This week’s best bet for fishing: Snook in Government Cut late in the afternoon and at night
BEST BET
Captain Bouncer Smith of Bouncers Dusky charters out of Miami Beach Marina reported having one of the best snook catches of his career. His clients fished late afternoon and night in Government Cut and landed nine snook over 32 inches and one slot-size snook. All of the fish were released. Captain Mo Estevez of New Dawn Charters reported bonefishing in South Bay was very good last week. The action came on the lower stages of the tide on the western side flats and the Oceanside flats.
MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD
Steve Dies and fishing friend Ed Garcia of Ohio fished aboard the skiff Funny Bone with guide Joe Gonzalez in South Biscayne Bay. During their charter, Dies released a bonefish that was estimated at more than 7 pounds. The bonefish ate a live shrimp. Captain John Barker of the charter boat Blue Waters 2 out of Bayside Market Place Marina reported fishing offshore of Government Cut is producing steady catches of sailfish, an assortment of sharks and a few nice kingfish. John Paul Deboer of Ontario and his wife, Patty, and young sons Oliver and Christopher fished Biscayne Bay and caught more than a dozen Spanish and cero mackerel, juvenile kingfish plus sea trout, jacks, bluefish and ladyfish. All of the fish were caught using live shrimp and pilchards for bait and fished under a Cajun Thunder float. Their guide was captain Alan Sherman of Get Em Sportfishing Charters.
KEYS
Captain Bob Brown of Sundance Sportfishing Adventures out of Marathon reported over the weekend there was a great dolphin bite offshore of Sombrero Light. The dolphins were being caught along the Gulf Streams edge in depths between 500 to 630 feet of water. Along the outer reef from 70 to 200 feet of water, the sailfishing has been red hot. Captain Bruce Andersen of Captain Easy Charters out of Islamorada reported just before the cold front came through there was a feeding frenzy of large wahoo in 140 feet of water. Armed with a live well full of pilchards his crew had wahoo free jumping on the chum baits and wahoo hooked up on their lines. When it was time to head in his clients had landed six wahoo in the 30- to 55-pound range, and had another nine fish get away.
TREASURE COAST
Captain Scott Collins of Getting Lucky Fishing Charters out of Jupiter reported the recent north winds have the sailfish jumping on their baits. The sails have been in depths from 60 feet to 300 feet. The sailfish were eating slow-trolled live ballyhoo and live baits fished under a kite. Captain Charlie Conner of FishTales Charters out of Port St. Lucie reported bridge fishermen should see plenty of sand perch, sheepshead, black drum, bluefish and croakers hanging close to the bridge pilings. In the turning basin and inlets, bluefish, jacks and mackerel will be waiting for shiny spoons and soft plastics. Pompano will be feeding on sand fleas in the surf. Redfish can be found around many of the deeper docks and will eat a Cal paddle tail jig.
FLORIDA BAY
Captain Nestor Alvisa of Hooked on Flamingo charters reported having great day fishing for black drum. During his last charter his clients caught more than a dozen drum in the 10- to 25-pound range using live shrimp on a jig head. The action was in the East Cape area. Captain Jason Sullivan of Rising Tide Charters reported the recent warm weather had tarpon feeding along the coast and snook feeding in the backcountry.
SOUTHWEST COAST
Captain Jon Fetter of Catching the Cure Fishing Charters out of Fort Myers reported finding plenty of sea trout in the back bays over grass flats in 3 to 5 feet of water. In the passes, there have been snapper, silver trout, Spanish mackerel, sharks, ladyfish, jacks and pompano. The best rig for these fish has been a live shrimp under a popping cork and a shrimp on a jig head.
FRESHWATER
Alan Zaremba of World Wide of Sport Fishing Inc. reported finding a decent amount of largemouth and peacock bass feeding along the Alligator Alley canals. These bass have been eating hard jerk baits and Storm twitch baits. Fishing in the C-8 canal, his clients are catching snook, peacock bass and a few largemouth bass. In this canal, AZ Jungle jigs and Bagley Minnows were getting the most strikes.
This story was originally published January 6, 2016 at 7:05 PM with the headline "This week’s best bet for fishing: Snook in Government Cut late in the afternoon and at night."