The Daily Catch | Fishing Report – July 2025

We’re deep into the dog days of summer, and while the heat has been relentless, the fishing has been just as hot. July brought a mix of classic summer action and a few unexpected curveballs, with coolers full of snapper, grouper, and even some surprise species keeping things interesting out there. Whether you’re hopping on one of our full-day trips or just squeezing in a few hours of salt therapy, there’s no shortage of action offshore right now.

Red Snapper & Red Grouper Still Going Strong
Snapper season is still rolling, and it continues to deliver. Red snapper are hanging out deep, and we’ve been hauling in solid fish—many pushing well past the 16-inch mark with a few real brutes making their way into the boat. The 107-day season has been generous, and July gave us some of our best hauls yet. There’s still time to book before it closes, but don’t sleep on it—these trips go fast.

Red grouper are still a major target, and while most of our keepers have been coming from longer trips, we’ve had a few lucky catches on the 4–6 hour runs closer to shore. That kind of inshore keeper bite is rare this time of year, and we’re chalking it up to a little luck and a lot of persistence.

Snapper Slams & Shark Surprises
If variety is your thing, you’re going to love what we’ve been seeing on the reefs and ledges. Along with red snapper and red grouper, our bottom fishing trips have been stacked with lane snapper, vermillion snapper, mangrove snapper, and the occasional yellowtail. Even better? Hogfish have started biting, which is a wild twist for July. Normally a wintertime treat, these picky eaters are showing up on hook and line more than usual, and we’re not complaining.

Sharks have also made a strong showing this month—everything from lemon sharks and spinner sharks to blacktips, blacknose, and even a few hammerheads. Most of them have come up while bottom fishing, making for some wild moments and big smiles on deck.

Dead Bait is the Ticket
After a few weeks of experimentation back in June, we’ve locked in our best strategy for consistent bites: dead bait. From squid and cut threadfins to sardines, the fish have shown zero interest in live offerings this month. It’s been all about presenting the right dead bait with the right rig, and it’s paying off.

Shorter Trips = Fast Action + a Breeze
For our half-day charters, we’ve been mixing it up to beat the heat. With the heat index reaching over 110° some days, we’ve been switching between trolling and bottom fishing to keep the breeze moving and everyone comfortable. Spanish mackerel and barracuda are still biting well on the troll, and we even landed a few surprise cobia this month—always a crowd favorite.

The shorter trips have also given us solid action on grunts, mangrove snapper, and porgies, plus the occasional red grouper or shark to spice things up.

Beat the Heat, Catch a Beast
The Florida sun has been no joke this July, but the fishing has made it all worth it. Whether you’re after snapper limits, your first keeper grouper, or a shot at something toothy, now’s a great time to get offshore. We’ve still got a few dates open for August, and with red snapper season continuing, it’s prime time to book your adventure.

Give us a call at 727-496-3474 or click HERE to grab your spot. Let’s go fishing!