OFFSHORE
Small dolphin and blackfin tuna are biting in 160-200 feet of water off Jensen Beach, according to Tim.
He says anglers are also running into some wahoo in 200-250 feet a little south of them, near the Loran Tower, and that sailfish are being caught to the north, near the power plant.
The bottomfishing is still stellar in the area, says Caimotto, with “tons” of gag grouper, amberjack, and throw-back sea bass being hooked. Most of that action is taking place between 90-140 feet.
“We’ve had some divers come in and tell us they can’t believe how many gag grouper they are seeing down in about 80 feet of water,” said Caimotto. “It’s loaded down there.”
Off Jupiter, Pete Schulz of Fishing Headquarters says there are more sailfish coming around, and he has also seen a good number of kingish (15-20 pounds) and cobia caught in 100 feet. He says they’re finding them on the reef from the Loran Tower to the Jupiter Inlet. Schulz says there are some dolphin mixed in as well, and that trolled ballyhoo has the been the most productive.
Yellowtail and mutton snapper are also biting in 85-120 feet.
Chuck Hampton of Capt. Chuck’s Charters has been catching kingfish in 120 and 225 feet of Boynton Beach and Lantana. He’s also finding red grouper and porgies in 225 feet.
Hampton landed some nice blackfin tuna in 250 feet, and “lots” of undersized red grouper from 80-220 feet.
The Lady K drift boat has been catching dolphin in 150 feet and yellowtail snapper in 120 feet south of the Boynton Inlet.
Sailfish are scattered from 90-300 feet off Boca Raton, says T.J. Andrews of Ray’s Offshore Tackle. He says dolphin and blackfin tuna are scattered as well.
Kingfish in the 30-to-40-pound range are also being caught in 80-100 feet in the south end of the county.
Yellowtail snapper are biting, too, and many anglers have been heading offshore at night to land them.
INSHORE
Redfish, trout, ladyfish and jacks are biting in the Indian River, especially around Bear Point, says Caimotto. The west side of the river is also good for redfish, especially around the docks (if the wind allows).
Caimotto says the pompano are also starting to show up around the bridges.
The Spanish mackerel bite is still strong at Peck Lake, says Schulz, and bluefish and pompano are active off the Hobe Sound public beach.
Schulz says there are a good amount of small jack crevalle in the Loxahatchee River.
There are still fish along the beaches and in the Intracoastal, but most reports indicate the bite is inconsistent, making it tough to target certain species.
FRESHWATER
Andy Alvarez of X-Generation Rods in Lantana says the fishing in the Lake Osborne/Lake Ida chain has been much better.
He says the larger bass are starting to bed, so you can find them in shallower water (one to 4 feet). Alvarez recommends finding hydrilla, grass or rock structures in these depths and throwing an artifical bait; fish it slowly.
This is also a great time of year to catch sunshine bass in this chain. Live bait (especially shad) is ideal for landing these hybrids.
Capt. Mark King of Reel Dreams Guide Service says his clients are still catching 30 or more fish during half-day trips, and that they are catching some 7-to-9-pounders on every trip (the average is about 4 pounds).
The fishing is best along the grassy edges, and King says some of the best spots are on the shoal, East Wall and Long Point.