FISHING REPORT: May 14, 2026
Weather/Water Conditions
This past week has brought some really solid spring fishing conditions with warming water temps finally starting to get things moving around the area.
Water temperatures are now sitting in the high 60s to low 70s throughout the inlet, Broad Bay, and Linkhorn Bay.
If you can locate warmer water, there’s a good chance you’ll find feeding fish nearby.
- Wind: Fairly manageable overall with a few breezy afternoons mixed in
- Water clarity: Cleaner in the backwaters, more stained around open beaches and inlet current
- Overall conditions: Improving quickly with warmer water and more active fish showing up daily
What's Biting Inshore
The inshore bite has definitely started heating up this week.
Red Drum – a few smaller reds still being caught around Sandbridge and off the pier, although the bite has been a little slower lately
Bluefish – absolutely tearing it up from Sandbridge all the way up toward the Lesner and Rudee Inlet areas
Striped Bass – still getting reports of fish hanging around, especially on the late night bite
Skate & Cownose Rays – plenty being caught from the surf and around the inlet areas
Most consistent setups we’ve seen:
- Top water/Hard baits for bluefish
- Frozen mullet chunks fished on bottom rigs
- Soft plastics worked slower around warmer water areas
What's Biting In The Bay
The bay bite has continued improving this week as more fish move into the area.
- Sheepshead – showing up around the CBBT with some really quality fish being caught
- Black Drum – a few evening fish mixed in around structure and deeper channels
- Black Sea Bass – opening day was HOT with charter boats getting right on quality fish immediately
Big catch of the week:
We had a citation sheepshead weighed in at just over 11 pounds this week. Absolute stud fish.
Best bait for sheepshead:
- Sand fleas
- Small chunks of blue crab
Best Bite Window
Fishing has definitely been better once the water has had some time to warm up throughout the day.
- Late morning through evening has been most productive
- Late night striped bass bite has remained surprisingly solid
- Evening tides have produced better drum action
Tide influence:
- Moving water has been key this week, especially around the inlet, bridges, and CBBT structure.
Fishing Tips
What’s been working consistently:
- Hard baits for aggressive bluefish
- Frozen mullet chunks for surf fish and blues
- Sand fleas and crab for sheepshead
- Soft plastics around warmer backwater areas
If you can find cleaner, warmer water, there’s usually fish nearby right now.
Looking ahead
As we move further into May:
- Bluefish should continue pushing throughout the entire area
- Red drum fishing should improve with these warmer temps
- More sheepshead should start showing up around the bridges and pilings
- The inshore bite overall should continue getting more consistent week by week
Things are definitely starting to turn on around here and the next few weeks should only get better.