There was always something special about the last day of school. The final bell rang, books were shoved into lockers one last time, and the long stretch of summer finally arrived. For many of us, that meant freedom. No homework, no alarm clocks, no classrooms—just endless days that seemed to revolve around one thing: fishing.
Whether it was riding your bike to the local dock with a tackle box strapped to the handlebars, digging worms after a rainstorm, or convincing your parents to drop you off at the beach before sunrise, fishing was simply what summer was all about. We didn’t care how big the fish were. A snapper bluefish, a schoolie striper or a handful of blowfish could keep us entertained for hours. We weren’t chasing trophies back then. We were chasing the next bite.
Somewhere along the way, though, life got busy.
The carefree summers of our childhood slowly turned into work schedules, deadlines, mortgages, family responsibilities and calendars that somehow fill up months in advance. We spend most of the year counting down to summer, only to realize halfway through July that we’ve barely made it onto the water.
That’s why I think this time of year serves as an important reminder.
School may still let out for the kids, but maybe adults need summer vacation just as much.
One of the things I’ve always loved about fishing is that it has a way of slowing life down. It forces you to unplug for a few hours, forget about emails and phone calls, and focus on something much simpler. You start paying attention to the direction of the wind, the movement of the tide and the birds working over bait instead of whatever was waiting for you back at the office.
It’s amazing what a few hours on the water can do for your mindset.
The beauty of July is that opportunities exist for just about every kind of angler. Fluke fishing is hitting its stride on both the bays and the ocean reefs. Sea bass remain a dependable option over hard bottom. Striped bass continue to reward those willing to fish the tides early and late, while bluefish seem to pop up just about anywhere bait is present. Offshore, canyon reports begin grabbing everyone’s attention as yellowfin, bluefin and mahi become realistic targets for those willing to make the run.
In other words, there’s really no excuse not to fish.
But as exciting as the fishing can be this month, I think it’s easy to lose sight of what makes summer special in the first place: it’s not always about filling a cooler.
Some of my favorite memories on the water have very little to do with the fish themselves. They’re about watching the sun rise over the Atlantic after leaving the inlet in complete darkness. They’re about hearing the excitement in someone’s voice after they caught their first keeper fluke. They’re about laughing with friends after someone lost what was undoubtedly “the biggest fish of the day.” They’re about introducing a kid to fishing and watching their eyes light up every time the rod bends.
Those are the moments that stay with you.
As anglers, we spend plenty of time talking about tides, moon phases, water temperatures and bait movements. We obsess over tackle, electronics and weather forecasts. All of those things certainly matter, but sometimes we forget why we started fishing in the first place.
It wasn’t because we owned the best boat or the newest rod.
It was because fishing was fun.
Summer also has a way of bringing new anglers into the sport. Every year you’ll see families fishing from piers, kids casting from bulkheads and boats making their first runs of the season. Some of those people may become lifelong fishermen simply because someone took the time to bring them along.
If you have children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews or neighbors who have never experienced a day on the water, now is the perfect time. Don’t worry about finding the biggest fish. Find fish that will bite. Catch snappers, porgies, blowfish or whatever happens to be around. Success is measured by smiles, not by the weight of the cooler.
Before long, July will become August, and then, almost overnight, you’ll start seeing school buses back on the road. The tackle shops will begin talking about the fall run. Football will replace baseball, and those warm evenings that seemed like they’d last forever will slowly disappear.
It happens every year.
That’s why I encourage everyone reading this to make the most of the weeks ahead. Take that extra trip after work instead of going straight home. Wake up early on a calm Saturday and watch the sun climb over the horizon. Call an old fishing buddy you haven’t seen in a while. Bring someone new along. Spend more time making memories than making excuses.
The fish will come and go, as they always do. Some days they’ll cooperate, and some days they’ll humble even the best anglers. That’s fishing, and that’s part of what keeps us coming back.
But summer doesn’t wait.
So while school’s out and the days are long, don’t let another season slip by wishing you had spent more time on the water. The inbox can wait. The lawn can wait. The projects around the house will still be there tomorrow.
July only comes around once a year.
Make the most of it, enjoy every tide, and if you happen to put a few fish in the cooler along the way, consider it a bonus. Those memories you’re making now will be the ones you’ll find yourself talking about all winter long while waiting for summer to roll around once again.
