Stuart Fishing Report — Week of November 12, 2026: Pompano, Bluefish, Sheepshead

Updated: Thursday, November 12, 2026 · Next update: Thursday, November 19, 2026

This Stuart fishing report is a seasonal outlook for the week of November 12, shaped by forecast weather rather than a verified dock count. Forecasters expect a weak front Thursday and a stronger one early Friday, with northwest wind and the coolest mornings of the season so far this weekend. That combination usually tightens the beach pompano pattern and pushes trout and redfish toward deeper lagoon edges around the St. Lucie Inlet.

What’s Hitting

Pompano remain the headline species for the Hutchinson Island beaches, and the first real cool snap of the fall is the kind of change that often concentrates them in the troughs once the surf settles. Bluefish and jack crevalle should keep harassing bait around the inlet mouth on moving water. Inside, spotted seatrout and slot redfish tend to slide off the shallow grass into potholes and channel edges after a cold night, then return to the flats as the sun warms them. Sheepshead are beginning their seasonal move toward bridges and docks, and their numbers usually build through late November. Snook are still around but become more selective as water cools.

Where to Find Them

Work the north and south jetties at the St. Lucie Inlet on the last half of the outgoing tide, when bait spills out of the river. On the beaches, look for darker troughs and cuts along Stuart Beach and Bathtub Reef Beach. In the lagoon, the deeper edges near Sewall’s Point and the channel drop-offs along the Crossroads hold fish on chilly mornings. Up the St. Lucie River, the Roosevelt Bridge and Palm City Bridge pilings are natural sheepshead and black drum structure as the month progresses.

Tides & Conditions

The November 9 new moon means tides remain fairly strong through the end of this week, easing toward the November 17 first-quarter moon. Expect northwest wind behind Friday’s front, then a shift back onshore Sunday as temperatures warm toward normal. Forecast models disagree about another rain system early next week, so watch updates before planning an offshore run. A northwest wind flattens the beach and can produce excellent surf conditions on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Tackle & Tactics

For pompano, use a seven- to nine-foot surf rod, ten- to fifteen-pound braid and a double-dropper rig with sand fleas, clam strips or Fishbites, or bounce a small yellow or pink pompano jig through the trough. At the inlet, a spoon or white bucktail on a heavy fluorocarbon leader covers bluefish and jacks. On the lagoon edges, slow a soft-plastic shrimp or paddle tail on a light jig head along the drop. After a cold night, fish later in the morning and downsize baits.

Local Intel This Week

Stuart Beach and Bathtub Reef Beach on Hutchinson Island provide easy surf access, and the beach next to the Stuart Beach parking area allows a short walk to good troughs. Sandsprit Park in Port Salerno offers a public ramp close to the Crossroads and the inlet. The Stuart Causeway and the fishing areas near the Roosevelt Bridge give bank anglers a chance at sheepshead and drum as the water cools. Watch the shoals inside the inlet, which change after strong tides. Check current state and federal regulations and seasons before keeping fish. Weekday dawns after the front should be less crowded than the weekend.

This Week’s Tip

On Saturday’s cold morning, skip the first hour on the flats and start at the beach instead. Fish the incoming tide into the troughs, then move into the lagoon around midday when the sun has warmed the shallow grass edges.