Whiteys Fishing Report
August 2010
Sebastian Inlet & Offshore
Summer time surf fishing will be slow with little wave action in the surf and cold water on the beaches. If we get a small rolling swell and a little chop it can increase your odds. The lack of sand fleas around does not help the shore bite, but look for a few whiting and the occasional pompano. Most of the anglers are trading their pompano gear in for heavier rods and targeting the large schools of bait moving along the beaches and catching tarpon and snook.
The massive bait pods full of pogies, greenies, glass minnows or mullet will gather along the beaches as far as the eye can see. Watch for baits exploding through the air as predators from below make their attack. Tarpon will roll in the bait pods or blast out of the water onto their backs when they are in a feeding frenzy. Look for jacks, redfish, blues, snook and bonito to be mixed into the action along the edges of the schools. Keep an eye on the surf later in the month, because an early run of mullet can march down the beach and you don’t want to miss out on that. Snagging some bait with your net or casting large shallow diving plugs, swim baits or top waters will let you cover more water and stay up with the moving fish. Several sharks might make a run through the schools, so keep extra plugs ready to go for cut offs and break offs. Kayak fishing from the beaches can be the best this month as the action is right along the beach or just offshore within a mile.
The offshore reefs are chilled to the bone. The summer time cold water currents are here and who knows when the bottom will warm up. Bottom temperatures have been reported in the low 50's. Several snapper, moray eels and smaller fish are already laying dead on the bottom. With all the changes in our fishing regulations, the best way to get any bottom action is to strap on a scuba tank and harvest some lobster. You will want to layer up with a heavy 3-5 mil wet suit and a full hood.
Lobster season begins August 6 and continues through March 31. Most of the inshore ledges and 50-60 ft. reefs have shown good numbers of lobster prior to the start of season. With calm weather conditions, most divers should have a good chance of harvesting a few nice sized lobsters and shooting a few mangrove snapper for dinner.
Remember the bag limit is 6 lobsters per person with a 3” carapace. Also take a good look at your catch, and make sure the females do not have any eggs. If you do catch one with eggs use great care in releasing her unharmed to help ensure we have good lobster stocks for the future.
Scattered weed lines seem to be holding some flying fish and live bait around 120-180 ft. Sailfish and Dolphin are residents there and a sure catch if you slow troll live baits or drag a few dead ones. Don't overlook the 50-60 ft. range, there has been large schools of flying fish inshore and they are sure to bring in some big pelagics. Several cobia have been lingering along the offshore bars and swimming right up to the boats. Always keep a pitch bait or buck tail close by because Cobia are known to make a surprise visit and leave just as quick.
Kingfish are scattered all over the offshore bars, with most fish in the 8-15 lb range, along with a few smokers 25-30 lbs mixed in. Live baits on the surface will attract an aggressive strike and with flat water conditions, look for the kings to rocket out of the water with the baits in their mouth. Large bait pods of greenies and a few pogies are several miles off the beach with a greater concentration south of the inlet for now. The bait pods will be moving and there could be fish hanging on the edges so cast a buck tail or a swim bait a few times into to the ball and see if you get any strikes.
The bite at Sebastian has been fairly predictable recently and should remain so through August. Snook, reds, mangrove snapper and the occasional flounder have been coming over the rail fairly often. Outgoing tides seem to be producing a good number of reds, whereas the incoming has been producing the snook. Shrimp, mojarras and pinfish have been the baits of choice unless you can find any of the elusive croakers, which will surely draw a strike. Most of the snapper have been caught during the incoming tides or slack tides using shrimp and mojarras.
River fishing has been good in the early mornings to midday. Good numbers of redfish have been seen laying around on the grass flats mixed up with a few snook. Get out and wade your favorite flats with top water plugs or live shrimp. Get out early before the heat of the day warms the shallow waters.
Lots of fish to go after this month, you can save fuel and fish from land, or head offshore several miles and grab a few grouper and lobster!
As usual stop by Whitey’s to get the latest information or check us out on the web at www.whiteysonline.com. Until next month…
Whitey's Bait & Tackle
321-724-14409030 S Highway A1a
Melbourne Beach, FL 32951
captstovall@whiteysonline.comwww.whiteysonline.com/
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