Gulf of Mexico, Florida Fishing Report Today

This is Artificial Lure with your Gulf of Mexico, Florida fishing report for Sunday, September 14, 2025. First light was at 7:15 this morning, with sunset set for 7:36 tonight. The tides are moving nice and strong: we kicked off with a low tide just after midnight, saw the morning high at 5:36 AM around 4.3 feet, a soft low around 2:44 PM, then another bump up to a 2.8-footer just after dark. That’s a real sweet swing for active morning and late evening bites, especially with the moonset wrapping by mid-afternoon—prime conditions for those targeting early and sunset feeders, according to Tide-Forecast.com.

Weather’s been pretty cooperative out here. National Weather Service Tallahassee is calling for steady northeast winds around 10–15 knots all day, tapering just a bit in the afternoon, keeping seas at 2 to 3 feet and the bay waters sitting at a light to moderate chop. Add in clear skies and comfortable air, and it’s a fantastic Sunday to be on the water. That northeast breeze is pushing a little cooler, cleaner water into the estuaries and grass flats and helping with morning surges just off the beaches.

Fishing has really turned the corner the last couple of days—fall patterns are showing up strong. From Apalachicola to Sarasota, anglers are reporting steady action on inshore species: redfish are banging the mullet schools along the bars and creek mouths at high tide, and snook are staging along shadow lines and dock pilings, especially with that stronger tidal push on the morning high. Live pilchards and finger mullet have been the hot baits, but if you’re working artificials, gold spoons and paddle-tail soft plastics in a natural baitfish color are crushing it right now. Topwater walking baits have been drawing explosive strikes just after sunrise, especially in the quieter back bays.

Offshore, the reefs and wrecks have been loaded with mangrove and yellowtail snapper. Recent catches from Panama City and down toward Naples are including plenty of decent keeper mangroves, with a bonus of lane snapper and the occasional grouper mixed in. Sardines and cut squid are producing well, but for lure anglers, bucktail jigs and slow-pitch jigs in glow or white are worth dropping.

If you’re looking for a big pull, the bridges and passes are still delivering steady tarpon action—dawn and dusk have been most productive, with crabs and jumbo live shrimp doing the work. According to Daily Fish Report for the Florida Keys, mahi action offshore remains steady on weedlines and rips, especially in the bluewater stretches south of Destin and out west of Tampa, with trolling ballyhoo or bright skirted lures pulling hungry mahi and the odd blackfin tuna.

For hot spots today, check out the flats around St. George Island and the marsh around Keaton Beach for skinny water reds, and the grass edges near Crystal River for slot trout on popping cork rigs. Offshore, hit the public reefs 10–20 miles out of Steinhatchee and the shipwrecks south of Cape San Blas for a

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Artificial Lure here with your Gulf of Mexico fishing report for Saturday, September 13, 2025, focused on Florida’s sweet stretch from the Panhandle through the Suncoast.

Sun’s peeking over the horizon at 7:14 AM, setting at 7:37 PM—plenty of daylight for those hungry early-risers and evening bait soakers. Weather’s shaping up mild and pleasant again, with little to no wind chop, and nothing in the way of rain chances this week. That means the bite window should stay nice and wide for most of the day, especially around the tide swings.

Today’s tides look promising; high tide hits at 4:54 AM, and a gentle low moves in around 1:15 PM, with another smaller high at 7:33 PM. The move from high to low will get fish feeding, so don’t sleep on those early and midday tide changes. Tidal coefficient is on the lower side, meaning less current, but that hasn’t slowed down the action lately. Water clarity is above average, so bring some lighter leader for the sharp-eyed trout and snapper.

According to the latest Red Tide update from Florida Fish and Wildlife, there are only background levels of Karenia brevis detected in the Gulf right now—no fish kills or respiratory issues reported anywhere between Bay County and the Suncoast. That makes for clean fishing across the whole Florida Gulf side.

The action’s been hot this week, especially for red snapper, king mackerel, slot reds, and big speckled trout. Offshore, anglers are pulling in solid ARS (American Red Snapper) up to 20 pounds just a few miles off the reefs and wrecks, with reports of steady king mackerel and Spanish macks blitzing bait schools—especially off Destin and Clearwater artificial reefs. Cobia are starting to show on the move again, and scattered mahi are still within striking distance for those working weed lines further south.

Inshore, it’s been lights out for speckled trout and redfish at first light. The grass flats around St. Joe Bay and Charlotte Harbor have produced steady action, especially on topwaters before 9 AM—think bone or silver Super Spooks and MirrOlures. Jigs tipped with Gulp! shrimp are dynamite when the sun gets overhead. Live shrimp and pinfish under popping corks are fooling bruiser reds in potholes and along mangrove edges. The mouths of tidal creeks in the Apalachicola area have been loaded with slot reds, while trout are stacking on outgoing tide edges.

If you’re bottom fishing offshore, sardines and squid are standard, but live pinfish have been king for the bigger snapper and grouper. Closer to shore, freelined finger mullet and cut ladyfish are both pulling reds and hungry snook out of ambush. Don’t overlook cut blue crab for big drum in the deeper passes.

For lure anglers, local shops are recommending DOA shrimp, Gulp! jerk shads, and spinnerbaits for murkier water following recent showers in the Big Bend. If you see birds working or surface bait, tie on a white bucktail jig or a chrome spoon and hang on tight—Spanish mackerel and jacks are blitzing just off

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Artificial Lure here with your Gulf of Mexico fishing report for Friday, September 12, 2025, focused on Florida’s stretch, from the Panhandle to the Suncoast. Here’s the scoop from the docks before you grab your rods and hit the water.

**Tides and Weather**

Today’s tide in the central Gulf coast (like the Tampa area) sees a big swing, starting with a peak **high tide at 4:20 AM** (4.6 feet), followed by a **low at 12:10 PM** (essentially flat), and a secondary high at 6:15 PM (3.5 feet), with sunset at 7:39 PM and sunrise at 7:14 AM, according to Tide-Forecast.com. Expect a strong tidal coefficient—meaning there’s serious water movement translating to solid fish action during moving tides, especially at first light and again toward dusk. Weather’s typical late summer Florida: muggy, upper 80s to low 90s, with a shot at scattered afternoon thunderstorms. Mornings are your best bet to beat the heat and lightning.

**Fish Activity and Catches**

Recent catches up and down the panhandle and west coast have run the seasonal gamut. Navarre Newspaper reports Lookdowns, Spanish mackerel, ladyfish, and even the odd pompano around the surf and piers this past week. Offshore, the action’s cranking up for **snapper and king mackerel**, with the snapper bite especially good around deeper structure, as seen in recent Tampa Bay pier videos. Inshore, schools of slot **redfish** are pushing onto the flats with the strong tides, joined by **trout** holding at the dropoffs and deeper potholes.

Snapper and grouper are coming over the rails on natural bottom and wrecks, especially in the 60–120' range out of the Redington and Clearwater passes. Early risers are picking at Spanish mackerel, blue runners, and ladyfish from piers and bridges—bring lightweight tackle and be ready for fast action!

**Best Lures and Baits**

For the inshore game, nothing beats live shrimp right now, free-lined or under a popping cork—trout, reds, and snook can’t resist. Pilchards and pinfish, if you can cast net ‘em, are deadly for bigger snook and reds working mangrove edges and creek mouths.

Lure-wise, topwater plugs pre-dawn are producing heart-stopping blowups from trout and slot reds—think MirrOlure Top Dog Juniors and classic Zara Spooks. As the sun climbs, switch to paddle-tail soft plastics in new penny and root beer gold flake, rigged weedless or on a quarter-ounce jighead.

Spanish mackerel and ladyfish are smashing silver spoons and live greenbacks from the piers, and sabiki rigs tipped with bait tentacles fill the cooler with cigar minnows and blue runners for cutbait or live offerings offshore. Snapper and grouper on bottom are hot for sardines, squid, and big cut threadfins, but don’t overlook jumbo soft plastics on heavy jigheads dropped near structure for a thrill.

**Hot Spots**

For hot action today:

- **Egmont Key shoals** and the cut for tarpon rolling and big snook late in the day, with mackerel and blues mixed in.

- **Destin East Jetty** and bridge pilings for schools

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It’s Artificial Lure coming at you with your Wednesday, September 10th, 2025, Florida Gulf of Mexico fishing report—fresh off the water and straight for the diehards, locals, and weekend warriors alike.

First light cracked at **7:13 AM** this morning and you’ve got daylight until **7:41 PM**, plenty of time to work those tides. Speaking of tides, we’re seeing a decent swing today—the first high tide rolled in early at **3:26 AM** and gave way to a super skinny low tide at **10:31 AM**, turning again to a solid high around **4:23 PM**. That’s moving a lot of water, perfect for stirring up bait and hunting opportunity, especially near points, seawalls, and mangrove cuts according to the latest tables from Tide-Forecast.com.

Weather’s a mixed bag: persistent northeasterlies, 20 to 25 knots early, easing a tad later. Seas kicked up, 5 to 7 feet, with a rough chop—so if you’re running offshore, be ready for a wet ride. Inshore and protected pocket fishing? The wind’s pushing bait and the fish are eating. NOAA forecasts say storms could pop through, so bring your rain gear and keep an eye skyward.

Now the real juice: the **mullet run** is in full force, said Spacefish’s community updates, piling up bait by the droves along the passes and the beaches. That’s got predators like snook, tarpon, and redfish busting all over, especially around dawn and dusk. Recent catches from Clearwater south to Charlotte Harbor put snook and tarpon in the spotlight—blowups on live mullet, white paddle tails, and silver spoons were steady. Slot reds are hot on the grass edges and oyster bars, especially tucked up in those wind-protected cuts when the tide hits the bottom.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission just re-opened **snook and red snapper** season along most of the coast—so toss ‘em in your lineup. Offshore, captains have been boxing good numbers of red snapper early, then switching over to mangrove snapper and the odd gag grouper on big structure, especially right around those heavy tidal pushes in thirty to eighty feet. Pilchards and pinfish are tops for live bait offshore, but don’t sleep on jigging big bucktails sweetened with squid.

For lures: you can’t go wrong with **topwaters and swim baits** at dawn—think MirrOlures or Rapalas that mimic mullet, or 5-inch paddle tails in pearl and silver. When the sun’s up, switch to jigs worked deep or weedless soft plastics for poking around the docks and potholes. Offshore, vertical jigs are crushing it, especially if you catch the tide change on a reef.

A couple **hot spots**:

- **John’s Pass and Blind Pass**: Tons of bait, tarpon and snook lined up along the deeper edges and bridges on outgoing tide.

- **Clearwater artificial reefs**: The snapper bite’s going strong on the dawn high, especially fishing the up-current side with sardines or cigar minnows.

- **Tampa Bay’s eastern shorelines**: Wind blowing in loads of bait—great for slot reds tailing just as the tide starts coming back in.

Remember, a few advi

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Fishing friends, this is Artificial Lure checking in with your Gulf of Mexico, Florida report for Sunday, September 7th, 2025.

We kicked things off this morning just before sunrise, which came at 6:22 AM, with sunset expected at 6:57 PM for Panama City Beach. The sky started out with a light breeze out of the northeast at 5 to 10 knots, and seas were a foot or less—nice calm conditions for inshore and nearshore anglers. According to the National Weather Service, rain and a few thunderstorms could roll in as we move through the day, especially toward evening, so keep your slickers handy and monitor weather apps for any pop-up storms. A weak cold front is drifting in, making tomorrow windier, so today is your shot at some ideal water.

Tidewise, we’re working with modest movement. High tide hit at 9:41 AM at Panama City Beach at 1.64 feet and low tide rolls in at 6:17 PM at 0.69 feet, followed by another small high tide at 11:01 PM. That means most of your tidal current action is late this morning and right before dusk—a pretty good window for active predator fish, especially if the cloud cover rolls in and cools things off a touch. Tidal coefficients are low to moderate (mid-40s to low 60s), so don’t expect big current sweeps, but steady activity for the flats and bridges.

Fishing activity’s been strong with the recent shift in wind and drop in barometric pressure. Regional reports from Navarre to Destin and down into the Big Bend confirm that bull redfish are starting to show more consistently around deeper passes, with oversized slot reds caught on live pinfish and cut mullet. The speckled trout bite has picked up on the grass flats early, especially near drop-offs. Anglers working topwaters like the Spook Jr. at dawn, then switching to soft plastics on jigheads (Gulp shrimp and MirrOlure soft baits) are seeing steady action.

Further offshore and along the piers, there’s been a run of Spanish mackerel, ladyfish, and the occasional tarpon for those willing to stick it out through the schooling bait pods. Sabiki rigs for live bait, small Gotcha plugs, and silver spoons have been the ticket for mackerel and blue runners. Mangrove snapper are biting well on the structure just off the beach—use fresh shrimp or small pilchards for best luck.

Live bait is always king if you can get it, but artificial lures have been holding their own. Top choices this week are gold spoons for redfish (especially near marsh outflows and creek mouths at high water), paddle-tail soft plastics in natural colors, and popping cork rigs drifted over grass. At night under dock or bridge lights, small white or chartreuse jigs and glass minnow imitations are pulling in trout and the occasional snook around the Panhandle bridges and bayou mouths.

Hot spots to consider:

- The grass flats and island drop-offs south of St. Andrews Bay—speckled trout, slot reds, and flounder reported on artificial lures and live finger mullet.

- The Navarre Beach Pier and the first trough beyond

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Artificial Lure here with your Gulf of Mexico Florida fishing report for Saturday, September 6, 2025. Sunrise came in at 6:21 AM along Panama City Beach, with sunset set for about 6:58 PM. That’s just over 12 hours of daylight to work the rod and reel today. The high tide hit Panama City Beach at 8:44 AM, dropping to low at 6:10 PM—so those peak moving water periods this morning and early evening will be prime for most species.

Weather’s classic late summer—warm and humid, high temps in the upper 80s to lower 90s, with heat index values pushing into the middle 100s. Winds are breezy out of the northeast at 15 to 25 mph. Expect scattered thunderstorms and downpours throughout the afternoon, especially across South and Central Florida. If you’re fishing offshore, keep an eye on those squalls rolling in from the gulf; they’ll push schools of bait and predator fish closer to shore for brief feeding frenzies, but also make for tricky conditions, so stay safe.

Fish activity is on the upswing with the seasonal transition and the solunar tables pointing to strong action around the major and minor feeding times—right around those tidal swings. This week across the Gulf, anglers have had great success with redfish, speckled trout, and flounder along the flats and inlets. Over reefs and wrecks, snapper—vermilion and mangrove—plus king mackerel and even occasional cobia have been reported in the bags, especially on drift rigs and slow-trolled baits.

Live shrimp and pinfish remain top natural baits for inshore species. If you’re chucking artificial, opt for a gold spoon or paddle-tail soft plastics in chartreuse or natural shad tones. The best lure bite’s been early and late in the day near tidal movement. Offshore, frozen sardines and cigar minnows work great, but vertical jigging with metal spoons around structure has been the hot ticket for snapper and AJ.

Two local hot spots not to miss:

- **St. Andrews Bay** near Panama City Beach: Trout and redfish have been stacked at the creek mouths and grass edges early, with topwater plugs getting the snatch.

- **Destin East Pass**: Reports of mackerel blitzes just after sunrise as bigger predators rush the bait schools on the incoming tide; a fast-retrieve silver spoon or flashy jig is hard to beat.

Off Sanibel and Fort Myers, tarpon are still popping at dawn—freelined threadfin herring or big soft swimbaits are getting the action. In Apalachicola Bay, anglers are hooking up sheepshead and black drum around the bridges and piers, mostly on cut crab and fiddlers.

Snapper catches have held strong offshore when weather windows permit, with calm seas in the morning switching over to choppy by afternoon as storm cells develop. For best success, hit those reefs and ledges early and have heavy jig heads and fluorocarbon leaders; mangrove and lane snapper have been reliably coming over the rail at 2–5 pounds.

Don’t forget the tides are running a mid to strong coefficient today across much of the Gulf Coast, which m

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Artificial Lure here, reporting from the Gulf of Mexico and the sun-drenched Florida coast on Friday, September 5th, 2025. The early morning greeted us with calm, muggy air and a mild southeast breeze. Sunrise hit Panama City Beach at 6:21 AM, with sunset set for about 6:58 PM, so anglers have plenty of daylight to get out and wet a line.

Tidal conditions today are mellow: high tide rolled in around 7:50 AM, peaking at about 1.87 feet, and the evening low tide will settle around 5:48 PM at just 0.33 feet, based on Tide-Forecast.com. That means light current for most of the day, especially close to shore—if you’re targeting redfish or speckled trout, the bite should pick up on the incoming tide just after breakfast. Those slack tides are prime time for finesse presentations, so fish slow and deliberate.

The weather so far is sticky and hot. NatureCoaster’s Captain Toney and BlueWater Outriggers both highlight spotty conditions offshore, with pop-up storms common this week, but those who find a weather window get rewarded—expect sticky air, low winds early, building to scattered afternoon showers and wind shifts by dusk.

Recent catches inshore include solid numbers of slot redfish on shrimp-tipped jigheads and finger mullet, with the occasional beast pulled from oyster bars—especially near Indian Rocks Beach, where snook are active along rocky cuts and dock pilings. Spanish mackerel and smaller bluefish have been blitzing the surf, and mangrove snapper are holding tight on structure; pitch live shrimp or mud minnows to get their attention. Port Canaveral and Banana River are seeing a great snook bite, especially for those fishing the outgoing tide at dawn and dusk—according to Coastal Angler Magazine, the mullet run is heating up, so match the hatch with silver swimbaits or cast-netted mullet.

Offshore, the short gag grouper season is firing, especially on natural ledges and rocky bottom from 20 to 60 feet. Those who braved the bluewater this week report chunky gags up to 20 pounds, caught deep on pinfish and jumbo live threadfins. Check the weather windows—offshore runs can turn sour fast if one of those summer squalls rolls in.

For lures, it’s mostly a matter of matching local forage. In the surf and around jetties, toss 1/4 oz bucktail jigs, MirrOdine suspending plugs, or gold spoons for trout and mackerel. Soft plastics like Z-Man paddletails rigged weedless work on flats, especially in low current. When bait fishing, use fresh shrimp, pilchards, or finger mullet. Offshore, drop heavy jigs or send down big dead baits for grouper and snapper; those bite best as tidal flow picks up mid-morning.

Hot spots worth checking today:

- **Homosassa near the Chassahowitzka channels** for mixed bag inshore—reds, trout, and flounder.

- **Panama City Beach’s jetties and St. Andrews Pass**—light tackle action for mackerel and pompano.

- **Port Canaveral channel edges and nearshore wrecks**—snook and snapper on dusk tides, and possible tarpon if the mulle

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Artificial Lure here with your Gulf of Mexico Florida fishing report for Wednesday, September 3, 2025.

Sunrise set the sky ablaze at 7:04 a.m., and we’re looking at about 12 hours and 38 minutes of daylight before sunset at 7:42 p.m. Today’s weather along the Gulf is classic September: marginally cooler than the dog days but still humid and warm. A stalled frontal boundary is bringing scattered showers, especially in southern sections, so watch for pop-up thunderstorms. The heat index will creep toward triple digits, especially in the afternoons. Winds are moderate, mostly from the southeast, settling down after a breezy start to the week. The first round of fall king tides is ramping up, so expect some minor coastal flooding close to high tide, especially in estuaries and low-lying spots.

Tidal action is on the gentle side: the tidal coefficient around Sanibel and the central Florida Gulf only creeps from the mid-30s early to about 47 by day’s end—meaning weaker currents and a less pronounced difference between high and low tides. This makes for easier fishing from small craft and kayaks, though savvy anglers know moving water is always better for bites.

September’s mild temp drop means fish are stirring. Offshore, grouper and snapper are moving into shallower waters—65 feet out is prime for big red grouper and consistent lane and mangrove snapper. Madeira Beach captains report solid mackerel and trout action around hard bottoms and artificial reefs, with Spanish and king mackerel blitzing bait pods. Reports from Sarasota, Tampa Bay, and Tierra Verde echo the trend: both live bait and big silver spoons are scoring fish, particularly for mackerel and trout. The gag grouper season is open for just two weeks—if weather allows, grab that rare shot.

Inshore, snook are transitioning off beaches and Gulf passes, heading back into the back bays and flats. Snook are on the move and hungry, hanging by oyster bars, mangrove shorelines, sandy potholes, and any structure you can cast to. Sanibel and Pine Island Sound are seeing midsize linesiders feeding aggressively, mostly on live pilchards, finger mullet, and pinfish, but larger swim baits and bucktail jigs are getting hits too. Even though snook season is still closed, catch-and-release action is excellent.

Trout are active across grass flats, especially near deep holes and inside bay cuts where tidal movement pushes bait. Most catches have landed on DOA shrimp, paddle tails in pearl or chartreuse, and Gulp! baits rigged under popping corks. Early morning and dusk are prime, with some bigger trout appearing on topwater plugs.

For bait, live pilchards, threadfin herring, and scaled sardines are best for everything from snook to snapper, but artificial lures like silver spoons, MirrOlure Twitchbaits, and soft plastics in natural “greenbacks” are getting it done. Mackerel and bluefish are smashing fast-moving spoons along color breaks and bait balls near passes.

Hot spots this week:

- **Sanibel Islan

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Artificial Lure here with your September 3rd Gulf of Mexico, Florida fishing report—the scoop every saltwater angler needs before heading out. Sunrise was at 7:09 AM, and you’ll see sunset a bit before 7:50 PM. Tides are sitting at a lower swing today—a high tide around 10:49 AM hits 3.56 feet, then drops to a 0.35 foot low by 6:51 PM. With the first round of fall King Tides already lapping up in some coastal spots, watch for nuisance flooding near the high marks according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management. The tidal coefficient remains low today, so current’s minimal—meaning laid-back drifts and subtle lure work will win the day.

Our weather is classic late summer Florida: expect a muggy air mass and scattered showers, especially into the afternoon as a frontal boundary sits stubbornly across the peninsula. Sometimes you'll see a burst of northeast wind during the morning, swinging south-southwest as you creep into midweek. By the weekend, rain chances slim down and things warm up, with the heat index edging toward triple digits. On the gulf side, wave action keeps to 1-2 feet, making for generally friendly boating, but stay weather aware for pop-up squalls. That combo of warmth and wet means you’ll want to be ready to shuffle spots and switch tactics as storm cells or sun shifts move through.

What’s biting? Action’s ramping up with the start of the annual mullet run just kicking off along the west coast, a prime trigger for predatory strikes. Reports from Panama City to Fort Myers have redfish rolling in near oyster bars and grassy points—live mullet and pilchard or soft plastic paddle tails have been producing steady fish, with early morning topwater bites before storms roll in. Inshore, snook are back and active across mangrove cuts and river mouths, especially around moving water at peak tides. Try white bucktail jigs, flashy paddletails, or classic live shrimp under a popping cork. Early birds have been picking up slot trout on the grass flats right at sunrise using MirrOlure MirrOdines and Z-Man soft plastics.

Offshore, the action is still steady on snapper and grouper before the heat and rain push in—dead sardines, squid strips, and bigger live pinfish or pilchard do the trick. Be aware, NOAA Fisheries Southeast has just closed federal waters to greater amberjack harvest as of yesterday, September 2, so double check what’s open out deep. King mackerel are filtering in over the nearshore reefs—slow-trolled cigar minnows or silver spoons will put you in the zone. A few bonus cobia have turned up shadowing sunrays and marker buoys, so keep a rod ready with a big jig or live eel.

Recent catches reported by local guides show plenty of slot reds, a good number of legal grouper, scattered snook and strong mangrove snapper catches when working structure from Tampa south to the Ten Thousand Islands. Nighttime dock fishing has also pulled some quality trout and flounder for those working live shrimp under dock lights.

Hot spots t

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Good morning anglers, Artificial Lure here with your Sunday fishing report for August 31st, 2025, covering the Gulf of Mexico and Florida’s prime waters.

Sunrise today came at 7:09 AM, with sunset set for 7:52 PM. That gives us almost 13 solid hours on the water. Tides are running flat—early high tide at 5:31 AM around Gulf Harbors, then dropping to a low at 1:29 PM, rising again for an evening high at 7:56 PM. Tidal coefficients are hovering in the high 20s, which means minimal current and gentle swings—so you’ll want to seek structure or deeper holes for activity. According to tides4fishing, tidal movement is limited, so fish won’t stray far looking for comfort zones; focus your efforts where bait’s gathering.

Marine weather’s looking forgiving. National Weather Service Miami calls for light westerly to southwesterly winds, seas under 2 feet, smooth intracoastal waters, and scattered thunderstorms, especially inland. Watch for passing showers; these can spark feeding frenzies but also bring quick wind gusts, so keep an eye on the clouds.

Recent catches up and down the Gulf Coast are solid. The hot bite is Snapper and Grouper—especially Red Snapper and Gags on deeper reefs and wrecks. Inshore, anglers have been pulling good numbers of Speckled Trout, Redfish, and Spanish Mackerel. Reports from local guides say folks are limiting out on trout in under two hours when working live shrimp over grass flats or paddletails bounced along oyster beds. The Navarre fishing report notes steady action at dawn and dusk, with slot Redfish and a few surprise Flounder showing up near the passes. Pilchards and finger mullet are thick; keep your bait presentation lively.

Artificial lures are scoring too. Early in the day, topwaters like the Heddon Super Spook or Rapala Skitter Walk draw explosive strikes in low light. As the sun climbs, switch to soft plastics—Z-Man paddletails in “Electric Chicken” or “Opening Night” on jigheads around 1/8 to ¼ oz, especially when fished near mangroves and tidal creeks. On the beaches and piers, Silver spoons and Got-Cha plugs are putting Spanish Mackerel in the cooler. For bait, nothing beats live shrimp, pilchards, or cut mullet on a Carolina rig with just enough weight to keep it down.

If you’re looking for hot spots, here’s two locals’ favorites:

- *Mullet Key Channel (near the Skyway)*: Deep water, strong structure, and moving baitfish. Grouper and Snapper are concentrated around artificial reefs and ledges. Earlier high tide means the bite should be best right after sunrise.

- *Gulf Harbors jetty and adjacent flats*: These see solid Redfish and Trout action all summer. The outgoing tide after 1:30 PM will have predators pushing up against inflowing bait; set up where the current meets the rocks or grass, and work your lure with a steady retrieve.

If beach fishing’s your game, Navarre Pier is open at 5 AM, with Spanish, Bonito, and Kings moving through. Try small spoons or drifting live baits for strikes.

Remember,

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