BEST BET

Freddy Caimotto from the Snook Nook Bait and Tackle in Jensen Beach reported large snook have been a sure bet at night for anglers casting 2-ounce pink Flare Hawks with a blue tail. Best action has come off the Jensen Bridge catwalks, Stuart Causeway rocks and sea walls and on the Roosevelt Bridge on the outgoing tides. Day fishermen have had snook success using live pinfish on the bottom.

DADE/BROWARD

Fishing on the Datsnasty, RJ Boyle, Max Gliger and Wes Seldner of Light House Point fished in rough seas in 20 feet of water offshore of Hillsboro Inlet with spinning tackle and live goggle eyes when one of the rods starting singing. First to the rod was Gliger, who after a 20 minute battle landed a 42-pound wahoo. Captain John Baker of Blue Waters Charters out of Bayside Marina reported catches of sailfish, dolphins and kingfish during half-day trips offshore of Government Cut. Captain Paul Roydhouse of Fishing Headquarters out of Fort Lauderdale reported hot action from groupers and almoco jacks and amberjacks over the artificial wrecks. Most of the groupers are gag, black, red, scamp and warsaw groupers. This is mostly a catch-and-release fishery until May 1. Along the reef his clients are doing well on kingfish and bonitos.

KEYS

Captain Richard Stanczyk out of Bud N Mary’s Marina reported the offshore boats from his marina are working hard to make a decent catch but have been rewarded for their efforts with good numbers of yellowtail snapper and mutton snapper up to 14 pounds working the reefs. Some of the boats working the Humps are catching small blackfin tuna, amberjacks and tiger sharks up to 600 pounds. Along the outside edge of the outer reef a few sailfish, false albacore and amberjacks are being caught on live baits and quite a few cobias are being caught in Hawks Channel. Captain Bill Hauck on the party boat Sea King out of Marathon reported recent high winds have clouded the waters offshore resulting in better catches of yellowtail snapper, mutton snapper, kingfish and a lot of grouper for catch and release.

TREASURE COAST

Sal Lorusso of the Juno Pier reported pier fishermen are catching large pompano, whiting, jacks and croakers using strips of clams fished on the bottom. Alexie Messer from the Sebastian Inlet Bait & Tackle reported jetty fishermen are catching redfish and snook on live finger mullet and shrimp at night and sheepshead, flounder, black drum and bluefish on shrimp, mullet and sand fleas during the day.

FLORIDA BAY

Dennis Horn and his wife, Vicky, of Miami fished the shallow grass and mud flats of Florida Bay concentrating their attention to the deeper pot holes and caught and released 27 redfish up to 8 1/2 pounds plus 15 sea trout up to five pounds. The couple used four-pound spin and plug tackle with tipped jigs and plain jigs. Edward Lubawski and his father, Jim, from Fort Lauderdale teamed up to catch five redfish, six sea trout, black drum, sheepshead and snappers fishing Florida Bay with captain Alan Sherman of Get Em Sportfishing Charters. All of the fish ate shrimp on Hookup Lures and shrimp under a Cajun Thunder float.

SOUTHWEST COAST

Captain Lisa Williams of Sea Gone Charters out of Fort Myers reported working the Marco Island area her clients have been doing well with sea trout that are eating live shrimp under a popping cork over shallow flats. Snook and redfish are available and pompano are migrating into the passes. Sheepshead, black drum and Spanish mackerel continue to be available in some of the areas that are holding sea trout. Captain Butch Rickey of BarHopp’R’ Kayak Fishing out of Fort Myers reported that red tide continues to affect fishing.

FRESHWATER

Captain Michael Shellen of Shellen Guide Service out of Buck Head Ridge on Lake Okeechobee reported most speckle perch fishermen are fishing at night with live minnows and jigs in the areas of the Kissimmee River, Haney pond Canal, Buck Head Ridge Lake and Grassy Island. Largemouth bass continue to be caught in good numbers in Grassy Island, Eagle Bay, J&S and Horse Island. Gary Katzenmaier of Competition Bait and Tackle off of Griffin Road reported good action from largemouth bass, tarpon, large snook and mullet on the west side of the pump station on the Dania Cut Off Canal.

Capt. Alan Sherman