Fishing Report
Reported by Capt. Sherrie Stovall on
August 4 , 2008
Offshore Sebastian Inlet
Thermoclines are gone and the fish are hungry! The offshore fishing has really rebounded since the thermocline has backed off and the water temperatures have rose back up to the 70’s on bottom and surface temperatures in the 80’s. The bottom fish are back out and cruising around and the pelagic bite on the surface is hot.
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 bucktail or a swim bait a few times into to the ball and see if you get any strikes.
Several Cobia are swimming up to boaters while anchored in the 50 ft – 90 ft of water, most of this was due to the thermocline, but I believe these fish are local and will continue to come up for a quick look at the boat. There was a few manta rays spotted along the beaches in July, you might get lucky and run across one. I always stress to keep a rod tied up, ready to pitch out because you never know when a Cobia will swim right up to you!
The dolphin have been scattered along the shallow 90 ft reefs and a few bigger fish offshore towards the Stream. Trolling is expensive right now for just a fish or two, so staying in close to the reefs has been paying back better. The bottom bite has really turned on! Run over your favorite spots and look for the christmas tree of red snapper on you bottom machine. They are there and if you can hit it right, you will be the hero of the day. Lots of mangroves are coming right up to the surface and they will drive you crazy trying to hook up. I belive they are the smartest of all bottom fish, even though they are the smaller quarries; they eat every thing else in the water except the piece of bait with your hook in it. Tie on a tiny #1-#2 hook and bury it in the bait with the lightest fluorocarbon, something between #40 which is on the heavy end, down to #20, make a long leader and free line it back or maybe a small weight if the fish are still holding deeper in the water. The best bite for the snapper has been late in the evening all the way until dark; most anglers are heading home for the day as the bite just begins. Plan on staying out a little later this month, grab a few blocks of chum and a surface light and watch the sun set over your favorite snapper spots. Just keep an eye to the west and watch out for the evening thunderstorms.
Good luck to the bug hunters! As lobster season opens on Aug 6th. The visibility has greatly improved with just a small nutrient layer close to the bottom; “whale snot” as I like to call it is left over from the thermocline. The temperatures are up and the clarity should be really good for the offshore stuff. Inshore along the beaches the visibility comes and goes like the tides. It can be clean at one spot, but 200 yds. away it might be too dirty to work. My best advice is to have a couple of back up spots ready to go if you strike out the first time.
Sebastian Inlet & River
Sebastian Inlet has been hot for redfish with the crabs floating out of the river on the outgoing tides. The out going tides are the best with the pull of crabs off the flats and right through the inlet channel, the fish really gather and can be a blast for boaters and shore based anglers. Look to catch redfish, snook and some permit using crabs or live shrimp.
Look for the schools of glass minnows to line the beaches and hook around the inlet jetties. Try casting to the edge of the dark spots on the water surface to locate the feeding predators just below. Tarpon, reds and the occasional shark will slice through the bait pods and take in a mouth full.
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.
Surf
Summer time surf fishing is slower with the warmer surf temperatures and lack of sandfleas around, look for whiting and catfish with an 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. They are feeding on pogies, glass minnows, greenies and silver mullet. 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 thought the schools, so keep extra plugs ready to go for cut offs and break off’s.
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 …….Tough Choices!!
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More information, or wish to book an Offshore Charter, please call us on 321-724-1440, or email us: captstovall@whiteysonline.com
Whitey's Bait & Tackle
321-724-1440
9030 S Highway A1a
Melbourne Beach, FL 32951
captstovall@whiteysonline.com
www.whiteysonline.com/
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