CAPT. JASON DuBOSE – Outfitters Center Director & Head River Pro
It’s traditionally during the month of September that our local fishery begins its transition from summer to fall patterns. This means we’ve got some fantastic inshore fishing coming our way. Despite the continued warm weather of early fall, the days have grown shorter and the nights longer resulting in cooling water temperatures. These changes, along with the influx of a healthy shrimp population, trigger a strong feeding instinct in our speckled trout and redfish populations. The trout, which were widely dispersed just a few months ago, have started to school and become more predictable in their daily routines. The best time to target these Lowcountry delicacies is during the first half of the outgoing tide. It is during this phase of the tide that the trout use ambush tactics to catch their prey. By positioning themselves behind grass points, shell bars, and mud banks located at the mouths of feeder creeks the trout can rest out of the current while waiting for shrimp and mullet to be swept past. When a tasty morsel swims by these voracious predators are quick to attack!
An additional highlight of the month is the arrival of bull redfish into our inshore waters. These 20 to 40 lb mammas and papas of our inshore juvenile redfish population spend most of their year in offshore waters; however, they return to our sounds and rivers for a few months in the fall as part of their spawning migration. These bruisers provide an excellent opportunity to catch big fish without having to leave our calm inshore waters. The fishing grounds where we target bull redfish are also commonly frequented by tarpon meaning that you have a good chance of catching both of these amazing gamefish on the same trip when fishing in later part of September. I’ve got an individual sign-up tarpon/shark/bull red charter set for the 24th for those interested in this type of fishing.
September also offers some outstanding offshore bottom fishing opportunities. Grouper, snapper, sea bass, porgies, amberjack and king mackeral are all found in abundance over offshore live bottom areas during the fall months and make for an action packed trip that’s sure to yield plenty of fillets for the grill. If this sounds like something you’d like to try, consider joining me on the 10th for an individual sign-up offshore bottom fishing charter.
If you’ve been waiting for the best time to get out on the water in the Lowcountry, wait no longer. Give us a call at the Outfitters Center and let us help you plan your perfect day on the water!