Those were the days when we used to catch trout off the Sebastian Inlet dock without any bait, just a 1/0 Gold Hook. Treasure hunter Mel Fisher docked his boat at the Sebastian Inlet dock and the north jetty side had the old bait shop with baby rattlers in a crab trap (personally ask me about this one). We cringed if we had to go into the old green bathrooms under the north side of the bridge, and the parking/swimming area that exists today north along the beach, between A1A and the ocean, was littered with tents and trailers where people lived year-round.

The redfish, trout, tarpon, snook, bluefish, mackerel, amberjack, kingfish, and other species of fish we caught in the inlet and off the beach were not only large, they were very plentiful.  The inlet and beach would turn completely black for hundreds of yards with mullet, redfish, trout, tarpon, snook, bluefish, mackerel, amberjack, kingfish, and all sorts of fish.

The mullet were so thick off the beach we would wade into the water up to our knees or waist and snag mullet with a 4/0 or 6/0 hook and use them for live bait immediately.  We would carry one (1) rod with a number of rigs and a knife and follow the schools south along the beach.  The clams just off the A1A road stretch were as abundant as the coquina rock (white rock) that is used to make State Road A1A today.

The oysters in the river also were plentiful. In fact, we used to wade along some of these areas with a knife and eat the clams and oysters immediately after plucking them from the water. Shrimp were also very plentiful for the taking.

Well, that's all gone now because of abuse, waste, pollution, and other negative factors. Back then, there were no associations like the Coastal Conservation Association, and there was a lack of regulations from the State of Florida.

Today, I have a wonderful little 7-year-old son, very much like myself back then, and I see the gleam in his eye and excitement in his heart when fighting a trout, redfish, or snook.  At fishing seminars I attend, I hear people such as Capt. Nick Price of Fischmore Productions ask, “Do you want these resources made available to our children and our children's children?"

Well, I most definitely want these resources to be here in the future.  And because of concerns raised today by associations like CCA and conscientious anglers, we may have the opportunity to save the future.

I would like to see the resources grow to be like they once were, even though I know it’s not possible.  I know what I saw and experienced is gone.  My vote is to say please follow today’s guidelines, please throw back the live baits you are not going to use, and  please throw back the sea grass/weed. Don’t leave it on the beach.  Look for the little fish and shrimp that may have become caught up in the seaweed/grass and throw them back too.

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