This week’s best bet: Dolphin, swordfish off of Miami, largemouth bass in Lake Okeechobee
BEST BET
Captain Dave Kostyo of Knot Nancy Fishing Charters out of TNT Marina reported the dolphin fishing offshore of Miami has been best early in the mornings. The dolphin action this week has been more than 10 miles offshore where a decent weedline with big patches of Sargasso weed is present. Many of the dolphins are schoolie size but there are a few bigger fish mixed in with the schoolies.
MIAMI DADE/BROWARD
Captain John Barker from the charter boat Blue Seas II out of Miami’s Bayside Marketplace reported during recent charters offshore of Miami his clients have been catching barracudas and big bonitos along the reef and tilefish further offshore on the bottom in depths from 500 to 700 feet of water. A few big dolphins have eaten live surface baits while his clients waited for the tilefish bites. Captain Bouncer Smith of Bouncers Dusky Fishing Charters reported having some good swordfish action in 1800 feet of water offshore of Miami. On a recent swordfish charter his clients landed an estimated 400 pound swordfish.
KEYS
Captain Nick Stanczyk out of Bud N Mary’s Marina reported the mahi mahi bite has been on one day and off the next. When the bite has been on mahi to 40 pounds are being caught. Swordfishing has been good during the day trips. Tripletails are being caught next to offshore floating debris. The Humps are holding blackfin tuna in the three to 18 pound range. On the reef a 12.4 pound cero mackerel was caught along with good numbers of yellowtail and mutton snappers. Over the patches lots of mangrove snappers are being caught.
TREASURE COAST
Bob Wangel of Atlanta fished offshore of Ft. Pierce Inlet and caught and released 35 kingfish in the eight to 18 pound range and lost a sailfish during his four hour charter. Wangel was slow trolling live large Spanish sardines in 55 feet of water. Captain Steve Amarant of Davie was Wangels guide. Captain Scott Collins of Getting Lucky Fishing Charters out of Jupiter reported during his offshore charters his anglers have been catching kingfish and a few sailfish on the surface and decent size mutton snappers on the bottom. In the ocean inlet and around the inshore docks of Jupiter his clients are catching and releasing snook over 30 pounds.
FLORIDA BAY
Captain Bob LeMay reported during recent charters his clients have been bouncing small jigs tipped with Gulp soft plastics off the bottom and catching a good amount of sea trout, ladyfish, jacks and mangrove snappers. Most of the action has been at the mouth of the rivers. Big hungry bull, lemon and blacktip sharks are eating almost every live or dead bait that his client’s fish. One bait intended for a snook was eaten by a huge small tooth sawfish. Back in the interior rivers medium to large size tarpon have been hooked and fought. The tarpon ate the same jig heads and soft plastics.
SOUTHWEST COAST
Captain Jon Fetter of Catch the Cure Backcountry Charters out of Ft. Myers reported the best fishing in his area is coming along the outside beaches where large schools of quality size white bait are holding. His clients are free lining white baits hooked to a 3/0 circle hook to get the snook and redfish bites. Many of the docks, mangrove shorelines and passes are holding redfish, snook and mangrove snappers. Fetter has been chumming these areas with live white baits and then fishing the baits under a float with great success. The high tides have been the most productive.
FRESHWATER
Leis Garrard of Garrard’s Tackle Shop in Okeechobee reported largemouth bass fishing has been excellent along the outer grass lines of Lake Okeechobee. The key to having a successful day is to be on the water by day break. The bass are averaging one to two pounds and can be caught with Skinny Dippers, swim baits and spinner baits fished along the outer grass line. Once the sun gets up a bit by 9AM the bass are pushing up and under the grass where the only way to get to them is by flipping jigs and plastic frogs. The bigger fish are holding in the holes in the grass. Kings Bar, Grassy Key and Third Point have been producing good numbers of fish. Bluegills are eating crickets and live worms in the Rim Canal.
Capt. Alan Sherman
This story was originally published August 11, 2016 at 12:29 AM with the headline "This week’s best bet: Dolphin, swordfish off of Miami, largemouth bass in Lake Okeechobee."