The Magic Of September
September is one of Florida’s greatest fishing months, in my humble opinion. There are so many things happening in the water during this transition of seasons, it can leave a fly angler bewildered, trying to decide what to target on his next fishing excursion. The fishing options can be so vast that sometimes it’s a flip of a coin to determine what the day has in store. As we say “goodbye” to the summer with fall on the horizon, we can appreciate September’s unique offering of countless predatory game fishes that feed very hard in order to put on weight to prepare for the scarcity in the upcoming winter months.
Adding to the variety of fishing that September offers, afternoon showers bring a huge influx of water in a very short amount of time. These small flash floods are great for any fly fisherman because of way they cool the water temperature one-two degrees and how they force all the backcountry creeks to flow. This combination prompts a variety of bait out of their comfortable hiding places to where our many types of game fish lay in wait. You can find snook, tarpon, redfish, jacks, ladyfish, spotted sea trout, and flounder at any given point of a creek flush. But as fast as the madness starts, it can end, further fueling the fly fisher’s unquenchable desire to find another spot, to fish another day, and to live for that next bite. Flies enticing to game fish, like the T-Money Shrimp or the Pale Grinch, are great options to have in the fly arsenal when hitting these flowing creeks.
As creek fishing becomes better in September, fishing the coast continues in full-swing as the beaches and intercostal waterways are still covered up with the larger baits migrating south for the winter. Mullet and thread-fin can be seen getting crushed by large jacks and sharks. To jump into the exhilarating battle against these strong fighters, fly profiles like Nitro Mullet and the SGBD Popper are essential for catching their attention. These are two of my favorite flies to utilize for success when fishing these large bait pods.
The vast list of fishing options September has in store doesn’t stop here, though. Let’s not forget about sight fishing on the flats! This time of year has all of our primary predatory game fish working the shallows. The redfish can be found up super shallow waters, backing down the shorelines in search of food. Snook and juvenile tarpon can be found in these very same areas, as well.
Whether you’re looking to fish the flats by sight, watch predatory game fish devour bait along the coast, or surprise hungry fish in the free-flowing creeks, September is sure to accommodate any whim!