CapMel.com - South Florida Fishing Report

LAKE OKEECHOBEE

Capt. Steve Daniel of Clewiston said bass were biting crankbaits and soft-plastic lures around the outside grass lines. Bluegills were biting Beetle-Spins and live crickets around the spoil islands and reefs.

EVERGLADES/FRESHWATER

Bass were biting along the ledges in the canals at Everglades Holiday Park. Bass in Lake Osborne in Lake Worth were biting Gambler Aces. Capt. Alan Zaremba said peacock bass were schooling in Miami's urban canals and fly-fishing for them has been good.

FLORIDA BAY/10,000 ISLANDS

Mangrove snappers were biting in cuts in the bay and sea trout were biting on the grass flats.

GOLD COAST OFFSHORE

Capt. Bouncer Smith reported great fishing Wednesday, as Phil Hogue of Troy, Ill., caught one of four sailfish, a 40-pound wahoo, a 25-pound blackfin tuna, five kingfish, four mutton snappers and a dozen bonitos using live herring on the surface and dead ballyhoo on the bottom in 100-160 feet off Key Biscayne. Thursday in 100-200 feet, Smith's charter caught 10 kingfish up to 30 pounds, two of three sailfish and bonitos using herring and ballyhoo. Capt. Steve Souther of Marlin My Darlin of Fort Lauderdale said kingfish were biting north of Port Everglades in 85-115 feet with the best bite in the morning using live bait. Lots of bonitos were in 85-180 feet. Some nice wahoos were caught around floating debris. Kingfish up to 20 pounds were biting south of Boynton Beach Inlet and bonitos were abundant north of the inlet.

PIERS

Pompano Beach Pier had some Spanish mackerel. Juno Beach Pier had kingfish, lots of cero mackerel, sand perch and sharks. Lake Worth Pier had blue runners, barracudas and some bonitos. Anglin's Pier had runners, jacks, tarpon and snappers. Dania Beach Pier had lots of runners, jacks in the surf, scattered ceros and mangrove snappers at night. Deerfield Beach Pier had a few bonitos and snappers and an occasional kingfish.

THE KEYS

Jon Allen at Bud N' Mary's Marina in Islamorada said dolphin fishing has been inconsistent, although Capt. Scott Stanczyk of Catch 22 had a bunch of schoolies and some gaffers up to 25 pounds Wednesday. Small blackfin tunas were biting at the humps. The Miss Islamorada party boat was catching yellowtail and mangrove snappers on the reef. A few tarpon were biting early in the morning and at night around the bridges.