The bite is back in time for a busy Labor Day weekend
“Good morning, all my Sebastian Inlet fishing junkies; I hope you all had a great weekend, despite the rain and humidity. Good news! The fish are biting better than they had been. I feel that the water temperatures and quality PLUS the influx of baitfish have sparked things up considerably. There are still quite a bit of mullet of all sorts of sizes around the inlet and the surf area, along with a lot of greenies and pilchards all around the north jetty. Also, in the back of the inlet the small and bigger mojarra are around the t-dock area and along the shoreline, so getting bait isn't a problem. The bait shops are starting to get some bigger shrimp for a change. I knew the day was coming when the fishing would pick up; it was just a matter of timing. There were a variety of species caught throughout the inlet on both tides, but the incoming tide was the better time to fish. The outgoing tide at first turn is clean, but the freshwater runoff from the Sebastian River that follows is murky. Here’s where the action is:
North jetty: Over here all, or MOST of the action has been on the incoming tide on both sides of the jetty. Last week (Wednesday through Friday), the snook bite on live shrimp and mojarra was outstanding! Quite a few snook were hooked, but most were broken off on the rocks and dead lines around the jetty; the resident monster goliaths ate many, but several were landed and released. Along with the snook were catch-and-release redfish. Spanish mackerel were caught on freelined greenies on the beach side of the jetty. Quite a few nice fish were caught, with several anglers getting their limits of 15 per person. Also, the mangrove snapper bite has picked up as well, but the majority of them are smaller at 10 to 10.5 inches; however, I did see a few in the 12 to 13 inch range. Another species making a showing are the mutton snapper. Many were caught on the jetty, but most are just short of the 18-inch minimum to keep. They have been biting a bit in the previous weeks, but last week and over the weekend they bit better. Cooler water temperatures and that last offshore storm blew them in from the inshore reefs, along with the baitfish schools. Also, small numbers of cubera snappers were caught on live mullet at the tip of the jetty. Those I have seen and heard about have been in the 22 to 28 inch range. Nice fish, and a bear to deal with when you hook one! The outgoing tide has been a little slower due to the fish moving out further and the water quality going down, but snook and reds have been caught, along with the snappers. Live shrimp, live mullet and live greenies have been the baits of choice. And the good news is that the action continued through last weekend. It hasn't been as action-packed as last week, but it was still on the up and upside with everything being caught that I mentioned.
South jetty: Over here it has been the same thing: The incoming tide was a bit wild as well, with snook, redfish, jacks and mutton and mangrove snapper playing well! Live shrimp, mojarra and small croakers for the snook and reds, small live or dead greenies and mojarra for the snappers. Just a little note about the mutton snappers I have seen caught by myself and others, they prefer dead bait over live bait. Outgoing tide at the tip of the south jetty is all about the black margates, blue runners, jacks, and the mutton and mangrove snappers. Again, over here too, most are under the legal size to go home, but several nice ones have been caught, the mangroves that is, the muttons are too small over here too. Dead and live shrimp, cut bait are the key to success over at the tip. Also there have been a few bonnethead sharks caught in the beach/surf area on all baits.
T-Dock area: Back here the fishing hasn't really picked up much, even though the bait is all around — just not a lot of folks back here fishing. Either tide, fishing around the dock pilings they are still catching the smaller mangrove snapper on live and dead cut greenies, and also some of the small mutton snapper as well. Most of the muttons caught, though, have been in the area about 20 to 30 feet away from the dock. With all the tiny minnows around the dock there are some nice Spanish mackerel for those fishing small white or green feather jigs, and freelining live greenies. With the mullet coming into the inlet, expect some big jack crevalle to be following them. Use large silver spoons tossed out to the channel or fish the big mullet freelined on a 4-5/0 hook. The snook bite has been hit-or-miss, depending on the water quality. The incoming tide around the area has held some clean water along the shoreline east and west of the dock, and some of the guys fishing live croakers and mojarra have been catching a few, most of which have been over the 32-inch maximum to keep. The arrival of cooler water and the spawning season ending soon should wake them up and get them to bite better. You just have to be there when they decide to have a party!
Surf area, both sides: The mullet are coming from the north surf area, down the beach. The bigger swells from last week were hampering the action, but has calmed down greatly, so look for schools of mullet in the surf. If you find some, fish it with either a medium-sized swim bait, or if you have a cast net, net some and fish them! As autumn and the mullet run nears — and snook season opens on September 1 — it could get pretty ‘fishy’ out there with snook, reds, tarpon and sharks and the BIG jack crevalle. For those fishing the beach for the small fare, whiting and croakers are being caught on live and dead shrimp. South side surf has been dirty due to the outgoing water flowing south along the coast. It gets roughed up from the surf and sucked back in on the incoming tide. The day use area of the park has been producing mangroves snapper, black margates and some of the small mutton snappers, along with lots of catfish and bonnet head sharks.
So, there we go, my friends, a really good report for a change. I knew that when we enter this season with cleaner and a bit cooler water, AND the baitfish showing up, the fishing would improve. Please note, snook season opens up on Sunday, September 1, and closes December 15. One fish per person daily can be kept with the size limit min 28 inches to max 32 inches, with the tail pinched. Expect big crowds this holiday weekend. Try to be courteous and patient when you visit the inlet. Please adhere to the posted rules and regulations. Fishing at the jetty is a privilege, not a right, and can be taken away at any time by the park management! Get out there, catch dinner or a memory, but above all, have fun and be safe.” — Snookman.
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