Offshore:
Captain Mark Richardson on the Charterboat Seahorse went offshore
Tuesday and put up a double rack of “heavy lifter”
school Dolphin. Capt. Mark found the fish just offshore of the
Islamorada Hump. So….is the Dolphin action heating up???
Not really, as witnessed by the captain and crews of the Southern
Comfort later in the week. Capt. Rob said they saw hundreds of
Dolphin, but they would not eat bait, live or dead. The Humps
are providing Blackfin Tuna in the 3 to 6 pound size. Look for
the bigger Tuna on the first of May when the Amberjack season
begins. As the commercial guys are gutting the Jacks the Tuna
will school up just down current and gulp down the free “matter”
provided.
Reefs:
Still the best bet Oceanside. Yellowtail Snapper action is good
on the reef and will get better into April. The King mackerel
action is real good. The charters are slow trolling live Cigar
Minnows or Ballyhoo and even dead de-boned “Hoo’s”
just off of the bottom for the Kings. The area just east of
Alligator Reef Lighthouse is best. Look for the (shallow) night
fishing for Snapper to turn on as the weather gets better into
April. Anchor just before dark on a coral patch and chum up
the Mangrove and Yellowtail Snapper. Drift small baits on 12
pound spin with just a pinch of lead to help the bait get to
the Snapper.
Gulf and Bay:
For good all around fishing action the Gulf is a good bet. The
grassy bottom holds plenty of bait and many species of fish
make a career of plowing through that grass feeding on Shrimp,
Crabs, Pinfish and more. By simply anchoring and chumming with
commercial block chum one can catch Snapper, Jack Crevalle,
Ladyfish, Spanish Mackerel, Sea Trout, Bluefish, Pompano, Cobia,
Sharks and more. Use a light spinning outfit casting jigs or
drifting Shrimp or cut bait. Using heavier tackle, put a live
Ladyfish or Jack out on a wire rig to catch the toothy ones
(sharks). With a 20# spin outfit drift a small Blue Crab back
on a float for Mr. Permit or Mr. Cobia.
Flats, Backcountry and Flamingo:
Capt. Dave Atkinson fished two half days early this week and
caught one Bonefish on the early trip and released two more
Bones on the second. Dave estimated the Bonefish from seven
to nine pounds. The Seatrout action near and around Flamingo
is great. Capt. Fred from Whale Harbor Marina has been fishing
spring break families and bending the rod non stop for the “kids”
releasing around a hundred fish per day consisting of Trout,
Jacks and ladyfish with the odd Snook or Redfish thrown in.
The Tarpon bite when the weather is nice and that is the long
and short of it! As summer nears the Tarpon action will increase.
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