July is more about scalloping than rod bending for me. Most of my time on the water this month is spent chasing scallops with clients, and for good reason. That said, there are still plenty of opportunities for anglers willing to work around the summer patterns.

Scallops

Scallop season is looking good so far! The numbers we’re seeing are the best in the past 5–6 years. Will the scallops hold out until the end of the season? That’s the big question, but they're plentiful in 5-8' of water right now. Low tides or weak tides (when the seagrass stands up) are going to help scallopers quite a bit.

Weekdays remain your best bet for avoiding the crowds, and if you’re unfamiliar with the area, hiring a guide (like us!) is the easiest way to make the most of your day without the stress of finding productive and un-pillaged scalloping areas.

Gag Grouper News!

The gag grouper season dates are finally out, and there are no surprises this year. Just like last season, we’re looking at September 1st through September 14th. Everything points at the bag limit remaining at 2 per person, which means a short, intense window for targeting these fish. The good news? With the strong gag populations we’ve been seeing, this year’s short season should produce some quality fish.

Redfish

The spoil banks are holding good numbers of redfish right now. Go-to setup is a live pinfish on a knocker rig, with the tail snipped off to create extra scent and vibration. It’s a simple, effective presentation that works all summer

Mangrove Snapper & Grunts

Fishing inside of 15 feet of water has been producing the most consistent bite for both mangrove snapper and grunts. Rockpiles in the 5–15 foot range are holding fish, particularly when you can get a good tide moving.

Live shrimp are  notoriously hard to find this time of year (you can forget about picking them up on weekends from Saturday to Monday most bait shops get cleaned out fast).

What’s Coming Next

As we roll into August, expect scalloping to remain the main attraction, but the fishing will start to pick back up—especially as we get closer to gag grouper season in September. Don't forget fall inshore fishing!