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September starts hot and humid, then usually exits on the heels of cooler northeast winds with much shorter days and longer nights.
In Sept. the lagoon's water level will start rising due to more prevailing easterly winds, ocean swells, higher than normal tides, and decreasing speed of the Gulf Stream.
This decreasing speed allows sea water which has been piling up on the Gulf Stream's east side to escape back to the west lifting the lagoon's water level significantly.
We've had several trips this past month when our redfish and trout catches (on very light tackle) have been excellent on the flats early in the am hours.
By mid morning we're off to Port Canaveral where the action for cobia, kingfish, tarpon and barracuda has been equally exceptional.
Menhaden have been the bait of choice in the ocean, while soft plastic baits on a 1/4 oz. Cotee jig head has been taking the redfish and trout.
Along with finger mullet arriving in masses, snook should respond with total abandonment to the first stiff northeasterly winds of the fall season.
Wherever you find moving water, you may discover snook feeding. I prefer searching the surf around or near the lagoon's inlets for slot size snook.
Cotee Jigs in root beer, D.O.A shrimp in chartreuse or Riptide plastic baits can lure you a snook when the mullet run is thin or you prefer casting artificials.
By the end of Sept. jack crevalle will invade the IRL. Many will be four to six pounds but some will be pushing fifteen pounds.
They'll take a top water plug or jig instantly. Remember bend down the barbs on all treble hooks for easier release of these powerful fish.
Spotted sea trout will also take a renewed liking to top water plugs on cloudy mornings near full and new moon phases.
They are attracted to giant schools of finger mullet visiting the lagoons.
Ladyfish, some of them pushing four pounds, will be feeding under flocks of lesser terns diving on schools of glass minnows in the open waters of the IR Lagoon.
Under the glass minnows look for gafftop sail catfish and spotted sea trout. Juvenile tarpon will be hanging around the flats of the IRL, with the larger tarpon favoring the ocean and taking advantage of the fall mullet run.
Kingfish and sharks will be catch able in the same areas. Keep an eye out for flotsam and sargassum grass after hard easterly winds, tripletail and cobia will arrive in greater numbers as the water temperatures decease.
Spend time on the water in Sept. and you will notice the subtle changes occurring with the wind favoring the northeast and a little less humidity a colorful month both over and under the water! Til next time...
Coastal Angler Magazine's 1st Indian River Lagoon Fall Classic "Catch, Photo & Release Tournament" is scheduled for the weekend of Oct. 24-25th.
This tournament promotes education about conserving the lagoon through using it, not abusing it. It will be held on North America's most diverse estuary, in North Melbourne at Chowders Seafood and Grill. Proceeds will be donated to the MRC. For more info contact Rodney cameditor@cfl.rr.com or (321) 777-2773 .
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