Fort Lauderdale fishing charter report for the “Happy Day Today” and Top Shot Sportfishing Charters.
Trip 1:
Billy, Ashley and their group of friends from Tampa joined us for a half day deep sea fishing charter in Fort Lauderdale. The morning brought overcast skies, choppy seas and a strong north current, conditions that signaled a promising day for trolling the reef. With high expectations, we wasted no time getting started.
Kyle, our first mate, rigged up a spread of baits, deploying two deep planer lines and four surface rigger baits—each swimming fresh Ballyhoo. We set up along the reef, where the water color and conditions looked perfect for some high-speed predators. It didn’t take long before the first strike hit.
The deep planer line bent hard, the drag screamed, and we knew we had a solid fish on. One of the anglers grabbed the rod and held on tight as the fish made a blistering run. The fight was intense, with the fish making deep dives, testing the angler’s strength. As the battle neared its end, the unmistakable stripes of a Wahoo flashed beneath the surface. Kyle positioned himself, gaff in hand, and with a swift shot, the Wahoo was in the boat. Cheers erupted as everyone celebrated the first catch of the day—a beautiful, hard-fighting Wahoo.
After some high-fives and photos, we wasted no time resetting the spread. Back to trolling along the reef, the conditions remained prime, and our hopes were high for another big bite. Sure enough, the deep planer rod doubled over once again. The reel screamed as line peeled off, and another strong fish was on. This one fought just as hard, taking deep dives and making powerful runs. The angler worked the rod steadily, gaining ground with every turn of the reel. Finally, another impressive Wahoo came into view. Kyle leaned over, gaffed the fish cleanly, and brought it aboard.

Wahoo fishing in Fort Lauderdale
Landing two Wahoos in one trip is an accomplishment, and the energy on board was electric. It was an outstanding day of deep-sea fishing in Fort Lauderdale, with the group experiencing the thrill of the fight and the reward of bringing in two of the ocean’s fastest predators.

Wahoo fishing in Fort Lauderdale
As we headed back to the dock, Billy, Ashley, and their friends reflected on an action-packed morning. Another successful day aboard Happy Day Today, proving once again why Fort Lauderdale offers some of the best sportfishing in South Florida. If you’re looking for an exciting offshore adventure, come fish with us and experience it for yourself!
Trip 2:
Jakob and his group from Texas were looking for an unforgettable way to celebrate his upcoming wedding, and what better way than a deep-sea fishing charter in Fort Lauderdale. With winter bringing prime Sailfish conditions, the group set their sights on landing one of these legendary fish. The morning was crisp, with a steady northerly wind and cooler temperatures—ideal weather for Sailfish to be moving through the Fort Lauderdale area.
As we set out, the first mate rigged up our spread: two deep planer lines and four surface-swimming Ballyhoo baits. With a strong North wind meeting a South-moving current, I decided to troll north along the reef, covering productive areas like sunken shipwrecks, drop-offs, and ledges. It was the perfect route to target both Mahi Mahi and Sailfish.
Not long into our run, we spotted a promising current rip in 400 feet of water. As we passed through it, the first line went down, and Jakob’s group sprang into action. The rod bent, drag screamed, and before long, we had a vibrant Mahi Mahi on the line. After a spirited fight, the first fish was in the boat—a great start to the trip!
As we continued working the current edge, two more Mahi Mahi struck, one after the other. The guys handled the fish like pros, reeling them in after exciting battles. Mahi are not only fierce fighters but also some of the best fish to eat, making for a perfect bachelor party dinner. Spirits were high, but the group had one main goal: a Sailfish.
I guided the boat further north to a Fort Lauderdale fishing area that looked textbook perfect for Sailfish. The water was an electric shade of blue, the depth sounder lit up with baitfish, and flyers were scattering across the surface. With a steady one-knot south current, the conditions couldn’t have been better. It was time to switch things up.
We deployed two kites, each carrying live baits, and set two rigger flat lines. Kite fishing is one of the most exciting and effective ways to target Sailfish in Fort Lauderdale, and the anticipation was building. About an hour into drifting, the moment we were waiting for arrived—a Sailfish had found our spread.
The fish cautiously circled the bait, then suddenly, it took it and started swimming off. The first mate let the line slip, ensuring a solid feed before reeling tight. The hook was set, and in an instant, the Sailfish exploded from the water in a series of spectacular jumps. The fight was on! Unfortunately, after several acrobatic leaps, the fish managed to spit the hook. The guys groaned in frustration, but we weren’t giving up.

Sailfish caught fishing in Fort Lauderdale
We quickly reset the spread and got back to work. Not long after, another Sailfish appeared, this time on the live bait. It was a textbook feed—the fish took the bait and started swimming off. We gave it some line, tightened up, and the hook was set. Jakob, the man of the hour, grabbed the rod, and the battle was underway.
The Sailfish put on an incredible show, leaping and tail-walking across the water. Jakob held steady, adjusting with each run, and after an intense fight, we had the fish alongside the boat. The crew carefully brought it in, snapping a quick photo before removing the hook and releasing it safely back into the ocean.
With a successful Sailfish catch, a cooler full of Mahi Mahi, and a day filled with excitement, Jakob and his friends had the ultimate bachelor party on the water. As we headed back to the dock, the guys celebrated with stories of the day’s battles, already looking forward to the next fishing adventure.
Another fantastic Fort Lauderdale fishing trip aboard Happy Day Today—congratulations to Jakob and his crew on an unforgettable day of deep-sea fishing in Fort Lauderdale!

Sailfish caught fishing in Fort Lauderdale
Trip 3:
Jessica had an unforgettable moment fishing in Fort Lauderdale aboard Happy Day Today when she landed a massive 60-inch Barracuda. We were kite fishing when I noticed a large school of fish marking on the depth sounder. Sensing an opportunity, we decided to drop a slow-pitch jig, and within seconds, this monster ‘Cuda slammed into it. Jessica did an incredible job handling the fight, battling the aggressive, five-foot predator all the way to the boat. After a quick photo—where the fish stood as tall as she did—we carefully removed the hook and released the Barracuda back into the ocean.
Trip 4:
Alyssa, her husband Tim, and their two kids kicked off their Fort Lauderdale fishing trip by catching live bait at the local sea buoy, an exciting hands-on experience for the little ones. After filling the live well with Cigar Minnows, we headed to a sunken shipwreck, a prime spot for big predators. As we sent the live bait down, we could tell something big was lurking—the bait was going wild, desperately trying to evade its hunter. The moment it reached the bottom, a massive Amberjack struck. Tim was on the rod, and the battle was on. The 75-pound Amberjack put up a tremendous fight, especially on light tackle, taking nearly 30 minutes to reel in. After a hard-earned victory, we snapped a photo before releasing the beast back into the deep.
To book your own deep sea fishing charter in Fort Lauderdale aboard “Happy Day Today” a 52′ Hatteras Sportfish, contact Capt. Dave Zsak at:
(954) 439-8106 or check out the website at: Topshotfishing.com
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