Sebastian Inlet is a Treasure Coast fishery where a narrow, fast-moving entrance connects the Indian River Lagoon with the Atlantic between prominent jetties. Snook are a defining target, with red drum, tarpon, and flounder adding major inshore opportunities around the inlet and adjacent beaches.
Active coastal or marine alerts
Small Craft Advisory
Severity: Minor
Small Craft Advisory issued October 20 at 2:21AM EDT until October 23 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Melbourne FL
Begins Oct 20, 2026, 2:21 AM · Ends Oct 23, 2026, 4:00 AM
Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels, should avoid navigating in hazardous conditions.
Conditions are poor, but confidence is reduced because some coastal inputs are partial or prediction-based.
Scores are model-specific and are not directly comparable across water types.
Should I Go?
Trip conditions only. Target-species activity and seasonal fishery patterns are not yet included.
Wait
Trip conditions may improve later. Review the recommended window and the reason for waiting.
Medium confidence — The recommendation is usable, but one or more inputs are regional, proxied, stale, or incomplete.
Evaluates trip conditions using weather, tides, currents, waves, daylight, and active alerts.
This coastal rating is in public beta.
Missing waves are not calm. Forecast is not an observation. Prediction is not an observation.
Because this rating is in public beta, recommendations are capped at Consider when evidence is limited.
Service Status
Degraded
Coastal conditions are partial, stale, or predictions-only.
Best later window
Tuesday · 11:00 AM–2:00 PM EDT
Window score
73
Max wind
16 mph
Max gust
17 mph
Daylight
100% of window
Tide state
rising
Why
A later window scores 73 vs near-term 48; wait for the stronger period.
Watch for
An active caution-level alert applies to this destination.
Coastal conditions can change quickly. Review official alerts and current conditions before heading out.
Current Readings
Updated Oct 20, 2026, 5:57 AM
Marine Buoy
Marine Buoy selected
No sufficiently recent observations are available for this source.
Past 7 Days
Marine Buoy
Marine Buoy selected
Significant wave height
Window Oct 13, 2026, 5:57 AM – Oct 20, 2026, 5:57 AM (rolling 168 hours)
Significant wave height over the past 7 days. 456 observations · from Oct 13, 2026, 6:10 AM · to Oct 20, 2026, 2:20 AM Range 1.6 ft to 12.8 ft.
Readings increased over the available period.
456 observations · from Oct 13, 2026, 6:10 AM · to Oct 20, 2026, 2:20 AM
NDBC · CANAVERAL 20 NM East of Cape Canaveral, FL · Station 41009
Regional marine station
Approximately 48 mi from destination
Observation type: observed
Unit: ft
Regional buoy measurements may differ from protected or nearshore conditions at this destination. Significant wave height is not shoreline surf or breaker height.
Florida · Florida Atlantic / Space and Treasure Coasts · Inlet
Approximately 39.4 miles away
Predicted Tides
Predicted
Falling
Next low tide
Oct 20, 2026, 9:57 AM
In 4 hr
1.0 ft MLLW
Previous
High · Oct 20, 2026, 3:25 AM · 2.2 ft MLLW
Following
High · Oct 20, 2026, 4:02 PM · 2.4 ft MLLW
Tide station at destination
Sebastian Inlet · NOAA 8722004
Predicted Tidal Current
Predicted
Tidal-current predictions are not available for this destination.
Tidal-current timing can differ from high and low tide timing.
Fishery Profile
Fishery Overview
Sebastian Inlet jetty and pass fishery
A Space and Treasure Coast Atlantic inlet fishery at Sebastian Inlet State Park. ADA-accessible north and south jetties, catwalks, and a boat launch concentrate snook, red drum, spotted seatrout, sheepshead, and tarpon in the pass between the Indian River Lagoon and the Atlantic.
Fishery type
Jetty inlet pass
Fishing modes
Shore
Inshore boat
Habitat and structure
Sebastian Inlet State Park north and south jetties extending into the Atlantic · Catwalk, tide-pool, and inlet shoreline inside the park · Deep pass exchanging Indian River Lagoon and Atlantic water
Static seasonal guidance · Last reviewed Aug 15, 2026
Not a live bite forecast.
Fishery Targets
Snook, red drum, spotted seatrout, sheepshead, and tarpon are Sebastian Inlet pass and jetty targets. FWC's snook state record near Sebastian supports snook as the primary inlet; Listed species are not typical every month. Seasonal notes describe typical presence.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency and editorial sources. About fish illustrations
Common snook
Primary
Centropomus undecimalis
Typical seasonal window: MAY — SEPTEMBER
FWC snook state record was caught near Sebastian. The inlet sits inside FWC's Cape Canaveral-south Atlantic abundance. Harvest seasons are separate from when the fish are present.
Red drum
Primary
Sciaenops ocellatus
Also called Redfish
No seasonal pulse known
Sebastian Inlet District and FWC red-drum pass/inlet spawning habitat support red drum in this inlet.
Spotted seatrout
Secondary
Cynoscion nebulosus
No seasonal pulse known
Indian River Lagoon / inlet-edge seatrout. FWC habitat applies.
Sheepshead
Secondary
Archosargus probatocephalus
No seasonal pulse known
Jetty-rock and bridge-structure class at the inlet.
Atlantic tarpon
Secondary
Megalops atlanticus
No seasonal pulse known
FWC: tarpon use Florida coastal waters in summer and concentrate in South Florida in winter. Sebastian is a central-Atlantic inlet.
Typical Seasonal Targets
Common snook — MAY — SEPTEMBER
Seasonal presence is general guidance and does not indicate current fish activity.
Access, Safety and Regulations
Access
Public shore and boat access is Sebastian Inlet State Park. Florida State Parks lists ADA-accessible jetties, fishing piers, boat ramps, and that spear fishing is prohibited; information on fishing regulations is available at both entrance stations. Confirm current hours, entry fees, and jetty-grate or north-jetty postings before you go.
Primary hazards
Strong inlet current, slick granite, breaking swell, and boat traffic are the primary hazards. Lightning and heat are routine.
Fishery considerations
Tidal exchange through Sebastian Inlet is the dominant fishing context.
Wind against the inlet can stack the pass.
Regulations
Size limits, seasons, and possession rules change. Verify the current official regulations before fishing.
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
