Artificial Lure Fishing Charters in Sebastian Inlet (2024)

FAQs

What is the best bait for Sebastian Inlet? ›

Anglers tell Sebastian Daily they are using a variety of live baits, including croakers, pigfish, live shrimp, silver spoons, and lures. Fishing has become a great recreational activity for families by either boat or visiting the inlet. It's a great sport; each catch is fun and challenging for kids.

Whether you're fishing from a boat or the catwalks or jetties, Sebastian Inlet is the reason most people come fishing here. It's generally best to time your trip to the inlet around the incoming or outgoing tide. This is when you'll have the best chance of catching big Redfish and Snook, especially in the fall.

The Indian River and Sebastian Inlet State Park lie just east of the city, and they're an inshore angler's dream. The river's waters are home to huge “gator” trout, bull redfish, tarpon, and snook. You'll find these fish inhabiting the inlet, too, as well as tasty flounder.

When considering the price of the fishing boat, insurance, maintenance, slip fees, bait, tackle, repair, fuel, and storage, it will all add up quickly. Then divide that by ten or so fishing trips in a season, and usually, the average weekend angler and boaters will come out ahead financially by charter fishing.

Sebastian Inlet's north jetty allows anglers to fish the inlet and surf-zone waters. Target species include jumbo red and black drum, flounder and mangrove snapper. Surf anglers plying the “suds” score snook, pompano, Spanish mackerel and many other delicious species.

Schools of Snook can be found swimming along the frothy shorelines of Sebastian Inlet State Park, winding through the Indian River, and lurking around the jetties. These voracious feeders are attracted to live and artificial bait alike, and are a light-tackle favorite.

Fishing the Sebastian Inlet at night

From spring to summer, the best time to fish the inlet is during tide changes at night. The heat of summertime in Florida can be uncomfortable for anglers waiting for eager fish to strike, and the dusk to dawn period is usually more productive as well.

Surfing enthusiasts flock to Sebastian Inlet State Park in Florida for the opportunity to catch epic waves at “First Peak” and “Monster Hole.” The park's beach is renowned for its clean waves and crystal-clear water, making it a popular destination for surfers of all skill levels.

BG's Surfside Grill and Adventures is the official concessionnaire for Sebastian Inlet State Park. Sebastian Inlet is home to the premier saltwater fishing spot on Florida's east coast. Surfing is also popular and several major competitions are held here every year.

While manatees are usually associated with the waters of the Indian River Lagoon, they will sometimes frolic in the ocean near Sebastian Inlet. We recently sighted four manatees near the tip of the north jetty.

How far is the Gulf Stream from Sebastian Inlet? ›

Boaters have access to the brackish waters of the Indian River Lagoon, the Intracoastal Waterway, the freshwater of the Sebastian River, and to the salty water of the Atlantic Ocean. The Gulf Stream is located about 25 to 30 miles east of Sebastian Inlet.

In Florida, and other areas of the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, some of the best bait for inlet fishing is whatever is available on site. That could be mullet, pinfish, croakers, herring, menhaden or even sardines.

Look for shoes with rubber soles and avoid smooth leather or plastic soles that won't grip the deck. For cold weather charters, insulated waterproof boots are ideal for keeping your feet warm and dry. Look for fishing boots with features like waterproof membranes, insulation, and slip-resistant soles.

These guys are a wealth of knowledge for you. They're not just here to drive the boat and bait your hooks, they're here to teach you how to fish. This leads us to one of the most important things you can do when charter fishing for the first time: Ask questions!

Every charter fishing company is unique, so every angler will want to keep every fish. As long as the fish is legal and within the state limit, you can own the entire fish. After you have finished fishing, or reeled in your catch, the charter fishing crew or captain could take great photos of the fish.

In Florida, and other areas of the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, some of the best bait for inlet fishing is whatever is available on site. That could be mullet, pinfish, croakers, herring, menhaden or even sardines.

Outgoing Tides

If you fish an inshore area as the tide is going out, you are likely to see other anglers focusing on the mouth of the estuary. The reason for this is because game fish will often wait at the mouth of an estuary to feed on any baitfish or crustaceans as they are swept along with the outgoing current.

The best bait for tarpon is dead bait like a chunk of ladyfish or mullet. You will find that most of the big tarpon that are caught around the world every year are caught with dead bait on the bottom.