Stuart fishing report for the week of October 15, 2026. The mullet run is still rolling through the inlet on my home water, mornings have the first real hint of fall, and the moon is building toward first quarter this weekend, so the big tidal swings from last week are easing.
What’s Hitting
Snook remain the headline, stacked at the inlet, the bridges and the dock lights and eating mullet, pilchards and finger-mullet imitations. Tarpon are thinning out, though a few fish are still rolling on the beachfront and in the inlet on moving water. Redfish are pushing into the St. Lucie forks and along the Indian River Lagoon edges, jacks and ladyfish are crashing bait on the surface, and Spanish mackerel are mixed in along the beach.
Looking ahead, the mullet run should wind down over the next few weeks, but cooler water will keep redfish and snook active around the inlet through the fall.
Where to Find Them
Work the inlet on the outgoing tide, where snook line the rock edges and the seawall waiting for mullet to be flushed out. After dark, dock lights along the lagoon hold snook and the occasional tarpon. For redfish, fish the oyster edges and shallow flats in the forks on a rising tide and watch for tailing fish and nervous bait. Along the beach, look for diving birds over bait inside the first sandbar.
Tides & Conditions
With the moon heading toward first quarter, tide swings are moderating, so the current through the inlet is easier to work than it was at the new moon. The best snook windows are still the last two hours of the outgoing tide and the first of the incoming, early and late in the day. Water temperatures are slipping slowly, and the cleanest water is usually on the incoming tide near the inlet. Check a current tide chart for your exact spot.
Tackle & Tactics
A 7-foot, medium-power spinning rod with 15 to 20 pound braid and a 25 to 30 pound fluorocarbon leader covers most of the inshore work. Live mullet and pilchards on a circle hook are the top choice around the inlet, and white or silver soft plastics and jerkbaits work when fish are keyed on glass minnows. For redfish, a quarter-ounce jighead with a paddle tail or a gold spoon over the flats will find them. Downsize the leader when the water is clear.
If you are fishing at night, a small LED light on your hat helps with rigging without ruining your night vision. In the daytime, polarized glasses are the best tool for spotting redfish.
Local Intel This Week
Public access around Stuart includes Sandsprit Park on the St. Lucie River, Phipps Park for the South Fork, and Jensen Beach Causeway Park for the Indian River Lagoon. Fish are concentrating at the inlet, the Crossroads and the bridge pilings, with redfish working up the forks. Check current FWC regulations and seasons before keeping any fish, since snook and redfish rules are specific and change.
This Week’s Tip
Match the hatch. When mullet are flipping on the surface, cast to the outer edge of the school and bring the lure through the margin instead of the middle, where the predators are waiting.
More Stuart Resources
All Stuart fishing reports · Seasonal fishing calendars · Submit your own report
Planning a trip to Stuart?
This report tells you what happened. ReelAI tells you what to do about it — a briefing for your date, your target species and how you're fishing, built from our reports plus live NOAA and USGS data.
Powered by ReelAI — fishing.digital's intelligence layer. Answers are generated from fishing.digital reports and public NOAA, NWS and USGS data, and may be incomplete or out of date. Regulations and marine safety information are summaries only; always confirm with the responsible authority before you fish.