December can be a great month for offshore fishing out of Sebastian. We usually get some gorgeous fall/winter weather days and the crowds are thin due to the holidays. Bottom fishing gets back into full swing this month. Grouper and snapper get back into those winter patterns in the water depths of 60 to 100 feet. Look for the reefs that mark with a few big individual fish rather than massive fish schools. Often these massive schools are smaller fish that will nibble you crazy, while the individual marks will get your rod seriously bent. Go with the live bait if you can and slow drift fishy areas. Anchoring slightly up current of fishy areas and chumming will work too. Keep your eye out for threadfin herring (aka greenies) outside of the inlet. Watch for birds, flipping bait and red masses on your depth finder. A few dozen greenies in the live well is well worth spending that precious hour in the morning.
Sebastian can be ground zero for sail fishing this month. Most years the area between Sebastian and Fort Pierce, in that 130 to 200-foot range, produces lots of sails. The theory is that they bunch up in this area before the cold fronts of late December and January push them south. It is a time when the sailfish boys from Jupiter, Stuart and Palm Beach envy us. The best action comes from drifting and slow trolling live bait but trolling with specialized gear like dredges, teasers and swimming ballyhoo/mullet will score too. Of course, dolphin, blackfins and other fish will be mixed in.
December is also the month when kingfish start to congregate in large schools and as a result, the commercial boats often converge on our area. These fish will be in the 10- to 20-pound range and will bunch up at various depths between 50 and 100 feet. Often, you will notice schools of bait on your depth finder at mid-depths. The big red marks just below the bait are typically kings. They will come to the surface especially early and late in the day for trolled ballyhoo rigs. The sure-fire way is to drift live baits down to the depths they are patrolling. Use light tackle to really enjoy these gamesters and don’t forget to use a few inches of wire to prevent cut-offs.
Well, the Federal government did end up allowing recreation anglers six days to harvest red snapper last month. Unfortunately, most days were unfishable due to rough seas. The good news is that a 2018 recreational season is already planned, starting in July. Details will be decided in early 2018. Happy Holliday to all and remember to take some time for yourself this month. Get out there and do some fishing!
FORECAST BY: Capt. Randy Lang
Sebastian Gypsy Fishing Charters
Email: gypsycharters@gmail.com
Website: www.sebastianfishingcharter.com
