UTERSailfish fishing in The Treasure Coast
In The Treasure Coast, sailfish peak November–March and are around year-round, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. January: The heart of the run off Stuart, Jupiter and Palm Beach; tournament season.
Late-fall fish start sliding down the coast.
Sailfish in The Treasure Coast, month by month
- JanuaryPeakThe heart of the run off Stuart, Jupiter and Palm Beach; tournament season.
- FebruaryPeakStill strong behind the fronts.
- MarchPeakFish start heading north and offshore; the tail of the run.
- AprilLeavingLeaving.
- MayAround
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberArrivingLate-fall fish start sliding down the coast.
- NovemberPeakThe winter run arrives late November — sails push south and bottleneck in 'Sailfish Alley', Fort Pierce to Palm Beach, where the Gulf Stream runs within 10 miles of the beach.
- DecemberPeakPeak season starts: the bite turns on behind each cold front, fish tailing down-sea on the north wind in 100–250 ft. Kite-fished live goggle-eyes and pilchards.
Where to fish sailfish near Boca Raton, Jupiter, Stuart
The inlets and the Intracoastal behind them, the southern Indian River Lagoon's grass flats and spoil islands, the St. Lucie and Loxahatchee rivers, the beaches, and a reef line that comes within a mile of the sand from Jupiter south.
Fish Scouter charts 442 artificial reef, 189 ledge / hard bottom spots in the Palm Beach & the Treasure Coast map area — the kinds sailfish hold on.
What to use for sailfish
- Goggle-eyesBridled through the eye sockets for sailfish and kingfish, kite-fished or slow-trolled.
- Pilchards (whitebait)Free-lined or under a cork, hooked through the nose on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook. The one bait that catches everything inshore.
- Threadfin herring (greenbacks)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined, or slow-trolled. Fragile — handle them wet and fast.
- BallyhooRigged on a wire or mono trolling rig, skipping or swimming, behind a skirt or naked.
- Leader40–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook4/0–8/0
- Braid50–100 lb
Feeds in 70–84°F water, best at 74–80°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch sailfish in The Treasure Coast?
Peak season is November–March. Sailfish are here year-round. January: The heart of the run off Stuart, Jupiter and Palm Beach; tournament season.
Where do sailfish hold in The Treasure Coast?
Look on artificial reef — around Boca Raton, Jupiter, Stuart, Fort Pierce, Vero Beach, Sebastian.
What is the best bait for sailfish in The Treasure Coast?
Live bait: goggle-eyes, pilchards (whitebait), threadfin herring (greenbacks), ballyhoo. Goggle-eyes: Bridled through the eye sockets for sailfish and kingfish, kite-fished or slow-trolled. Tackle: leader 40–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 4/0–8/0, braid 50–100 lb.
What are the rules for sailfish in The Treasure Coast?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and change — read the current rule at https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/ before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://myfwc.com/license/recreational/.
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