Canaveral Inshore/Nearshore Fishing Forecast: Sept. 2014

Giant Jack Crevalle often follow schools of mullet near the mouth of Port Canaveral. Ben Tobin landed this one on a Rapala Glidin’ Rap plug just outside the surf break.
Giant Jack Crevalle often follow schools of mullet near the mouth of Port Canaveral. Ben Tobin landed this one on a Rapala Glidin’ Rap plug just outside the surf break.

S nook season will reopen this month and fishing in the Port Canaveral area may be a hot spot for anglers looking to hook one of these prized gamefish. The deep basins inside the Port often hold schools of snook. Anglers should try near piers and dock pilings within these basins with live mullet, pogies, and croakers rigged on a sliding sinker rig and a 4/0 to 6/0 sized VMC 7385 circle hook. These same baits and system of rigging will work at both jetties at the east end of the Port, where the fish often congregate during the dawn and dusk periods to feed on schools of mullet trying to seek refuge there. Lipped diving plugs like the Rapala X-Rap or BX series are fantastic lures that imitate the mullet that can be found near the jetties and are highly recommended for anglers trying to hook and land a snook on an artificial lure. Redfish, flounder, mangroves snapper, ladyfish, shark, bluefish, and jack crevalle are some other types of fish that can be found around the Port this month, so anglers will have a great variety of fish to choose from.