BEST BET

Captain Jorge Valverde of Low Places Guide Service reported that, while working the shallow flats of South Bay, he has been finding tailing and mudding bonefish plus a lot of small lemon sharks. Permits and jack crevalles have been following large rays and nurse sharks. On a recent trip, Terry Gibson of Jensen Beach fished with Valverde and landed his first permit, which ate a live shrimp, plus jack crevalles. He also lost a large bonefish that ate an artificial fly. On another charter with Valverde in South Bay, angler Mike Swiek of Maryland released two tarpon, three bonefish, sharks and barracudas.

MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD

Captain Jimbo Thomas from the charter boat Thomas Flyer out of Bayside Marina reported kingfish to 30 pounds have been in good numbers in 120 to 150 feet of water offshore of Miami. Best baits for the kingfish has been live threadfin herring fished near the surface during morning trips and then again in the late afternoons. A few blackfin tuna, bonitos and sailfish are mixed in with the kings. Dolphins have been small and out in 1,000 feet of water under mats of Sargasso weed. During the Junior Angler Big Fish Tournament held out of Harbor Town Marina in Dania, first place in the Teen Division went to Austin Albin with a 2.9-pound dolphin. The first-place Junior Angler went to Joanna Hughes with a 13.3-pound kingfish.

KEYS

During the Big Pine and Lower Keys Dolphin Tournament, Linda Bristow of the Villages took first-place honors with the catch of a 40.55-pound dolphin. The huge dolphin ate a fresh ballyhoo 30 miles south of American Light off Summerland Key. Bristow fished with captain Pete White on the Bull Ship. During the 38th Don Hawley Invitational Fly Tarpon Tournament held in Islamorada, 25 teams released 138 tarpon. Charles Duncan III of Texas fished with captain Rob Fordyce of Homestead and took Grand Champion honors. IslamoradaSportFishing.com reported dolphins are in good numbers under birds and around weed lines 12 to 14 miles offshore. There has been a nice mix of gaffer and schoolie-size fish. Blackfin tuna are feeding along slicks and current lines. Yellowtail and mangrove snapper fishing has been best at night. Tarpon fishing along the bridges and in the channels has been excellent with live crabs and mullet being the choice tarpon baits.

TREASURE COAST

Captain Tom Van Horn of Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters fished with his friend and captain John Kumiski in the Banana River Lagoon No-Motor Zone with fly, where they caught and released more than 30 sea trout measuring up to 24 inches. All of the trout were caught around mullet schools and muds. Captain Charlie Conner of FishTales Charters out of Port St. Lucie reported sea trout are the top fish this week. Best baits for the trout are the DOA lures and live baits. Best sea trout action has been over the grass flats north of Fort Pierce. Snapper and sheepshead can be caught around dock and bridge pilings on live shrimp.

FLORIDA BAY

Captain Nestor Alvisa of Hooked on Flamingo Charters reported finding plenty of redfish up in Garfield Bight. The reds are eating Gulp three-inch shrimp on a 4/0 Twist-n Lock hook. Working the beaches along the coast is producing nice catches of snook, redfish and sea trout. Captain Neil Baron reported limiting out on sea trout to 20 inches and mangrove snappers to 14 inches working the deeper grass flats south of Flamingo with cut pinfish.

SOUTHWEST COAST

Captain Butch Rickey of BarHopp’R Kayak Fishing out of Fort Myers reported finding redfish and sea trout over the sandy potholes in the bay. Working the shorelines near Lovers Key State Park, he has been finding good action from snook, redfish and sea trout.

FRESHWATER

Jessica Baker of Slim’s Fishing Camp in Belle Glade on Lake Okeechobee reported largemouth bass are biting in the mornings. Best baits have been live shiners, skinny dippers and soft plastic frogs. Best areas have been near Kramer Island, the Dynamite Holes and Norman’s Creek. Limit catches of bluegills and shellcracker are being made by most anglers fishing with red worms and crickets from the piers and docks on the Lake and in Pelican Bay and Kramer Island. Captain Alan Zaremba reported that while fishing the C-2, C-4 and C-100 canals his anglers are catching peacock bass, snook and largemouth bass using Road Runner jigs for bait.

Captain Alan Sherman