Today’s (September 8) forecast calls for mostly sunny skies becoming cloudy in the afternoon, a high of 85 degrees, ESE winds o 7 mph, and relatively flat seas (zero to one foot).

Hello, Sebastian Inlet friends and fanatics. I hope you all had a fun, safe weekend! The weather was nice, except for all the LOVE BUGS at the jetty! They were awful! But with that, the fishing was still fairly good, as it should be, just not a lot of bait fish around the jetty except for the greenies and pilchards. Mullet have thinned out considerably, but they will be back when the NNE breezes and winds begin moving them down the coast. The water temps remain decent at 83 degrees as of this report, and fairly clean still. The week should see the surf relatively small, 0 to two feet, and the winds light (five to eight mph). That, in turn, will make for a great week to fish. While I was down over the weekend, there were several species caught on various baits and artificials, but the snook garnered most of the action. Here we go with your action spots: 

North jetty: Here, most of the action has been on the early morning outgoing low tide. The big news was all about the snook bite, the last couple of days they have been biting pigfish and shrimp, some on live mullet, but mostly on the pigfish. It is that time of year when they will start hitting the pigs and pins that are coming out of the intercoastal. They usually hit them out of aggression to kill them because they are an enemy to their eggs and fry (recently hatched fish), but sometimes they eat them too (fun fact). Most of the fish I saw caught or heard about have been oversized, but there were plenty of slots caught that went home. Also, on the outgoing at the tip, and around the rocks and pilings the snapper bite is still going strong with quite a few decent mangroves being caught on shrimp, greenies, and small mojarra. Lots of undersized fish, but also plenty of keepers as well. Most I saw were in the 11 to 12-inch range. Another snapper species I saw  caught were a couple of muttons, but they were undersized. They must be 19 inches before you can keep them. More action was with the Spanish mackerel, live greenies, small jigs and silver spoons were the key baits. Most fish I saw were in the 14 to 16-inch range; not a lot were caught, but enough to get you interested. Those fish were being caught on the oceanside of the jetty, both tides. The incoming tide that was hot a week ago has fizzled out somewhat, pretty slow, but still a few decent snook being caught, and a few catch and release redfish mixed in. Shrimp, croakers and live mullet. For those fishing cut shrimp and other cut baits between the pilings the spot tail pins and black margates are still playing well. 

South jetty: Over here it has been quite crowded on the incoming tide, both onshore anglers, and boaters, the snook bite has been rather good on live baits. On this side there are a LOT of smaller fish, but there are also plenty of slot fish to be had; you just have to weed through the ‘shorts’. Also, the mangrove snapper are still playing on shrimp, greenies, and the small mojarra. Outgoing at the tip is still all about the spot tails, black margates, jacks, and blue runners. Some snook also have been caught on the tide rip on croakers and pigs. 

T-Dock area: Back here, the bite for mangroves and sheepshead and black margates has still been decent, a lot of little snappers, but also some decent ones being caught as well. Live shrimp, cur shrimp, greenies are the baits of choice. The snook bite has picked up some as more of the regulars have been chasing them. Incoming tide with live baits are the trick. Back here there are a lot of oversized fish caught, but also a decent amount of slot-sized keepers. Incoming tide is best, but some of the snook can be caught at the beginning of the outgoing while the current is slower, and the water is cleaner, once the dirty water shows up, the bite stops. 

Surf Area, both sides: South side surf still remains dead with nobody fishing it except for the "day use area" way south of the inlet. North side there have been some anglers back out again as the sandbar slowly is being washed away creating some deeper water on the high tide periods. Small whiting, croakers and some blue runners are being caught on cut baits. No snook action yet on the beach due to the shallow water, and the absence of the mullet schools, but that is still to come when more fall-like winds and weather arrive. 

Well,  my friends, that's it for this week. It’s supposed to be a nice week, except for the afternoon storms, so grab all your gear and bait, food and drinks, and get out and fish, or just sightsee and relax.” — Snookman.