Snook bite builds as mullet run stacks up on Florida's Treasure Coast
Atlantic-side water is running warm for late September: NOAA CO-OPS station 8722670 reads 85.8°F and station 8720218 reads 83.3°F, both consistent with the extended late-summer warmth holding along Florida's east coast. Snook Nook in Stuart reports the mullet run is building, with schools of larger mullet showing inshore and along the beaches, though the shop notes the migration is running later than usual after a cooler winter. The snook bite itself has stayed strong on live croakers and threadfins fished around the St. Lucie Inlet and jetty structure, per Snook Nook's recent reports.
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Both CO-OPS stations show a morning high tide arriving between 6:51 and 7:28 AM ET, with the southern gauge (8722670) dropping to a low near 1:01 PM ET. That morning push is the window worth building a trip around this week, since incoming water over the inlet mouth and jetty tends to concentrate bait and predators together.
If the mullet schools Snook Nook is tracking continue stacking up over the next few days, expect the snook bite to strengthen further around the inlet and along the beachfront as the run reaches full swing. The waxing gibbous moon heading into next week's fuller phase will also widen the tidal swings, which is worth factoring into weekend plans on the water.
Context
Late September on Florida's Atlantic coast sits at the start of the fall snook run, the stretch anglers wait for after the summer harvest closure lifts. Warm water in the mid-80s is typical for this transition point and keeps fish feeding aggressively before the seasonal cooldown pushes them toward winter holding areas.
The later-than-usual mullet migration Snook Nook is describing fits a broader pattern this year of shifted timing after a cooler winter, so the peak of the run may land a bit later than an average season. Anglers should check current state regulations before harvesting snook, since season dates and slot limits can change.
Synthesized from real-time NOAA buoy data, USGS stream gauges, and current reports across regional fishing blogs, captain updates, and angler forums. Check local regulations before keeping fish. Never trust a single source for a trip decision.
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