This week’s best bet: nighttime bottom fishing offshore of Ft. Lauderdale

BEST BET

Captain Paul Roydhouse of FishingHeadquarters.com out of Fort Lauderdale reported the nighttime bottom fishing over the offshore reefs has been excellent.

Lots of hungry mangrove snappers are coming over the rail, and there are plenty of yellowtail and mutton snappers mixed in with the mangroves. The snappers are eating chunks of ballyhoo, squid and Spanish sardines.

MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD

Reid Mckinstry, the local representative of Mustad Hooks, and Bruce Zhang fished the shallow flats of South Bay and went one for three on bonefish, one for five on tarpon and released a number of sharks.

The fishermen were guided by captain Jorge Valverde of Low Places Guide Service. Dr. Mark Feldman of Ft. Lauderdale and his son, Ariel, of New York fished North Bay with captain Alan Sherman of Get Em Sportfishing Charters and caught and released over 30 fish during a four-hour charter.

The catch included ladyfish to three pounds, lots of mangrove snappers, jack crevalles and three snook to 26 inches. The catch was made with live pilchards fished under a Cajun Thunder float. Captain Dave Kostyo of Knot Nancy Charters reported the daytime offshore fishing along the Miami coast has been fair.

When the current hasn’t been too strong there have been large amberjacks, groupers and mutton snappers over the offshore wrecks and deep ledges. On the surface kingfish, a few sailfish and an occasional dolphin are being caught.

KEYS

Captain Lenny Leonard of Bonefishing Key West reported large tarpon continue to thrill his fly-fishing clients. The best tarpon action has come early in the mornings over the shallow flats near Key West. Schools of bonefish are up on the flats and a few permits are being encountered almost every day.

Captain Rick Rodriguez of Sea Horse Deep Sea Sportfishing Charters out of Islamorada reported dolphin fish have been very plentiful offshore of Islamorada.

The dolphins have been located 15 to 20 miles offshore and can be found by looking for birds and floating debris.

TREASURE COAST

Captain Tom Van Horn of Mosquito Coast Charters reported the near shore reefs and wrecks in 70 to 90 feet of water are holding some kingfish. At times dolphins, wahoo and sailfish have been feeding in the same depths. The areas of Chris Benson, 8A and Pelican Flats are good places to start your day.

Live pogeys have been the baits of choice. Just outside the beaches where large schools of baitfish are obvious large kingfish, big tarpon, large sharks and large jack crevalles can be targeted. In the ocean inlets and ports Spanish mackerel, summer flounder and mangrove snappers are available.

On the inside the redfish action has been excellent. Look for the redfish to be pushing wakes as they move around the shallow flats in the Indian River. Also on the flats will be snook and mangrove snappers.

FLORIDA BAY

Captain Jim Hobales of Caught Lookin Charters reported finding plenty of hungry catch-and-release snook along the shorelines north of East Cape Canal.

The snook were feeding on live mullet and artificial lures. His clients also had some hot action from tripletail that was free floating in the same areas.

Working a few of the creek mouths on the incoming tide with live pilchards his client had non-stop action from small-to-medium-size tarpon.

SOUTHWEST COAST

Captain Gary Mounce of Fishin Finatic Charters out of Everglades City reported the catch-and-release snook fishing in his area continues to heat up.

During the early mornings around the outside islands and river mouths snook have been feeding on live threadfin herring and scaled sardine.

Most of the snook are in the 21-to-36-inch range. Redfish have been feeding in the backcountry on the low incoming tides.

The reds are feeding along the deeper mangrove shorelines and oyster bars. Jigs tipped with shrimp or Gulp soft plastics are catching most of the reds and sea trout are plentiful over most of the outside grass flats.

FRESHWATER

Alan Zaremba of World Wide Peacock Bass reported the C-!00 canal in South Miami has been the most productive peacock bass canal recently.

Schools of peacock bass are biting Rapala floating minnows in the morning and as the sun gets high the peacocks are being sight fished with AZ Jungle jigs.

The L-29 canal along the Tamiami Trail is producing decent catches of largemouth bass to three pounds along with chain

Capt. Alan Sherman

shermana@bellsouth.net

This story was originally published July 13, 2016 at 6:12 PM with the headline "This week’s best bet: nighttime bottom fishing offshore of Ft. Lauderdale."