Snook season is officially underway at Sebastian Inlet, but if you’re hoping to reel in one of these prized fighters, you might want to hold off. Our latest fishing report reveals a tough start to the season, with anglers struggling to get a bite. High winds, rough waters, and cooler temperatures are making conditions less than ideal—and the fish seem to agree.
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I spent the morning at the Inlet last Monday, chatting with a handful of discouraged anglers casting their lines along the jetties. The consensus? It’s been a slow week. “Nothing’s biting today,” one angler told me, shaking his head. “I’ve been out here four times in the past week, and it’s the same story every time—no action.”
The culprit behind the sluggish fishing appears to be the weather. Strong winds have been whipping through Sebastian Inlet, churning up the water and scattering seaweed across the surface. Rough conditions like these are expected to stick around through the week, with a cold front on the way by Thursday that will drop temperatures even further. Add in the murky waters and it’s no surprise the snook are lying low.
Local fishing legend Wayne Landry, better known as “The Snookman,” shared some insights from his recent trips to the South Jetty. “I’ve seen small blues, jacks, blue runners, stingrays, and even a few sharks,” he said. “But snook? They’re scarce right now.” That said, Landry did hear whispers of a few lucky catches—anglers using jigs have reportedly hooked snook in the pre-dawn hours and late at night near the T-Dock area. Timing, it seems, might be everything.
Your Fishing Forecast
Here’s what you need to know if you’re planning a trip. High temperatures will hover in the upper 70s through Wednesday night, but that cold front rolling in will knock highs down to 69 degrees on Thursday and Friday, with lows dipping into the low 50s. Expect a 50% chance of rain Wednesday, and those windy conditions aren’t letting up until Saturday. Tides will run high in the mornings and evenings, with lows overnight and into the afternoons.
The water temperature clocked in at 71 degrees on Monday morning, but with colder air moving in this week, it’s likely to drop. For snook, which thrive in warmer waters, that’s bad news. Landry told me he doesn’t target snook until early March. He recommends waiting a couple of weeks.
The Bottom Line
If you’re itching to chase snook at Sebastian Inlet, patience might be your best bait right now. With windy, cool, and unsettled conditions in the forecast, the fish are playing hard to get.
Consider postponing your trip until early March when warmer waters could coax the snook out of hiding. In the meantime, early birds and night owls might still snag a catch if they hit the jetties or T-Dock at just the right hour.
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