The Official Guide to the Treasure Coast Since 1995
Treasure Coast Fishing Guide
Current Fishing Report &
Fishing-Related Articles
Treasure Coast
FISHING GUIDE
Where to fish and what to target on the Treasure Coast
FEATURED FISHING ARTICLES
TREASURE COAST FISHING GUIDE
Sebastian Inlet State Park
The north jetty is 1,000 feet long jutting into the Atlantic Ocean. There is also another shorter jetty on the south side, two catwalks across the inlet under the A1A bridge, a T-dock on the south shore, and plenty of access from shore and beaches, too. Anglers here can catch Spanish mackerel, black drum, redfish, snook, sheepshead, bluefish, snapper, jacks, flounder, pompano, whiting, and more.
Cole Coppola Pier
Located in Riverside Park, the largest public waterfront park in Vero Beach offers plenty of access to the lagoon, but the Cole Coppola fishing pier on the west side, south of the Barber Bridge extends 100 feet out into the lagoon, giving access to catch jacks, ladyfish, snook, and trout from a spacious T-dock at the end.
DJ Wilcox Preserve
Located on the west shore of the lagoon just south of the Indian River County line, this mangrove-lined mosquito impoundment offers access from a fishing pier with a T-dock. Trout, redfish, jacks, ladyfish, and snook can be caught here on shrimp or mullet.
Vitolo Family Preserve
Located on the lagoon side of South Hutchinson Island, this mangrove-lined mosquito impoundment offers access from a fishing pier. Trout, redfish, jacks, ladyfish, and snook can be caught here on shrimp or mullet. There is also a crabbing dock.
Indian Riverside Park
This family-friendly park located in Jensen Beach is filled with amenities including a pier that extends 725’ over the western waters of the lagoon giving anglers a chance to catch trout, redfish, and sheepshead.
Wabasso Causeway
Several spots offer decent fishing chances. The low bridge on its west end provides a good place to jig for pompano, jacks, and an occasional Spanish mackerel. The bridge on the east end is unfishable from on top, but underneath there are places to fish for snook, redfish, and flounder.
The causeway park offers covered shelters on both the north and south sides with great access to the water.
Round Island
This beautiful park offers trails, boardwalks, and a number of spots to fish on the lagoon but if you cross over the foot bridge, west of the parking area and follow a short trail through the hammock, you’ll find quiet pier with bench seating nestled among the mangroves. Shrimp-tipped jigs and topwater plugs can catch redfish, trout, snook, and jacks in this peaceful area.
South Bridge Catwalks
Located under the Seaway Bridge, snapper, sheepshead, snook, grouper, jacks, and ladyfish can all be caught here. Live shrimp, pinfish, mullet, or cut bait will catch fish here. Bring heavy tackle though. The fish are close to the bridge pilings and there is a lot of tidal current so snags are common.
Spillways
Don’t bring a knife to a gunfight, is what one longtime tackle shop owner always advised. Snook, tarpon, and jacks can be caught here, but none will be small, and there are tons of snags. Spillways with angler access are located at Taylor Creek in Fort Pierce and C-24 in Port St. Lucie.
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Treasure Coast Beaches
The most reliable spot to target pompano, whiting, and croaker are the beaches along the entire Treasure Coast from Hobe Sound to Sebastian. Use long rods, 9-12 feet, and cast to the sand bar which runs parallel to the beach. Sand fleas, if available, and artificial baits like Fishbites and Fish Gum all work well to get bites.
Merrill Barber Bridge
The 1.25-mile-long bridge that connects downtown Vero Beach to the island has a spacious fishing pier below which stretches half of the bridge span from the east side. With a tackle shop that sells live bait at the entrance, it’s a convenient and shaded spot that reliably holds sheepshead, mangrove snapper, redfish, and jacks.
Wildcat Cove
This is another out-of-the-way spot on North Hutchinson Island across A1A from Pepper Park Beach and has four long docks in the cove which give anglers a place to fish from. Live shrimp is all that is needed to catch redfish, trout, snook, jacks, black drum, sheepshead, ladyfish, and flounder.
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Fort Pierce Inlet Jetty Park
Although not as long as Sebastian Inlet’s jetty, this jetty is pretty fishy, too. Spring months will give anglers chances to catch tarpon, Spanish mackerel, bluefish, snook, flounder, and sheepshead on cut bait, live bait, and spoons. But fishing is great year-round here where just about anything runs through this area.
Jensen Beach Causeway
This 1.5-mile-long lagoon crossing offers a pier, two catwalks, and a low bridge on its east end. All provide good spots to catch snook, snapper, sheepshead, Spanish mackerel, black drum, bluefish, redfish, and pompano. Live or natural baits work best for the larger fish; small jigs for the pompano.
Wade Fishing
A good way to catch trout, redfish, snook, and tarpon is by actually walking into the Indian River Lagoon. There are many access points from the Hutchinson Island side of the lagoon. Wear waders or old tennis shoes and be sure to do “the stingray shuffle” to avoid being stung.