November 2025 — Stuart: Sailfish Season Opens, Offshore Wahoo & Kingfish, Excellent Inshore. November is a late fall month with water in the 64-72°F range — flounder peak; seatrout deeper; first sustained cold fronts. Here’s the full breakdown of what’s biting, where to fish, and the most productive tactics.
What’s Biting — November 2025
Primary targets this month: Flounder, Redfish, Sailfish, Sheepshead.
Flounder
Peak flounder migration. Fish staging at the St. Lucie Inlet, the Crossroads, the Stuart Causeway, and bridge pilings throughout the IRL before pushing out to spawn. Bucktail jigs (1/2 oz, white, chartreuse) tipped with Berkley Gulp! 4″ swimming mullet or live mud minnows. Drag baits SLOW along bottom. Inlet and pass mouths on outgoing tides.
Redfish
Peak fall redfish action. Target the spoil islands of the IRL, Manatee Pocket, Jensen Beach Causeway flats, and Bird Island shorelines. Bull reds (28″+) push into passes and inlets during the mullet run. Cut mullet, finger mullet, gold spoons (Johnson Sprite), and soft plastics on jigheads all produce.
Sailfish
Sailfish around the Push Button Hill area off Stuart, the color change at 100-200 feet, the Loran Tower numbers, and the Bahamas current edge. Slower season — fish are scattered. Live bait and high-speed trolling both produce.
Sheepshead
Sheepshead are stacked for the winter/early-spring spawn. Target the Roosevelt Bridge pilings, the Stuart Causeway, Hell’s Gate, the Jensen Beach Causeway, and St. Lucie Inlet jetties. Fresh fiddler crabs and live shrimp on a #1 or #1/0 octopus hook with minimal weight. Bites are subtle — set on the slightest tap. Vertical jigging tight to structure produces best.
Water Conditions & Patterns
Water temperatures are running 64-72°F. Flounder peak; seatrout deeper; first sustained cold fronts. St. Lucie Inlet moves serious water; outgoing tide concentrates bait and game fish in the Crossroads area. The first two hours of incoming tide push clean blue Gulf Stream water in.
Check the NOAA marine forecast and tide charts before launching. Wind direction often matters more than wind speed for inshore fishing — clean water beats churned water nine times out of ten.
Tactics & Tackle for This Month
- Mullet run. Massive bait migrations trigger feeding frenzies — every predator follows. Target inlets, passes, and beach troughs.
- Topwater dawn. Fall coolness extends the topwater window — walk-the-dog baits produce explosive strikes.
- Front timing. 24 hours before a cold front is typically lights-out; the day after is often slow as fish reset.
November Outlook
Late fall — final striper runs, flounder migration peaks, first sustained cold fronts.
Regulations Reminder
Redfish: 18-27″ slot, one per angler per day (verify FWC zone-specific rules). Sheepshead: 12″ minimum, 8 per day (FL). Flounder: 14″ minimum, 5 per day (FL). State-specific elsewhere. Always verify current state regulations before each trip — slots, bag limits, and seasons change.
Local Resources
Bait & Tackle: Snook Nook (Jensen Beach, 772-334-2710); Tackle Shack (Stuart, 772-220-2700); Whiticar Boat Works (Stuart).
Public Boat Ramps: Sandsprit Park (St. Lucie Inlet), Phipps Park (St. Lucie River), Jensen Beach Causeway, Stuart Causeway, Sewall’s Point boat ramp.
Charter Fishing: $500-$800 inshore; $900-$1,400 sailfish offshore; $700-$1,100 nearshore/kingfish.
More Stuart Resources
Stuart Fishing Guide · Stuart Seasonal Calendar · All Stuart reports →
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