The Indian River Lagoon system is at its spring peak. Tarpon are stacked through the lagoon and rivers, permit are at the jetties, and the dock-light snook bite is as good as it gets.
Tarpon — Peak Season
Tarpon are at full peak in the IRL. Schools are rolling in the open lagoon at first light, holding in the Sebastian River, and stacking at the Sebastian Inlet. Live mullet, threadfins, or pinfish on outgoing tide is the textbook approach. Sight-casting to laid-up fish is producing on calm mornings — look for them along the spoil islands south of Vero. Fly anglers throwing big black-and-purple Toads at first light are getting eats.
Permit at the Jetties
Permit are stacked at the Sebastian Inlet jetties and at Fort Pierce Inlet. Live crabs on a 4/0 circle hook drifted along the rocks on the outgoing tide is the move. Numbers are good this week — most boats running the inlet on outgoing are hooking at least one fish. Strong leader (60 lb fluoro) is important; these fish will saw you off in the rocks if you let them.
Snook on Dock Lights
Dock lights from Vero south through Fort Pierce and into Stuart are loaded with snook at night. Live shrimp, small pilchards, or a DOA Shrimp on a slow retrieve is the high-percentage move. Bigger fish in the 28–36 inch range are stacking under the bigger commercial dock lights — these are the trophy targets.
Trout and Reds
Spotted seatrout are still on the grass flats and around the spoil islands at dawn. Topwater plugs early, then soft plastics. Redfish are scattered on shallow flats — sight-casting at low tide is producing fish around the islands south of Vero.
Specific Spots This Week
The Sebastian Inlet at first light remains the headline tarpon spot — work the inside of the inlet and the cuts at the mouth on outgoing tide. Inside the lagoon, the spoil islands south of Vero are holding rolling fish at dawn — sight-cast to laid-up fish on calm mornings with a black-and-purple Toad fly or a small dark plug. Permit are stacked at the Sebastian and Fort Pierce inlets on outgoing tide. The dock lights from Vero south through Fort Pierce are firing at night for snook in the 24–32 inch range. The Indian River Lagoon flats around Round Island and the spoils south of the Wabasso Bridge are giving up trout to anglers throwing soft plastics on a jighead. Tailing redfish are showing at low tide near the islands south of Vero.
Conditions and Outlook
Water temp 77–79°F. New moon Saturday — softer tides but a strong dawn/dusk bite. Light easterly winds through Friday. Dock light bite peaks tonight through the weekend.
Local Intel This Week
Sebastian Inlet jetties at outgoing tide for permit — live crabs on 4/0 circle, 60 lb fluoro leader minimum. Fort Pierce Inlet on the same pattern. Inside the lagoon, the spoil islands south of Vero hold tarpon on the falling tide. Dock lights from Vero south through Fort Pierce are loaded with snook after dark. The North Causeway is the snook hot spot for trophy-class fish over 32 inches. Florida saltwater license required, snook stamp needed for harvest. Tight lines.