September is a month of transition in Charleston, as the weather will fluctuate from the beginning to the end of the month. There will still be some very hot, humid, summerlike days; however, by the end of the month, cooler mornings and shorter days will start to replace the long 90-plus degree days. Due to these changes, the fishing in September will transition as well.
This will be the last month to target the migrating species of fish that come north in the summer and move south for the winter. As the first cool fronts of the year occur, the water temperature will begin to drop. Warm water fish like Spanish mackerel, ladyfish, jacks, tarpon and sharks will be preparing to head south for the winter. This might seem early, but anglers must remember that these fish don’t like water temperatures much below 80 degrees. One thing is certain: these fish need to eat a lot to store up energy for the long journey down the coast. These species may be found near the inlets and right off the beach all up and down our coastline. When we get an approaching front, the fish will be very aggressive in feeding, often on the surface. You may see birds working above a school of Spanish mackerel as they move out of the harbor or down the beach. If the larger mullet are moving south, you could see tarpon or sharks skyrocketing out of the water chasing after them. This month will be the last, and likely the best chance of the summer, to catch one of these migrating species.
September also marks the beginning of the best fishing of the year for inshore species. Resident fish, such as redfish, sea trout and flounder, are also responding to this seasonal transition, as inshore water temperatures will begin dropping with the shorter days and cooler mornings. The summer months will have provided mature shrimp and mullet which are the perfect size for a hardy meal. Since some of the bait will not be around much longer, local fish will be feeding more often and for longer stretches of the day. The early morning top-water bite will be in full swing. Working with favorite bait along the grassy edges or current rips early in the morning will provide some explosive strikes. Because there are so many shrimp in the water, both fish and anglers will be able to take advantage of their cravings for shrimp. A DOA shrimp under a cork is hard to beat this time of year. By allowing the cork to drift along the grass or over oyster bars, anglers will be able to catch almost any of the inshore species. The redfish will still be feeding on crabs in the grass this month, providing us with an opportunity to catch them. A DOA shrimp, crab imitation or fly may be used in order to take advantage of these tailing tides to catch trophy reds in the grass.
A great way to spend the day on the water is to book one of the areas great guides. Having fished in Charleston for almost 19 years, I am extremely knowledgeable and experienced in this area. As owner and operator of Shore Thang Charters, I would love to share my expertise with you on the water.
Capt. Mark Phelps
Shore Thang Charters
www.ShoreThangCharters.com
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