BEST BET

Captain Tom Van Horn of Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters reported the fall migration is in full swing and plenty of mullet, greenies and porgies are creating a smorgasbord for hungry tarpon, snook, smoker kingfish, large jack crevalles, cobia, oversized redfish and sharks along the beaches and into the ocean inlets. Schools of glass minnows are attracting action from Spanish mackerel and bluefish. The best action has been along the beaches from Ponce, Port Canaveral and the Sebastian Inlet. In the north Indian River and Mosquito Lagoons, schools of finger mullet are attracting action from redfish along the grassy shorelines and sea trout, ladyfish and jacks over the grass flats.

MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD

Captain Bouncer Smith of Bouncers Dusky out of Miami Beach Marina reported fishing with live legal-size lobsters his clients have had as many as 12 cubera snappers to over 60 pounds fishing the bottom in 180 feet of water over rough bottom 40 miles south of Government Cut. During the two-day 10th Annual Miami Swordfish Tournament, Team Stake out with anglers Charles Russo Sr. and Jr., R.J. Boyle and captains Richie Clawges, John Barfield and Wahoo Barfield, all from Light House Point, landed a 439-pound, record-setting swordfish and took first place.

KEYS

Pat Bennett of Weston took grand-champion honors during the Marathon International Bonefish Tournament. Bennett teamed with guide Tim Carlile of Sugarloaf Key and released 14 bonefish and one permit. Captain Dale Bishop of Shallow Water Charters out of Cudjoe Key reported on recent charters he has had action from bonefish permits and baby tarpon. Bishop expects the Gulf side flats to hot this weekend with a good incoming tide. Captain Rick Rodriguez of Sea Horse Deep Sea Sport Fishing out of Islamorada reported having good catches of dolphins and blackfin tuna offshore.

TREASURE COAST

Captain Charlie Conner of FishTales Charters out of Port St. Lucie reported best snook action has been at night on the higher end of the tides. Live finger mullet, croakers and pigfish have been the preferred baits. Best areas have been at the inlets, in the turning basin, under the dock lights and next to the bridge pilings. Redfish continue to be caught along the west shoreline south of Fort Pierce on DOA lures and CAL grub tails. Harbor Branch, Queens Cove and Middle Cove are producing lots of sea trout.

FLORIDA BAY

Gil and Mary Muratori from Miami fished the Gulf side of Flamingo over structure and had all-day action from mackerel, bluerunners, jacks, snapper, cobia, pompano, permits, trout and large bull and lemon sharks. They fished with live pilchards and pinfish for bait. Captain Bob LeMay worked the shorelines from Shark River into Oyster Bay and had hot action from large snook, redfish, tarpon and black drum to 30 pounds.

SOUTHWEST COAST

Captain Butch Rickey of BarHopp’R Kayak Fishing out of Fort Myers reported fishing out of Pineland Marina on Pine Island he led his clients to catches of redfish that were eating ladyfish chunks fished along the tree lined shorelines and oyster bars. On a recent charter, he had a fat pompano skip right into the boat. Captain Rob Modys of SoulMate Charters out of Fort Myers reported fall is in the air and schools of small baitfish are all over the grass flats of Pine Island and Estero Bays.

FRESHWATER

Captain Michael Shellen of Shellen Guide Service out of Buck Head Ridge on Lake Okeechobee reported bass fishing is awesome along the north shore and in the shoals. The largemouth bass are eating live wild shiners and an assortment of artificial lures. With cooler temperatures, the action is lasting longer into the day.

Capt. Alan Sherman