BEST BET

Captain Pat Stevens of Slim’s Fishing Camp out of Torrey Island on Lake Okeechobee reported largemouth bass are in the pre-spawn stage. Schools of bass have been feeding heavy on live shiners and soft plastic worms. Bass fishermen have been going through 12dozen wild shiners in a day. Best action has been next to the cattails in front of the grass lines in Pelican Bay and Grassy Shoal. In the same areas but in front of the grass line speckled perch are eating pink jigs.

MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD

Captain Wayne Conn from the Reward Fleet out of Miami Beach Marina reported during recent trips offshore of Miami Beach his clients are catching plenty of yellowtail, mutton and vermillion snapper and grouper on the bottom. On the surface in 160 feet of water, kingfish, dolphin, blackfin tuna and bonito have been caught in good numbers. Locals Dave Shoaf, Andre Zeno and Michael Courtney trolled an edge that had a lot of floating debris in 300 feet of water offshore of Haulover Inlet and landed 12 gaffer dolphin, blackfin and skip jack tuna and a large bonito. Fishing with live shrimp, Atle and Emma Backer Hakonsen of Norway fished with captain Jorge Valverde of Low Places Guide Service in South Biscayne Bay and released an 81/2 -pound bonefish, 10-pound jack crevalle. Locals Alex Bonet, Anan Maria Gonzalez and Leo Naverias fished Biscayne Bay with captain Alan Sherman of Get Em Sportfishing Charters. During that four-hour charter using live pilchards fished under a Back Bay Thunder float, the anglers released two snook to 17 inches, 15 jack crevalles to 12 pounds, snappers and barracudas.

KEYS

During the Mad Dog Mandich Fishing Classic held in Islamorada, team Fishin’ Pole, consisting of anglers Dominck Zannelli of Dania Beach, Larry Deddy of Coral Gables and Brian McCadie and Chad Wangen of Islamorada, took top honors with the catches of a combined total weight of 101.8 pounds of kingfish and blackfin tuna. Captain Charles Johnson of SeaSquared Charters out of Marathon reported cooler conditions have sparked a hot patch reef bite offshore. Working the 30- to 45-foot patches, his clients are limiting out on a mix of large mangrove snapper, yellowtail and mutton snapper plus an assortment of grouper and cero mackerel. Captain Rick Rodriguez of Sea Horse Deep Sea Sport Fishing out of Whale Harbor Marina reported using live pilchards for chum and free-lined baits over and around the Islamorada Hump. His clients have had up to 14 blackfin tuna to 17 pounds and dolphin to 12 pounds.

TREASURE COAST

Captain Charlie Conner of FishTales Charters out of Port St. Lucie reported mild conditions and large schools of finger mullet have the sea trout chomping over the shallow flats in Fort Pierce. Plenty of redfish are working the shallowest of flats. Best baits for the reds have been live finger mullet and DOA Cal 308 jerk baits. Plenty of snook are in the inlets and under the bridges.

FLORIDA BAY

Captain Nestor Alvisa of Hooked on Flamingo Charters reported using chunks of mullet and ladyfish fished on a jig head under a float next to the islands and along coast in Florida Bay is producing plenty of redfish action. Locals Brad Miller and Mike Bonner fished the backcountry of Everglades National Park and caught and released four redfish to 26 inches, 20 snook, four sea trout, snappers, ladyfish and jacks. Each angler jumped a tarpon, missing a shot at a Grand Slam.

SOUTHWEST COAST

Captain Rob Modys of SoulMate Charters out of Fort Myers reported on Oct. 15 that stone crab traps will be back in the water and attracting plenty of tripletail. Runing and gunning from one trap buoy to the next is the best way to spot the hard-fighting and tasty fish. Live shrimp and small baitfish cast near a tripletail quickly get eaten.

FRESHWATER

Carl Hochrein of Pembroke Pines fished with captain Alan Zaremba in the L-30 canal with Pop R’s, Chug Bugs and Floating Rapala’s and caught and released 53 largemouth bass and five peacock bass to 4 1/2 pounds.

Captain Alan Sherman