Hey everyone, Captain Dylan Hubbard here with the Friday Fishing Report. Today, we’ll cover inshore, nearshore, and offshore fishing with some of our captains, crew, and friends from Hubbard’s Marina, the number one fishing charter in the country. We’ll give you the scoop on what’s happening now, what’s coming up, and what we’re excited about.
First, let’s talk about the weather, which is absolutely spectacular! The skies are clear, the sun is shining, and it’s a great time to catch tons of fish. So get ready to join us on the water—whether it’s on our boats, your own, or a buddy’s boat—because fishing is fantastic right now.
We’re currently on the back side of the full moon, heading towards the last quarter moon on Tuesday. This means we’re still experiencing some big full moon tides, but they’ll slow down as the weekend progresses. Moving into the workweek, tides will be a bit slower, with less flushing water inshore and offshore.
The quarter moon phase generally brings hotter conditions and less flushing water, which can make it a bit more challenging to find fish. To improve your chances, look for cooler areas like choke points, canal entrances, passes, and potholes where fish seek refuge from the heat. They may also find shade under bridges, mangrove trees, or in deeper areas with wave action along the beach.
For inshore fishing, the best time is early morning before the sun rises, or a little after it sets in the evening. As the sun gets higher, fish slow down, so focus on fishing edges, cut-offs, points, pockets, and passes during mid-morning, mid-day, and mid-afternoon.
Now, let’s hear from some of our captains about their recent experiences and tips:
Captain James Dutton: On our half-day trips, we’re catching great snappers and yellowtails, offering plenty of action. If you’re targeting amberjack, try using whole shrimp or half a shrimp on a circle hook. For the bigger fish, use bigger bait like pinfish. Night fishing has been excellent for mango snapper, especially during the full moon.
Captain Will McClure: On our 39-hour trips, we’ve been fishing deeper waters with success. Bigger fish have been hitting at night, and we’ve landed some nice amberjacks and red snappers. Try using threadfins or small squids as bait. Currents have been moderate, not as bad as a month ago.
Captain Frank: Our half-day trips are enjoyable with lots of great snapper and yellowtail action. We’re also getting occasional keeper amberjacks and red snappers. Try using squid for the vermillion snapper, and small pinfish or fiddler crab for trout. Sheepshead fishing has been overlooked but rewarding.
Brian Harris: Pompano are back in the bay, so try using dock skipjacks with a pink teaser or fiddler crab as bait. Trout fishing is good in deeper waters, especially near grass flats with moving water. Tarpon are still around, and dead bait seems to be effective. Don’t forget about sheepshead, they’re all over the place and fun to catch.
So there you have it, some great insights and tips from our captains. Remember to stay hydrated and healthy during your fishing trips, especially in the summer heat. Also, take advantage of the light loads this time of year, with plenty of opportunities to catch red snapper, amberjack, and triggerfish.
Â
If you’re too busy to go fishing, you might be missing out on some fantastic experiences. So don’t forget to make time for the water and enjoy the fishing and fun!
