Today’s (October 26) forecast calls for partly cloudy skies and a high of 81 degrees with NE winds of 22 to 25 mph. Seas are 8 to 12 feet. Rough seas have closed the north jetty is closed until further notice. 

Our fishing guide, "Snookman" Wayne Landry tells us what's biting at the inlet, but reminds us that conditions are dangerous:

"Hello there, all you Sebastian Inlet fans and fanatics!

I hope everyone had a great weekend despite the brutal winds! According to my weather and surf apps, these conditions are expected to continue throughout the week, with little relief until around November 2. Winds are forecast to reach 20–25 mph, with higher gusts at times, and seas ranging from 8 to 12 feet. Even larger waves are possible during high tides and king tide conditions associated with the recent full moon. Due to the dangerous conditions, state park officials have closed the north jetty until further notice. Please call the state park for additional information at 321 984-4852.

Fishing Conditions

As for the fishing report, the weekend was a mess! The water was extremely rough and silty, although the water clarity had improved somewhat. Much of the dark, tannin-stained water moved south of the inlet, allowing cleaner water to return with the north-northeast winds.

With all that said, here's the breakdown of the fishing action from last week.

North Jetty

Before the rough weather moved in, the fishing action was centered around the early morning and late afternoon high tides.

Spanish mackerel were the stars of the show! Plenty were being caught on live greenies, if you could find them. The baitfish seem to have disappeared from their usual spots, but anglers who managed to locate some were rewarded with good catches.

The mackerel were also hitting small jigs, spoons, and Gotcha lures, but live greenies were definitely the ticket! Several anglers I know were catching their limits and releasing additional fish. The recreational bag limit for Spanish mackerel is 15 fish per person per day, with a minimum fork length of 12 inches. Other fish being caught included some large jack crevalle chasing schools of mullet around the inlet. The redfish seem to have left the building, along with the snook, as very few of either species were being caught. I also saw some nice bluefish caught on finger mullet along the ocean side of the jetty. Most of this action took place during the incoming tide, particularly around the early morning and late afternoon high tides.

During the outgoing tide at the tip of the jetty, anglers were catching mostly jacks, bluefish, an occasional snook, and plenty of catfish! Keep in mind that this fishing activity occurred last week, before the weather deteriorated and made fishing difficult and dangerous.

South Jetty

Not much to report here! The south jetty was completely blown out by the rough conditions and was mostly underwater during the high tides.

T-Dock Area

Fishing around the T-Dock was very slow over the weekend.

Although this was one of the few relatively calm places to fish, the fish just weren't cooperating!

The only catches I saw or heard about were a few small, undersized snapper, some sheepshead, and plenty of those pesky blowfish! Other than that, there wasn't much happening.

Surf Fishing – Both Sides of the Inlet

ALL BLOWN OUT!

The strong winds, heavy surf, and rough water conditions made surf fishing extremely difficult on both sides of the inlet.

Final Thoughts

Well, my friends, that's all for this week!

As I mentioned earlier, it's shaping up to be a pretty "wicked" week as far as the weather and surf are concerned. If you decide to head out fishing, please find a calm, protected area and stay away from dangerous surf and jetty conditions. You never know what might show up when you find the right spot! Above all, use good judgment, pay attention to the weather, and remember that no fish is worth risking your safety. Be safe, stay well, and I'll see you next week!” —Snookman