Bluewater Outriggers Fishing Report 8-08-2026

     

     Have you ever had one of those mornings when you just knew it was going to be a long day?   That's how my day started.  When the microwave oven chimed, I hastily opened the door to get my much-needed cup of coffee only to realize I had forgotten to place the actual cup of coffee in the microwave.  It was very concerning to me.  However, I convinced myself I'm too young to have dementia and chalked it up to being a tired single parent.  Our little town of Port St. Joe is starting to slow down a bit as summer draws to an end and another school year is set to start.  Just yesterday I was in the crazed masses attending my son's classroom orientation, filling out paperwork and learning the proper drop-off and pickup procedures.  Two days before that, I found myself on an impromptu vacation to Mobile, Alabama because I realized the whole summer had passed in a flash and the boy and I had not had any time away from the house.  A good father/son adventure complete with a nice hotel room was in order, and you can see one mesmerized four-year-old standing beneath the main battery guns of the USS Alabama in the center photograph above.    

    With all that's been going on, my time on the water has been short this last week.  Knowing that I needed some content for this story, I did make a point of fishing the last two evenings under the Tapper bridge, so I would at least have some bit of first-hand information to pass along.  The timing was perfect because we were hitting a low tide around 6:00 and I could fish the incoming tide from 7 until dark.  The fishing was slow going but bites picked up as the light started to fade.  Strikes from ladyfish kept me entertained just enough to stick around, and eventually I landed a small trout and a redfish using a jerk shad with a 3/16 oz swimbait hook.  There was a lot of action all around as the place was loaded with bait, and the water would bust on occasion with fish feeding on the surface.  I even saw a massive tarpon roll 20 yards in front of me. 

    Like a godsend, my friend Travis Wilkes came into the store on Thursday with his daughter's boyfriend, Reid Carter.  He informed me they would be fishing the following day in St. Joseph Bay, and I told them I was in dire need of photos for this week's report and to send me pictures if they had any luck.  Well, they delivered!  I received multiple photos of trout that were over 20."  You can see Reid Carter above with a 20 ½" (left) and a 24 ½ " (right).  You know, Travis is the kind of guy that if I were a young man, I would be nervous about dating his daughter.  But let me tell you, Reid, if you can put fish like those in the boat, you just might stand a chance of getting on Mr. Wilkes' good side...maybe.   

    With all that's been going on in our bay, it's optimistic to hear that anglers went looking for trout and found them!  Travis informed me too that all trout were released in good shape after being caught. 

    I would like to wish everyone a good week and hopefully a smooth transition from summer vacation to the schoolhouse grind.  Whether it's in the busy carpool lanes in front of the school or tossing a line into the bay as the sun sets behind the horizon, I hope to see you out there. 

-Jeremiah Beasley