north jetty redfish

Chung caught this 40-inch redfish and a 30-inch slot snook on Friday using finger mullet.

Good morning all you Sebastian Inlet fishing fanatics, I hope everyone had a great weekend! Here we go with this weeks “what’s biting at the inlet.” This is your last week to get your “north jetty” fishing mojo out of the way before the extended closure! And for you folks that have asked me, and those that are wondering about fishing the seawall and rock area between the bridge and jetty, per my conversation with the district, that ENTIRE area will be fenced off as a “hard hat/safety vest” construction zone, no public access what so ever, it will be a NO TRESPASSING area for public safety. Just wanted to keep you all posted and aware, and safe. Now on to the fishing.

North Jetty

There has been a pretty good bite on the north side of the inlet, with several different species being caught. The north jetty has been the hotspot for snook. Live finger mullet fished in the surf, and just outside the surf break have been tie ticket for some nice slots being caught. Also quite a few undersized snook have been caught as well. Also saw a couple of big redfish caught as well. The main topic has been the jack crevalle, bluefish, and spanish mackerel, they have been pretty much out of control! All shapes and sizes are being caught, with the spanish mackerel being the sought after species, with some of them in the “jumbo” class, 3-4 pounds! Live greenies and finger mullet being the ticket for bait. Several anglers were lucky enough to catch their limits with the mackerel. I did also get a report that on Sunday the black drum made an appearance with several nice fish being caught on live shrimp on the incoming tide, along with quite a few slot snook as well. Along the seawall and rocks on the incoming tide there has been a decent bite on smaller snook on live baits, pigs and pins and shrimp. Most have been too small to keep. Also there have been a few mangrove snapper still around, and a couple of sheepshead and black margates.

South Side

Over here it has been slower due to the roughed up, dirty and weedy water, but on the incoming tide when it does clean up a tad the snook have been around and biting. Live baits and plastic swimbaits are doing well, with most fish being undersized, some make it in the slot range. Other species making it interesting are redfish, blues and big jacks. Any bait will work for them.

T-Dock Area

Back here it has been a hit or miss deal. Snook have been around on the incoming tide on live baits, also some redfish are mixed in with them to keep it interesting, as well as the large jacks chasing the mullet schools in the inlet. For those fishing greenies and tiny white jigs there have been some nice spanish mackerel around, not a lot, but enough to keep you fishing.

Surf Area, both sides

The surf for the most part has been all washed out from the winds and waves, and the massive amounts of the sargassum weeds the storms have blown in, so that’s been a bust.

Well everyone, that’s all I have for this week. The rest of the week is supposed to get back to being windy and the seas are going back up again, just like last week was. So if you go out on the jetties, please be careful as it can get pretty nasty out there. You all have a great and safe week!