May is a great time to head out deep toward the cones or Gulf Stream for some of the best dolphin fishing all year.

The dolphin are migrating back north this month, using the currents of the Gulf Stream to head toward the Carolinas. Trolled ballyhoo naked or with a skirt will help you cover some ground as you look for dolphin action around a weed line, floating debris, temperature breaks, or color changes. Many boaters will venture to the other side of the Gulf Stream in search of yellowfin tuna; while crossing all that water, an occasional board, tree, or weed line will hold some of the best dolphin action around.

Bottom fishing is a good relief from trolling, and right now the amberjack have shown up along the deep-water reefs. Live bait and vertical jigs will set any angler up for a good 10- to 20-minute tug-of-war against some 40lb.+ reef donkeys.

Look for things to heat up on the beach as well. With greenies and pogies showing up, smoker kingfish will be right on their heels. This can be a great alternative to running way offshore and burning lots of fuel. Just stay on the beach; you’ll be amazed at what you might find.

Sebastian Inlet anglers should see good numbers of baitfish in the Inlet and along the flats in the river during the full moon this month. Schools of good-size mojarras and greenies are keeping the snook and other game fish active in the Inlet for most of the day. Redfish, ladyfish, bluefish, and jacks have all been waiting in the channels to feed on the bait as they move through the Inlet. Live shrimp is still a good standby option in case the bait is out of cast net range. Look for the mojarras around the catwalks, boat ramp, and L-dock on the south side. Most of the pins and pigfish will be by the bridges and around the steel at the tidal pool.

Nighttime anglers are catching snook on bucktails and windcheaters during the outgoing tides. Focus on the tide changes; that should help produce a slot-sized fish. The blue fish have been very thick at the Inlet. Expect to hook a few while trying to bag a snook before the end of season.

Don’t let the mangrove snapper fishing go by without exploring it. They love all the mojarras and other bait fish rushing by them, and there’ll be plenty moving through the Inlet this month. The mangroves will hang out under rock ledges waiting for an easy ambush around the channels and catwalks.

Fish your baits close to the dropoffs with a 3/4-oz. lead weight on a light 15-20 lb. fluorocarbon leader and a #1 or even a #2 light gauge hook to minimize the sight of your gear. Fluorocarbon is expensive but in the grand scheme of things, it can make the difference between catching and just fishing for the mangroves.

It might pay off to also to fish the slack tides for a few minutes, as the flounder are still returning from offshore through the Inlet on their way back into the river. This time of year most people loose interest in fishing for flounder, so getting into the primo spots is easy and uncrowded.

Flats fishing will remain good throughout most of the month as schools of bait continue to gather on the grass flats. The trout are up on the flats getting lots of food to fatten up for their spawn. Try to really key-in your fishing time early in the mornings or when the bait is up on the surface. Use soft plastic baits with a light jig head or your favorite topwaters to put a few fish on your stringer. As the weather continues to settle into summer-like patterns, the water temperature will rise on the flats and slow down the daytime fishing.

For those of you following our Cobia Tournament, the final results are: First Place: Cliff Schoolmaker; 67 1/4lbs.; Second Place: Tyler Foster; 60 lbs.; Third Place: DJ Wood; 52 1/4lbs.

Again, we would like to thank everyone who entered this year. There were some heavy fish caught over the last three months, with some brutes in the 60- to 80-lb. range. I only hope next year proves to be as good with lots of fish along the coast.

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…

Sebastian Inlet Fishing Report: April 2011
Captain Sherrie Stovall

I don’t know about you guys, but that was an awesome March! We can only hope and pray for April to be the same. Maybe we’re being rewarded for surviving that crappy winter we had last year… Whatever it is, I’ll take it.

March was definitely dominated by cobia for the offshore gang. We just had one of the best cobia runs in recent memory, and it should continue through part of April. I just heard report of another slug of fish heading up from south Florida, so it isn’t over yet. If we continue to be blessed with calm seas, then get out there and catch some. Live baits have been producing a good number of the fish along with bucktails and soft plastic eels. The fish are mostly right off the beach and out to 60′ of water. There have been a lot of free swimmers, so take it slow to avoid running them over. Rays are also pretty active in the area, but are only really showing up on the surface late in the afternoon. At all costs, try not to decorate the ray like a Christmas tree with your jigs. That is a surefire way of putting the ray down for the day. Another trick is to check the bait pods; there have been a few fish caught there, so don’t overlook them.

We’ve had some heavyweights brought to the scales at this year’s Cobia for Cash tournament. We still have a few weeks left, so there’s still time to join up and get your name on the board.

If the cobia shut down, don’t forget about the offshore reefs. I’m pretty sure that if you went out there today you’d probably have it all for yourself, because everyone else is inshore looking for cobia. Bottom fishermen are going to have to wait another month before they can go after grouper again, but that’s quickly getting closer. The kingfish are showing up on the reefs in good numbers along with the occasional dolphin. People who want to target dolphin and wahoo should look further offshore this month along the edge of the Stream and scattered weed lines. Several sailfish have been caught along the Bethel ledges using trolled baits.

The bite at the Inlet has been pretty good recently and should remain strong for the month of April. Sheepshead are fairly consistent as well as black drum, redfish and the ever-present bluefish. Spanish mackerel have been showing up when the water is calm and clean; small spoons and Gotcha’s are working well for these speed demons. The Snook bite is really hot right now at night, with a lot of fish being caught on artificial. Hand-picked shrimp and pinfish are also catching a good share of the fish for the guys who are trying to stay sharp for when snook season opens back up in September. Remember to release these fish with care, because they’re the ones you’ll want to keep once season opens.

The pompano fishing has remained strong in the surf. Most of the fish are coming from the south side at Sebastian Inlet, but they are moving north. Sand fleas are trying to make a comeback along the beaches and are showing up mostly at night. The fleas have been consistently small for the most part, but at least they’re here. Clams have been the bait of choice for the people fishing the surf due to the lack of sand fleas, but they are working well. Whiting, sheepshead and the occasional black drum have also been showing up in the surf and can be a great bycatch.

The river is on fire right now! Trout, redfish and snook are hitting the flats hard with these warmer temperatures. Early morning bites have been red-hot on topwaters or jerk baits. As the sun rises, you might want to switch over to live bait to stay on the action. Shrimp, mullet, pigs or pins are a great choice when targeting the shallows. Free-line them or drift them under a popping cork for some hard-hitting action. Some of the trout are ranging up towards 20+ inches.

As always check in at Whitey’s for the latest reports for some rod-bending action. Don’t forget to sign up for our cobia tournament and win some cash.

Until next month…

Sebastian Inlet Fishing Report: March 2011
Captain Sherrie Stovall

It’s time to get out of the house and go fishing. We enjoyed some of the best weather we’ve seen in a long time in February and hopefully that will remain the same through March. With the warmer weather, spring has surely sprung. The waters are turning on with fish, so get out and go catch some.

March is definitely time to go running the beach looking for manta rays and free-swimming cobia. There have already been a lot of cobia caught along the reefs and bait pods scattered outside the Inlet and along the beaches. If the weather holds, it could be one of the best cobia runs we’ve had in a long time. Keep a watchful eye out around the boat and have a bucktail or live bait rigged and ready to pitch a surface wake or a dark shallow boatside. If you’re too slow to present a bait/lure, the opportunity will be gone in a flash. Whitey’s is having its Annual Cobia tournament, so stop in before you go and sign up.

Dolphin should also start making their way back through in good numbers soon. It will be nice to put some color back in the box when they show. Also expect kingfish and other migrants in tow.

In case you haven’t heard of the new ruling for sea bass from the oh-so-wise National Fishery scientists, you might want to sit down before continuing to read. …Okay, are you ready? They’ve closed sea bass for recreational and commercial fishing, which is like putting a ban on the harvest of cockroaches. These people need to be stopped. With this latest ruling, any shred of credibility they once had is gone. If anything, sea bass numbers are on the rise; you can’t put a piece of squid on the bottom without one. This is more proof that their data is flawed and that population estimates are way off. Somebody please help them come to their senses before they shut down everything. What’s next, a 30-year ban on hardhead catfish?

Sebastian Inlet has had some great fishing recently. Tons of bluefish have been reported on outgoing tides. Large spoons have been the lure of choice when cast into the Inlet and retrieved just off bottom. Black drum and pompano are being caught on both jetties using clams and sand fleas. The flounder are making their way back into the river and have been a fairly consistent catch off the south jetty as well. Live mud minnows or finger mullet have accounted for most of the flounder.

I’m pretty sure you heard — or smelled — the bad fish kill that occurred at Sebastian Inlet a few weeks back. The rumor mill was churning with that one. I heard rumors of toxic waste out of the Sebastian River and C-54 canal to oil disbursements from the Deep Water Horizon spill in the Gulf. To set the record straight, the reason why they all died was due to a simple lack of oxygen. A large school of pogies came into the Inlet, filled up the channel with fish, and simply sucked all of the oxygen out of the water. It is hard to believe that could happen, but according to the FWC research, that’s what happened. If any of you have ever tried to keep pogies alive in a bait well before, you know what a difficult task it can be; you put more than a dozen in there and they all go belly up. (Hey, don’t let NOAA know; that might close down the whole East Coast due to too many fish in one area!)

Warmer weather has been bringing trout and redfish back to the shallow water areas of the lagoon, and good numbers have been seen on the flats. Live shrimp, small baitfish, or your favorite topwater plug can bring some exciting fishing. Fire up that boat or put on the waders and go have some fun.

Surf fishing has been the best it has been for years recently. Good numbers of pompano are being caught mostly around the Inlet. Clams have been the number-one bait, mainly due to lack of sand fleas. Whiting and the occasional black drum are also being reported as a tasty by-catch.

As usual, stop into Whitey’s to get the latest scoop on what’s going on out there. While you’re there, don’t forget to sign up for the Cobia Tournament.

Winter is over, so get out and enjoy this weather and have some fun.

Sebastian Inlet Fishing Report: February 2011
By Captain Sherrie Stovall

Surf fishing has finally started to show some signs of a turnaround. Pompano are back on the catch list along with the arrival of some much missed sand fleas. The fleas are spotty and not showing in huge numbers, but there are a few there. This has brought the pompano, whiting, and blues through the surf, and many anglers are finally starting to catch a few fish.

Some of the pompano are small, so keep a ruler handy. The legal size is 11″ to the fork; keep measuring them and soon you will notice a little silvery shine in your bucket, as a few measure out to be legal size. There is not a daily limit on the whiting, but the bluefish are 10 per person. So grab a cup of coffee, hit the beach with your surf gear, and watch a beautiful sunrise. Hopefully, you’ll be taking home some fresh fish for lunch!

One big surprise at Sebastian Inlet right now is how good the trout fishing is. It has been several years since the trout have really moved into the Inlet. Many, many years ago, it was a regular cycle, but over time the trout have just have not shown up in any good numbers. It’s just been a handful fish here and there for just a few days. The best way to fish for the trout in the cooler water is to slowly work shallow diving plugs along the rocks and close to the piers. They are cold and sluggish due to the cold water, so if you work the lure too fast they don’t have the energy for an attack. Live bait is also easy to use in the currents with a lightweight rod, just like snook fishing. Oh no… I said the “S” word. Well, don’t even think about it. Snook season will not open on February 1.

The FWC is still keeping the spring season shut due to extremely cold weather last year and stock loss by cold-water temperatures. I think I’m going to step on my soapbox for a minute and vent on all the strict fishing regulations being placed on the Florida anglers. The real solution to all the overfishing they say is going on is to get some federal grant money and start setting up some fish hatcheries for the depleting stocks of species like snook and snapper. Most of the other good fishing states do this for salmon, reds, trout, and their native species. All the work is being placed on Floridians to abide by the rules, release the banned fish in a healthy condition, and still buy fishing licenses to support the state. Floridians need to get up out of their chairs and start building some hatcheries. I say put some of the biologists who have nothing to do but impose stricter regulations to work. Enough said; my blood pressure is rising. This column is supposed to get you excited about going fishing, not depressed about the rules. So on a much more positive note…

The rays and cobia are here and offshore Sebastian Inlet. Look for the rays up on the surface after 9 a.m. or whenever the sun breaks high from the clouds. This will warm up the surface water and pull the rays up to feed. High sun also helps provide you with good spotting light, the better to notice the ripples causes by feeding action on the surface. If the rays aren’t showing, head out to the offshore reefs to do some bottom fishing or live baiting and keep an eye out for a free-swimming cobia to come off the reef and take a look at your boat. There have been good numbers of cobia caught both on rays and on the 60- and 90-foot reefs.

Another key element to finding cobia offshore is to fish the bait pods on the surface. Huge schools of pogies have been offshore about 8 to 10 miles out. The cobia and manta rays have also been mixed in with the schools of bait. The only recent downfall to all the huge bait pods on the surface is that the cobia haven’t been interested in taking a bait, jig, or plug, because they’re stuffed like Thanksgiving turkeys with all the pogies in their bellies. The best way to get a hookup is to get several fish interested in your bait and let the element of competition work for you.

When all else fails, a good trick for finicky cobia is to pitch them a live blue crab or an eel. Or you could just jump in and spear one! Cobia are the one fish that will tear your boat apart when you bring them aboard. Make sure when you go to gaff the fish that you have a clean shot and the other crew members are ready to jump out of the way so you can stuff him in the fish box quickly. For the smaller fish — say, less than 20 lbs. — it sure makes things much easier to have a nice-sized landing net on board to scoop them up. It makes removing the hook and releasing the fish so much easier. Also, you can rest assured that the boat will be safer too.

Whitey’s will be hosting its Annual Cobia Tournament starting March 1, so stop in some time this month and sign up. Until then…

Kingfish numbers are back along the high-bar area and around the Pines, north of Sebastian Inlet in about 50 to 60 feet of water. The kings are mostly 8 to 12 lbs. with an occasional 20-lb. smoker sneaking through your baits and leaving you with a racing heartbeat and usually a bird’s nest on the spool. Make sure if you use live baits to run them with a stinger hook to help keep the short strikes down. Live bait is very scarce and you need to make everyone count! Cobia have been mixed in with the bag and most of the fish are being caught on the reefs, so be ready with a bucktail or live bait if one shows up.

Also, look for a few bonita or Spanish mackerel along the surface popping baits. If you want to troll some spoons, keep a watch out for a bill slicing thought the water behind you ballyhoo, as a few sailfish are being picked up on the troll. Most of the deep bluewater trolling has been tough with northeast winds blowing this month. The days to get out will be few and far between, so if the flags drop, turn the bow east and drag the new lures you got from Santa.

Good numbers of bluefish are coming over the rails at Sebastian Inlet as the water temperature continues to drop. Silver spoons, shiny mackerel jigs, or gotcha jigs need to be tied on with a wire leader and swivel to keep the financial loss of tackle to a minimum. Seems like anything with teeth will find the mono leader, and next thing you know, you’re left with an empty tackle box while the other anglers are pulling fish in left and right.

The surf fishing has been pretty good to start this year. The lack of sand fleas is really slowing things down. Even the live bait clams are hard to come by with all the cold weather up north; it freezes the water and keeps them from harvesting the live clams on a regular basis. Pompano have been fairly regular on the beach and have been coming mostly on the tide changes. Whiting and bluefish has also been a mainstay and are taking clams and shrimp.

The Whitey’s Flounder Tournament has come to an end with Brian Banchy of Melbourne Beach holding First Place since early November with a 10 lb.flounder. Second Place was Phillip Nungesser of Palm Bay, with a 9-3/4 lb. flounder, and Greg Kirschner, from Indian Harbor Beach, with the Third Place fish at 7-3/4 lbs. Thanks again to all the anglers who got involved this year. There were a good number of participants signed up for the tournament this year, and we also saw more fish brought to the scales than years past. The flounder run seemed very steady for the last few months, starting back in November and still continuing to date. It’s not over yet; the fish are still moving through the Inlet. So pack up the new gear and drive on down to to fish a tide change and see what’s biting.

Hope everyone has a wonderful New Year and that 2011 is much warmer.

Sebastian Inlet Fishing Report: December 2010

Captain Sherrie Stovall

With colder weather on the way, the flounder bite will continue to be steady. Good numbers of flounder have been caught over the past few weeks, and nothing suggests the bite should slow down. Most of the fish are 3 to 5 lbs. with a few in the 10-lb. range coming up on the rocks. The big doormats should start moving out of the river early in the month during the first or second cold front.  Finger mullet and mud minnows seem to be the bait of choice, though small jig heads tipped with a shrimp or mullet strip will work too. Don’t forget to enter our Flounder Tournament at Whitey’s. The entry fee is $10 per angler and runs through the end of the year, December 31, 2010. You must enter prior to fishing; just stop in the shop and sign up. The tournament is 100% payout and daily results are posted on the website at:  www.whiteysonline.com

As the water cleans up at Sebastian Inlet, large schools of Spanish mackerel have been showing up around the jetties and beaches. Shiny spoons, diamond jigs, and gotcha plugs seem to produce a strike from any mackerel or bluefish. This is also a great time of year to fish for black drum. Most schools of fish are along the north side of the pier, and they love a fresh-cut clam or fiddler crab.

Along the beaches, pompano and whiting seem to be running along the sand bars. When the water is clean on the beach, the bite seems to be pretty good. Sand fleas have been a bit scarce and seem to be hanging out in the deeper water. The bluefish and Spanish mackerel have started to make a showing along the surf. Be sure to keep a shinny spoon or diamond jig handy. As always, you’ll find unwanted guests like bonnet head sharks and catfish.

In the lagoon, trout and reds are going strong. The trout season is closed until January, so practice catch-and-release. Most of the fish are cruising up on the flats or hanging close to drop-offs by the channels. Live shrimp and artificial baits seem to do the trick. Keep a lookout for the pompano in the river. Look behind your boat for a few skipping fish in your wake.

The weather has been lousy for offshore fishing. Wintertime cold fronts and northeast winds make it a bear to get out. But when a window opens, you need to get offshore, splash that vessel, and head out to your favorite bottom holes. Do not pass up the shallow 70-ft. reefs; they might hold a day of fish without all the work to go further out. The deeper 130- to 200-ft. rocks will be worth trying to jig or live bait. Live bait has been very scarce along the shallow reefs, so you might want to spend some time the day before catching some pinfish or mullet inshore for your trip. Frozen sardines and squid are great to have in the cooler, but jigging with lead or vertical jigs sure make for some great rod-bending action.

There have been some reports of dolphin bites out in the clean water along the Gulf Stream. The fish seem to be around 180-200 ft. or wherever you can locate some flying fish. The average mahi seem to range around 10 lbs. with a nice fish or two over 15-plus lbs. Some of the scattered weedlines have been holding cobia, so keep a sharp eye and a pitch rod ready.

As usual, stop on into Whitey’s to get the latest scoop. Things change on a daily basis and our knowledgeable staff will be up-to-date on the latest bite.

Tight lines, sharp hooks, and Happy Holidays!

Sebastian Inlet Fishing Report: November 2010

Captain Sherrie Stovall

Is that a hint of fall I’m tasting in the air? Well, here in Florida that’s as close as we’re going to get.

November is upon us, and for people who fish, it usually means eating too much at Thanksgiving and the flounder run at Sebastian Inlet. That’s right, this is the month to start fishing for the flatties. A good number of the smaller Gulf flounder (a.ka. Three Spots) have been moving in the Inlet over the past few weeks and are still going strong.

Each passing cold front should bring more flounder out of the river. There have already been reports of a few bruisers caught, and these reports should increase later in the month. One thing that’s certain is that when the doormats start biting, the finger mullet become scarce. Finding the right-sized mullet can be the hardest part of flounder fishing. If this is the case, then try other baits like mud minnows or shrimp.

The best flounder rigs consist of a short 10″ mono leader swivel on one end and a khale-style hook on the other. Attach a sliding egg weight or split shot above the swivel on your main line and that’s all the weight needed. The ideal rig is to use just enough weight to hold bottom. Key times to fish for flounder, if you only have a few hours to kill, are the slack tides. Flounder like to get up and move around during periods of slower water. Being a flat fish, they’re not very streamlined swimmers, and it’s a bit of a challenge for them to swim into currents.

Whitey’s is holding its annual Flounder Tournament again this year. Entrance fee is $10 per angler with a 100% payout of all entry fees. The winnings will be split 50%, 30%, and 20% for places first through third. You can sign up at Whitey’s any time between now and the close of business on December 31, 2010. All results through the Tournament will be posted on the website at www.whiteysonline.com. So if you think you’re a force to be reckoned with when it comes to catching flounder, then it’s time you put your money where your mouth is and sign up.

With snook season in full swing, there are a lot of fishermen targeting the linesiders at the Inlet. Bucktails, jigs, and diving plugs have been producing a good number of fish at night. Live shrimp, pinfish, and croakers have been the best bet recently. Boats drifting the fenders at night have been producing a lot of fish with the occasional whopper redfish as well. Fish should be moving in preparation for winter and fattening up. Get down there before it gets too cold for them.

Another prime species to target this month is the pompano in the surf. The pompano are migrating south for the winter, and if you can intercept them it can be a heated morning on the beach. Use a double-drop pompano rig with a pyramid sinker for weight and bait the hooks with sand fleas, clams, or shrimp. Last year, the sand fleas were almost impossible to find, and where they went no one knows. So far this year, there have been a few pods showing up along the surf line, although they are small, which I guess is better than nothing!

With any good surf fishing come the bluefish. They can be a blast to catch, throwing spoons or large poppers, while waiting for the next pompano to bite. Look for diving birds or fish busting the surface and target these areas. Bluefish can be pretty good table fare if handled correctly; bleed them out and clean them ASAP. If you like smoked fish, they are the perfect candidates. Bluefish do not freeze well and are better fresh, so only take what you can consume immediately and leave the rest to fight another day.

The river can be productive this time of year. With the cooler water fish can remain active all day. Trout and redfish will remain on the flats and can make for a great day of sight fishing. Live shrimp are bites of choice along with pigs, pins, and mullet. On the colder days, try targeting deeper water or canals where fish lay up for warmth.

Offshore can produce some excellent wahoo fishing this month. Trolling in the deeper water over the cones of the Oculina Bank is a great place to start. Drag a few heavy-weighted lures at a speed just a few knots faster than normal to encourage an impulse reaction by this fast fish. Any floating structure is a good bet to troll for dolphin and wahoo. Sometimes, the morning bite can be the best, so get up with the sun and hit the water early.

Fall also means the sailfish migration in the Florida Straits. Trolled ballyhoo is a great way to find these fish. If you can locate a good concentration of them, break out the spin tackle and drift back some live bait for light tackle action.

As usual, check in at Whitey’s for the latest reports of rod-bending action. Don’t forget to sign up for the Flounder Tournament while you’re there.

Until next month — tight lines!

In September, fisherman finally got a break as far as the fishing regulations go, and the FWC agreed to open snook season on September 17 after a year of closure.

The unusually cold weather at the start of 2010 weighed heavily on the decision. Many biologists thought the snook population was impacted with major losses due to extreme cold for an extended period of time. I guess some of the fish studies and numbers finally worked in our favor, and state officials agreed that the impact was minimal and that there was no reason not to open the season for a few months this fall. Yes, we finally can go snook fishing again — and the bite has been hot.

Mullet are on the minds of many anglers right now; they are key to most of the fishing action along the beaches and inlets. The fall mullet run that happens every year is on. Keep a lookout for the large schools of fish lining the surf as they continue south on their annual migration along the Florida coastline. Depending on the weather conditions, the silver mullet could provide a stream of steady action for many fishing from the beach, piers, and boats. Anglers will expect to catch snook, tarpon, redfish, sharks, barracuda, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, and even a rare kingfish.

Beach fishing will usually peak in the early mornings and late evenings, and the star players will be snook and tarpon. The best selection for targeting the feeding fish is to match the hatch, as the old saying goes. Carry your cast net and try to net some live mullet, hook them through the mouth and then send them offshore. If you’re targeting the tarpon, use a #50- to 60-lb. mono or fluorocarbon leader; drop down to a #30-lb. leader for the snook. The best size of hook to use will depend on the bait size; vary your assortment from a #1/0 for the smaller finger mullet, and go up to a #5/0 for the larger silver mullet. A good number of blacktip sharks are in the water right now. Stay after sunset and break out the shark gear, drop a chunk of ladyfish or mullet in the surf, and hang out for some prime shark opportunities. Sharks should be handled with care, and circle hooks really help to release them quickly.

As the mullet begin to pour around the jetties at Sebastian Inlet the crowds start to gather and the fun really begins. Look for lots of people to crowd into the pocket on the north side of the Inlet to get right in middle of it all. Redfish, mangrove snapper, black drum, and snook stack up in the eddy created by the tides and just hammer down on the mullet as they become trapped and confused. The biggest problem is trying to cast amongst the mass of fishing lines in the water. But if you can hang with the group, the bite is red hot!

If fish are slow to take the baits and are lacking that sudden strike, take care in setting the hook. A slight tug from a flounder on the bottom is very common as the mullet come into the Inlet. Lots of flounder seem to be nestled along the bottom of the Inlet waiting for dinner to swim by. Try to use a sliding sinker rig with a light #20- to 25-lb. fluorocarbon leader and fish with a little finger mullet directly on the bottom.

The south jetty tip is still holding a good-size school of mangrove snapper, and a few sheepshead are showing up along the bridges. Many of the mangroves are feeding on live and cut bait right below the rocks. A few good-size muttons have also been pulled over the rail.

Getting offshore this time of year is very challenging. The kingfish have been staying 2 to 3 miles off Sebastian Inlet. Trolling live baits on the downrigger or dragging a few spoons around will raise a few fish. The grass is very scattered on the surface and will require a constant watch to keep the baits clean. Try trolling ballyhoo further offshore toward the Gulf Stream for some mahi and sailfish action.

The offshore bar has been slow, and you only might catch some bucket fish. The larger grouper have been offshore along in the deeper 170-ft. and 220-ft. rock ledges. Live baits are the way to go right now, with some sardines showing up along the inshore bars and Bethel buoy. The hardest part about offshore fishing in October is getting a good weather window.

October is definitely the month for the inshore angler. The fishing possibilities are endless and the rewards are great.

Good luck this month, and let’s hope the storms stay at bay a few more weeks.

Summertime 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, your odds might increase. The lack of sand fleas around doesn’t 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 are 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 topwaters 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 summertime cold water currents are here, and who knows when the bottom will warm up. Bottom temperatures have been reported in the low 50s. Several snapper, moray eels, and smaller fish are already lying 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- to 5-mil wetsuit and a full hood.

Lobster season begins August 6 and continues through March 31. Most of the inshore ledges and 50- to 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 that we have good lobster stocks for the future.

Scattered weed lines seem to be holding some flying fish and live bait around 120 to 180 feet. 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- to 60-ft. range; there have 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 quickly.

Kingfish are scattered all over the offshore bars, with most fish in the 8- to 15-lb. range, along with a few smokers from 25 to 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 bait in their mouths. 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 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 tides have 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 topwater 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 — tough choices!

www.whiteysonline.com

Sebastian Area Fishing Report: July ‘10
• Captain Sherrie Stovall •

The weather has been flat calm and the fishing overall has been hot.. or maybe that’s just the temperature outside.

The offshore bar is holding some good numbers of kingfish right now. Slow-troll live baits or free-line them off your transom for an aerial show complete with exploding action as a silver bullet launches from the water and into the sky. Sailfish and dolphin are being caught on trolled ballyhoo in blue water from 130 ft. on out toward the cones. Get close to the Gulf Stream for temperature breaks and floating debris. Good numbers of cobia are still being caught along the Bethel Ledges and shallow bars close to shore. This will slow down as the month progresses. Many boaters have been bringing home a bonus cobia after a long day on the water.

I’ve been holding off on the bad news for this report — it looks like the cold summertime water is here already and not playing around. The surface temperatures have really dropped and it is frigid on the bottom already. Divers are about the only ones who are happy when the cold water upwellings move in for the summer. Most of the fish rock up in their favorite holes or caves to conserve energy until the water temps warm up. The bottom fishing is a bust with the new regulations, and if you want to mess with the smaller bucket fish like sea bass and triggers, that will slow down now with this cold water.

Sebastian Inlet has been a pretty good bet recently. The inlet is full of sheepshead right now, so grab your barnacle scraper and some fiddler crabs and go get them. The small blue crabs are starting to float out of the river on the outgoing tides. This can bring a whole herd of different species into the Inlet to suck them off the top. Expect big redfish, snook, tarpon, permit, and maybe even a cobia to be in there fighting for a chance at one of these crabs. If you can match the hatch and scoop up some of the crabs floating out, that will definitely work. If you can’t get any crabs, heavy topwater plugs thrown out in the middle of the Inlet will also work. The permit are usually further out off the tip, so long casts with a heavy weight can do the trick.

The surf has been too calm recently to provide any of the wave action the fish like. Early morning high tides have been the best time to fish. If we get a little swell, expect fishing to improve. Despite all this, anglers are still picking up some nice-sized whiting and the occasional pompano. Most of the pompano have been small, so release these fish with care. One thing you can do when it’s calm is work the trough with your favorite lure. There are plenty of snook cruising the surf right now up against the beach. When it’s calm and clear you can actually sight-fish them. Areas around the Inlet tend to produce more fish, so grab your plug box, and walk and cast to get exercise at the same time.

The river this time of year is going to be best in the morning or evening. The water warms up quickly as the sun begins to climb, so the fish are most active in low light conditions. Live shrimp or pig fish under a popping cork can work wonders. If you’re an artificial guy or gal, topwater plugs or shallow diving plugs can do the trick. I’ve been hearing good reports of big trout and slot-sized reds in the river. With these long days, it’s great if you’re an early bird because you can get a few hours of fishing in the morning and still make it to work on time.

As always, check in at Whitey’s for the latest and greatest fishing reports and techniques. If you want to get on the river for a day of fishing, check out our rental boat fleet at: www.sebastianinlet.com.

Until next time, tight lines!

Sebastian Area Fishing Report: June ’10
• Capt. Eric Metcalf, Attitude Adjustment Charters •
www.attitudefishing.com

Inshore

With the water warming up, it’s set to be a great month for fishing. The bluefish were really thick around the Inlet, river, and beaches. Look for them to start moving north as it gets even warmer. Snook have also been very active and should start moving to the beaches soon. Reports have been promising, and it looks as if there are still some pretty good-sized swimmers to be caught. Hopefully, snook will reopen in September. Mullet are showing up pretty thick on the flats as well as a lot of trout the occasional redfish. Early mornings are best before it gets too hot. There’s tons of action unfolding just outside the Inlet along the beaches. Thread fins with a few sardines mixed in have been thick in 40 ft. Kingfish and cobia have been congregating and have provided some nice catches throughout the past two weeks. Schools of big jacks have been cruising the 30-ft. area as well. Hold on!

Offshore

Where were the May dolphin? A few big ones were caught last month, but it seemed like most were still hanging out further south. Nonetheless, June looks to be a good month for them, so keep your hopes up. Grouper season just reopened, but reports for them have coming in a bit slow. Red snapper are still closed and are thicker than ever in 80 ft.; releasing all the big ones has been pretty tough. On the upside, sea bass and trigger are plentiful as always, and cobia and kingfish have been spotted a little closer to the beaches around the bait pods.

Stovall Report: May ‘10
• Captain Sherrie Stovall •

Sebastian Inlet Report
Nighttime anglers are catching snook on buck tails and windcheaters during the outgoing tides. Focus on the tide changes and that should help produce a slot-sized fish. The bluefish have been very thick at the Inlet and expect to hook a few while trying to bag a redfish or snook. Good numbers of black drum, sheepshead, and pompano have been around the rocks at the tip of the North and South Jetties.

With all the bait moving in and out of the Inlet, don’t let the mangrove snapper fishing go by without exploring it. They love all the mojarras and other bait fish rushing by them. The mangroves will hang out under rock ledges waiting for an easy ambush around the channels and catwalks. Fish your baits close to the drop offs with a 3/4-oz. lead weight on a light 15-20 lb. fluorocarbon leader with a #1 (or even a #2) light gauge hook to minimize the sight of your gear. Fluorocarbon is expensive, but in the grand scheme of things it can make the difference between catching and just fishing for the mangroves.

River Report
Flats fishing will remain good throughout most of the month as schools of bait continue to gather on the grass flats. The trout are up on the flats getting lots of food to fatten up for their spawn. Try to really key in your fishing time early in the mornings or when the bait is up on the surface. Use soft plastic baits with a light jig head or your favorite topwaters to put a few fish on your stringer. As the weather continues to settle into summer-like patterns, the water temperature will rise on the flats and slow down the daytime fishing.

Offshore Report
May is a great time for offshore trolling and usually means heading out deep toward the cones or Gulf Stream for some of the best dolphin and wahoo fishing all year. The dolphin are migrating back north this month, using the currents of the Gulf Stream to head toward the Carolinas. rolled ballyhoo naked or with a skirt will help you cover some ground as you look for dolphin action around weed lines, floating debris, temperature breaks or color changes. Many boaters will venture to the other side of the Gulf Stream in search of yellowfin tuna; while crossing all that water, an occasional board, tree or weed line will hold some of the best dolphin action around.

Bottom fishing is a good relief from trolling, and right now the amberjack have shown up along the deep-water reefs. Live bait and vertical jigs will set any angler up for a good 10- to 20-minute tug-of-war against some 40+lb. reef donkeys. Most of us could use a good cardio workout from the bottom species since we’ve been stuck on land for the past few months. Grouper opens back up this month, so break out the bottom digging gear and go for it.

The kingfish are back up in our area and thing are heating up around the Pines and along the 90-ft. offshore bars from Bethel Shoals up toward the northern grounds by the High Bar. If your pockets are empty and the cost of fuel is keeping you at home, hang out close to the beach or right outside the Inlet for the kings and Spanish mackerel. Pods of greenies and pogies are showing up right along the beaches in 40 ft. of water and the smoker kingfish are right on their heels. This can be a great alternative to running way offshore and will provide lots of great action for all. Who knows what else you might find at the end of your hook…

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…

Put another log on the fire and sit back for this month’s fishing report.

Due to all the recent freezing temperatures throughout most of Florida, the fish have been the ones hit the hardest. In early January, several nights of freezing 30-degree weather dropped the water temperature so low in the river that a large population of fish died. Many of the local species like tarpon, snook, mangrove snapper, sheepshead, ladyfish, and catfish have washed up along the water’s edge over the past few weeks. With major fish kills of this proportion it will take some time for the numbers to rebound. The FWC has taken some action to eliminate some of the pressure off snook, tarpon, and bonefish populations by banning the harvest for several months. With snook season set to open February 1, you will now have to hold off harvesting a snook till the fall season — September 1, 2010.

The fishing around Sebastian Inlet has been producing some good numbers of black drum, bluefish, pompano, and whiting. The black drum are sucking up the live clams and ranging an average of 5 to 8 lbs., with a few fish over 15 lbs. If the water cleans up along the beaches, the pompano will make a run by the jetties. The whiting have been on the south side and in great numbers with the occasional pompano mixed in. Blues are everywhere; if you want to try your luck with them try casting silver spoons on outgoing tides. They are a fun fight and are great on the smoker.

Seatrout didn’t take a huge hit in the cold weather, so it might be a good time to break out the trout rods and sharpen the trebles on your Johnny Rattlers. Expect fish to be on the flats in the warmer afternoons around the potholes. A bonus redfish might pop up now and then since they are another species that took the cold well. Live baits like shrimp and mullet make a great choice for drifting over a productive flat.

Offshore has been good for king fishing when the seas allow. Most of the kings are scattered from the Bethel ledges north up to the Port. This time of year, expect a few cobia to come over and take a look around the boat. Always keep a rod handy with a pitch jig or live bait to cast when they pop up. Recently, a legal 33-inch cobia was caught inside Sebastian Inlet by the cleaning table on the south side. A few fish now and then come from the jetties, but also from inside the back of the inlet! Who knows what to expect this month. Also keep a strong eye out for the manta rays swimming on the surface; they will usually have a cobia or two swimming below. There have been good reports of wahoo over the cones as well. Try high speeding your favorite lead head lure and see if the striped fish makes it to your frying pan. You never know — maybe a gaffer dolphin might make it to your skillet too.

As always, check in at Whitey’s for the latest reports and updates.

Until next time, stay warm and tight lines!

The seasons of change are definitely upon us with the bluefish showing up in huge numbers. The bite along the beaches and at Sebastian Inlet has been great, thanks to the rough and dirty surf.  When fishing for the blues, remember that they have a mouthful of tiny, razor-sharp teeth that can destroy any plastic bait or mono leader. Break out the metal lures and wire leaders or a morning of fishing will soon become a huge financial burden. Tie on a Gotcha jig, silver spoon, diamond jig or any other metal like lure in your tackle box, attach a section of wire leader in front and start working the water. The use of a wire leader will help not guarantee the loss of tackle, but will certainly reduce it. Fishing for the blues can be very exciting while you’re waiting for other winter favorites like pompano to show up.

Speaking of pompano, there have been several reports of a few fish scattered along the surf, but until the water cleans up and the wind backs off, the action will be slow. As the cooler northeast winds drop the water temperature, the pompano will settle in for the next few months.

Standard surf gear is a 10- to 12-ft. rod, with a larger sized reel, spooled up with 12- to 20-lb. mono. Most rigs consist of two gold hooks with or without floats, sand fleas or cut clams for bait. When casting out your rods, stagger them by throwing one rod short and winging the other one as far as you can throw. This will help locate the bite as the pompano move around looking for a food source, either right close to the beach or as far out into the ocean as you can cast. Keep the weight as light as the wave action will allow; usually, on calm days, a 2- to 3-oz. pyramid will work and a 4- to 6-oz. weight helps during windy conditions. If pyramids aren’t holding on one of those rough days, try using a Sputnik weight, offered in 2- to 6-oz. weights, which are made up of little wire legs that stick into the sand. When tugged tight, they dig in deep and when pulled hard, roll open to allow the weight and rig to be retrieved back to the beach. Sputniks are a little costly, but on days when the ocean and wind just will not cut you a break they’re worth every penny.

Snook fishing has been great at the Inlet in the early mornings and late evenings. Schools of bait are getting pushed around the jetties, and the redfish, jacks, bluefish, snapper, flounder and tarpon are there to feed. Windcheaters bucktails and the larger swim baits are working along the channels and from shore. Live pinfish, mullet, croakers and shrimp can also be cast from the jetties or drifted through the Inlet channels by the boats. Bucktails on the south-side rocks have been producing a lot of fish recently at night on the outgoing tides.

November can be a big month to flounder fish as the water temperatures in the river start to drop. The flounder bite is definitely one of the hottest things going this month, but the best action will come on the second cold front. That second drop in temperature really gets the flatties moving out of the river through the Inlet and on their way offshore to warmer water. With each consecutive front, the action just gets better.

The ideal time to fish for flounder is during the slack tide. The window is short and the conditions can be a bit extreme, not because of the weather, but because of the competition. So do your homework, get your bait and get moving to your hot spot early ahead of the others.

If you’re up for some competition, join the Whitey’s Flounder Tournament. Anglers must sign up before fishing and the entry fee is $20 per person with 100% payout. The tournament runs for two months. You can log on to www.whiteysonline.com for more rules and information as well as the daily leader board.

Hope everyone has a wonder T-day. I know I will be enjoying a nice organic Osceola this year. Things just don’t get much better than that.

Until next month…

STOVALL REPORT

Snook season is open — and the bite is hot, too!

With lots of bait in the surf, the action along the beaches and at Sebastian Inlet has been red-hot. Huge schools of mullet are migrating through the surf and are being followed by every predator on the beach. At the tide changes, they round the jetties and make their way into the inlet. Sometimes the schools get trapped inside the inlet by the tide and just get worked over for hours by the snook and redfish. Many of the redfish are oversized and must be released, but after several big boys look for a slot-size fish to come along. A few mojarras have been caught along the bridges, but pinfish, mullet and croakers are still the choice baits to fish right now. After the action cools down on the surface, drop a few smaller baits to the bottom for mangrove snapper and flounder.

New Florida State regulations require every angler to have a fishing license, resident or non-resident. Residents must have a saltwater fishing license or the new shoreline angler endorsement. So get to the computer and purchase your license online at www.myfwc.com, or leave a few minutes early and stop by Whitey’s to get your fishing license next time you get out.

Getting offshore this time of year is very challenging with the changing weather. If the wind is blowing and the seas are rough, look to hang close to shore for bonito, kingfish, tarpon, Spanish mackerel and bluefish. Schools of mullet and other baitfish are scattered along the beaches and several miles offshore. Look for the birds diving on the bait or watch your bottom machine to get into the action. Sabiki live bait or cast silver spoons, top water or diving plugs along the edges of the bait or right into the middle of the schools. Make sure your drag is not too tight to start with. You can always tighten it up as needed, but backing it off usually costs you a lure or a broken line before you get the tension right.

If you’re looking to grab a few kingfish for the smoker, start working 2-3 miles off Sebastian Inlet. Trolling live baits on the downrigger or dragging a few spoons around will raise the fish. The grass has been very scattered on the surface and will require a constant watch to keep the baits and lures clean. Try trolling ballyhoo further offshore toward the Gulf Stream for some mahi and sailfish action.

Bottom fishing on the offshore bar has been slow, producing a few good fish here and there, but most of the action has been sea bass, triggers and a few smaller snapper. The larger prized grouper and red snapper catches have been further offshore along the deeper 170-ft. and 220-ft. rock ledges. Live baits are the way to glory right now; look for some live sardines along the inshore bars and Bethel buoy. The hardest part about offshore in October is getting a good weather window when you have the time off.

As October comes and goes, lets hope we’re still lucky enough to get some calm seas and light winds!

If you get a nice fish this month and want to share it with us, send an email with the details to Whitey’s. You might even see it next month in The Resident…

As the tropical action heats up in the Atlantic, expect the mullet to show up any time along the beaches for their annual migration. When the run is here, look for many predatory fish to shadow the schools and make endless attacks on the mullet. The smaller ones will blast through the air in defensive maneuvers to avoid being dinner, while the tarpon will make aerial displays rolling and jumping around them.

The key to fishing these huge schools of bait is to stay where the action is. Stop and check the local beach accesses to see where the bite is happening. Most of the time, it’s right out your back door and will stay there most of the day. More active feeding times will be a couple hours after sunrise and later in the evening several hours before sunset.

Live bait, mullet, and an assortment of lures should be rigged up and ready to go on a 30- to 40-lb. leader of mono or fluorocarbon. Swim baits that look very natural work great tracking through the water at different depths based on the rate of your retrieve. Try some of the Calcutta Flash Foils in a mullet, pinfish or red/white color, and/or the Berkley paddle baits in a mullet pattern around the 5- to 6-inch range.

For the surface bite, grab your favorite wind cheater or any surface popper like the Cotton Cordell pencil poppers. Top water and diving lures will stand up to more aggressive strikes and are not prone to having the tails bitten off by smaller fish.  You can expect to catch everything, from jacks, tarpon, mackerel and snook to sharks, bluefish — the list goes on.

As the mullet round the tip of the jetties at Sebastian Inlet, everything goes crazy. Snook will start doing cartwheels out of the water and the redfish will blaze through the schools inhaling bait. Live pinfish and pigfish along with croakers are showing up in the inlet and moving out from the river during tide changes. Live bait on the tide changes during the night is always a snook favorite along with diving plugs and bucktails. During the day, live shrimp and pinfish drifted from the piers on incoming tides should produce some action.

With the long-awaited start of snook season begins September 1, and the timing could not be better for the mullet run to start. Keep in mind that the snook regulations are 28 to 32, and one fish per person, per day. Also, all fishermen must have a license now. If you’re fishing from shore, the shoreline endorsement is $9.50; a regular saltwater license is $14.50. Shorebound anglers must purchase a snook stamp for $2.50 in order to posses a snook.

Offshore fishing was really slow last month. The bottom has been dirty due to the swells from Hurricanes Bill and Danny. Most of the fish have been caught while trolling baits — a fair number of mahi in the 12- to 15-lb. range and maybe a wahoo scattered here and there. Bottom fishing will improve as the swells die down. The water temperature on the bottom is not very cold, and the snapper and grouper are still hanging around your favorite rocks.

As the weather permits, get out of the house and hit the beach or Sebastian Inlet for some of the best fishing action all year.

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 to 180 feet. Sailfish and dolphin are residents there and can be 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’s been collecting dust since last year. Lobster season begins August 1 and continues through March 31. Most of the inshore ledges and 50 to 60-foot 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 don’t 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.

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 incoming tides have been producing 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 who goes home with a keeper on opening day.

This is just a little FYI note for all you shorebound fisherman who’ve not had to purchase a fishing license in the past. Starting August 1, the State of Florida is regulating all saltwater fishing by requiring residents to purchase a saltwater fishing endorsement. The licenses will be sold in two forms: a $9 shoreline fishing license for those who fish from shore or a structure affixed to shore, and a $17 saltwater fishing license. The State has passed this new license requirement to keep the Florida residents from having to purchase a new, more expensive federal angler license that will take effect in 2011.

Until next month…

Lobster season opens for a short two-day mini season July 29 and 30 for 2009. Lobster must be at have at least a 3″-carapace, and the limit is 12 per person for mini season. The regular spiny lobster season is August 6 through March 31. The daily bag limit is 6 per person per day during that time. Don’t forget to add the $2.50 lobster endoresment to your saltwater fishing license to keep a lobster limit.

The summer coldwater currents have not moved in yet, and the bottom temperatures are still warm. Look for the water to stay warm until the winds start blowing from the west. West winds are the summertime curse for thermoclines and make it hard to fish the bottom, but great for diving. Many of the larger gray grouper have been stacking up along the shallow reefs around 70 feet. There is a plankton layer along the bottom and tons of small anchovy baits are present. Most of the snapper seem to be gorging themselves on that protein-rich snack.

The summer months make a great time to do some late evening or overnight mangrove fishing. Try anchoring up on a favorite bottom spot and throw a chum bag overboard. Tie on a long fluorocarbon leader and use a light egg weight inline and just be patient. Sometimes the mangroves rise up to the back of the boat and you can fish for them right off the transom. Keep a watchful eye on the evening and late-night storms.

Anglers are finding that the 70- and 90-foot reefs are barren of large baitfish and the bite seems slow due to the buffet of little baits below. For better grouper and snapper fishing, you need to make that run further offshore to the deeper ledges around 130-240 feet for better bottom action. Many amberjack have been on the deep numbers and have even been seen 10-15 feet below the surface in large schools of 30 to 50-lb. class fish.

Most of the mahi and kingfish will be scattered along the offshore bars. Try trolling live bait on the surface or tolling strip baits along the pines and the offshore 80-foot bar. Schools of cobia have been swimming up to the boat and have also been spotted close to the beaches on a few rays. With calm summer conditions on the surface, look for schools of bonita busting bait on the surface. Trolling small spoons through them can make some great light line action.

Sebastian Inlet will host some awesome shots at big redfish this time of year as summertime stimulates the blue crabs to exit the river. The outgoing tides will bring the crabs out of the river and through the inlet for a redfish buffet. The reds along with jacks, snook and tarpon will stack up in the channel and go crazy, popping the crabs from the water’s surface. Try dipping a few of the floaters from the catwalks or along the rocks. Boaters can dip the crabs all over the inlet or along the grass flats south of the boat ramp. The best fishing time will be when the tide starts going out and the surface current really gets moving out of the Inlet.

Try to beat the heat and go fishing…

Expect kingfish to remain strong throughout the summer. Try areas south like Bethel Shoals, the Pines, or up north around the High Bar and if you want to find a  smoker, but don’t forget the easiest place of all, the beach.  Drifting live baits or bump trolling them on the surface can draw some explosive top water action.  If fishing slows try dropping one down on the downrigger.  A good way to locate the kings is trolling lipped plugs or spoons on planers.  If you catch a few fish in an area slow down and deploy the live baits for some light line action.  This can be one of the most productive ways of fishing offshore and you never know what you might catch.

Bottom fishing should remain good this month if we can keep the upwellings at bay.  With a few sporadic reports of cold water it’s not looking good.  Hopefully this last blow will help stop the flow of cold water inshore.  Grouper, snapper and amberjack catches have remained strong throughout last month.    Try areas from 80ft all the way out to 300ft.  Live bait always is the best bet if you can get it.  If you can’t try a jig you might be surprised on how well these things work or what will bite them for that matter.  A good bet is to target snapper.  The snappers are spawning and you can really get on a bite this time of year.  Check your bottom #’s out by driving over them and watch for a  pyramid of fish above the reef.  Anchor up and drift baits back to them, or put out the chum bag and the fish will come to you.  If you are looking for a little adventure, stay out overnight and fish all night for mangrove snapper.  If you hit it right you can haul in some really nice fish. They always say the full moon in June is the time.  Just watch the local radar and be ready to pack it up and head home to avoid a late evening or midnight thunder boomer offshore.

With snook season closed expect the snook to start feeding heavily and biting every bait or lure you throw at them.  Even the sunburnt tourist at the end of the Jetty with the snoopy rod turned upside down using rotten shrimp he found on the floor will catch one.  Oh, did I forget to mention they will all be in the slot of course.  All joking aside the summer is a great time to snook fish.  Just remember to take care in the handling of these prized gamesters and release them unharmed.

If you get tired of playing with the snook at Sebastian Inlet why not turn your attention to something you can take home and eat.  Mangrove Snapper move in this month and take residence in the Inlet.  Small silver baits like mojarra or greenies rigged on a sliding egg weight and a hidden hook are the key in catching these fish. It is a waiting game and you can go through a lot of tackle, but it is worth it.

If all this rod screaming action is too much for you and you want to just have a relaxing time fishing then try the beach.  Surf fishing can be pretty consistent this time of year with action from whiting and the occasional pompano.  Clams, sandfleas and shrimp rigged on a pompano rig can be your best bet.  Bring the kids and the sunblock and enjoy your day on the beach just relaxing, and hopefully catch some fish.

The river can be teeming with life this month and it is a great time to get out and enjoy it.  Trout, reds and snook start to turn to their summer time patterns by taking up station on the deeper flats or dropoffs as the water warms up.  Expect the shallow flats to be most productive in the early mornings and evenings and then as the day progresses move out to deeper waters to stay on the fish.  A deep mangrove point can be a great place to target as the waters warm up.  A live shrimp, pigfish or pinfish are probably the trick to catching a lazy summer fish.

Until next month, keep the sunscreen on and drink plenty of water as you get out and hook up on the big one…….

May brings closure to the snook season for Sebastian Inlet anglers. The full moon in April brought good numbers of baitfish into the inlet and along the flats in the river. Schools of good-size mojarras and greenies are keeping the snook and other game fish active in the inlet for most of the day. Redfish, ladyfish, bluefish and jacks have all been waiting in the channels to feed on the bait as they move through the inlet. Live shrimp are still a good standby option, just in case the baitfishes are out of cast net range. Look for the mojarras around the catwalks, boat ramp and L-dock on the south side. Most of the pins and pigfish will be by the bridges and around the steel at the tidal pool.

Nighttime anglers are catching snook on bucktails and windcheaters during the outgoing tides. Focus on the tide changes and that should help produce a slot-sized fish. The blue fish have been very thick at the inlet and expect to hook a few while trying to bag a snook before the end of season.

Just remember that as of June 1st, snook will be closed all summer and open up again on September 1st. Pay close attention to the tight slot limit and measure your fish to make sure they’re 28 to 32 inches with a pinched tail.
With all the bait moving in and out of the inlet, don’t let the mangrove snapper fishing go by without exploring it. They love all the mojarras and other bait fish rushing by them. The mangroves will hang out under rock ledges waiting for an easy ambush around the channels and catwalks.

Fish your baits close to the drop-offs with a 3/4-oz. lead weight on a light 15- to 20-lb. fluorocarbon leader and a #1 or even a #2 light gauge hook to minimize the sight of your gear. Fluorocarbon is expensive, but in the grand scheme of things it can make the difference between catching and just fishing for the mangroves.

It might pay off to also fish the slack tides for a few minutes as the flounder are still returning from offshore through the inlet on their way back into the river. Dean Good of Vero Beach caught a 6.5-lb. flounder on his 85th birthday using a pinfish. Sounds like a great birthday present to me.

Flats fishing will remain good throughout most of the month as schools of bait continue to gather on the grass flats. The trout are up on the flats getting lots of food to fatten up for their spawn. Try to really gear your fishing time toward the early mornings or when the bait is up on the surface. Use soft plastic baits with a light jig head or your favorite top waters to put a few fish on your stringer. As the weather continues to settle into summer like patterns, the water temperature will rise on the flats and slow down the daytime fishing.

May is great time for offshore trolling and usually means heading out deep toward the cones or Gulf Stream for some of the best dolphin fishing all year. The dolphin are migrating back north this month, using the currents of the Gulf Stream to head towards the Carolinas. Trolled ballyhoo naked or with a skirt will help you cover some ground as you look for dolphin action around a weedline, floating debris, temperature breaks or color changes. Many boaters will venture to the other side of the Gulf Stream in search of yellowfin tuna. While crossing all that water, an occasional board, tree or weed line will hold some of the best dolphin action around.

Bottom fishing is a good relief from trolling, and right now the amberjack have shown up along the deep-water reefs. Live bait and vertical jigs will set any angler up for a good 10- to 20-minute tug of war against some 40-lb. plus reef donkeys. Charlie Ryder of Melbourne Beach battled a 95-lb. amberjack in 160-feet of water for 20 minutes after hooking it on a live greenie on spinning tackle.

Look for things to heat up on the beach as well, with greenies and pogies showing up; smoker kingfish will be right on their heels. This can be a great alternative to running way offshore and burning lots of fuel. Just stay on the beach –  you’ll be amazed at what you might find.

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…

March came in like a lamb for a few days and then the winds roared like a lion for the rest of the month. Let’s keep our fingers crossed and hope that April brings some clam fishing weather our way.

The water temperatures are unusually cooler right now, which has really slowed some of the prime inshore fishing down. The snook at Sebastian are slow to take a bait during the day and seem to be more active on the nighttime tides.  Plugging from the rocks with wind cheaters and bucktails will be the least work in the cooler conditions.

As the water warms up and the winds die down, use bait fish and shrimp during the day to land a few slot-size snook and redfish from the piers. Live baits cast off the jetties and weighted with a light split shot or egg weight will place the bait right in harm’s way for that hungry snook. Expect to see catches of redfish, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, jacks, sheepshead, black drum and even a few flounder. The larger over-sized redfish have been a blast for pier anglers casting large 2-3oz. silver spoons out into the tide lines. Spoons and smaller diamond jigs seem to be a favorite when it comes to bluefish and Spanish mackerel working the beaches and piers at Sebastian Inlet.

The surf has been rough due to N-NE winds. The larger schools of pompano have moved south past us; most of the local pompano catches have been smaller fish. Look for the legal-sized pompano to bite as the surf becomes calm again. The beaches south of Sebastian Inlet have been good lately, but that can change at any point. Expect to catch some small whiting, jacks, sheepshead and a few black drum from the sand.

Sandfleas have been spread out in the surf and may take some time to locate, so when they are showing, take that opportunity to rake extra for a few days of fishing. While the water conditions are dirty, look to clams for that extra scent in the water to get the attention of a passerby.

Offshore has been good for a few who are trying their luck at trolling the cones and deeper blue water close to the Gulf Stream. The end of the cooler months is a good time to work the deeper structures for some high-speed wahoo action. To target the wahoo, drop a few heavy deep-running lures back in your spread and kick up your RPMs a few notches. The increased speed of the lures whizzing by will trigger an instinctive bite by most wahoo. Several good catches of mahi have also been brought back to the docks while working the cones for wahoo. Most of the mahi are ranging from 10 lbs. up to 30+lbs. There are still a few sailfish hanging out deep along the weed lines and temperature breaks.

Dropping the baits down to the bottom is a favorite of mine this time of year. Red snapper bites have been holding strong with most of the fish coming up on the legal side of the ruler.  Try tying on a double-hooked chicken rig with cut squid or shiny baits to see who’s on the reef when you get there. Good numbers of big trigger fish and sea bass have been biting the smaller squid baits. Look to hook up on the bigger “black belly” grouper on the deeper 90 to 180-ft. ledges using live baits or dead sardines.

After all the other catches this month, how could I not mention the monthly favorite, cobia. Large pods of baitfish will start popping up several miles off the beaches and further offshore, playing host to some roaming cobia. Look for the nervous water or birds and take a look with a bucktail ready to see if a cobia might be around.

Manta rays also make their way through our waters on a migration, and provide ample cover for schools of cobia. Position the boat alongside these huge rays and cast a bucktail in front of them, careful to give enough distance for the jig to sink under the ray, and then work it back quickly to pull a few fish out and hopefully hook up. If you do hook up, try to apply enough pressure to keep the cobia from returning to the ray for cover. This will give you another shot at catching a few more fish off that manta ray without spooking him. If you hook the manta ray in the wings or mouth, you can kiss it goodbye. He’ll sound on you and the cobia will take off, too. That mistake is a humbling lesson in patience and precision casting. Better to cast too far in front of the ray than hooking him.

Stop by and sign up for our annual Cobia for Cash Tournament. The tournament is extended this year and will run through April 30th, which now gives anglers two whole months to catch the big one. Entry fee is $20 per person and you must be registered prior to fishing. All fish must be weighed in at Whitey’s. Check out the rules and leader board online at www.whiteysonline.com for regular updates.

Best of luck on the water this month…

The snook at Sebastian Inlet are slow to take bait during the day and seem to be more active on the nighttime tides. Plugging from the rocks with wind cheaters and bucktails will be the least work in the cooler conditions. As the water warms up and the winds die down, use bait fish and shrimp during the day to land a few slot-size snook and redfish from the piers. Live baits cast off the jetties and weighted with a light split shot or egg weight will place the bait right in harms way for that hungry snook. Expect to see catches of redfish, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, jacks, sheepshead, black drum and even a few flounder. The larger oversized redfish have been a blast for pier anglers casting large 2-3 oz. silver spoons out into the tide lines. Spoons and smaller diamond jigs seem to be a favorite when it comes to bluefish and Spanish mackerel that are working the beaches and piers at Sebastian Inlet.

The surf has been rough due to N-NE winds and the larger schools of pompano have moved south past us and are being caught down the beach towards Ft. Pierce. Most local pompano catches have been smaller, but look for the legal sized fish to return soon. South of the Inlet has been good lately, but that can change at any point. Expect to catch some small whiting, jacks, sheepshead and a few black drum from the sand.

Sandfleas have been spread out in the surf and may take some time to locate, so when they’re showing, take that opportunity to rake extra for a few days of fishing. While the water conditions are dirty, look to clams for that extra scent in the water to get the attention of a passerby.

Offshore has been good for a few who are trying their luck at trolling the cones and deeper blue water close to the Gulf Stream. The end of the cooler months is a good time to work the deeper structures for some high-speed wahoo action. To target the wahoo, drop a few heavy, deep-running lures back in your spread and kick up your RPMs a few notches. The increased speed of the lures whizzing by will trigger an instinctive bite by most wahoo. Several good catches of mahi have also been brought back to the docks while working the cones for wahoo. Most of the mahi are ranging from 10 lbs. up to 30+ lbs. There are still a few sailfish hanging out deep along the weed lines and temperature breaks.

Dropping the baits down to the bottom is a favorite of mine this time of year. Red snapper bites have been holding strong with most of the fish coming up on the legal side of the ruler.  Try tying on a double-hooked chicken rig with cut squid or shiny baits to see who is on the reef when you get there. Good numbers of big trigger fish and sea bass have been biting the smaller squid baits. Look to hook up on the bigger “black belly” grouper on the deeper 90 to 180-ft. ledges using live baits or dead sardines.

After all the other catches this month, how could I not mention the  monthly favorite, cobia. Large pods of bait fish will start popping up several miles off the beaches and further offshore, playing host to some roaming cobia. Look for the nervous water or birds and take a look with a bucktail ready to see if a cobia might be around.

Manta rays also make their way through our waters on a migration and provide ample cover for schools of cobia. Position the boat alongside these huge rays and cast a bucktail in front of them, careful to give enough distance for the jig to sink under the ray and then work it back quickly to pull a few fish out and hopefully hook up. If you do hook up, try to apply enough pressure to keep the cobia from returning to the ray for cover. This will give you another shot at catching a few more fish off that manta ray with out spooking him. If you hook the manta ray in the wings or mouth, you can kiss it goodbye. He will sound on you and the cobia will take off, too. That mistake is a humbling lesson in patience and precision casting. Better to cast too far in front of the ray than hooking him.

Stop by and sign up for our annual Cobia for Cash Tournament. The tournament is extended this year and will run from March 1st through April 30th, which now gives anglers two months to catch the big one. Entry fee is $20 per person and you must be registered prior to fishing. All fish must be weighed in at Whitey’s. Check out the rules and leader board online at: www.whiteysonline.com for regular updates.

Best of luck on the water this month!

Surf fisherman are finding small schools of pompano in their favorite deep water holes off the beach. The pompano are good size and seem to biting early in the mornings, but this will change through the month as the cold fronts come and go. The best recipe is small wave action coinciding with a high tide in the morning. Blue fish are running along the trough and taking a quick swipe at your rigs as you retrieve them from the surf. Some sheepshead, black drum and jacks will also be along the beach throughout the day. Sand fleas and live cut clams will be the ticket for success. Keep a spoon handy for the blues and Spanish mack’s as the toothy bandits pass in front of you.
Snook season will open again Febuary 1st and most guys are more than ready to go get them. Most of the larger snook have been holding in the deeper chanels of the inlet and off the ends of the piers. Large schools of big, oversized redfish are still in and out of the inlet with the tides. Large silver spoons between 2 and 3 oz. are heavy enough to cast off the piers out into the schools of redfish. Also use live mullet, pinfish and shrimp while fishing at the inlet.
Good numbers of sheepshead and black drum have also set up shop in Sebastian. Sandfleas and fiddler crabs are a sure bet for the sheepshead who use their sheep-like teeth to crush shells to get to the food within. Clams and sandfleas dropped to the bottom of the inlet floor will bring in the black drum. Remember the old saying: Elephants eat peanuts. Junior Sanders of Vero caught  a black drum weighing over 46 lbs. on a small sandflea. That would be a surprise battle.
For the offshore angler, kingfish schools have been lingering several miles out and on the 50- to 70-ft. reefs. There have been some 15- to 25-lb. fish caught, and even a few in the 35-lb. range. King spoons and deep-lipped plugs trolled at about 5 to 6 knots have been the key to success. As usual, any sort of live baitfish slow-trolled on the surface or on a downrigger will generate some fish.
Grouper and snapper can be at their best this month, weather depending. Red snapper are schooling up in the shallow water along 70 and 90 ft. They’re in large numbers and many fish are legal size (the legal limits are 20 inches for red snapper and 2 per person). Both the grouper and snapper are gathering in preparation for their spawn. A good number of nice gag and red grouper are out in 90 to 180 ft. Try anchoring on some of the shallow reefs and work the area just a little bit longer for a mangrove or mutton snapper bite. Several cobia have swam up to boats recently, and more numbers of fish should be making their way through as the late winter migration starts. A bucktail tied up and ready to be cast at any moment or a live bait rig on standby will help you when the dark brown shadow swims by the boat. Any sort of shiny live bait is your best bet for the bottom fish. Try to Sabiki some sardines or pinfish off the shallow reefs and bouys. When all else fails, you can always break out the frozen sardines or squid for bait. If you like to use chicken rigs, the sea bass and triggerfish have been thick on the bottom. Bait your hooks with squid for nonstop action.
Until next month…

Some of the pompano and mackerel are hooking around the piers and can be caught throwing light jigs tipped with shrimp or fishing sand fleas on the bottom with pyramid weights. The ocean water is clean and will stay fairly fishable as long as the wind stays down. The surf temperatures are still really warm for this time of year, so the beach fishing has been somewhat slow to date.  Look for the surf fishing to turn around this month as a few more cold fronts come through and drop the surf temperatures as the month goes on.

With a few good days of weather in a row, the offshore forecast says “Go fishing!” The bottom bite has been really good from the 60-ft. reefs on out to the deeper water ledges. Good numbers of legal red snapper are inshore and seem to be eager to strike as soon as the bait gets to the reef.  Several muttons, lane snapper and trigger fish are striking the hooks and adding a little variety to the fish box. There have been a few reports of large wahoo cruising the offshore waters. Try high- speed trolling large, heavy lures for these striped blue demons.

The inshore bite has been really hot the last few weeks. Trout season is back open, so it’s a good time to hit the flats. Schools of redfish are cruising the east shore along with the occasional snook. Sight fishing has been possible when the winds are light or in the lee side of land. Soft plastics, live shrimp and DOA’s have been producing good catches in the river.

We are all very thankful to have the grouper regulations pushed back for another year. So get out and enjoy what you love so much about Florida in the winter.

Until next time, keep your lines tight and hooks sharp.

Whitey’s 2008 Flounder Derby Results:

First Place: Jimmy Winter; 13 lbs.
Second Place: Dustin Jones; 10 lbs.
Third Place: Jerome Launder; 9-3/4lbs.