nearly 360 degrees of visibility, making it easy to spot everything from floating debris to nervous bait schools and free-swimming mahi. Once the #sh are found, preparation becomes the di!erence between watching the action and being part of it. I’ve always believed that organized #shermen catch more #sh. When #sh suddenly appear, that’s not the time to start looking for hooks or re-rigging gear. Before leaving the dock, every rod should be rigged and ready for a speci#c job. Bait runner spin setups with j-hooks for live bait. Out#ts armed with jigs or cut bait and squid for casting opportunities. A couple of trolling rods ready to pull skirts or ballyhoo while covering water between likely areas. This is where rod holders become essential - you can never have enough. Live bait such as sardines in season are king for this style of #shing but I’ve also learned never to underestimate a rigged dead bait such as squid. Some days #sh show a de#nite preference, and having both options on board gives you the flexibility to adjust instead of hoping they’ll cooperate. Of course, none of this matters if safety isn’t your #rst priority. Check the weather before you leave, then check it again. Make sure your VHF radio works, your life jackets are easy to reach, and your EPIRB or personal locator beacon is ready if you ever need it. Tell someone where you’re going, carry more water than you think you’ll drink, and never let your fuel gauge become part of the adventure. At the end of the day, o!shore #shing has never been about owning the biggest sport #shing boat at the marina. It’s about watching the sunrise over a calm ocean, sharing laughs, and hearing someone yell “#sh-on!”. Funny how a simple center console still reminds us why we fell in love with o!shore #shing in the #rst place. Summer #shing at Its best! Mark Ambert, IG @marksgone!shing_™ marksgone!shing25@gmail.com
SEPTEMBER
2026
PALM BEACH AND FORT LAUDERDALE AREAS
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SOUTH COUNTY
The inshore groupers are growing quick.
INSHORE & FRESHWATER
Fishing Forecast with CAPT. PATRICK SMITH www.swamptosea.com • 561-503-0848
George caught his first snook and it turned out to be a 40” trophy.
A
s we roll into September, we’re entering the heart of hurricane season, but once again it looks like we’re getting lucky with a relatively quiet pattern. That can change overnight this time of year, so always keep an eye on the forecast before heading out. For anglers, though, September is one of my favorite transition months. It’s the last chapter of summer before our incredible fall #shing kicks into high gear, and you can already see the signs. The #rst waves of mullet are beginning to move down the beaches, and every predator #sh in the county knows exactly what that means. Things are about to get exciting! The inshore and nearshore bite should only improve as the month goes
on. Snook are setting up around the inlets, seawalls, bridges, and docks waiting to intercept migrating bait, while tarpon continue to cruise the beaches and channels right behind the mullet schools. Big jack crevalle, barracuda, sharks, and even the occasional giant goliath grouper will all get in on the action. O!shore, king#sh will begin to show more consistently, and it won’t be long before sail#sh start making appearances as the #rst pushes of cooler water arrive. Keep a rod rigged with a live mullet this month—you never know what’s going to eat it. September is one of those months where every trip has the potential to turn into something memorable. On the freshwater side, the action will remain steady throughout Lake Osborne, Lake Clarke, Lake Ida, and the surrounding canal systems. Early mornings and late a&ernoons will continue to produce the best bite for largemouth bass, while clown knife#sh will remain one of the most unique and rewarding #sh to target. The many species of cichlids will provide plenty of action for anglers looking to bend a rod, even though peacock bass are still few and far between in central Palm Beach County. As the days slowly begin to shorten and water temperatures ease, both freshwater and saltwater #sheries are setting the stage for some of the best #shing of the year. If September is any indication, this fall should be one to remember. Tight lines, and I’ll see you on the water!
Inshore
Justin with his first sailfish.
Mullet anyone? We should start to see the #rst waves of our fall mullet run in the later weeks of the month. The beaches will be where to start and as the month goes on, they will start to push into the local Intracoastal Waterway (ICW). Drive the coast until you #nd a school of them and then #nd the nearest kayak launch. Try throwing an arti#cial lure that is the shape of mullet, but a brighter or darker color to make it stand out. I like a Yo-Zuri Top Knock or DOA Lures Bait Buster. Snook, tarpon, jacks, and sharks will be the main list of targets.
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The mullet run provides easy bait to run o!shore with. I like to use #nger mullet bottom #shing for mutton snapper and trolling for mahi mahi. Larger mullet in the 10 inch range are great for king#sh and sail#sh. When looking to target snapper, try using a leader in the 20 foot range tied to a Carolina rig or knocker rig depending on your dri&. A longer leader is key when targeting bigger mutton snapper. If looking to hit the pelagic #sh, look to slow troll the normal 90-200 foot of water with mullet, goggle eyes, or pilchards.
Mark with a snook.
Freshwater
Keeping with the mullet theme, I also like to use #nger mullet for peacock bass. Twenty-pound leader and a 2/0 circle hook casting in and around structure and weed lines will get you on a few. Clown knife#sh will also be on the target list. Try #shing mid-water column and below by adding a pinch weight to your leader. Finger mullet and shiners will work well.
SEPTEMBER 2026
Bruce with a nice seatrout.
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ECO TOURISM with Chris Thalmann
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S
eptember marks the start of fall, my favorite season of the year. Here in South Florida, fall carries far less punch than up north. Early September here can feel much the same as June, July, and August. But towards the end of the month we’ll o&en get a little taste of cooler air. It’s not a sudden shi&, more a series of gradual hints. As our summertime tropical birds migrate even further south, our winter resident birds begin migrating here from more northern climes. We’ll see the annual bait #sh migration from up north too, great news for inshore and o!shore sport #shing! But unless we get a tropical storm or some serious o!shore upwelling, our water temps usually stay in the 80s all month. If you’ve felt trapped inside by summer’s heat and humidity, late September’s mix of warm water and cooler air makes this a great time to get back outdoors. One of the reasons I love September is that it’s the month my wife and I decided we could actually live in Florida. We’d been looking for weeks for a place to live and found ourselves one Sunday a&ernoon standing on the old Jupiter Inlet drawbridge. The tide was rolling in and the water had that iridescent look that people here call the Jupiter Blues. While looking down at
Photo credit to Bryant Turffs.
the sandy bottom, we spotted a huge manta ray swimming around the bridge piers. I didn’t realize at the time, but that “huge” manta was most likely a juvenile, as it was maybe 8 or 10 feet wide. Years later we hosted The Florida Manta Project on our tour boat. I learned that day that Palm Beach County’s coastal waters are a nursery of sorts for juvenile mantas. Young mantas frequent shallow areas close to shore, near piers, jetties, and rocks. They o&en swim right past boats while feeding, sometimes putting themselves in danger of a boat strike without even knowing it. They’re #lter feeders, and are o&en seen swimming with their mouths wide open, #ltering huge amounts of seawater in search of microscopic plankton. It sounds awkward but I
can assure you it is not. If you’ve ever admired a pelican gliding e!ortlessly just above the water’s surface, you’ll likely appreciate watching a giant manta swim underwater. They are a delicate blend of grace and raw power. And although mantas can look intimidating, they are - like many animals - a mix of shy and curious. World Manta Day just happens to be September 17th. If you’re lucky enough to spot one of these beautiful creatures that day, this month, or anytime really, I hope you’ll safely slow down to enjoy the experience! Check out the Florida Manta Project at https://marinemegafauna.org/americas/floridamanta-project to learn more. Hope to see you on the water and exploring!
www.USHarbors.com
Palm Beach, FL - Sep 2026 High
Date
AM
ft
www.USHarbors.com
Pompano Beach (Hillsboro Inlet), FL - Sep 2026 Low
High
Date
PM
ft
AM
ft
PM
ft
Rise
Set
Moon
12:38
3.1
6:09
0.1
6:36
0.5
6:59
7:40
1
AM
ft
Tue
11:57
3.1
Low PM
ft
AM
ft
PM
ft
Rise
Set
5:29
0.1
5:56
0.6
7:00
7:40
1
Tue
2
Wed
12:42
2.9
1:29
3.0
6:58
0.1
7:28
0.7
7:00
7:39
2
Wed
12:01
2.9
12:48
3.0
6:18
0.2
6:48
0.8
7:00
7:39
3
Thu
1:31
2.8
2:27
2.9
7:54
0.2
8:29
0.8
7:00
7:38
3
Thu
12:50
2.9
1:46
3.0
7:14
0.2
7:49
0.9
7:01
7:38
4
Fri
2:29
2.7
3:33
2.8
8:59
0.3
9:38
0.9
7:01
7:37
4
Fri
1:48
2.8
2:52
2.9
8:19
0.3
8:58
1.0
7:01
7:36
5
Sat
3:37
2.7
4:44
2.8
10:11
0.3
10:50
0.8
7:01
7:36
5
Sat
2:56
2.8
4:03
2.9
9:31
0.4
10:10
1.0
7:02
7:35
6
Sun
4:51
2.8
5:52
2.9
11:21
0.3
11:58
0.7
7:02
7:34
6
Sun
4:10
2.8
5:11
3.0
10:41
0.3
11:18
0.8
7:02
7:34
7
Mon
6:03
2.9
6:53
3.1
12:26
0.2
7:02
7:33
7
Mon
5:22
3.0
6:12
3.1
11:46
0.2
7:02
7:33
8
Tue
7:07
3.1
7:47
3.2
12:58
0.5
1:24
0.1
7:02
7:32
8
Tue
6:26
3.1
7:06
3.3
12:18
0.6
12:44
0.2
7:03
7:32
9
Wed
8:04
3.3
8:35
3.3
1:52
0.4
2:17
0.1
7:03
7:31
9
Wed
7:23
3.3
7:54
3.4
1:12
0.4
1:37
0.1
7:03
7:31
10
Thu
8:56
3.4
9:19
3.4
2:41
0.2
3:05
0.1
7:03
7:30
10
Thu
8:15
3.5
8:38
3.5
2:01
0.2
2:25
0.1
7:04
7:30
11
Fri
9:43
3.5
10:01
3.4
3:27
0.1
3:51
0.1
7:04
7:29
11
Fri
9:02
3.5
9:20
3.4
2:47
0.1
3:11
0.2
7:04
7:29
12
Sat
10:27
3.5
10:41
3.3
4:11
0.0
4:35
0.3
7:04
7:28
12
Sat
9:46
3.5
10:00
3.4
3:31
0.0
3:55
0.3
7:04
7:28
13
Sun
11:10
3.4
11:20
3.2
4:54
0.1
5:18
0.4
7:04
7:27
13
Sun
10:29
3.5
10:39
3.3
4:14
0.1
4:38
0.5
7:05
7:27
14
Mon
11:52
3.3
11:58
3.0
5:35
0.2
6:00
0.6
7:05
7:25
14
Mon
11:11
3.3
11:17
3.1
4:55
0.2
5:20
0.7
7:05
7:25
15
Tue
12:33
3.1
6:17
0.3
6:43
0.8
7:05
7:24
15
Tue
11:52
3.1
11:56
2.9
5:37
0.4
6:03
0.9
7:06
7:24
16
Wed
12:37
2.9
1:17
2.9
7:01
0.5
7:29
1.0
7:06
7:23
16
Wed
12:36
3.0
6:21
0.6
6:49
1.1
7:06
7:23
17
Thu
1:19
2.7
2:04
2.8
7:49
0.7
8:19
1.1
7:06
7:22
17
Thu
12:38
2.8
1:23
2.8
7:09
0.8
7:39
1.3
7:06
7:22
18
Fri
2:05
2.6
2:57
2.6
8:44
0.8
9:19
1.2
7:07
7:21
18
Fri
1:24
2.7
2:16
2.7
8:04
0.9
8:39
1.4
7:07
7:21
19
Sat
2:59
2.5
3:57
2.6
9:45
0.9
10:23
1.3
7:07
7:20
19
Sat
2:18
2.6
3:16
2.6
9:05
1.0
9:43
1.4
7:07
7:20
20
Sun
4:02
2.5
5:00
2.6
10:48
0.9
11:25
1.2
7:07
7:19
20
Sun
3:21
2.5
4:19
2.7
10:08
1.0
10:45
1.4
7:08
7:19
21
Mon
5:08
2.5
5:57
2.7
11:45
0.9
7:08
7:17
21
Mon
4:27
2.6
5:16
2.8
11:05
1.0
11:38
1.2
7:08
7:18
22
Tue
6:08
2.7
6:47
2.8
12:18
1.1
12:36
0.8
7:08
7:16
22
Tue
5:27
2.7
6:06
2.9
11:56
0.9
7:08
7:16
23
Wed
7:02
2.8
7:31
3.0
1:03
0.9
1:21
0.7
7:09
7:15
23
Wed
6:21
2.9
6:50
3.0
12:23
1.0
12:41
0.8
7:09
7:15
24
Thu
7:50
3.0
8:12
3.1
1:44
0.7
2:02
0.6
7:09
7:14
24
Thu
7:09
3.1
7:31
3.2
1:04
0.8
1:22
0.7
7:09
7:14
25
Fri
8:34
3.2
8:52
3.2
2:22
0.5
2:42
0.5
7:10
7:13
25
Fri
7:53
3.3
8:11
3.3
1:42
0.6
2:02
0.6
7:10
7:13
26
Sat
9:18
3.4
9:31
3.3
3:00
0.4
3:22
0.5
7:10
7:12
26
Sat
8:37
3.4
8:50
3.3
2:20
0.4
2:42
0.5
7:10
7:12
27
Sun
10:01
3.5
10:11
3.3
3:38
0.2
4:03
0.5
7:10
7:11
27
Sun
9:20
3.5
9:30
3.4
2:58
0.2
3:23
0.5
7:11
7:11
28
Mon
10:45
3.5
10:52
3.3
4:18
0.1
4:45
0.5
7:11
7:10
28
Mon
10:04
3.6
10:11
3.3
3:38
0.1
4:05
0.6
7:11
7:10
29
Tue
11:31
3.5
11:36
3.2
5:01
0.1
5:30
0.6
7:11
7:08
29
Tue
10:50
3.5
10:55
3.3
4:21
0.1
4:50
0.7
7:11
7:09
30
Wed
12:20
3.4
5:48
0.2
6:19
0.7
7:12
7:07
30
Wed
11:39
3.5
11:43
3.2
5:08
0.2
5:39
0.8
7:12
7:08
4 PALM BEACH & FORT LAUDERDALE AREAS
SEPTEMBER 2026
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SEPTEMBER 2026
PALM BEACH & FORT LAUDERDALE AREAS 5
YOU
PALM BEACH
N
IN & OFFSHORE Fishing Forecast with CAPT. WESTON RUSSELL
W
Capt. Weston Russell • www.reelintensefishing.com •561-310-2690
elcome to the Coastal Angler Magazine #shing report for the month of September. Fuel the boat up! We are heading o!shore for dolphin. September is the beginning of run & gun. Getting an early start is best. The key is to head east, looking for weed lines that hold bait. If you #nd a fat line and see nothing swimming around it, then push the throttle forward and look for the next line deeper. Finding life is a must. Dolphin will not hang around dead weed. Also, keep an eye out for floating debris. Anything from a rope to a piece of wood could put you in the game. When you do hit the spot, my advice is to troll small baits like strips. My friend and master angler, Zach Woods, between calls, only trolls pink and white Sea Witches. He has limited out on dollies almost every trip. You de#nitely want to have a few Daiwa lighttackle spinner combos in reserve with a popper lure or a #5 hook tipped with a squid. There’s a
good chance you can get a school around the boat. Always leave one hooked in the water to keep the others interested. Just a heads up: when you pull the #sh into the boat, you have #ve seconds before it goes ballistic… put the bear grip on it if you’re looking to take a picture. Good luck! For the people who want to save on fuel, the edge will be holding plenty of #sh. Dri&ing the stream over the reef with a live bait will produce smoker kings. Anything from sardines to a large blue runner will get the job done. Wire is a must! For the snapper guys, September is hot for muttons and yellowtail. The crew at Reel Intense Fishing (http://reelintense#shing.com) #sh long leaders for the mutts and shorter leaders for the tails. Frozen Florida sardines are the bait of choice. Make sure you’re fast on the reel…the man in the grey suit is never far away. Remember, “You can’t catch them from the couch.”
Trolling the deep can produce wahoo.
JUPITER INLET INSHORE Fishing Forecast with CAPT. CRAIG KORCZYNSKI PhlatsInshoreFishing.com • (561) 644-4371 • Visit us on Facebook & Instagram Kason with a jack and Jonathan with a barracuda.
S
eptember signi#es the fall mullet run migration. This event invades the local area with bait schools migrating south. Predator #sh follow crashing and feeding on these schools, putting on quite a spectacle. Snook #shing will be excellent as they can be targeted along beaches, inlets, seawalls, and docks. Topwater, a Rapala Skitter Walk is an excellent choice for explosive strikes. DOA Bait Busters entice snook to strike near the surface and sub-surface. Areas to locate snook will be bridges, docks, and channel edges. Snook gather in pods at times, where the average size of this #sh ranges from 5 to 25 pounds. 6 PALM BEACH & FORT LAUDERDALE AREAS
With tarpon, they will be showing o! their acrobatic leaps and jumps. Anglers must bow to the king! Tarpon fans can enjoy drag screaming runs and epic battles. Live mullet on the surface trigger massive strikes. The average size of tarpon ranges from 10 to 80 pounds. For arti#cial enthusiasts, Rapala X-Rap, DOA Bait Busters, and DOA TerrorEyz are great baits of choice. The flats and ICW will be areas that will produce snook, jacks, goliath grouper, drum, and many other species for rod bending action. Structure areas, potholes, and grass flats hold bait schools where predator #sh will follow. For anglers who want steady action, nothing beats a live mullet, just cast one out along drop-o!s or structure and hold on tight. Witnessing a predator #sh exploding on a live bait puts a smile on everyone’s face. Well, that is the #shing report for September, hope you all enjoyed. Remember, you can’t catch them from the couch, so get out there and get hooked up. Tight lines!
SEPTEMBER 2026
Emily with her first linesider.
Cole with a tarpon boat side.
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SEPTEMBER 2026
he dog days of summer can make #shing for exotics either really good or terrible. September is a great month to #sh all over Florida. You also have the mullet run in late September and October, which can be a fun alternative to my typical #shery, the exotics. I’m going to explain how to have a great day on the water and beat the heat. Water temperatures ranging from the low to mid 90s can really get the #sh #red up, but if it gets too hot, it can shut them down. My preference is to #sh early mornings and later a&ernoons into the evening. It’s easier on the body, and it’s the most active time to catch bycatch like largemouth bass and other native species that prefer slightly cooler water. Back in February of this year, we su!ered a major #sh kill from the water temperatures dropping too low for too long. The most a!ected areas were Palm Beach County and northern Broward County. I would focus on smaller systems that don’t receive as much #shing pressure, and the farther south you go, the better. As a full time #shing guide, this has been one of the toughest seasons because I live in north Broward and typically #sh within 30 minutes of home. Places I would avoid are the Lake Ida Chain and the northern parts of the Everglades, where peacocks survived but the #shing pressure has made the bite really difficult if you’re not out there multiple times a week. The one positive that came from the #sh kill, if there is one, is that the bass #shing has been pretty good in many of those a!ected areas, and that’s always a blast. Most places have smaller populations of #sh, but because they’re rich in forage, there are usually some good ones to be caught. As for other exotics, clown knife#sh and snakehead #shing have been good in the southern parts of the Lake Ida Chain, while the northern end had the worst clown knife #sh die-o! I have ever witnessed with my own two eyes. Clown knife#sh like baits moving along the bottom. Dragging and bumping your bait is how I catch them. Snakeheads, on the other hand, are the complete opposite and prefer topwater presentations. Their explosive strikes are well worth the grueling amount of time it can take to #nd them.
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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
T
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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www.VisitDixie.com FWC Announces Harvest Levels for October Apalachicola Bay Where the Oyster Season, Prepares for Suwannee & Big Bend Management and Steinhatchee Rivers Meet the Restoration Gulf of Mexi
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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
O
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
N
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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