Can you catch Hardhead Catfish at Delaplane Preserve, Stuart?

Yes — Hardhead Catfish scores 5/10 at Delaplane Preserve, Stuart. The steady bottom catch on cut bait or shrimp; watch the spines.

Can you catch Snook at Delaplane Preserve, Stuart?

Yes — Snook scores 4/10 at Delaplane Preserve, Stuart. Small fish in the shadowed edges and around the dock posts; live shrimp at first light.

Can you catch Mangrove Snapper at Delaplane Preserve, Stuart?

Yes — Mangrove Snapper scores 4/10 at Delaplane Preserve, Stuart. Hold near the dock posts; small shrimp on a light rig.

Can you catch Redfish at Delaplane Preserve, Stuart?

Yes — Redfish scores 3/10 at Delaplane Preserve, Stuart. Occasional in the cooler months; the Indian River Lagoon region has release rules, so check FWC.

Can you catch Black Drum at Delaplane Preserve, Stuart?

Yes — Black Drum scores 3/10 at Delaplane Preserve, Stuart. Cool-season bottom fish; shrimp or crab.

Can you catch Sheepshead at Delaplane Preserve, Stuart?

Yes — Sheepshead scores 3/10 at Delaplane Preserve, Stuart. Winter fish around the dock when the water is saltier; fiddler crabs.

Can you catch Pinfish at Delaplane Preserve, Stuart?

Yes — Pinfish scores 3/10 at Delaplane Preserve, Stuart. Around the dock all year; fun for children and handy live bait.

Can you catch Striped Mullet at Delaplane Preserve, Stuart?

Yes — Striped Mullet scores 3/10 at Delaplane Preserve, Stuart. Visible in the river all year but rarely taken on hook and line.

Martin County

Delaplane Preserve, Stuart Fishing

5.3· Backwater· Stuart, FL

Delaplane Preserve is a 51-acre Martin County nature preserve on the South Fork of the St. Lucie River, one of Florida's few blackwater streams. Its fishing dock reaches out over the dark, tea-stained water, and a quarter-mile nature trail, picnic tables and a kayak launch round out a quiet visit. This is a back-country spot rather than a showpiece: expect small snook, mangrove snapper, catfish and mullet on live shrimp and light tackle, with larger fish moving up from the main river after rain or in the cooler months. Salinity changes with the season, so freshwater fish can turn up as well. Parking is a six-car lot. Mosquitoes, alligators and the sun are the hazards.

Today's tides · Fri, Oct 23

Low3:56 AM0.6 ft
High9:35 AM1.2 ft
Low4:20 PM0.6 ft
High9:48 PM1.2 ft

Delaplane Preserve, Stuart tide chart: the next 7 days

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7-day fishing forecast for Delaplane Preserve, Stuart — 7-day forecast

Oct 23–29, 2026

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Sea: pale calm, deep blue surf, amber rough Water: blue clear, brown colored

Saturday looks better than today. Unlock the week to see its score and exact window.

Friday, Oct 23 · windows & tide · Today

SeaFlat calm0.0 ft here · sheltered from the swell, no wind chop

Water colorClearYou could see the bottom in about six feet of water

OnshoreWind5 mph NWGusts 20 mph · Onshore here

72°N 7 mph · dry

68°NW 5 mph · dry

78°NE 9 mph · dry

75°N 5 mph · dry

▼ Low tide3:56 AM0.6 ft

▲ High tide9:35 AM1.2 ft

▼ Low tide4:20 PM0.6 ft

▲ High tide9:48 PM1.2 ft

12 AM

6 AM

12 PM

6 PM

12 AM

Very small tides0.7 ft range · 27% below normalBuilding toward bigger tides

Why 69 · 6 AM–9 AM

WindGoodA light wind (5 mph)+8
SeaOkaySea 0.1 ft · Flat calmSheltered from the swell, no wind chop0
Tide stateGoodIncoming tide (flooding)+9
Tide sizePoorSmall tides−4
LightGoodDawn or dusk light+6
RainGoodDry (5% chance of rain)

Confidence high · updated 10h ago

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Fishing report · October 2026

What's biting at Delaplane Preserve, Stuart

SnookWorth a tryOpen: keep up to 1 a day between 28 in and 32 in
Snook are following the fall mullet run; look for them around beach bait schools and inlet edges at dawn.
In season this month
RedfishShows now and thenCatch and release only
October schools feed along mangrove shorelines, flats, and dock edges, especially when water is moving.
In season this month
Hardhead CatfishWorth a try
In season this month
Mangrove SnapperWorth a tryOpen: keep up to 5 a day of 10 in or more
In season this month
Black DrumShows now and thenOpen: keep up to 5 a day between 14 in and 24 in
In season this month

Built from this month's seasons, today's FWC rules and the catches anglers logged here in the last 30 days. Updated Fri, Oct 23.

Delaplane Preserve, Stuart tide chart

Tides for fishing at Delaplane Preserve, Stuart: every high and low tide for the next 7 days, from the South Fork tide station, 2 miles away. Times are local.

Delaplane Preserve, Stuart tide chart
TodayFri, Oct 23	Low3:56 AM0.6 ft High9:35 AM1.2 ft Low4:20 PM0.6 ft High9:48 PM1.2 ft
TomorrowSat, Oct 24	Low4:37 AM0.4 ft High10:22 AM1.3 ft Low5:04 PM0.5 ft High10:31 PM1.2 ft
SundayOct 25	Low5:18 AM0.2 ft High11:08 AM1.4 ft Low5:47 PM0.5 ft High11:15 PM1.3 ft
MondayOct 26	Low6:01 AM0.1 ft High11:54 AM1.4 ft Low6:31 PM0.4 ft High11:59 PM1.3 ft
TuesdayOct 27	Low6:46 AM0.0 ft High12:42 PM1.4 ft Low7:17 PM0.5 ft
WednesdayOct 28	High12:46 AM1.3 ft Low7:33 AM0.0 ft High1:31 PM1.4 ft Low8:05 PM0.5 ft
ThursdayOct 29	High1:35 AM1.3 ft Low8:24 AM0.0 ft High2:23 PM1.4 ft Low8:58 PM0.6 ft