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Top-Rated Night Inshore Fishing in Stuart, FL
- Published Date: July 17, 2025
- Fishing
- Stuart
- Updated Date: January 16, 2026
Summary
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Evening Fishing Action
Evening Inshore Fishing with Captain Jacob
When the sun starts dipping low over Stuart's waterways, that's when the real magic happens. Captain Jacob Ertle knows these waters like the back of his hand, and he's ready to show you why evening inshore fishing is hands-down one of the best ways to target some of Florida's most sought-after species. This isn't your typical daytime charter – we're talking about 4 hours of prime time fishing when the water cools down and the fish really start moving. You'll be casting along peaceful residential shorelines under the stars, targeting everything from aggressive snook to monster tarpon that patrol these flats. With room for up to 3 anglers, this trip keeps things intimate and focused, perfect for those who want to really dial in their technique and connect with the water.
What to Expect on the Water
Captain Jacob runs a top-rated operation that's all about getting you on fish while keeping the vibe relaxed and educational. As the afternoon light fades, you'll find yourself in some of the most productive inshore waters around Stuart, where the Indian River meets the Atlantic. The evening bite is legendary here – snook come alive in the shadows, redfish cruise the shallows, and tarpon roll through like silver submarines. Jacob's approach is hands-on, meaning you'll learn the ins and outs of sight casting with both fly and artificial lures. The residential shorelines we fish offer incredible structure with docks, mangroves, and grass flats that hold fish year-round. Don't expect to just sit back and wait – this is active fishing at its finest, where reading the water and making precise casts can make or break your night. The peaceful setting under the stars creates an atmosphere that's tough to beat, especially when you're battling a 30-pound tarpon in the moonlight.
Techniques & Tackle Setup
This trip is designed for anglers who want to step up their game with sight casting and artificial lures. Captain Jacob specializes in fly fishing and light tackle techniques that really shine during evening hours. You'll be working with both topwater plugs and subsurface artificials, depending on what the fish are telling us. The shallow water around Stuart's residential areas is perfect for sight fishing – you can actually watch redfish tailing in the grass or see snook ambushing bait around dock lights. Jacob provides all the gear you need, from quality spinning rods to fly setups, but if you've got your own favorite stick, bring it along. The key techniques you'll master include working topwater plugs along mangrove edges, casting soft plastics to cruising fish, and presenting flies to spooky shallow water species. Water depths range from 2 to 8 feet most of the evening, making it ideal for visual fishing where you can see strikes happen. The residential shorelines provide endless structure to work – every dock piling, every mangrove overhang, and every grass bed edge holds potential.
Species You'll Want to Hook
Snook are the crown jewel of Stuart's inshore scene, and evening hours are when these ambush predators really turn on. These fish love structure and low-light conditions, making them perfect targets as shadows grow long. You'll find them lurking around dock lights, mangrove edges, and residential seawalls where they can pin baitfish against solid cover. Snook hit hard and fight dirty, using their razor-sharp gill plates and powerful runs to test your drag system. The best part about targeting snook in the evening is they're actively feeding and less spooky than during bright daylight hours.
Grey Snapper might not get the glory of their offshore cousins, but these inshore fish are scrappy fighters that love the same structure as snook. They're opportunistic feeders that become more aggressive as light fades, making them excellent targets for both live bait and artificials. What makes snapper special is their willingness to eat just about anything you throw at them, plus they're fantastic table fare if you decide to keep a few for dinner.
Tarpon are the true giants of the inshore world, and Stuart's waters host some impressive fish year-round. Even smaller tarpon in the 20 to 40-pound range provide world-class sport on light tackle. These silver kings are most active during low-light periods, often rolling on the surface as they gulp air. The residential canals and deeper holes around Stuart are known staging areas where tarpon congregate before moving to spawning grounds. Landing a tarpon on fly gear under the stars is something every angler should experience at least once.
Redfish are customer favorites because they're visual feeders that offer incredible sight fishing opportunities in Stuart's grass flats. These copper-colored bruisers cruise the shallows looking for crabs and small baitfish, often with their backs out of the water. Evening hours find reds moving onto shallow flats to feed as water temperatures drop. They're notorious for making long, powerful runs that test your backing, and their willingness to eat both fly and conventional tackle makes them perfect for mixed groups of anglers.
Crevalle Jack are the bulldogs of the inshore world – pure muscle and attitude wrapped in a silver package. These fish travel in schools and feed aggressively during twilight hours, often creating massive feeding frenzies that attract diving birds. When you hook into a jack, expect a fight that'll test every knot and connection on your tackle. They're perfect for anglers who want to feel their rod bend and hear their drag scream, plus they're excellent practice for bigger gamefish techniques.
Time to Book Your Spot
Evening inshore fishing with Captain Jacob offers something you won't find on typical daytime charters – the chance to experience Stuart's waters when they truly come alive. This 4-hour trip packs more action and learning into one outing than most anglers see in a week of fishing. Whether you're looking to master sight casting techniques, target specific species like snook and tarpon, or just enjoy some of the best inshore fishing Florida has to offer, this trip delivers
Learn more about the species
Crevalle Jack
Jack Crevalle are the bulldogs of inshore fishing - pure muscle that'll test your drag and your arms. These brassy-colored bruisers typically run 5-15 pounds around Stuart, with occasional monsters pushing 30+. They roam everywhere from shallow flats to deeper channels, often in schools that create surface commotion. Year-round fishing is good, but summer evenings are prime time when they chase bait to the surface. While they're not great table fare, guests love them for their raw power and aggressive strikes on anything that moves. Look for diving birds - that's your best sign of feeding jacks below. Here's the key: cast past the school and retrieve fast with erratic action. These fish love the chase and rarely refuse a moving target.
Grey Snapper
Grey snapper, or mangrove snapper, are smart fish that make every hookup feel earned. Most run 12-16 inches around here, though deeper structure holds some 3-4 pounders. They hang around docks, bridges, and rocky bottom in 8-25 feet of water. These nocturnal feeders really turn on during evening hours, making them perfect for our night trips. What guests love most is the challenge - they're line-shy and spook easily, but once hooked they fight hard for their size. Plus, they're some of the best eating fish in our waters with sweet, white meat. Live shrimp works great, but here's a tip: use the lightest leader you can get away with and let your bait sit still on bottom. Too much movement spooks them.
Redfish
Redfish are perfect sight-fishing targets with their copper-bronze backs and signature black spots near the tail. Most fish we catch run 20-30 inches, perfect eating size with firm, mild white meat. They love super shallow water - sometimes with their backs showing - around grass flats, oyster bars, and mangrove shorelines. Spring through fall offers the best action, especially on moving tides. What makes them special is their aggressive takes on both live bait and artificials, plus they're strong fighters that make long runs. They're also great for beginners since they're not as finicky as snook. My go-to tip: look for nervous water or wakes in the shallows, then cast ahead of where they're moving and work your bait slowly back.
Snook
Snook are one of the most sought-after inshore species around Stuart. These sleek fish with their distinctive black lateral line typically run 18-28 inches, though bigger ones patrol deeper waters. They love structure - docks, mangroves, bridges, and residential seawalls where they ambush prey. Evening trips are perfect since snook feed aggressively at dusk and into the night. They're incredibly strong fighters that'll make drag-screaming runs toward cover. The meat is excellent - white, flaky, and mild. Best months are May through September when they're most active. Here's a local tip: when casting near docks, work your lure slowly along the shadow line where the structure meets open water. That's where they stage waiting to attack.
Tarpon
Tarpon are the ultimate bucket-list fish - true silver giants that can reach 6+ feet and jump completely out of the water when hooked. Around Stuart, we typically see fish ranging from 40-150 pounds rolling in our deeper channels and along the beaches. They prefer warmer months from May through October, often feeding near the surface during evening hours. What makes them special isn't just their acrobatic fights, but their prehistoric presence - these fish have been around for 125 million years. Most anglers practice catch and release since the meat isn't great. They're found in 10-40 feet of water around bridges, inlets, and deeper flats. Pro tip: when one jumps, bow to the fish by dropping your rod tip toward the water to keep from breaking your line.
About the C Hawk 23' CC
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Vehicle Guest Capacity: 4
Manufacturer Name: Suzuki
Maximum Cruising Speed: 38
Number of Engines: 1
Horsepower per Engine: 175
