Sebastian Inlet Report

 Look for reds, snappers at the north jetty; margates, sea bream, blue runners at south jetty

“Good morning, my fishing fanatics! Hope everyone had a great weekend, as it was pretty nice, but hot. Summer is here! Fishing at the inlet as a whole has been lackluster, mostly due to rain runoff from Sebastian River/C54 canal from last week's big rainstorms. Stormwater mixes with the clean ocean water, slowing fishing activity. Also, there isn’t much around for baitfish to attract anything, either. But things will change; they always do. 

North jetty: Fishing on the jetty has been hit-or-miss, depending on the clean water. On the outgoing tide at the tip, some snook are biting live shrimp, croakers and mojarras. Remember, the season is closed for them and must be released unharmed. Most of the fish are 34 to 40 inches. I had a report that some slot redfish have been caught at the tip as well, on the outgoing tide. This is the time of year that the big bull reds come in the inlet on the outgoing tide looking for the small crabs. The reds can be caught on any live or cut bait and top water popper lures. I had a report of a couple permit being caught, also on the outgoing tide on said small crabs, as they, too, show up this time of year on the tip looking for the crabs. The mangrove snapper bite is still fairly good, with fish being caught on small live bait and cut bait as well. Most fish are between 11 to 12 inches, minimum is 10 inches, and you can keep five per person. Also showing up are cubera snappers, about five to 10 pounds in size. They will bite any live bait or cut bait. Either tide at the tip or around the pilings and rocks is where they like to be. Over the weekend I saw quite a few barracuda around the north jetty looking for some baitfish. These fish are fun to catch on large live baits and bright colored ‘tube lures.’ 

South jetty: Fishing over here has been slow as well, with most of the fish being caught at the tip on the outgoing tide. Small black margates, sea bream, blue runners and jack crevalles are the species being had. When the water is clean, pompano can possibly be caught fishing towards the south beach area on cut shrimp, sand fleas and small ‘goofy 

jigs.’ Incoming tide in the evening with the cleaner water has been decent on the snook bite — again season is closed and they have to be released unharmed. Also, smaller redfish are being caught, both species on live mojarra fished all along the rock wall. Mangrove snapper are being caught too; most are small though. 

T-dock area: Fishing back here has been really slow. Small undersized snappers are being caught and those pesky puffers that are ever present. Jack crevalles and blue runners are possible as well by tossing silver spoons out to the channel area. 

Surf, both sides: If you can find clean water that isn't all silted up, pompano and whiting can be caught on live sand fleas and cut shrimp. Be on the lookout for bait schools moving up and down the beaches, as it is time for the large pods of glass minnows to start arriving. These bait pods will attract all sorts of predators: tarpon, snook, king mackerel, Spanish mackerel and jack crevalles. Silver spoons, jigs and all live baits will attract a bite when the bait is present.