The Inlet Bite is BACK!

A nice haul of snapper and lookdowns!

Good morning, Sebastian Inlet fanatics. I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! As I predicted, fishing at the inlet has picked up again! The water temp is back up to 83-84 along the coast. In the inlet, baitfish are back and plentiful, along with more mullet appearing around the jetty and in the inlet. Fishing in the entire inlet has heated up! Most of the bite, however, has been on and around the high tide periods where the water is clearer and not full of the tannin-colored runoff on the outgoing tide. The first hour or so of the outgoing will be good until that dark water arrives and quiets the action. Here is the breakdown:

North jetty

This side has been on fire with the mangrove snapper bite on the incoming tide and the first of the outgoing. The bite has been everywhere from the catwalk, along the rock shoreline, all the way to the tip of the jetty and pilings. Live greenies and shrimp are the key baits for them. I talked to one of my friends who fished all last week and he sent me pics of everything he caught. He caught his limit of snapper each day along with quite a few lookdowns from the jetty — at least 6 to 10 per day on the lookdowns, also caught on live greenies. The lookdowns have no bag or size limits so you can keep what you want or need. Not much to them, but VERY tasty to eat! On the snapper bite, he caught at least 20 to 30 snapper daily, but most he threw back because he doesn’t keep anything under 11 inches.

Also, here around the jetty – again, high tide – the tip way out on the outgoing, the snook bite has picked up. The fish are biting live croakers, pigfish and live shrimp. Remember, they are still closed season until Sept. 1. (It is a holiday weekend and the opening of snook season. If you plan to go snook fishing, have a lot of patience and be courteous to everyone. It’s only a fish, and not everyone knows how to fish for them. I saw a few Spanish mackerel caught on live greenies. Mullet are attracting big jack crevalle and a few nice catch-and-release redfish. Any live bait will work for them.

South jetty

Over here the water has been a bit dirtier, but still warmed up. The snapper have been doing very well over here, too. Incoming tide as well has been the best as you have more area to fish them, not just at the tip like the outgoing tide. Live or dead greenies are the best bait, but small live shrimp also work. Live croakers, pigsfish and live shrimp are producing some nice catch-and-release snook over here, too. Incoming tide is best. Catch-and-release redfish are also being caught over here too. On the outgoing at the tip, they are catching the normal cast of characters: black margates, blue runners, jack crevalle, catfish and some mangrove snapper. Live or dead greenies and shrimp for the margates.

T-Dock area

Back here the action has been pretty good with the mangrove snappers. Lots of smaller ones, but also plenty of keepers as well. The fish are being caught around the pilings and all along the rock shoreline as well. Incoming tide has been the best time to fish them, but if you find a spot with some slower water on the first of the outgoing tide, you possibly could find them there. Baitfish back here attract them and keep them here. Also, Spanish mackerel are being caught on the incoming tide. Small white jigs and live greenies work the best. There have been some nice jack crevalle caught as well. Jigs, spoons and live mullet tossed out to the channel area are catching fish. Haven’t heard much on the snook bite back here yet, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t around. Nobody is fishing for them yet.

Surf fishing, both sides

Still mostly blown out by 15-20 mph NNE winds and the larger waves coming off the storms out in the Atlantic. The surf is expected to increase to 4-5 feet by Wednesday, meaning rougher waves are forecast.

That’s all I have for now. I’m just glad that the fishing picked back up and the chances of taking something home for dinner got better. By midweek we will be dealing with decent winds and rain from Idalia as she approaches the gulf side of Florida. Everyone stay safe and enjoy the week! Get out and catch some fish. This is the best time of the year to do it.