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Home / Indian River County / Vero Beach

Vero Beach Pier

Vero Beach, Indian River County, FL

😁 Moderate
Partly cloudy · 78°F · Feels 79°
Marine Chart
Solar
Sunrise
06:57 AM
Sunset
07:47 PM
Water Temp.
Temp. Fº
77 Fº
Temp. Cº
25 Cº
Wind
Speed
9 mph
Direction
E
UV Index
Strength
6
Level
Moderate
Tide Chart
Solunar Forecast
Waning Crescent · 2% illuminated

Hourly Fishing Activity

12a
3a
6a
9a
12p
3p
6p
9p
Peak
Good
Slow
Poor

Feeding Windows

Major
9:49 AM
to
11:49 AM
Minor
4:03 AM
to
5:03 AM
Minor
4:41 PM
to
5:41 PM
🌕 Moon Rise
4:33 AM
🌑 Moon Set
5:11 PM
☀️ Sun Rise
5:58 AM
🌅 Sun Set
6:47 PM

Local Fishing Resource

Vero Beach & Indian River Lagoon Fishing Cheat Sheet

Free

Sebastian Inlet — Florida's most productive public fishing inlet

What's Inside

Species Breakdown
Best Seasons
Tides & Timing
Bait & Tackle
Where to Fish
Gear Picks
🐟 Redfish 🐟 Seatrout 🐟 Flounder 🐟 Snook 🐟 Tarpon
Open the Indian River & Brevard Cheat Sheet

Fish Species in This Area

Bluefish

Bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix

Fall Winter
Common
Up to 31.1 inches
Nearshore, Surf, Open water
Family: Pomatomidae

Aggressive pelagic fish known for spectacular blitzes. Strong fighter with excellent runs.

Local Notes: One of the best bluefish runs on the East Coast passes through Vero Beach Pier in fall. Poppers, metal spoons, or cut bait — they blitz in large schools.

Common Snook

Common Snook

Centropomus undecimalis

Spring Summer
Common
Up to 55.1 inches
Inshore, Mangroves, Estuaries
Family: Centropomidae

Prized sport fish found around mangroves and inlets. Sensitive to cold temperatures.

Local Notes: Stack under the lights at Vero Beach Pier after dark during season. Live pilchards or threadfin herring are deadly.

Mangrove Snapper

Mangrove Snapper

Lutjanus griseus

Year Round
Common
Up to 22 inches
Inshore, Mangroves, Reefs
Family: Lutjanidae

Versatile species found from mangroves to offshore reefs. Excellent eating.

Local Notes: Hold tight to the structure at Vero Beach Pier. Fish small live shrimp or pilchards close to the pilings on light leader.

Sheepshead

Sheepshead

Archosargus probatocephalus

Year Round
Common
Up to 35.8 inches
Inshore, Docks, Structures
Family: Sparidae

Bottom feeder with strong teeth. Found around structures and pilings.

Local Notes: Abundant around the pilings at Vero Beach Pier year-round. Fiddler crabs or fresh shrimp on a light jig head are your best bet.

Cobia

Cobia

Rachycentron canadum

Spring Summer
Occasional
Up to 78.7 inches
Nearshore, Offshore, Around structures
Family: Rachycentridae

Large pelagic fish often found near buoys and wrecks. Excellent table quality.

Local Notes: Follow their spring migration through Vero Beach Pier. Sight-cast live pinfish or eel to fish following rays and sharks.

Florida Pompano

Florida Pompano

Trachinotus carolinus

Fall Winter
Occasional
Up to 25.2 inches
Surf zones, Sandy beaches
Family: Carangidae

Excellent eating fish found in surf. Silver body with yellow fins.

Local Notes: Run along the beach near the base of Vero Beach Pier. Sand fleas and small jigs in the 1/4-oz range.

Red Drum

Red Drum

Sciaenops ocellatus

Year Round
Occasional
Up to 59.1 inches
Inshore, Estuaries, Surf zones
Family: Sciaenidae

Popular game fish with distinctive black spot near tail. Found in shallow coastal waters.

Local Notes: Patrol the edges of Vero Beach Pier and the surrounding flats, especially on falling tides.

Spanish Mackerel

Spanish Mackerel

Scomberomorus maculatus

Spring Summer
Occasional
Up to 35.8 inches
Nearshore, Coastal waters
Family: Scombridae

Fast-swimming pelagic fish with gold spots. Common in spring and fall.

Local Notes: Blitz through Vero Beach Pier during bait runs. Silver spoons and Gotcha plugs at a fast retrieve.

Spotted Seatrout

Spotted Seatrout

Cynoscion nebulosus

Year Round
Occasional
Up to 35.8 inches
Inshore, Grass flats, Estuaries
Family: Sciaenidae

Popular inshore species with distinctive spots. Found over grass flats and sandy bottoms.

Local Notes: Work the drop-off around Vero Beach Pier with DOA Shrimp or live pilchards, especially at first light.

Tarpon

Tarpon

Megalops atlanticus

Spring Summer
Occasional
Up to 98.4 inches
Inshore, Offshore, Nearshore
Family: Megalopidae

Large powerful fish known for spectacular jumps. Migrates along Florida coast.

Local Notes: Roll near Vero Beach Pier during spring migrations. Large live mullet or blue crabs.