The week was packed with action aboard our Fort Lauderdale deep sea fishing charters, with each trip bringing its own unforgettable moments on the water.
Anthony and his group from New York kicked things off with a morning deep sea fishing charter out of Fort Lauderdale. We started the day working the Fort Lauderdale reef in 130 to 160 feet of water, slowly trolling our way offshore into deeper water. As we pushed out to around 300 feet, the calm morning exploded into chaos when the planer rod doubled over and line started screaming off the reel. We knew right away we had a serious fish on. The Wahoo made several powerful runs, tearing through the water as Anthony settled in for the fight. With Kyle, our first mate, coaching and staying ready, the battle ended perfectly when he stuck the gaff and swung a beautiful Wahoo over the rail and into the boat. A textbook Fort Lauderdale Wahoo bite.
Wahoo caught fishing in Fort Lauderdale
Fernando and his boys joined us for a morning charter focused on variety and fun. We mixed things up, trolling the reef for pelagic species and bottom fishing for Snapper so the kids could experience different styles of fishing. While trolling the Fort Lauderdale reef, we hooked into a Barracuda, which was released after a quick photo. Then it was time for bottom fishing, and that’s where the boys really shined. The Snapper bite was steady, with fish coming up one after another. By the end of the trip, they had caught 17 Snappers and couldn’t stop smiling as they reeled in Snapper after Snapper. Great bottom fishing in Fort Lauderdale.
Liz and her family booked an afternoon fishing charter, and we started the trip by catching Bullet Bonita on small jigs. Bonita are some of the best baits you can use when targeting larger pelagic species, and it didn’t take long for them to prove their value. We put out a full trolling spread: a high line, two rigger lines, a short rigger, and a downrigger bait. Suddenly, one of the Bonita started swimming erratically, tugging hard as it tried to escape. Seconds later, a Wahoo came crashing through the surface in a massive splash, chasing the bait back and forth before finally crushing it. The reel dumped drag as the fish took off. After a great fight on light tackle, we landed another beautiful Wahoo, making it a trip the whole family will remember.
Michael and his family came out on a morning charter with plans to bottom fish and work some wrecks, hoping to bring home Snapper for dinner. Conditions were perfect, so we stuck to a solid game plan. Our first stop was a sunken shipwreck, where we dropped a live bait down to the structure. An Amberjack smashed the bait, and Michael’s daughter took on the challenge, successfully bringing the AJ to the boat. From there, we moved into deeper water and caught Yelloweye Snapper and Vermilion Snapper. Our final stop was a shallower wreck, where we used long leaders and fresh cut bait—irresistible to Mutton Snapper. The strategy paid off, and we finished the trip with a couple of quality Muttons. Great bottom fishing in Fort Lauderdale.
Lawrence traveled all the way from Colorado for an afternoon deep sea fishing charter, and we went right to work fishing live Bullet Bonita baits from the riggers. With a high line, two rigger lines, a short rigger, and a downrigger bait, the spread looked like a full school of Bonita swimming down the continental shelf—an irresistible setup for pelagic predators. The moment of truth came when a massive explosion hit one of the rigger lines, like an anvil falling from the sky. Water sprayed everywhere as a big Wahoo crushed the Bonita and ripped drag off the reel. Lawrence dug in, fought the fish hard, and after an exciting battle, we brought the Wahoo boatside for a clean gaff shot and into the boat.
Craig from Fort Lauderdale wrapped things up with a local charter, starting the day trolling with a spread set in shallower water. Suddenly, the planer tripped, and the rod loaded up. After a solid fight, Craig landed a nice Mutton Snapper—a great surprise while trolling and the perfect way to end another successful stretch of Fort Lauderdale fishing trips.
From Wahoo explosions to Snapper flurries and family memories made, it was a run of charters that perfectly showcased just how diverse and exciting deep sea fishing in Fort Lauderdale can be.
To book your own fishing charter contact Capt. Dave Zsak at (954) 439-8106 or visit Topshotfishing.com
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