Lower Keys Fishing report for September. It’s that time of the year when we have most of the water to ourselves down here. It’s a little slower for the tourist industry so you can get some great rates on hotels and travel right now. There are lots of other activities to enjoy down here too so enjoy the lack of large crowds right now. The backcountry fishing is incredible and offers lots of opportunities for fly fisherman who would like to get the 8wt to 10 wt fly rods out for some action. The spin-fisherman who prefer a spinning rod (medium 10-15 pound test) with lighter tackle will get plenty of action too.
This month so far has produced some great success for the young and older anglers getting their first taste of flats and backcountry mangrove fishing areas. We can catch so many varieties of fish to keep those who don’t have a lot of patience busy LOL. Shark fishing is always a great way to get some lines screaming. Most anglers end-up having great respect for the power and strength these beautiful creatures possess. The barracudas are in abundance and using a shiny topwater lure with a little light wire to keep them from bitting through it, can keep the action going. The mangrove snapper are back around the mangroves and are starting to get nice and fat. We have success using 10 to 15 pound fluorocarbon leader, 3 to five feet long with a size 1 hook. Using enough weight to get it down with a shrimp or small pinfish. We can always get a couple to make some great fish tacos with but only take what you plan to eat and no more than your limit. Now for the more challenging species of fish, the tarpon, bonefish and permit. With the water being nice and calm most of the month you can get great visibility to see these elusive fish moving around on the flats. The resident tarpon have been tons of fun to hookup and get those crazy acrobatic displays. Using a topwater lure or swim bait right under the surface does great. Use a foot or 18 inches of 25 to 40 pound fluorocarbon to keep them from rubbing thorough the line since their mouth is like rough like sand paper. The bonefish are fat and cruising the flats like I haven’t seen in ages, so awesome to see these amazing fish showing up more and more. You wont believe how fast and strong one of these little dragsters can be until you hook one up. We’ve had good success with medium spinning rods using 15 pound test braid. We use about 3 feet of 12 pound fluorocarbon with a jig head or size 1 hook with small split shot weight. Live shrimp or even fresh frozen shrimp work best.
Permit fishing has been doing much better and with the better viability you can spot them further away and give yourself a little more time to prep for that perfect cast not to spook them and hope to get that eat we all hold our breath for. When it happens there isn’t a fish around to compare to one of these most elusive creatures. A medium spinning rod setup with 15 to 20 pound test line works great. Running a 2 to 3 foot fluorocarbon leader with 15 or 20 pound test line works great. Using a 2/0 circle hook under a small float with a small live crab works the best.