April is a very well-rounded month for fishing the inshore and nearshore waters of the Sebastian area. Historically, April has always been my favorite month for targeting the inshore slam consisting of seatrout, redfish, snook and tarpon. Catching a slam is still a worthwhile goal on an April outing, but it may take a bit more work as the seatrout and redfish are no longer the gimmes they once were.
Sebastian River – Snook, tarpon and bull sharks are available in good numbers in the Sebastian River in April. D.O.A. shrimp, Terror-Eyz jigs, MirrOlures and live mullet will catch just about everything you will encounter in the Sebastian River. Cast small plugs, jigs and flies to rolling tarpon in both forks of the river and work the docks and shoreline cover with jerkbaits and D.O.A. shrimp for snook. Bull sharks can be caught on live and dead baits fished on the bottom or below a float in the lower river between the railroad and US 1 bridges.
Indian River Lagoon – April’s list of available lagoon species is the most extensive of the year. Work the mangrove shorelines and docks with D.O.A shrimp, jerkbaits and plugs for snook and redfish. The spoil islands, flats and shoreline points with baitfish activity should hold trout and redfish. Backwater culverts and canals are great places to look for juvenile tarpon and snook of all sizes. Deeper areas adjacent to flats and islands offer ladyfish, jacks, bluefish and some pompano. The techniques used to catch just about all the species can be as simple as live shrimp below a float, bouncing a D.O.A. jerkbait or working a suspending or topwater plug. Wade fishing with live shrimp or artificials is also a great way to pursue trout, reds and snook this month.
Sebastian Inlet– April’s warmer temperatures will make snook fishing the focus of Sebastian Inlet anglers. Redfish and big jack crevalle will also be available. Live croakers, pigfish, pinfish, pilchards and shrimp will all catch fish during the day. After dark, jigs and plugs are equally effective.
Near Shore Atlantic – The pompano bite was lackluster this winter so many surf fisherman are holding out hope for a spring run. Sandfleas and cut clams are the baits of choice for pompano and whiting, but a pink Goofy jig can be deadly when the surf is calm. The waters from the beach out a couple of miles can boil with schools of Spanish mackerel and jumbo-sized jack crevalle. When the weather is calm, a boat ride down the beach can really pay off, keep your eyes open and have some stout spinning tackle on board for double-digit jacks, the occasional cobia and an early school of migrating tarpon.
Tight lines!
FORECAST BY: Capt. Gus Brugger
(772) 360-6787
www.WelcomeToSebastian.com
