South Florida fishing report
Posted on Thu, Apr. 17
By Capt. Alan Sherman
Article Source
Captain Jay Cohen on the Spellbound Charter Boat out of Haulover Marina reported the Haulover Fleet has seen good wahoo action off of Haulover Inlet, with the best taking place around floating debris in the Gulf Stream. . . . Small dolphins have been biting around the debris, as well. Kingfish in the 7- to 10-pound range and bonitos have been hitting in 140 to 160 feet of water, along with a good amount of sailfish, when the winds are out of the northeast. Large amberjack also have been active around many of the artificial reefs.
MIAMI DADE/BROWARD
Austin Koser, 15, of Millville, Pa., caught and released a 75-pound tarpon in Government Cut and a 90-inch sailfish off of Government Cut. His captain was Bouncer Smith on Bouncers Dusky out of Miami Beach Marina. . . . Caryl Croker of Miami caught a 41-pound cow dolphin 23 miles east northeast of Bug Light. . . . Kim Mills of the Kelley Fleet out of Haulover Marina reported the boats are bringing in plenty of mutton and yellowtail snappers, and a few kingfish day and night.
KEYS
Captain Richard Stancyzk, owner of the Catch 22 and Bud and Mary's Marina, reported a catch of more than 30 sailfish among three charter boats this past week. They were fishing in 140 feet of water and using live baits fished under a kite. . . . Tom Horsley of Richmond, Va., won Grand Champion Honors during the All Tackle Spring Bonefish Tournament. Horsley's top fish weighed in at 11.8 pounds. His guide was captain Mark Gilman of Islamorada, who went for a swim while trying to land one of Horsley's bonefish.
TREASURE COAST
Henry Caimotto of the Snook Nook Tackle Shop in Jensen Beach reported that before the cold front arrived, fishing offshore was outstanding, with catches of 15- to 30-pound dolphins in 80 to 200 feet of water, scattered sailfish, lots of cobias, 15-pound bluefish under weedlines, large bonitos and kingfish in the 5- to 10-pound range around the numerous baitfish schools in 30 feet of water. Caimotto expects the fishing to pick up where it left off after the winds move into the east. . . . Captain Charlie Conners of FishTales Charters out of Port St. Lucie reported that trout fishing has been hot one day and slow the next in the Queens Cove and Bear Point flats. Snook and redfish haunt the flats and large jack crevalles have been biting in the ocean inlets.
FLORIDA BAY
Andy Lanborne from Colorado caught four snook, with one being 24 inches and another 29 inches, plus small redfish and a small tarpon, all on fly to complete the Grand Slam. His guide was captain Jorge Valverde of Low Places Guiding Service. . . . Captain Jim Hobales has been finding plenty of snook, redfish and sea trout fishing the flats and pot holes of Florida Bay with jig heads and Gulp baits plus all the shark action you want fishing the Gulf shorelines with cut or whole ladyfish.
SOUTHWEST COAST
Captain Roan zumFelde of Rz's Fishing Extremes Charters out of Naples reported that his anglers have been catching plenty of undersized and oversized snook and redfish around the outside passes leading to the Gulf of Mexico. . . . Tarpon have been around but not biting and there is plenty of baitfish along the outside beaches. Dave Beachy of Sarasota caught and released a 42-inch snook in Sarasota Bay.
LAKE OKEECHOBEE
Captain Alan Zaremba reported that flowing water in many of the canals this past week did not disturb the peacock bass fishing, and Zaremba was able to lead his clients to the catch and release of more than 300 peacock bass and red midas on Clouser Minnows, Pro Traps and Road Runner bucktail jigs. . . . Dr. Ron Glinski from North Carolina caught a potential world-record 4-pound, 8-ounce Florida gar on 2-pound tippet fly. Glinski was fishing with captain Jim Anson on the Tamiami Trail and had to race to their car with the fish to avoid the snapping jaws of a large alligator that was trying to eat the gar. . . . Captain Mike Shellen of Okeechobee Bass Fishing Charters reported that the Indian Prairie Canal is hot for speckled perch, and they are eating minnows and jigs. . . . Largemouth bass are biting, and so are the bluegills in the Rim Canal. . . . Matt Blizzard and Kevin Roland of Broward County fished the L-67 Canal and caught 16 largemouth bass up to 7 pounds on Sinko worms.
-- CAPTAIN ALAN SHERMAN