December 2025 — Stuart: Peak Sailfish Season, Holiday Fishing Excellent All Around. December is a early winter month with water in the 56-64°F range — sheepshead returning to structure; pattern shifts to winter. Here’s the full breakdown of what’s biting, where to fish, and the most productive tactics.
What’s Biting — December 2025
Primary targets this month: Sheepshead, Redfish, Sailfish, Seatrout.
Sheepshead
Sheepshead are stacked for the winter/early-spring spawn. Target the Roosevelt Bridge pilings, the Stuart Causeway, Hell’s Gate, the Jensen Beach Causeway, and St. Lucie Inlet jetties. Fresh fiddler crabs and live shrimp on a #1 or #1/0 octopus hook with minimal weight. Bites are subtle — set on the slightest tap. Vertical jigging tight to structure produces best.
Redfish
Winter reds in the spoil islands of the IRL, Manatee Pocket, Jensen Beach Causeway flats, and Bird Island shorelines. Look for the warmest water — dark mud bottoms, deeper canals, creek mouths warming on afternoons. Gold spoons, scented soft plastics, live shrimp under a popping cork.
Sailfish
Peak sailfish season on the Push Button Hill area off Stuart, the color change at 100-200 feet, the Loran Tower numbers, and the Bahamas current edge. Live bait (goggle-eyes, threadfins) on kites or slow-trolled. North current with falling barometer triggers the best bites. The Stuart-Palm Beach-Fort Lauderdale corridor is the East Coast sailfish capital.
Seatrout
Trout gathering in the deep grass flats of the IRL, the Crossroads, Sewall’s Point grass beds, and Bessey Creek. Larger fish (gator trout 20″+) hold in deeper potholes. DOA CAL Shads, MirrOlure Lil John, MirrOdine suspending baits, and live shrimp under popping corks. Slow the retrieve in cooler water.
Water Conditions & Patterns
Water temperatures are running 56-64°F. Sheepshead returning to structure; pattern shifts to winter. St. Lucie Inlet moves serious water; outgoing tide concentrates bait and game fish in the Crossroads area. The first two hours of incoming tide push clean blue Gulf Stream water in.
Check the NOAA marine forecast and tide charts before launching. Wind direction often matters more than wind speed for inshore fishing — clean water beats churned water nine times out of ten.
Tactics & Tackle for This Month
- Slow it down. Cold water means cold fish — work jigs, soft plastics, and live bait with patience. Bites are subtle.
- Fish the warmest water. Dark-bottom flats, deeper canals, and creek mouths warm fastest. Afternoons usually outproduce mornings in winter.
- Light fluorocarbon leader. 15-20 lb plenty for inshore — winter water is clear and fish are line-shy.
December Outlook
Winter patterns establishing — sheepshead, tautog, cold-water specialists take over.
Regulations Reminder
Redfish: 18-27″ slot, one per angler per day (verify FWC zone-specific rules). Seatrout/Speckled Trout: FL: 15-19″ slot, 3 per day (verify zone). TX: 15-25″ slot, 3 per day. LA: 12″ minimum, 15 per day (verify current). Sheepshead: 12″ minimum, 8 per day (FL). Always verify current state regulations before each trip — slots, bag limits, and seasons change.
Local Resources
Bait & Tackle: Snook Nook (Jensen Beach, 772-334-2710); Tackle Shack (Stuart, 772-220-2700); Whiticar Boat Works (Stuart).
Public Boat Ramps: Sandsprit Park (St. Lucie Inlet), Phipps Park (St. Lucie River), Jensen Beach Causeway, Stuart Causeway, Sewall’s Point boat ramp.
Charter Fishing: $500-$800 inshore; $900-$1,400 sailfish offshore; $700-$1,100 nearshore/kingfish.
More Stuart Resources
Stuart Fishing Guide · Stuart Seasonal Calendar · All Stuart reports →
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