Aside from its tropical climate and impressive beaches, Fort Lauderdale also offers abundant deep sea fishing for a variety of sport fish. Catch tuna, king mackerel, wahoo or marlin from the teeming waters of the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico. Reserve a fishing trip with a guide, keep your catch and take it to local restaurants that will cook and serve your fish. Savoring fresh fish and your own catch at the end of the day is sure to make your trip in Fort Lauderdale a worthwhile adventure.
Types of Fish
Deep sea fishing in Fort Lauderdale produces catch of species such as king mackerel, tuna, marlin, wahoo, sailfish, swordfish, snapper, cobia, grouper and amberjack. King mackerel is especially abundant during the summer months and averages 4 to 10 lbs. in weight. Catch blackfin tuna during winter and spring and expect to see fish weighing 30 to 35 lbs. Barracuda and yellowtail snapper can be fished year-round.
Marina
Stop by the Lauderdale Marina on Southeast 15th Street, just north of Port Everglades Inlet. The marina offers facilities for anglers and boaters including dockage, a marine store, boat rentals and a restaurant. Rent your own private boat for a few hours or for an entire week to tour the area and venture out into the Atlantic Ocean to fish for your favorite deep sea game fish.
Charters
Reserve a chartered trip with local guides like Fishing Headquarters and Reel Work Charters, which can take you out in the water for deep sea fishing excursions. Both guides specialize in deep sea fishing and are located on Seabreeze Boulevard. Choose from fishing trips that are four, six or eight hours long. You can also schedule either daytime or nighttime fishing trips. A charter is an ideal option if you are unfamiliar with the area. Chartering a guide is also convenient because all fishing gear, equipment and fishing licenses are usually included.
Fishing Tactics
Search for cobia on the reefs and wrecks along the coastline with bait including crabs and crustaceans. During May, look for king mackerel in waters of 80-to-150-feet deep by drift fishing or trolling. If you prefer to catch sharks, fish during their migration from spring until mid-summer. Shark species you may find in Fort Lauderdale are hammerheads, makos, thresher sharks, bull sharks and tiger sharks. The best technique for hooking sharks is fly fishing kites with live baits on the edge and with big bloody baits on the bottom, according to Fishing Headquarters Guide.
Regulations
You need a saltwater fishing license to deep-sea fish in Florida. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, all anglers age 16 and up must have a state-issued fishing license to permit to fish in the state. Resident and nonresident fishing licenses are available for purchase. You are exempt if fishing with a charter, headboat or guide operations with a license to cover passengers.
Member Comments