Note: This article may contain outdated information. It was published on Saturday, March 21, 2026.

Weather

Fort Pierce Tides Plunge Below Zero Twice Saturday

St. Lucie County boaters, anglers and beachgoers can seize prime conditions for wading, clamming and offshore runs amid strong tidal swings on March 21.

By Thomas Egan | TC Sentinel Environment Reporter Saturday, March 21, 2026

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Fort Pierce Tides Plunge Below Zero Twice Saturday

Illustration by Priya Okafor / TC Sentinel

Fort Pierce will see a strong tidal swing Saturday, with both afternoon low tides dropping below the baseline — conditions important for boaters, anglers, and beachgoers in St. Lucie County, according to NOAA CO-OPS tidal predictions for the Fort Pierce station.

TODAY: March 21 falls in Florida's dry season, meaning lower humidity and generally favorable morning conditions for outdoor activity. Confirm current NWS Melbourne forecast zone advisories before heading out.

ALERTS: No active NWS watches, warnings, or advisories are confirmed for St. Lucie County in available source data. Boaters should check the NWS Melbourne forecast zone for the latest conditions before departure.

TIDE SCHEDULE — FORT PIERCE (NOAA CO-OPS)

- Low: 4:30 a.m. — -0.3 ft - High: 10:35 a.m. — 2.7 ft - Low: 4:39 p.m. — -0.7 ft - High: 11:12 p.m. — 3.2 ft

FOR BOATERS: The morning low at 4:30 a.m. gives early-departing offshore anglers a rising tide through mid-morning — typically one of the more productive fishing windows on the Treasure Coast. The afternoon low at 4:39 p.m. reaches -0.7 feet, the deepest negative tide of the day. Shallow-draft operators should plan accordingly and allow extra clearance in the Indian River Lagoon's shoal-prone channels during that window.

ON THE WATER: Wind speed, wave heights, and offshore conditions should be confirmed through the NWS Melbourne marine forecast zone before departure. The incoming tide from roughly 4:30 a.m. to 10:35 a.m. offers the strongest tidal flow of the morning, making it the preferred window for live-bait fishing along nearshore structure, according to NOAA CO-OPS data from the Fort Pierce station.

Boaters and anglers can access the full NOAA CO-OPS tide table for Fort Pierce at tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov to plan trips beyond Saturday's schedule.

This article was generated with AI assistance using publicly available information. It was reviewed and approved by a human editor before publication. TC Sentinel uses AI writing tools in accordance with FTC guidelines.