Shore Thing Fishing Report, 7/8/2026

July 8, 2026

Summer is in full swing, which means fishing days start and end early to beat the heat. The fish are out there waiting for you!

- by Sonny Schindler, Shore Thing Fishing Charters

Donna Lewis with a hefty red drum she caught near Bayou Caddy.

Get yourself a good alarm clock, because this midday heat has been brutal. The flooding has subsided, and the salty water has brought us an incredible July bite. We have been leaving the dock as early as we can see safely to beat the heat in the cooler, early morning temperatures. I’m not saying you can’t fish all day and catch fish, but most days the best bites we have seen are usually over by 9 AM.
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The fishing remains consistent everywhere. The only spot we have not been spending much time in has been Bay St. Louis, mainly because of the 4th of July vacationing crowd and the Wolf and Jordan Rivers still dumping a little fresh water. It should get back to normal there with the salinity rising more every day.
 

Brenan and Annabel Barber with a speckled trout they caught south of Waveland.

 
We are fishing primarily live croakers over the deeper oyster reefs now that the water temperature is in the mid- to upper-80s. There is really no magic spot; you just have to look for the bait or the slicks and hopefully have a little water moving to get those speckled trout feeding more aggressively. Don’t let the crowds of boats fool you - the best bites we have found all week have been as far as possible from the big groups. The fish seem to be less spooky, and it certainly makes for a less stressful morning.
 

Caroline Compretta from Jackson, MS, with a bull shark she caught and released at Cat Island.

 
We have also started to see schools of Jack Crevalles and bull reds closer to the beaches. Keep an eye out for pelicans and gulls diving in open water. They are usually following the same schools of pogies the big fish are chasing. You will know very quickly when the big explosion starts happening if you are in the right school. They will literally eat anything if you can get within casting distance of them.
 

Beatrix and Eloise from Austin, TX, with a beautiful speckled trout they caught south of Bay St. Louis.

 
Federal snapper season is still open, and our offshore boat has consistently been bringing in some hefty fish. Again, you want to get out there early, especially on days with no wind, get your fish, and head back. Please don’t take any chances with this heat. Bring plenty of water and sports drinks. Don’t forget to bring some healthy snacks and plenty of sunscreen.

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