Offshore:
With the weather turning windy only a few boats ventured off as far as the hump this week. The Blackfins are still biting very well for the skippers that took charters the 12 miles in quest of Tuna. Early in the week, the Challenger boat from Whale Harbor Marina had a rack of 18 school Dolphin with one fish weighing around 15 pounds.
Reefs:
Sailfish are still in the area and Capt. Paul on the Skipper charterboat had three releases on Saturday to prove it. Capt. Don Chittik on the K Kay IV and Capt. Wes King at the helm of the Hopalong both had great days on the Black Grouper and Yellowtail Snapper this week. King Mackerel are still biting well all along the reef.
Gulf and Bay:
The best report concerning terrific rod bending comes from the “fringe” area below Nine Mile bank. Where the Gulf meets the Bay the bite is on with Big Trout , Huge Ladyfish, Spanish Mackerel, Bluefish, Lane Snapper and Jack Crevalle. Also there have been Pompano and Permit and Small Cobia catches recorded in the area. Hopefully the wind will subside soon and anglers will venture out into the deep Gulf again for Tripletail and Permit and Cobia and the plethora of species that hang out around the wrecks, potholes and markers in the wild brown yonder.
Flats, Backcountry and Flamingo:
The Flamingo area is chock full of Trout, but the Snook and Redfish bite seems to be a little off. Yucky weather does that though. Perhaps with spring break upon us lots of parents bringing kids that are mostly looking for lots of action on the Trout rather than trying for Snook. Capt. Mike Bassett has been visiting a few hidey-hole spots and catching a Snook here and there. The water temperature is up in the seventies and if the weather moderates the Tarpon will pop up and feed well.
