Fall snook season starts TODAY (Sept 1)!

Hello all you Sebastian Inlet fans and fanatic’s, I hope everyone enjoyed the weekend. It wasn’t too awful bad, hot, but not as hot, and a few storms around. The fishing at the inlet has held on for another week, still pretty good for several species of fish. The water remains pretty clean on the north side, and the south side is dirtied up a bit from the SSE winds and small surf, 2-3, and the water temp has dropped down to 78 from the 82 it was last week, which in turn has slowed the snook bite a bit for the upcoming opening of the fall season on September 1st. They are still there, just not biting very good as they are still in the “spawn mode”. Also the bait is still around especially the pilchards and greenies, but the schools of mullet have thinned out a lot, they’re there, just not in the numbers as previously stated. So, without further ado, here are your action spots.

North Jetty

Over here the action has been on both tides, incoming tide early mornings is producing some decent snook catches still on live mullet and shrimp, croakers are working, but they want the hand sized silver mullet. Some redfish are being caught also on this tide, any baits live for them. Remember they are closed in our area and can NOT be kept, and released back into the water unharmed. Also on this tide between the pilings and the rocks at the tip, the snapper bite is still going on, live and dead greenies, shrimp and small majorra are the baits for them. Spot tail pinfish and black margates are being caught as well, dead shrimp for those. For those fishing tiny jigs and tiny live shrimp the lookdowns are being caught at the tip in the eddy over the rocks. There isn’t much to them to eat, but man are they good eating! So you have to catch a few to make a meal. No limits on them size wise of bag wise. The outgoing tide at the tip is also still producing some snook action on mostly live mullet, croakers and pinfish. Mixed in with them are a few nice sized redfish, which are still catch and release. For those fishing the hand sized mullet a cubera snapper is quite possible too, as a few have been caughton that tide at the tip. The mangrove snapper also are still biting pretty good over and in the rocks at the tip, live or dead greenies and majorra are the baits for them. Back along the wall between the bait shop and cleaning station the fishing has slowed a tad, but some decent mangrove snapper are still being caught, mostly on the incoming tide, greenies, shrimp, and majorra.

South Jetty

From what I have heard and seen, the bite over here has slowed some due to the dirtied up water, but if you find some clean water on the incoming tide you just may find some decent mangroves over here, along with some catch and release snook and reds. For those fishing the tip on the outgoing tide it’s all about the margates, blue runners, spot tail pins and some jack crevalle. Some snook and tarpon have been hooked up as well on the tide rip at the end of the jetty, live mullet, croakers and pin fish.

T-Dock Area

Back here, same as last week, small snappers everywhere, spot tail pins, margates, and a few decent sheepshead on cut dead shrimp around the dock pilings, and along the rocks outside the little pool, and the cleaning station, either tide is good. The snook bite back here should pick up after the season opens up September the first and the guys get out to fish them. I know they are there because I have seen them hanging around the dock on the outgoing tide. One angler I was chatting with caught an undersized snapper, and when he was pulling it up out of the water, 3 snook came up to look at it, and when he tossed it back in the water, the biggest of the snook grabbed it right when it hit the water!! Was pretty cool to watch.

Surf Area, both sides

Again, nobody is fishing the south beach due to the construction having it all blocked off, no access. The north side being so shallow with the huge sandbar, nobody has been fishing that area either, and the folks I did see fishing were only catching some small whiting and croakers, and catfish. We need some fall weather with some NNE winds and some surf to wash out some of the sand and make it deeper for it to get better.

Well that’s all I have for this week folks. The surf is supposed to remain in the 1-2 ft range, and the winds ESE in the lower range, 5-10 all week, and again, after noon thunderstorms. So with that being said, and snook season opening back up September first, grab your gear, sunscreen, water, bait, and a BIG bag of patience, as it will get crowded, and get out and catch some dinner! Cheers. Snookman.