THE CENTRAL INDIAN RIVER LAGOON – OCTOBER 2013 FORECAST
October is the top all-around month to fish the central Indian River Lagoon Area. Water temperatures are dropping back into the optimum range for most of the resident and migratory species and air temps begin to cool into the preferred range for anglers as well. Baitfish numbers are at a peak and the predators are sure to be close by. High water levels are also a positive aspect of the early fall season. The high water allows anglers and fish to reach backwater areas that in some cases are inaccessible the rest of the year. October, not only offers the best all around fishing opportunities of the year in the Sebastian Area, but crowds are non-existent on and off the water making for a stress free and less expensive get-away.
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SEBASTIAN RIVER – The Sebastian River has juvenile tarpon in it 12 months a year, but in the winter and summer they have short bite windows and can be down right frustrating. Spring is good, but the tarpon don’t feed with the urgency that they do in the fall. Add in a million or so tasty finger mullet and the term frenzy could be applied on occasion. Live fingers fished wherever rolling tarpon are seen is the best way to put a lively twenty-something pound tarpon on your line. Fly fishermen and plug casters will also enjoy some of the best tarpon action of the year. The D.O.A. Tiny Terror-eyz has proven its exceptional effectiveness when sight casting these rolling juvenile tarpon for me over the last few seasons. Snook numbers will continue to rise in the Sebastian River, as post spawn fish return from the inlet and ocean. Plugs, ,jerk-baits, jigs and D.O.A. shrimp will draw snook strikes when worked along docks, oyster bars and shoreline cover.
INDIAN RIVER LAGOON – The flats of the central lagoon will be at their best in October. Trout and Reds will be on the shallow grass beds all day long hunting the masses of mullet that have already begun to invade the lagoon. Find the bait and find the fish is a general rule that is especially true in October. Although finger mullet will be very plentiful, using them for live bait is not the only way to catch fish in the lagoon. Topwater plugs such as Mirro-lure top dogs and she dogs reign supreme in the fall, with jerk baits and suspending plugs like the Mirro-Lure Catch 2000 Jr. possibly being even more productive than topwater, but not as much fun. Jack Crevalle of all sizes will keep anglers busy between trout bites. Keep an eye open for 20lb. class jacks pushing wakes across the flats on their ceaseless hunt for mullet. The occasional snook will surprise anglers on the flats, but most of the inshore snook will be setting up ambushes along mangrove shorelines and around docks. D.O.A. Shrimp and Jerkbaits fished in, around and under the cover will draw strikes from linesiders of all sizes.
SEBASTIAN INLET – October is a prime month to fish the world renowned Sebastian Inlet. Snook fishing day and night will peak out in October. Redfish, mostly oversized, will join the snook between the jetties for the “fatten up” before winter binge. The snook and reds spread throughout the inlet giving anglers more areas to fish and they also seem to become less picky about what live bait they eat. Croakers are never a bad choice, but pigfish, shrimp, pinfish and mullet will all draw strikes at the right time and tide. Night time will find live baiters floating the channel under A1A bouncing bottom, while plug and jig anglers will be on their favorite rocks east and west of A1A.
NEARSHORE ATLANTIC – The fishing along the beaches can be explosive in October. Tarpon will school outside Sebastian Inlet as long as bait stays available. Live mullet, greenies and even pinfish pitched at pods of rolling fish will bring strikes. D.O.A. terror eyz, swimming mullet, B.F.L. swimmers and bait busters along with Mirro-lures and flies can also do the job when the bite is on. Spanish mackerel should show up in hoards from the beach out to 5 miles, wherever the glass minnow are. Spoons, jigs and flies are all you need to fill the cooler with Spanish in the 1 to 5 pound range. Jack Crevalle, bluefish and little tunny can also be found enjoying the near shore smorgasbord in October.
As the air and water temperatures cool down the fishing heats up in Sebastian! November is excellent as well so call and book a day now.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Gus Brugger
www.sebastianfishingguides.com
772-589-0008
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.