September 3rd Gulf of Mexico Fishing Report: Mullet Run, Redfish, and Snook Bites Heating Up

Artificial Lure here with your September 3rd Gulf of Mexico, Florida fishing report—the scoop every saltwater angler needs before heading out. Sunrise was at 7:09 AM, and you’ll see sunset a bit before 7:50 PM. Tides are sitting at a lower swing today—a high tide around 10:49 AM hits 3.56 feet, then drops to a 0.35 foot low by 6:51 PM. With the first round of fall King Tides already lapping up in some coastal spots, watch for nuisance flooding near the high marks according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management. The tidal coefficient remains low today, so current’s minimal—meaning laid-back drifts and subtle lure work will win the day.

Our weather is classic late summer Florida: expect a muggy air mass and scattered showers, especially into the afternoon as a frontal boundary sits stubbornly across the peninsula. Sometimes you'll see a burst of northeast wind during the morning, swinging south-southwest as you creep into midweek. By the weekend, rain chances slim down and things warm up, with the heat index edging toward triple digits. On the gulf side, wave action keeps to 1-2 feet, making for generally friendly boating, but stay weather aware for pop-up squalls. That combo of warmth and wet means you’ll want to be ready to shuffle spots and switch tactics as storm cells or sun shifts move through.

What’s biting? Action’s ramping up with the start of the annual mullet run just kicking off along the west coast, a prime trigger for predatory strikes. Reports from Panama City to Fort Myers have redfish rolling in near oyster bars and grassy points—live mullet and pilchard or soft plastic paddle tails have been producing steady fish, with early morning topwater bites before storms roll in. Inshore, snook are back and active across mangrove cuts and river mouths, especially around moving water at peak tides. Try white bucktail jigs, flashy paddletails, or classic live shrimp under a popping cork. Early birds have been picking up slot trout on the grass flats right at sunrise using MirrOlure MirrOdines and Z-Man soft plastics.

Offshore, the action is still steady on snapper and grouper before the heat and rain push in—dead sardines, squid strips, and bigger live pinfish or pilchard do the trick. Be aware, NOAA Fisheries Southeast has just closed federal waters to greater amberjack harvest as of yesterday, September 2, so double check what’s open out deep. King mackerel are filtering in over the nearshore reefs—slow-trolled cigar minnows or silver spoons will put you in the zone. A few bonus cobia have turned up shadowing sunrays and marker buoys, so keep a rod ready with a big jig or live eel.

Recent catches reported by local guides show plenty of slot reds, a good number of legal grouper, scattered snook and strong mangrove snapper catches when working structure from Tampa south to the Ten Thousand Islands. Nighttime dock fishing has also pulled some quality trout and flounder for those working live shrimp under dock lights.

Hot spots today? Two suggestions for you: first, try the passes and points at Boca Grande, where mullet have stacked up and snook, reds, and even a few tarpon are hanging. Second, the old grass beds off Pine Island Sound are loaded with life, offering steady seatrout action with the chance of a red being mixed in. Both spots fish best around moving tide for your best shot at a banner day.

For baits, keep it simple—live pilchard, shrimp, or finger mullet if you can get them, otherwise, white/chartreuse soft plastics and silver spoons are proven winners in this summer-to-fall transition.

That’s the word from the water today—thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe for your daily conditions, tactics, and tall tales! This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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