THE CENTRAL INDIAN RIVER LAGOON – MARCH 2013 FORECAST
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.
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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 didn’t get consistent until around the first of May, because of the extreme and lengthy winter. That doesn’t seem to be the case this year. We should expect to be able to cast to rolling tarpon by late March. Live and dead bait, flies, D.O.A. shrimp, D.O.A. Terror-EyZ, 4 inch jerkbaits, and small diving plugs all showed their worth last spring. Snook populations are still down after last year’s killer freeze, but there are catchable numbers of large snook in both forks. Snook season will remain closed until the fall season begins September 1st, so remember to catch and release only. 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, jerk baits and D.O.A. shrimp fished around cover account for numbers of snook including some that won’t yield to the lighter gear they are thrown on. Schools of 10lb class jacks also make an appearance in the river this time of year.
Indian River Lagoon – Warming water temperatures have already sparked some great trout and redfish action. The first week of February 2011 was responsible for several memorable trips, one of which included 30+ solid 2-5 pound trout and a dozen reds up to 27”. It is my opinion that last year’s fish kill reduced the competition for food between the local populations of trout and redfish and the less cold tolerant exotic species that wound up littering the shorelines. This has led to a good crop of mature trout and reds as well as a large number of juveniles of both species. Most of the redfish being caught in the central Indian River Lagoon so far this year are juveniles under 16 inches. In twenty three years of fishing this area I have never caught so many little reds. This is very exciting, because with the extraordinary growth rate of young redfish these 15” fish will be pushing five pounds before years end.
Find the bait and find the fish is the best advice I can give to springtime anglers. Topwater plugs can come out of storage, and be added to an arsenal including D.O.A. CAL 4 and 6 inch jerkbaits, suspending mirro-lures and gold spoons. If water levels are low and the flats are too shallow to fish, I turn to wading, while fishing D.O.A. shrimp or live shrimp on a float. Spoil islands and sunny shorelines are prime wading locals, 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. Lagoon anglers should also see improvements in the numbers of jacks, ladyfish and incidental pompano hookups along the edges of the flats.
Sebastian Inlet – The spring at Sebastian Inlet means different things to different people. Among 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 to Sebastian Inlet is the resurgence of the snook population as waters warm. We will see if the snook numbers will be any better this year than after last winter’s freeze. More than likely there will be, especially if mild spring temperatures allow snook from down south to migrate up. 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. 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
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.