Needed rain over the Labor day holiday dampened boating and fishing activities. Strong northeast winds prior to the holiday coupled with high tides meant even higher tides than predicted. The result of tougher conditions and less quality fishing. For last week this was pretty much the case. Fish could be caught but conditions were tough and fishing wasn’t great. Even after enormous amounts of rain fell fish could be caught by bouncing a shrimp under a float. On Monday in a couple of hours caught seven or eight 13 inch redfish and three or four small seatrout and one two pound seatrout. After lots of rain in short period of time conditions will usually rapidly improve. Generally all it takes is a tide or two. As summer comes to a close fishermen are looking to the fall and indications are that this could be another good year on the coast! At present the flats are holding some fish but the water is still very hot. As water temperature begins to drop shallow water fishing will heat up!
Labor day always brings to memory of stag bass in the surf. This time of the large red drum start to run the beachfront. Inclement changing weather and be part of the mix that triggers the reds on the beach. Fishermen can target these fish in or out of their boat. Most surf fishermen prefer to walk the beach and outer bars looking for just the right rip or cut in the sand bar to pitch a finger mullet or cut bait. Fishing the surf can be gang busters one day and nothing the next. When reds on the surf are hot this can be a dynamic way to spend an morning or afternoon!
Shrimp are plentiful. Finding bait should not be a problem. That said when tide are large (spring tides). Bait is literally sucks out of the rivers and creeks to the sound. There of course is some bait around. The point is throwing a cast for shrimp during a high tide period could be frustrating for several reason. Not the least is that bait is pulled the sounds.
September is the time of year if you haven’t caught your tarpon you better get with. Some have said this has been a better tarpon year in local waters. Others have lamented the bite hasn’t been that strong. Likely like any fishing it’s a matter of perspective. If you’re on the fish, fishing is good. Larger mullet are abundant in local rivers. Medium to large mullet are great tarpon bait as well a medium sized ladyfish. Ladyfish are plentiful as well. The expression big ducks fly late can attributed to tarpon. Some of the largest tarpon are spotted and caught late in the season.
This week as tides fall back to less than eight feet and conditions continue to improve fishing will likely be good. Redfish and seatrout will hungry and on the prowl after big tide and poor conditions. Small tides during the fall are usually the best day for flounders and black drum. Lots of “trash fish” in local waters. Take plenty of bait be prepared to fish different drops if trash fish are overwhelming.
Fishing for the coming week should be good! Hope this of help! Good Fishing!
Capt. Jack McGowan