South Florida fishing report: March 25, 2014

BEST BET

Captain Jimbo Thomas on the charter boat Thomas Flyer out of Miamarina at Bayside Market Place in Miami reported catching kingfish to 20 pounds, bluefish and Spanish mackerel inside of 40 feet of water offshore of Government Cut. Outside the outer reef, sailfish have been biting, and over the wrecks there have been amberjacks and catch-and-release grouper.

MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD

Captain Quinton Dieterle from the charter boat Cutting Edge out of Key Biscayne reported seeing a lot of free-jumping sailfish offshore, and there have been good catches of big kingfish and a few dolphins. Spencer Nachman and his brother, Jake, both from Jacksonville, fished with their grandfather, Jerry Chaves of Aventura, in North Bay and caught jack crevalles in the 9- to 14-pound range. The fishermen went 0 for 6 on tarpon, released snook, flounder and more than a dozen sea trout to 3 pounds. Their guide was captain Alan Sherman of Get Em Sportfishing Charters.

KEYS

Tavernier resident Jack Woolhiser, 16, released an estimated 350- to 400-pound blue marlin at boat side. The marlin ate a rigged ballyhoo with a pink and blue skirt that was trolled behind the boat in 2,400 feet of water. The fish was fought on 30-pound tackle. The captain of the vessel was Jack’s father, Thomas Woolhiser. Captain Bruce Andersen of Captain Easy Fishing Charters out of Islamorada reported having some red-hot wahoo fishing in depths between 120 to 150 feet of water. The wahoo were caught on live baits and by high-speed trolling. Captain Chris Johnson of SeaSquared Charters out of Marathon has been mixing it up with tarpon fishing around the bridges and channels, snapper fishing over the patch reefs and shark fishing on the Gulf side. All three fisheries have produced exciting action.

TREASURE COAST

Nedra Maxwell with the Sebastian Inlet District reported jetty fishermen continue to catch a lot of sheepshead and a few black drum. Both species have been eating small crabs, sand fleas and shrimp fished next to the pilings and rocks. A few redfish, snook, Spanish mackerel, bluefish and pompano have also made it over the rail this week. Captain Charlie Conner of FishTales Charters out of Port St. Lucie reported fishing in the River has been very exciting this past week. Big spawning sea trout are feeding over the shallow grass flats. Some of these trout are exceeding 30 inches in length. Big jack crevalles are chasing baitfish schools, and few Spanish mackerel are mixed in with the jacks. The top baits have been live baitfish and DOA Bait Busters. There are snapper and sheepshead around the docks and bridge pilings.

FLORIDA BAY

Captain Jim Hobales of Caught Lookin Charters reported finding sea trout in Whitewater Bay, lots of moody tarpon at Ponce De Leon Bay, redfish and snook in the creeks near Shark River, a few goliath grouper and lots of tripletails of all different sizes on the crab trap buoys outside of the Parks boundary markers.

SOUTHWEST COAST

Captain Jon Fetter of Catch the Cure Fishing Charters out of Estero Bay reported Spanish mackerel, whiting, silver trout and ladyfish are plentiful along the beaches and creek and river mouths. Bouncing a jig head tipped with a shrimp in 10 to 20 feet of water has been effective. There have been some big sharks in the same area, and they can be caught on a dead or live ladyfish. Around the passes, pompano have been biting jigs bounced off the bottom. Snook have been active along the beaches, under floating docks, mangrove edges and next to the bridges. The snook are feeding on white bait. Redfish can be found along the mangrove shorelines and along the oyster bars on the higher stages of the tide. Shrimp tipped jigs have been getting the redfish bites.

FRESHWATER

Thomas Dean from Slim’s Fishing Camp in Belle Glade reported largemouth bass in the 5- to 7-pound range are bedding and being caught in the grass in open waters. The bass are going for live wild shiners and artificial lures. Speckled perch fishing is winding down, but they can still be caught in the Dynamite holes and around Tree Island. Bluegills are starting to bed, and they can be caught around the grass edges on crickets and live worms.

Capt. Alan Sherman

shermana@bellsouth.net

This story was originally published March 25, 2015 at 7:54 PM with the headline "South Florida fishing report: March 25, 2014."