Sebastian Inlet Report

Slow going, but snappers and Spanish mackerel possible

 Good morning, Sebastian Inlet fans! First,  I'd like to remind folks using a cast net on the jetty. Since greenies are plentiful around the jetty this time of year and they attract snappers and mackerel, they are the go-to bait. When you cast net a baitfish and dump them out on the fishing deck and cherry-pick some for your bait bucket, please return what you don't need back to the water. The rules are listed on the big white sign on the way out to the north jetty: "Cast netters must return unused marine life back into the water; this is one of the few jetties that allows netting. Please do not abuse the privilege." Do your part to protect our fisheries and resources. Now for the report.

North jetty: Just as quickly as the fishing got hot, it cooled back down. That's usually how it goes. The main reason was due to all the runoff water flowing seaward from the intracoastal waterway and Sebastian River. Last week and through the weekend, we had outgoing tides most of the day, and extremely low tides as well, which kept water low and murky. Mangrove snappers were biting along the wall from the catwalk to the jetty, but you had to arrive very early to catch the end of the incoming tide and the clear water. Live and dead greenies are still the bait of choice. At the tip of the jetty and the very beginning of the outgoing tide — again, very early in the morning — the mangroves were there until the freshwater arrived and shut it down. Most snappers were too small to keep, but there have been a few keepers, but not like two weeks ago. Saturday and Sunday I saw a decent Spanish mackerel bite in the morning. A couple of anglers took home close to their limit, and pretty nice fish! The trick was to use live greenies with a float of sorts to get it out to where the fish were.

South jetty:  Same deal on this side, very early or late evening incoming tide when the water clears up some, is the best time to fish. Mangrove snapper, mostly smaller ones and catch-and-release snook and redfish were being caught. Greenies for the snappers; croakers for the snook and reds. Outgoing tide, the very beginning at the tip they were catching some mangroves as well, but again most were too small to keep, or just barely over the minimum of 10 inches. Black margates and some blue runners and jack crevalle were biting to keep it interesting.

 T-Dock area: Back here the bite has also slowed a bit, and again due to the runoff water flowing out! There are a lot of  baitfish around - greenies and glass minnows, and the snappers are biting, but most are too small to keep, just like everywhere else. Not a whole lot is going on for any other species. 

Surf area, both sides:  The surf fishing has been slow around the inlet due to low water and runoff. The south side has been murky with the ongoing SE winds. Not much action, save for catfish and stingrays being caught. Maybe if you get a pocket of clean water, you might see whiting. 

That's all I have. We need all this runoff water to go away so the clean ocean water can return. This week should improve, thanks to incoming tides all week. It should clean things up quite a bit! Grab your gear and enjoy the inlet! Stay hydrated and have fun.”  - Snookman.