From the land to the deep sea, Stuart’s inshore and offshore waters offer an abundance and variety of different catches. We’re proud to team with the Coastal Angler to bring you the latest fishing reports to help put you on the fish and keep your lines tight
As the seasons change along Florida’s Treasure Coast, April consistently stands out as one of the most exciting months of the year. The ocean begins to settle down, daylight stretches a little longer each evening, and the fishery really starts to come alive. When those three things line up, it creates the kind of conditions anglers look forward to all winter.
Springtime marks the beginning of a major movement of pelagic species along our coastline. The reef systems that run roughly six to eight miles offshore become a natural highway for migrating fish. Sailfish, blackfin tuna, mahi, wahoo, kingfish, and bonito all pass through these waters, often sticking around for months as baitfish gather along the reef edge.
While there are plenty of ways to catch them, fishing live bait is usually the most dependable approach when the goal is steady action and variety. Trolling definitely has its place—especially when targeting species like wahoo, mahi, or blackfin—but suspending lively baits under kites often produces the most consistent bites during the spring run.
Threadfin herring, goggle eyes, sardines, and blue runners are all excellent choices, and when they’re flown properly from Tigress kites they create a natural presentation that’s difficult for predators to ignore.
Location is just as important as bait. Small details in the water often make a big difference. A slight color break, a stronger push of current, floating weed, or a defined edge along the reef can all concentrate bait and attract predators. Setting up drifts anywhere from roughly 75 to 200 feet of water and letting the boat work gradually north along the reef line can lead to some outstanding fishing.
For tackle, I prefer a versatile setup that matches our local fishery well. A Blackfin Rods OTC circle-hook rod in the 6’3” to 6’6” range paired with Shimano BFC reels makes an excellent combination for 15–25-pound class fishing. When sending a bait deeper in the water column, I like to step up to a slightly heavier rod with braided line for better sensitivity and quicker hooksets.
Fishing deeper baits along the reef often leads to some exciting surprises. Cobia, mutton snapper, and amberjack are all common visitors, and they’re always welcome additions to the day’s catch. When one of those fish grabs a down bait, though, it’s important to move quickly and apply steady pressure to keep them coming toward the boat.
One of the unfortunate challenges anglers continue to face locally is shark depredation. Sharks have become extremely aggressive around hooked fish, often intercepting them before they reach the boat. Because of this, many anglers have backed away from mid-water and bottom fishing closer to shore, knowing how difficult it can be to beat the tax collectors.
Beyond the reef, April also provides excellent opportunities offshore. Swordfishing can be very productive this time of year, and calmer sea conditions often make it possible to venture across to the Bahamas. Early spring fishing there can be spectacular, with yellowfin tuna, large mahi, wahoo, and both blue and white marlin making regular appearances. The mutton snapper fishing on the Bahama banks can also be truly exceptional.
If someone asked me to pick just one month out of the entire year to spend on the water, April would definitely be near the top of the list.
Spring fishing has been steady both inshore and nearshore on the Treasure Coast lately. Inshore we can expect good snook action using both live bait and artificials. Pilchards, pinfish, mullet, & croakers will be a good choice for larger snook. A 40-60 lb. leader with 4/0-6/0 circle hooks works well and ensures you don’t lose many fish due to leader fraying. Topwaters, subsurface, & rubber swim baits will also work well for snook this month. Expect some snapper, sea trout, redfish, jacks, & the occasional tarpon mixed in. We still have a few pompano lingering around the local flats and beaches. I usually tie on a couple goofy jigs or rig a few rods with designated pompano chicken rigs and bring sand fleas for some late season pompano fishing this month.
Nearshore fishing has been excellent for big jack crevalle swimming in large schools along the beaches. Cast a lure or live bait out and hold on!! Also, while cruising nearshore keep an eye out for Cobia, kingfish, sharks, permit, & tarpon. Again, cast to the lead fish and hold on!! Reef fishing has been good nearshore for smaller snapper, cobia, kingfish, sharks, & goliaths. Reel your snappers in quickly because the goliaths will eat them if you don’t practice a fast retrieve.
April’s local seascape will play host to some of the most prized saltwater grocery trophies in the world. Snapper, mahi, king mackerel, & Cobia will top this briny hit list and will be found around and atop the renowned reef system, east of our St. Lucie Inlet. The offshore fish hunters of April will delight in engaging in strategies that involve both surface and bottom fishing during open, user-friendly, weather windows this month. April can still be a windy month that produces rough sea conditions, so anglers (as always) will need to continue to monitor daily offshore forecasts.
Cobia can make a strong appearance during the golden days of April and will be found in many dynamic scenarios of the local, liquid playing field. Hungry packs of cobia will be attracted to all types of reef structures, both naturally occurring and artificial, and will fall to live and dead baits presented throughout the water column. Live baits are especially effective and will prove to be irresistible to a cobe in the right mood. Besides being found around bottom structures, cobes tend to follow and swim along with larger sea animals, like manta rays and southern stingrays, turtles, and sharks.
Casting to a cobia towing behind a larger sea creature is best achieved using three- to four-ounce jigs, tipped with a long ribbon of squid. Bottom fishing for the many species of the snapper family will continue to be a go-to strategy for Treasure Coast meat hunters in April. Large mutton and mangrove snapper will be available in good numbers along the reef line in 70 to 90 feet of water and allow fishermen to test their angling finesse while attempting to capture these fish athletes of the ocean floor. Wrestling a large snapper to the surface can be a full contact and exhilarating moment, made more satisfying as the filets hit the frying pan.
With this in mind, pack the cooler with plenty of dead bait, catch some “live-ies” if you can, and have an assortment of jigs standing by. And don`t forget to pull out some coastal recipes to fully enjoy the salty grocery trophies of April.
