LOCAL FISHING REPORT

OFFSHORE

Off the Jensen Beach area, there is still a decent cobia bite along the near shore wrecks and reefs in 60 to 80 feet of water. In the same area, anglers are catching bigger mutton and mangrove snapper. The dolphin bite is still scattered. The fishing has been a bit slow off Jupiter. There is still a good king mackerel bite off the Loran Tower, but not quite as good as it has been. They are also still catching cobia around the ledge in 80 to 100 feet as well as a few vermilion snapper in the same area. Off Boynton Beach, the fishing has been somewhat sporadic. There has been a decent bite on blackfin tuna up to 10 pounds and bonito in around 250 feet. They are hitting drifted baits. Looking for a toothy fight? You’re in luck as the area wrecks in 75 to 110 feet of water are loaded with barracuda right now. The mangrove and lane snapper have moved into slightly shallower water and are being caught in 35 feet around rockpiles.

INSHORE

The snook fishing in the St. Lucie and Indian Rivers is white hot right now. Some guides are reporting catching 10 to 20 fifish per trip with a good number of slot-size fish in the mix. Live pilchards are working great and anglers fishing along the docks during times of moving water are having the best luck. Still mixed in with the snook are good numbers of sea trout. Fish in the 8-to-9-pound range are hitting on pilchards. The blue fish bite is still good in the rivers with some fish over 10 pounds. Along the beaches in Jensen, the pompano are still biting. There also has been a fantastic whiting bite. Along the beaches in the Jupiter area, there is still a good pompano bite. They are being caught on sand fleas and clam strips and have been somewhat shunning the artificial baits. Up in the Loxahatchee River, the blue fish bite is still great. Big fish in the 10- to 13-pound range are being caught on top water plugs. At the Boynton Inlet, anglers are reporting catching snook, croaker, jack crevalle and snapper on live and fresh cut bait. Permit are being caught using crabs or whole squid. The flats located to the north of the inlet have been holding bonefish up to 12 pounds. They have been hitting Crazy Charlie Flies and live shrimp hooked on 1/81/8-ounce jig heads. There has been some excellent sheepshead action recently at the Lantana Bridge. Fish up to 10 pounds are being caught on crabs, live shrimp and oysters.

LAKE OKEECHOBEE

Though the crappie fishing has slowed down a bit, it’s still good in the Kissimmee River from the bridge to the mouth of the river where it enters the lake. Anglers using minnows and fishing a bit deeper, in the 12-to 14-foot depth range, are having good luck. The Harney Pond and Monkey Box areas of the lake are also still holding a good crappie bite. The river has had a good bass bite recently. Small medium-diving crankbaits are working best. The Tin House Cove area on the lake also has had a good bass bite. Top water plugs like Zara Spooks are working well.

LAKE OSBOURNE

Fishing live shad or small shiners has been producing good-sized sun-shine, peacock and largemouth bass up to 12 pounds. Night fishing on the lake is producing larger sunshine bass and big clown knife fish. NOTEWORTHY: The West Palm Beach Fishing Club will hold a Fly Tying Workshop from 6 to 9 p.m., April 18 at their headquarters at 201 Fifth St. in West Palm Beach. All fishing report information courtesy of Snook Nook in Jensen Beach, Fishing Headquarters in Jupiter, Capt. Bruce Cyr and Okeechobee Fishing Headquarters.