Early July weather effect on patterns.

**Title: Stormy Skies & Shifting Bites – How Recent Weather is Shaping Local Fishing**

After a stretch of unsettled weather along the Gulf Coast, anglers from Destin to Mexico Beach are seeing firsthand how wind, rain, and pressure swings are reshaping local fishing patterns.

### 🌧️ Wind, Rain & Runoff

Late last week, a series of fast-moving fronts brought gusty winds, scattered thunderstorms, and a solid dose of freshwater runoff into the bays and estuaries. Water clarity took a hit, especially inshore around river mouths and bayous. Redfish and trout pushed deeper into cleaner water or held tighter to structure.

Offshore, wind-driven swells made longer runs tough for smaller boats. Most charters stayed inside 20 miles unless they had the size to handle the slop. For those who did make it out, bottom fishing was productive—especially on the calmer windows between squalls.

### 🎯 What’s Biting Despite the Weather

* **Inshore**: Redfish are still biting, but best results have come from fishing deeper drop-offs with live shrimp or cut mullet. Trout are picky—try downsizing your baits and focusing on moving tides with cleaner water.

* **Nearshore**: Spanish mackerel and ladyfish showed up in good numbers around the east jetties and outflows during brief sunny spells.

* **Offshore**: Red snapper are still being caught on natural bottom and ledges in 60–120 ft, but some captains are reporting that they're getting harder to find—especially the larger grades. Heavier pressure and shifting conditions may be pushing them deeper or scattering schools.

### 🧭 Final Thoughts

Weather may slow the bite, but it never shuts it down completely. Adjust your strategy, watch the tide, and keep safety first. When the storms pass and the barometer levels out, expect the bite to fire back up fast—especially around the new moon.