On Foot Angler

05-08-12 TUESDAY: JACKS, SPANISH MACKEREL, BLUES, SNOOK, REDS, SHEEPSHEAD AND MARGATE 

We have another beautiful spring morning at the Sebastian Inlet. Winds are blowing out of the West-Southwest at 7 mph and there is a light chop on the water.

There's been a lot of baitfish in the water which is attracting schools of big Jacks, Spanish Mackerel, a few Blues, Snook and Reds but they haven't been biting that well, although the Snook and Reds have been more active at night. This morning some big Jacks were landed in the channel, along with some Spanish Mackerel.

Our photo today is of John Clarke of Orlando who hooked this C/R Redfish is John's largest to date. John was using 1/2 a blue crab to land this one of eight C/R Reds he landed. All of the Reds were released quickly and unharmed. If you are targeting big Reds, take care by using circle hooks and heavy tackle to help ensure their survival. Circle hooks will catch them by the lip instead of the having the fish swallow the hook and landing in a vital organ which greatly increases the mortality rate. We need those big Reds to get out and make more Reds!