Updated: Thursday, October 15, 2026 · Next update: Thursday, October 22, 2026
This Stuart fishing report covers mid-October, when the mullet run rolls through the inlet on my home water and mornings bring the first real hint of fall. Snook are the headline, stacked at the inlet, the bridges and the dock lights. Redfish push into the St. Lucie forks, and Spanish mackerel mix in along the beach. The condition to plan around is the moon building toward first quarter this weekend, which eases the big new-moon tidal swings and makes the inlet easier to fish.
What’s Hitting
Snook lead the way, stacked at the inlet, the bridges and the dock lights and feeding on mullet, pilchards and finger-mullet imitations. Tarpon are thinning out, though a few fish still roll on the beachfront and in the inlet on moving water.
Redfish push into the St. Lucie forks and along the Indian River Lagoon edges, jacks and ladyfish crash bait on the surface, and Spanish mackerel mix in along the beach. Expect the mullet run to wind down over the next few weeks, with cooler water keeping redfish and snook active around the inlet through the fall.
Where to Find Them
Work the inlet on the outgoing tide, where snook line the rock edges and the seawall waiting for mullet to be flushed out. After dark, dock lights along the lagoon hold snook and the occasional tarpon.
For redfish, fish the oyster edges and shallow flats in the forks on a rising tide and watch for tailing fish and nervous bait. Along the beach, look for diving birds over bait inside the first sandbar, where mackerel and jacks push the schools.
Tides & Conditions
With the moon heading toward first quarter, tide swings are moderating, so the current through the inlet is easier to work than at the new moon. The best snook windows are the last two hours of the outgoing tide and the first of the incoming, early and late in the day.
Water temperatures are slipping slowly, and the cleanest water is usually on the incoming tide near the inlet. Check a current tide chart for your exact spot.
Tackle & Tactics
A 7-foot, medium-power spinning rod with 15 to 20 pound braid and a 25 to 30 pound fluorocarbon leader covers most of the inshore work.
- Inlet snook: live mullet and pilchards on a circle hook are the top choice.
- Glass minnow days: white or silver soft plastics and jerkbaits.
- Redfish: a quarter-ounce jighead with a paddle tail, or a gold spoon over the flats.
- Clear water: downsize the leader.
For night sessions, a small LED light on your hat helps with rigging without ruining your night vision. In daylight, polarized glasses are the best tool for spotting redfish.
Local Intel This Week
Sandsprit Park on the St. Lucie River is the easy launch for the inlet and the Crossroads. Phipps Park puts you on the South Fork for redfish on the rising tide, and Jensen Beach Causeway Park opens up the Indian River Lagoon edges and dock lights.
Fish concentrate at the inlet, the Crossroads and the bridge pilings, with redfish working up the forks. Check current FWC and federal regulations and seasons before keeping fish. Snook and redfish rules in particular are specific and change.
This Week’s Tip
Match the hatch. When mullet are flipping on the surface, cast to the outer edge of the school and bring the lure through the margin instead of the middle, where the predators are waiting.
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