Fishing report for January 2025

October Fishing Report – Stuart, Florida October is here, and one fish worth putting some time into this month is the blackfin tuna. We’ve already started seeing some nice blackfins showing up off Stuart, and we should continue to have opportunities for them as we move farther into fall. If you’re specifically looking for blackfins, an early start can make all the difference. Try to get out around Push Button Hill just before sunup and have your spread fishing as that first light starts coming over the horizon. Pay attention to the water, current, bait and birds—any signs of life can help you narrow down where the fish are holding. For our trolling spread, we like to keep things fairly small. Small feathers and peewee J-hook rigged ballyhoo, fished naked or with a small skirt, are proven blackfin producers. Don’t be afraid to experiment with your trolling speed. Speed up, slow down and change things around until you get that first bite. Once you do, pay attention to your speed, direction and where that bait was in the spread. Replicate it on the next pass and you can often turn one bite into several. Blackfin are also extremely versatile on the table. Whether you prefer them raw, seared or cooked through, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the catch after a successful morning offshore. October also means trolling season is officially here. We’ll be pulling daisy chains, dredges and Bait Masters ballyhoo, and there’s nothing like seeing a sailfish fired up on a squid chain and getting it switched over for an epic bite. While trolling is our main attraction in the fall, if you want to specifically target sails, check with the local bait boats to see if you can get a few live baits for kite fishing or bump trolling. Live bait can be hard to come by this time of year, but having some in the well when you find an area holding fish can really help you put up some numbers. Keep a sharp eye out for birds and flying fish—there’s a good chance you’ll find some dorado underneath them. Don’t forget about the wahoo either. The days surrounding the full moons are always worth paying attention to. Keeping a planer bait down deep with a bonito strip, split-tail mullet or ballyhoo gives you a shot at one while covering water and should produce some kingfish as well. October brings plenty of opportunities off Stuart. Get an early start, find some good water and bait, and keep adjusting until the fish tell you what they want. — Capt. Trent Shapiro Catch of the Day Charters