September has always been a great month for catching mahi mahi on the kayak. As long as there are no tropical disturbances, the weather is typically good. Try fishing from 200 to 260 feet. I usually pluck a few blind drifting in those depths. I use a live pilchard on a stinger rig with 12 inches of wire. Make sure to leave the stinger free if you’re using pilchards or it will affect the way they swim and you won’t get any action.
Fishing over the deep wrecks from 180 to 250 feet will be good for catching snapper, grouper and some amberjacks. Using pink knife jigs has been great for catching some solid grouper. The amberjacks usually slam my tiger glow jigs, but be ready for a fight once you hook up. Using live bait while drifting over the same deep wrecks will also be solid with some decent kingfish slamming live baits. I use the same rig I mentioned above. I’ve caught a bunch of big local sailfish at dusk when I am heading in from fishing the afternoon bite.
The wahoo bite should be very good in September around the full moon. You’ll want to fish at first light on an outgoing tide. Slow troll the deep wrecks in 200 to 300 feet. Zig zag in those depths until you find the fish. Be sure to add some lead above your swivel to get you bait down in the water column.
Some beast kingfish will be stalking the shallows in September. The big kings come inshore to feed on the ballyhoo schools in 30 to 60 feet when there is a west wind. Try around that depth while heading out in the early morning for a bit and you might get a monster king. Keep an eye out for a cobia or two as they start to show up in September. The snook and tarpon fishing will be awesome just off the beaches too. Pitch a live pilchard out while setting up the kayak at launch and be ready to get whacked!
Get ready for the inaugural Exotic Bass Roundup happening September 26th. For more information check out www.extremekayakfihshing.com.
Joe Hector
954-895-4527
Extreme Kayak Fishing Inc.
www.extremekayakfishing.com
joe@extremekayakfishing.com