FISHING REPORT: August 13th, 2026
Weather/Water Conditions
This past week has been a much better stretch of weather. We finally got a break from the smoke and haze from the Canadian fires, and the rain has settled down as well. We did have one day of some nasty storms, but the rest of the week gave anglers plenty of good opportunities to get out on the water.
Water temperatures have been hot, with the inlets and ocean holding around the upper 70s through the mid 80s.
- Wind: Mostly manageable with some storm-related changes
- Water clarity: Clear and improving
Overall conditions: Warm, stable, and productive
What's Biting Inshore
The inshore bite is starting to show some signs of the late-summer transition.
- Puppy Drum – starting to show up around the inlets, although numbers are still noticeably lower than what we've seen in previous years.
- Bluefish – running rampant with plenty of bait pushing through the inlets.
- Flounder – still being caught in the backwaters, with most fish around keeper size and a few smaller and larger fish mixed in.
- Red Drum – the drum we're seeing farther back in the backwaters have mainly been larger over slot fish chasing mullet.
- Croaker, Spot & Mullet – all moving through the inlets in good numbers and providing plenty of forage for the predators.
Most consistent setup we've seen:
Live mullet, croaker, and spot have been excellent options for drum and other inshore predators. For artificial anglers, keep a jig or paddle tail ready around the bait schools.
What's Biting In The Bay/Ocean/Offshore
The bay has stayed hot, with two fish continuing to dominate the conversation.
- Cobia – the bite has stayed on fire, with anglers continuing to find quality fish throughout the bay.
- Bull Drum – still providing consistent action for those targeting them specifically.
- Flounder – showing absolutely no signs of slowing down, with plenty of fish continuing to come from the bay.
- Sheepshead – the bite has slowed some compared to previous weeks, but there are still fish being caught around structure.
Off the beach, the species list has really opened up:
- Pompano – reports have been coming in as warmer water pushes these fish farther north. This is a short seasonal window, so surf anglers should take advantage while they're here.
- Sharks, Red Drum, Bluefish & Spanish Mackerel – all continuing to provide opportunities from the beach.
Hot Tip:
This is one of the best times of year to surf fish because the list of available species is growing. Keep multiple setups ready and be prepared to switch between bottom fishing and casting when you see bait or feeding activity.
Best Bite Window
For those trying to time it right, here's when we're seeing the best action:
Best times:
- Early morning
- Late afternoon into the evening
- Surf fishing has been especially productive around the evening tides
Tide influence:
Moving water and bait movement have been key. The middle of the day, especially around 1–4 PM, has been the hottest part of the day, so the cooler morning and evening windows have been much more comfortable for anglers and fish alike.
If you're new, take advantage of the longer early and late windows while we still have plenty of daylight. Sunrise is coming a little earlier and sunset is coming a little sooner, so now is a great time to get those extra hours on the water.
Fishing Tips
What's been working consistently (and what we've got ready for you):
- Cut mullet for surf fishing
- Sand fleas for pompano and other bottom feeders
- 1/2 oz jigs for larger blues and Spanish mackerel
- Gotcha plugs for casting from the beach
- Wire leaders to help prevent losing your favorite lures
- Live mullet, croaker, and spot for cobia and bull drum
- Live mullet for the larger drum around the inlets
We've got the bait, rigs, jigs, plugs, and tackle you need to take advantage of the late-summer bite. Stop by the shop and we'll help get you set up for whatever you're targeting.
Looking ahead
Heading into next week, expect:
- Continued warm water with temperatures holding in the upper 70s through the 80s.
- Puppy drum continuing to push into the inlets.
- Flounder remaining productive throughout the bay and inshore waters.
- Cobia and bull drum continuing to provide some of the best action in the bay.
- Pompano remaining a great opportunity for surf anglers while the warm water holds.
- Increasing chances of seeing trout as we move further into the late-summer transition.
We're hoping to see more puppy drum showing up in the coming weeks, and with the water staying warm and bait continuing to move through the inlets, we're excited to see what the next part of the season brings. The late-summer migration is underway, and there are plenty of species to chase right now—get out there and take advantage of it!