SOUTH FLORIDA OFFSHORE: Capt. Skip Dana of the Helen S and Fish City Pride drift boats at Hillsboro Inlet Marina said anglers had “great mutton and yellowtail snapper fishing” and a 40-pound kingfish Thursday morning. A few cobia and dolphin were caught this week. Capt. Willie Howard said kingfish, bonito and blue and rainbow runners were hitting live and dead sardines in 90-130 feet off Juno Beach and sardines were near Juno Beach Pier. On Wednesday Howard guided Sean Hart of West Palm Beach to a 20-pound-plus dolphin that ate a dead sardine around a floating jug in 750 feet off Jupiter.
THE KEYS: Bud N’ Mary’s Marina in Islamorada reported that the dolphin bite slowed this week but fishing for yellowtail snappers on the reef has been excellent. A few small blackfin tunas were caught and deep-dropping has produced some nice snappers and groupers.
SOUTH FLORIDA INSHORE: Tarpon fishing has been very good in the Keys. Capt. Rick Stanczyk of Islamorada had five tarpon one morning.
EVERGLADES/FRESHWATER: Capt. Alan Zaremba of Hollywood reported fair fishing for largemouth bass in Everglades canals. Peacock bass were biting flies and jigs in the Lake Ida chain of lakes.
LAKE OKEECHOBEE: Bass were biting spinnerbaits, plastic frogs and topwater plugs around the outside grass lines first thing in the morning. After that, anglers were catching fish by pitching jigs and creature baits around reeds.
