August 2024 Fishing Report
Hello fellow anglers September in S.W. Florida. It has been a hot summer and this month there should be some changes. The migration of the fish from North to South should start soon. Near the end of the month there is a good chance you may find along the coast and just inshore some big schools of the red drum/red fish. They come inshore to feed up to make the long swim offshore to spawn. This usually happens late October early November. And in S.W. Florida we call October, Red October. In September you can find them along the beaches and just inside the passes. In past years September was a month that you could catch an inshore slam with all keeper size fish. And if you worked reel hard you could make it a grand slam by adding a Tarpon. So, if you find one of the schools of reds they will eat most anything live, green backs, pin fish etc. They will also eat fresh pieces of lady fish, and blue crabs quartered and soaked on the bottom close to the Mangroves. Trout can be found on the grass flats where there is moving water. They like to lay on the edges of the sand and grass to ambush unsuspecting prey. I like to use a popping cork and a soft plastic shrimp pattern. Snook should be back in there usual living areas from the migration to spawn. I have learned that they don't go every year to spawn. So that's all for inshore lets talk about offshore. There should be plenty of snapper starting at fifty feet going out to eighty feet. Mangrove snapper, lane snapper and some yellow tail snapper too. And if you are a good bottom fisherman the gag grouper is open in federal waters for 16 days. And if you are into shark fishing they are everywhere. They have made a good rebound with the regulations today. There seems to have been more encounters with them this year. I like to eat a Blacktip about three feet long, or a bonnet head. They are the best to eat in our area. So, I am going to Tennessee for vacation and do some TVA river fishing for trout and catfish. I have a 5 wt. for that and a 2500 spinning reel Battle. Doing this to escape the heat here in Florida. So, if you are interested in going along with Capt. Bart on his boat,or hiring him to come on your boat for a training session. I will come with you and help you learn where you can take your boat and how to use the gear you have. This will help shorten your learning curve coming to a new area. So, give me a call Capt. Bart Marx 941-979-6517 or e-mail me at captbart@alphaomegacharters.com And always remember singing drags and tight lines make ne smile. <*(((((>{