Water’s warmed into the upper 70s along the Treasure Coast this week and the spring patterns are locked in. Approaching the May 16 new moon, dawn and dusk bites are the strongest of the day, and evening incoming tides through the weekend should fire.
Inshore This Week
Tarpon are the headline. Schools are rolling through the Crossroads at first light and pushing up into the St. Lucie River along Sewall’s Point. Live mullet, threadfin herring, and crabs on the falling tide are the proven baits. Boats running the river at sunrise have been getting shots at fish in the 60–100 lb range. The St. Lucie Inlet itself is also holding fish on the outgoing.
Snook fishing has shifted to a strong night bite. Dock lights from Stuart up through the Indian River south of Jensen are loaded with linesiders. Free-lined live shrimp, small pilchards, or a DOA Shrimp worked slow against the current is producing. Daytime, look for snook tucked into the docks and seawalls along the Manatee Pocket.
Trout are still hitting on the grass flats around Hell’s Gate and the Sailfish Flats at dawn. Topwater plugs work the first 90 minutes of light, then switch to soft plastics on a 1/4-ounce jighead as the sun climbs.
Offshore
Mahi-mahi are at full peak. Run east-southeast 18–28 miles to the color change and weedlines and you’ll find scattered schoolies and the occasional bull. Ballyhoo on light wire, naked or skirted, is the standard. Some boats are throwing bucktails at floaters and crushing them.
Sailfish season is winding down but a few late releases are still happening on the kite spread in 120–180 feet. Kingfish are stacked on the color change inshore of the mahi grounds — slow-trolled live blue runners are murder on them.
Specific Spots This Week
The St. Lucie Inlet on outgoing tide is producing the best tarpon shots — fish are stacking just inside the rocks at first light before pushing out to the Crossroads as the tide builds. For dock light snook, the residential canals off Sewall’s Point and the docks along Hutchinson Island just south of the Stuart Causeway have been the most productive — fish bigger lights with stronger current. Offshore, the 100-fathom curve east of Push Button has been holding the best concentrations of mahi; look for floating sargassum lines and birds working. Bottom anglers fishing the inshore wrecks in 60–90 feet are still finding kingfish on slow-trolled live blue runners.
Conditions and Outlook
Water temp 78–80°F. New moon Saturday May 16 means soft tides this weekend but a strong dawn/evening pattern. Light easterly winds forecast through Saturday, picking up Sunday. Best windows: 6:00–8:30 AM and 7:00–8:30 PM for inshore; mid-morning to early afternoon offshore once the wind lays down.
Local Intel This Week
The St. Lucie Inlet jetty rocks at the south end have been producing oversized snook on outgoing tide — bring 50 lb leader if you target them, they will saw you off otherwise. The dock lights along Sewall’s Point south to Stuart Causeway are loaded after 9 PM. Manatee Pocket is holding tarpon and snook in the channel mouths. Florida saltwater license required — snook stamp mandatory for harvest, and snook season is closed June 1 through August 31 so plan releases now. Tight lines.