Sebastian Inlet is located about half way down Florida's East Coast. It is the only inlet from the Atlantic to the Florida Intracoastal Waterway for many miles in both directions, and as such, it becomes a gathering place for both baitfish and predator fish. And on September 1, every year it also becomes a gathering place for snook fishermen.
Snook Season
Snook season in Florida is closed during the summer breeding months and during the cold winter months. Snook are extremely sensitive to cold water, and sudden drops in water temperatures below 50 degrees have caused massive kill in years past.
The snook population has rebounded from several of those kills and from the protection afforded them by the closed seasons. They have definitely rebounded in large numbers.
Sebastian Inlet
Sebastian is famous for snook in the fall months, and the inlet can become so crowded with boats, that it actually can be dangerous if everyone doesn't follow the unwritten “rules of the inlet”. Night fishing is king during this month, and the outgoing tide is the preferred time to fish, although I have caught snook on both tides.
The inlet itself is about ¾ of a mile in length, and is crossed in the middle by the A1A Bridge. There is a lighted fishing catwalk just under the bridge, and it is the bridge and catwalk pilings that draw attention.
The water is about 30 feet deep and extremely swift, probably moving at 6 to 8 knots either into or out of the inlet, depending on the tide.
The Technique
So given all the facts: it is dark, you're in a swift current, you can't anchor, there are numerous pilings to avoid, and you are there to fish with as many as fifty other boats – just how does this work?
Start Your Drift
It's quite simple if everyone follows those rules I spoke about. Begin on the upstream end of the inlet (let's assume the tide is coming is). Line your boat up so that the current is moving you toward the bridge pilings – close to the pilings and catwalk, but not too close to tangle with the catwalk fishermen. Keep the engine running, because you will need to kick it in and out of gear several times to keep your drift in the right corridor.
Keep a Close Watch
While you are doing this drifting, be sure to look ahead of you and behind you, because there will be a drifting boat in both locations - simply a whole line of boats drifting single file (if everyone plays right) under the bridge. Once under the bridge and away from the lights, follow the boat ahead of you, turn into the current, and run back to your starting point to drift again. If the whole flotilla follows this plan, no one gets tangled, no one gets hurt, and everyone operating in a long continuous circle and everyone generally catches fish.
The Bait
Now that we have the logistics down, just how can we catch a nice lineside? There are those folks that throw topwater lures, and they do catch some fish. But, by far the preferred bait is live bait – small pinfish and pigfish. The method here is to simply freeline the live bait – hooked through the back, under and at the back of the dorsal fin – and hold on as you drift under the bridge. Most strikes will come close to the bridge, but don't be surprised if one picks up your bait away from the bridge.
The Bite
The bite is subtle, because the bait is freelined, and you need to let the fish take the whole bait before setting the hook. But once hooked, these fish can scream! And they will do any number of topwater leaps before you get them to the boat. They range from about 5 pounds to as big as 40 pounds, and you will not find a better eating fish!
Bonus Fish
An added bonus to a trip to Sebastian is the occasional tarpon or bull redfish that traverse the inlet. If you want a thrill, try to imagine 100 pounds of silver dynamite exploding out of the water in the dark right next to your boat! It's an experience you won't soon forget!
