D.J. Wilcox Riverside Fishing

D.J. Wilcox Riverside gives shore anglers a 125-foot pier over the shallows of the Indian River Lagoon, in a quiet corner of a county preserve north of Fort Pierce. It is a good place to learn the lagoon: seatrout and redfish on the grass, snook on the mangroves and drum in winter.

• A 125-foot fishing pier, a canoe and kayak launch and a multipurpose trail
• Run by the St. Lucie County Mosquito Control District
• Seatrout, redfish and snook, with black drum and sheepshead in winter
• Wild and quiet, with herons, spoonbills and ospreys overhead

The riverside section sits at the lagoon end of Wilcox Road, north of the main D.J. Wilcox Preserve, whose entrance is at 300 Michigan Street in Fort Pierce.

• Getting there: follow Wilcox Road east to its end at the Indian River Lagoon, where the canoe launch is; the FWC gives Wilcox Road as the launch's location
• Operator: the St. Lucie County Mosquito Control District runs the riverside section; the Environmental Resources Department runs the preserve
• The pier: 125 feet long, reached along the trail from the launch area
• Parking: the FWC's launch inventory notes grass parking; park only where signs allow
• Entry: no fee is listed
• Hours: the FWC lists the launch as sunrise to sunset, the default the county code sets for its parks and preserves
• The county warns the paths can get muddy after rain

The lagoon here is shallow and grassy, so the fishing is classic Indian River Lagoon.

• Spring (Mar-May): seatrout and redfish feed on the flats, snook return to the mangroves, jacks and ladyfish arrive
• Summer (Jun-Aug): seatrout early in the morning, snook and mangrove snapper early and late, ladyfish on the moving water
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the mullet run brings snook, redfish and jacks tight to the shore
• Winter (Dec-Feb): black drum and sheepshead, with seatrout on calm, sunny afternoons after cold fronts

Light spinning tackle is ideal over the grass; long casts from the pier cover the most water.

• Spotted seatrout: a live shrimp under a popping cork, or a 1/8 to 1/4 oz jig with a soft plastic worked over the grass
• Redfish: a gold spoon or a shrimp-tipped jig cast to potholes and edges
• Snook: live shrimp or small soft plastics along the mangroves early and late in the day
• Black drum and sheepshead: shrimp or fiddler crabs on a light bottom rig near the pier
• Jacks and ladyfish: small spoons and bucktails when bait is showing
• A long-handled landing net helps from the deck

The Atlantic has two tides a day, but this stretch of the lagoon is several miles from the Fort Pierce Inlet, so the rise and fall is small and wind drives the water as much as the tide.

• Moving water beats slack; a steady breeze that ripples the surface helps
• Early morning is prime in summer, before the heat and the afternoon storms
• Clear water over the grass fishes best; strong winds and heavy rain cloud it
• High water floods the edges and pushes redfish and snook up to the mangroves
• Winter cold fronts slow things down; fish the calm afternoons after them

This is a natural area, so come prepared.

• The county warns the paths can get muddy after rain; wear waterproof shoes
• Use insect repellent; mangroves and wet ground mean mosquitoes and biting flies
• The county lists alligators among the preserve's wildlife; keep your distance
• Lightning builds fast over the lagoon on summer afternoons; leave the pier at the first thunder
• Bring water and sun protection; there is little shade on the pier
• Accessibility: a pier and trail rather than paved paths, and the trail can be soft and muddy

Facilities are basic and spread through the preserve.

• A 125-foot fishing pier and a canoe and kayak launch in the riverside section
• A multipurpose trail through the riverside section
• The main preserve has picnic spots, benches, pavilions, boardwalks, observation platforms and bike stands
• No restrooms, bait shop, food or lights are listed, so bring water, bait and everything you need

• Fish the first hours of daylight in summer; the flats go quiet in the midday heat
• A popping cork with live shrimp is the easiest way to find seatrout over the grass
• Watch for mullet schools and bait showers; redfish and snook are usually close by
• Kayak anglers can use the launch near the pier and drift the flats
• Bring a bucket of live shrimp; no bait is listed on site
• Take all line and hooks home; wading birds feed along this shore

D.J. Wilcox Riverside is run by the St. Lucie County Mosquito Control District, which says its impoundments offer hiking, biking, fishing, crabbing and wildlife watching.

• St. Lucie County's code closes county parks and preserves from sunset to sunrise unless other hours are posted
• Check the county's preserve closures page before you go
• If you see criminal or suspicious behavior, call 911, as the county asks
• You need a Florida saltwater fishing license unless you qualify for an exemption
• Snook come with their own FWC seasons and rules; read them before keeping one
• Shark fishing from the shore or a pier needs the free FWC permit
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything