FISHING REPORT: July 1, 2026
Weather/Water Conditions
This week has brought a mix of summer conditions, with warm temperatures and periods of wind, but overall the fishing has remained excellent. Plenty of baitfish have moved into the inlet, setting the stage for an even stronger summer bite.
Water temps: Holding in the upper 80s to low 90s with stable conditions.
Wind: Typical summer southwest winds with lighter mornings.
Water clarity: Fair to good depending on tides and recent weather.
Overall conditions: Excellent and improving. Get out there before the heat or after the sun starts to go down.
The upcoming holiday weekend forecast is looking perfect right now, get out there and get those lines wet. Be sure to still keep an eye on the weather and be ready for anything.
What's Biting Inshore
The inshore bite has been on fire this week.
- Cobia have continued to make appearances along the coast.
- Spanish mackerel are feeding aggressively throughout the area.
- Bluefish have been plentiful with some impressive-sized fish being caught.
- Bull red drum have been caught, while smaller puppy drum are just beginning to show up.
- Flounder fishing continues to be outstanding with solid numbers being landed.
- Sheepshead remain active around bridges, pilings, and other bay structure.
Most consistent setup we've seen:
Live bait and fresh cut bait have been producing consistently, while casting metal spoons and soft plastics has been very effective for Spanish mackerel and bluefish.
What's Biting In The Bay/Offshore
The bay has been extremely productive.
- Flounder continue to provide some of the best action.
- Spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding throughout the bay.
- Spot and croaker are plentiful and providing steady action.
- Striped bass continue to be caught around the inlet.
- Black sea bass remain a great offshore option.
- Golden tilefish fishing around the windmills has been producing quality catches.
We're still waiting for the larger summer drum run to really kick off. A few smaller drum have started showing up, but numbers haven't reached what we saw this time last year. With the amount of bait currently stacked in the inlet, we're expecting that bite to improve later this month or into early next month.
Hot Tip:
Keep an eye on moving water around tide changes and don't overlook the schools of baitfish—they're attracting predators throughout the area.
Best Bite Window
For those trying to time it right, here's when we're seeing the best action:
Best times:
- Early morning from sunrise through mid-morning.
- Late afternoon into sunset.
- Watch those tide changes and when slack hits to gauge the best time to hit your favorite spots
Tide influence:
Incoming tides have been producing the most consistent action, especially around the inlet, beaches, and structure where baitfish are concentrated.
Fishing Tips
What's been working consistently (and what we've got ready for you):
- Live bait and fresh cut bait
- Metal spoons and casting lures
- Soft plastics for flounder and drum
- Bottom rigs for spot and croaker
Stop by the shop and we'll get you rigged up with everything you need for current conditions. If you're looking for ideas on where to fish or what to throw, keep following our weekly reports or give us a call—we're always happy to point you in the right direction.
Looking ahead
Heading into next week, expect warm summer weather and stable water temperatures to continue.
The abundance of baitfish in the inlet is a great sign that the summer fishery is only getting better. We're expecting the Red Drum bite to continue building as we move through July and into early August, while flounder, Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and Cobia should continue providing excellent action.
The fishing has been firing off, and the fish are here and ready to go. Now is a great time to get out on the water!