Bluewater Outriggers Fishing Report 6-26-2026
Can't you feel 'em circling, honey? Can't you feel 'em swimming around? You got fins to the left, fins to the right, and you're the only bait in town. While these lyrics are not from my favorite Jimmy Buffett song, they seem completely relatable to my life this last week as well as the fishing report. And I mean that in a metaphorical way. Let's be honest, if I walked into a bar and couldn't keep the women off me, that wouldn't be so bad. But that's surely not the case. It just seems like this last week there are sharks everywhere I turn, and they all want a piece of me. I'm sure you've all been there before. The sharks can come in many forms. Bills, crooked insurance providers, childcare, or the mere cost of living itself. When it's all coming at you at once, you feel like a wounded fish in the middle of a feeding frenzy. But such is life, my friends. You just have to put your nose to the grindstone and keep on swimming.
Speaking of fins to the left and right, those fishing offshore have had no shortage of them. I'd heard from several visitors to the store about how bad not only the sharks have been, but the dolphins as well. And they're not just rumors. I had the opportunity to go out on Wednesday and experienced it first-hand. The first couple of hook-ups were immediately taken by sharks and within 5 minutes of stopping over the spot, a pesky dolphin showed up to ensure nothing would make it to the top. Of course, as we all do, I thought I could sneak one in. I felt the familiar downward tug of a good red snapper on my line and just as I had him whipped and started to reel him up, my line started to scream away from the boat as Flipper grabbed the fish and swam 50 mph in the opposite direction. We were eventually able to reach our limit, but it required switching spots quite a few times. The Buell brothers, Herbie and Kirby, were in town this last week and also experienced sharks that were thick as thieves. They did manage to sneak a few in though, and they can be seen (above left, above right). Be prepared to move around while you're out there because you will have competition. There's currently a bunch of grass floating, so trolling will most likely be out of the question. It would be wise, however, to pack some gear to throw for mahi because I noticed quite a few of them on my trip out.
I was able to fish around the Tapper Bridge this last week on several occasions. I fished both sides of the bridge and while I didn't hook any trout, I had a lot of fun catching redfish. Captain Chris Lantz of Gettin' Reel Sportfishing had no problem finding trout and put his client on an absolute monster pictured (above center). Well done, Chris! I know that was one happy camper that caught that beast.
Folks, I sure hope life is treating you well. If you find yourself surrounded by fins, whether they are actual or metaphorical, just remember that persistence is the key. I hope you have a great week, and I look forward to seeing you out there.
-Jeremiah Beasley