[dropcap]O[/dropcap]ctober is historically the top all-around month to fish the Sebastian area. Water temperatures begin to drop back into the optimum range for most of the resident and migratory fish species. Baitfish numbers are at a peak and the predators are feeding heavily.
Indian River Lagoon
As the grass beds have rebounded, so have seatrout numbers in the Sebastian area. Trout of all sizes have been available on grass beds and around drop offs. Topwater plugs are an excellent choice all day long in October and will take everything from juvenile seatrout to the 20-pound jack crevalle that share the grass flats in the fall. Redfish will also respond to topwater plugs. Reds have been a bit scarce in the lagoon this summer, but as they begin to move with the change of season, the hope is that they find the rejuvenated grassbeds of the Sebastian area and decide to stay here for the winter. Post spawn snook will begin to make their way into the lagoon and fishing shoreline structure will hold the possibility of an epic battle with a double digit snook. Pitching a D.O.A. shrimp to docks and mangroves is a great way to target snook, and will often result in a number of species, including reds, trout and flounder.
Sebastian Inlet/Nearshore
Sebastian Inlet has been producing slot and oversized redfish and snook both day and night since the season opened September 1st, and should be even better in October. Both jetties have been producing snook and reds for anglers using live croakers and pigfish. Night time anglers are also doing well on bucktails and plugs. The ocean, with its fall migration of baitfish and predators, will be a great fishery on the days the winds and seas allow. Spanish mackerel fishing can peak in October and jigs, plugs and flies will account for Spanish up to five-pounds. Schools of 100-pound-plus tarpon will hang out off Sebastian beaches as long as there is bait and temperatures over 75-degrees. If you find these tarpons in the fall they are usually not too picky about what you throw at them. Many times I’ve taken a cruise in the ocean after the snook at the jetty turned off and hooked big tarpon on leftover croakers and pigfish. Often the tarpon will be in a bit deeper water and you can jig them with large D.O.A. Terror-Eyz after marking a school on your fish finder.
Sebastian River
October can be a hot month for juvenile tarpon in the Sebastian River. A baitwell full of finger mullet is a great way to start a fall tarpon quest in the Sebastian River. Throw to rolling fish or drift where you see fish rolling and your mullet should get nervous in a hurry. Flies, plugs, and D.O.A. TerrorEyz and shrimp are also deadly on Sebastian River Tarpon.
As the air and water temperatures cool down the fishing heats up in Sebastian!