July & August bring the heat to the Florida Keys, and while the temperatures rise, so does the fishing action in Islamorada and Everglades National Park. This time of year, the crowds thin out a bit, but the fish are still here — and they’re hungry.
Backcountry & Everglades ActionThe early mornings and late evenings are key for anglers looking to beat the heat and get into some serious fish. Snook and redfish are active in the skinny waters of the backcountry and around the islands of Everglades National Park. Look for moving water and baitfish — that’s where the action is. Live pilchards, shrimp, or well-placed soft plastics will get the job done.
Tarpon are still hanging around the backcountry, especially in the deeper channels and creeks. Most of the big migrators have moved on, but resident fish in the 30–60 lb range offer some great fights. Early morning rolling tarpon can still be found in the glades — a sight that never gets old.
Flats FishingThe flats are alive this month. Bonefish are tailing early and late in the day across many of the oceanside flats, especially around Lower and Upper Matecumbe. On calm mornings with good visibility, it’s all about stealth and precision. Fly anglers, this is your time to shine.
Permit are more of a treat this time of year — elusive as ever, but August does see its fair share of encounters. If you're lucky enough to find a school, be ready with a live crab or a well-placed fly.
Reef & WrecksOut on the reefs, yellowtail snapper fishing remains solid. Early mornings and chum are key to bringing them up, and light tackle makes it a blast. Mangrove snapper are thick on the patches and edges, especially around the full moon spawn. This is a great time to stock up for the table.
Mutton snapper, grouper, and the occasional cobia can also be found hanging near the wrecks and deeper structure. Just be sure to check current regulations — we always practice conservation to ensure these fisheries thrive for generations to come.
OffshoreOffshore, it’s all about dolphin (mahi-mahi). August can be one of the last strong months for dolphin action before things slow down in the fall. Look for birds, weedlines, and floating debris in 400–900 feet of water. Peanut to gaffer-sized fish are the most common, but there's always a chance at a bull or cow if you're in the right place.
Blackfin tuna are another bonus, especially near the humps. Vertical jigging or trolling small feathers and live bait around first light can put some sushi-grade fillets in the box.

Final Thoughts
Summertime in Islamorada and the Everglades is all about timing — beat the heat, plan your tides, and you’ll be rewarded. It’s a great month for mixed-bag fishing and a chance to explore all this incredible area has to offer without the peak-season crowds.
If you’re looking to get on the water this month, whether it’s for tarpon in the glades, snapper on the reef, or chasing dolphin offshore, let’s go fishing — I’ve got the local knowledge to put you on the bite.
Tight lines,
Captain Greg Poland
gregpoland.com | @gregpolandphotography

If you can get away from the world and want to catch a Silver King give me a shout and lets get out on my new boat!

I just picked up my Brand New Contender 26 Bay Boat Special GTB Edition & I have to say the guys at Contender really came up with some great new features! I added a T Top this time around and have an extra shade that can attach to the t top for additional shade during the hot times of the day! I really feel this is the best boat I have ever owned and the new Power Pole Move trolling motor along with the 10ft power poles make it easy to stay in the right location for you to catch a fish or two!

The weather has changed and the Silver Kings are in town, yesterday we had 7 bites and released 3 nice tarpon. Today on a morning 1/2 we had good fishing and I look forward to a great season so contact me for a trip if you find yourself in the Florida Keys. If the backcountry is more your speed lets go catch a snook in the everglades.

If you are looking to catch a Silver king this season give me a call I have some prime days avaliable. Look how happy these tarpon are in a slick calm day in the backcountry of Islamorada

I just installed the new Bimini Top so its ready for the Spring Break trips and for when its hot this tarpon season. It flops down in 2 min so if you prefer a little vitamin C we can get you some!

An Inshore Rocket Launcher?Boat Outfitters Staff December 02, 2022 5 min read
Innovative thinking from a Keys guide leads to a new Boat Outfitters designRenowned Florida Keys guide Capt. Greg Poland runs mainly inshore charters but has done his share of offshore fishing, too — particularly kite fishing for sailfish. So he knows how a dedicated rocket launcher can streamline the game by positioning multiple rods in one location. Even with half a dozen kite lines out, a single crew member can instantly reach any one of them when the bite comes.
But it wasn’t until his dock neighbors in Islamorada — a tournament sailfish crew on the  Contender 44ST Hillbilly Deluxe — started using a removable rocket launcher with integrated tackle trays and drink holders that the light bulb went off for Poland. Why couldn’t the same basic idea work inshore? After all, his charter anglers frequently fished two or even three rods each when live-baiting tarpon and snook around the bridges and in the backcountry.
"An inshore adaptation of the rocket launcher idea would put all those rods at the fingertips of anglers on his forward casting deck and save them having to reach down and grab a rod from a flush-mount holder at their feet when a bite came. "
An inshore adaptation of the rocket launcher idea, Poland thought, would put all those rods at the fingertips of anglers on his forward casting deck and save them having to reach down and grab a rod from a flush-mount holder at their feet when a bite came. Additionally, if the angler was holding a water bottle, Yeti or other beverage, an integrated drink holder would keep them from having to bend down and set it on deck — where it often ended up spilling anyway during the ensuing fight. All of which, he reasoned, should lead to more hookups.
So Poland took some pictures of his neighbor’s removable rocket launcher and sent them to Boat Outfitters — who he’d worked with on several other projects — to see what they could come up with for his charter boat, a Contender 25 Bay.
"Poland and the Boat Outfitters team came up with a three-rod pedestal holder that drops into a 0˚ flush-mount rod holder and positions rods at comfortable height for anglers on the casting deck. "
After a few iterations, he and the Boat Outfitters design team arrived at a three-rod pedestal holder that drops into a 0˚ flush-mount rod holder and positions rods at a comfortable height both for anglers on the casting deck and anglers in the cockpit. The rod tubes themselves are vertical — rather than angled outward like a typical kite fishing cluster — so that the pedestal can be used anywhere on the boat and at any angle without rods leaning inboard. A small Starboard tray with two drink holders and a pliers slot can be easily removed if not needed.
Poland says the unique pedestal holder is useful not just for holding rods while actively fishing but also serves as a great way for young kids to reel in fish that are too strong for them to fight while holding the rod themselves. The holder places the reel at a perfect height for kids to crank while keeping the rod secure. It also comes in handy on occasion as a boarding aid for guests who need to steady themselves while stepping from dock to boat, Poland says.
Normally, Poland uses the pedestal rod holder in one of two 0˚ rod holders near the bow, but for certain situations he uses it on the aft deck in one of another pair of 0˚ rod holders originally installed to hold a removable backrest.
The new pedestal holder complements a pair of Triple Offset Rod Holders, which Poland also had a hand in designing. The offset holders are used in a variety of ways around the boat, including for additional rod storage aft while running. A removable cutting board/rigging traythat mounts to the offset rod holders is interchangeable with the Starboard tray that mounts to the new pedestal rod holder, and Poland often uses it to add extra drink holders to his leaning post when needed.
The removable Starboard tray that is part of the new pedestal rod holder can also be attached to Poland’s Triple Offset Rod Holders to provide extra places in the cockpit for drinks.
We love hearing ideas and suggestions from our customers — pro anglers and weekend warriors alike. Capt. Poland’s new triple pedestal rod holder, which we recently added to our catalog, is just one of dozens of innovative products that grew out of collaborations between our customers and our design team.