BEST BET

Captain Jimbo Thomas on the charter boat Thomas Flyer out of Bayside Marina put three live large threadfin herring in the water in 140 feet of water offshore of Miami Beach and had a tripleheader on sailfish landing and releasing one fish. Captain Jim Hobales of Caught Lookin Charters reported seeing plenty of tarpon in Government Cut at night.

MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD

Captain Mo Estevez of New Dawn Charters out of Miami reported finding lots of tailing and mudding bonefish plus a few permits on the outside of the Oceanside flats south of Soldiers Key and the mainland flats south of Black Point. A few permits also were working the same flats. In the Finger Channels a few snappers, groupers and bluefish were being caught. Nick Conomos from Anglins Pier off of Commercial Boulevard had a nice run of pompano over the weekend. Fishing with captain Alan Sherman of Get Em Sportfishing Charters in North Biscayne Bay with live pilchards fished under a Cajun Thunder float, Luke Politi, 8, released his first snook, as did his dad, Matt. Luke’s mother released two snook plus Spanish mackerel, barracudas, jacks, sea trout and bluefish. The Politi’s are from New York.

KEYS

Captain Mark Schmidt of Sundancer Charters out of Murrays Marina in Key West reported tarpon are showing up in Key West Harbor and in the Gulf side basins east of Key West. Big jack crevalles are following rays over the Gulf side flats. Yellowtail and mutton snappers plus cero and king mackerel are on the reefs. Offshore the sailfishing is getting better, and a few dolphins are being caught along with lots of kingfish and blackfin tuna. Hawks Channel is producing plenty of small groupers, cero mackerel, barracudas and an assortment of snappers. Captain Bill Hauck from the party boat Sea King out of Marathon reported having limit catches of yellowtail snappers.

TREASURE COAST

Captain Michael Savedow of Edgewater River Guide reported having plenty of action sight fishing for redfish with large select live shrimp on calm mornings over the grass flats. On windy days, soaking live finger mullet and cut mullet over the grass flats is getting the job done on the redfish. Captain Tom Van Horn of Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters reported cobia has been popping up around the bait pods near Port Canaveral in 40 feet of water. Kingfish are hitting slow trolled live and dead baits in 70 to 90 feet of water. Inshore fishing has been hampered by windy and dirty conditions.

FLORIDA BAY

Captain Ariel Cabrera from Miami reported finding plenty of fish for his customers in Florida Bay, such as the catch made by Patrick Cowan from North Miami and his father, David, from Arizona. Patrick and David caught six redfish, 20 sea trout to four pounds, mackerel, pompano, snapper and goliath grouper casting jig heads tipped with live shrimp and Gulp shrimp.

SOUTHWEST COAST

Captain Roan zumFelde of Rz’s Fishing Extremes Charters out of Naples reported warmer-than-usual conditions have redfish and sea trout feeding in areas that they usually are in the spring. Plenty of snook are available from North Naples down to the Everglades, where they are roaming the inside and outside islands as well as in the passes and tarpon could show up any day if the wealthier continues to stay warm.

FRESHWATER

Captain Michael Shellen of Shellen Guide Service out of Buck Head Ridge on Lake Okeechobee reported shellcrackers are being found on the outside edges of the cover and can be caught on grass shrimp. In areas that have emerging hydrilla and eel grass, there are large numbers of largemouth bass, but these fish have not been feeding well. George Verrusuio of Chicago fished two days with captain Alan Zaremba in the L-30 and C-1 canals and caught 18 largemouth bass to five pounds and 19 peacock bass to 4.5 pounds. Capt. Alan Sherman

shermana@bellsouth.net