Anyone Fish Vero Beach? Looking for Recs

[Mr Maj]

Going down to Vero beach in a couple of weeks to visit family and was looking to try a charter down there (either offshore or inshore/Indian River). Any recommendations would be hugely helpful.

I will likely be heading out with my big guy (5 y/o son) so not looking for something like a sailfish trip but more for reds, snook, sea trout, spanish macs, fluke, blues etc (that size range).

In advance thanks for any thoughts.

JM

[Fin Reaper]

Not much help on Vero but if you get anywhere near the Sebastian Inlet you have to check it out. plenty of places to fish from shore and a huge verity of fish.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Check out one of our sponsors, Tuna Wahoo on Singer Island. He does inshore trips as well.
www.tunawahoo.com

[Mr Maj]

Thanks...for the help.

[dozer 277]

I second the Sebastian inlet. its an amazing place to fish. worth a drive just to look around. fish the catwalk under the south side. my dad has been spooled there many times.

[CCMPmonmouth]

Been going to Sebastian/Vero for 25 years. The inlet is fun sorta like Party boat fishing off a jetty State charges a couple a few bucks . Gus Bruggar "Pattern Setter" is a transplant yankee that knows the river/inshore fishing.
Fishing down there is making a good comeback after a massive fishkill a few years back. In Vero the Barber Bridge has good fishing access underneath it. Park on the beachside by my cousins bar Riverside cafe good burger, nice place to watch sunset. Snook, lady fish and sometimes pompano usually lots of jacks, believe the tackle shop is still there next to bar.

If you go to the beach bring your rod with a spoon and and a short wire leader, this time of the year the spanish mackeral and blues hit the surf. Don't bother unless you see the pelicans working then its usually game on.

Dining in Vero Boobyy's place and the Ocean grill are good choices.If you end up in the town of Sebastian, you should stop by Earls Hidaway to experience a true "Biker" bar with good live music. If thats not your speed go to Capt. Hirams, atmosphere is fantastic food average.

If you golf Sandridge golf courese are pretty challenging county courses at reasonable prices.

Hope this was helpful, have fun.

[Mr Maj]

Hugely helpful....thanks for all the thoughts. Will give them all a try.

JM

[Mr Maj]

Thanks again for the thoughts on Vero Beach:

With a bunch of kids (3-7) along with grand parents The River Cafe was "the place" for the 4 days we were down (pelicans, dolphins and fish eating oyster crackers at night made the kids day while the beer selection made ours.)

We chartered a boat right from the attached tackle shop (Capt Billy Davenport) and I took my oldest boy, Jack (6) out for his first "boat fishing trip" along with my dad (76). Bill was great with both of them. We tried a few spots in the Indian River and had hits but nothing really eating given the cold weather that had come in earlier in the week (low 40s at night).
Jack was handling it great but I was still hoping we wouldn't get skunked on his first trip out. We finally moved to a point right near the channel markers and started catching a few pin fish (bait for most people, cool fish for a 6 yo). My dad and I figured that was it but at least the little guy would get some "action". But where there are small fish there are bigger ones and Jack hooks into a something with a little backbone and after a few minutes had a nice 3lb sheepshead in the boat. The rest of the morning we picked aways at a bunch of different species with a bunch of Jacks (which the little guy thought was funny given the name), a decent redfish, spanish macks, snappers and a couple of good sized sea trout.

Overall with Jack the high hook and a whole lot of "cool fish" that all went back to tug the next kids line I couldnt have found a better way to spend the 70 degree day with my dad and my son.

Thanks again for the recommendations.

JM

[CCMPmonmouth]

Cool, Parents moved down there 30 years ago, changed alot since then, but still a laid back sportsman area though.