Best fishing charter in Fort Lauderdale

3 for 5 Sailfish

Troy and his family from Iowa arrived at Bahia Mar Marina, filled with excitement for their deep-sea fishing charter in Fort Lauderdale aboard “Happy Day Today” and Top Shot Sportfishing Charters. The timing couldn’t have been better, Sailfish season was in full swing, with these majestic billfish migrating south through the Fort Lauderdale fishing grounds.

The morning conditions were textbook perfect. A cold front had just passed, pushing the Sailfish into motion. The east wind blew at 12 mph, a light north current carried clear blue water, and in 150 feet of water, a well-defined edge marked the perfect area for Sailfishing in Fort Lauderdale.  

We set out two fishing kites, each carrying four live baits Goggle-eyes, a favorite snack for Sailfish. The waiting game began, eyes scanning the spread, when suddenly there it was.

A Sailfish appeared on the short right kite bait, circling the lively Goggle-eye. Without hesitation, Troy’s daughter-in-law grabbed the rod, allowed the fish to feed, then reeled tight, hook set! The Sailfish responded with a blazing run, ripping off 100 yards of line in seconds, leaping and twisting through the air in spectacular acrobatics.

She fought the fish beautifully, battling each run until we brought the Sailfish to the boat. A quick photo, a smooth release, and the Sailfish swam off strong.

Back to kite fishing in Fort Lauderdale, with the baits dancing on the surface, we stayed locked in. Then another Sailfish on the right short bait! This one was hesitant, circling but not fully committing. When it finally struck, the Sailfish shot skyward, shaking violently spitting the bait mid-air before vanishing into the depths.

Undeterred, we reset, and soon after, another Sailfish struck the right long bait. This time, the angler set the hook perfectly. Another furious fight ensued, with long runs and high-flying leaps. After an exhilarating battle, we successfully landed the second Sailfish, took a quick photo, then released it safely back into the water.

Sensing a lull in the action, I made the call to move about a mile down the reef—staying ahead of the migrating fish. We quickly redeployed the kite spread. Everything looked perfect, but for a moment, the ocean was quiet.

Then chaos erupted. A hungry Sailfish aggressively attacked the bait, but in its frenzy, it got its bill tangled in the leader. As soon as it jumped, the hook came flying free. A close call, but not our last shot.

With only 20 minutes left before we had to call it a day, we stayed patient. Then one last opportunity.

A Sailfish surfaced on the right side, its dorsal fin slicing through the water, stalking the bait. Troy’s other daughter-in-law grabbed the rod, let the Sailfish eat, then hooked up solidly! The battle was on, this fish was a fighter, peeling drag and making incredible jumps, trying everything to shake free.

She handled it like a pro, and after an intense tug-of-war, we brought Sailfish number three boatside. A quick photo, a safe release, and we watched as it swam away strong.

As we reeled in the lines and turned toward shore, the crew celebrated an amazing day, landing 3 out of 5 Sailfish on a perfect South Florida fishing adventure. Troy and his family came for big-game action—and they got it. An unforgettable day kite fishing for Sailfish in Fort Lauderdale!

Vic’s Sailfish

Victor, visiting from Massachusetts, had one goal in mind when he stepped aboard the 52′ Hatteras Happy Day Today, catching a Sailfish in Fort Lauderdale. With only a half-day afternoon charter, we had to make every minute count.  Deep sea fishing in Fort Lauderdale is very close to the inlet and just a few miles off the beach is where all the action takes place.  

With a live well full of Goggle-eyes and ideal conditions, we departed from Fort Lauderdale inlet and set course offshore in search of the ultimate prize. At 125 feet of water, a beautiful color edge formed—a prime location for Sailfish hunting.

The first mate quickly deployed two fishing kites, each carrying four lively Goggle-eyes, their frantic movements a telltale sign they were ready to attract predators. The ocean looked promising, and we scanned the horizon, waiting for the action to begin.

Suddenly, the left short bait twitched erratically, a clear sign of danger lurking below. Then—a boil, a flash of silver, and the line started screaming off the reel! Victor grabbed the rod, locked in, and the fight was on. After a powerful battle, we brought in a Blackfin Tuna—a fantastic catch and a great way to start the trip.

With the Tuna on ice, we reset the kites, keeping our focus on the main mission—a Sailfish.

Then, on the right-side spread, I spotted it—a Sailfish creeping below the bait, sizing up its next meal. The nervous Goggle-eye danced on the surface, trying to escape. The moment was tense, the water around the bait erupted in an explosion of power, and the Sailfish struck!

Victor was ready. He let the fish take the bait, gave it some line, then set the hook hard fish on!

The Sailfish responded with aerial acrobatics, launching itself out of the water, thrashing its bill, and tearing across the surface in an explosive run. It was a spectacular show, with multiple jumps and deep dives, testing Victor’s endurance.

But he held strong, keeping steady pressure on the fish. After an intense battle, we finally brought the Sailfish boat-side, where we carefully removed the hook and snapped a quick photo before releasing the fish back into the deep blue.

Victor and his family witnessed firsthand the excitement of deep-sea fishing in Fort Lauderdale—a Blackfin Tuna and a hard-fought, epic Sailfish release. A perfect way to wrap up an unforgettable afternoon on the water!

Golden Tilefish

Golden Tilefish are a prized deep-water bottom fish found fishing off the Fort Lauderdale coast, thriving in depths between 650 to 950 feet. Unlike other bottom dwellers that prefer rocky terrain, Tilefish burrow into the muddy bottom along the continental shelf, making soft-bottom areas key to finding them.   These bottom fishing spots are anywhere from 4 to 5 miles offshore when fishing in Fort Lauderdale.  

When targeting these deep-sea gems, we use two types of tackle—electric reels and conventional hand crank setups. The electric reel is ideal for strong currents, allowing us to drop heavier leads efficiently, while the hand-crank method is preferred when conditions allow for lighter tackle and a more traditional fight.

We typically fish a three-hook rig with tracer lines, ensuring the bait lays naturally on the ocean floor. Once we locate the soft ground, we drop the bait and wait for the Golden Tilefish to strike.

Here are some of our recent successful catches:

Brandon, Travis, and Cody from New York landed a huge Golden Tilefish using an electric reel, as the extra-heavy current required us to fish with a heavier lead. The result? A deep-water trophy!

Patrick from Kentucky also hooked into an impressive Golden Tilefish, but this time using a hand crank. The current had backed off, allowing us to scale down the lead and go old school for an exciting fight.

Trevor from Texas showed off another Golden Tilefish, caught with the hand crank method, proving that when the current slows, the traditional fight is the way to go.

Aside from targeting Golden Tilefish, we also take advantage of prime offshore waters to chase Mahi Mahi and Wahoo, especially when surface pelagic fishing is hot.

Whether dropping deep for Golden Tilefish or trolling offshore for Mahi and Wahoo, deep sea fishing in Fort Lauderdale offers an incredible fishing experience!

To book your own fishing charter in Fort Lauderdale targeting Mahi Mahi, Wahoo, Tuna, Sailfish, Shark, Golden Tilefish or any other species contact: 

Capt. Dave Zsak at (954) 439-8106 or visit Topshotfishing.com