Summertime Flatness Means Offshore Fun!

Let's fish! Sebastian Inlet to Port Canaveral

Damn that was a cold winter!! It was so cold I could barely move my fingers to type up any decent fishing reports!

But the ice has finally melted across Florida and it’s time to do some fishing, boys and girls. And since we’re on the topic of boys and girls, how ‘bout I talk about some ways you boys and girls, men and women, muchachos and muchachas can all fish together?!  

I don’t mean to be sexist, but fishing is originally a man’s sport. Face it, we use STIFF rods and cast LONG lures into DEEP holes. We wiggle our worms and jerk our jerkbaits. It’s what we do.
BUT, that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of opportunities for the ladies to get involved this summer.
    
Let’s start out with inshore fishing. When a man takes his gal out for a day of fishing river, there is little to worry about—unlike fishing out at sea—in terms of safety or seasickness or death by giant squid.

The river—which should actually be called the “lagoon” because it’s technically not a river—comes alive in summer and fishing is all about the time of day you get out there. If you want to show your gal a fish-filled adventure, you better get out there early in the morning, I’m talking 530-6 AM, or get out there around 6:30 and fish until sunset. The trout and reds and snook like to feed later in the day when it starts cooling off, plus the baitfish can’t see them as well and they like that advantage.
    
One great place to try is in the tributaries such as Crane Creek in Melbourne, Turkey Creek in Palm Bay, or on the Sebastian River in, duh, Sebastian. I like to fish live mullet in these places, and that’s an easy way to introduce your gal into this man’s sport. Net you up a bunch of mullet along a shoreline before you go and launch your boat and you’re ready to fish. (Oh yeah, I forgot to mention you should buy a boat before you go, too.

And yes, you can catch tarpon out of a swan-shaped paddle boat.) Anchor up in open water between docks, or near the mouth of a tributary, or around the bends of the North Fork of the Sebastian River. Using 40-60 pound leader material and a hook to fit your mullet, pin the baitfish in the lips or in the top of its tail and free-line it out. For the ladies, give ‘em a bobber so they can see their where their bait is. When she starts hollerin’ like a weasel in an onion sack as she’s hooked up to a huge jack crevalle or a jumpin’ snook, you’ll be thanking me. ; )

Another adventure you can take your lady on is a snorkeling trip. This is for the more adventurous ladies, but there are plenty of those around Central Florida! The best place for some cool snorkeling is around Sebastian or Fort Pierce Inlet. Both places can get badass-clear in June-July and there’s plenty to see. In the calmer, western sides of the inlet you’ll see all kinds of tropical fish like angels, spadefish, damsels, grouper and maybe parrotfish. Out along the rocky jetties you are sure to find schools of snook that will make you both drool, Jewfish (aka Goliath Grouper for you newcomers), big sheepshead, flounder and mangrove snapper. Schools of baitfish will glimmer and shine in front of you, and she’ll never mention diamonds again! (You can thank me for that later, too)

And of course, if you’re gal is up for an adventure on the high seas, by all means, take her out in the ocean! Being stuck in a boat all day has a way of solidifying any relationship, especially when you’re catching fish or just enjoying a flat-calm day. Make sure you’ve got all the safety gear and definitely make sure there are no giant storms coming out.

Take her kingfishing around the 90-foot bar, that’s a sure way to get her line singing. Or maybe try some bottom fishing with light tackle. If she’s never fished before, there’s nothing easier than dropping a line straight down and catching some fish. Trust me, she’ll be hooked. There are usually some cobia around, so you guys could try cruising around looking for them sunning on the surface above the reefs. You’re bound to see some other cool stuff too. Show her what mating sea turtles look like and she may get some ideas in her head…if you know what I mean.

There are still a few dolphin around, and I think we’re still in for another good run of them off Sebastian. There’s plenty of bait on the buoys and reefs, and thankfully we can still legally keep grouper so give it a go.

I say keep giving the snook the break they deserve after being stuck in the freezing water all winter. If your girl insists on catching a snook, it’s time to end the relationship. I don’t care if you are engaged. Use your ring as a sliding sinker and hope you break off on a rock, my friend.

But in all sincerity, fishing is a great way to bond with your partner or friend or parent or pet iguana. And in the beautiful, moist Florida summer, there’s no better time to do it!

Til next time, live slow, surf fast, fish smart, stay in school, yada yada,

Matt Badolato
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