Fishing at the Sebastian Inlet was less active last week due to the northeast swell. We then had a cold front last weekend in Sebastian. But now the water has cleared, so fishing should be good.
First and foremost, there’s a snook workshop hosted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) on March 23, 2023, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Sebastian City Hall. The workshop includes a review of several environmental and human factors, including habitat, fishing effort, and stakeholder feedback to evaluate the fishery at a more local scale.
Anglers are active this week and have told Sebastian Daily that some snook and pompano are caught using artificial jigs on both sides of the jetty. Black drum are also active.
Boaters near the North Jetty are catching sheepshead near the pilings. The bait preferred bait is cut shrimp and fiddler crabs. Redfish and jack crevalles are being caught at the South Jetty.
One angler told us yesterday they caught two redfish using live shrimp within 10 minutes of one another and then pompano using silver spoons. Silver spoons are famous for catching pompano anywhere near the inlet.
Pompano fish sometimes hit silver spoons and other lures more effectively than targeting them with natural baits like sand fleas and shrimp. Pompano fish hide near the inlet and Indian River Lagoon to escape the colder waters.
April is coming, and that means excellent fishing in the spring.
Weather
What you need to know about the weather: High winds with gusts as much as 25 to 30 mph will continue all week, including the weekend. The winds can make it challenging to navigate fishing lines, so please be careful out there.
Starting Wednesday, we will see highs reaching 80 degrees. Saturday’s high will reach 90 degrees! There’s no chance of rain.
Boaters
There’s a small craft advisory all week in Sebastian, Florida. So please be careful if you’re navigating the inlet. The high winds and strong tides can be a dangerous combination. If things do change, we’ll have another boating and marine forecast.
Expect northeast winds at 10 to 15 knots, seas 4 to 6 feet, and occasionally up to 7 feet. The waters are a little rough if you’re going offshore.
Snook
Snook meat is white and is excellent to eat when cooked right. It’s best eaten fresh because it doesn’t freeze well. They are easy to clean and not as bony as sheepshead or redfish.
Just remove the fillet, remove the skin, add some seasonings or marinade, and put it in the fridge. Then, it’s ready to cook.
Pompano
The pompano is probably one of the best-tasting fish to eat. Some anglers even refer to them as one of the planet’s most edible fish. These fish have no scales, so you cook them with the skin.
Going Fishing?
If you plan to do some fishing, send us an email (or tag us @sebastian_daily on Instagram) with a picture of your catch, the species you caught, and bait you used. Please include your full name and the city where you live. We love to receive your fishing pictures too!
