Week of December 20: The bite is off but the weather is changing (for the better, we expect)
Today’s forecast calls for scattered thunderstorms, a high of 76 degress, east-northeast winds and 2 to 3-foot seas.
Fishing at the North jetty – and the entire inlet, actually – has been slow, according to our stalwart fishing guide, “Snookman” Wayne Landry.
“At the North jetty, the cooler, 68 to 70 degree-water we had a couple weeks ago went away, along with it the ‘cooler water’ species,” Wayne says. ”Last week’s storms and east-southeast winds blew the warmer water back in and slowed down the bite. The water over here is pretty clean and the only thing I saw being caught were a few small sheepshead, whiting, an occasional black drum, and pesky catfish. All are being caught on shrimp, live or dead, not in any numbers, though, like two weeks ago. Most are being caught at the end of the jetty on the outgoing tide. Also, I saw a few bluefish and jack crevalles being caught on spoons and cut bait, at the end of the jetty outgoing tide as well. The flounder bite has slowed to a crawl, with no word on the bite. Many of the ‘flounder guys have given up on them, to a point.”
The bite at the South jetty has dropped off, with only catfish, small sheepshead and jack crevalles being caught in live and dead baits, Wayne says.
“The water has gotten very dirty and is swamped with seaweed from the big southeast winds we had over the weekend,” he says. “There are still some small snook and redfish being caught on the incoming tide along the jetty wall on artificials and live baits, but not too many as the water is dirty and weeded up.”
You may find whiting and possible pompano, and bluefish at the surf - north of the jetty. Here, the water is cleaner than the seaweed-strewn south area, where you’ll find mostly catfish stingrays.
Fishing is also slow att the T-dock, with only some small sheepshead, jack crevalle and grunts being caught on cut baits. “No sign of any flounder as the’flounder guys’have not been around,” Wayne says.
“All in all, it is pretty slow at Sebastian Inlet, but it is still the perfect place to enjoy the ocean and the outdoors in hopes of catching the big one,” Snookman says. “The weather after Tuesday's upcoming storms is supposed to cool back down and be comfortable. Maybe it will pick the bite back up. All the years I have fished here, you never know from day to day what's going to happen. You just have to wait and see. As always my fishing family, tight lines to all and a very Merry Christmas and safe and Happy New Year.”