[dropcap]B[/dropcap]ait, bait and more bait! Mullet run will be in full swing, along with big pods of greenies. September is the best month to target big fish with no boat. You just need the right line, reel and rod. I suggest: a Penn 5500 SV loaded with 50-pound braid from Spiderwire, an 8-foot medium heavy rod from Blackfin Rods, and lures from Yo-Zuri, like the Crystal Minnow in silver and black. The bait will move along the beaches beginning in Fort Pierce at the inlet and then will start moving along every beach down the Treasure Coast. The most import thing is to be there when the bait is there. You need to scout out beaches along the way until you see birds diving and dark clouds in the water. Be there early so you can get on the pod first. Sometimes it will be there for a long time; other times it will move fast. Tarpon will be the big fish to target, with fish well over 100-pounds, so make sure you are ready. The opening of snook season will make it easy to catch lot of snook along the bait schools as they will be fattening up for the fall. Beaches to be at are Jensen Beach in front of the old Holiday Inn, Tiger Shores, Walton Rocks, Fort Pierce Inlet, Normandy Beach and Bathtub Beach. River and bridge guys, finger mullet will be everywhere—snook will be feeding heavy and gator trout will be hungry. Try a topwater plug first thing in the morning. Catch your mullet right there and put it under a popping cork and hold on. Best spots are north of Walton Road near the docks, the bridges in Jensen Beach and Stuart, and the catwalks under the bridges.
The Happy Bait Snook Tournament is coming up: September 4-13, entry fee only $20. For more info, visit my Facebook page: Chris Beachwalker. Until next time, tight lines!
