Help!
Need advice for the Jensen Beach area for wade fishing and or Guides in the area for the middle of October (provided its still there after these pesky Hurricanes)
Thanks
Hi Flybri,
I’m not a regular fisherman in this area but my parents retired there quite a few years ago and I do some fishing when I visit them a couple of times a year. I would suggest that you call John B’s Fly and Light Tackle Shop to see what’s going on at that time of year. John is a first-class fly fisherman himself and is generous with his advice. I don’t know for sure if the shop is in St. Lucie or Stuart because it’s on Route 1 in the middle of Never-Never Land.
BTW, its a top-shelf shop and has tons of fly tying material, rods, reels and even does repairs on light tackle.
I would also suggest that you get a copy of “A Fisherman’s Guide To: Martin and St Lucie Counties” at $12.95 (much cheaper than a guide) for some VERY detailed information about the local hotspots. Its put out by Robin Smillie. There are some places that must be fished with a boat but there are also lots of good wading spots listed. The book also covers fresh-water fishing in the area.
There are also lots of very fishy places in that area and you can find many of them yourself by just cruising up and down Hutchinson Island. I’ve actually spotted tailing fish from my car. Have fun. There’s lots of it there. Be careful on the Island road; the speed limit is 45 mph in many places and the enforcement is intense. 8T 
Eight Thumbs (eight thumbs???)
Thanks for the advice - I’ll look up John B’s and try to pick up a copy of the guide
Thanks again
FlyBri
Hi Flybri,
I picked my FAOL name out after having a very bad couple of days at the old fly-tying desk. I had knocked over a 2 ounce bottle of head cement which immediately ran over on to the carpet and had to be hidden from my better half. I let a bodkin roll off the desk which landed point first in the top of my bare foot. I had a hair packer slip and break that embedded the point of a 1/0 hook in the tip of my thumb (to the barb but fortunately not past the barb. I was feeling distinctly uncoordinated when I selected that name. I have since wished that I selected something with a little more respect to it like “Silver Fingers”,“ViseLord” (not ViceLord) or even “Regal Tyer.” I do feel a little like Rodney Dangerfield with the name Eight Thumbs----no respect.
I think you’ll have some good fun in the Stuart/Jensen beach area particularly if you manage to get out to Hutchinson Island. There are lots of good flats if you head north toward the nuclear plant. You can’t miss them really. There are also some BIG runs of mullet that get chased by huge tarpon, sharks and you name it on the Atlantic side of the Island in the fall. Let me know how you do. 8T
Without a boat, you have two options (miles of fishing, tho)…the beach and the flats. Nice thing is that they are on the opposite sides of A1A. I like to fish the ocean side when the wind is down in the mornings, then head to the flats in the afternoon.
As far as beaches, start with bathtub beach, walton rocks and south…several hours before and after high tide; some of those places get too shallow at low tides.
As far as the flats go, pick a spot and hike in on an impoundment road, look for an entrance and go for it. The areas around Blind Creek, Little Mud Creek, etc.
All of these places are on A1A heading south of the Jensen Beach causeway.
John B’s is great, the Snook Nook (right in Jensen on Indian River Blvd.) can’t be beat, but its not a fly shop per se.
Also have to put a real big plug in for White’s tackle in Fort Pierce – the advice you find in this shop cannot be beat and they carry a small, but essential array of quality fly tackle that includes proven local flies. These guys fly fish a lot, so they know their stuff.
Good luck and PM me if you want to hook up and go fishing!
Hi Flybri,
The business card for John B’s Fly and Light Tackle just came tumbling out of a pile of fly tying material I was sorting. His address is:
4330 S.E. Federal Hwy. (U.S. 1)
Stuart, FL 34997
Local Phone: 772-287-6535
Toll Free: 866-999-9939
He also advertises guides and all types of lessons. Hey, October is getting close! 8T