Whitey's Fishing Report August 1, 2009
Offshore
With the cold water still at bay for the summer, the Gulf Stream currents have been close to Bethel shoals. 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. Several cobia have been lingering along the offshore bars and swimming right up to the boats. Always keep a pitch bait or bucktail close by because Cobia are known to make a surprise visit and leave just as quick.
For those of us who love to dive, this is the month to pull out the dive gear that has been collecting dust since last year. Lobster season begins August 1 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 and warm water, most divers should have a good chance of harvesting a few nice sized lobsters 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.
Sebastian Inlet & Surf
Summer time brings smoker kingfish and tarpon close to shore. 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. Anglers can cast large surface plugs, spoons or plastic swim baits for great surface action. 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 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. Snook season starts September 1 so it’s time to start patterning the fish if you want to be the guy or gal that goes home with a keeper on opening day.
Until next month .....................
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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