Miss Fort Pierce Fishing
With 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 January the bite in on. You will find snapper 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 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 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 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 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.
Capt. Scotty Gold
Miss Fort Pierce Fishing
(772) 766-0191
www.fortpiercefishing.com
