Fishing report

BEST BET

Captain Chris Johnson of Sea Squared Charters out of Marathon reported working the outer edge of the reef with live ballyhoo is producing a lot of sailfish action plus king mackerel, dolphin and blackfin tuna. Working the shallower patch reefs with live pilchards, his clients are catching a lot of cero and Spanish mackerel off the surface and an assortment of snappers and groupers on the bottom.

MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD

Don and Sandy Blake of Homestead fished along Miami Beach with captain Bouncer Smith on Bouncer’s Dusky out of Miami Beach Marina and released seven tarpon to 85 pounds, a ladyfish and a ribbon fish using live shrimp for bait. Captain Ralph Mayans from the charter boat Sea Cross out of Haulover Marina reported sailfish have been very active in 130- to 200-foot depths outside of Haulover Inlet. The sailfish are being caught on trolled baits, live ballyhoo, threadfin herring and pilchards. Captain Jamie Owens from the party boat Atlantis out of Haulover Marina reported the catch of a tiger shark during a recent day trip. Ryan Bolash from the Commercial Fishing Pier off of Commercial Boulevard reported scattered catches of pompano, bluefish, mackerel and decent-size mutton and mangrove snappers.

KEYS

Captain Jason Long of Best Bet Sportfishing Charters out of Marathon reported quite a few large schoolie and gaffer-size dolphins are being caught in depths from 100 to 300 feet of water along current rips and tight weedlines. Big yellowjacks have been working the edge of the deep reef and these hard-fighting and great-eating jacks can be chummed to the boat with live pilchards. Captain Bill Hauck of the Sea King party boat out of Marathon reported black and red groupers have been coming over the rail in decent numbers. Most of the groupers are being caught off the deeper reefs, and there has been a decent amount of yellowtail snappers as well.

TREASURE COAST

Henry Caimotto from the Snook Nook Bait and Tackle in Jensen Beach reported offshore anglers have to contend with a lot of dolphins that are stealing their sailfish baits. Best action has been outside of 125 feet of water. Along the beaches, pompano, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, whiting and croakers are being caught in numbers. In the River, all of the big bridges are producing good numbers of flounder, sheepshead and black drum. Pompano are being caught around Sailfish flats.

FLORIDA BAY

Captain Bob LeMay worked Oyster and Whitewater Bays with his clients and scored a Backcountry Slam on fly with the catches of snook to 28 inches, redfish and sea trout. Another charter into the freshwater areas of the backcountry scored a Grand Slam by adding a tarpon to the catch. Jordan Lopez and Pat Sunman of Miami fished in 25-mph winds with captain Alan Sherman of Get Em Sportfishing Charters in Florida Bay and caught 10 redfish to 24 inches, three snook, eight sea trout and a lot of jacks and ladyfish. All of the fish were caught on live shrimp under a Cajun Thunder float and Hookup lures tipped with shrimp and Gulps.

SOUTHWEST COAST

Captain Jason Sullivan of Rising Tide Charters fished Allan Albess of Davie and Farrow Allen of Everglades City in Chokoloskee and released 10 redfish on fly and had shots at laid-up big snook. Captain Pete Rapps of Captain Rapps Charter & Guide out of Chokoloskee reported the incoming tides have been the best for fishing along the coast, the shorelines and in the interior bays and creeks. Using live shrimp and pilchards fished under floating corks is resulting in quality catches of redfish, snook, sea trout, tripletail, flounder and black drum.

FRESHWATER

Charles Corbin from Slim’s Fishing Camp in Belle Glade reported speckled perch fishing has been very good. The fish are eating jigs and live minnows. Best areas for the specks have been in the canals along the drop-offs and in the inlets. Largemouth bass fishing is good in the areas of Ritta Island, Long Point and Pelican Bay.

Capt. Alan Sherman