September Spearfishing Report

Well September is here and although too many it’s the slack month for fishing, and the end of summer spearfishing- to those in the know September is the beginning of the hunting season (yeah, yeah I know land hunting as well, lol) the spearfishing hunting season! September has a few perks to it, for one most days in September are pretty “windless”. These quiet days are awesome as the bottom isn’t all stirred up thus improving viz for spearfishing. Another is most of the “fishing crowd” takes a break off the water, as summer fishing dwindles down, heat + no wind, makes for bad days fishing, but for us spearo’s that equates to “all the ocean to ourselves”. And finally the water will start to cool off, meaning less spearo’s , and shallower fish!!!

This year has not been what we would call a spectacular spearfishing year-it’s actually been a bit off as a whole-a warm winter, countless windy days (more so than I can count), and wayyyy more rain than normal…hurting viz, and slopping things up, making this a perfect formula to a poor spearfishing season! And of course all the tropical storms/hurricanes running through ours waters, was the icing BUT don’t dismay as the best is yet to come-Welcome September Spearfishing!

September is a great time to head out for some bluewater spearfishing, as plenty of pelagics start moving in with the Gulf stream; Spanish sardines, pilchards and an array of baitfish start running. If your spearfishing the Florida Keys head to Islamorada’s famous humps, with most of the fishing crowds heading home at this time of year, you’ll have the humps to yourself, less pressure and boat traffic means fish will be closer to the surface, and surely less spooky…a “shootable” chance at a blackfin tuna balling bait or a bull mahi is amp’ed in September…and if you got the Gulf currents moving over the Humps that’s the ticket to filling the cooler. Generally speaking your chance at spearing a double digit mahi is excellent, find them birds, weedline or floatsum-you could be amazed what a log, or pallet can be holding under it- but you may have to dive a little deeper to find them, till the water tempt cools a bit more- work from the reef edge out to 500+feet. A few windy days coming out of the SE coupled with a dark moon phase, usually improves your chances at spearfishing a bull. Off the Cut (Government Cut) head either North or South to the wrecks a bit of patience could reward itself with a Kingfish which are starting to make a show, or a solitaire bull- just remember a little deeper…! Speaking of wrecks don’t forget to drop on the shallower ones…always a toothy cubera, black grouper, or Mutton snapper lurking on them waiting for you to skewer them. Keep an eye out and don’t forget to hit those wrecks in federal waters too, as it may be highly likely to find some permits stacked, chomping on everything in site! Spearfishing the wrecks in Miami, and the Florida Keys is always productive….but get to them early, before the hook&liners!

September has great spearfishing, but the fish are moving, so running & gunning is the choice spearfishing tactic this month- hit a reef, comb it, no fish, move on. Also keep an eye on the barometer, if its dropping or rising fish are moving, and you guessed it September has a lot of those. Here’s another spearfishing fish locating tip- find some current-on the reef especially the Hawk Channel highway, all of which looks sooo spearfishy… always holds mangroves; some slabber go’s might still be hanging around after the spawn which started a bit late this year… ….jumbo yellowtail are always a bonus and a spearfishing trophy to boot, this fish are relocating off the spawning grounds, just find some good current on those reefs with a steep drop offs 60’-80’ and your chances increase 10’fold. The whole grouper family is registered at Hawks Channel, two plates separated by sand is usually a grouper hotel, find that structure and you’ll find the grouper! Just remember when spearfishing grouper, your drop is the key….slow, and virtually zero movement, with the sun on your back-CLICK! Here’s another spearfishing fish finding tip….if you find the current, next find the bait….the more bait a Hawk Channel “street” has the higher your chances to score on some fish. Don’t forget to look up, on the ascent, you’d be surprised how many- spanish mackerel, yellow jacks, and yes cobia, cruise by above you outa curiosity…especially if the reef is bait laden.

So September is the mark of the spearfishing season, now go out and hunt some fish!

Till next spearfishing report, tight bands, straight shafts, and smooooooooth triggers!

Tone

http://www.settingsteelspeargear.com