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SNOOK SEASON

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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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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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CAPTURING By Robert Webb

What It Takes to Photograph the Fight - Beyond the Dock Shot

he sailfish came up lit, greyhounding across four-foot seas, and everything on the boat happened at once. The angler leaning into the rod. The mate calling the fish. Spray coming over the gunwale. Everyone trying to get a better view. The deck pitching under all of us. Me trying to get a shot while staying out of the way. And somewhere in there was a photograph—one frame where all of it lined up into a story worth telling. That’s the shot I’m after. And here’s the thing about that fish: you’ll never see it at the dock. The only fish I can photograph are the ones that jump. A sailfish greyhounding, a marlin in the air, a mahi cartwheeling

PHOTOS CREDIT: ROBERT WEBB PHOTOGRAPHY ROBERTWEBBPHOTOS.COM

across the surface—that’s the fight, and that’s the picture. Bottom fish don’t jump. Most of what you keep doesn’t either. And the best of them, the billfish, are the ones that never come home— released boatside, gone under before the boat turns for the dock. There’s no fish to hoist, no shot at the cleaning table. The fight in the air, and your memory of it, is the only record that any of it happened. The moment that actually mattered— the fight itself—is the hardest thing on the water to photograph. And for those fish, it’s the only thing there is to photograph. Which is exactly why it’s the thing worth photographing. Here’s the problem with the fight: you

can’t control any of it. You can’t pose a sailfish. The boat is pitching, the light is whatever the morning gave you, and the fish is only up for a second or two—less if it’s a mahi—before it drops back down. No retake, no second pass—maybe a second jump if you’re lucky, but never the same one. So I stopped trying to control it. I call the way I shoot “Capturing Chaos,” and the idea is simple: don’t fight the chaos, shoot into it. When the fish comes up, I’m not hunting for one perfect frame—I’m firing fourteen frames a second and letting the camera re-decide focus on every single one, because in that kind of motion the

SEE CHAOS ........................................................PAGE 10

LEFT: Bill up and spray lit, an Atlantic sailfish at the top of a vertical leap. ABOVE: An Atlantic sailfish suspended above the surface, sail flared; the raw energy of the fight in one instant.

TREASURE COAST

COASTAL ANGLER C0-PUBLISHERS GRANT & KIM SIMPSON grant@coastalanglermagazine.com kim@coastalanglermagazine.com

GRAPHIC ARTIST LAURA KELLY CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Capt. Rocky Carbia Capt. Jonathan Earhart Capt. Scotty Gold Capt. Bo Samuel Capt. Trent Shapiro Capt. Paul Sperco Robert Webb Capt. Adam White Capt. Terry Wildey

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FISHING SEBASTIAN AREA FORECASTS OFFSHORE

Capt. Terry Wildey Big Easy Fishing Charters (772) 538 - 1072 www.bigeasyfishingcharter.com captwildey@bellsouth.net

y September the tropics usually are heated up and stirring up our water pretty good. Assuming the waters are not too stirred up, the fishing should still be good. We should have some decent kingfish around bait pods in the 40- to 50-foot range as well as the artificial reefs. For those of you new to the area that don’t have any spots in your GPS, that’s a good place to start. There’s over a dozen reefs listed on the internet for our area. These reefs hold bait (threadfins) as well as snapper, kingfish, cobia and barracuda. Always a fun place to take the kids for some rod-bending action. The 80- and 90-foot reefs should also produce a few big mangrove snapper providing you’re geared to crank them past the sharks. Alas, it looks like the shark problem is here to stay until our South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) does something to control

Nice summer catch of kings and mangrove snapper from The Big Easy. PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Terry Wildey.

the imbalance in our fishery. The water temps should be pushing over 85 degrees, so this should make for a picky, almost lethargic, bite. Light fluorocarbon leaders and a variety of live baits should help pick up the bite. I like fishing the smaller pieces of bottom when it’s like this. Some of the little 2- to 4-foot pieces that only mark a little fuzz on. Spots that most people wouldn’t waste a drop on. This usually will produce some nice lane and vermillion snappers, as well as triggerfish. Pick your days and weather. Even if we don’t get the storm, sometimes

we’ll still get a big groundswell that will stir things up and shut down the bite. Take advantage of this time to do your boat maintenance that gets overlooked when you spent all July and August on the water. September’s when I always go through all my safety gear, such as life jackets, flairs and fire extinguishers too. Do it all at once; this might save a life or, at the very least, save you a $250 ticket. As always, be courteous to your fellow anglers; you never know when you might need a tow—LOL! And take a kid fishing; he or she might return the favor when you get old. Fish On! Gotta Go...

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FISHING FORECASTS

FROM THE SURF & SHORE

Capt. Paul Sperco Capt’n Paul Rigs and Charters (609) 903-8243 facebook.com/captnpaul

DAY TIME HGHT 1TU

5:29 AM 12:20 PM 5:56 PM 2W 12:24 AM 6:18 AM 1:11 PM 6:48 PM 3TH 1:13 AM 7:14 AM 2:09 PM 7:49 PM 4F 2:11 AM 8:19 AM 3:15 PM 8:58 PM 5SA 3:19 AM 9:31 AM 4:26 PM 10:10 PM 6SU 4:33 AM 10:41 AM 5:34 PM 11:18 PM 7M 5:45 AM 11:46 AM 6:35 PM 8TU 12:18 AM 6:49 AM 12:44 PM 7:29 PM 9W 1:12 AM 7:46 AM 1:37 PM 8:17 PM 10TH 2:01 AM 8:38 AM 2:25 PM 9:01 PM 11F 2:47 AM 9:25 AM 3:11 PM 9:43 PM

0.09 L 2.79 H 0.49 L 2.63 H 0.12 L 2.72 H 0.62 L 2.56 H 0.19 L 2.64 H 0.74 L 2.5 H 0.26 L 2.58 H 0.81 L 2.48 H 0.29 L 2.59 H 0.79 L 2.52 H 0.27 L 2.67 H 0.68 L 2.64 H 0.2 L 2.8 H 0.51 L 2.8 H 0.13 L 2.93 H 0.33 L 2.96 H 0.09 L 3.03 H 0.17 L 3.08 H 0.09 L 3.08 H 0.06 L 3.15 H 0.14 L 3.08 H

12SA 3:31 AM 10:09 AM 3:55 PM 10:23 PM 13SU 4:14 AM 10:52 AM 4:38 PM 11:02 PM 14M 4:55 AM 11:34 AM 5:20 PM 11:40 PM 15TU 5:37 AM 12:15 PM 6:03 PM 16W 12:19 AM 6:21 AM 12:59 PM 6:49 PM 17TH 1:01 AM 7:09 AM 1:46 PM 7:39 PM 18F 1:47 AM 8:04 AM 2:39 PM 8:39 PM 19SA 2:41 AM 9:05 AM 3:39 PM 9:43 PM 20SU 3:44 AM 10:08 AM 4:42 PM 10:45 PM 21M 4:50 AM 11:05 AM 5:39 PM 11:38 PM 22TU 5:50 AM 11:56 AM 6:29 PM

0.03 L 3.15 H 0.23 L 3.01 H 0.06 L 3.08 H 0.37 L 2.9 H 0.16 L 2.96 H 0.54 L 2.77 H 0.3 L 2.81 H 0.72 L 2.63 H 0.46 L 2.65 H 0.89 L 2.49 H 0.62 L 2.5 H 1.04 L 2.38 H 0.76 L 2.39 H 1.15 L 2.3 H 0.84 L 2.34 H 1.18 L 2.27 H 0.86 L 2.37 H 1.13 L 2.32 H 0.81 L 2.46 H 1.01 L 2.43 H 0.73 L 2.58 H

SEBASTIAN INLET

ST. LUCIE INLET

TIME OFFSET High Tide -48 min Low Tide -24 min HEIGHT OFFSET High Tide .93 feet Low Tide 1.0 foot

TIME OFFSET High Tide +55 Low Tide +1 hr; 42 min HEIGHT OFFSET High Tide 1 foot Low Tide .50 feet

VERO BEACH (OCEAN)

FORT PIERCE (SOUTH JETTY)

TIME OFFSET High Tide -55 min Low Tide -35 min HEIGHT OFFSET High Tide 1.45 feet Low Tide 1.36 feet

TIME OFFSET High Tide -31 min Low Tide -18 min HEIGHT OFFSET High Tide 1.14 feet Low Tide 1.50 feet

4 TREASURE COAST

SEPTEMBER 2026

23W 12:23 AM 6:44 AM 12:41 PM 7:13 PM 24TH 1:04 AM 7:32 AM 1:22 PM 7:54 PM 25F 1:42 AM 8:16 AM 2:02 PM 8:34 PM 26SA 2:20 AM 9:00 AM 2:42 PM 9:13 PM 27SU 2:58 AM 9:43 AM 3:23 PM 9:53 PM 28M 3:38 AM 10:27 AM 4:05 PM 10:34 PM 29TU 4:21 AM 11:13 AM 4:50 PM 11:18 PM 30W 5:08 AM 12:02 PM 5:39 PM

0.86 L 2.58 H 0.64 L 2.72 H 0.68 L 2.75 H 0.55 L 2.83 H 0.5 L 2.92 H 0.48 L 2.92 H 0.34 L 3.06 H 0.43 L 2.98 H 0.2 L 3.16 H 0.43 L 2.99 H 0.12 L 3.19 H 0.47 L 2.98 H 0.1 L 3.17 H 0.56 L 2.93 H 0.14 L 3.09 H 0.67 L

JENSEN BEACH (INDIAN RIVER) TIME OFFSET High Tide +2 hrs; 17 min Low Tide +3 hrs; 4 min HEIGHT OFFSET High Tide .48 feet Low Tide .92 feet

JUPITER INLET TIME OFFSET High Tide -10 min Low Tide -9 min HEIGHT OFFSET High Tide 1.08 feet Low Tide 1.42 feet

s I write this column, our schools are reopening, there are a couple of weak disturbances that are forming as they come off the African coast (that do not appear to be a influencer for our coast), and I got the first phone call from a good friend just north of Melbourne that had a couple of mullet schools show up the other day. I always call these early mullet school sightings as “scout” schools, but hopefully that is an encouraging sign. August was definitely a transition month for all of us that fish the beach with whiting, croaker and catchand-release snook as our main targets. I am certainly ready to move out of August and into September as the best piece of equipment that that you could have taken to the beach for the last few weeks was a weed wacker! This year is one of the worst on record for the build up of sargassum from offshore, and it has filled the nearshore troughs along most local beaches. That’s the bad news. The good news is the weed usually starts to lessen as we leave August and enter September. Our fall mullet run has been less than spectacular over the last few years due to weather and surf conditions; we are due for a good one. If you are a longtime surf angler, the “National Geographic” days of schools of huge numbers of mullet getting hammered by tarpon, snook, big jacks, bluefish and sharks are memories you do not forget. The question has always been not if the schools are here, but where are they on any given day. In addition to the mullet, glass minnows and pilchards usually join the migration, and I have always caught the biggest croakers of the year by pitching my whiting and croaker rigs tipped with Fishbites and small pieces of shrimp into the middle of the glass minnow schools —and catching them two at a time! Our area hosts two types of whiting which are formally named the Gulf

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kingfish and the southern kingfish. The southern kingfish were starting to show just before this last blast of sargassum; they have a tendency to be a bit larger than our silver Gulf kingfish, with a black spot on the tail. September and October are prime months for catching both types of whiting, as well as big croakers. This is what I call “catching the groceries” because they are delicious. Light tackle, like a Quantum 2500 spinning reel on a Quantum 7-foot light action rod is all you need to have some fun and catch some great tablefare. Do not overcast these guys because they will be 10 to 15 yards from the edge of the surf around the high tide mark.

Respectable beach snook. Their season opens September 1. PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Paul Sperco.

On the flip side, the snook, tarpon, jacks, bluefish and sharks will make you break out the 8- to 9-foot medium-heavy rods with 5000 and 6000 sized spinning reels as this will be the time to hook the big fellows. A cast net should be added to your beach cart along with a bait bucket and a bubbler. A live mullet cast to the edge of the bait schools will bend your rod, especially early in the morning and late in the day. Other live baits to consider are pilchards, sand perch, and large shrimp if you can get them. There will be days when these trophy fish will attack a different bait presentation from the hundreds of mullet they have been following and chasing. As far as artificials, Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows work well, and NLBN and Jyg Pro make a multitude of baits that will mimic the mullet and get you hooked up. I always like to cast a bait that has a black back during the fall and fish the edges, not the middle, of the pods of bait. Another

SEE SURF & SHORE ......................PAGE 7

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FISHING FORECASTS

MARTIN COUNTY OFFSHORE

Capt. Trent Shapiro Catch of the Day Charters (772) 208-0171 CatchoftheDayCharters.com cotdcharters@gmail.com

eptember marks the beginning of our transition into fall offshore fishing along the Treasure Coast. While live bait can still be incredibly productive, we’ll gradually shift our focus back toward trolling as bait schools become less predictable and pelagic fish begin spreading out along current edges, color changes and offshore structure. This is the time of year when the dredges come back out, squid teaser chains hit the water, and rigged ballyhoo once again become a staple in our spread. As we begin targeting deeper water, our trolling program allows us to cover more ground in search of sailfish, mahi, blackfin tuna, kingfish, and one of our favorite fall targets: wahoo.

Senior on graduation trip from SC boxed a 44 lb. wahoo and released his first sailfish! PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Trent Shapiro.

September often provides excellent opportunities for trophy wahoo off Stuart. We’ll frequently pull planer baits rigged with J-hook ballyhoo, split-tail mullet, or even XL bonito strips to target these speedsters. Wahoo bites happen in an instant, and when they do, there’s usually no mistaking what just ate the bait. Kingfish action should continue improving throughout the month as they stage along the reefs and

offshore ledges. Blackfin tuna remain a possibility along strong current edges and offshore bait concentrations, while mahi can still be found around scattered weed lines, floating debris, and clean blue water where favorable currents converge. Although we’re transitioning back into trolling, we’re always prepared to adjust our game plan. If we locate healthy bait schools or find sailfish actively feeding, we’ll

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never hesitate to switch over to live bait. Staying flexible and fishing the conditions is one of the biggest keys to consistently producing quality catches this time of year. Don’t be afraid to drop down to a lighter class leader or use a shorter trace of wire if the bite is slow; on calm clear days it can make a huge difference for finicky fish! Bottom fishing also remains a great option when conditions allow. Vermilion snapper, lane snapper, triggerfish and the occasional mutton snapper continue providing steady action over productive bottom areas, giving anglers the opportunity to head home with fresh fish for dinner. With summer fading and fall knocking on the door, September brings some of the most exciting offshore fishing of the year. As the seasons begin to change, it’s also the time of year to keep a close eye on the weather. The best fishing often comes when favorable weather windows line up with clean water and good current, so don’t miss those opportunities. If you’ve been thinking about getting offshore this fall, September is a great time to get your trip on the calendar. We look forward to seeing you on the water.

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MARTIN COUNTY INSHORE NEARSHORE

Capt. Jonathan Earhart Chaos Fishing Charters (772) 341 – 2274 www.chaosfishingcharters.com jon@chaosfishingcharters.com

eptember mullet run fishing is finally upon us. Having a cast net on board is mandatory if you want to catch fish in the river this month. Fishing around mullet schools along the Indian River, we can expect good action from big snook, tarpon, redfish, seatrout, jack crevalle and sharks. Fishing channel edges with larger live mullet will provide good tarpon action this month. If you’re looking to catch snook use live mullet around docks, seawalls and mangrove shorelines for steady

MARTIN COUNTY DEEP SEA

Capt. Rocky Carbia Safari I Deep Sea Fishing Pirates Cove Resort and Marina 4307 SE Bayview St. Port Salerno Reservations: (772) 334-4411 www.safari1deepseafishing.com

action. Use 6/0 circle hooks with 60 lb. fluorocarbon leaders to help bring larger snook boatside when using live mullet for bait. Expect a few big jack crevelle in the mix while targeting snook. Snook season is open and the slot size is 28 to 32 inches, with a limit of one per person, per day. Nearshore fishing can be spectacular if you can find the right beach holding large pods of mullet with predators airing out on mullet schools. This requires driving to local beaches to find where the predators are actively feeding. Binos are a great idea for scouting for fish. Sometimes fishing right off the beach with artificial lures can produce some epic tarpon and snook action if you are in the right area at the right time. Early mornings and late afternoons around sunset can be best for finding feeding fish along local Treasure Coast beaches. and dead bait strategies will work in tandem as anglers deploy their spreads at different depths. The key component to bait deployment will be to make sure the baits are deployed very near or directly over top of these reef structures. Fishing around structure is the common thread that runs through all types of

SURF & SHORE ................FROM PAGE 4

Big snook caught on a live

mullet with a 6/0 circle hook Tight lines...

and 60 lb. fluorocarbon leader. PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Jonathan Earhart.

successful fishing strategies. Vermilion snapper will continue to be found in good numbers this month and will best be caught using cut bait, especially squid. Mangrove, lane and mutton snapper will also avail themselves to salty grocery collectors during the days of September.

lure that has produced is one that folks do not think about during our mullet run and that is a spoon. A 1to 2-ounce silver spoon is deadly on certain days. One last tip that I would like to share: before you unload all of your gear from your truck or car, take a walk up to the dune line and look for the bait showing at your favorite access. Pelicans, terns and diving seagulls are what you need to see, along with pods getting blasted. A quick five-minute ride in your vehicle from a dead area that you are looking at to a feeding frenzy three beach accesses north or south can make your day. Down in my area of the Treasure Coast, the Snook Nook on Indian River Dr. in Jensen Beach has everything I have mentioned in stock including live bait and a full array of Fishbites. I hope next month’s column is about what a great start we are seeing for the fall surf fishing season. One species I did not mention, but will start showing up in September usually with some smaller ones, is the pompano, as I always call the month of October the start of “Pompano Mania!” Good luck in September and catch ’em up.

he collective eyes of all Floridians will be focused on the tropics during the sultry fishing days of September. As summer begins to transition to fall, the potential for tropical low-pressure systems will peak this month and could have many possible impacts for near coastal offshore fishing interests. Barring any weather systems of this nature, offshore fishing can and will be “business as usual” as favorable weather windows allow fishing crews to fish the many reef structures east of the St. Lucie Inlet. Reefs and wrecks that form the bottom contour of our fishing zone are the foundation for saltwater ecosystems and will set the food chain in action as larger fish are attracted to the smaller fish and creatures that magically associate themselves with these structures. Many species of fish, including snapper and grouper, will be found around the base of these reef sites and can also patrol to the higher profiles along the reef line and “suspend” atop of a particular reef, at mid-level depths in the water column. Live

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FISHING FORECASTS

ST. LUCIE COUNTY OFFSHORE

Capt. Bo Samuel Pullin Drag Charters (772) 971-6661 facebook.com/Pullin-Drag-Charters catpainbofishing@gmail.com

eptember is here and local anglers know the main show in town is SNOOK! This time of year the elusive and aggressive snook are local celebrities known for their superior fight and truly excellent taste. Treasure Coast captains and anglers excitedly count down the days until snook can be back on the family dinner menu. September 1 through December 14 is the second open season of the year for these highly prized fish, also called “linesiders” for the distinctive black lateral line that extends to the tail. My favorite live bait choices for hooking snook are croakers, pilchards and mojarra, although they are aggressive enough to bite artificials as well. I recommend keeping a tight drag so these smart sportfish have a tougher chance to

break the line on nearby structure. Since the population is making a good comeback, frequent overslots and under-slots will be caught. When that happens, I encourage good catch-and-release techniques to minimize exposure to air and handling. This helps maintain the long-term health of our thriving snook fishery. Slot limit is 28 to 32 inches total length so keep that measure stick ready. The great king mackerel bite from August should continue in September, especially with smoker kings found off the beach around bait pods and on out. Live pilchards, threadfins or sardines on a slow troll generally produce excellent results. Big kings are prized as a true trophy fish with a serious fight, plus they make tasty smoked fish dip. If you want to try my famous Captain Bo’s Smoked Fish Dip recipe, just give me a shout as I’m happy to share. Targeting kings will provide fun opportunities for mahi-mahi and even some summer sailfish which greatly increases bragging rights and photo ops. Two of my recent charters have seen anglers catching their very first sail! We may be saying goodbye to summer but the fishing is still hot so make plans for your own salty grocery trip. Now is the time to get

on our snook charter schedule for a fin-tastic linesider adventure. Come hang with the locals at DeBrooks Fishing Corner and my homebase, the historic Little Jim Bait & Tackle, where you’ll always hear the very best local fish stories. Remember Little Jim specializes in “CookYour-Catch” with the best servers in the Fort and a military and first responder discount. Happy Labor Day, wave the flag, and never stop Pullin Drag!

Summertime red grouper caught by Tony B (left). Nothing better than fun on the water with family and bringing home dinner!

PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Bo Samuel.

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ST. LUCIE COUNTY INSHORE

Capt. Adam White St. Lucie Flats Fishing Charters (609) 820-6257 www.stlucieflatsfishing.com

eptember is one of the most anticipated months on the Treasure Coast, as the summer heat begins to ease and the inshore fishery starts its transition toward fall. Throughout the Treasure Coast, anglers can expect good opportunities for snook, trout, tarpon and a variety of bait-driven predators. Early-morning outgoing tides and periods of moving water should be especially productive, with bait becoming increasingly important as the month progresses. Snook season is the big story for September. Recreational snook harvest reopens September 1 in the

Indian River Lagoon management region after the June 1–August 31 closure. The season runs through December 14, with a one-fish-perperson daily bag limit and a 28– to 32-inch slot limit. While many anglers will be looking to put a legal snook in the cooler, September is also an excellent month for catch-and-release fishing. Snook will be transitioning away from their summer spawning areas and beginning to spread back into the lagoon, with mangrove shorelines, docks, bridges, deeper channels and current-producing areas — all worth targeting. Live mullet, croakers and smaller baitfish should be productive, while topwaters, jerkbaits and paddletails can produce aggressive strikes during low-light periods. Trout should also provide steady action as water temperatures gradually begin to moderate. Look for them along deeper grass

edges, sandy potholes and areas where current moves across the flats. Early mornings are ideal for topwater plugs, while soft plastics and suspending baits can produce throughout the day. On cleanerwater days, sight-fishing the shallow flats can be particularly rewarding. Tarpon will remain an important part of the Fort Pierce fishery in September. Juvenile and resident tarpon can be found throughout the lagoon, while larger fish may still be encountered around the inlet, bridges and deeper channels. Live mullet, crabs and smaller baitfish are excellent choices when targeting larger fish, while smaller tarpon will readily attack artificial presentations. As September progresses, keep a close eye on the bait. The mullet run will be knocking at our door this month. Schools of mullet moving along the shoreline can quickly turn an ordinary stretch of water into a

ST. LUCIE COUNTY DEEP SEA

Capt. Scotty Gold Miss Fort Pierce Fishing (772) 766-0191 www.fortpiercefishing.com

ith September upon us, we anticipate some of our best fishing of the year. As we get through the August “upwelling” of cold water, the bottom warms up and the mangrove and mutton snapper bite and the groupers start to feed again. Traditionally, September through to January the bite is on. You will find snappers biting from 45 feet out to 120 feet of water. Mangrove snappers will be on the ledges and the muttons will be feeding on the sand around the reef and wreck structures. Use 30- to 50-pound weight line with 8 to 25 feet of leading, with 4/0 to 6/0 octopus or circle hooks. Grunt

PHOTO CREDIT: Miss Fort Pierce Fishing.

plugs will work good, as well as live greenies, small live mullet or pinfish. Remember to be patient when the fish bite; take your time and LET THEM EAT! We say in the industry, “If you feel them, they feel you.” Fish on an

open spool and wait for the strike you feel is best. Snapper will “play” with your bait until they feel comfortable to take it and run. Red groupers are found on some of the shallower bottom in the 40-

Steph with a nice trout caught with a popping cork and thumper shrimp PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Adam White.

feeding zone. The combination of falling tides, active bait and cooler mornings should make September an excellent month to fish the Fort Pierce area — and a great kickoff to the fall inshore season. to 80-foot range and most groupers are in 80 to 250 feet on rough reef structures or on the wrecks. Jigging, live bait or fresh cut bait works best. While fishing for grouper you want to fish with 80- to 120-pound line and a heavy bank sinker to keep your bait from not moving. You want a shorter, stand-up type of setup with a high gear ratio reel with two speeds to hoist them up while they try and “dig in” to break you off. During the fall fishing you’ll see a good number of kingfish, mahi and cobia. I recommend you have a spinning rod with 25- to 40-pound lines ready to go with a triple hook rig and no weight so you may cast out a “flat line” when you see the fish. Remember, some of the largest fish are caught in the fall as the water temperature on the bottom balances out. Be safe on the water, keep tight lines, and we look forward to seeing you aboard The Miss Fort Pierce..

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TREASURE COAST 9

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COASTAL ANGLER TREASURE COAST

next frame is a different picture than the previous. Volume is part of it — but only part. The rest is preparation: dialed-in settings, the right gear, and a lot of practice. Most frames in a burst are nothing. But one of them — sometimes just one — is the keeper: the fish sharp, the spray lit, the bill up, the whole story of that fight held in a single instant — captured in the midst of an adrenaline rush. That’s the one I’m looking for. The best chaos — the moment order was pulled from the chaos. IT: Y Luck plays a part. Preparation is PHOTOS CRED PHOTOGRAPH ROBERT WEBB what makes it count. PHOTOS.COM BB WE RT BE RO Nothing in my work is staged. No posed shots, no retakes, no “can we run that one more time.” What you get is what actually happened out there — your fish, your fight, your story, exactly as it went down. When a photo lands, it doesn’t just prove you caught something. It puts you back on that deck — back inside the chaos, every time you look at it. We’re lucky to fish where we do. The Treasure Coast doesn’t call itself the Sailfish Capital of the World for nothing, and the action running out of these inlets gives a photographer more stories to work with than just about anywhere. There is chaos worth capturing out there — more than can be seen from the dock.

A hooked mahi comes out of the water fully lit and slings the bait — the whole fight in a single frame.

An Atlantic sailfish greyhounds across the surface, sail flared.

We wa As wo com our

Rea Ap

Robert Webb specializes in offshore sportfishing action photography, shot from moving boats. Local to Stuart. See more of his work at robertwebbphotos.com.

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or most boat owners, a day on the water should begin with excitement, not frustration. Yet many of the breakdowns we attend could have been prevented with routine inspections, service and maintenance. The reality is that small issues often go unnoticed until they become expensive repairs; or worse, leave you stranded offshore. One of the most common problems we see is battery and charging system failure. Batteries naturally deteriorate over time, while corroded terminals, failing alternators, or poor charging systems can prevent them from reaching full capacity. Many owners don’t realise there’s an issue until often overlooked. A damaged propeller, fishing line wrapped around the the engine refuses to start or onboard electronics begin shutting down. Corroded electrical connections are another frequent culprit. South prop shaft, or worn hub can reduce performance, increase fuel consumption, Florida’s saltwater environment is unforgiving, and even sealed electrical and place unnecessary strain on the drivetrain. Many issues can be identified systems require regular inspection. Corrosion creates resistance, leading to during a routine inspection long before they become a problem on the water. At DRIFT Marine, preventative maintenance is about far more than voltage drop, intermittent faults, unreliable electronics, and, in severe cases, changing engine oil. Our experienced technicians carry out comprehensive overheating or electrical failure. Fuel systems can also cause unexpected problems. Water contamination, inspections to identify developing issues before they result in breakdowns, ageing fuel, clogged filters, or deteriorating fuel hoses can all reduce engine helping owners enjoy safer, more reliable boating with fewer unexpected repair bills. performance and reliability. Regular fuel Whether you’re preparing for your next system inspections are a simple way to offshore trip or simply want confidence that avoid costly engine repairs and improve your boat is ready for the season ahead, confidence offshore. DRIFT Marine offers professional servicing, Cooling systems deserve equal attention. diagnostics, marine electrical support, and Water pumps, impellers, thermostats, and complete vessel maintenance tailored to the cooling passages all play a critical role Discount applies to labor rates only. way you use your boat. Contact us today. in keeping an outboard operating safely. YOUR FIRST Components naturally wear over time, and Please mention this coupon when your appointment Phone: (772) 298-7135 waiting until an engine overheats can quickly SERVICE scheduling and present it at check-in. Email: support@drift-marine.com; turn a routine service into a major repair. Web: www.drift-marine.com Finally, propellers and running gear are

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

Todd Hingle with a slab pompano he caught on sand fleas in the surf near Sebastian Inlet. It was 18.75 inches to the fork—and his personal best!

Tiffany Wiesbauer caught this 52” wahoo in 220 feet of water right before the afternoon thunderstorms rolled into Jupiter..

African Tony Weisman with two Inlet. pompano out of St. Lucie Team Coastal Angler’s Kim & Charlotte with the winning trout in the recent Lu cky Duck Fishing Tournamen t.

10-year-old Trent Breiner had to see if he was taller than the 48” barracuda he caught out of Sebastian Inlet.

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

GREATER AMBERJACK SEASON OPENS IN GULF SEPTEMBER 1

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

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

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Fishing the Wild Waters of

Cay Sal Bank By A. deGruchy

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

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

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SEPTEMBER 2026

NATIONAL 5

The September Season of Change TIM BAREFOOT

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

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

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

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CAPITALIZING On the Summer-to-Fall Transition T

By Pro Bass Angler Joey Bloom

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

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

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

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