BlueWater Outriggers Fishing Report 11-20-2025
Good morning all from our little fishing town of Port St. Joe, Florida. What a wild week it’s been. The red tide here in St. Joseph Bay is still in full swing. I don’t know if it was a shift in wind direction or these monster tide changes, but there seemed to be an influx in the number of dead fish seen floating on the surface. I only say this because I keep an eye out every time I drive by the water. I noticed too that the little canals I pass over on my way home down Monument Ave were full of floaters. It’s disparaging, to say the least, but it doesn’t have to be the end of the world. That’s right folks; this week will be a positive edition of my exposition.
According to the FWC website, red tide samples taken over the last eight days have shown a slight decrease from what they were. That’s positive, right? Even though fishing in the bay is very difficult and may remain so for a good time to come, it does not mean all hope is lost. You just have to think outside of the box a bit. I know this last week I moved from my usual spots and was finally reunited with that feeling of setting the hook into a speckled trout. You just can’t beat that feeling! And it was very refreshing to see a live trout anywhere near this bay. I did this over at the Mexico Beach canal. I found a small school of specs and got them to bite on the small Z-Man Guppy Grubz. Knowing that our bay will need all the help it can get to re-cover, I released all fish unharmed. During the last week there were a number of species being caught at the canal including trout, whiting, redfish and flounder. Lynn Mosley can be seen (above left) holding a redfish that she caught there. I had a free day on Wednesday and because of a tip from a very nice customer, Gary D, I drove the hour drive to St. George Island and hauled my kayak along with me. There are grass flats there, just as there are here, and fishing over those proved very productive as I was into double digit trout within an hour's time. That’s a great option if you find yourself jonesing for a good trout bite.
Offshore fishing has remained excellent. On Saturday morning, there was a large number of customers coming into Bluewater to buy bait for offshore fishing. On the outside I was extremely optimistic and helpful to our customers, but on the inside, I was awash with jealousy as I heard everyone tell me how perfect the water was and how great the fishing was. The icing on the cake was when Jake Harpe texted me a video of the wahoo he landed and said, I quote, “The water is alive out here.” I couldn’t believe he’d do that to some poor old boy that he knows is stuck working behind the counter. Despite my occupational dilemma, I did have the pleasure of meeting two great guys that were heading out to get in on some of the offshore excitement. Chip Graddy (above center) and Cass Brewer (above right) came in to get their reels spooled. They were the nicest fellows you could hope to meet, and shortly thereafter headed offshore and got these monster gags and red snapper. Nice work gentlemen!
Folks, I know we would have wished for better this trout season here in our bay, but let’s try and stay positive. If you read this article, you’re probably like me. You're going to fish no matter what; high tide or low tide, slack tide or red tide, it doesn’t make a difference. If you keep your chin up and adapt to your surroundings you WILL find a way to sate that void that can only be filled by doing the one thing you truly love.
I hope to see you out there.
-Jeremiah Beasley