Fishing report
BEST BET
Jimmy Russell and Tino Torres of San Antonio, Texas, fished 15 miles offshore of Miami with captain Dean Panos and mate Leo Lombera on the DoubleD out of Keystone Point Marina. The fishermen limited out on dolphins, landed four wahoo, and then hooked and released an estimated 375-pound blue marlin that ate a dead dolphin fished on an 80 wide reel. Later, they went further offshore and caught a 200-pound swordfish while deep dropping.
DADE/BROWARD
Captain Gil Gutierrez of Lucky Charters out of TNT Marina in Keystone Point reported daytime kingfish action has been very good in depths from 100 to 200 feet of water offshore of Miami. Quite a few bonitos and a few sailfish are mixed in with the kings. Ten to 15 miles offshore under floating debris and weedlines, dolphins are available in decent numbers. There are also some small wahoo and big tripletail under the floating debris.
KEYS
Captain Brian Cone of Contagious Fishing Charters out of Robbie’s Marina in Islamorada reported the blackfin tuna bite offshore over the Humps has been excellent. The tunas are responding to live pilchard chumming. After his clients have caught as many tunas as they wish, he has been heading further offshore to target dolphins that are averaging in size from heavy lifters to fish over 20 pounds. Some of the best dolphin action is coming from floating debris that is also holding wahoo and tripletail. Captain Chris Johnson of SeaSquared Charters out of Marathon reported doing very well on dolphins out in 1,000 feet of water offshore of Marathon. Bottom fishing over the reefs and patches continues to produce limit catches of mangrove snappers. Chumming with Aquatic Nutrition Super Shrimps chum around the shallower patch reefs is producing plenty of hogfish for their customers.
TREASURE COAST
Nedra Maxwell with the Sebastian Inlet District reported that during the early mornings this past week, schools of finger mullet were attracting lots of oversize redfish, a few snook, Spanish mackerel and large jack crevalles. Most of this action was on the outgoing tide. There have also been large schools of migrating black mullet and huge schools of pilchards around the inlet. Captain Charlie Conners of FishTales Charters out of Port St. Lucie reported there has been an awesome sea trout bite over the shallow flats. The sea trout were eating DOA Deadly Combos. Redfish were holding tight to the mangrove shorelines, and snook and tarpon are feeding on large schools of migrating baitfish along the Oceanside beaches.
FLORIDA BAY
Captain Jim Hobales of Caught Lookin Charters fished his clients over some skinny flats in Florida Bay recently out of his HPX tunnel boat and put them on snook, small tarpon and redfish. His clients also caught mangrove snappers, jack crevalles and barracudas. Leo Faris of Houston, Texas, fished out of Flamingo with captain Jim Hale of Hurricane Sport Fishing Charters. Concentrating in areas that had mullet muds, Faris caught and released 13 redfish and six snook using 5-inch Gulp New Penny jerk shads for bait.
SOUTHWEST COAST
Captain Todd Geroy out of Naples reported that fall fishing is in full swing now. Tarpon can still be had around the Naples passes, where a well-presented pinfish, ladyfish or crab has been getting quick bites. Redfish are in the passes, as well as the back bays. Live sardines, shrimp and soft plastics have been working well on the redfish. There have been redfish schools with as many as 500 fish in them. Snook are moving inland now and can be targeted along the mangrove shorelines, passes and next to dead mangrove islands. Soft plastics, artificial flies and live baits are working on the snook. A few of the snook have been up to 40 inches.
FRESHWATER
Jim Crego from Slim’s Fishing Camp in Belle Glade reported that Lake Okeechobee’s water levels are up to 15.5 feet. Largemouth bass in the three- to seven-pound range have been holding along the outer weedlines and around areas that have pepper grass. Live wild shiners and Missouri minnows plus soft plastics are getting many of the best bass bites. The fish have been in the Grassy Key and Tree Island areas. Panfishing has been slow, but plenty of catfish can be caught on worms, minnows and crickets fished on the bottom in almost all of the canals.
Capt. Alan Sherman
This story was originally published October 8, 2014 at 9:22 PM with the headline "Fishing report."