Scouting Around Sebastian

                                       

We have another stunning morning at the inlet. Winds are blowing out of the West at 3 mph, gusting to 6 and the water is calm. Winds are predicted to pick up this afternoon and NOAA is calling for small craft to exercise caution. 

The bite has been fair off the north jetty, not exactly on fire but some nice fish are coming over the rails for patient anglers. A few slot Snook have been landed here and there, mornings have been more productive. We're still seeing a few Black Drum, smaller Spanish Mackerel and Blues, good sized Sheepshead, Margate and smallish Atlantic Spadefish. Pompano and Whiting are being landed in the surf. 

Our first photo today features Judy Conrad of Pellston, MI. Judy was free lining live shrimp from her kayak and started to retrieve her line when she felt a slight weight on the end of her line. Suddenly a 28 1/4" Snook was torpedoing through the water! She thought it was going to spool her reel from a light weight St. Croix rod so she slowed it down by placing her thumb on the reel. The fish turned and headed toward the mangroves and she had to stop her kayak from following by bracing it with her paddle. She was able to keep it out of the mangroves and was surprised to see it was a Snook when she scooped it up with her net. She was even more amazed to find it was in the slot; her first Snook ever! Dee Kaminski of Reel Kayak Fishing Guide Service had shown her some techniques a few years ago that she employed and a successful catch was made! What a great catch from a kayak and what a fun fishing story! 
  We had quite an interesting catch off the north jetty. A Striped Bass! A camera-shy angler landed the 31+" fish from the north jetty and it caused quite a stir among the locals. Many regulars who have fished the inlet for a lot of years have never seen a striper. You never know what you're going to see at the inlet! The photo is courtesy of Sally Baughman of Jackson Hole, WY. 
  Photo three is of inlet regular Chuck Fischer of Satellite Beach. Chuck landed the 31.5" Snook  using live shrimp. 

An introduction to surf fishing workshop will take place at the Fishing Museum on the south side of the inlet on Saturday from 1:00 - 3:00. The workshop is free but Park entry fees apply. Contact the State Park for more information at 772-388-2750.