SOUTH FLORIDA OFFSHORE: With a cold front expected to move through South Florida on Friday, there will be lots of rain and wind, followed by clear skies and cool temperatures. Look for sailfish to be biting over the weekend and for yellowtail and mutton snappers to be biting on shallow reefs.
THE KEYS: “The winter bite is on,” said Capt. Richard Stanczyk of Bud N’ Mary’s Marina in Islamorada, who explained that cobia were pouring through local waters Wednesday. After the cold front, the sailfish bite should improve, along with the kingfish bite.
SOUTH FLORIDA INSHORE: The cooler temperatures have made for good trout fishing on the grass flats in north Biscayne Bay and in Everglades National Park, where redfish and some snook also were biting.
EVERGLADES/FRESHWATER: Capt. Alan Zaremba of Hollywood said despite the cool temperatures, peacock bass were biting hard jerkbaits fished aggressively, especially around bridge pilings in urban canals and lakes.
LAKE OKEECHOBEE: The approaching cold front should make Friday a washout, then bass anglers will have to flip creature baits in mats of vegetation and around reed heads until the fish become more active. The cool weather will make for better fishing for speckled perch in the Kissimmee River.
