Stuart and Fort Pierce Boatless Fishing Report and Forecast: April 2014

Chris Beachwalker with a snook caught beachside on a Yo-Zuir crystal minnow. PHOTO SUPPLIED BY: Beachwalker Guide Service.
Chris Beachwalker with a snook caught beachside on a Yo-Zuir crystal minnow. PHOTO SUPPLIED BY: Beachwalker Guide Service.
Put the Fort Pierce and St. Lucie inlets at the top of the list of where you can catch snook and tarpon. PHOTO CREDIT: Beachwalker Guide Service.
Put the Fort Pierce and St. Lucie inlets at the top of the list of where you can catch snook and tarpon. PHOTO CREDIT: Beachwalker Guide Service.

Spring time is the time to hit the beaches, bridges and inlets. Pompano, bluefish, and mackerel will turn to catching snook, tarpon and permit. To be successful, you have to fish low light, such as early morning and late afternoon. Snook and tarpon love night time and make mullet a tasty meal real quick. Put the Fort Pierce and St. Lucie inlets at the top of the list of where you can catch snook and tarpon. The best time is when the water is moving, such as on the incoming or out-going tides. A big mullet free-lined can’t be beat. Throwing plugs like the YO-ZURI crystal minnow, bomber long and the Rapala X-rap will put you on the fish. Beaches with structure, like Walton Rocks and Bathtub Reef, will hold bait and snook up close. Jensen’s public pier will be hot this April with the bunker moving in and snook and tarpon following. Now the trick is to catch some bunker or to buy some pinfish. Tie on a live bait hook, put the hook through the nose, and let it swim free. These are going to be big fish so use 50 lb. mono leader. I like pink Ande and use it for everything tied to 50 lb. ultra cast braid from Spider wire. Cast it right outside of the school of bait, or along the shadow line. Use a stiff rod that’s rated at 30 to 50 line test. You’ll need it if the fish wants to go under the pier. Tarpon will be big—100 lb. plus—so make sure you beef up your leader to 80 lb. to 100 lb. to have even a chance to land these fish. You best bet are the inlets at night that have moving water and the Jensen beach public pier. Until next time, tight lines.