Outdoors notes: Yellow perch on Lake Michigan

We’ve gone from high water and practically nothing happening to calm seas with “miners” striking gold.

I am referring to Lake Michigan yellow perch fishing. It’s getting better every day and those who can get on a boat or sit on the shorelines will no doubt catch a few.

I’ll have more details later in this column.

Suspicious catch:Near Destin, Fla., five local fishermen observed a large bale floating in the water. They retrieved it from the Gulf and pulled it into their vessel. When the fisherman saw that it contained numerous individually-wrapped packages, they contacted law enforcement officials. State and federal officers responded to the scene.The fishermen provided statements and turned the bale over to authorities. The Drug Task Force collected and processed the bale and determined that it contained 25 kilograms of cocaine. Did the anglers have an appropriate fishing license?Only in Jersey:I#146;ve had Illinois River silver carp jump into my boat and flop around, but nothing like what happened in New Jersey.Two New Jersey shark tournament anglers got a surprise when a 303-pound, 8-foot, 4-inch mako shark leapt into the bow of their 31-foot boat and proceeded to eat the watercraft. #147;At first we were in shock when he was in the boat. Then he started thrashing and we were like #145;Oh My God, we have a big problem, this thing is going to eat us,#146; #148; said Capt. Tom Rostron Jr. The two fishermen finally subdued the monster.Fishing update:We are still in the thick of things, angling-wise.Although a cold front moved through the area, walleye fishing on the Fox Chain continued, only with less intensity. Again look to current areas around bridges and channel mouths. There is decent bluegill action on the very south end of Pistakee Lake, while yellow and white bass action on Fox Lake has picked up.In Cook County, Busse Lake panfish are steady while bass action has slowed. In DuPage County, Blackwell Lake pike started showing up and hitting minnows. In Lake County you may want to try Independence Lake (Grove, off Hwy. 137) with improved bass and bluegill fishing there.Lake Michigan salmon action is steady off Waukegan at 75 feet.Perch activity close to shore off the Montrose rocks; Fullerton rocks and Highland Park in 50-feet of water.ŸContact Mike Jackson at angler88@comcast.net, and catch his radio show 6-7 a.m. Sundays on WSBC 1240-AM and live-streamed at www.mikejacksonoutdoors.com.