What’s biting in area waters:
Northern Palm Beach County
Bill Taylor on the Black Dog reports bottom fishing for mutton and yellowtail snapper has been decent and the kingfish and dolphin bite has really picked up. Anglers fishing with captain Ernie Small on the Baby Grand have been catching dolphin up to 20 pounds and plenty of blackfin tuna. Most dolphin are hitting trolled bonito strips behind Sea Witches in 70 to 100 feet off Lake Worth Inlet. Anglers at the Juno Beach Pier anglers were catching Spanish mackerel, pompano, bluefish and jacks Thursday.
Southern Palm Beach County
The Lady K Drift Boat reports cobia are biting wellin 190 feet just north of the Boynton Inlet over a wreck. The Sea Mist III drift boat reported a few dolphin in the 12 to 20 pound range Thursday on sardines drifted south of Boynton Inlet. Dolphin have been showing up in 80 to 200 feet, hitting live bait, dead sardines, trolled ballyhoo and small yellow feathers. Most dolphin are averaging 10 to 20 pounds. Bluefish, jacks, Spanish mackerel and a few pompano are still being caught off the beaches. Mangrove snapper and sand perch continue to hit live and frozen shrimp along the seawalls.
Freshwater Lakes
Bass are hitting live shad and shiners among grass beds and vegetation where the water clarity is better. Soft plastic worms are enticing bass to strike early in the morning around the lakes’ edges, while flipping baits are working well around grass mats after the sun rises. The Lake Ida and Osborne chain has been full of small bass around most of the lakes’ edges. Bass are hitting on live shad and shiners among grass beds and vegetation where the water clarity is better.
Lake Okeechobee
Thursday’s lake level was 11.8 feet above sea level. Look for bass among along submerged grassy areas. Clear water conditions and a wide variety of vegetation makes for excellent fishing. Crickets, minnows and Beetle Spins are excellent baits for enticing bluegill to strike. Speckled perch (black crappie) and bluegill continue to be caught on minnows, crickets and jigs in the rim canal.
Martin County
Snook Nook in Jensen Beach reports a few decent-size dolphin and sailfish were caught this weekend in 300 feet, hitting ballyhoo with blue and white skirts. Spotted sea trout up to 5 pounds and slot-size redfish are hitting on the east and west banks of the Indian River. Use small 3- to 4-inch plastic jerkbaits, D.O.A. Baitbusters or Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows to entice a strike. Bluefish and large jacks are being caught of the Jensen Causeway on jigs and cut bait.
St. Lucie County
Guide Charlie Conner reports catching spotted sea trout up to 26 inches along the flats north of the Fort Pierce Inlet. Bluefish are still plentiful in the Indian River along with jacks, ladyfish and snapper. A few flounder have been coaxed out from local docks on shrimp and small jigs. Snook and redfish can be found along the mangrove shore line early in the morning hitting live shrimp and soft plastic jerkbaits with quarter-ounce jig heads. Bluefish and Spanish mackerel are hitting spoons and jigs along the beach.
