THE CENTRAL INDIAN RIVER LAGOON – JANUARY 2013 FORECAST
January is usually the heart of the winter fishing season in East Central Florida. Water temperatures will be in the 60’s if all is normal, with cold snaps driving them as low as the upper 40’s and occasional warm spells lifting them into the upper 70’s. The changing temps will move the fish around more than at other times of the year, but by using a bit of common sense you can find some excellent inshore opportunities. I’ll break it down area by area and you can choose.
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Sebastian River – The Sebastian Rivers most prominent role in January is a sanctuary. It keeps a large number of manatees warm in its north forks 15+ foot depths. It also keeps a hoard of ladyfish some jacks an occasional gator trout and even a few pompano warm on the colder days. You can troll the north fork at this time for some 20+ pound snook, bites are few and far between, but the pictures make it worth it. Large diving plugs and rattle traps are most often responsible for these occasional strikes. Quarter to half ounce jigs will catch just about everything else in the Sebastian River.
Indian River Lagoon – Not every January day warrants hiding away in some protected nook, but even if that is the case the lagoon offers some great options for trout and redfish. Canals, protected shallow bays, and sunny shorelines are excellent areas to find both trout and reds soaking up the suns warmth, as well as sucking up some of the baitfish and crustaceans that may have been more adversely affected by the overnight cold snaps of a Central Florida winter. Blind casting plugs, spoons and skimmer jigs in sunny bays, is a good way to score later in the day when water temps rise. Sight fishing along south facing shorelines is a good way to find slot size reds, which will generally suck up a properly placed live shrimp or D.O.A. soft plastic. Floating live shrimp is the hands down most consistent way to take everything and anything when the mercury drops, although finding the right place to cast the bait is still the key to success. Pompano, blues, trout, weakfish, snapper and small grouper are regular catches around the deeper water grass flats behind the Sebastian Inlet. D.O.A. Terror eyz, goofy jigs, small diving plugs and live shrimp are all good choices.
Sebastian Inlet – A few nice flounder will remain around the inlet throughout the winter and bluefish, jacks, pompano, black drum, and Spanish mackerel will keep jetty anglers busy throughout the day. Some 30 plus pound redfish have been known to feed at the mouth of the inlet and around the A1A Bridge in January. A live pinfish will work fine, but more important than bait choice is having a west wind to flatten the turbulent inlet waters and allow for your safe return with a picture of your trophy.
Near Shore Atlantic – Pompano and whiting are the mainstay of surf fishermen along the treasure coast in the winter. Sand fleas, cut clams and dead shrimp on three hook dropper rigs are the baits of choice. Boaters looking along the beaches are apt to find blues, mackerel and some pompano on the calmer days. Goofy jigs, spoons, and bucktail jigs worked from the beach or toward the beach from a boat are good ways to search for pompano and blues on calm days. If the weather allows for small boaters to get offshore kingfish, cobia, dolphin and sailfish can all show up within 10 miles of the beach.
Winter in the Sebastian area is when anglers of all skill levels can have consistent success on a number of species while enjoying some solitude.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Gus Brugger
772-589-0008
www.sebastianfishingguides.com
Capt. Gus Brugger is a full time inshore fishing guide with over 18 years of charter fishing experience in the Sebastian area. He and his 18’ and 21’ Maverick flats skiffs are available for hire by one to Four anglers with reservations. Captain Hiram’s Resort is home base for Pattern Setter Charters and is a perfect get away for serious anglers or family fun. Give Gus a call today and book a trip to east central Florida’s finest fishing destination.