Snook season reopened on the Gulf coast September 1, and Pine Island Sound, the passes, and the Sanibel beaches all have fish for anglers willing to be there at first light. The summer pattern — snapper, trout at dawn, reds on the bars — is still holding, but the first cooler mornings are just around the corner and the fall redfish schools are already forming.
What’s Hitting
What’s hitting this week is snook and redfish. Snook are in Blind Pass, Redfish Pass, and Captiva Pass on the outgoing tide, along the Sanibel and Captiva beaches early, and on the bridge lights at night. Redfish schools are working the bars and mangrove points in Pine Island Sound and Matlacha Pass on the higher water, and there are some very large fish among them. Mangrove snapper are still the sure thing on the docks, the passes, and the Sanibel Causeway. Spotted seatrout are best at dawn on the deeper grass, and there are still tarpon in the sound and along the beaches.
Where to Find Them
Fish the passes on the outgoing — Redfish Pass and Captiva Pass for snook and snapper, Blind Pass from the beach. The bars and points from the Sanibel side of the sound north through Chino Island and Matlacha Pass hold the redfish schools. The Sanibel Causeway and the docks along the Caloosahatchee are the snapper hotspots. Tarpon are still along the outside beaches from Boca Grande down to Sanibel.
Tides & Conditions
Water temps in the sound are in the upper 80s and the bite is concentrated on early and late light and moving water. Strong outgoing tides this week line up with the early morning at the passes. Storms build over the mainland by early afternoon. September is the peak of hurricane season, so watch the Gulf outlook before planning.
Tackle & Tactics
Live pilchards and pinfish on a 2/0 circle hook and 30-pound fluorocarbon for snook in the passes and snapper on the structure. On the bars, a gold spoon, a weedless soft plastic, or a cut bait for the reds. Night snook on the causeway lights want a white paddle-tail or a small swimming plug. Fly anglers can find beach snook early with a small white pattern.
Local Intel This Week
Public ramps: the Punta Rassa ramp at the foot of the Sanibel Causeway, the Matlacha Park ramp, the Pineland Marina ramp on Pine Island, and the Lovers Key State Park ramp for the south end. Fish are concentrating in the passes on the falling tide and on the sound bars on the flood. Snook season is open with a slot, a one-fish bag, and a snook permit requirement — check current FWC regulations before keeping fish.
This Week’s Tip
Redfish schools on the sound bars will eat almost anything if you can get it in front of them without spooking the school. Shut the engine down early, pole or drift the last 100 yards, and make your first cast count.
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