Fishing report

SOUTH FLORIDA OFFSHORE: “Finally the fishing is good and consistent,” said Capt. Chris Lemieux of Boynton Beach. His catches this week included sailfish, dolphin, kingfish, a few blackfin tunas and bonitos in 90-160 feet using live bait. Vermilion snapper fishing is still good in 180-240 feet and a few cobias were starting to show. Capt. Skip Dana said there’s been a “ridiculous sailfish bite the past few days,” and some dolphin and tunas also were caught by anglers fishing out of Hillsboro Inlet. The Helen S and Fish City Pride drift boats at Hillsboro Inlet Marina had vermilion snappers, kingfish and a few yellowtail snappers.

Capt. Ron Mallet of Just Add Water said his anglers have been catching “lots of fat jacks in the 10- to 12-pound class” along with barracudas up to 3 feet fishing in Fort Lauderdale canals. Spanish mackerel were biting inside Port Everglades Inlet.

The Sea King party boat of Marathon reported good catches of big yellowtail snappers along with some mutton snappers and lots of groupers, which must be released until the season opens May 1. The boat has its first night trip of the year Saturday and the snapper bite should be good coming off the full moon.

Bass fishing has been good using hard jerkbaits, topwater plugs and stick worms in Everglades canals, with lots of fish 1-2 pounds along with fish over 6 pounds. Oscars, Mayan cichlids, sunfish and warmouths also were biting. Top spots include the canals on both sides of U.S. Highway 27 and the L-5 Canal along the Broward-Palm Beach county line. Peacock bass were biting hard jerkbaits in the Lake Ida chain of lakes.

Swim jigs, stick worms and topwater lures such as frogs, plugs and buzzbaits were catching bass in the grass and around reeds. OUTDOORS NOTEBOOK

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 34 has a safe boating class from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Imperial Point Hospital, 6401 N. Federal Hwy., Fort Lauderdale. Topics include navigation, legal requirements, emergencies and knowing your boat. Cost is $50 and there are discounts for additional family members. Call 954-941-5781 to register or email Flotilla34pompanobeach@gmail.com.

Everglades National Park has Calusa Days from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Gulf Coast Visitor Center in Everglades City. The free event celebrates the Ten Thousand Islands and island life with demonstrations, activities and storytelling. Call the visitor center at 239-695-3311.

Big Cypress National Preserve has a free ranger-led hike to Deep Lake, a natural sinkhole on the western edge of the preserve off State Road 29, at 1 p.m. Sunday. Reservations are required by calling 239-695-4758.

Capt. of Miami Beach presents “Mahi Mahi and Big Blackfin Tuna” from 6:30 to 8 p.m. March 30 at Dusky Sport Center, 110 N. Bryan Rd., Dania Beach. Cost is $15 and redeemable for store merchandise. Call 954-922-8890.

The seventh annual Fish Fry at Cardinal Gibbons High School is 6-9 p.m. March 31 in the cafeteria. Cost is $15 and all proceeds benefit the United Special Sportsman Alliance. Contact at davis@cghsfl.org or 954-914-5475.