Skip to main content

Week of April 3:  Big winds and chilly water have slowed the action, but snook, pompano, jacks, Spanish macs still possible

May contain: fishing, leisure activities, outdoors, water, animal, fish, and sea life
Our  fishing guide, "Snookman" Wayne Landry ,who provides the weekly fishing report also sent us a few photos of  his friends' catches, including Robin  and one of the three nice yellow edge groupers they caught in an offshore deep drop trip early last week.

If you'd like to be featured as the Angler of the Week, please send your photos to www.sitd.us/contact-us. We love details! Please include your name, hometown, species of fish and (if you want to share) the bait or lure that worked for you!

Today's forecast calls for partly cloudy skies and possible thunderstorms in the late afternoon, a high of 84 degrees, SE winds of 12-17 mph and  one to two-foot seas. 

This week's report from our fishing guide, "Snookman" Wayne Landry:  "Good morning, Sebastian Inlet friends. I hope everyone had a great weekend. The weather was nice except for the brisk winds. I'd like to start off with a friendly reminder for you all to mark your calendars that the north jetty will be closed to the public April 25  through 27 for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) dive training and cleanup of underwater debris around the jetty. Boat access around the jetty will be limited as well. Fishing around the inlet again been largely been slow, thanks to  big winds and dirty water. It has been hit-or-miss for most everything. The water temperature dropped over a week ago and hasn't risen to previous temperatures. It is currently 70 to 74 degrees. 

North Jetty: Early morning has been the time to catch snook if that's what you're after. The fish have been at the tip of the jetty on the outgoing tide, way out if you can reach them. Live shrimp and mojarras have been the baits of choice. The boaters have been doing well because they can reach them. Live pilchards have been the ticket for them - and sometimes croakers. Early last week I saw pompano being caught throughout the day on cut shrimp and small pompano jigs. The fish were anywhere from three to five pounds. I also saw a couple of straggler black drum caught on shrimp, 15 to 18 inches on them. Bluefish and jack crevalles are around for those folks fishing cut bait and silver spoons on the outgoing tide at the tip. One day last week there was a pretty good Spanish mackerel bite on the ocean side of the jetty on small jigs, but it was short lived as the water dirtied up and shut that down. 

South Jetty: The fishing has been pretty slow due to the dirty water mostly. It is shallower on this side and the brisk southeasterly winds tend to mess it up quickly. Most fish being caught have been at the tip of the jetty on the outgoing tide on dead shrimp. Black margates, sand perch, blue runners and jack crevalles make up the bulk of the catch. There were a few pompano caught early last week on the goofy jigs, but that only lasted one day as the water dirtied up. Some snook are being caught on live shrimp and live mojarras on the incoming tide for those fishing along the rocky shoreline just east of the catwalk. 

South Catwalk: Here, the main catch is the black margates and sand perch on cut shrimp fished around the pilings. The best time for them is on the incoming tide when the water isn't moving so swiftly. The sheepshead that were being caught have left the building so to speak. lol. 

Surf area, both sides: Due to strong winds and the accompanying swell, surf fishing has been a no-go. Rough and dirty.

T-Dock area: Here, the fishing has been alright. The water has stayed a little cleaner back here than more towards the rest of the inlet. Small Spanish and bluefish are being caught for those fishing with the small jigs. White seems to be the color of choice. Lots of those pesky puffers are around for those fishing dead shrimp on the bottom and around the pilings. I did see yesterday a couple small mutton snapper caught using live shrimp by one angler. Both fish were too small to keep. Muttons have to be 18 inches before they can be taken. These fish were about 15 inches. I haven't heard much or seen anything more about the sheepshead that were here last month. They may have moved on due to the warmer waters. They prefer cooler water. Snook fishing back has been hit-or-miss. Some days they are around; others, not so much. Incoming tide has been the best for them. Boaters have been catching a few on live baits, croakers and mojarras. Some shorebound anglers have been getting a few as well, same baits. Outgoing tide, the very beginning of it has produced some snook as well. I also did see a couple nice redfish caught back here early last week. Remember, they are still catch and release only.

That's all I have for now! The fish are out there; you just need to find some clean, calm water and put in some time and you should be able to catch some dinner. Enjoy the week, and as always, get out and enjoy the Florida outdoors." - Snookman

May contain: water, waterfront, face, head, person, photography, portrait, architecture, building, outdoors, shelter, animal, fish, sea life, port, baseball cap, cap, clothing, hat, accessories, sunglasses, beach, coast, nature, sea, shoreline, pier, glasses, summer, fishing, and leisure activities
Snookman's friend, Freddy, caught an ultra-rare  catch last week on the jetty of an Atlantic threadfin, or "glass nose" fish as it is sometimes called. These fish are around but you don't ever hear of anyone catching them, Snookman says. We're going to run a feature tidbit about this fish on social media in the near future.