Captain's Log — May 21, 2026

Thursday, May 21. The wind backed off another notch. East to southeast at 10 to 15 knots, Hawk Channel 2 to 3 feet, Straits 3 to 4. The easing trend is real and the fish are responding. There’s a Bermuda high parked east of us moderating the flow.

SSTs are holding the same pattern: 80.2°F nearshore west side, warming to 83.3°F about 20 NM east. The important number is the thermal break along the reef line — 81.4°F to 81.6°F across Alligator, Tennessee, Conch, Davis, Crocker, and Molasses. That half-degree isn’t much on paper but on the water it’s where the bait stacks up.

Started the day in 95 feet of water on the reef. Yellowtail bite was on from the first chunk. Put together a solid mix — yellowtail, a few mutton, and a nice cero mackerel that hit a gotcha plug while the chum line was setting up.

Pushed offshore around 11 AM to the 81-82°F zone. Found scattered weed lines running northeast to southwest with the current. Mahi picked at singles here and there. Nothing schooled up yet, but they’re filtering through. Had a big bull eat a ballyhoo, run straight at the boat, and throw the hook right at the transom. The kind of fish you think about the whole ride home. That’s mahi fishing in May — you earn every one you land.

Tides: low at 7:33 AM (0.1 ft), high at 1:37 PM (2.1 ft), low at 7:59 PM (-0.1 ft). Waxing crescent at 31%. Major solunar period 7-9 AM aligned with low tide — textbook for the morning bite.

Red snapper injunction news broke today. Judge Contreras in D.C. hit the pause button on EFPs. We don’t see many red snapper here but the precedent matters.

Looking forward: wind keeps easing. The weekend is shaping up.