LAKE OKEECHOBEE
As the effects of Thursday’s cold front dissipate, look for big bass to bite in spawning areas all around the lake. Productive lures include swimbaits and pitching creature baits in holes in the grass.
EVERGLADES/FRESHWATER
Capt. Alan Zaremba of Hollywood reported excellent catches of big peacock bass in Miami’s urban canals before the cold front using floating and suspending Rapalas. His best largemouth bass fishing was in the L-28 Canal off Alligator Alley.
SOUTH FLORIDA INSHORE
Capt. Brian Sanders said the strong winds that accompanied this week’s cold front have muddied the waters on the Gulf side of Everglades National Park, so the best bet is to get out of the wind by fishing in the rivers with live shrimp, which should produce sea trout, sheepshead, snook, black drum and redfish.
SOUTH FLORIDA OFFSHORE
Capt. Chris Lemieux of Boynton Beach said fishing picked up after the full moon, with kingfish 6-10 pounds biting off Lake Worth Pier, along with a few yellowtail and mutton snappers. Vermilion snappers were biting good in 200-250 feet. Capt. Mario Cote’ of No Vacansea had some big kingfish fishing out of Port Everglades Inlet. Lemieux said seas Friday should be calm as the wind associated with the cold front eases, but it is forecast to blow out of the northeast and east 15-20 knots Saturday and Sunday. That should make for good sailfishing for those who don’t mind bumpy seas.
THE KEYS
Kingfish have been biting along the reefs, along with yellowtail snappers. The cold front should turn on the sailfish bite, which has been so-so.
