Indian River, FL

[schoolie monster]

Rexhamer's thread on flat's lures reminded me that I wanted to post a report from my trip a couple weeks ago. I met my dad in Orlando and we drove over to the coast. We fished the Indian River around Sebastian which I've fished for a several years now.

We fished two days with a guide and a couple hours from shore which was limited due to weather. We dealt with quite a bit of wind and clouds so sight fishing was tough. We fished alot of mangrove shorelines, grass flats with sand potholes and other edges (sandbars, cuts, etc.) mostly using small jigs and jerkbaits (bass assassins and ledgerunner split tails).

The first day started out beautiful. Little wind and sunny. We caught quite a few fish, but didn't have much size. Small trout, snook and jacks kept things interesting. One of my trout was decent. I got one cast on a nice red, but he was wise to us.

Then the clouds and rain showed and things got tougher. We caught some more small trout and Cpt. Tod got a small redfish on a popper.

We ended the day trying to drift some pinfish in the Sebastian Inlet for bull redfish. The bluefish were stacked in there and you couldn't get the baits down quick enough. We got a couple blues, but not what we wanted. It was great to be warm though. This was March 13-17, so it was still pretty cold up here. Just being able to get out on the water was sweet.

The wind kicked up the next few days. Our second day with the guide predicted winds up to 30mph. It was also mostly cloudy with just a few breaks here and there. My dad got a decent trout early in the day and a couple small jacks. By 9am, we had to tuck back into some protected coves and mangrove island channels. After some more of the plentiful small trout and jacks, I finally hooked up with a fish that ripped some drag. It was a nice jack maybe 8lbs. It was a blast and with the conditions, I was happy just to get a nice fish.

At mid-day on day 2 in a gale, I was starting to get resigned to the fact that I might not find my redfish. But things turned fast. We came to an area with a grass flat extending off some mangroves and we spooked a nice red. Bait was pushing all thru the area so we got excited. I saw a wake coming out of the 'groves and got a good cast on it and I nailed a nice redfish. My trip was made.

[schoolie monster]

We slowed way down and worked the area carefully. I let my dad cast alone for a while and had a drink and tried to spot a fish for him. After 10 minutes, I pick my rod up again and two casts later I hit another fish. Its a 4lb trout. Another 10 minute break, another two casts I hit another fish. It turns out to be a 3lb snook, not big, but decent and it completed the backcountry slam.

I was trying to let my dad have first crack at things the rest of the day.

We worked that area and other similar areas, but the one thing that was missing was the presence of the bait.

We had seen some nice snook in some downed trees earlier and Tod wanted to give that area another shot with some live shrimp. My dad got a small snook and I got a flounder and then my dad had a nice snook jump all over his shrimp. It was on for a few seconds and just came off. It woulda been his fish of the trip, at least 5lbs.

I switched over to a DOA shrimp to allow my dad to have the remaining live ones. I'm working the trees and have a subtle bump, another trout a bit bigger than the other one. We both got another small trout on the way out of the area to end the day.

Usually when I go down there, I'm rusty from a long winter up here, but I fished well and didn't miss much.

It was a great trip and the hotel we stayed at has a little sand bar and restaurant right on the Indian River, so it was cool to have a couple beers and a meal on the water. Even though it was windy, the temps were in the 80's during the day, mid 60's at night. It was a good break from the weather, being a dad and from work.

[BigBo]

That's cool stuff Greg. I always look forward to your off season reports. Haven't seen you on the boards lately and meant to ask Jules when I saw her the other day if she'd heard from you recently.
I'm envious. Warm weather and fish.

[schoolie monster]

BigBo,

I haven't been on much lately... just busy with the kids, the house and some changes at work. Mainly, the twins have hit the terrible two's and we're going to have alot of family visiting this summer. So, we're doing alot of work on the house to make it look nice.

I am lucky I can get that trip south in... it goes a long way to keep me sane. I really enjoy that type of fishing too.

[JohnR]

Greg - some day I'm going to make that trip down there. We can send G & K off with the kids and we'll just fish - howboutit?

[schoolie monster]

I think that's a great idea. I know you would like it and if you and I went down, I think we'd be more serious about fishing. I'm serious on the days with the guide, but I've made a pitiful attempt at the surf/wade fishing.

My dad and I pretty much loaf on the off days... of course, that's fun too.

There's alot of places to try too. My next trip will be my 10th since 2000. I'm starting to think I need to try something different. I really want to see the Keys.

The thing that's nice about where I go is the cost. I just wait for a cheap flight to Orlando which are common. Its an hour and a half to Sebastian. Cars are usually fairly cheap. Hotels aren't bad either.

Getting to the keys probably amps the cost up a bit and isn't as easy to get to... plus, at this point, I know my area fairly well, so there's a comfort level. And I'm very comfortable with Tod.

I'm taking Jess down to Mystic on Tuesday... KJ took Lyssie and Brit to Maryland, then to PA for the week. Its eerily quiet here. I never realized to what extent she and I are the quiet ones in the house. I'm sorry, but one kid seems like cake now. I'm almost bored.

She helped me with some engine maintenance today... and we started and ran the motor for a while. The boat is ready to rock except for a new prop. Almost forgot I dinged that last season... sucks that tropicland went down. Need a new honda place.

Later dude.

[Fish On]

Here's a couple redfish a buddy of mine caught in Galveston bay last weekend.

[Fish On]

OK, try again.

[Duke41]

Schoolie Monster--- I fished the same area last February and caught sea Trout and Jacks. I am going to guess you fished a large cove with a few million dollar houses on it and then went across the bay to the Indian River up to the dam? We saw some Tarpon up there but only caught lady fish. Lots of Manatee and dolphins. I have also fished the Keys. Sight fishing the flats at Key West and Pine Island. The fish are a lot larger. Barracuda, Tarpon, Big Jacks, bull sharks, etc.. It is a totally different experience. THe keys are where the bigger fish are for sure. You should check it out.

[schoolie monster]

Fish On... I thought those were black drum when I first saw the thumbnail b/c of the size and shape. Those are big reds!

They do get bull reds staging up in the inlets during the winter months in Florida. We drifted live baits thru the inlet during a couple tides the first day but couldn't get past the rat bluefish that were absolutely stacked in there. The second day the inlet was unfishable due to high winds and surf. A couple years ago, my wife and I each hooked up with a couple big reds, but they just shredded the leaders on the rocky bottom and we didn't get one into the boat.

Its almost two separate fisheries with the big fish outside and offshore, while the slot-sized fish inhabit the flats and mangroves inside the ICW. I really enjoy and prefer the inshore flats stuff, but I would love to get one of those monsters.

Duke, there are a few areas like that with sick houses. I think you were in the Sebastian River up by the dam? We tucked up in there last year to escape wind and and I had a couple shots at tarpon on jerkbaits, but couldn't get the hook thru... but that was towards the end of March. In '03, we were down there in May and we got tarpon up in the Sebastian. They were pretty active at that point.

I'm kinda limiting myself by fishing that area at that time of year. Its mostly trout, a few reds and small snook, and not in great numbers. But I like breaking up the winter, so I don't want to go later when the better fishing takes place (at that point, we are fishing up here). I think getting farther south into the keys probably would be the way to go. Like you said, there are more options down there.

[Fish On]

OK Schoolie so first you have to understand that I have never personally caught either of these two types of fish. also, I looked at allof the these pictures at the same time and was pretty impressed, so forgive my mistake (though that is no excuse, they are really quite different).

My compliments on your recognizing the black drum even with my presenting them as Redfish. seems like you really know your southern species.

So along with my apologyu I will post a couple pics of the real thing. These ARE redfish that my buddy also caught in the same general area.

[schoolie monster]

Fish On, no need to apologize, I hope you didn't think I was being jerky. After I opened the thumbnails, I thought they were big redfish too. I think when reds get really big, they get more bulky and resemble black drum more. And those fish have a coppery color like reds.

Now that you say that though, I should have known they were black drum though b/c they don't have a spot.

I actually thought maybe they were stocked fish and that's why they looked different. I know they have a big stocking program down there and I know we used to catch some funny looking trout back in my freshwater days.

This was my 6th year fishing down there, but my knowledge is mostly thru reading or shows. After my first trip down to FL, I fell in love with the fishing. So I read about it, check out the shows like "Addictive fishing" that are mostly set in FL. Strange, but I actually read more about southern fish than I do stripers. Probably cause I get to fish for bass 40-50 times a year versus 2 or 3 times in Florida.

ps... those are still huge reds.

[Fish On]

No worries, my compliments on your identifying the black drum.

Tight lines!

[fishaholic18]

I'm going to Vero Beach in a couple weeks. Any suggestions where I can find cherter info.?
I want to try some Florida fishing.

[Jersey_Jim]

Hey S :Schoolie, we met last year while I was on Jules' boat. I have 5 weeks of timeshare in Sebastian from end of Feb throughout March and love it there . My place is across the street from Captain Hiram's. I usually go for 2 weeks and rent the other weeks out. Stripers in the "Habah" soon I hope.

[schoolie monster]

fishaholic, the guide I fish with has a website (www.fishingcaptain.com). I'm pretty sure he guides the Ft. Pierce area as well as Sebastian. Give him a call or email him. He's a very easy going guy and its a pleasure to spend a day with him.

Vero is only 25-30 miles south of Sebastian. You're getting into tarpon time too now so I'd definitely give it a try.

Jersey Jim, the condo must be right next to the key west inn where we've stayed a few times. I really like it too. Though I think I might try some different water soon. Cpt. Hirams is a bit cheesy, but I like places like that so it works. Its great to grab a decent meal looking out over the lagoon. We ate there each day.

I'd love to get my boat down there.

[Jersey_Jim]

Schoolie, you can rent at the time shares if there are openings. I'll bet it's cheaper than the Key West Inn . You get 2 bedrooms, a pool and a full kitchen too. Also they rent small boats real cheap for the week if you are a guest there. I only get to use 2 weeks of my units & I put the others in the rental pool. If you go down late Feb or in March let me know.

[fishaholic18]

I booked a trip with Capt. Todd for the 22nd.
I can't wait.
Thanks for the info Schoolie Monster...