BEST BET
Captain Jay Cohen on the charter boat Spellbound out of Haulover Marina reported a great week of offshore fishing that produced lots of sailfish, limit catches of kingfish, large dolphins and wahoo up to 25 pounds. The best action has been from 100 feet to 750 feet of water. . . . Captain Todd Morrow on the charter boat Connie Marie led James Rivera of Miami to a catch of an estimated 60-pound cobia off of Fowey Rocks and Mike Steadman of Miami to his first sailfish off of Triumph Reef. Both catches were made on live pilchards.
MIAMI DADE/BROWARD
Robert Schwartz of Boston and Sig Schwartz of Weston fished south Biscayne Bay in light wind and scored on bonefish up to 9 pounds and a bonnet head shark. They saw more than 100 bonefish, plus permit and tarpon. They were fishing with captain Jorge Valverde of Low Places Guide Service. . . . Court Keeley of Miami had a number of personal fishing firsts last weekend, when he caught and released his first sailfish, wahoo, big-eye tuna and kingfish. He fished on the Never Enough with owner Walter Shikany III, Frank Venzarra and Grant Brooks. The captain was Nick Ewald and mate Eric Darvill. They were off Triumph Reef and released five sailfish. They were fishing live threadfin herring under a kite. . . . The Hann family of Miami caught dolphin of 24, 30, 31 and 52 pounds while fishing on the Birdchaser offshore of Miami. . . . Jim Higgins and Bill Semka of Hillsboro landed a 55-pound dolphin in 800 feet of water off Hilsboro Inlet. The dolphin ate a live pilchard.
KEYS
Jason Schmidt of Miami Springs caught and released his first sailfish while fishing on the charter boat Sundancer out of Stock Island in Key West. Jason was fishing with his uncle, captain Mark Schmidt. . . . Captain Lain Goodwin of Dirty Water Charters out of Key Largo reported that tarpon are on the move along the Oceanside flats from Ocean Reef south to Key Largo. The best approach is to stake out along the outer side of the shallow flats, being courteous to other anglers who were there before you. These tarpon are feeding on well-presented flies, live pilchards, crabs, shrimp and shiny plugs.
TREASURE COAST
Captain Tom Van Horn of Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters reported that May is the month to target large dolphin, as catches of dolphins of more than 60 pounds have been reported. Van Horn said the sailfish bite is good, and a few blue marlin have been released, too. Kingfish are biting on the near shore reefs, and wrecks and baitfish schools are attracting action from Spanish mackerel, snook, redfish, large jack crevalles, bluefish, flounder, sheepshead and black drum in the Lagoon Inlets and along the beaches. . . . Captain Charlie Connors of FishTales Charters out of Port St. Lucie reported that sea trout are hitting soft plastics, live shrimp and pinfish in the Harbor Branch and Queens Cove area, and snook are biting along the mangrove shorelines in Ft. Pierce. Redfish are being caught along the shallow flats and docks in the river.
FLORIDA BAY
Captain Jim Hobales of Caught Lookin Charters reported finding a lot of large tarpon in the open Gulf waters, but the fish have been off their feed. While chasing the tarpon, his clients have had shots at permit and caught a lot of jacks, bluefish, mackerel and sharks. . . . Richard Lojewski and William Hall of Broward fished with captain Alan Sherman of Get Em Sportfishing Charters in Whitewater Bay and had steady action on snook, sea trout, jacks, ladyfish, snapper, goliath groupers and redfish. They released more than 60 fish on artificial lures. . . . David and Mathew St. Jermain of Homestead fished with captain Jim Hale of Hurricane Sportfishing Charters and caught and released 45 redfish on soft plastic in Florida Bay.
SOUTHWEST COAST
Captain Roan Zumfelde of Rz's Fishing Extremes out of Naples reported that snook are scattered from the back country to the beaches and are feeding on live shrimp, even though large schools of white baits are in the same areas. Roan said night fishing in the passes has been good for snook and tarpon, and walking the beaches from 33rd Avenue south to Gordon's Pass and Tiger Tail Lagoon on Marco before sunrise is producing good snook and some tarpon action.
FRESHWATER
Captain Mike Shellen of Okeechobee Bass Fishing Charters said three local guides found largemouth bass spawning and caught 19 largemouth bass between 7 and 8 pounds, plus three fish of more than 9 pounds each and two fish more than 10 pounds each. Also, bluegill fishing is good in the Kissimmee River and local canals, and the fish are eating crickets. Captain Alan Zaremba has been fishing the Lake Ida region and has had good action on peacock bass up to 5 pounds on Pro Trap lures.
-- CAPTAIN ALAN SHERMAN
