Port St Joe, Gulf County, FL
Partly Cloudy
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82°F
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Feels 89°
Naples Premier Offshore Fishing Charter
Pattern day — fish are predictable. Work structure and watch the feeding windows.
80-150lb mono leader with crimps
Tarpon require heavy, abrasion-resistant leaders; their mouths are tough and bony
Versatile soft plastic shrimp in rootbeer, chartreuse, or pink
Bay standard — works for redfish, seatrout, snapper, permit
Weedless gold spoon with fiber guard
Excellent for redfish in shallow bay grass — flash and vibration trigger strikes
Popping cork with shrimp or DOA below
Perfect for bay structure — create commotion above grass flats
Local Fishing Resource
St. Andrews Bay, St. Joseph Bay, and some of the most pristine Gulf waters in Florida
Open the Bay & Gulf Cheat Sheet
Paralichthys albigutta
Flatfish common in coastal bays and flats. Excellent eating and popular sport fish.
Local Notes: Bury in the sandy and muddy bottom throughout Simmons Bayou. Slow-drifted live shrimp or finger mullet near bottom, or a 1/4-oz white jig.
Sciaenops ocellatus
Popular game fish with distinctive black spot near tail. Found in shallow coastal waters.
Local Notes: Patrol the shallow flats and shorelines of Simmons Bayou. Sight-fish tailing reds on low tide with gold spoons or D.O.A. Shrimp.
Cynoscion nebulosus
Popular inshore species with distinctive spots. Found over grass flats and sandy bottoms.
Local Notes: Dominate the grass flats throughout Simmons Bayou. DOA Shrimp, CAL jigs, and live pilchards over the flat edges at first light.
Pogonias cromis
Large drum species found in estuaries. Can reach impressive sizes.
Local Notes: Root around oyster bars and shell beds in Simmons Bayou. Shrimp or crab on bottom in 3–6 ft of water.
Trachinotus carolinus
Excellent eating fish found in surf. Silver body with yellow fins.
Local Notes: Roam the sandy potholes and flats of Simmons Bayou in cooler months. Quarter-ounce jigs tipped with shrimp.
Lutjanus griseus
Versatile species found from mangroves to offshore reefs. Excellent eating.
Local Notes: Hold tight to mangrove roots, docks, and any structure in Simmons Bayou. Live shrimp on light fluorocarbon.
Archosargus probatocephalus
Bottom feeder with strong teeth. Found around structures and pilings.
Local Notes: Work oyster bars, crab trap floats, and dock pilings throughout Simmons Bayou. Fiddler crabs are best.
Megalops atlanticus
Large powerful fish known for spectacular jumps. Migrates along Florida coast.
Local Notes: Roll through Simmons Bayou on their way to spawning aggregations. Sight-fish rolling fish with crabs or swimbaits.
