Hello fellow anglers September in S.W. Florida almost through hurricane season. It has been very hot this summer and that has affected the fishing. In the Keys the water has been over 90 degrees and is affecting the corals. The fish are like us humans when the temperature gets too hot, they slow down and head for shade and deeper waters to get away from the heat. So, talking about offshore this means that the red grouper are deeper than usual this time of year starting at 70 ft. out to 100ft. Snapper on the full moon this month on the 29th. Would be a great chance to do the night thing. Your favorite snapper spot will be awesome at night. In the past I have gone out late in the afternoon. This gives you time to get setup before the sunset. Get your anchor in the proper spot to get you on the edge of your spot. Then get the chum going and start fishing with the frozen baits that you have brought with you. If you have the means bring some white baits too, or live shrimp. Some anglers use lights to attract fish that works, but if you don't have them you can still catch fish. I would start with 30 lb. rigs then go lighter as you get the bit going, 20 lb line with 10lb. leader and no weight when you get the fish on the surface. There artificial reefs and natural bottom starting from 40 ft. out to 100ft. If you do this keep an eye on the weather T-storms at night are no fun trying to get back to the dock. Okay lets talk about the inshore fishing. If you fish in the waters just inside the first row of islands start looking for the schools of Bull Reds that come in and start feeding up to go offshore and spawn. A great area starts at Placida all the way down the ICW to Ft. Myers Beach. If you can find the schools of pinfish in the grass beds this is a good place to start. The best baits for this are live ones like white bait pinfish or even shrimp. Some times you can get them to bite on dead mullet chunks or frozen sardines. I use for most of my fishing a Quantum 50 BOCA reel with 20lb. SUFFIX performance braid, with an old REDBONE 7 foot medium heavy rod. I usually rig up a knocker rig, if I am inshore I use 20lb. mono offshore I use 30lb. mono. about the same length as your rod 7ft. Inshore I use a 1/0 VMC circle hook off shore I use a 4/0 VMC . So depending what you are doing I use from a 1/4 oz. egg weight or up to a 2 oz. offshore. So if you would like to try some of these rigs you can call Capt. Bart Marx at 941-979-6517 or e-mail me at captbart@alphaomegacharters.com And if you would like me to come on your boat and teach you where you can take your boat and use the gear that you have, I call this a training session . This is not when you invite all your buds to go along. Just you and one other angler that you fish with. This way we can teach and not become a deck hand, where you would not be able to ask questions and give me the chance to share my over 50 years of fishing SW. Florida. So give me a call or e-mail and lets go fishing. Oh always remember, singing drags and tight lines make me smile. <*(((((>{