Alex Gorichky with a chilly slot redfish fishing the Merritt Island area with son, Capt. Alex of LocalLinesCharters.com.

A recap of the winter season shows extremes in weather and fishing in the central Indian River Lagoon. What seemed like a never ending summer held on until Christmas. This was unusual, and the fishing suffered some, because the cold fronts that spark feeding activity in the fall never pushed through. When the first cold front made its way through, it came with a fury. Air temperatures went from daily highs around 80, to daily temps during the next 4 weeks that never got out of the 50’s. This caused a fish kill the likes of which I have not witnessed in 20 years. The only good news was that trout and redfish, which make up the majority of the Sebastian area’s winter fishery, seemed to be impervious to the cold, and continued to supply action for anglers who wished to brave one of the coldest and windiest winters I can remember. After the first of the year, the fronts came through in a rapid succession that had the fish and anglers adapting to new conditions so frequently that their paths rarely crossed. At least this winter ladyfish and jacks were available in good numbers, so keeping a rod bent was only limited by the weather.

The warming waters of spring will bring the lagoon to life. Baitfish numbers and varieties will increase, and the predators won’t be far behind. The list of available game fish species will also expand with the warmth. Tarpon will top the list of new arrivals, while I am sure that the resurgence of the grass beds at this time of year will also attract more trout and redfish. Now let me give you an idea of what to expect in the early spring in the Sebastian area.

Sebastian River – Snook and tarpon are the reason most people fish the Sebastian River in the spring. Last year the tarpon fishing in the Sebastian River seemed to start in late March and continue through July. Flies, D.O.A. shrimp, D.O.A. Terror-EyZ, 4 inch jerkbaits, and small diving plugs all showed their worth last spring. Snook weren’t as cooperative last year, and although there were a large number of snook that used the Sebastian River to get through this year’s freeze, the fact that thousands died in adjacent areas has to have a detrimental effect on all aspects of snook fishing. Typically, as water temps in the Sebastian River reach the mid 70’s, snook set up ambushes around docks, oyster bars and shoreline cover. Live mullet at dawn and dusk account for some 20 lb. plus fish, while during the day plugs, jerkbaits and D.O.A. shrimp fished around cover get numbers of snook, including some that won’t yield to the lighter gear they are thrown on. Schools of 10 lb. class jacks also make an appearance in the river this time of year.

Indian River Lagoon – Warming waters bring on migrations of all types of fish. From 2 inch long glass minnows to 10 pound trout, the waters of the lagoon should revive from the vegetative state that winter has brought to it. Find the bait and find the fish is the best advice I can give to springtime anglers. Topwater plugs can come out of storage, along with Mirro-lures and jerkbaits. If water levels are low, and the flats are too shallow to fish, I turn to wading and soaking live shrimp. Spoil islands and sunny shorelines are prime wading locales, and trout, reds and snook are all very possible in the early spring to fishermen who don’t mind getting wet or springing for a pair of waders. Sebastian anglers should also see improvements in the numbers of jacks and ladyfish, and incidental pompano hookups along the edges of the flats will add a nice surprise now and again.

Sebastian Inlet – The spring at Sebastian Inlet means different thing to different people. Amongst some of us guides it means easy pickings on big jack crevalle. Drift live bait, or bounce a jig in the inlet channel, and bango! you can hookup big jacks until either you or your tackle gives out. What draws most people is the resurgence of the snook population. This is in question after the freeze and snook kill this winter. If the snook do show up, remember that the season will remain closed through at least September 1st, 2010, so catch and release only. Most of the action occurs after dark in the early season, with land bound anglers tossing flare jigs, and boaters drifting live baits under the A1A Bridge. Big reds are also present, and can be caught on everything from cut bait to topwater plugs.

Near Shore Atlantic – Bluefish and Spanish mackerel are the main targets of anglers within a mile of the beach in March and April. Jigs and spoons are all that you need to have cast after cast action. Pompano may be off the charts this spring if recent action is an indicator. Big tarpon can show up within a couple miles of the beach in April if water temps and baitfish numbers are up.

Tight Lines,
Capt. Gus Brugger
www.sebastianfishingguides.com
772-589-0008