Mullet Madness: Redfish, Snook, and Tarpon Thrills During Peak Season

We have some of the best fishing of the year right now! The mullet run is in full force and I’m focusing on redfish, tarpon, and snook more than anything. Around the inlet I’ve been using bigger mullet 8-10” for snook and it’s working out great. Some days I’ve even just free lined them against the rocks, which I have never done before at the inlet for snook, and it’s been very productive. I’ve also caught them on the bottom when there’s a stronger current, using up to a couple ounces of lead. Here lately the beginning of the incoming tide has been the best for me. It also seems like there’s been a lot more fish caught in the evening than in the morning recently. Snook season opened September 1st so everyone will be trying. Tarpon have been all over the inlet and north up the beach and I’m sure they’ll be very active over the next month during the mullet run. I’ll be honest I’ve been struggling with tarpon lately and when targeting them it hasn’t been productive. One day I had four different kinds of live bait and didn’t get a bite. Then, of course when I’m targeting redfish we end up hooking them and a tarpon jumping slinging a weight around isn’t a good combo! However, sometimes we luck out and still land them.

So far I’ve only seen a bunch of mullet around the inlet 1 day since they started running but something tells me it’s going to happen more often by the time this report gets out. There’s been slot redfish and I’ve also caught some bigger fish in the 40” range. It’s nice being able to get both this time of year if someone’s looking to keep a couple fish. We have caught some big jacks up to 10-15 lbs while we are targeting reds and snook which are always a blast to fight.

In the river the jacks have been everywhere going crazy on mullet. There’s been a bunch of nice river mangs hanging around docks and oyster bars which make for some awesome fish tacos! Redfish, snook, and flounder have been productive around mangrove banks. I’ve been using finger mullet and live shrimp fishing these areas. Best time of the year and most consistent for inshore fishing in my opinion and I always tell the locals that fish with me, now is the time to book a trip! Get your rod bent!