Florida is arguably one of the best fishing destinations in the world: over 900 world records have been set by Florida fishermen, which is more than any other state or country in the world. A huge variety of fish can be caught on the Treasure Coast, especially in the Indian River Lagoon, including speckled trout, snapper, grouper, snook, sailfish, tarpon, sharks, and redfish. The incredible biodiversity of the area means that over 700 different species of fish can be found in these waters. Find tips below on catching a few of the most popular sport fish in the area, and remember that no matter what you bring in, the most important thing is to have a great time doing it.
Sailfish
Sailfish are one of the state’s favorites to catch, being the official state saltwater fish of Florida. Sailfish can jump high into the air and are acrobats on par with the dolphin. Sailfish travel offshore, alone or in small groups, and prefer warm water temperatures. If the water is warm, you can guess that sailfish might be anywhere small schools of prey fish are congregating. Find these schools by looking for predatory birds who are diving into the water and fishing. Sailfish are easiest to catch with live bait, which you can both cast with and trail in the water to attract them. If you’re getting bites that turn out to be another species, don’t lose hope and leave the area; sailfish are known to mix with other species and you have a great chance of catching on even if you seem to be surrounded by different types of fish. As long as you’re getting bites, keep trying, especially if you see their telltale sails in the surf. If you lose the first sailfish that bites, keep trying and consider keeping multiple lines in the water. Since sailfish often travel together, multiple bites by multiple sailfish are common and another chance to make a catch may be close behind.
Tarpon
Tarpons are plentiful in the Indian River and we can help point you to some of the best locations where you’re likely to find them. Also known as the “Silver King”, these giants are a popular catch, with the biggest one caught in the state weighing in at 243 lbs. Like the sailfish, these slow-growing giants prefer warm waters. Most tarpon fishing is done close to the coast rather than in deep water. Tarpons are often easy to spot because they come up to breathe air directly from the surface, which makes them quick to find. Tarpon isn’t popular to eat because the flesh is filled with tiny bones, but they’re prized for other characteristics. In addition, tarpons are strictly catch and release fish in the state of Florida unless you’re pursuing a world record and have purchased a tarpon tag. Since tarpon can breathe air and jump up to 10 feet out of the water, bringing a hooked one in successfully will likely be one of the best and most exhilarating fights of your life. Chumming can help attract tarpon to your location, and live bait like shrimp and prey fish smaller are the best choice on your line. Don’t startle a pod of tarpon by casting into the middle of the group; cast in front of a single tarpon when you see one or off to the side of a pod, where they can spot the live bait’s movement without becoming spooked. The Indian River Lagoon is a great choice to find tarpon in the fall and winter because large numbers of them congregate during these seasons where rivers flow into bays. Tarpon are especially fun to fish for because they’re so numerous; due to the fact that almost every caught fish is released and that they’re not caught to be eaten, it’s not uncommon for people to land several tarpons in a day, even though the majority of tarpon that bite will not be hooked and brought in. This is due to their extremely bony mouth, which is difficult to sink a hook into.
Snook
Snook are numerous in Florida’s inshore waterways along the Treasure Coast, and can often be found hanging around underwater structures like bridge supports and mangrove clusters that grow near the beach. This area is known for world-class snook fishing. Although these are the best spots to find snook, they’re also a hard place to land one: snook are incredible fighters and will often use a sharp structure to break your line once you hook them, so be sure to use something strong and resistant to snapping! While fishing for snook, remember that they’re not picky eaters. There’s no need to bring out your best live baits because snook will hit on just about anything you put in front of them when they’re hungry. However, snook are excellent to avoid anglers. Just because they’re present in an area doesn’t mean they’ll take your bait, whether it’s due to an overabundance of fishermen or natural foods in the area. Snook make excellent eating, but you’ll have to purchase a tag if you wish to keep your catch.
Spotted Sea Trout
These marine trout are among the most popular sport fish on the Treasure Coast, and the state record sea trout was caught in the Indian River Lagoon. They’ll take a variety of live baitfish species and lures. While the average trout is much smaller, they can get up to 20 pounds in maturity. Younger trout will congregate in small schools during the summer anywhere their prey can be found; your best chance is to try mangroves, docks, and other structures in 2-4 feet of water. However, it’s possible to catch a spotted trout any time of year in this area under a variety of conditions, so it’s always worth a shot. This fish is not a heavy fighter, so it’s a great choice for someone who just wants to have a good time and isn’t a fishing expert. They’re also good to eat if you can catch them!
If you still have questions about the fish you’ll catch in the lagoon and on the Treasure Coast, just ask! We rent fishing rods at 321 Boat and we’re always happy to point you in the right direction or show you the best spots to fish, regardless of what you hope to catch.