Fishing Forecast for September, 2021

Well as we roll into September the one fish that tops my list would be redfish. As we get later in summer and fall gets closer we get some changes in the harbor. We see an influx of bait on the flats like small sardines, shrimp and plenty of pin fish. We also start seeing large schools of mullet on the local bars. All these put together brings schools of reds looking to fill their stomachs. Locating schools of fish in the open water can be a bit tricky, especially on the higher tides. Looking for schools of mullet can help with this problem even though mullet are a vegetarian they attract predator fish. As these guys forage through the flats feeding on algae they stir up things up a bit. Things such as small crustaceans and bait fish that predator fish feed on. Not every place that you see a mullet jump is a gold mine, but its a great place to start looking. On the lower tides reds can be seen pushing wakes in the water. During this time it can be very difficult to catch these guys. Due to pressure, fish can be very weary on these tides. I recommend trying to a stealthy as possible, or being patient and letting the fish come to you. The more you push and chase these guys the more your window for success closes.

Another fish that can be seen in large schools this time of year is lady fish. I know these guys are not considered game fish. Well hold on one second, what these guys attract during their feeding frenzy is considered to be the king of game fish. I mean the king his self, large tarpon love feeding on these oily guys before making their migration. So if you see the water churning and birds going crazy you might want to give it a second look. I also recommend you have a big rod these are normally fish that are pushing on the rather large side. There has also been known for a few bull sharks to hang around these frenzy’s. Most of the ones we catch are in the 4-5′ range. I’m normally fishing with a fluorocarbon leader so get a lot of bite offs. However we do manage to get a few hook just right, and get them boat side.

Snook should be starting to move back into the harbor from out on the beaches and passes. Hopefully we had a good spawn this year. I have been catching a lot of juvenile snook. This is a good sign of last years spawn. It’s been several years since I’ve seen this amount of these little guys around. We have also been putting some rather large fish to the boat also. Starting to see some fish in the mid 30″ range. This should only get better as we move closer to fall. While your out enjoying the outdoors remember to keep an eye on the sky.

If you would like to experience some of Charlotte Harbor’s finest fishing? Give me a call or send me an email, all of our trips are private and customized to fit you and your party’s needs.

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Captain Dave Stephens * (941) 916-5769 * Back Bay Xtremes * PO Box 510746, Punta Gorda FL 33951

Flats Fishing Charters for Charlotte Harbour, Punta Gorda, Florida