The Daily Catch | Fishing Report – September 2026
What’s biting in Clearwater Beach in September? September fishing out of Clearwater Beach has been producing gag grouper, red grouper, red snapper, mangrove snapper, Spanish mackerel, Key West grunts, porgies, sea bass, and more. Longer offshore trips have been targeting grouper and snapper in deeper water, while shorter fishing charters have been finding plenty of action bottom fishing and trolling closer to shore.
And That’s a Wrap on Gag Grouper Season!
September gave us a great month of gag grouper fishing out of Clearwater Beach. Even with the Gulf still holding onto those warm summer water temperatures, we were able to get some nice gags to bite throughout the month.
We’ve been dropping domestic sardines to the bottom and using heavy leaders because once a gag eats, they waste no time heading straight back toward the rocks. That’s also what makes fishing for them so much fun. Getting the bite is only half the battle — you have to work hard to turn that fish and get it coming up before it makes it back into the rocks.
When you win that fight and finally get a nice gag to the boat, it makes it that much more rewarding!
Going Deep for Grouper & Snapper
Gags weren’t the only fish keeping us busy this September. Red grouper and red snapper have remained open, giving us plenty of options on our longer offshore trips.
On our 10- and 12-hour trips, we’ve been making the run into deeper water to target red snapper and red grouper while mixing in gag grouper throughout September. These longer trips give us more time to cover ground, move between spots, and put together a nice mixed bag.
September has given us some great catches with a little bit of everything hitting the deck. When you spend a full day offshore, you never know exactly what that next drop is going to bring up!
Plenty of Action on Our Shorter Trips
Our shorter trips have been staying busy too. We’ve been bottom fishing for some of our favorites, including Key West grunts, porgies, sea bass, mangrove snapper, and plenty of other species mixed in.
We’ve also been trolling for Spanish mackerel, which are always a fun fish to catch. They’re fast, aggressive, and can make for some great action when we get into a good group of them.
These shorter trips are a great option for families, first-time anglers, or anyone looking to spend a few hours on the Gulf and bring home some fresh fish for dinner.
Fall Is on the Way
The lovebugs have officially shown up, which is always one of our signs that the weather is starting to change. It may still feel like summer in Florida, but we know cooler water and the fall kingfish run are on the way.
As we head into October, we’ll be keeping an eye out for good schools of bait and birds diving offshore. When we find them, we’ll be trolling around those bait piles looking for Spanish mackerel and hopefully our first kingfish of the fall.
Exactly when the kings show up is always a waiting game. Some years they arrive early, and other years they take their time — we’ve even caught them around Christmas! Mid-October through November is typically when we start seeing the fall run, but it all depends on the conditions.
Kingfish like that cooler water around the low 70s, and with the Gulf still warm, we have a little ways to go. For now, we’ll keep watching the water, the bait, and the birds to see when things start heating up — or should we say cooling down!
September gave us a great month of gag grouper, red grouper, red snapper, Spanish mackerel, and plenty of mixed-bag fishing. Now we’re ready to see what October brings!
Ready to get out on the water? Click HERE to book your next fishing trip with Stella Fishing Co. and come see what’s biting off Clearwater Beach!
