July 25, 27, 28, 2025

The New Buccaneer, with the same captain running each trip, had a productive run over the weekend with some variation in conditions. On Friday, Captain Brian and the customers brought in a limit of red snapper, along with a few vermillion snapper. It was a good trip, with a number of nice-sized fish caught. There was no offshore trip on Saturday due to weather concerns, as thunderstorms moved through the Gulf. Those unsettled conditions may have contributed to Sunday’s less-than-spectacular fishing. We’ve been in contact with other captains along the coast, and all report similar trends: red snapper can sometimes run smaller, and catches have been sporadic. Even when electronic sensors mark a large number of fish, they simply won’t bite. Conditions change daily—Friday was very good, Saturday was canceled due to poor weather, and Sunday’s results were disappointing. Then Monday brought a turnaround. The New Buccaneer landed a limit of 190 red snapper, 99 vermillion snapper, two king mackerel, and an African pompano—a great trip. This just goes to show that fishing conditions can change drastically from one day to the next. Red snapper fishing this year has definitely shifted compared to previous seasons. While most days are very good, there’s always the possibility of a slower day.