By: Capt. Bruce Andersen
September is one of my favorite months to fish in the Florida Keys. While we catch blackfin tuna year-round, the most consistent action takes place from August through October, with September being the peak. Better yet, September falls during one of the slower tourism periods, so there are fewer boats on the water and less fishing pressure. The Islamorada Hump and the 409 Hump come alive with hungry schools of blackfin tuna, making September one of the best times to experience offshore fishing in the Florida Keys.
There are several ways to catch blackfin tuna. Trolling small lures and vertical jigging are both productive, but my favorite method by far is live bait fishing. Before heading offshore, we catch live bait, including cigar minnows and pilchards, with pilchards being my first choice whenever they’re available.
Once we arrive at the hump, we position the boat up-current of the rip and begin chumming with scoops of live bait. It doesn’t take long before the tuna begin crashing the live chum, often right behind the boat. Watching blackfin tuna explode on the surface and leap completely out of the water just a few yards away is an incredible sight. We then cast live baits into the frenzy using light spinning tackle. Fast runs, powerful fights, and multiple hookups make this one of the most exciting ways I know to fish. It’s visual, action-packed fishing that never gets old.
One of the biggest challenges in recent years has been getting tuna past the sharks. Sharks have become increasingly abundant, and it’s not uncommon to lose a tuna before it reaches the boat. Even so, the tuna fishing is more than worth the effort. Multiple hookups are common, and it’s not unusual to have several anglers battling tuna at once. Everyone is constantly moving around the boat, ducking under and stepping over each other’s lines while trying to avoid tangles and land their fish. The fast-paced action and teamwork are all part of what makes blackfin tuna fishing so much fun.
September also offers excellent late-season mahi-mahi fishing. While the action isn’t quite as consistent as earlier in the summer, we still find impressive schools of mahi along weed lines, current edges, and throughout the Gulf Stream. The fish are often larger this time of year, and productive weed lines and current edges can provide outstanding action. Between the excellent tuna fishing and the opportunity to catch quality mahi-mahi, September offers some of the best offshore fishing of the year.
If you’ve never experienced offshore fishing in the Keys during September, you’re missing one of the best times of the year. Whether you fish with me aboard Captain Easy in Islamorada or with any of the outstanding professional captains throughout the Florida Keys, you’re sure to enjoy world-class fishing and memories that will last a lifetime.
— www.captaineasycharters.com | You can reach Captain Bruce Andersen at Capt. Easy Charters, MM 85, call 305.360.2120 or email at: captbrucekey@comcast.net