By Jim Klopfer

September is the month that redfish begin schooling-up in Sarasota.

The expansive shallow flats in Sarasota Bay are traditionally the most productive areas to fish. A low, incoming tide in the morning is preferred, allowing anglers to see the large schools of reds. As the tide rises, the fish will work up from the edges of flats and holes onto the grass to feed. Locating the fish can be difficult under flood-tide conditions; there is just too much water up on the flat to effectively locate them.

Both live bait and artificial lures will catch plenty of fish. A Bass Assassin grub on a ¼-ounce jig head is a great choice for anglers who enjoy casting artificial lures. Olive (08) X-Raps and other plugs are also effective along with gold and silver spoons. A live shrimp under a popping cork is a time-proven technique for catching “specks” on the west coast of Florida. Hopefully, the recent red tide will have abated.

Snook will migrate from the beaches back into the bays in September. Both passes will be great spots to fish, especially on afternoon outgoing tides. The bars and mangrove shorelines along Siesta Key are prime spots as the fish move toward their fall feeding areas. Artificial baits will allow anglers to cover more water, while a well full of pilchards practically guarantees success. Redfish, large speckled trout, crevalle jack, and mangrove snapper may also be encountered while pursuing the mighty snook.

Lighted docks and bridges are snook magnets and will provide great action for anglers looking to catch fish and escape the summer sun. Live and artificial shrimp free lined in the tide are deadly, as are small white flies.

Surf fishing off the Siesta Key beaches should be good for snook, ladyfish, Spanish mackerel, pompano, and other species. Point of Rocks is the best spot as there is a lot of fish-holding structure, but any stretch of beach is likely to produce. Live bait such as shrimp and small bait fish works great. A #1 live bait hook with a short piece of leader and a split shot is the preferred rig. Spoons, plugs, and jigs are also sight fish.

Speckled trout fishing has been rebounding this year and this should continue in September. Deeper flats will produce more fish, while the larger specimens may be found in shallow water. A topwater or shallow diving plug worked over bars at first light is a deadly technique for fooling gator trout. Anglers fishing the deep grass will catch a variety of species this month including bluefish, Spanish mackerel, mangrove snapper, pompano, ladyfish, jacks, and more. Jigs and live bait are very productive.

The rocks and bridges in Big Pass will be excellent spots to target mangrove snapper this month. These tasty saltwater panfish will be migrating out of the bay and into the Gulf of Mexico. Slack tides are the best times to drop a live shrimp or bait fish along the structure.

Don’t be surprised if a big snook intercepts a bait meant for a mang!