South Florida fishing report: June 10, 2015
BEST BET
Captain Bruce Andersen of Captain Easy Fishing Charters out of Islamorada reported the dolphin fishing offshore of Islamorada has been outstanding with large and schoolie-size dolphin being caught. During recent charters, his clients have sight-casted and caught dolphin of 40 and 46 pounds. Besides the dolphin, the daytime swordfishing has been excellent, with fish to 250 pounds being caught near the bottom in 2,000 feet of water.
MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD
During the Miami Beach Police League Annual Fishing Tournament, Shannon Holliday caught her first sailfish, a 16-pound dolphin and a 28-pound kingfish that gave her the Top Lady Angler award. She fished on the private boat No Worries with captain Adam Cohen. Cohen landed a 28-pound blackfin tuna to take the Top Tuna award and the Heaviest Fish award, as well. All of the fish were caught in 160 feet of water between Government Cut and Haulover Inlet. Pam and Steve Salzer of Tampa fished North Bay with captain Alan Sherman of Get Em Sportfishing Charters and caught and released more than 25 sea trout and mangrove snapper to 3 pounds. All of the fish were caught by using Hookup lures tipped with a Gulp shrimp.
KEYS
Captain Rick Rodriguez of Sea Horse Deep Sea Sportfishing reported the dolphin fishing offshore of Islamorada has been good. Many of the fish have been feeding along a current rip and weedline in 600 feet of water. Closer to the reef blackfin tuna, wahoo and a few sailfish are being caught. Captain Chris Johnson of SeaSquared charters out of Marathon has been keeping his clients busy with nonstop action from an assortment of large sharks for rod-bending action, as well as catching good size yellowtail and mangrove snapper, large mutton snapper and legal-size black grouper while fishing on the bottom with cut bait over hard bottom reefs.
TREASURE COAST
Tom Turowski from the Sebastian Inlet Bait and Tackle reported inlet fishermen were having pretty good luck catching mangrove snapper to 6 pounds. A few pompano, flounder, jacks, black drum, snook for catch and release and quite a few Spanish mackerel were making their way over the rail. Live baitfish such as greenies, mojarras and mullet were schooling around the jetties. Freddy Caimotto from the Snook Nook Bait and Tackle in Jensen Beach reported wahoo to 55 pounds have been caught this week offshore of Jensen Beach. The wahoo have been feeding in 120 feet of water, along with large blackfin tuna and dolphins. Kingfish are being caught in 65 feet of water, and on the bottom, from 65 feet out to 180 feet, grouper and mutton snapper are being caught.
FLORIDA BAY
Captain David Accursio of Draggin it Out Charters reported finding good numbers of snook for his sight-fishing clients high up on the shallow flats of Florida Bay. The snook can be targeted for catch and release and have been eating soft plastics. Captain Jim Hobales of Caught Lookin Charters reported finding plenty of hungry slot-size redfish in the channels of Florida Bay. The redfish were eating live pinfish, chunks of ladyfish and soft plastics.
SOUTHWEST COAST
Captain Pete Rapps of Captain Rapps Fishing Charters out of Everglades City reported he has been concentrating his efforts on the outside waters for catch-and-release snook fishing. Working the mangrove-lined shorelines, beaches and points around creek mouths with live pilchards, threadfin herring and soft plastics, his clients are catching big numbers of snook. Redfish can found along the outside oyster bars and can be targeted with a live shrimp fished under a float. Sea trout are on the flats on the incoming tides and have been eating soft plastics and jigs tipped with shrimp, and loads of mangrove snappers can be caught with live shrimp fished around the mangrove roots. Fishing in Chokoloskee on her 24-foot Ranger bay boat, local Betty Bauman and Mary Metcalf released six snook, one redfish, mangrove snapper and four sharks. Most of the fish were caught on large cast-netted pilchards.
FRESHWATER
Alan Zaremba of Worldwide Sport Fishing Inc. reported that the water levels in the freshwater canal systems of the Everglades are slowly rising, which is allowing largemouth bass and panfish to move up and into the shallow waters of the Conservation areas. Peacock bass continue to be available in most urban canal systems and have been attacking AZ Jungle jigs.
Capt. Alan Sherman
This story was originally published June 10, 2015 at 9:45 PM with the headline "South Florida fishing report: June 10, 2015."