Stuart’s fishing calendar runs 12 months — but each season has a dominant species and technique. Use this calendar to plan your trip around the Sailfish Capital of the World.
Related: Stuart Fishing Guide · Stuart Weekly Fishing Reports
| Month | Top Species | Peak Technique | Conditions & Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Sailfish, Wahoo, Kingfish | Kite fishing live baits offshore | Peak sailfish season — multiple releases/day possible on flat-calm winter days |
| February | Sailfish, Blackfin Tuna | Kite fishing, chunking | Winter sailfish continue; blackfin tuna active on the color changes |
| March | Sailfish, Cobia, Snook | Kite baits, sight-casting | Last of sailfish season; cobia follow rays nearshore; snook building inshore |
| April | Mahi-Mahi, Cobia, Tarpon | Weedline trolling, live bait | Mahi arrive on spring weedlines; tarpon begin entering St. Lucie |
| May | Tarpon, Mahi, Snook | Live mullet/crabs, kite baits | Tarpon migration peaks; snook pre-spawn feeding aggressively |
| June | Tarpon, Snook (spawn) | Live crabs, mullet — circle hooks | Peak tarpon month; snook spawn on nearshore reefs then return |
| July | Tarpon, Blackfin Tuna | Live bait, chunking | Late tarpon; blackfin tuna active at Pushbutton Hill |
| August | Snook, Redfish, Mahi | Topwater dawn, DOA jigs | Snook return from spawning; dawn topwater along mangroves excellent |
| September | Snook, Redfish, Wahoo | Live pilchards, jigs, trolling | Snook season reopens; wahoo building offshore |
| October | Wahoo, Snook, Redfish | High-speed trolling, live bait | Wahoo peaks; excellent all-around inshore and offshore season |
| November | Sailfish, Wahoo, Snook | Kite fishing, trolling | Sailfish migration begins; best overall month of the year |
| December | Sailfish, Kingfish, Snook | Kite fishing live baits | Sailfish season at full stride; winter inshore fishing excellent |
Best Months to Visit Stuart
Sailfish: November–March. Tarpon: May–July. Snook: September–November (after season reopens). Offshore: Year-round, with April–June best for mahi and fall for wahoo.