It’s the time of the year for flounder target=”_blank”>fishing at Sebastian Inlet. There have been some good fish caught in December, but we have only had a few mild fronts and big numbers of fish haven’t moved through the inlet yet this winter. If you are targeting doormat flounder, anchor up on the edge of the channel and fish the change of the tide with live finger mullet or mud minnows. Be patient and don’t be afraid to move around until you find an area that produces well. You can catch bigger numbers of flounder by drifting the north and south shorelines of the inlet using 3⁄4-1oz bucktails tipped with a strip of mullet, pinfish or squid. Many of the fish will be in the 12-16in range, but you will have more action than if you anchor up.
The trout bite has been decent along the deeper drop-offs on the flats from Grant down to Sebastian. Most of the fish are small, but the bigger fish will mix in with the schools. As the sun comes up, the fish will move up into the shallow flats to warm up. Look for the flats holding large mullet and you should be able to find some decent fish. Fish the Rapala XRAP XR8 or the Twitchin Rap in silver or Olive green in the deeper water. If you would rather use soft plastics, Mirro-lure lil jon in Golden Bream or Purple Demon rigged on a 1⁄4 oz. jighead will do the trick.
As the lagoon waters cool down, the Sebastian River, Turkey Creek, Crane Creek and the Eau Gallie River should hold good numbers jacks, trout and ladyfish as well as some Black drum in deeper water. Target the trout and jacks on Rapala Subwalk 7 lures in Gold. The ladyfish will eat anything you throw their way. There are snook in the creeks towards the back of the creeks around docks and oyster bars. Finger mullet have been best or the Subwalk in Gold and the MR17 Mirrolure in 808 color (Black back-Orange belly). The sheephead and Black drum have been around the Oyster Bars in the creeks, use live shrimp rigged on a jighead or a 1/0 VMC circle hook with a 1⁄4-3/8oz
split shot weight.
The pompano bite should be decent along the relief bridges on the Melbourne and Eau Gallie Causeway as well as the Wabasso Causeway. Anglers can also target pompano along the spoil islands and the edges of the flats from Longpoint to Sebastian inlet. Fishing the inlet around the change of tides will allow you to target the fish moving through the inlet looking for food. Doc’s Goofy jigs are great baits as well as the Mirro-lure lil jon rigged on a 1⁄4-3/8oz jighead.
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