Fishing report
BEST BET
During a recent offshore charter, an angler fishing with captain Bouncer Smith on Bouncer’s Dusky out of Miami Beach Marina had an estimated 500-pound mako shark eat part of the sailfish the angler was reeling in. Mate and relief captain Abie Raymond baited a larger rod and the angler quickly hooked the big mako shark. The mako was reeled to the boat three times before the mate cut the leader, allowing the huge shark to live another day. The client’s onboard also caught kingfish to 20 pounds, dolphins and almoco jacks.
MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD
All of the action took place offshore of Miami. Captain Gil Gutierrez of Lucky Fishing Charters out of TNT Marina in Keystone reported the daytime bottom bite has been very good around many of the offshore wrecks and ledges outside of 100 feet of water offshore of Miami. Gutierrez’s anglers are catching large mutton snappers, big catch and release black groupers and large amberjacks. The bottom fish have been eating live pinfish, large threadfin herring and live pilchards. Captain Lester Wenger of Lester’s Live Bait out of Haulover Inlet reported that the offshore bite is getting better every single day. On recent offshore trips his clients have had sailfish, large kingfish, bonito’s dolphins and cobia. The fish have been eating free lined pilchards and threadfin herring.
KEYS
Local angler Al Ristori hooked landed and released an estimated 15-pound bonefish while fishing the Oceanside flats off of Islamorada. Richard Stanczyk helped land the fish. Captain Jack Carlson from the charter boat Two Conch’s out of Marathon reported many of the offshore wrecks are loaded with large spawning permits. Mixed in with the permits are large mutton snappers and cobia. His clients are catching these fish with Mustad 1/4- and 1/2-ounce shrimp jigs tipped with a live blue crab. Dolphins are being caught six to 30 miles offshore and the tarpon fishing along the Keys bridges has really taken off.
TREASURE COAST
Captain Michael Savedow of Edgewater River Guide Inc. reported the waters in his area have been clean and clear, not like the waters in some parts of the Indian River. Ladyfish and jack crevalles have been thick and hungry for rod bending action. Sea trout, mangrove snapper, redfish, sheepshead and black drum have been available for anglers fishing live shrimp on floating corks and jig heads. Captain Tom Van Horn of Mosquito Coast Charters reported fishing in the Mosquito Lagoon area that his clients have enjoyed excellent action from decent-size redfish and black drum to 50 pounds.
FLORIDA BAY
Captain Jim Hobales of Caught Lookin Charters reported high winds continue to make fishing out of Flamingo a challenge, but once you get to the right spots the snook, redfish and sea trout fishing has been excellent. Fishing with live pilchards, chunks of ladyfish and hard plastic artificial lures along the shorelines, points and blown down trees from Cape Sable north to Shark River is producing steady action from all three species. Big hungry tarpon and sharks are feeding on mullet schools along the coast.
SOUTHWEST COAST
Captain Todd Geroy of Captain Todd G. Geroy Charters, which is run out of Naples, reported that the snook fishing in his area has been very good with snook releases of up to 25 fish in a half-day charter. The snook have been holding along the backcountry island points and shorelines. The snook have been eating live scaled sardines, soft plastics and lipped hard plastics. Redfish are starting to show up again and can be targeted along the deeper mangrove shorelines with live baits. Big tarpon are in the area now and can be targeted with live baits and artificial lures.
FRESHWATER
Fishing along the canals on Route 27 captain Alan Sherman and Doug King of Ft. Lauderdale caught and released over 60 Oscars, bluegills, warmouth and largemouth bass. The Oscars were thick, big and aggressive-eating Rapala floating minnows and soft plastic lizards meant for largemouth bass. Using 12-inch soft plastic worms was the only way to get a bass. The couples Roger and Barbara Rogenmoger and Mike and Tammie Thompson of Louisiana fished for a half day in the C-8 canal with guide Alan Zaremba of World Wide Sport Fishing Inc. and caught 18 peacock bass to three pounds, three clown knifefish to six pounds, a snook and three largemouth bass.
Capt. Alan Sherman
This story was originally published April 20, 2016 at 7:19 PM with the headline "Fishing report."