September is a great month to go drift fishing in Ft Lauderdale. The bonitos that have been so overwhelming over the past couple months are starting to fade away, and the kingfish are moving in to take their place. This is the start of our season for great kingfishing. The best kingfish bite is typically between 90′ and 140′ of water, on the green side of the color change and especially around the inlet during the tide change. Most of our autumn kings range in size from 6-15 pounds, with a few very large smokers caught now and then. Dead drift baits, artificials and live baits all work well for catching kings. This time of year a sneaky blackfin tuna or wahoo also might be caught on the drift. The hour and a half of the incoming tide is a great time to fish a fast whip jig for wahoo and tuna, both of which prefer a faster moving bait. Sailfish are also a possibility this time of year. Anglers fishing a surface flat line have the most opportunity to hook into and catch a sailfish. A flat line is a bait rigged with no sinker so that it sinks slowly and more naturally. While a flat line usually does not get as much action as a deep rigged bait, flat lines will often catch the biggest fish of the trip. A ballyhoo or sardine works well for a flat line bait.
Night anchor fishing offers a different variety of fish in September. This month is particularly good for anchoring up and chumming to catch mangrove snappers. The best mangrove territory is just outside the reef in 60-80ft of water. Chunks of squid, ballyhoo or sardines are great cut baits to fish for mangroves. This is also good area for mutton snapper using the same technique. Some yellowtails are also around and biting and can be caught higher up in the water column. There is usually some good cobia action to be had this time of year. Over the next few months, cobia will be patrolling the reef and can be caught either daytime drift or nighttime anchor fishing. Cobia can travel solo or in schools of many fish so when you catch one, be on the lookout for others. They scavenge the reef in almost any depth and will eat just about anything you have set as bait… they aren’t picky eaters. They range in size from 10 pounds up to 60 pounds and are one of the best eating fish.
There’s a lot going on in September and a lot of fish to catch so get out there and do some fishing! Good luck to everyone fishing this month, I’ll sea ya on the water.
Capt. Paul Roydhouse
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