Say it with me…SEPTEMBER!
Don’t look now, but things are about to get real once we flip that calendar page; September is here, and everything finds another gear while ramping up expectations. The brutal days of July and August are about to be left behind in favor of those first sweet north breezes that bring both comfort and a whole host of options for anyone who is lucky enough to live here in Texas and have some days off. September is perhaps one of the most anticipated months of the year as almost everything we hold near and dear gets going or gets better. As if anything gets better than fishing, we now get to start hunting season, football season, and all things that go along with both of those. If I had to describe September in one word, the first that comes to mind is options, simply because there are plenty of those to go around. Virtually every fish that lives in Texas waters is available this month, so there are no bad choices from the gulf to your favorite freshwater lake. It’s all good and will only get better.
At some point this month we will catch our first glimpse of some low humidity and light winds out of the north, courtesy of a weak front that will be a sign of more to come. The importance of these weather events is that they will kickstart the shrimp migration and turn the fish on like a kindergarten class on cupcakes with extra icing. Once the first good front dumps the marsh it will only get better with each successive front. Speckled trout and redfish will go absolutely nuts as the endless buffet of white shrimp washes out of the marsh drains into the open lake where it will become a free for all. Sabine anglers consistently are rewarded during the fall months with some of the best schooling activity on the coast, so it’s no wonder this month is so highly anticipated. This year's schooling activity has the potential to be a little different than recent years due to the noticeable rebound of the speckled trout population. Both the numbers and quality of fish are the best we have seen in many years. Over the past few years we have dealt with huge numbers of undersized trout while trying to find those few 15 inch-or-better fish. Don’t get me wrong, catching 50 or more fish a day is an absolute blast but at some point it’s nice to catch some quality fish. After such an incredible spring and summer where we caught some of the best fish we’ve seen in a while, the prospects for a great fall run look very promising.
Obviously, as we mentioned before, the schooling activity will be a given and the techniques will not vary a whole lot. Soft plastics on jigs and also under rattling corks will cover almost all your bases and get you plenty of bites. A couple of my more productive choices for these situations would be the PrawnstarZ and Big BallerZ from Z-Man, and the tried-and-true Gulp! products from Berkely. The PrawnstarZ have become a staple for me while fishing with a cork because of the unbelievable realism and durability they provide. ZMan now offers them in a loose body version rather than the pre-rigged originals so you can use them in different applications. The Big BallerZ gives you the option to rig standard on a jighead or in weedless fashion, which is a nice when conditions call for a more subtle presentation. The Big BallerZ has a segmented body and ball shaped tail that creates erratic action and draws some impressive strikes. The Gulp Turbo Shrimp and Swimming Mullet are also favorites for this style of fishing and beyond. The patented Gulp! attractant on these soft baits is a major plus when fish are finicky or you need that little extra to get that bite. Flounder fishermen on Sabine virtually live and die with the Gulp! if they aren’t throwing live bait because it’s truly a proven producer.
If chasing schooling fish isn’t your choice and you are looking for some better quality or perhaps trophy fish, you are in luck because you can find them in September. The deeper water venues like the jetties and ship channels will be holding some healthy fish along structure drop-offs, so crankbaits or swimbaits will be a top option. Obviously, tide will be a major factor so adjust your approach in order to have a more life-like presentation. Casting into the current so your bait swims with it will get you more bites as predator fish will hold in areas while facing the flow of the water. An up-current cast will be more lifelike and is more prone to getting bit than fishing opposite of the water movement.
Perhaps the star of the fall months and the most disrespected player in this game will be the redfish. Schooling activity will do nothing but increase as we get deeper into September and October. The big schools of oversized redfish will show up and start stomping around all over the lake, eating everything in sight so keep your eyes open for any surface activity. Throwing topwater plugs at these big fish should be done at least once so you can witness the impressive strikes that they provide. Normally we are throwing Coastal Pro rattling corks with soft plastics to these big bullies and they really eat it up; both the bait and the cork are fair game so don’t be surprised if you get fish trying to eat both at the same time.
Options abound this month and there is no way to check them all out. From trout and redfish in the rivers or open lake all the way to the gulf and beachfront, it’s all in play. The nearshore waters and beachfront will come alive with great numbers of bull redfish and sharks foaming the surface as they herd pogies by the acre. Another option that’s gained traction in recent years is fishing for tarpon off the beach. The stretch of water between the Sabine jetties and Galveston is some of the best water you can find to catch some truly quality tarpon. In fact, we have been seeing tarpon regularly along Sabine jetty and beachfront during the summer and it will only get better and more consistent as we head into September.
It goes without saying that any mention of September without acknowledging teal or dove season is a blatant party foul and should be punished accordingly. Both dove and teal season are held in high regard here in Texas and are one of the few things anglers will willingly lay their rods aside for. The wet July we experienced helped the marshes in a big way and gave the rice farmers a shot in the arm as well. The full moon in August ushered in the earliest of the migrating blue wings with the majority of the population still far to the north. Texas will have a 9-day season this year instead of the 16-day version we have grown so accustomed to, so days in the marsh will be held at a premium. Dove on the other hand should be as plentiful as ever and as long as we don’t have any crazy weather events the season should be as strong as ever.
Options galore and nothing but good stuff ahead for all of us who enjoy the great outdoors here in Texas. Keep your eyes on the temperatures and celebrate a break from the heat. As always, take a kid with you next time you head outdoors and share our sport with the next generation.
