Through early February, we experienced some of the coldest temperatures in nearly 20 years. We lost a few snook along with some trout, tarpon, and baitfish, but most of the fish held on in the southern part of the county and around Sebastian Inlet where water temperatures stayed warmer. Even with the cold conditions, the fishing has remained fairly good. Water temps should start climbing in March, which should improve the bite in both the lagoon and the inlet. A dredging project is also underway in the inlet to remove sand from the channel, stirring up the water and helping keep fish active.
Inshore fishing should remain productive as the spring mullet run gets going and water temperatures continue to rise. As schools of mullet move through the lagoon and creeks from Sebastian to Palm Bay and Melbourne, snook, redfish, jacks, and trout won’t be far behind. I like throwing Rapala Skitterwalk topwater baits and Rapala Twitchin’ Minnow suspending baits early in the morning around bait pods, then shifting deeper with a Rapala Crush City Mooch Minnow, jerkbait, or paddletail as the sun comes up. Live bait will also be effective around the bait pods since predatory fish typically hold beneath them.
Warmer weather will also push bait along the beaches, creating opportunities for sharks, tarpon, and large jack crevalle to move in close. There are usually plenty of bluefish and mackerel along the beaches as well when ocean conditions allow. Throw large topwater plugs for jacks and sharks, and downsize your lures for bluefish. For tarpon and big jacks, the Rapala Long Cast 14, Hogy Pro Tail Eels, and DOA Baitbuster have all been consistent producers.
The snook and redfish bite in the inlet has been solid, with artificials working best at night and live bait producing during the day, and it should only get better as temperatures rise. Live shrimp and threadfins are top choices during daylight hours. At night, artificials are very effective—Rapala X-Rap 14 and Long Cast 14 work well from the jetties and rocks along the west side of the bridge, while Hogy Pro Tail 2- and 3-ounce baits and bucktails are excellent nighttime options.