Miami, Florida - Offshore

If you want dolphin, get ready for a ride. They have been out 15 to 20 miles. Schoolies have been the bulk of the action with fish mostly in the 4 to 6 lb. range. However, the action this week has been welcomed over the action the past couple of weeks. Quite a few dolphin in the 20 to 30lb. range were found this week and they took top honors in most tournaments this weekend. The lack of fish over forty pounds has been disappointing. Look for the schoolies under diving birds, but many of the diving birds will be following arctic Bonita. You will have to weed out the birds diving on bonitos and the birds diving on dolphin. Inshore along the edge of the reef anglers are still reeling in kingfish, bonitos and blackfin tuna. The occasional sailfish is still around but they have not been consistent. Big mutton snapper should show during this months full moon. South, off Carysfort Reef Light, there have been reports of muttons in the 10 to 15 lb. range being caught. Anglers have been doing well with Ballyho plugs fished along the bottom. Don’t be surprised when you hook up with a large Gag or Black Grouper. These fish have been active in the mix of Mutton action. Inshore there has been a bonanza of tarpon action for the fly fisherman. The area from north Key Largo to Key Biscayne has been loaded with tarpon. Best action has been in the early morning. Night fishing for yellowtail has been very good. Anglers anchoring near the whistle buoy off Key Largo in about 60 to 80 feet of water have been having a good bite on yellowtail. Use plenty of chum , a rod filled with 20 lb. line and no leader. Tie a 1/0 hook directly to your line. At night you can get away with heavier line because the fish are not as wary. You may find slow fishing if there is little or no current, but that has not been a problem lately. Inshore permit and bonefishing has been good. Look for big permit along the rockpiles that dot the flats that run from stiltsville south to Angelfish Creek. A live crab will do the trick. You will also see tarpon along the edges of these flats. They will also eat a crab. aol.com