Indian River Lagoon fishing report for the week of October 1, 2026. The lagoon is starting its transition into fall. Water temperatures are dropping a few degrees, the mullet run is moving through the inlets, and the redfish and trout on the flats are getting more active. This is one of the most reliable months of the year on the IRL.
What’s Hitting
What’s hitting this week: redfish are on the shallow flats, tailing in the early mornings and pushing wakes in the grass. Snook are feeding on the mullet run at Sebastian Inlet and Fort Pierce Inlet, and they are moving into the lagoon along the mangrove edges. Speckled trout are on the grass beds in two to four feet of water. Black drum are on the docks and bridges, and jacks and ladyfish are crashing bait in the open water.
Where to Find Them
For redfish, the flats near Vero Beach, the Sebastian area, and the grass flats around Harbor Branch are holding fish. Look for tailing fish early in the morning on calm days. For snook, the Sebastian Inlet jetties and the Fort Pierce Inlet are the hot spots on the outgoing tide, and the mangrove shorelines near Jensen Beach and Stuart hold fish moving inside. For trout, the deeper grass edges near the channel in the central lagoon. Black drum are around the Jensen Beach Causeway and the North Causeway in Fort Pierce.
Tides & Conditions
The IRL is mostly wind-driven, with minimal tide away from the inlets. At the inlets, tides are softer with the last quarter moon. Water temperatures are in the low 80s and starting to drop. The water clarity on the flats has been decent, which makes sight-fishing possible on calm mornings. Northeast winds become more frequent in October and can push water levels up in the lagoon.
Tackle & Tactics
For redfish on the flats, a gold spoon, a 3-inch paddle tail on a light jig head, or a weedless soft plastic. Use 20-pound fluorocarbon and make long casts. For snook at the inlets, a live mullet or a bucktail on 40-pound leader. For trout, a popping cork with a live shrimp or a soft plastic over the grass. For black drum, a piece of blue crab or shrimp on the bottom near the pilings.
Local Intel This Week
Public launches include the Sebastian Inlet State Park ramp, the Riverside Park ramp in Vero Beach, and the Taylor Creek area ramps in Fort Pierce. Shore anglers have good access at the Sebastian Inlet jetties, the Jensen Beach Causeway, and the Fort Pierce South Jetty. Fish are concentrated on the shallow flats in the morning and at the inlets on the outgoing tide. Check current FWC regulations and seasons before keeping fish, and note that the IRL has its own redfish and trout management rules.
This Week’s Tip
On the flats, the best sight-fishing is in the first two hours after sunrise, before the wind picks up and the sun gets too high. Get out early, pole or drift quietly, and look for tails and wakes. Once the wind kicks up, switch to blind casting the deeper grass edges for trout.
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