Fall Sailfish

The late-summer bite off Fort Lauderdale is holding exceptionally strong right now. We are seeing a fantastic mix of high-energy offshore action out in the deep water alongside aggressive moonlit runs right along the reef edge. Whether we are pushing past the drop-off or working the structure under the night sky, lines have been staying tight and the fish boxes have been filling up fast. Out in the deep water past the initial ledge, active schools of Mahi Mahi are holding steady around floating debris and organized weedlines. Trolling a mix of light lures and rigged ballyhoo in 600 to 1,200 feet of water has been the ticket to finding the packs. Once the fish fire up around the boat, switching over to light tackle live baits and cut bait produces fast-paced action. Anglers have been bringing home a great mix of bailer to gaffer sized fish, making for plenty of fresh fillets at the dock. Along the reef edge, the full moon period has shifted the fishing into high gear with a solid push of Wahoo moving through. We have been concentrating along the deep reef drop-offs in 120 to 250 feet, focusing on areas where heavy current collides with underwater structure. High-speed trolling with wire-rigged cowbells and dark skirts during the early morning and moonlit night runs has yielded violent strikes. Slow-trolling live goggle eyes on planer rigs right at dawn has also been highly effective, leading to screaming drags and heavy-weight fish on the deck. With clean water pushing in and steady current aligned right along the coast, both the offshore pelagic bite and reef trolling conditions are at their peak. Now is the time to get out on the water and experience the action firsthand. Check our calendar and secure your date on the boat while this bite remains hot!

Sizzling conditions off the coast have made recent charters with Good Hit Sport Fishing an absolute blast for our guests. Running out into the deep blue Gulf Stream, we located productive current rips and weed lines where trolling live baits and rigged ballyhoo yielded excellent Mahi Mahi action, putting plenty of colorful, hard-fighting fish into the cooler. Moving back in over the outer reef edges, the Blackfin Tuna bite proved electric during early morning drifts, offering aggressive surface strikes on vertical jigs and live bait for fantastic light-tackle fights. Deep over heavy structure, our anglers dropped heavy gear to lock into a giant Goliath Grouper, enduring a grueling tug-of-war to bring the creature up for quick photos before a clean release. The ultimate highlight came when a massive ten-foot Hammerhead Shark slammed our setup, ripping off long, blistering runs that tested our tackle before being safely handled and released alongside the boat. Whether you want to fill the cooler with fresh pelagics or test your strength against world-class big game, Good Hit Sport Fishing has you covered, so check our calendar on FishingBooker and book your date today!

Our latest charter off the coast of Fort Lauderdale turned into an unforgettable day on the water. While we routinely target aggressive gamefish along the reefs and wrecks, this particular trip produced a once-in-a-lifetime encounter. Just a short run from the shore, a heavy bottom rig took a massive strike, and the angler on the rod immediately had their hands full with an extraordinary amount of drag-screaming power. After a grueling battle to bring the fish up through the water column, a giant Smalltooth Sawfish surfaced right alongside the vessel. The crew estimated the incredible prehistoric creature at roughly 15 feet from head to tail. Spotting a healthy specimen of this magnitude in the clear coastal waters of South Florida is a remarkably rare event and a true highlight for everyone on board. Because sawfish are a critically endangered species protected under strict state and federal guidelines, taking proper care during the handling process was our main focus. The fish was kept completely submerged in the water by the boat while the crew safely unhooked it. After a quick look at its impressive saw-like rostrum and a few photographs in the water, the giant swam away strong back into the Atlantic. This trip was a great reminder that you never truly know what is going to hit the bait when fishing the waters off Fort Lauderdale. Our charters run out of Bahia Mar Marina daily, fully stocked with top-quality gear for targeting everything from pelagic species out in the stream to heavy bottom dwellers on the reef.