Anglers can sample the best of what both locales have to offer.

Story and photography by Danno Wise

Societal norms would have you believe summer ended with Labor Day. After all, the kids are back in school. Bird hunting and football seasons are underway. Days are getting shorter and every so often a mild front blows through. All of the typical signs of fall are prevalent. However, the calendar begs to differ – saying the season extends until September.

Luckily for Texas light tackle anglers, summer jetty and surf fishing is still going strong. Even though some of the trademark summer surf action is quickly coming to an end, the traditional fall beachfront action will already be picking up in September. Essentially, this means fishermen heading to the jetties and surf during late summer can sample the best of what both seasons have to offer.

Last chance for specks and Spanish

Nothing says summer surf fishing quite like speckled trout in the first and second gut along the beachfront. However, as hot as that action is when the conditions are right during the summer months, September represents the last opportunity to enjoy it before it shuts down for the fall and winter. The same goes for Spanish mackerel, which only come close enough for surf fishermen to target during the hottest portions of the year.

During September those fish will still be close to shore. September also offers plenty of days will ideal conditions for chasing them. In fact, with the exception of the days immediately prior to or following any early fronts, anglers can expect the beachfront conditions to be almost perfect every day. Given that the clock is ticking on how much longer this fishing will be an option for this calendar year, fishermen shouldn’t pass any opportunity that presents itself.

As is the case earlier in the summer, when the beachfront waters are calm, topwaters can work exceptionally well when tossed in the first gut early in the morning. Slow-sinking plugs, spoons and soft-plastics will all work in both the first and second guts. It is also not uncommon for Spanish mackerel to attack any of these lures that are cast for trout.

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