FISHING REPORT: June 4, 2026
Weather/Water Conditions
The weather has continued to keep anglers on their toes this year. We've seen everything from hot 80-90 degree days to cooler stretches in the 60s and 70s, along with a few surprise northeast wind events that have made conditions in the bay challenging at times.
- Water temps are sitting around mid 60s/70s.
- Wind: Light to moderate overall, with a few stronger northeast blows earlier in the week
- Water clarity: Mostly stained in open water, cleaner in protected inlets and backwaters
Overall conditions: Improving, but still requiring smart timing
What's Biting Inshore
The inshore bite has been steady but still a bit of a hunt.
- Red Drum – starting to show more consistently in the inlets around oyster beds and docks, being caught on popping corks with shrimp, blue crab on bottom, and soft plastics
- Striped Bass – still hanging around in good numbers inshore, especially around moving water and structure
- Bluefish – steady action around bait schools, hitting spoons and Topwater plugs
- Flounder – scattered catches in the inlets
- Puppy Drum – starting to show more frequently in warmer pockets of water
Most consistent setup we’ve seen:
Popping cork with shrimp around structure, blue crab on bottom for drum, and soft plastics worked slowly through warmer inshore water
What's Biting In The Bay
The bay has been productive and full of life overall.
- Cobia – strong presence off the oceanfront with quality fish and multiple 45”+ fish reported, including smaller fish mixed in
Sheepshead – very strong bite around structure and the CBBT, with multiple citation fish brought into the shop recently
Bull Red Drum – solid fish showing up in the bay with some 37”+ fish being caught
Spanish Mackerel – starting to show in better numbers along the oceanfront and bay, especially for trolling setups
Croaker & Spot – showing up in good numbers in the inlets
Offshore species – Mahi, Golden Tilefish, Black sea bass
Hot tip:
Finding bait and warm water has been the key. Those covering water and adapting bait choices have had the most success, especially around structure and moving current for cobia and drum
Best Bite Window
For those trying to time it right, here’s when we’re seeing the best action:
Best times:
- Early afternoon has been the most consistent cobia window
- Early morning and late afternoon for bull drum
- Night bite has been best for striped bass
Tide influence:
- Moving water has been key, especially around inlets and structure. Incoming and outgoing tides have both produced, but slack water has been noticeably slower.
Plan your trip around those windows, it’ll make a big difference.
Fishing Tips
Shop Recommendations:
What’s been working consistently (and what we’ve got ready for you):
- Live eels for cobia
- NLBN 8”/9” split tails
- Gettin Jiggy / Cobia Killer bucktails
- 3 Deep custom 7” glides
- Frozen shrimp and blue crab for inshore drum and sheepshead
- Spoons and Topwater plugs for blues and Spanish
What’s been getting it done lately:
- Frozen shrimp
- Frozen mullet
- Blue crab
- Popping cork rigs
- Soft plastics
- Paddle tails
- Casting spoons
We’ve got bait, rigs, tackle, and everything you need rigged up and ready to go for the current bite.
Looking ahead
Heading into next week, expect:
- More red drum pushing deeper into inlets and backwaters
- Continued strong cobia presence offshore and along the oceanfront
- Sheepshead and black drum staying strong around structure
- Spanish mackerel numbers continuing to increase
- Overall fishing improving as weather stabilizes
We’re expecting the cobia and red drum bite to continue improving, so now’s the time to get on it.