Reported by Capt. Sherrie Stovall on September 3, 2007
Sebatian Inlet & Beaches: September can be a very busy month when it comes to fishing. The mullet run begins and snook are back on the game board. Starting Sept. 1 snook season is open and many fisherman are ready to give it a shot. Before you walk away with your prized catch, keep one thing in mind. The FWC has changed the snook regulations once again. This time we are really taking a hit on the bag limit by removing one fish away from us and tightening the slot size.
The new snook regulations as of July 01, 2007 state that the Atlantic coast daily bag limit is ONE snook per person with a slot limit of 28-32 inches.
The loss of several inches on the slot side of the new rules will really increase the number of fish that will be caught and released in order to find a keeper size. Please take great care in releasing all fish not meeting the new rules.
The surf temperate is still warm and the snook are gathering along the jetties and beaches at Sebastian Inlet. The snook are also scattered along the surf to the north and south of the inlet. Large schools of glass minnows are along the beaches and the predators are showering the minnows into the air as they feast below. The bait seems to be right in the surf and easy for shore bound anglers to reach. Try using soft plastic paddle baits by Calcutta and Storm, they give a realistic bait presentation or top water plugs make an added sound on the surface to get some attention from the fish below.
Redfish and tarpon are being caught along the beaches too. The surf fishing looks like it might stay hot and heavy with the spawn of a low pressure NE of Florida’s coast. The start of cold fronts will kick those mullet into gear and they should start their migration down from the Carolina’s. We should begin to see the action in 2-3 weeks. The mullet run is like an early Thanksgiving feast for the snook to bulk up for the cooler months. Every game fish will move along the beaches following the mullet and enjoying the time of plenty. If you have never seen a tarpon jumping through the waves of mullet, chasing them onto the beach, and beaching itself in the sand, you have never fished the mullet run. Anglers come from all over to join in the all time best action on the east coast shoreline.
Until the mullet arrive, schools of pins, pigfish and croakers will move out of the inlet along the change to tides. The outgoing tides at night has been a great tide to fish because at the first part of the month, the tide change will be close to dark. The snook have been real steady in action and anglers are catching them all night long. Windcheaters, and bombers have been accounting for most of the larger fish. Later this month bucktails really come into their own. You will find most anglers throwing these jigs off the piers or catwalks at night. Any assortment of live bait will also do the trick. Keep your cast net handy or stop in a purchase some live fish from Whitey’s to get you started.
Anglers fishing the inlet out of boats will have a great advantage at night fishing the fenders. Drifting baits in the channel always scores a lot of fish. Also during the day boats anchored off the jetty can get right on the schools of snook, and wait for them to feed.
Offshore: Many small schoolie dolphin have been scattered offshore all summer but the larger fish have gone. The larger mahi are up in the Carolina’s and should return to our offshore waters as the cold fronts pass through their waters and push the fish back down into our area.
The thermo clines have been few and far between this summer and the bottom temps are still around 70 degrees, thus keeping the bottom action steady. The deeper bottom spots are easy to fish with little to no current out there right now. Grouper and snapper catches have been good in the 180 ft. and 240 ft. depths. Live bait is always number one on my list, and the bait is staring to show really good at Bethel buoy.
The 80 ft. reef is holding lots of Bonita and small atlantic sharpnose sharks. The water is not really cold, but the little sharks are still here. Most of the kingfish are smaller and in the 10-15 lb. range, look for the larger ones to be along the beaches and closer to shore.
River: The redfish have been seen laying around the grass flats and along docks in the lagoon. The heat of the day will defenialty work against you, so try to fish early in the morining and late evenings.
Trout catches are good along the flats early morning on top waters. Look for double digit catches but small fish. The bite is early is over by 9-10am.
With the winds of change are upon us get out and make the most of what Florida has to offer. Get out and go fishing…….
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If you need information, or wish to book an Offshore Charter, please call us on 321-724-1440,
or email us at: captstovall@whiteysonline.com
For more information contact;
Whitey's Bait & Tackle
321-724-1440
9030 S Highway A1a
Melbourne Beach, FL 32951
www.whiteysonline.com/
