Sebastian Inlet to Eau Gallie Cswy. – November 2026

November should be another excellent month of fishing from Melbourne down to Sebastian Inlet. As long as the weather cooperates and the bait stays along the beaches and in the inlet, we should have some outstanding fishing opportunities.

For the artificial-bait anglers, a few baits should be in the tackle box this month. D.O.A. Bait Busters rigged with a heavy jighead, 2- to 3-ounce bucktail jigs, heavy jigheads paired with paddletails, and Rapala X-Rap 14 Long Cast plugs should all produce, especially in the evening and after dark. Live-bait anglers should have good opportunities as well. Drifting live pinfish and pigfish around the inlet in the evening should account for a good number of snook and redfish.

Depending on how quickly the fronts arrive, we should see plenty of finger mullet moving through the lagoon and into the creeks from the Sebastian River all the way down through Turkey Creek, Crane Creek and the Eau Gallie River around Ballard Park. With the bait holding in the lagoon and water temperatures beginning to fall, the inshore bite should stay productive throughout November. Anglers should find plenty of trout, slot-sized redfish, snook and some flounder holding around the mangroves, shorelines and spoil islands. The key is to find the bait. When you locate good-sized schools of finger mullet or other concentrations of bait, spend some time working those areas. Soft plastics worked around the bait schools can be very productive, and live finger mullet should also produce some quality fish.

The Sebastian Inlet bite was good throughout October, with snook holding along the shorelines on the incoming tide. Live pinfish and pigfish have been the top producers, with live mullet being another good daytime option. After dark, the artificial bite should continue to be strong. Rapala’s X-Rap 14 and Crush City Mooch Minnow as well as D.O.A. Bait Busters are all good choices. Jacks and redfish have also been showing up on the outgoing tide, making for some pretty good action around the inlet.

November is also when we start seeing some of the bigger flounder showing up around Sebastian Inlet. The areas west of the bridge, around the catwalks and throughout the lagoon are all worth paying attention to. The biggest flounder are usually caught on live bait, but you’ll generally put more fish in the boat throwing artificials.

For live-bait anglers targeting a big flounder, live finger mullet and mud minnows fished on the bottom are hard to beat. A fish-finder rig with a 12- to 18-inch leader is a good setup for soaking a live bait along the bottom. For the artificial guys, I prefer working 1/2- to 3/4-ounce jigs along the bottom with Rapala’s Crush City, Mooch Minnow or Mayor paddletails or the 3.75” jerkbaits. Adding a little Pro-Cure or a strip of mullet or pinfish can give the bait some extra scent and help draw attention from a flounder holding tight to the bottom.

Overall, November is shaping up to be a great month from Sebastian Inlet through the lagoon system and up towards Melbourne. Keep an eye on the weather, follow the bait, and adjust your game plan around the tides and the arrival of the first strong cold fronts.