BlueWater Outriggers Fishing Report 5-8-2026
We’d probably been fishing for about two hours when captain Gary Dunn accepted a call from his brother. I was standing on the bow of the boat making casts over the grass flats and naturally listening in on the conversation. After the normal pleasantries were exchanged, Gary informed his brother that he and I were out on the boat fishing. Knowing Gary, I knew the conversation was far from over and exactly where it was going. He then explained to his brother how he, himself, was only one fish away from having his limit and how I, like my uncle, was a bluefish magnet and was only catching undersized trout. It was all in good fun, but it was true. I was getting outfished! On top of that, I was down to my last 3/16 jig-head because of all the blues slicing through my leader like a hot knife through butter. I held fast though; something told me my time was coming. We re-set the boat for another drift, and I switched from my usual shiner pattern to a color called slam shady. I took my first cast and after about a three second drop I felt the familiar thud on the end of the line that was 100% trout and set the dickens out of the hook. The monster I pulled up can be seen (above right). While this fish dwarfed all others brought into the boat that day, I must remember the words of Gary himself, “Who’s keeping score?”
Persistence pays off folks, especially fishing around Port St. Joe this time of year. I’ve continued to find trout wading around the shallow waters of the intracoastal waterway. The thing is, they move through in a small window of time. You can walk out there and catch four or five fish one after another, then you go to change a hook or look at the sandcastle your four-year-old insists you must see, and the bite stops, just like that. Sometimes it’s the other way around. On Monday, my boy and I were fishing, and it was dead for the first 20 minutes, but I kept on casting. Then, all of a sudden, the trout were biting. We even had a nice slot redfish slam our line; Just look at that boy’s smile (above left)!
Speaking of finding fish, I want to highlight one of our local fishing guides, Captain Chris Lantz. Captain Chris is the owner/operator of Gettin’ Reel Sportfishing. He’s been sending pictures to me of all the trout he’s putting his clients on this last week. I didn’t include any in the photos because I think they may have been bigger than mine! But there’s no way I could exclude the photo, seen dead center, of the elusive, highly sought after, snook he put his client on. While I can’t tell you where he got it, I can say it was caught very near here, but that’s all you get. If you want your chance at some very special fish, I suggest you give Captain Chris a call or look him up at www.grsportfishing.com
We’ve got it going on here in Port St Joe, Florida. Redfish, trout, snook, pompano; you name it; they’re biting. Even the King Mackerel are livening up offshore. Remember, for any of these species you may want to target, we’ve got you covered at Bluewater Outriggers. Stop in and see us, then get out there and make it happen!
-Jeremiah Beasley