A little pompano photographed by Sean Ennis

A little pompano photographed by Sean Ennis

Good morning all you Sebastian Inlet lovers, here is this weeks report, going to be kind of short due to the cold weather and water temps, not a lot going on, and not a lot of guys and gals fishing.

First off, I would like to start off with a little courteous reminder about the jetties and walkways, NOBODY has the right of way on them, everyone is permitted to be there, including the bird watchers, you anglers do NOT own the place! Last time I was down, I observed some anglers asking the bird watchers to “move out of the way,” and physically force them out of the way so they could fish. THAT’S NOT GOING TO FLY! These people have just as much right to be out there as you anglers! Please be courteous and respectful of them, and their space. They are there to enjoy what they love, bird watching, and this is the season where all the sea birds migrate down to the inlet. Thank you for the support. Now off to the fishing.

The south side has been slow again, the bite has been off and on for the most part. Black drum, some pompano, whiting and a few small flounder are being caught, but you need to be there when it turns on. Oh, and the bluefish are back for those using big silver spoons, jigs and cut bait, on the incoming tide at the tip. Beach side of the south jetty is where the pompano, whiting and most of the black drum are being caught, live or dead shrimp, along with sandfleas are the baits. Outgoing, or incoming tide, doesn’t matter.

The water over here has calmed down and cleaned up some, but still cold at 62 degrees, and they are catching the whiting and pompano on the beach as well just south of the jetty. Also, the beach pocket area is where most of the flounder have been being caught as well. Live finger mullet and mud minnows, or live shrimp are the baits of choice for them. Incoming tide all along the shoreline from the jetty to the T dock is producing some nice sheepshead on live sandfleas, you just need to find where they are. Black drum are also being caught along with them, most are small under the legal 15 inch minimum, but some are keepers. The flounder bite back here around the shoreline and T dock is really slow. The T dock is producing some spanish mackerel and bluefish for those tossing spoons and small jigs. Not much else back here except for a few whiting and tiny snappers on dead shrimp.

That’s pretty much all for this week, the water needs to warm up a bit more, but I don’t think it’s going to. Last week Wednesday and Thursday it was at 60 degrees, that’s cold for us! With all the cold weather we had, and are still going to get, and the cold winds blowing down the intercoastal and the beach, it cold quite possibly make the water go down into the high to mid 50’s, not good!! Reminds me of back in 2010 when the water got down in the 50’s for an extended time and we had a fish kill that was pretty bad on the snook. I hope that doesn’t happen again.

And on another note, for those of you who don’t know, it is our “whale watching” season when the right whales come down the coast to the calving grounds off our coastline. November to March is the time to watch for them. Since the north jetty is closed, you can go on the upper deck of the grille/gift shop to look for them when you are here. When they are around, it is a cool sight to see! When they surface, they are the only whales that do NOT have a dorsal fin, also when they spout, you will see two plumes of spray, not just one like all the other whales’ blow. Telltale signs of right whale.

Any way, you all stay safe and warm out there, going to be another coolish week, I keep reminding myself, it’s January, and winter! Cheers everyone! Snookman.