FISHING REPORT: July 30th, 2026
Weather/Water Conditions
This past week has been one of the tougher weather weeks we've seen in a while. While it didn't rain every day, scattered storms and changing forecasts made planning a trip difficult. Offshore and even the bay saw some rough conditions, forcing anglers to carefully pick their weather windows before heading out.
- Water temperatures cooled slightly with the extended overcast conditions, and we noticed a little less bait moving through the inlets compared to previous weeks. The mullet run slowed down some, but water clarity has remained surprisingly good compared to this time last year.
- Wind: Variable with periods of strong winds associated with passing storms
- Water clarity: Clear to slightly stained depending on locations
Overall conditions: Fishable if you stayed on top of the forecast and timed the weather.
What's Biting Inshore
The inshore bite finally took a big step in the right direction this week.
- Red Drum – finally starting to show around Rudee Inlet and Broad Bay, with more reports coming in each day.
- Flounder – still producing around the inlets, beaches, and especially around the Lesner area.
- Bluefish – plenty of big blues continue to be caught around the Lesner Bridge and nearby structure.
- Striped Bass – still hanging around and even showing themselves during the daytime this week.
Most consistent setup we've seen:
Live croaker, spot, and mullet fished on a simple bottom rig have been producing around bridges, structure, and from the beach.
What's Biting In The Bay/Ocean/Offshore
The bay fishing was definitely affected by this week's weather, but anglers who found a weather window were still rewarded.
- Cobia – the bite slowed down with the cloudy conditions making sight fishing much more difficult. With fish in their spawning pattern, anglers have found success chumming and fishing deeper rather than relying solely on sight casting.
- Sheepshead – continue to be one of the most dependable bites around bridge structure and hard cover.
- Spanish Mackerel – still providing great action. Even if the cobia weren't cooperating, trolling spoons continued putting Spanish in the boat for a great dinner.
- Bull Drum – anglers targeting them are still finding fish despite the changing conditions.
Offshore reports included:
- Flounder
- Golden Tilefish
- Bluefish
The offshore flounder bite slowed slightly this week, including around the CBBT, but there are still quality fish being caught.
Hot Tip:
If sight fishing isn't an option because of cloud cover, don't be afraid to switch gears. Chumming and working baits deeper has continued to produce cobia when visibility isn't cooperating.
Best Bite Window
For those trying to time it right, here's when we're seeing the best action:
Best times:
- Fishing has been productive throughout the day whenever weather windows allow.
- Evening hours have continued producing quality fish as temperatures cool.
Tide influence:
Bait has been moving throughout the day, so keep an eye out for bait balls. Whether you're casting artificial into the schools or throwing a cast net to gather fresh bait, staying around the bait has been the biggest key to success.
If you're still learning, don't be afraid to move around. Find the bait, and you'll usually find the fish.
Fishing Tips
What's been working consistently (and what we've got ready for you):
- Fiddler crabs for sheepshead
- Flounder rigs with squid strips
- Paddle tails and small bucktails for flounder
- Fishbites on double dropper rigs
- Gotcha plugs for Spanish mackerel
- Casting and trolling spoons
- Live eels and bucktails for cobia
We've got all the rigs, bait, jigs, and tackle you need to stay on the bite. Stop in and ask the staff what's been working, we're always happy to point you in the right direction.
Looking ahead
Heading into next week, expect:
- More sun and fewer cloudy days.
- Water temperatures climbing back into the 80s.
- The inshore red drum bite continuing to improve around Rudee Inlet, Broad Bay, and nearby backwaters.
- Flounder remaining productive along the beaches, around the CBBT, and inshore structure for anglers willing to cover some ground.
This past week was a challenge because of the weather, but all signs point to the fishing heating back up as conditions stabilize. Keep an eye on the forecast, take advantage of the calmer days, and don't be afraid to stay mobile. The late-summer bite is setting up nicely, and we're excited to see what the next week brings.