By: Capt. Greg Poland
September is one of my favorite months to fish the Florida Keys. I know it’s hot out there, but if get on the water a little earlier than usual, you’ll find some outstanding fishing before the midday heat sets in. Lately, I’ve been meeting my clients at, or even before first light, fishing until around noon, and then heading back to relax under a tiki hut with a cold drink while everyone else is just getting started.
Most mornings I’ll fish the Everglades Backcountry searching for rolling tarpon at sunrise. To make the most of those early hours, I fire up my Sionyx Nightwave night vision camera and run through the backcountry in the dark so I’m already in position when the first rays of sunlight hit the water. If I don’t find tarpon rolling in the channels or along my favorite shorelines, I don’t waste much time and move on in search of live bait.
If you’re only planning to fish until the midday heat, don’t spend half the morning filling the live well. Catch what you need and get to fishing. While it’s nice to have a baitwell packed with bait, I’ve found my bait rarely holds up well overnight anyway, so fresh bait each morning has been my best approach.
The snook bite has been excellent throughout the backcountry channels and shorelines, but the sharks have definitely shown up. Please use caution when landing fish boatside. I never put my hands in the water to grab a snook anymore, I always use a landing net. Just the other day, a 10-foot bull shark charged a snook while it was still sitting in the net beside the boat. It was an incredible reminder that we’re not the only predators out there! If you’d like to see some of the recent action, check out my Instagram page, @gregpoland.
I’ve always enjoyed shark fishing, and September is a fantastic time to chum them into shallow, clear water. It’s exciting sight-fishing, and when I have kids onboard, there’s nothing better than watching the entire family take turns battling a giant shark in crystal-clear water.
If fresh seafood is on your menu, the mangrove snapper and mutton snapper have been providing some excellent meals along the reef line. On calmer days, I’ve also been making more offshore runs in search of mahi-mahi whenever the wind and weather cooperate.
Whether you’re looking for a few hours on the water with the family or a full day chasing your bucket-list fish, September can offer some of the best opportunities of the year if you’re willing to get an early start. Give me a call, and let’s get you out on the water for an adventure you’ll remember!
— Visit Capt. Greg at 305.393.3327 or email gregpoland@icloud.com | Instagram: gregpoland Facebook: Fishing in the Florida Keys with Capt. Greg Poland