jetty snook

Armando caught this 27 3/4-inch snook and a 26-inch spotted seatrout at the south jetty. He used live shrimp on the incoming tide.

Hello there, Sebastian Inlet fishing junkies. I hope everyone had a great weekend! Here we go with the first report for March:

Fishing on Friday and Saturday was pretty good, but the activity dropped off Sunday when the NNE winds picked up. The water was clean, but still a bit cool at 69; that was good for Friday and Saturday. On the north side west of the bridge I saw plenty of very nice sheepshead being caught, in the two to three-pound range, and plenty just over the minimum. Live sandfleas were the bait of choice. In that same area there was a decent snook bite on live shrimp as well, the first of the outgoing tide. Many small snook, but I did see a couple of slots taken. And remember, folks, under the bridge there is a fence blocking access to the east side of the bridge marked with a NO TRESPASSING sign, as that area is a designated construction area. Please be mindful of that. Thanks.

In the back, north side also, anglers were catching smaller snook on the incoming tide with live shrimp. A few black drum and sheepshead were caught as well. That’s pretty much if for the north side. Also, on the north side where the beach joins the jetty, that area of the north jetty is also labeled, ‘NO PRESSPASSING, STATE PARK BOUNDRIES.’ Do not climb through the area under the jetty to fish on the other side, it is designated as a construction area and is off limits as well.

South jetty, from the tip and along the seawall: Over here last week the snook bite has been really good from Wednesday through Saturday, and tapering off on Sunday while I was there. I am glad to see the snook wanting to play! Everyone using live shrimp pretty much caught some. Granted 90 percent were undersized, but I saw many slot fish caught. Live shrimp, thumper jigs did the trick! The incoming tide was the time to be there.

On Sunday, for whatever reason, the bite for snook just went away — very slow, but a few were caught early morning. In the afternoon while I was there, a huge school of croakers moved in and came up the beach, birds diving in them nonstop, and the bigger snook were around as well to feed on them. The snook action wasn’t hot by any means, but I did see several nice upper slot fish caught. It got crowded and many fish were hooked and lost. Also fishing along the rocks on the inlet side on Saturday they caught plenty of black drum, snook, big sheepshead, some whiting and pompano. Use live baits, either shrimp or sandfleas. At the tip of the jetty on the outgoing tide it was all about the black margates, small jack crevalle, blue runners and hand sized sand perch. Cut shrimp was the bait for them.

The T-Dock area has been slow. I did hear about a few snook caught, mostly small, with a couple of keepers, live mojarra and shrimp. Sunday when I was back there, they were catching quite a few croakers and whiting at the end of the incoming tide. Use cut shrimp.

That’s all I have for this report. Expect high winds and rough seas Tuesday through Thursday. If you do get out to fish, it might be roughed up a bit. Have a great week, everyone.