BEST BET

Captain Wayne Conn from the Reward Fleet out of Miami Beach Marina reported day trips are producing catches of kingfish when bottlenose dolphins are not around. Bonitos, some dolphins and sailfish are also being caught. Best depths have been from 100 to 300 feet of water offshore of Government Cut. Night trips are producing plenty of yellowtail snappers that are eating cut bait off the bottom.

MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD

Captain Ralph Mayans from the charter boat Sea Cross out of Haulover Marina reported big sharks offshore of Haulover Inlet that are coming off the deeper wrecks. Trolling pearl baby rigs and strips of bonito in depths from 120 to 400 feet of water is producing steady catches of kingfish, blackfin tuna and a few sailfish and wahoo. Captain Jay Cohen from the charter boat Spellbound out of Haulover Marina reported deep dropping in depths of 600 feet or more is producing nice catches of golden tilefish. Best baits are strips of mackerel, bonito and squid. While fishing for tilefish, his boat has been fishing a shark bait near the surface and recently landed an eight-foot mako shark.

KEYS

Captain Rick Stanczyk out of Bud N’ Mary’s Marina in Islamorada reported with windy conditions he has fished closer to home on the Florida Bay side where his clients have had plenty of action from mackerel, snapper, jacks and plenty of sharks. Captain Bob Fernicola of Key Largo Fishing charters reported with recent high winds he has been hitting the patch reefs in 15 to 30 feet of water and catching plenty of mangrove and yellowtail snappers and a bunch of hog fish using cut bait and live shrimp. Captain Rick Rodriguez of Sea Horse charters out of Islamorada reported large schools of ballyhoo are attracting the attention of groups of sailfish. The action has been from 20 feet of water out to 120 feet of water.

TREASURE COAST

Tom Turowski from the Sebastian Inlet Bait and Tackle reported Spanish mackerel and bluefish are being caught on silver spoons and plugs in the inlet on the outgoing tide. Plenty of sheepshead and black drum are being caught on clams and shrimp fished near the jetty. A few pompano are eating jigs and sand fleas. Big trout and redfish have been feeding on finger mullet and large flounder are being caught on the west side of the bridge with dead finger mullet fished on the bottom.

FLORIDA BAY

Jim Hobales of Caught Lookin Charters reported finding plenty of redfish and snook in the Florida Bay runoffs and along the shorelines near East Cape Canal. Sea trout in the upper slot size were caught on live shrimp under a cork fished over the grass flats in three to six feet of water. Locals Dr. Joel Dokson and Dr. Steve Magellan fished Florida Bay with captain Alan Sherman of Get Em Sportfishing Charters and caught pompano, mackerel, sea trout to 22 inches, redfish, snappers, sharks and eight other species of fish. All of the fish were caught using Cajun Thunder floats, Hookup lures and live shrimp.

SOUTHWEST COAST

Captain Herb Kehoe of Finesse Charters out of Chokoloskee reported with water temperatures rising, fishing along the coast, in the back bays and rivers is producing slot-size sea trout, redfish, sheepshead and black drum.

FRESHWATER

Captain Michael Shellen of Shellen Guide Service out of Buck Head Ridge on Lake Okeechobee reported with high water and warmer water temperatures than normal, largemouth bass are scattered along the outer grass edges and along the inside marsh areas. Best baits have been swim baits, senkos, plastic worms, spinner baits and top water lures. Captain Alan Zaremba has been mixing up his locations with his clients. He has fished the C-4, C-14 and the C-1 canals and had steady catches of largemouth and peacock bass, Red Midas cichlids and a few snakeheads. Best baits have been live shiners, chug bugs and Clouser Minnows.

Capt. Alan Sherman