THE SEBASTIAN AREA INSHORE FISHING FORECAST – JUNE 2013

Summer brings several things that improve the fishing in the central lagoon area, some of which include stable weather, light winds and increased variety and numbers of baitfish. The light winds open new territory to small boat anglers (i.e. the ocean). This allows anglers a chance to pursue species that are out of their reach the rest of the year, as well as having better conditions to fish the inshore waters. Being able to get outside the inlet is going to be more important this summer than in those of the recent past. The grass beds of the Indian River Lagoon are still showing little sign of recovery and until they do the flats fishing will remain tough.  There is no quick fix, but we can help speed nature along by taking it easy with the fertilizer (especially waterfront residents), and making sure our septic systems are functioning properly.  There is plenty of fishing available in the Sebastian area if you know what to look for. Here is what I intend to do this summer.

Near shore Atlantic – I personally look forward to getting outside in the summer. The techniques are simple and the fish average larger than the biggest inshore specimens I catch the rest of the year. The summer time near-shore fishery is our best chance of the year to catch fish weighing out in the double and sometime triple digits. Large migrating tarpon, smoker kings, hard fighting little tunny, toothy barracuda, brawling cobia, colorful dolphin, and even sailfish are possible within small boat range of the inlet. The methods I most often imply include; slow trolling live greenies and mullet, trolling large plugs, casting baits and lures to breaking and cruising fish and bottom fishing the shallow reefs. The near shore fishing is a great option for family groups and can be productive regardless of an angler’s skill level.

Sebastian River – The top of the list in the Sebastian River in early summer is tarpon. There are tarpon throughout the Sebastian River, but the larger fish seem to frequent the entire north fork and the lower south fork.  Flies, Mirro-Lure catch 2000 junior plugs, D.O.A. shrimp and Terror-Eyz are all good artificial for both snook and tarpon. Small to medium sized mullet are the best choice for live bait. There has been an increase in the snook population over the last year as large snook find their way back to the productive waters of the Sebastian area after the killer freezes of 2010. Most of these snook are slot size or larger so they are tough to get to bite and even tougher to wrestle to the boat.  Catch and release snook fishing may be the best option for die hard inshore anglers.  

Sebastian Inlet – This is the time to take advantage of the inlet. The tips of the jetties have always been the best spots this time of year, the north jetty on the outgoing tide, and the south on the incoming. Live bait is the only way to go during the day; croakers, pigfish, and shrimp are the best choices. Get them down using anything from a split-shot to a 2 oz. egg sinker and you have as good a chance at catching a picture worthy snook or redfish as any place in the world. I expect to see 20-40 lb. redfish move into the inlet this summer like they did the last few years.

Indian River Lagoon – Early morning provides the best chance at trout and reds on the many flats of the central lagoon. Top-water plugs are the best bet, with D.O.A. jerkbaits, live mullet and pigfish being good choices as well. Look for rolling tarpon and bull sharks in some of the open basins of the lagoon this month. Try floating a live ladyfish on stout gear with wire leader for the bull sharks and cast Mirro-lures, flies, D.O.A Bait-Busters and live mullet at rolling tarpon. Typically, snook of all sizes will be laid up tight to cover getting out of the sun during the day. Twenty pound Fins wind-tamer braid combined with D.O.A. shrimp or a jerk-bait will do the trick on stubborn snook.

For more Sebastian Area fishing info check out the frequently updated videos on my website homepage at www.sebastianfishingguides.com

Tight Lines,

Capt. Gus Brugger

www.sebastianfishingguides.com

772-589-0008

The Sebastian Area Inshore Fishing Forecast – May 2012

The warm winter enjoyed by Sebastian area residents and visitors has, and will continue to bump the fishing calendar up a month or so. I am considering this a blessing because the grass beds have not, as of mid-April, shown any sign of recovery. The trout and reds that call the grass home in the latter part of the spring are very scattered and spooky making them tough targets. Hence, we will have to seek alternative methods and species to keep the rods bent this month.  With the fishing ahead of schedule due to the warm weather, the alternatives are plentiful.

The tarpon bite in the Sebastian River has been better than average because of high water temps in the early spring. This will only get better as migratory fish move in for the summer. My favorite artificial lures include D.O.A. Terror-eyz and Mirro-lure catch 2000Jr... Mullet and freshwater shiners are good natural baits for Sebastian River tarpon.   Fly fishermen will also score regularly on silver kings to 40 pounds. Snook numbers have started to increase in the Sebastian area and many of them will be found in the Sebastian River. D.O.A. shrimp along shoreline cover and docks is a great method anytime, but big plugs and live mullet are preferred after dark. Don’t swim in the Sebastian River it is full of bull sharks.

Stealth, persistence and finesse will increase your odds in the Indian River Lagoon. Gator trout and redfish of all sizes are available in the lagoon, but the window of opportunity and margins of error have been shrunk due to the lack of grass beds. Light line, long casts, small lures and a silent approach will help anglers score in the lagoon.

I begin to focus on the ocean in late May. This year most of the species I pursue along the beaches in the summer are already available in April. King Mackerel, Cobia, Spanish, Little Tunny, Jacks, Sharks and Tarpon have already made appearances in April and should be thick outside Sebastian Inlet in May. I always have a variety of lures and live baits ready when I cruise the ocean looking for action. Gotcha lures are great for Spanish, blues and little tunny, as is the D.O.A. Terror-eyz.  The Catch 2000 Mirro-lure also catches little tunny as well as cobia, Spanish, jacks and tarpon. Large diving plugs can be cast or trolled for kings, when live threadfins are hard to come by. Live threadfins slow trolled over bottom structure and around bait pods will draw strikes from any and all of the above mentioned species.

May is the new June. The weather is hot, but the fishing will be hotter.

For more Sebastian Area fishing info check out the frequently updated videos on my website homepage at www.sebastianfishingguides.com 

Tight Lines,

Capt. Gus Brugger

772-589-0008