South Florida fishing report: July 15, 2015
BEST BET
Captain Jimbo Thomas on the charter boat Thomas Flyer out of Bayside Market Place in Miami reported the offshore dolphin fishing has been excellent with limit catches of dolphins exceeding 25 pounds. Most of the fish are heavy lifters with a few gaffer-size fish as well. The action has been in 900 to 1,200 feet of water in areas that have large mats of floating Sargasso weeds.
MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD
Captain Jay Cohen from Spellbound Charters out of Haulover Marina reported a good wahoo bite took place along the outer reef offshore of Miami Beach last weekend. Wahoo to 50 pounds were landed and fish close to 65 pounds were lost at boat side. Local angler Jamie Garmizo and Sender and Mark Shub of Miami and Puerto Rico fished for dolphins offshore of Haulover Inlet and caught more than 40 dolphins to 17 pounds. The fish were caught along large mats of Sargasso weeds in 900 to 1,100 feet of water. The majority of the fish were heavy-lifter size and ate live pilchards and Gulp soft plastics attached to a 3/8-ounce Hookup lure jig head. Captain Alan Sherman of Get Em Sportfishing charges guided the trio to their catch.
KEYS
Captain Peter Mayclin of Islamorada reported a catch made by his grandsons Colton Mayclin, 15, and Dillon Klais, 12. Dillon landed a 48-pound bull dolphin by himself and Colton landed a 33-pound dolphin. Together, the boys had five slammer dolphins plus lots of schoolies and blackfin tuna. All of the fish were caught aboard the charter boat Warbird skippered by captain Shannon Attales out of Bud ’N Mary’s Marina. During the fifth-annual Habit for the Humanity of the Upper Keys/University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame Celebrity Dolphin Tournament out of Islamorada, Ely Hernandez on the boat Kaya weighed in a 39-pound dolphin to take first place. Top Junior Angler was JC Bills fishing on the Islamorada Beer Company boat. He weighed in a 23.6-pound dolphin.
TREASURE COAST
Captain Charlie Conner of FishTales Charters out of Port St. Lucie reported early mornings have been the best time to fish the St. Lucie River because of the early afternoon heat and late afternoon thunderstorms. Fishing the inshore, channel edges and structured areas is producing steady catches of snappers and sheepshead. There are plenty of jacks and ladyfish in areas that have baitfish schools for rod-bending action. Captain Scott Collins of Getting Lucky Sportfishing Charters out of Jupiter reported king mackerel fishing has been good offshore of Jupiter inlet. Dolphin fishing in 1,000 feet of water is great. Bonitos and a few blackfin tuna have been around in numbers just outside the outer reef, and the bottom fishing has been good for African pompano, mutton snappers, porgies, yellowtail and cobia.
FLORIDA BAY
Islamorada.com reported fishing in Florida Bay near Flamingo has been red hot one day and mediocre the next. Snook for catch and release have been very good along the mainland shorelines on the high tides and in the channels, run-offs and moats on the lower tides. A few redfish are mixed in with the snook. Mangrove-snapper and sea-trout fishing has been good over the deeper grass flats south and east of Sandy Key.
SOUTHWEST COAST
Captain Terry Pitz of Fishing Southwest Charters out of Pine Island Sound reported plenty of bait fish have moved into his area. Big tarpon with many more than 100 pounds are feeding on this baitfish schools. With higher summertime tides, redfish can be sight fished along the mangrove shorelines and over the shallow flats. Snook are schooled up along the beaches, passes, points, in the pot holes and canals. The redfish and snook are eating cut ladyfish, top water plugs and flies and live baits. Big sea trout are holding in holes over the grass flats and in the creeks, and will go after soft plastics and flies.
FRESHWATER
Alan Zaremba of Worldwide Sport Fishing Inc. reported the freshwater canal systems in the Everglades continue to produce big numbers of largemouth bass and an assortment of panfish. Most of the fish are eating Rapala floating minnows, Storm Chug Bugs, Rebel Pop R’s and soft plastics. The fish continue to eat throughout the day. Peacock bass fishing has been good in the L-35 and C-60 canals.
Capt. Alan Sherman
This story was originally published July 15, 2015 at 8:10 PM with the headline "South Florida fishing report: July 15, 2015."