Fishing report
SOUTH FLORIDA OFFSHORE
Capt. Skip Dana said fishing was “surprisingly slow live-baiting” this week, but anglers on the Helen S drift boat at Hillsboro Inlet Marina were “doing well” on yellowtail and mutton snappers, and they also caught a few cobias using dead bait. Capt. Chris Lemieux of Boynton Beach said blackfin tunas were biting good along with a few nice dolphin in 130-240 feet. He also caught a couple of cobias on the reef. Lemieux said seas have been too choppy for him for bottom fishing.
THE KEYS
“Tough week. The wind is killing us,” said Richard Stanczyk of Bud N’ Mary’s Marina in Islamorada, referring to easterly winds around 20 mph. “Nobody is going way offshore.” Stanczyk said his brother Scott, the captain of Catch 22, caught dolphin, a few kingfish and a few sailfish on his past few trips. His son Nick caught some nice amberjacks on shallow wrecks. The yellowtail snapper bite has been steady.
SOUTH FLORIDA INSHORE
Sea trout and mangrove snappers were biting in Everglades National Park. Tarpon fishing has been hit or miss.
EVERGLADES/FRESHWATER
Bass were biting topwater plugs in the L-67A Canal at Everglades Holiday Park, with the bigger fish coming at the southern end. Oscars have been abundant and there’s no bag limit. Bass also were biting at Sawgrass Recreation Park and in the canals along Alligator Alley and the Broward-Palm Beach county line.
LAKE OKEECHOBEE
Water levels are low, so the best way to avoid damaging a lower unit is to fish in the rim canal, where bass were biting crankbaits, spinnerbaits, swim jigs and big plastic worms.
OUTDOORS NOTEBOOK
Diving expo: The 10th annual Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo is Saturday and Sunday at the Broward County Convention Center with 160 exhibitors and seminars on everything from freediving, scuba diving and spearfishing to fishing, underwater photography and videography, stand up paddleboarding and adventure travel. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $20 per day and free for kids 12 and under. Visit TheBlueWild.com
Fishing seminar: Women, men and teens can learn about fishing Saturday and Sunday at the “Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!” seminar at the I.T. Parker Community Center in Dania Beach. The event begins with a networking social and appetizer contest from 6-8 p.m. Friday. Saturday presentations include offshore fishing by Capt. Dennis Forgione, inshore fishing by Capt.
Brian Leibowitz and fishing basics by Capt. Lee Lavery. They are followed by hands-on skills sessions on tying knots, unhooking fish, bait rigging, casting, gaffing and backing up a trailer. Sunday offers optional charter fishing trips followed by a filleting demonstration. Women can register a male guest or teens. Call 954-475-9068 or visit ladiesletsgofishing.com.
Bass tournament: The Bass-N-Fools club has its 38th annual Spring Fling team bass tournament April 30 out of Everglades Holiday Park. Call 954-475-0248 or register early at BJ’s Bait and Tackle in Plantation.