THE CENTRAL INDIAN RIVER LAGOON – NOVEMBER 2013 FORECAST
I am very happy to report that it looks like the Central Indian River Lagoon Area is having a “Normal” fall season for the first time in about five years. As of mid-October we have already seen some morning temperatures in the mid-sixties and water temps throughout the lagoon are in the upper 70’s. My clients have enjoyed exceptional success with redfish, and seatrout since late September. Mullet schools are everywhere and the predators are right in with them like they should be. Spanish mackerel, bluefish, tarpon and jacks are off the beaches regularly, chasing mullet and glass minnows. The only let down this fall is the snook fishing. This is not a surprise after last year’s killer winter, but I was holding out hope that if the population was down 50% the fishing would still be half as good as normal which, when considering the Sebastian areas snook reputation, would still make the fishing as good or better than many other places during the fall season. Even so the fishing forecast in general for the remainder of the fall is much more encouraging than any season in recent memory.
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SEBASTIAN RIVER – Snook numbers will continue to increase in the Sebastian River as water temps fall and the linesiders instinctively work their way into the backwater winter refuges. The lower Sebastian River has been a bright spot in the snook fishing scene since the opening of the season. Slot and oversized snook have been blasting mullet from dusk till dawn. Live mullet and large shallow diving plugs are consistent producers during the wee hours. Jacks and tarpon are also crashing the schools of mullet as they come and go from the river early and late in the day, after which they move upstream into the north and south forks, presenting targets for light tackle and fly fishermen throughout the remainder of the day. One other little tidbit I’d like to pass on concerning the Sebastian River system in general is a resurgence of redfish. My clients and I as well as friends and other captains have all caught a number of redfish in the Sebastian River since the spring. I personally caught more this year than in the previous ten years combined. Hopefully this is one of the benefits of the “Muck Removal Project” of the last several years, but regardless they are available along the shorelines, oyster bars and in the shallow muddy coves off the main channels of the river.
INDIAN RIVER LAGOON – The lagoon should begin to offer some of the every cast action that make the cooler months in the Sebastian area a favorite time for vacationing anglers and families with children. Bluefish, ladyfish, jacks, trout, flounder and pompano move into the lagoon and provide easy open water fishing for anglers using jigs and live shrimp. TROUT SEASON IS CLOSED AS OF NOVEMBER 1ST, so please remember to catch and release only. Trout and reds have been and will continue to be on the flats all day since water temperatures have dropped back into their comfort zone. As long as mullet schools are present on the flats top water plugs will be a fun and effective way to draw strikes from all the lagoon predators. I have to mention a new plug on the market that I recently tested. The company’s name is Livingston Lures, and they make a number of plug models of which I have only tested the top water. The unique thing about these plugs is that they have a battery operated noise maker inside which turns on when the plug gets wet. It makes an intermittent sound just like a croaker, which in many area of the southeast U.S. is the” bait of choice” for snook, trout and redfish. I know, you think I’ve spent too much time in the sun, or I’ve “turned to the dark side” but, they work. Believe me, a guy who is so traditional that I wouldn’t use braided line until a few years ago, this is not a gimmick. I have been blessed with some of my best charter catches in the last month including over sixty shallow water redfish most of which fell to the Livingston Lures top water. Other consistent fall producers are D.O.A. CAL baits, gold spoons, and Mirro-Lure catch 200 juniors.
SEBASTIAN INLET – The inlet will continue to yield snook and redfish both day and night to live bait anglers. Pigfish, pinfish, croakers and shrimp are the baits of choice for inlet snook fishermen, day or night. Daytime anglers will find most of the fish along the shorelines and around the jetties. At night most fishermen drift through the center of the A1A Bridge and have consistent success. The big news for this November at Sebastian Inlet is the flounder run. The early cool fronts and plentiful baitfish are already showing signs of bringing on a solid and early flounder season. From November into December anglers can target flounder, some exceeding 10lbs., throughout Sebastian Inlet.
NEARSHORE ATLANTIC – There will be calm days in the late fall, and when the opportunity arises it is worth a ride out the inlet and up or down the beach. Pelicans diving will give away the location of schools of mullet and greenies which could and should be shadowed by tarpon, sharks and big jacks. Diving terns are usually associated with schools of glass minnows a staple of the Spanish mackerel that are passing by on their southerly migration. This fall looks like one that will have all of us saying “It’s just like the good old days” so don’t miss out. Book your holiday trips early.
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.