Sebastian, FL Fishing Report & Live Conditions

Sebastian, FL fishing report

Sebastian Inlet is one of Florida's most productive inshore fisheries, and the variety of what you can target changes noticeably through the seasons. Snook stack heavily in and around the inlet itself, especially in warmer months when they're feeding aggressively on the tidal flow. Redfish are present year-round throughout the Indian River Lagoon, working the grass flats and oyster bars in all but the coldest snaps. Speckled trout favor the lagoon's shallow grass beds and tend to concentrate when water temperatures cool in fall and winter, making that your best shot at numbers. Tarpon migrate through in late spring and summer, rolling through the inlet and staging along the lagoon edges early in the morning.

The inlet's strong tidal current is the key to everything here. Snook and tarpon hold on the rocks and jetties on the downcurrent side, ambushing baitfish pushed through the cut. Work live pilchards or threadfin herring under a fast outgoing or incoming tide for the best action. In the lagoon, target redfish and trout by drifting or poling the grass flats, casting DOA shrimp, soft-plastic paddle tails, or live shrimp near submerged grass edges and shell bottom. Low light periods on an incoming tide consistently outperform midday high sun. When water temps drop below 65 degrees, concentrate trout in deeper lagoon holes and troughs where fish hold tight and slow presentations become critical.