I’ve been fishing the Indian River Inlet for a long time, but fishing it in 2024 will be completely different than any other year. The US Army Corps of Engineers has awarded contracts to repair jetties on the north and south sides of the inlet, restricting the areas where we can fish.
The biggest hit will be on the north side where the large parking area west of the inlet bridge will be closed, along with the restrooms. This will not only affect us fishermen, but also the large number of surfers who use this area to access the beach north of the inlet. Of course, this is my favorite fishing location and has been for years. I look forward to the early shad run there every spring, and I also like to fish blues and stripers at that location.
So, I guess I have to move, but where? The Army Corps has contracts to work on jetties on the southside as well. My hope is that they don’t take all the parking there, and if I arrive early, I can find a spot for my truck.
In the late 1960s when we camped in a tent down south, I fished a few spots there and had good luck. It all depends on where the contractors will work and what areas will be open.
If I read the news release correctly, the work being done under these contracts does not include the large washout on the north side west of the bridge, where the fence has been built for years in a futile attempt to prevent fisherman in danger. That $43 million job remains to be awarded. I understand that three borings will take place to determine how bad the situation is before engineering plans are developed. A few more big nor’easters or a major hurricane, and Mother Nature will do the engineering work.
If fishing the inlet from shore becomes too difficult, I have a 16 foot tin boat that is not known for that area. When the shad show up, I can chase them by drifting into the inlet and throwing small spoons and shad darts, just as I would from shore. When we had striped bass, I caught my share throwing white bucktails while drifting the inlet, and I didn’t see any difference when targeting shad.
Quite a few fishermen, myself included, fish from the inlet with bait. Again, parking will be a problem. But once you’ve found a legal location for your car or truck, almost any spot along the inlet can be fished with a reasonable expectation of success. Last year there were quite a few sheepshead caught on sand fleas or green crabs, and I expect them to return this year. The ever-present tog will steal baits until you get the hang of setting the hook before they bite.
The north side will be tough due to the lack of parking, while the south should have more open space. I got lucky from the sidewalk right under the bridge down to the jetty, but some of that area is closed for repairs. The trail from the bridge to the end of the rocks can be productive, especially the corner at the end of the campground. I’ve caught blues, striped bass, shad and even a few trout there over the years. You need a stiff current, with the incoming better than the outgoing.
Water flowing down the road from the campground back to the private housing development sees little attention. You can park there and fish, and while I’ve tried this spot a few times, the next fish I catch there is my first. I hope people who fish there on a regular basis have it figured out. I just didn’t take the time to do both.
The nighttime jetty crowd is really a disadvantage that I am no longer a member of. The closest parking is by the bridge to the south, and with all the construction materials lying around in the dark, getting to the jetty is an adventure. At this point, I have no idea where you park if you want to fish the north jetty.
Finally, there’s Bubblegum Beach. You can park back next to the marina and fish that area with ease. There are flounders, blues and maybe a trout or two that pass through in season. Fishing is convenient, because you can sit on a beach chair and relax while waiting for something to eat.
