Stuart fishing report for the week of October 22, 2026. The mullet run is on its last legs along my home water, but it is not over, and with the moon swelling toward full early next week the tides are building again. Mornings are cooler and the first north winds of the season are making the beachfront choppy.
What’s Hitting
Snook are still the headline at the inlet, the bridges and the dock lights, though more fish are sliding back into the lagoon as the water cools. Redfish are tailing on the flats and pushing into the St. Lucie forks, jacks and ladyfish are crashing bait on the surface, and Spanish mackerel and a few bluefish are working the beach.
Looking ahead, expect the snook to keep drifting toward the creeks and the warmer backwater pockets over the next few weeks, while redfish fishing gets better as the water drops. Tarpon are now scattered and mostly an incidental catch.
Where to Find Them
Work the inlet on the outgoing tide, where snook sit along the rock edges and the seawall. At night the dock lights along the lagoon hold fish. For redfish, fish the oyster edges and shallow flats in the forks on the rising tide and watch for tails. Along the beach, look for birds over bait inside the first sandbar.
Tides & Conditions
Tide swings are building toward the full moon, so the current through the inlet will strengthen through the weekend and into early next week. The outgoing tide is still the best window for snook, and the first two hours of the incoming can be good. Cooler nights are dropping water temperatures steadily, and north wind can muddy the beachfront. Check a current tide chart for your spot.
Tackle & Tactics
A 7-foot medium spinning rod with 15 to 20 pound braid and a 25 to 30 pound fluorocarbon leader covers most inshore work. Live pilchards and finger mullet on a circle hook are the top choice at the inlet, and white or silver soft plastics work when fish are on glass minnows. For redfish, a quarter-ounce jighead with a paddle tail or a gold spoon over the flats does the job.
When the wind kicks up, move to the protected lagoon side and fish the lee shorelines. Slow your retrieve as the water cools, and leave a little pause in every twitch.
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.
This Week’s Tip
Watch the wind. A north blow pushes bait against the south shorelines, so follow it and fish the downwind side of points and docks.
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