The perpetual Florida summer has only a few calendar mileposts to orient the off shore angler to seasonal turns. September is one of these monthly watermarks that make anglers take a step back and check their log books to dial in innate fishing instincts with subtle changes in the weather. Subtle changes become more noticeable as tropical weather characteristics simmer in this peak month of varying barometric pressure gradients that ultimately steer fish to our zone and make them want to bite.
Schools of bait will begin to make their way down the beach during September in an age old procession that attracts seasonal pelagic fish like Spanish and king mackerel, sailfish, cobia, and grouper, to name a few. These migrating pelagic species join resident reef fish to initiate a grand “eco-dance” that allow off shore anglers to enjoy a brief window of brisk and diverse fishing that is unique to the near coastal waters of the Treasure Coast.
The cornerstone to deep sea fishing strategies during September will be to fish around or on these schools of bait especially when the bait is associated with some bottom. Baitfish are typically attracted to various forms of submerged structure whether it be naturally occurring rock or coral, wrecks, and artificially constructed reefs. Finding schooling baitfish around structure, exponentially increases an angler`s chances for success in all fishing strategies; find the bait, find the bottom, and you`ll find fish—it is just that simple!
