BOA WEEKLY GULF COAST FISHING REPORT (July 31 – August 6, 2026)

Bertha’s Aftermath Clears — Water Stabilizing, Weedlines Reforming, and Offshore Bite Heating Back Up

After Tropical Storm Bertha stirred up the Gulf last week, conditions have finally stabilized. Water clarity is improving daily from Mexico Beach → PCB → Destin → Pensacola → Orange Beach. Weedlines are reforming offshore, bait is thick along the beaches, and anglers are reporting strong snapper limits, heavy mingo action, and scattered mahi returning to the lines.

This week brings classic late‑summer fishing: calm mornings, warm water, and excellent offshore windows.

NOAA WEATHER & SEA CONDITIONS (July 31 – August 6)

Based on NOAA/NWS marine forecasts for the Florida Panhandle & Alabama Gulf Coast

Friday (July 31)

Winds: SW 10–12 kt Seas: 2–3 ft Notes: Slight leftover chop from Bertha; improving.

Saturday (August 1)

Winds: S 8–10 kt Seas: 2 ft Notes: Good morning window; scattered storms late.

Sunday (August 2)

Winds: S 5–8 kt Seas: 1–2 ft Notes: One of the best days this week.

Monday (August 3)

Winds: Light & variable → S 5 kt Seas: 1–2 ft Notes: Excellent offshore conditions.

Tuesday (August 4)

Winds: S 5–8 kt Seas: 1–2 ft Notes: Great for long runs and bottom fishing.

Wednesday (August 5)

Winds: SW 10 kt Seas: 2–3 ft Notes: Afternoon storms possible.

Thursday (August 6)

Winds: SW 10–12 kt Seas: 2–3 ft Notes: Typical summer pattern; storms around.

BEST FISHING DAYS THIS WEEK

⭐ Top Days:

August 2–4 (Sunday–Tuesday)

• Light winds

• Seas 1–2 ft

• Ideal for snapper, scamp, mahi, tuna, and long offshore runs

👍 Good Secondary Day:

August 1 (Saturday)

• Calm morning

• Good nearshore king & Spanish bite

⚠️ Challenging Days:

July 31, August 5–6

• Higher winds

• Afternoon storms

• 2–3 ft seas

SNAPPPER SEASON — LATE JULY / EARLY AUGUST TRENDS

Based on Half Hitch, Captain Experiences, Fishing Booker & dock reports

Red Snapper

• Limits remain easy and consistent

• Fish holding tight to structure in 70–120 ft

• Larger fish still coming from 150–180 ft

• Bite slowed slightly during Bertha but fully recovered

Mingo (Vermillion Snapper)

• Very thick on natural bottom

• Many boats adding 15–30 mingos per trip

• Great filler fish for mixed bags

Scamp Grouper

• Strong in 180–260 ft

• Best on live bait or slow‑pitch jigs

Mahi

• Weedlines scattered during Bertha

• Reforming quickly

• More consistent numbers expected by Sunday

Kings & Spanish

• Spanish still thick along the beaches

• Kings steady around buoys, bait pods, and nearshore reefs

Inshore

• Trout bite strong at sunrise

• Reds consistent around docks, grass edges, and points

• Flounder improving in cuts and washouts

WHAT’S BITING (July 31 – August 6)

Offshore

• Red Snapper — aggressive, consistent limits

• Mingo (Vermillion) — heavy on natural bottom

• Scamp Grouper — strong in 180–260 ft

• Mahi — improving daily

• Blackfin Tuna — early morning around rips

• Sailfish & Marlin Sightings — still elevated

• Sharks — heavy presence on deeper wrecks

Nearshore

• Spanish Mackerel — strongest nearshore bite

• King Mackerel — steady action

• Bonita & Skipjack — common on troll passes

• Beach‑run Spanish blitzes early morning (Destin & Orange Beach)

Inshore

• Speckled Trout — early morning topwater

• Redfish — strong around docks & grass edges

• Flounder — improving daily

• Tripletail — spotted around crab traps (Mexico Beach)

DOCK REPORTS (July 31 – August 6)

Destin East Pass

• Bait thick despite Bertha

• Spanish blitzes at sunrise

• Kings holding tight to buoys

• Bonus mahi within 10–15 miles

• Water clarity improving fast

Panama City Beach (Half Hitch Area)

• Snapper limits still coming fast

• Larger fish in 150–180 ft

• Mingo stacked on natural bottom

• Scamp strong on live bait

• Weedlines reforming

• Occasional sailfish near rips

Orange Beach

• Spanish thick along the beaches

• Kings steady around bait pods

• Bonita & skipjack heavy on troll passes

• Inshore trout early; reds around docks; flounder improving

• Tripletail spotted around channel markers

Pensacola

• Blackfin tuna early morning

• Mahi along weedlines

• Sailfish sightings increasing

• Strong snapper bite on the way out

• Cleaner water around the Nipple and Spur

Mexico Beach

• Clean water returning

• Snapper limits

• Heavy mingo action

• Triggerfish showing up

• Tripletail around crab traps

• Good nearshore Spanish bite

TOURNAMENT & EVENT UPDATES (July & August)

Ongoing July Events

• Pensacola Ladies Billfish Tournament

• Destin Kids Fishing Rodeo (weekends)

August Events

• MBGFC Labor Day Invitational (Mobile Big Game Club) — late August

• Destin Swordfish Shootout — August

• Orange Beach Wahoo Round‑Up — August

• Gulf Coast Triple Tail Classic — early August

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