Chastain Beach Fishing

Chastain Beach is a pocket of sand with rock at either end, a few hundred yards north of Bathtub Reef near the southern tip of Hutchinson Island. The rock gives fish something to hold on, which a plain sand beach lacks.

• A short beach framed by rock outcrops, visible from the crossover
• Snook and sheepshead around the rock, pompano and whiting on the sand
• Restrooms and showers, according to the county tourism office and the state's access list
• Open at all hours under county rules; no shark fishing here

The access is at 1213 SE MacArthur Boulevard in Stuart, on the southern end of Hutchinson Island between the House of Refuge museum and Bathtub Reef Beach, and Martin County runs it.

• From the Stuart Causeway, head south along MacArthur Boulevard toward Sailfish Point
• Park in the small unpaved county lots on either side of the road; the state's beach access list counts about 20 spaces
• A short crossover leads from the lot over the dune to the sand
• County beach accesses are open at all times unless closed for safety
• No fee is listed

Rock close to shore adds structure fish to the usual surf list.

• Spring (Mar-May): snook move onto the rock edges, with bluefish and Spanish mackerel on passing bait
• Summer (Jun-Aug): snook and mangrove snapper around the outcrops at dawn and after dark
• Fall (Sep-Nov): mullet schools bring snook, jacks and the odd tarpon, and fish from the St. Lucie Inlet to the south push along the beach
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and black drum grazing the rock, pompano and whiting on the sand, and bluefish after cold fronts

Fish the sand beside the rock and the edges of the outcrops, not the middle of them.

• Sheepshead and black drum: a short fluorocarbon leader, a small strong hook and a fiddler crab or shrimp, with just enough weight to hold beside the rock
• Snook: a live mullet or pilchard, or a bucktail, worked along the rock edge in low light on 40 lb leader
• Pompano and whiting: a two-hook rig cast to the open sand in the middle of the beach, baited with bought sand fleas or clam
• Bluefish and jacks: a spoon on a short wire leader
• Bring extra rigs; the rock takes its share

Two highs and two lows arrive each day; NOAA's Seminole Shores station, right on this stretch of coast, predicts ranges of about 2 to 4 feet.

• Mid-tide to high tide floods the rock edges and draws snook and sheepshead in close
• Low tide shows the shape of the outcrops, so scout then and fish the rise
• A calm day with clear water is best around rock; heavy surf makes it dangerous and snaggy
• Cold fronts bring bluefish and pompano, often a day or two later
• In summer, fish at first light or after dark and dodge the afternoon storms

Rock and surf together make this beach more demanding than open sand.

• Stay off the outcrops when waves are washing over them; they are slick and sharp
• Rip currents pull along the rock ends; never swim or wade out after a snag
• Martin County's list of guarded beaches does not include Chastain; Bathtub Reef Beach, just south, has lifeguards
• Lightning: leave the beach at the first thunder
• Access: a small lot and a crossover, then a short stretch of soft sand

The access is small but not bare.

• Small unpaved parking lots on both sides of MacArthur Boulevard
• Restrooms and outdoor showers, listed by the state and the county tourism office
• Grills, listed on the county's park finder
• A crossover over the dune
• No bait or tackle on site; buy bait on the mainland
• The lot is small, so arrive early on weekends

• Walk the beach at low tide once to learn where the rock lies before you fish the rising tide
• Fish the sandy middle for pompano and the rock ends for snook and sheepshead
• Keep to Chastain's own sand; fishing is banned inside Bathtub Reef Beach and within 50 feet of it
• A long-handled net saves fish that would otherwise be lost on the rock
• Night sessions are allowed, but bring a partner and a good light

Chastain Beach is a Martin County beach access under the county's park code.

• Beaches and beach access strips are open at all times
• Shark fishing is banned within 1,000 yards of a full-service beach park, which covers this beach because Bathtub Reef is one
• Fishing is banned inside a full-service beach park and within 50 feet of its boundaries
• Chumming and blood-baiting are banned on county beaches
• Do not take sand dollars, starfish or other wildlife
• In July 2026 the county tabled a rewrite of these beach fishing rules after the FWC said local rules conflict with state law, so check the county's current code before you go
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything