BEST BET

Captain Chris Johnson of SeaSquared charters out of Marathon reported Spanish mackerel are big and thick in eight to 12 feet of water in Florida Bay. Anglers Clifford Kemp and Larry Harris from North Carolina found that out when they landed more than 20 large Spanish mackerel while fishing with live shrimp.

MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD

Captain Jamie Owens from the party boat Atlantis out of Haulover Marina reported day boats fishing offshore of Haulover Inlet have been catching kingfish, dolphins, tunas and black grouper. Lester Wenger of Lester’s Live Bait out of Haulover Inlet reported kingfish to 25 pounds, dolphins to 40 pounds, and gag groupers are being caught on live baits fished free lined and on the bottom outside of 100 feet of water. Captain Jimbo Thomas from the charter boat Thomas Flyer out of Bayside Marina reported scattered schools of mackerel are still in the area of Government Cut.

KEYS

IslamoradaSportFishing.com reported plenty of sailfish are available along the reefs, where they are feeding on live ballyhoo. Further offshore a good amount of dolphins and blackfin tuna are available. During the 48th annual Islamorada Sailfish Tournament, Team Bodacious consisting of Henry and Shay Danzig of Tavernier, Allen Wood and Nick Stanczyk released 22 sailfish that earned the team top honors Taylor Walsh

TREASURE COAST

Captain Charlie Conner of FishTales Charters out of Port St. Lucie reported falling water temperatures have moved sea trout, redfish, drum and snook into deeper areas, especially under docks and bridges. Spanish mackerel and bluefish have been available in the inlets and into the River. Pompano can be found in the surf.

FLORIDA BAY

Lance Harke and his son Eric from Miami Shores fished Florida Bay with captain Alan Sherman of Get Em Sportfishing Charters and boated two slot-sized redfish, released 10 other redfish plus a 30-pound tarpon that ate live pilchards and pinfish. Captain Jim Hobales of Caught Lookin Charters fished the backcountry of Whitewater and Oyster Bays and caught more than 12 redfish on live shrimp fished under a Cajun Thunder float.

SOUTHWEST COAST

Captain Pete Rapps of Captain Rapp’s Fishing Charters reported fishing the north side of Chokoloskee over hard bottom with live pilchards. His anglers have been scoring on snook to 33 inches and plenty of redfish. Captain Terry Pitz of Fishing Southwest Florida Charters out of Pine Island reported redfish to 30 inches can be found schooled up, and at times tailing on the flats and in the creeks on the low stages of the tides. Sea trout are thick over the sandy holes and over the grass. Snook are moving into the backcountry and can be found along the points and at the mouths of creeks and passes.

FRESHWATER

Captain Michael Shellen of Shellen Guide Service out of Buckhead Ridge on Lake Okeechobee reported huge numbers of largemouth bass and speckled perch are available around Grassy Island, Tin House Cove, Indian Prairie and the east side the lake around J&S. Largemouth bass are attacking top water lures in the early mornings along the weeds. Casting spinner baits and Skinny Dippers in the Houdini and California 420 colors into the weeds and heavy cover is producing largemouth bass. Speckled perch are hitting live minnows attached to a small jig in the same areas as the bass. Captain Alan Zaremba reported fishing the C-8 canal with floating rapala lures has been producing quite a few peacock, largemouth bass and snook to 14 pounds.

CAPTAIN ALAN SHERMAN