LAKE OKEECHOBEE
With the cooler weather, flipping will be the best bet for catching bass until the water temperature warms. Try using jigs and plastic crawdads around isolated reed heads in spawning areas inside the grass.
More Top Picks Best Professional Insecticide Dusters
EVERGLADES/FRESHWATER
Capt. Alan Zaremba reported that the best fishing for largemouth and peacock bass has been in the Lake Ida chain of lakes using floating and suspending jerkbaits. With the cooler weather, trolling the lures under bridges is a good way to find fish. Dan Bieniek reported snakeheads up to 13 pounds biting in central Broward canals Thursday morning.
SOUTH FLORIDA INSHORE
Sea trout should be biting in channels and on grass flats in Biscayne Bay and Everglades National Park. Look for snook to bite live shrimp and pilchards when the water temperature warms.
SOUTH FLORIDA OFFSHORE
Strong winds out of the north and east are forecast for the next several days, so seas will be sporty. Anglers that can handle the rough stuff should find sailfish biting, along with some blackfin tunas and dolphin, wherever there are flying fish in 100-500 feet. As soon as seas calm down, look for snappers to bite in 40-60 feet.
THE KEYS
Capt. Bill Houck of Marathon reported good catches of yellowtail snappers and mutton snappers in 120 feet. In Islamorada, patch reefs in 15-20 feet have been productive for snappers.