Best bet for fishing: Nighttime bottom fishing for snappers on the reefs offshore of Miami
BEST BET
Captain Wayne Conn of the Reward Fleet out of Miami Beach Marina reported nighttime bottom fishing for snappers has been outstanding on the reefs offshore of Miami. Wendy Krawczynski of the Kelley Fleet out of Haulover Marina reported night fishing trips on the reefs offshore of Haulover Inlet are producing plenty of snappers, grunts and bluerunners.
MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD
Captain Dean Panos of Double D Charters out of Keystone Marina reported plenty of dolphins in the three to 7-pound range are being caught seven to 12 miles offshore of Miami. Swordfish are also being caught in 1,800 feet of water during the daytime. Captain Ralph Mayans of Sea Cross Fishing Charters out of Haulover Marina reported finding lots of bonitos and kingfish in 100 to 350 feet of water offshore of Haulover Inlet. The fish have been eating fresh bonito strips and ballyhoo. Captain Dave Kostyo of Knot Nancy fishing Charters out of TNT Marina in Keystone reported during recent offshore charters his clients have scored catches of kingfish, a lot of bonitos, a few sailfish, amberjacks and large mutton snappers in depths from 100 to 300 feet of water. Kostyo said getting your baits deep has been the key to getting in on the action.
KEYS
Captain Rick Rodriguez of Sea Horse Deep Sea Sport Fishing Charters out of Islamorada reported dolphin fishing has been excellent outside of 800 feet of water offshore of Islamorada. The dolphins have been caught along weed lines, under floating debris and in areas that have had hovering birds. Captain Chris Johnson of SeaSquared Charters out of Marathon reported his clients have had up to 40 snappers during the daytime offshore reef trips and hours of rod-bending action from large lemon sharks on the calm backwater flats. During the 7th Annual Islamorada Dolphin Tournament, anglers Travis Bennet of Tavernier, Don DeLeon of Goulds, Rob DeLeon of Sorreno and Mike Bennet of Miami fished aboard the charter boat Contagious with captain Brian Cone and took first-place honors with a three-fish total of 112.1 pounds of dolphins.
TREASURE COAST
Nedra Maxwell with the Sebastian Inlet District reported the cold water upwelling has moved on and the inlet fishing has improved. Floating algae on the outgoing tide is still a problem. Large redfish are feeding on large floating lures day and night. Jack crevalles have been plentiful. Mangrove snappers are being caught along the rocks. An undersized cobia was caught and released as well as a protected goliath grouper. Catch-and-release snook action has been fair day and night. Big schools of greenies and small groups of mojarras are holding along the jetty rocks.
FLORIDA BAY
Captain Jim Hobales of Caught Lookin Charters reported fishing was tough in Flamingo last week with south and west winds. Loads of baitfish seemed to be everywhere but the fish were not in a feeding mood. Snook are being caught in the normal spots along the coast and redfish are biting high up on the shallow flats of Florida. A lot of sharks were willing to eat big chunks of ladyfish fish on the bottom.
SOUTHWEST COAST
Captain Roan zumFelde of Rz’s Fishing Extremes Charters out of Naples reported the best snook fishing in his area is coming early and late in the day. The snook are still on the outside shorelines and points, and along areas that have a lot of dead trees in the water. Live white bait and shrimp have been getting the snook bites. Redfish have been biting in Johnson Bay on the low tides. Tarpon can be found on many of the flats south of Naples and in Marco. The tarpon are going for flies. Thirty miles offshore, fishermen are catching grouper, mangrove and lane snapper and yellowtail snappers over hard bottom.
FRESHWATER
Mark Escobar out of BJ’s Bait and Tackle in Plantation reported despite had daily rains in the Everglades west of Fort Lauderdale, water levels in many of the freshwater canal systems such as L-67 on the Tamiami Trail, Holiday Park, Alligator Alley, Sawgrass Recreation Park, the Holy Lands and Loxahatchee continue to produce catches of largemouth bass that exceed 50 fish per day per person. A few anglers are catching 100 fish a day that have included a variety of panfish, gars, pickerel and mudfish. The fish are attacking Rapala F07 gold floating minnows and an assortment of soft plastic worms.
Capt. Alan Sherman
This story was originally published July 22, 2015 at 7:50 PM with the headline "Best bet for fishing: Nighttime bottom fishing for snappers on the reefs offshore of Miami."