Bluewater Outriggers Fishing Report 7-18-2026
Well folks, another year has come and gone in the life of this old author. I must tell you, I certainly felt every year of it as I made my way across the miles of showroom floor at iCast in Orlando this last week. iCast is the world's largest sportfishing trade show and it just so happens to fall on my birthday. It is, however, a necessary trip to make in order to ensure Bluewater Outriggers has the latest and greatest when it comes to everything fishing. The enormity of the event is hard to put into words but just imagine someone that loves fishing as much as you and I being inundated with so much fish talk, new rods and reels, and every lure imaginable that eventually we say, " I've had enough; I can't take anymore!" If you can imagine that, you've pretty much got the idea. It was a great show though, and I look forward to bringing some of the innovative new products we discovered onto the sales floor here at Bluewater Outriggers.
As I was out of town for a good part of this last week, I didn't get to make it to any of my local fishing spots. After speaking with several customers that came into the store this morning, I can deduce that it is pretty much more of the same when it comes to fishing inshore here in Port St. Joe. There's just enough going on to keep you occupied and hoping "the big one" is just one more cast away. That is, of course, if you can stand the heat out there. But for those of us that are persistent, there is a payoff. Hayes Nobert (above left) was just about to call it a day when he decided to make one more cast off the beach at Cape San Blas. He hooked a finger mullet on his new Quantum Cabo and ended up in a fight with a nice slot red. That fish was caught early evening and that may be just the ticket to putting keepers in the ice chest. Hit that early morning or late evening bite when the water hasn't had as much of a chance to heat up.
Those that went offshore this last week are reporting that getting ahold of good red snapper is proving challenging. Not only have I heard this from several of my clients, but Captain Jake Harpe went out last week and found it hard to put worthwhile red snapper in the box. This most likely is due to it being the end of the fishing season and the problems that anglers have been having with sharks preying on their hooked fish. Although the good snapper eluded Jake and his crew, he did land a monster amberjack (above center) and loaded the box with dolphin (above right). On their way out, Jake and his crew spotted a small freezer that was floating on the surface of the water. Beneath the freezer was a massive school of mahi that was just ripe for the picking, and they loaded up!
There's still plenty of fish to be caught here around Port St. Joe. We look forward to seeing you at Bluewater Outriggers to help you get outfitted for any activity on the water whether it be the upcoming Mexico Beach Kingfish tournament or our busy scallop season that starts in only a month's time. Whatever you need, we've got you covered. I hope to see you out there!
-Jeremiah Beasley