Fort Pierce: A Top Fishing Town in Florida

It has world-record fishing in a small town. Fort Pierce is known for being one of those charming, Old Florida towns lined with palm trees, as one would imagine. The city is one of the oldest communities on the east coast of Florida and stays true to its fishing heritage. Its uncrowded waters provide fishermen great opportunities to catch the most sought-after fish. Make no mistake: This is a destination where it’s possible to break world records. Famous anglers have done so, including a 17+ pound sea trout. It’s also a place where you can fish from land or by water. The Fort Pierce Inlet is a superb place to access deep-sea fishing, aiming for dophin (mahi-mahi), tuna, sailfish, barracuda, pompano, amberjack, cobia, snapper & grouper. Fort Pierce is also home to the Indian River Lagoon, a 156-mile estuary full of fish. More than 4,000 native plants and animals can be found at this estuary including manatees, sea turtles, bottlenose dolphins and mangroves in addition to prize-winning fish such as tarpon, snook, red drum and huge sea trout.

It’s one of Florida’s best deep-sea fishing destinations. Fort Pierce and the waters of St. Lucie might be the first and best destination for the kind of deep-sea fishing Florida is known for. Unlike some destinations in Florida, it only takes a ten-mile boat ride from the shore to catch big-game fish like swordfish, snapper, grouper and wahoo due to the way the Gulf Stream curves in the Atlantic near St. Lucie. Bigger fish migrate closer to its shores than other areas. Fort Pierce is home to a number of notable deep-sea fishing charter captains. Many charter boat guides like The Lady Chris, The Last Mango, Fins Sport Fishing and Good Time Florida Sport Charters offer professional deep-sea fishing rods, tackle, bait and complementary fish cleaning.

St. Lucie is committed to keeping its beaches and waters clean. Fort Pierce and St. Lucie are home to some of Florida’s best, uncrowded beaches and a natural environment unspoiled by overdevelopment. In fact, the St. Lucie area has miles of undeveloped coastline and beautiful sand dunes – nearly half of its 21-mile stretch beaches are public nature preserves. There are many eco-tours and several education centers in Fort Pierce. St. Lucie has several fishing piers near its beaches like Blind Creek Riverside North or Bear Point Sanctuary. Bear Point is a 200-foot-long pier perfect for catching wading fish. Before entering the area, most of the piers have bait shops close by for purchasing necessary fishing tools or acquiring temporary licenses. And all area boat ramps are free.

Fort Pierce is a friendly town that can still accommodate all your needs. USA Weekly ranked Fort Pierce as one of the top 10 most idyllic, historic main streets in the USA. This is a fishing town with old-fashioned Florida architecture and friendly people who are happy to share their favorite fishing spots and tips. Fort Pierce’s lifestyle is all about fishing. You can find a bait and tackle shop, cleaning station, boat ramp, charter captain, fishing guide at just about every corner. Many accommodations catering to fishing enthusiasts can be found on South Hutchinson Island and at the historic Indian River Lagoon Waterfront Cottages in St. Lucie Village. Whether you’re looking for an easy hotel to check into after a long day on the water or you want an oceanside resort, St. Lucie has it all. And you don’t have to visit St. Lucie and Fort Pierce in advance to see what a perfect fishing destination it is. Check out the live webcams from the Fort Pierce Marina, Fort Pierce Inlet and Fort Pierce Inlet Waterway for a live, real-time look at the area.

Tight lines!