Bluewater Outriggers Fishing Report 5-22-2026
I’ve said it time and again how much I love my job at Bluewater Outriggers, the best fishing store on Florida’s Forgotten Coast. But sometimes folks, it can be hell on an old fisherman like me. For weeks we’ve been planning and ordering gear, and you can’t help but get caught up in all the hype. Then you start salivating at the mouth as you open the new rods and reels to put on display. I even bit the bullet and purchased a new Saragosa to adorn my Goofish offshore spinning rod. It was an impulse buy, but I justified it by convincing myself that my four-year-old boy will surely be granted a full-ride academic scholarship; I mean, his colorful use of scatological terminology is second to none. But here we are; It’s the opening day of red snapper season and I’m going to be stuck working through the weekend. Look, I get it, I’m needed at the store, and I’m happy to help. It’s not like I asked for the day off or anything. But can you imagine someone that loves fishing as much as I, having to load the cigar minnows for other people to fish with while my new rod and reel is just sitting there, and my extended family is all out on the boat taking part in the action? And let’s not forget Captain Jake! I just know he’ll be sending me pictures by the end of the day to rub it in. It’s like you’re so close to the action, yet so far; and it induces a manic state of mind that no benzo or level-headed conversation can fix. The only cure is to get out there and go fishing.
Speaking of fishing, it’s been a very productive week here in Port St. Joe. The pompano are continuing to run as Brandy Caro has made abundantly clear by submitting her photo (above left). I’ve been able to come across some trout under the Tapper Bridge on several occasions and even landed a small flounder on the PSJ side of the intracoastal waterway. Mr. Larry Hunt landed a nice slot red while wading the waters of the intracoastal using a Z-Man jerk shad (above right). I had two occasions to fish the Mexico Beach canal this last week and while the seaweed was a nuisance, I did manage to hook into a nice 24” speckled trout that I successfully landed and released.
As you know from the opening paragraph, offshore fishing is a bit of a sore subject for me because I’m here, and everyone else is, well... out there. I’m sure the red snapper bite is exquisite, and by the end of the day I’ll have a load of pictures that prove exactly what I’ve missed out on. But don’t worry, even though I may passive aggressively not respond to the pictures I receive, I’ll include them in next week’s report! Offshore fishing was good this last week with a bunch of early red snapper being caught and released as well as a good mix of red grouper coming in from around the 160 ft range. The aforementioned, Captain Jake Harpe, took a long trip out to do some deep dropping and caught the impressive snowy grouper seen (above center).
It’s going on all around us here in Port St. Joe, Florida. Get a rod in your hand and take part in the action. Remember, we have everything you’ll need to make it happen at Bluewater Outriggers, so please come in and see us!
-Jeremiah Beasley