Shepard Park, Stuart Fishing

Shepard Park gives Stuart a simple, pleasant place to fish the St. Lucie River from a dock, a few steps from the car.

• A fishing dock and a riverwalk boardwalk over the St. Lucie River
• Snook along the river and the mouth of Frazier Creek, plus jacks, ladyfish and snapper in the warm months
• Sheepshead and black drum in winter
• Accessible restrooms, a pavilion, grills and a playground
• Open from sunrise to sunset

The park is at 600 SW Ocean Boulevard in Stuart, on the St. Lucie River at the mouth of Frazier Creek, beside US 1 (Federal Highway). The City of Stuart runs it.

• Getting there: the park sits on the south bank of the river beside US 1, with its entrance on SW Ocean Boulevard
• Parking: in the park, shared with boaters using the launch
• The walk: paved walkways lead to the docks and to the riverwalk boardwalk, which runs along the river on the park's west side
• Hours: the city lists the park as open daily from sunrise to sunset
• The boat launch and its docks are on Frazier Creek at the park's east end, so fish away from the ramp lanes

The St. Lucie is a brackish river, and what bites depends on the season and on how salty the water is.

• Spring (Mar-May): snook move up the river, with jacks, ladyfish and the last sheepshead
• Summer (Jun-Aug): snook in the first and last hours of daylight, mangrove snapper around structure, jacks and the odd tarpon rolling in the river
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the mullet run brings snook, jacks and tarpon after the bait schools; redfish show on the edges
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and black drum around pilings and seawalls; snook hold in deeper water on cold days
• Year-round: catfish and small snapper on cut bait

A medium spinning rod with 15-20 lb braid and a 30-40 lb fluorocarbon leader handles snook around structure; lighter gear suits the rest.

• Snook: live shrimp or pilchards, or soft-plastic swimbaits and jerkbaits worked with the current near shadows and structure
• Jacks and ladyfish: small spoons, jigs and topwater plugs when bait sprays
• Mangrove snapper: small live baits or cut shrimp on light fluorocarbon
• Sheepshead and black drum: shrimp or fiddler crabs on a small knocker rig close to pilings
• Tarpon: live mullet or large swimbaits on heavy gear; release them in the water
• Bring a long-handled net; a snook lifted by the line is often a snook lost

Atlantic tides reach the river through the St. Lucie Inlet, so there are two tides a day, but the range this far up is small and rain matters as much as the tide.

• Fish moving water; the first hours of the outgoing are often best for snook
• The first and last hours of the park day are prime, especially in summer
• Clear, salty water after dry spells fishes best
• Heavy rain and freshwater releases turn the river dark and fresh, which pushes saltwater fish downriver
• Winter cold fronts slow the bite; sheepshead and drum feed on the calmer days after
• A calm evening with a falling tide is a classic snook window

The park is flat and paved, with a dock and a boardwalk, so it suits most anglers.

• Paved walkways and accessible restrooms
• Keep lines clear of boats and trailers at the launch
• Lightning builds on summer afternoons; get off the dock at the first thunder
• Algae blooms have affected the St. Lucie estuary in some summers; check state health advisories and skip the water when a bloom is present
• Bring sun protection and water
• Watch young children near the dock and the water's edge

Shepard Park is well set up for a short session.

• A fishing dock and a riverwalk boardwalk over the St. Lucie River
• A boat launch
• Restrooms with handicapped access and drinking fountains
• A pavilion, picnic tables, grills and a playground
• Benches and bicycle racks
• No bait shop in the park; buy bait before you arrive

• Fish shadow lines around the docks, the boardwalk and the creek mouth soon after opening for snook
• Bring live shrimp; it catches almost everything in the river
• Check the rainfall and any freshwater-release news before you go; clearer, saltier water fishes better
• Winter sheepshead hang tight to pilings; use fiddler crabs and a short leader
• Use a heavier leader around dock pilings, where snook cut lines
• Combine a session with a walk along the riverwalk boardwalk

Shepard Park is a City of Stuart park.

• The city lists park hours as sunrise to sunset; follow the posted rules
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Snook and tarpon have their own seasons, permits and handling rules; check FWC
• Shore-based shark fishing needs the free FWC permit
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything