LOCAL FISHING REPORT

OFFSHORE

Off Palm Beach and Jupiter, the name of the game right now is sailfish, as the fishing for these fighters has been on fire.

Anglers taking on these fast, jumping, head-shaking fish are having good luck kite fishing off the Juno Pier in about 150 feet of water. Some are catching up to 10 per day.

Schools of dolphin are mixing with the sailfish.

There are some kingfish being caught off The Breakers in 80 to 90 feet of water.

There has also been a good yellowtail and mutton snapper bite in the area in 90 to 120 feet. Anglers using sliding knocker rigs are having the best luck.

Regardless of what you’re fishing for, get it to the boat quickly, as there have been some large bull sharks around.

One charter fishing captain reported releasing a bonito and having an estimated 400-pound bull shark explode out of the water right next to his boat to take it.

Off Boynton Beach, there have been some dolphin

being caught. Trolling skirted bonito strips and fishing in

250 to 400 feet of water, anglers have caught fish from 8 to 20 pounds. Though they are somewhat scattered, they’re out there.

Like areas to the north, the sailfish bite has been good off Boynton Beach as well. Whether using kites or trolling, there has been excellent action in 110 to

180 feet along the color change and tide lines.

One charter captain recently caught a white marlin in 550 feet of water using a split-tail swim mullet.

There have been a few kingfish around, but for whatever reason, they seem to be missing the Boynton area.

Anglers are catching them mostly up around the Sloan’s Curve area or south along the Delray wrecks in 80 to 110 feet using dead drifted sardines or cigar minnows.

Cobia up to 18 pounds are being caught in 45 to 75 feet of water from the Boynton Inlet north to Sloan’s Curve.

In the area, there has been a good ocean tally bite. They are hitting cut squid or cigar minnows in 50 to 75 feet of water.

The West Palm Beach Fishing Club’s 81st running of the Silver Sailfish Derby, the world’s oldest sailfish tournament, concluded with an exciting finish.

Forty-one boats competed in the event, held last weekend out of Sailfish Marina in Palm Beach Shores.

Though the fleet faced mostly southerly winds during the tournament, a wind direction not considered to be ideal for sailfishing, it amassed a very respectable catch of 317 sailfish releases over two days.

Southern Run, led by Capt.

Skip Dana, won the Top Overall Boat in the final two hours of the tournament, catching and releasing 17 sailfish.

INSHORE

At the Lake Worth Inlet and along the beaches in Palm Beach, there have been tarpon, permit and jack crevalle. Using light tackle, they are hitting shrimp and small live baits.

North of the Lake Worth Pier, from Kreusler to Phipps Ocean Park, there has been a good pompano bite, with fish up to 4 pounds being caught on Doc’s Goofy Jigs and live sand fleas.

LAKE OKEECHOBEE

Fishing for largemouth bass has been a bit tough recently with the cool weather, but anglers are still catching a few using live shiners.

The speckled perch bite, however, has been fantastic.

For both, the Monkey Box area has been a recent hot spot.

LAKE OSBORNE

Fishing for sunshine bass and speckled perch should pick up with the cold weather in the lake and adjacent canals. Live shad, shiners and Missouri minnows will be best bets for bait. All fishing report information courtesy of Capt. Weston Russell at Reel Intense Fishing Charters, Capt. Bruce Cyr and Capt. Mark King.