A strong evening high of 3.3 ft sets up a prime morning fishing window — here's how to use it
TODAY: Friday brings a four-tide cycle at Sebastian Inlet that anglers and beachgoers should plan around carefully. The afternoon low drops to a negative 0.4 feet, a tidal pull that concentrates baitfish in the inlet's deeper channels and pushes predators like snook and redfish into feeding position along the rock walls.
TODAY: Tides run as follows: low at 2:06 a.m. (0.1 ft), high at 7:54 a.m. (2.6 ft), low at 2:14 p.m. (-0.4 ft), high at 8:40 p.m. (3.3 ft), according to NOAA CO-OPS data.
THIS WEEK: The 3.3-foot evening high is the headline number. Tides of that magnitude flush the inlet with strong current, which consistently draws tarpon and jack crevalle into casting range of the north jetty's catwalk, according to Sebastian Inlet State Park rangers. That window typically runs 90 minutes before and after peak high. Compared to the same mid-May period last year, when evening highs at Sebastian were averaging closer to 2.8 feet, this cycle runs meaningfully stronger, meaning more current push and better bait movement through the inlet mouth.
ON THE WATER: The outgoing tide from the 2:14 p.m. low is the tactical key Friday. As water drains hard through the inlet throat, finger mullet and glass minnows stack against the south jetty rocks, a behavior well documented by FWC officers who patrol the inlet corridor. Work a live finger mullet on a free-line rig tight to the south jetty during the one to three p.m. window, before the flood tide reverses, for the best shot at snook holding in the shadow line. By evening, switch to the north catwalk as the 8:40 p.m. high builds. That incoming push is prime for tarpon rolling through the inlet on their northward migration.
ALERTS: No active NWS watches, warnings or advisories are in effect for Indian River County at time of publication.
This article was generated with AI assistance using publicly available information. It was reviewed and approved by a human editor before publication. TC Sentinel uses AI writing tools in accordance with FTC guidelines.
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