Late May has put Stuart’s spring fishery into full gear. Tarpon are stacked from the Crossroads up into the St. Lucie River, mahi-mahi are pushing in on the weed lines just outside Saint Lucie Inlet, and the inshore snook bite has shifted into its summer pattern on the bridges and beaches.
Inshore — Snook, Tarpon, Snook on the Beaches
Tarpon are the headline story this week. Schools of 80- to 130-pound fish are rolling through the Crossroads on the outgoing tide and pushing up into the St. Lucie River as far as the railroad bridge. Live mullet, threadfin, and crabs on the major moon phases (full moon was May 18) are producing solid hookups, with the best window being the last two hours of the outgoing into the slack.
Snook have moved to their summer haunts. The Roosevelt and Jensen Beach bridges are holding fish on the up-current side at night, and a strong daytime beach bite has developed from House of Refuge south to Bathtub Beach. Look for them cruising the first trough at sunrise — DOA Bait Busters and white bucktails are getting it done.
Redfish action in the IRL has cooled with rising water temps (now in the upper 70s), but tailing fish are still showing up on the high-tide flats north of the Crossroads at first light.
Nearshore — Cobia, Kingfish, Tarpon at the Beach
Kingfish are thick from Peck’s Lake south to Bathtub Reef in 40 to 60 feet. Slow-trolled blue runners and live menhaden are the move, and the bigger smokers (30+ pounds) are coming on the deeper end of that range.
Beach tarpon have shown up in big numbers along the Hutchinson Island stretch. Sight-casting to rolling schools with live crabs or DOA Bait Busters is producing some of the best fishing of the year for kayak and small-boat anglers willing to be out at sunrise.
Cobia are still around — a few stragglers from the spring run are following rays and turtles on the surface. Keep a pitch rod rigged.
Offshore — Mahi Peak, Sailfish Winding Down
Mahi-mahi is the offshore target this week. The weed line is set up 8 to 18 miles out depending on the day, and trollers running ballyhoo behind sea witches and naked rigs are catching limits of schoolies with shots at slammers to 30 pounds. Frigate birds working bait are the giveaway — run to them.
Sailfish action has dropped off significantly as the spring run winds down, but a few late fish are still being caught by crews dialed in on the kite spread in 120 to 180 feet.
Bottom fishing on the deeper humps has produced solid mutton snapper and a few muttons mixed with mangroves on the deeper structure.
Tides, Moon, Weather
Full moon was May 18 — this week’s tides are easing off but still running strong, particularly on the morning outgoing. Best fishing windows are 6:00–9:30 AM and the evening incoming around 7:00 PM.
Water temp at the inlet is 78–80°F, climbing toward summer pattern. Surface winds have been moderate SE to E in the 10–15 knot range, with calmer mornings.
Where to Be This Week
Crossroads at first light for rolling tarpon, Roosevelt Bridge at night for snook, the Hutchinson Island beaches for cruising tarpon and snook on the sand, and 10–18 miles east on the weed line for mahi.
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