Offshore

The Jensen Beach area dolphin bite is on fire right now!

While there were plenty of very respectable 25-30 pound fish in the mix, there were several confirmed catches over 50 pounds and even a 60 pound monster.

Working live bait from kites and ballyhoo trolling at depths of 170-200 feet produced good action.

A fisherman said he set up three kites and the three baits attached were caught by a huge fish.

Many local anglers say this is the best dolphin action in six years.

There have also been a few sailboats in the area. They are caught and released mostly fishing for live herring or kite eyes.

If you’re looking for bait in the area, Bullshark Barge recently organized some decent schools.

King mackerel action off the Jensen Beach area has been strong over the past week. Live bait, with double or treble hooks running through the chin, forcing them to swim down, has been effective. Anglers working the area’s reefs between 60 and 90 feet have found fish.

Off Jupiter, Captain Bill Taylor fed his clients lots of fish on Tuesday.

Fishing the edge in about 110 feet of water, they got king mackerel on drift sardines.

Mixed in with them were some beautiful dolphins. Although there weren’t a ton of them, they were quality fish around 15 pounds.

There was also a crazy amount of skipjack in the area with Captain Bill saying it was the most he had seen in years. Although they aren’t really good to eat, they are relatively easy to catch and fight.

Besides king mackerel and dolphin, good sized yellowtail snappers have also been caught in recent days.

The only problem has been the number of triggerfish stealing bait for these yellowtails. Check your bait often.

There have also been a fair number of rainbow runners off Jupiter in recent days. Bring them closer to the boat, then use a single hook with a small piece of bait fished in the water column 10 to 15 feet directly below the boat.

Off the Boynton Beach area, two wahoos were caught on Tuesday. The 52 and 26 pound fish were caught trolling in 120 to 180 feet of water.

Good-sized dolphins are still caught in the area, some weighing up to 25 pounds. They have been scattered and found in water depths ranging from 150 to 350 feet. Trolling ballyhoo was the best method to catch them.

Last week, more and more king mackerel passed through the Boynton Beach area. Fish up to 25 pounds held deep and striking sardines caught on one and a half ounce drifting rigs in 150 to 300 feet of water. Some fish were also caught trolling the Sea Witches on number five planers.

The cobia and African pompano are found along the deepest reef ledges in the region, between 85 and 120 feet. The use of sardines or live sardines on a two ounce drifting rig, in conjunction with a long 30 pound leader attached to a 5/0 or 6/0 circle hook, has been effective.

Yellowtail Snapper and Mangrove are caught fishing for pieces of sardine on the bottom in 50 to 60 feet of water.

Whether it’s a monster or a minnow, if you have a good fishing photo, send it to us at [email protected]

Coastal

At St. Lucie Inlet, the docks and levees along the St. Lucie River, and causeways spanning the river, the name of the game is snook.

The bite is getting better and better, with the pavements being particularly good in recent days.

Many sloth and sloth fish have been caught.

Live bait, especially croakers, work better than anything else.

On Wednesday, a fisherman in a kayak, armed with six croakers, fished in the morning. Using only three of the six croakers he had brought with him, he caught and released a 41″ and 43″ nose kick. He decided it was a beautiful morning of fishing and everything called it a day.

Besides having a good snook bite, the Jensen Causeway had decent action on Spanish mackerel and even a few pompanos. Doc’s Goofy Jigs and Gulfstream Flash Minnow jigs worked well.

Along the beaches of Martin and St. Lucia counties, whiting and croaker bites were good at first trough. Shrimp pieces topped with Fishbites prawns worked well.

As the snub began to head towards Lake Worth and Boynton Inlets, Captain Pat Smith had his clients work at some of the nearby docks.

Using filiform herring and sand perch, he had his patrons participate in 30 snooks on Monday, 15 of which were big overslots. The fish were all caught and quickly released.

Captain Pat said there were tarpons there too, but for some reason they just wouldn’t touch anything.

The croaker and sand perch hit shelled shrimp around the Lantana Bridge.

For past reports and other fishing related information, click here

Lake Okeechobee

Fishing in the area just south of Indian Prairie towards Horse Island, Captain Larry Wright had his clients in 45 largemouth bass Monday morning. Using live shiners and working on the outdoor lawn, he said while there were no giants in the mix, they managed 15 that weighed at least five pounds or more.

If using artificial bait, flipping a Reaction Innovations Skinny Dipper in white trash can along the outer grass line has shown good results.

In the Harney Pond channel, the bluegill sting is still strong. Fishermen working on the banks and using live crickets do better.

Although Shellcracker’s sting wasn’t hot enough, that should change next week as the May 16 full moon approaches.

Anglers are still catching a few specimens in the Kissimmee River. Working the area under the bridge from 9:00 a.m. to about 1:00 p.m. was the best place and time. Prawns, minnows and jigs all work.

Lake Osbourne

Peacock bass fishing has resumed in the lake for anglers using live shad or minnow on eight to quarter ounce jigheads around bridges, docks, deep weed edges and channel junctions. Early morning and late afternoon were the best.

All fishing report information courtesy of Alec at Snook Nook at Jensen Beach, Black Dog Fishing Charter, Swamp to Sea Guide Service, Captain Bruce Cyr and Captain Larry Wright.