Fishing Report
 

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Offsho
The dolphin were a bit hard to find this past week, and finicky when
found. To cure the finicky problem carry some live bait with you when
offshore. The dolphin may not eat chunk bait, but will usually eat a
live pinfish or pilchard. The blackfin tuna are another story, They
are on the seamounts and in the slicks in the 200 to 300 foot depths.
Early In the week (before the tropics got frisky) the tuna were biting
very well.

Reefs:
Plenty of action on the reef is keeping most boats from venturing
offshore. Yellowtail snapper fishing has been good.
Fishing the bottom along the reef edge and on wrecks has yielded nice
catches of mutton snapper, grouper and mangrove snapper.
Dropping live pilchards down to the bottom on a "knocker rig" is the
standard.
Get some fresh ballyhoo at the tackle store if you do not have a cast
net for the "livies." Fish small two- to three-inch plugs of ballyhoo
on the bottom on a 4/0 hook.
The king mackerel will be roaming the same area, so keep a strip free
floating behind the boat and maybe get a mackerel bite or dolphin or
even a bonito.
Try putting a live blue runner or pinfish out behind the boat with a
float or balloon to keep it suspended.

Gulf and Bay:
The mangrove snapper fishing is arguably the hottest action available
in the Gulf right now. Chum for the snappers and you will call in
sharks, mackerel, cobia, trout and more. Permit are being caught with
good regularity around the markers.
Move from the Gulf into the Bay and find tarpon in good numbers. Mixed
in will be blacktip sharks and bull sharks.

Flats, Backcountry and Flamingo:
A big presence of finger mullet in Florida Bay means the snook bite
will be on!
The channels and drains in the Flamingo area are holding snook and
redfish in good numbers. The Cape Sable area will provide all the
action one will want for tarpon, snook and redfish. The East Cape
Canal will be one of the most productive areas as usual.
Fishing the mainland shorelines one will find snook, jacks and redfish
casting jigs with curly tails and plugs along the mangroves.will find
tarpon in good numbers.
Mixed in will be blacktip sharks and bull sharks.