The Daily Catch | Fishing Report – June 2026
June 2026 Fishing Highlights: Red snapper season is underway, red grouper fishing has been outstanding, and our 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 hour Clearwater Beach fishing charters have been producing a wide variety of Gulf species.
Anglers fishing with Stella Fishing Co. this month have been catching red snapper, red grouper, mangrove snapper, lane snapper, vermillion snapper, yellowtail snapper, Key West grunts, porgies, sea bass, Spanish mackerel, and barracuda.
June is always one of the most anticipated months of the year, and this season certainly kept us on our toes.
This Clearwater Beach fishing report for June 2026 highlights what anglers have been catching offshore in the Gulf of Mexico aboard Stella Fishing Co. charters. From family-friendly 4-hour fishing trips to offshore red snapper and red grouper adventures, June has delivered a wide variety of action despite a weather-delayed start to the season.
Red Snapper season officially opened on June 1st, but Mother Nature had other plans. The first week of the month brought rough seas and unfavorable weather, keeping us tied to the dock more than we would have liked. While it wasn’t exactly the start we envisioned, safety always comes first, and we knew our opportunity would come once the Gulf settled down.
As soon as the weather gave us a window, we got right back after it. Since then, we’ve been running hard, covering different areas, and putting in the time to find fish. The persistence has paid off, and June has delivered some great catches across all of our trip lengths.
Family-Friendly Fun on Our 4-Hour Trips
Perfect for families, young kids, first-time anglers, and vacationers looking to experience the Gulf without spending an entire day offshore, these trips offer plenty of action in a shorter time frame. We typically fish in depths around 40-50 feet where there’s no shortage of bites and opportunities to reel in fish.
Guests have been catching a variety of species including Key West grunts, mangrove snapper, lane snapper, porgies, sea bass, and other reef fish. The action is usually steady, making it a great option for keeping kids engaged and creating memories that last long after the trip is over.
One of the things we love most about these trips is seeing new anglers catch their first fish. Whether you’re introducing your children to fishing, entertaining family visiting from out of town, or simply looking for a fun morning on the water, our 4-hour charters are a great way to dip your toes into offshore fishing without committing to a full day offshore.
The best part? Many of our 4-hour trips return with plenty of snapper, grunts, and other reef fish for a fresh fish dinner after a fun morning on the water.
Mixed Bags on the 6 & 8-Hour Trips
For anglers looking to spend a little more time on the water, our 6 and 8-hour trips have been producing some fantastic mixed bags this month.
These trips give us the flexibility to mix techniques throughout the day, combining trolling and bottom fishing to maximize opportunities. We’ve been seeing action from Spanish mackerel and barracuda while trolling, then switching gears to target mangrove snapper, lane snapper, porgies, grunts, sea bass, and the occasional keeper grouper on the bottom.
The extra time allows us to cover more ground, fish multiple spots, and adapt to whatever the fish are doing that day. For many anglers, these trips offer the perfect balance between a quick half-day outing and a full offshore expedition.
If you’re looking for variety, steady action, and a cooler full of fish, the 6 and 8-hour trips have been hard to beat this June.
Chasing Red Snapper & Red Grouper Offshore
Of course, June means one thing for many anglers—red snapper.
Our 10 and 12 hour trips have been heading well offshore in search of red snapper and red grouper, and while the snapper bite has been a little tougher than expected at times, we’ve continued to put quality fish in the boat.
The weather delays early in the month didn’t do us any favors, and finding cooperative schools of snapper has required plenty of patience and persistence. Fortunately, our crew has been willing to put in the work, and it has paid off with some beautiful fish making their way over the rails.
Red grouper, on the other hand, have been absolutely phenomenal. The grouper bite has been one of the strongest we’ve seen in recent memory, and they’ve been filling coolers on our longer trips all month long.
While anglers can certainly catch red snapper on a 10 hour trip, the 12 hour charters have consistently given us the best opportunity for success. That extra time allows us to run farther offshore, reach less pressured areas, and spend more time fishing once we get there. When targeting both red snapper and red grouper, time on the water can make all the difference.
Along with our target species, anglers have also been bringing home lane snapper, mangrove snapper, vermillion snapper, yellowtail snapper, and a few other surprises along the way, creating some impressive mixed bags and even better fish fries back at home.
Looking Ahead to the Rest of Summer
The good news is that summer is just getting started.
With one of the longest red snapper seasons we’ve seen in years, there is still plenty of time to get offshore and put some fish in the freezer. If you’ve been waiting for the right opportunity to book your trip, don’t worry, you haven’t missed out.
Looking ahead, we’re also excited for September when gag grouper season reopens. For anglers hoping to target gag grouper alongside red snapper and red grouper, our 12 hour trips will be the way to go. The additional range and fishing time give us the best chance to reach productive bottom and target all three during the same trip.
We can’t wait to see what the rest of the summer brings. Whether you’re looking for a family friendly half-day adventure, a mixed bag trip with plenty of action, or an offshore hunt for red snapper and red grouper, we’ve got a trip for you.
Give us a call at 727-496-3474 or click HERE to reserve your spot. We’ll see you at the dock and look forward to making some memories with you this summer.
Tight lines!
