Best Times & Seasons to Fish in Port St. Lucie, FL (A Guide)

Port St. Lucie is one of the most popular beach cities in Florida and home to some incredible deepsea fishing opportunities. Knowing the best seasons to fish in Port St. Lucie will make a huge difference in your fishing success.

The best season to fish in Port St. Lucie for marlin, amberjack, bass, and cobia is summer whereas winter is the hottest time to catch snapper, snook, striped bass, and tuna. The spring and fall are also great times to fish Port St. Lucie.

Fish Species	Best Seasons to Catch Fish in Port St. Lucie
Snook	December through March are the best months.
Tuna	April through August is the best season for tuna in Port St. Lucie.
Redfish	Redfish are available year-round; fall and winter are the best.
Tarpon	Tarpon are available year-round; fall is the best season.
Cobia	November through April are the best fishing months.
Marlin	April through September is the best timeframe.
Spotted Seatrout	September through December is the best time.
Black Drum	February through May tends to be the best months.
Mahi Mahi	December through May is best; June & July can be good too.
Largemouth Bass	Mid-spring through July are the best fishing seasons.

Port St. Lucie is a city on the Atlantic coast in southern Florida, about 30 minutes south of Fort Pierce. Port St. Lucie, as one might expect, is recognized for being one of those quaint, Old Florida communities bordered with palm trees. Its uncrowded waters give a good opportunity for anglers to catch the most sought-after species.

Port St. Lucie Fishing (Best Times)

Largemouth Bass

Best Times: May – July

The largemouth bass fishing in Port St. Lucie is among the very best in the country. A few things to remember when targeting largemouth. If you want to fish the shallows during the scorching summer months, you’ll have to get up early.

You can fish shady regions in shallow water for longer than you can in cover-less areas, but when the sun heats up the water, the bass will go to deeper, cooler water. Another good time to catch bass is in the last two hours before dusk. They frequently eat before the sun goes down. Because the cold-blooded bass will be heated and agitated this time of year, you may employ a rapid retrieve. 

Sheepshead 

Best Times: Year-round availability

The sheepshead fishing in St. Lucie is as epic as the bass fishing. These powerful jawed fish are chomping at your bait all year with every month as good as the last. Small crabs are your best chance for luring their strong jaws, and in most circumstances, the more realistic the better with a practical presentation.

Fiddler crabs are one of the most popular bait options. Try not to pierce any organs when putting the crab on the hook. For sheepshead, it is all about presentation and if the crab is alive your amount of strikes will dramatically increase.

Blacktip Shark

Best Times: December – April

When going after blacktip sharks in Port St. Lucie December thru April are peak months, throughout the year their number is prominent also. Heavy tackle and whole live baitfish are recommended by the local anglers.

This species causes a lot of injuries after being caught so keep your body parts away from the mouth even when they appear dead. Rest assured if your looking for a blacktip trophy these waters will serve you well, thanks to the healthy abundant population in the area.

Bluefish

Best Times: August – September

Port St. Lucie offers world-class blue fishing. A bluefish may be caught by any angler with minimal effort. The season begins in May and ends in late October. Bluefish populations are at their highest in September. To protect bluefish from cutting your lines with their keen teeth, use wire leads.

Blues respond strongly to plastic grubs and lead-headed plastic baits. Surf fishing for squid in Port Lucie will also produce fantastic results. This fish can really give you a run for your money when utilizing light gear, making blues a fantastic sports fishing target. 

Snook

Best Times: May – September

Snook can be seen in the warmer waters of Port St. Lucie since they are particularly sensitive to changes in water temperature. This Florida fish is a vicious, voracious predator that will rip a fishing line to bits. Snook is difficult to catch on light tackle, but they put up quite a fight, and landing one can be very rewarding.

Snook may be found in warm seas. They can’t bear the cold and will do anything to escape it. So the optimum time to fish for them is in early May until mid-September, although any time throughout the spring is OK. 

Tarpon

Best Times: May – August

Tarpon is a popular game fish and is renowned for the fight the produce when hooked. Tarpon, sometimes known as the “silver king of sport-fishing,” is not the tastiest fish, but a worthy adversary when it comes to game fishing in southern Florida.

Tarpon can endure a broad range of salinity and may be found in all of the state’s rivers. Tarpon fishing at St. Lucie can begin as early as mid-March but is normally best between May through August.

Redfish

Best Times: March – July

This shallow-water schooling fish, often known as redfish, lives in both salty and brackish environments. It is distinguished from the black drum by the absence of chin barbs and its long, elongated body. It has a large black patch or numerous spots just before the tail.

This species, which was severely overfished in the past, is now a conservation success story. The best time to catch a redfish is March through mid-July. Large redfish catches are more likely to occur during the months of May and June.

Spotted Sea Trout

Best Times: March – Oct 

Spotted Sea Trout, often known as speckled trout, is a schooling species that live in the shallow waters of bays and estuaries. It lives in grassy areas and feeds mostly on shrimp and small baitfish. It has two huge canine teeth in the upper jaw.

One of St. Lucia’s most popular sport fish, spotted sea trout, will take everything from top-water plugs to saltwater flies. When the weather cools off in mid-October, this is the greatest time to go sea trout fishing. Use topwater baits to catch Sea Trout early in the morning throughout early March through mid-October. 

Barracuda

Best Times: March – November

This fish is called a sea pike, although the resemblance between the two is merely superficial. A powerful lower jaw that spans across the top mouth distinguishes the barracuda. A series of small, sharp teeth covers the jaw on the outside, while a row of bigger teeth covers the jaw on the inside.

The longest barracuda ever reported is 6.7 feet long and weighs 110 pounds. This fish consumes a wide range of meals such as fish, calamari, and even its own relatives. Most of the year, trolling is employed to catch these fish in Port St. Lucie. 

Red Snapper

Best Times: June – July & September – October

An offshore species is found at depths ranging from 60 to 440 feet. Red snappers are pinkish to red in color, with a pointed bottom fin that differentiates them from other snapper species. Red snapper juveniles used to die by the millions in shrimp trawls, but new laws have allowed this species to recover.

Red snapper is one of the best-tasting fish in the seas around St. Lucie. The season varies from year to year, although it is typically between June to July and October to November. 

I recommend this Penn Pursuit Spinning Rod & Reel combo (available on Amazon) for inshore and nearshore fishing. It can handle everything from redfish to snapper and king mackerel. The Penn Battalion Series Spinning Rod and the Penn Battle Spinning Reel are fantastic if you want to create your combo.

Recommended Fishing Charters in Port St. Lucie

These Port St. Lucie-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a tremendous service. The captains are knowledgeable, friendly, and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.

Recommended Fishing Charters	Type of Fishing Offered
Port St Lucie Fishing Charters	Wreck, Nearshore, Inshore & Offshore
Kovach Fishing Charters	Wreck, Nearshore, Inshore, Reef & Offshore
Fishing Chris Fishing Adventures	Wreck, Nearshore, Inshore & Offshore
Apex Predator Sportfishing	Wreck, Nearshore, Reef & Offshore
Catch 22 Fishing Charters	Backcountry, Flats, Inshore & River
Hook’d Up Charters	Backcountry, Flats, Offshore, Inshore & Nearshore

Best Saltwater Locations to Fish In Port St. Lucie (Best Times)

Jensen Beach Causeway: 

Jensen Beach Causeway is a pier and a walkway beneath the Jensen Beach Causeway Bridge, located off Indian River Drive, providing a picturesque view of the Indian River. There is a playground for children as well as a picnic area for family gatherings.

Fishermen catch a variety of species, and locals will share their finest fishing tips with visitors. There are many local regulars, and the Snook Nook bait shop is not far away if you require the proper tackle or equipment.

Little Jim Bridge:

Little Jim Bridge, There are two bridges that connect Fort Pierce to Hutchinson Island. Take the bridge on the eastern side. To hook snapper, snook, and sheepshead, fishermen utilize both live and dead bait. The teeth of the Sheepshead are human-like. When the tide is flowing in or out, it is best to fish.

Fort Pierce Inlet: 

Fort Pierce Inlet, Take A1A, commonly known as Seaway Drive, just north of Avenue E in Fort Pierce and travel east until you reach the terminus. snapper, big snook, flounder, pompano, bluefish, tarpon, and Spanish mackerel are being caught by the anglers.

For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Vero Beach, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Cocoa Beach, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Jupiter, please check out this helpful guide.

Best Bass Fishing Locations Near Port St. Lucie

Okeechobee Lake:

Lake Okeechobee is a man-made lake and one of the world’s most famous large bass bodies of water. It is Florida’s largest lake and is a healthy habitat for largemouth bass and other animal species. The fishing is superb all year, making this the ideal fishing excursion of a lifetime. On this massive lake, there are several places to fish, but Okeechobee City on the north end would be ideal if heading from Port St. Lucie.

Stick Marsh:

Stick Marsh in East Central Florida is another excellent fishing location. Because of the amount of foliage, natural cover, and stumps, Stick Marsh is mostly a bass fishing lake. Big bass adores this stumpy, grassy lake and everything it has to offer. This location offers a one-of-a-kind and spectacular fishing trip.

Fellsmere:

Fellsmere is a world-class man-made lake bordered by stick marsh. The SJRWMD and FWC worked hard to improve the environment before flooding, making this a great fishing area. The FWC stocked around 1,000,000 game fish and popular panfish like crappie, redear sunfish, and bluegill after it was inundated.

Osborne Lake:

Lake Osborne, located in the municipality of Lake Worth in Palm Beach County, is a fantastic fishery that has been certified as a giant fish habitat. You can definitely enjoy its uniqueness within a short trip from the metropolis of Port St. Lucie. It is a good place to catch largemouth bass, peacock bass, and clown knifefish. 

St. Lucie is a wonderful destination to come if you want to enjoy the gorgeous beaches, incredible fishing, and classic landscape that this region of the United States is known for. There are also several trips available to enjoy the wonderful mangroves and wetlands, as well as cruises on the St. Lucie River to view alligators and wild dolphins.

Port St. Lucie, Florida, also has a great number of wildlife preserves and parks where nature enthusiasts may get up and personal with the native flora and animals. With some of the best fishing opportunities in Florida, St. Lucie is a “must-see” for any angler.