CAPTAIN'S offshore fishing reports, Sebastian, Fl.
January
February
February
Inspite of the rough weather and cold fronts, we still managed to fish 2 to 3 days per week and found some decent weather days. Trolling some Sailfish, Dolphin and King Fish still showed up. Bottom fishing proved good numbers of Trigger Fish, Lane Snappers, Vermillion Snappers and a few nice Mangroves!!!! Looking foward to warmer weather and calmer seas!!
FISH ON GOTTA GO!
February
February
February
February Sebastian offshore fishing forecast.
If January’s cold water has done its job, it’s moved fish in close. We should see some good bottom fishing, I always look for the mutton snapper to show up in the 85’ and 90’ reefs. Along with lots of lane snapper And triggerfish. If the waters cold and clear, in the low 70s and u can see 30’ down your Ancore rope, live bait and fluorocarbon leader is well worth the time and money. We start the morning throwing the cast net for silver bait, thread fins, pilchards are my favorite. They’ll entice a bite on the bottom sometimes when nothing else works. If the waters a stirred up a dirty green, any cut bait works well. As the shark and Goliath population grows your going to learn to crank fast or your not gonna get your fish. There’s places we don’t even try to fish anymore because the Goliath grouper will get under the boat and eat every good fish you hook. The sharks are just as bad. Don’t get discouraged, sometimes it’s better to up the size of your leader an extra 20# and put the heat to them we call it stop them or pop them.. Hopefully they’ll open up a harvest on the sharks and get them under control so we’ll get where our sea bass populations can make a comeback. Think about it! Ever wonder where the sea bass went? Look for a few cobia to show up, I usually check the artificial reefs in the 65’ to 70’ area . Keep your eyes peeled to the water for floating debris, February is a good time to find triple tail hiding sometimes under something no bigger than a coconut. Even if your headed offshore it’s good to have a light spinner 15# mono line rigged and ready to pitch for that triple tail. If the water clears in close enough ,look for some big kings 40’ to 60’. I like the large thread fins or even better an 7” or 9” blue runner. Remember big fish big bait and a bigger hook too . On a 7” bait I’ll use a #4 or #5 wire up my hook from a #3 treble to a #4 and use two, one in the front and a trailer hook ¾ of the way to the tail, this can be slow trolled 2 to 3 knots on cover ground or drifted if your in a good area. For those going deep there should still be a few dolphin, Wahoo and black fin tuna or sailfish to be a caught. Look for color and temp changes 120’ to 240’. I try to include as many details as I can, but If there’s something you feel would be helpful to you, please drop me an email @ captwildey@bellsouth.net . I’ll try to put it in my next report. Please if your on the water, be safe, be courteous and remember, some of us our just trying to make a living out there,but we’re all out there to have fun.”Fish On Gotta Go” Captain Terry
* Call us today at 772 538-1072 to book your Sebastian fishing charter aboard the Big Easy!
MARCH
February
April
March Sebastian offshore fishing forecast.
Sebastian Offshore: March 2024
Old saying goes, “March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb”. However sometimes
it’s the last week in March and we’re still looking for that lamb. For those of you fishing offshore Sebastian inlet the fishing should be worth the wait. Due to the terrible weather we seen in January and February I’m counting on a good weather March to make up for itLook for good catches of mangrove snapper, trigger fish and hopefully still some cobia still lingering. Last year in the 85-to-90-foot range, fishing was great, when we could find clean
water. The winds of March can sometimes leave us with a decent ocean but dirty water conditions. Good to be prepared to run to 160 feet or deeper to find clean water. Chicken rigs with squid will produce catches of Amberjack, vermilion snapper, trigger fish and porgy’s. It’s a great way to salvage the day and put some dinner on the table. Offshore trolling should be slow but there’s always a chance of a black fin tuna and occasional dolphin or wahoo. I like to troll some ballyhoo from spot to spot while I’m looking for a mark of fish for bottom fishing. There’s the chance of picking up a fish as well as giving the rest of the crew something to do other than stare at you, starring at the bottom machine.
I’ve found the water to be stirred up after long periods of March winds to where fish don’t mark or bite right away when you get to a spot. If that’s the case, you might give it some time. Stay to make it pay. If the water is dirty the fish will be back in the ledges and take some coaching to come out and bite. The fishing near shore is usually tough due to lack of calmer water keeping it stirred up. With the crazy changing weather patterns though you never know will we get a couple weeks of decent March weather or just a couple days. If it’s the latter, I take advantage of
this time to prepare for April fishing. I go through everything from safety equipment, bilge pumps, engine maintenance, tackle, also a good time to respool reels and restock your spare parts inventory. Sometimes having an extra fuel filter or set of spark plugs can
salvage your fishing day as well as your reputation. If there’s a calm day in March I’ll be out there in the blue water. Look for big easy fishing charters. We’ll be we’re ever the fish are biting.
“Fish On Gotta Go!”
FORECAST BY: Capt. Terry Wildey
Big Easy Fishing Charters
Phone: (772) 538 - 1072
Email: captwildey@bellsouth.net
www.bigeasyfishingcharters.com
April
April
APRIL'S OFFSHORE FISHING FORECAST
It's dolphin time again off Sebastian inlet. If you haven’t yet prepared you need to get busy. Dolphin will be traveling north up Gulfstream on their spring migration.
The’ll be on a constant feeding journey up the coast. There’s a misconception that all the dolphin are out in the Gulfstream. Although we do find them on the edge of
the stream, where the cooler coastal water goes from mid 70s to 80 or even higher. I find There not always out wandering the mid Atlantic. Look for them on the western edge of the stream where there’s that
combination of a temperature change of a degree or two, color change, combined with sargasso weed with bait underneath it. This edge that’s usually caused by two
different speeds of current usually running north and south will eventually produce fish. Your eyes quite often will be your best way to find fish. Constant scanning of the water for anything floating, and the sky for birds will all point you towards a bite. Ballyhoo rigged with a #7 or #8 mustad hooks, on 60# to 80# mono leader works fine. If you like, even a small lure in front helps draw attention to your baits. I usually troll this spread of 4 to 5 baits at 5 to 6 knots. Sometimes I’ll pull some small artificial’s like bullet head or popper lures if I’m trying to cover ground looking for fish, because I can pull them at 7 and 8 knots
without worrying about my ballyhoo washing out. I always have a down rigger running 50’ to 60’ down with a ballyhoo behind a bullet Headed lure. This I’ll rig on a #7 wire for the toothy Wahoo and kingfish. The down line will also produce some nice dolphin in mid day when
the surface bite slows down. I’m always prepared to deep drop to the bottom in 160 feet and as deep as 280 feet if the trolling slow and the fish are marking. Until the dolphin show up don’t pass up the bottom fishing bite in 85’ and 90’. Should be a good mangrove snapper and triggerfish bite, along with some kingfish and a few cobia. I’ll see you out there on the blue water edge.
Fish On Gotta
Captain Terry Wildey.
Big Easy Charters
May
MAY'S OFFSHORE FISHING FORECAST
May 1 st . Is the opening of our grouper season so keep in mind with the current shark problem as bad as it’s been you might have to up your game. In case you weren’t
aware,there’s a massive abundance of bull sharks and sandbar sharks along with several others that, due to closures of commercial harvesting has taken over most
areas we fish. Especially congregating around the larger bottom structure. They basically are gathering in the areas waiting for you to hook a fish. Then taking advantage of anyone that doesn’t reel fast enough.
Making it extremely hard to get a fish in the boat. We’re loosing sometimes 90% of our larger keeper fish to the sharks. Boating mostly the smaller fish because you can
reel them faster. Big easy fishing charters are offering shark fishing trips this season and encourage other anglers to do the same. Harvesting an 300lb bull shark is
not only an amazing thrill but the meat on our last one fed 7 families. At the same time you’ll be correcting the imbalance that NOAA and south Atlantic fisheries has
turned there back on.What we have done on the big easy is #1 upped our leader size. Grouper fishing we went from 80# to 100# and 120# leader and also a bigger reel
like a 50 tiagra and heavy, heavy rod. Sometimes letting the weaker anglers reeling right out of the rod holder.
Theory being “ stop Em or pop Em”. #2 were fishing smaller bottom. Whether it’s 90’ 160’ or 240’ there seems to be fewer sharks congregating on the smaller
bottom. I’ve almost given up trying to get a mangrove snapper off to bottom at the 90’ high bar unless its small one. #3 take the time to report any problem you have with the overwhelming abundance of shark activity to the south Atlantic fisheries council as well as your governor and anyone else that might make a difference.
May should also be some awesome dolphin fishing in the 120’ to 300’ the best part is the sharks won’t be a problem since dolphin are following edges color changes
and rips and not larger bottom structure. Look for Kingfish in close as the clean water moves in, so do the fish. We’ve already seen some good catches of big and smaller kings a couple miles off. Also caught 2 gag grouper 25” to 28” in 60 last week . If the weather calms and the water clears live bait will be well worth the time
to collect. If the waters dirty the smell of the dead bait, menhaden -pogies will work great. Always take time to check fishing regulations before your trip because they
change frequently. I use the fishrules app on my phone. Be sure you set it to federal water if your fish more than 3 miles offshore. If your looking for me, I’ll be in the deep blue waters offshore of Sebastain inlet doing what I’ve done for 53yrs. Be humble and be kind to your fellow anglers, never know when you’ll need a tow lol!
That’s it for now, good luck and tight lines. Fish On Gotta
Go. Capt Terry Wildey. Big Easy Charters.
JUNE
JUNE'S OFFSHORE FISHING FORECAST
June is finally here, my favorite month of the year for fishing. The good weather gets us more days offshore, combined with more consistent water quality. Warm clean water equals a more consistent fishing. Remember though, when the water gets warm and clear, fish get picky. Light fluorocarbon leaders and live bait will produce more bites. Fortunately Live bait should be more readily present both Inside and outside the inlet. We’ll see good catches of Mutton Snapper, Mangrove Snapper and Kingfish. Last year we only saw a mild thermocline but we did have a couple of days fishing the beach reefs, although it passed quickly. Other than that we should have some good kingfish on the 80 to 90 ft reefs, bigger fish will be hitting live bait. strip baits trolled behind a seawitch and 3 1/2 drone spoon works well also. For those trolling offshore there should be some schooley dolphin some even into the 80 and 90 ft reefs. They’re always a nice addition to the box when your anchored up and a school swims up. This is when it’s good to have a couple light spinners ready with a #4 or #5 mustad short shank with a 30# fluorocarbon leader. Have some chopped up pieces of squid ready to throw to keep their interest as well as to stick on the hook to capitalize on the opportunity. Bottom fishing should be good on the reefs in 80’ to 90’ range. clear water is going to require light leaders and live bait to entice a bite there as well. As always, the ever growing shark problem will be something to deal with. If there’s any upside to the abundance of sharks, its that they’ve had cobia traveling with them. There’s a thin line between fishing heavy enough line to horse the fish in before the sharks eat them yet light enough to get the fish to bite. I’m hoping some group, individual or fishing club will put together a shark tournament. One tournament of 100 boats would start putting the uneven balance back where it should be. Meat from the shark could be donated to local food banks. Believe me people that are saying this is a sign of a heathy eco system does not see what's really happening out there. As always support your local Tackle shops, be courteous to your fellow anglers, one day you might need their help, be nice to your law enforcement including our Fwc. They’re Just doing their job.
“Fish on gotta go”
Captain Terry Wildey.
Big Easy Charters
JULY
JULY'S OFFSHORE FISHING FORECAST
They’ve announced the opening of the red snapper season to be July 11th and 12th . Make sure you check fishing regulations such as having a descending device to release your discarded fish. July should bring some good catches of Cobia on the larger pieces of bottom in the 85 to 90 foot reefs. So have a rod rigged with a Cobia jig ready to throw when One pops up behind the boat while your bottom fishing, or when you spot a Manta Ray on you ride out or in. Too often I hear of someone that just missed a shot a a big Cobia because they didn’t have a rod ready. Look for big Amberjack to move into the 85 and 90 foot reefs as well, especially if we get a cold water thermocline move in. When that cold water pushes in from deep it pushes fish in also. That means Mutton Snapper on the 20’ reefs even. Expect kingfish to be consistent up and down the reefs, as well as around bait pods within a few miles of the beach. Live thread-fins,
pilchards or blue runners for the bigger kings work the best, but even trolling a drone spool or ballyhoo will work. The dolphin bite offshore was fair this may and June but I don’t expect it to much in July with the warm water temps but hope to see some schoolie dolphin to come through on weed lines and color changes from 90 feet to 240 feet. If your fishing during the 2 day red snapper season don’t forget the use of circle hooks north of the 28 deg northine. You’ll find all the regulations on the FISH RULES app on your phone, Or iPad. FWC will be out there protecting our resource so expect to be checked. “Fish On Gotta Go” captain Terry Wildey Big Easy charters.
AUGUST
This month still produced good numbers of Amberjack, Mangrove Snapper and Kingfish. On the surface bite we had an occasional Cobia and Dolphin.
All in all, the month of August was great!
SEPTEMBER
A great month for our summer Kingfish run. Always a good time for Cobia as well as a mixed bag of bottom fish.
OCTOBER
October is a great time for delicious Triggerfish, along with some Kings and a few Snapper
November
November shows us some awesome Cobia fishing along with some big Mangrove Snapper that get fires up on the week prior to the full moon.
december
Decembers cooling waters will spice up the Snapper bite. With good catches of Lane Snapper and Mangrove Snapper.