Bluewater Outriggers Fishing Report 6-19-2026

"Transparency" is a word that has become quite popular lately.  It seems as if I hear it used every time I turn on the news or listen to the radio.  In keeping up with this trend, I'll open with saying I'm going to be completely "transparent" with you and let you know I have not personally picked up a fishing rod in the last seven days.  There are many joys that come with being a single parent, but at the same time, there are moments you feel like you can't get your head above water.  When it's good, I like to imagine me and the boy as Andy and Opie Taylor, taking a leisurely stroll to Myers Lake for a good wholesome fishing trip complete with solid, moral life lessons.  But this last week has felt more like something from What's Eating Gilbert Grape, where chaos and dysfunction abound.  Between issues at home and having to suddenly find new options for childcare, I've been running around like a chicken with its head cut off, and at every turn there's someone that wants large sums of money.  This in turn creates an anxiety that is crippling, and all the while you try and save face in front of your young one, because you're their rock and you'll be da*#ed if they figure out the harsh realities of this world prematurely.  It's a lot, my friends; but what can you do?  I once heard it said that many a problem will solve itself, if we forget about it and go fishing. Perhaps it's time to give that a try. 

Offshore fishing this last week has been just as tumultuous as my opening paragraph.  The weather has just not cooperated, and there have been many disheartened travelers to our area that have remained grounded due to wind, waves, and storms.  These conditions are expected to last for the next few days but hopefully will be calming down by Wednesday of next week.  Perhaps then I will receive good reports and photos from anglers that are able to venture off our coast. 

For those targeting inshore game, there's good news, heck, I may even say, great news.  I met a very nice customer last weekend, Nick Marcanio, who came in to get his reel spooled.  He shared with me that he had been fishing in St. Joseph Bay and ran into a slew of speckled trout around the Presnell's area of the bay.  He even had pictures to prove it! If you look (above right) you'll see one of the many 18+ inchers he landed.  This is great news for us anglers that have been waiting to see the recovery of our local trout fishery in the bay.  Captain Chris Lantz, of Gettin' Reel Sportfishing, has also been putting his clients on nice inshore fish.  You can see one happy youngster (above left) with a healthy red, and another happy client (above center) with an absolute bruiser of a trout.   

Just looking at these great fish, this moment, makes me want to get out there and give it a whirl.  I see there's a good falling tide towards sunset, so I may tie on a Ned Rig, put my worries on hold, and see what happens.  I know there will be protests from the boy when I tell him to put his (all too present) tablet away and load up in the truck, but God willing, maybe we can be Opie and Andy again, if just for this evening. 

-Jeremiah Beasley