OFFSHORE- September is a interesting month offshore for the Palm Beach area.  It is a transition month for the most part; as summer conditions begin to slip away and fall/winter conditions haven’t quite set in.  The weather plays a huge part in which way we trend, and time will tell which way we go. Here are a few of the main changes coming. First and foremost (love or hate them) the bonito are going to start thinning out.  The typical summertime live-bait spots along the beach will begin to dry up, and mullet will become the most abundant bait around.  Summertime live-baiters will begin to break out the trolling rigs for the fall season.  And…tournament sailfish anglers will be chomping at the bit for the wind to start coming out of the northeast.  Some of the main players this month will be…Dolphin, Blackfin Tuna, Wahoo, and Snapper. As mentioned earlier, the bonito will begin to thin out this month.  This will make some room for the fall run of blackfin tuna.  Most of these blackfin tuna will be on the smaller football side, but are still very tasty and fun on light tackle.  Trolling small jethead lures, mini tuna feathers, and very small squid or strips is a great way to cash in on these guys.  They will be hanging out around 150-300′ of water most likey.  A spread of small lures is a great way to nab a few dolphin that will be around as well.  The little tuna and dolphin will both be around rips, color changes, and floating structure.  The small blackin tuna and dolphin will keep the wahoo hanging around for another month or two as well.  Highspeed trolling, livebaiting small blackfins, or pulling natural bait down deep should get the attention of a wahoo or two.  Keep a dark color pattern lure in the spread (black/purple,black/red,black/orange) for the wahoo, but don’t overlook blue/white as a good option also.   The wahoo should be in that same 150-300′ depth, but if the blackin or dolphin are a little deeper the wahoo will be also.  The summer snapper fishing was very subpar for the most part, with any luck September will help pick up some of the slack.  Before the cooler water sets in, the muttons and yellowtails will be chomping at the bit.  Bait choices vary; but bonita chunks, sardine, and squid are great snapper bait options.  60-120′ o water should be good depth options for the snapper.

Good Luck Everyone!