Stuart Deep Sea: Sept. 2018

Many species of snapper will be found along the expansive reef zone, offshore of Martin County as illustrated by this full Safari 1 filet table. Photo credit: Safari 1.
September will be “Snapper Trappin” time aboard the Safari 1. Photo credit: Safari 1.

The 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 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 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.

FORECAST BY: Capt. Rocky Carbia
Safari I
Pirates Cove Resort and Marina
4307 SE Bayview St. Port Salerno, Florida
Reservations: (772) 334-4411
www.Safari-1.com

Many species of snapper will avail themselves to offshore meat hunters, like this sweet pair of mutton snapper caught by Jimmy Parker aboard the Safari 1. Photo credit: Safari 1.