Sebastian Inlet to Eau Gallie Causeway Fishing Report
November is shaping up to be a great month of fishing from Melbourne south to Sebastian Inlet. As long as the weather cooperates and we continue to see bait moving along the beaches and through the inlet, I expect we’ll have some excellent opportunities to catch fish. This time of year, I like to keep a close eye on the weather, the tides, and, most importantly, where the bait is holding. Find the bait, and you’re usually on the right track.
For those of you who enjoy throwing artificials, there are a few baits I wouldn’t leave home without this month. 2- to 3-ounce bucktail jigs, DOA BaitBusters rigged with heavy jigheads, paddletails on heavy jigheads, and Rapala X-Rap 14 Long Cast plugs should all be productive choices, especially in the evening and after dark. If you prefer fishing with live bait, drifting pinfish and pigfish around Sebastian Inlet in the evening should give you a good shot at some quality snook and redfish.
As we move through November, I’ll be watching the mullet closely and paying attention to how the first cold fronts affect their movement. We should see plenty of finger mullet moving through the lagoon and into the creeks, from the Sebastian River south through Turkey Creek and Crane Creek, and up into the Eau Gallie River around Ballard Park. With cooling water temperatures and bait moving through the system, the inshore fishing should stay productive. We should see good opportunities for trout, slot-size redfish, snook, and some flounder around the mangroves, shorelines, and spoil islands.
My advice is simple: find the bait and spend some time fishing around it. When I come across a good school of finger mullet or another concentration of bait, that area is worth working carefully before moving on. Soft plastics fished around those schools can be very effective, and a live finger mullet is always worth trying when you’re looking for a bigger fish.
Sebastian Inlet
The snook bite around Sebastian Inlet was good through October, with fish holding along the shorelines on the incoming tide. Live pinfish and pigfish have been producing well, and live mullet is another good option during the daytime. After dark, I’d switch things up and spend some time throwing artificials. Rapala X-Rap 14s, Crush City Mooch Minnows, and DOA BaitBusters are all good choices to have ready.
Redfish and jacks have also been showing up on the outgoing tide, adding to the action around the inlet. Pay attention to the current and look for areas where bait is being swept through. Those are the places I’d concentrate on, especially when the tide is moving and predators are feeding.
Targeting November Flounder
November is also one of the months when we start seeing some of the bigger flounder show up around Sebastian Inlet. I’d keep an eye on the areas west of the bridge, around the catwalks, and throughout the nearby lagoon system. These areas are worth fishing carefully as the water cools and the flounder become more active around the bottom.
When I’m targeting a bigger flounder, live bait is hard to beat. Live finger mullet and mud minnows fished along the bottom are two of my favorite options. A fish-finder rig with a 12- to 18-inch leader is a good way to keep your bait near the bottom where these fish are holding.
If you prefer throwing artificials, I’d work ½- to ¾-ounce jigs slowly along the bottom. Rapala Crush City Mooch Minnows, Mayor paddletails, and 3.75-inch jerkbaits are all worth trying. I also like adding a little Pro-Cure scent or a strip of mullet or pinfish to give the bait some extra scent. Flounder often blend in with the bottom, so keeping your presentation down where they’re holding is important.
Overall, I’m looking forward to a productive November from Sebastian Inlet through the lagoon system and north toward Melbourne. We have plenty of good fishing opportunities ahead of us, but conditions can change quickly this time of year. Keep an eye on the weather, pay attention to the tides, and follow the bait as it moves through the system.
Most importantly, don’t be afraid to adjust your plan when the conditions change. The anglers who find clean water, locate the bait, and fish the right tide will put themselves in a good position for a successful day on the water. Good luck, and I hope to see you out there!