Florida’s F.I.N. has posted up a good look at how the offshore fishing is shaping up out of the Sebastian Inlet. Fish report by Captain Sherrie Stovall on April 3rd.
Offshore Sebastian Inlet
Blue water trolling days are here again! The dolphin run is starting and several huge Bulls have already been caught. A few dolphins in the 50 lb range have been reported by boaters out trolling close to the Gulf Stream and along weed lines.
Strong east winds have pushed in a lot of weeds and debris from the Gulf Stream and trade currents. Sargasso weed houses colonies of small bait fish and will keep most of the dolphin close by. Pick a direction on the weed line and begin dragging some rigged or naked ballyhoo up the cleanest side of the weed line. Turn around and work back down the other side of the weed line if nothing is happening. Throughout the day a rip or surface current may form, these are great places to look for fish. Most of the fish are on the clean side of the rips but if the temperature is right they might be swimming on the dirty side to help camouflage themselves. Look for dolphin, sailfish and Wahoo coming by to take a swipe at your baits.
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It has been very difficult to get offshore the past two weeks but some things have changed for the better. The north winds have finally pushed some live bait into the area. Right in with the bait are the predators. Kings, big jacks, cudas, and Spanish mackerel are in a frenzy as they feed on threadfins and sardines. Be sure to have plenty of sabicki rigs along as you will lose a few to the toothy critters as they steal your bait. Also have some wire leader if you want to fish where the bait is. The bigger boats that were able to get out, were catching a mixed bag of sails, dolphin, and amberjacks near the wrecks. Some rays have been moving through and several cobia have been boated. Just of the beach we boated several blue fish on spoons. The ocean still has some big swells but it is fishable with a medium sized boat. Fishing the inlet area we picked up a variety of fish including margates, bluefish, and jacks. We had a couple of smaller snook at the Roosevelt Bridge on live sardines the other day. The bridge is also holding some decent sized black drum. The canals and seawalls on the north fork of the St. Lucie River are producing snook and jacks. Spring fishing has arrived so it is time to get out and enjoy it. More later.
Captain Kevin Drennan
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Saint Lucie County marine resource coordinate Jim Oppenborn tried to secure a 563 foot decommissioned Navy destroyer for the counties planned artificial reef, but the price tag of $3 million dollars was just to high. Instead, they will be sinking a 48.8 foot retired tug boat, the Lee, donated by a Martin County marine transport company.
The Lee is being sank roughly 12 nautical miles SouthEast of the Fort Pierce inlet in about 90 feet of water. Local volunteer divers are preparing the boat to become an artificial reef by cleaning it out and sealing it up. The artificial reef is designated to be a dive attraction as well as a fish attraction. This area is already attracts visitors from around the world to experience the great sportfishing in our waters, this project and others like it are designed to attract divers as well. The far offshore location will provide for better visibility than if the reef were created closer to the often murkier waters near the shore, which will present more dive oppurtunities for visitors.
“We’re hoping this will build up more of a dive industry here in the county,” Oppenborn said. “Just like we attract fisherman and anglers from all over the state and country, we’d like to get divers (too).”
Oppenborn and his team of local dive volunteers and anglers planned to clean the ship Friday, removing oil, some bunks and cabinets along with marine batteries to be recycled. Fort Pierce based McCulley Marine Services, which has been the county’s contractor to sink other reefs, donated oil soak pads to clean the bilges.
Once it’s sunk, the ship is expected to draw a plethora of fish and people alike.
“This one has toilets so you could sit down there on the toilet had have someone take a picture,” Oppenborn joked. “This one has a good profile so it will attract a lot of fish.”
See the locations of sunken attractions and learn more information about St. Lucie County’s at www.stlucieco.gov/public_works/reefs.htm
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