Many Consider Sebastian Inlet The Best Snook Fishing in Florida
by Captain Gina Bradley
Fishing under the Sebastian Inlet bridge at night over 30 years ago are some of my earliest memories of dating my husband, Captain Richard. I know what you’re thinking, so let me clarify; Richard took me fishing for snook while I patiently watched. His passion for fishing oddly combined well with his desire to spend time with me. Nothing has changed, except now, we spend days-and-nights fishing on our boat, and I’d have it no other way. Richard’s love of the water and outdoors transferred quickly on to me. He guided me fishing in every known location on Florida’s east coast over the years, and Sebastian is still one of my favorites. Neither of us knew that his infatuation for the outdoors would quickly lead him to become one of the best full-time Sebastian Inlet fishing guides.
2023 Spring Snook Season is Open
The 2023 Spring Snook Season opens February 1st and ends May 30th this year. Sebastian Inlet is one of Florida's premier snook fishing destinations. Book a snook fishing trip with Captain Richard Bradley of Lagooner Fishing.
For more information about snook fishing regulations and seasons go to the Florida Wildlife Commissions site.
There are 70 days of spring snook season left before the closure on June 1st, 2023.
Best Snook Fishing in Florida
With Orlando only an hour away, Richard began his earliest fishing charters taking Orlando residents and visitors night fishing during the autumn months for snook. His night fishing trips quickly overlapped into the backwater and he added daylight fishing adventures to his repertoire. There are many Sebastian Inlet Fishing Guides, but only a handful can claim they’ve guided for thirty years. Very few can match his knowledge and abilities to put his anglers on many of our inshore species. While snook seems to be the primary fish targeted near Sebastian, they also have the best trophy sea trout fishing in the World. Louisiana has the numbers of sea trout, our climate and habitat breed the biggest. As the seasons’ change, redfish, tarpon, jacks, mangrove snapper, and even flounder become focal species for anglers. It seems there’s always something biting at Sebastian Inlet and it’s nearby waters. Richard and I took the morning to go fishing in the Sebastian area recently and photographed our adventure. If you’re looking for a good fishing date, don’t be shy, call me for a rendezvous with my Sebastian Inlet fishing Guide.
Sebastian Inlet Area Information
There are two great Florida campgrounds located near Sebastian Inlet recreational area. To the South of Sebastian Inlet is Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge with its thriving populations of brown and white pelicans, roseate spoonbills and wood storks. You might be within sight of these native Floridian birds while they are nesting or even see manatees and dolphin while you are on the Indian River Lagoon fishing. There are two museums in the park. The Sebastian Fishing Museum describes the family-based fishing industry that flourished here until the 1990s. The site of Spanish salvors encampment, the McLarty Treasure Museum offers a fascinating look at the history of the 1715 Treasure Fleet.
“Although we now have a daughter living in Sarasota, FL, we still have to occasionally get back to your east coast to fish with Captain Richard. For years he has always found fish for us and made things very exciting. Also, he is one of the most gracious men we have ever met and always makes us feel very welcomed. And, of course, we still enjoy keeping up with Gina. What would men do without their wives???”
Sebastian Inlet’s Fishing Guide
Captain Richard Bradley
Hello,
My dad took me to Sebastian Inlet in the 1960’s when the road was no more than a rutted dirt path on the bridge embankment to the parking lot beneath the span. There was a small tackle & bait shop called the Crow’s Nest that had an orange crate on a pedestal and a danger sign with skull and crossbones pronouncing “Baby Rattlers… DO NOT FEED”. Of course, as a curious pre-teen, I had to get close enough to look thru the hardware cloth to see the deadly young snakes. Upon mustering up enough courage to peer into the crate, I was confused to see plastic children’s baby rattles on display and for a minute wondered why. I spent my childhood years traveling to the inlet with my folks and friends and learning how to surf and fish while jumping the jetty rocks and swimming in the tide pool. Sebastian has since become an excellent public park with paved parking lots, a small restaurant and campgrounds. The extension of the north jetty a few years ago ruined a once excellent surf break, but for the most part, the improvements have been a vast improvement on the beauty and public access. If you get a chance to visit our area, please look me up for a fishing trip at the Sebastian State Park Recreation Area.
Captain Richard Bradley | Lagooner Fishing Guide
