Fort Lauderdale Fishing Report
We had a string of excellent deep sea fishing charters out of Fort Lauderdale, highlighted by great conditions, textbook sailfish bites, and some unforgettable moments on the water.
Morning Charter (7:30 AM – 12:30 PM)
Jim traveled down from New Jersey and booked a morning 5-hour deep sea fishing charter with us from 7:30 AM to 12:30 PM, requesting one thing — Sailfish. With great conditions lining up, that’s exactly what we set out to target.
We departed Bahia Mar right on time at 7:30 and headed out the inlet toward the fishing grounds just a few miles offshore. I pointed the boat north and east to an area that has been holding consistent pelagic activity, along with a strong presence of bait. Flying fish were everywhere, with showers of bait popping out of the water in all directions — a clear sign that Sailfish were in the area. Finding bait is always the key to finding pelagics.
Once set up, we deployed a two-kite spread, one kite to the left and one to the right, with two live baits per kite. The action started almost immediately. Within the first five minutes, Jim hooked up on our first Sailfish of the morning. He did an excellent job throughout the fight and we brought the fish to the boat for a clean, safe release.
The bite stayed steady, and we went on to hook and release two more Sailfish, while missing another solid bite. We wrapped up the charter going 3 for 4 on Sailfish, and even had a fifth fish show itself behind the spread.
An absolutely epic morning of Fort Lauderdale sailfishing, great execution, and textbook kite-fishing bites — exactly what we like to see.
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Morning Charter (8:00 AM – 12:00 PM)
Ryan and his son from Washington State joined us for a morning deep sea fishing charter with ideal conditions. The wind was blowing out of the east and the water color was a beautiful electric blue — exactly what we like to see for pelagic fishing.
We started the morning catching Bullet Bonita, one of the best live baits available. Bullet Bonita are extremely effective, and nearly every pelagic fish in the ocean will eat them. We slow-trolled the baits along the drop-off, over sunken shipwrecks, and down the reef line. At times, we brought the baits into shallower water and worked them diagonally north and south back into deeper water.
The first bite of the day came from a King Mackerel. Using our light-wire rigs, we prevented the King from biting through the leader and successfully put him in the box. Once the spread was reset, the action really picked up.
Out of nowhere, two full-grown Atlantic Sailfish exploded out of the water and crushed our Bullet Bonita baits at the same time. Both rods bent over and we were hooked up on a double-header Sailfish. Ryan and his son put on an incredible fight, battling both fish to the boat. After a quick photo, both Sailfish were safely released.
Afternoon Charter (12:00 PM – 5:00 PM)
Later that day, Andrew and his son from Maryland came aboard with a similar game plan — live Bullet Bonita up and down the reef line fishing in Fort Lauderdale in search of Sailfish.
We found a developing current edge in 175 feet of water, where two bodies of water met and formed a defined current line. These areas are prime travel and feeding zones for pelagic fish. We had a big explosion on one of the baits early, but the fish missed it.
Shortly after, we got another solid strike that stayed connected and turned into a nice Blackfin Tuna, which we boated. We continued working the same current line, and it paid off again when a Sailfish showed up on the long rigger line and began feeding. After a great fight, Andrew and his son brought the Sailfish to the boat for a quick photo before safely releasing it.
Morning Charter (7:30 AM – 12:30 PM)
Carlos traveled down from New Jersey to fish with us on a morning deep sea fishing charter. We set lines early and began trolling the Fort Lauderdale reef in 150 feet of water.
Before long, a Sailfish appeared on one of the outrigger lines. We could clearly see the fish behind the bait with its bill and dorsal fin out of the water — an exciting situation. Sailfish bites like this require patience and precise timing.
Once the Sailfish fully committed to the swimming ballyhoo, it turned its head and swam away from the spread. That was the moment Carlos came tight and set the hook. The Sailfish put on an impressive aerial show, jumping repeatedly and giving Carlos a fantastic battle. After the fight, we removed the hook and safely released the Sailfish in excellent condition.
Afternoon Charter (1:00 PM – 5:00 PM)
Chris joined us from Texas for an afternoon fishing charter with the wind blowing about 12 mph out of the northeast. Based on the conditions, we decided to fish a live-bait kite spread.
We deployed both the right and left kites, each carrying two live baits. When a fish eats and comes tight, the release clip drops the line free from the kite, creating a very exciting bite. We set the spread over a productive reef structure and waited.
The first sign of a Sailfish came when one of the live baits became extremely nervous, swimming frantically in all directions. Moments later, a Sailfish appeared and began chasing the bait, eventually crashing it on the surface. Chris fed the fish perfectly, reeled tight, and hooked up. After a great fight, we brought the Sailfish to the boat, removed the circle hook, and safely released another healthy fish.
These trips showcased just how good Fort Lauderdale sailfishing has been — from live-bait trolling to kite fishing, great water conditions, and multiple Sailfish releases. If you’re looking for an exciting day offshore aboard a comfortable 52’ Hatteras, now is the time to get on the calendar.
Tight lines,
Capt. Dave Zsak
(954) 439-8106
Topshotfishing.com
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