Fort Lauderdale sightseeing boat
Fishing in Fort Lauderdale report for the Happy Day Today and Top Shot Sportfishing Charters.
Fishing in Fort Lauderdale has many options to target a variety of different species. Trolling offshore for Mahi Mahi and Wahoo as well as trolling inshore for King Mackerel, Bonita, and Black Fin Tuna. Kite fishing for Sailfish. Wreck fishing for Amberjack and Grouper. Bottom fishing for Snappers and live bait methods all while just a few miles fishing off the Fort Lauderdale beaches.
A family of 4 from Oklahoma booked a charter and were looking to have a fun day charter fishing and bring some fish home to eat.
Fishing in Fort Lauderdale with Capt. Ean
Capt. Ean and first mate Kyle had the boat rigged up and ready to head offshore. Departing from Port Everglades the guys made their way out past the sea buoy and started fishing in 600 feet of water.
This is where the color change started. A light blue met the deep blue watercolor and the guys started trolling down the edge. The first mate rigged up a bait box of swimming Ballyhoo, some naked with a few skirted along with cut bait and strip bait. The guys also fished a deep planner line with a skirted Ballyhoo.
Ean deployed a couple of teaser lines which are meant to attract fish and are fished close to the boat. Once a fish is up in the spread the first mate will then pitch bait and hook up the fish.
Fishing Mahi Mahi
Fishing in Fort Lauderdale the continental shelf drops off fast and with every mile offshore the depth of water quickly increases. As they were heading past the drop off the guys saw the first sign of life. A couple of birds up in the sky circling over an area. Capt. Ean trolled the baits under the birds. Soon as they passed across the path the rigger lines came down and they had a Mahi Mahi on the line and pulling drag.
The angler started fighting the fish and soon as the Mahi came closer to the boat the first mate was ready with live bait and cast it out. Many times there will be other Mahi’s following the fish to the boat and this is the opportunity to have multiple hookups.
Soon as the live bait was spotted a Mahi chased it around until it fed. This process continued and its very chaotic but controlled all at the same time. The anglers reeled in the fish and the Mahi’s were gaffed then brought into the boat and put in the cooler.
The crew got the lines in the water and resumed trolling. The guys were in 900 feet of water and started fishing a weed line with birds flying up and down rip. This was a good area with floating debris and the guys hooked another double header Mahi. Same as before while the angler was fighting the fish the first mate started casting out live baits and hooking into Mahi on the spinning tackle.
Now with a couple hours left in the charter the guys decided to head inshore to 150’ of water and kite fish.
The first mate cleared out the trolling spread and prepared the live bait kite spread. Once the captain pulled the boat out of gear the mate started sending out two kites with the live baits.
Good conditions with a light North current fishing over a wreck structure and flying fish in the area. The crew maintained the live baits keeping them just below the water line.
How we do sailfish
About 30 minutes into kite fishing the captain spotted a Sailfish on the long bait. This fish came up and fed on the live bait, gave him some line then set the hook. The anglers did a great job fighting the Sailfish.
Acrobatic jumps give the guys a great show. After some strong runs diving deep then coming back up to the surface and jumping some more. The angler fought the Sailfish until he was alongside the boat, the guys pulled the Sailfish in for a quick photo then back in the water and safely released the fish.
After a great day fishing it was time to head back to the dock. If your looking for a fishing charter in Fort Lauderdale contact Capt. Dave Zsak at 954-439-8106. Tight lines!!
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