18lb King Mackerel!

Weekly Fishing Report | Don’t Tell Mom Sportfishing – South Florida We had another action-packed week aboard the Don't Tell Mom, with some excellent fishing as we head into the full moon. The last several days have produced a great variety of fish, including Wahoo, Mahi-Mahi, Barracudas, Bonitas, Snapper, Amberjacks, King Mackerel, Jack Crevalle, and several species of Sharks. Wahoo and Mahi-Mahi Steal the Show The full moon is right around the corner, and as is often the case this time of year, the Wahoo bite has been heating up. We caught two really nice Wahoo this week, including one around 18 pounds and another impressive fish weighing approximately 30 pounds. The 30-pound Wahoo came on a 6-hour morning trip with Sean and his son. We found a beautiful blue-water edge in roughly 400 feet and started trolling the area. After catching a few smaller fish, we put some larger baits deeper in the water on our big planers. It didn't take long before one of those baits was crushed by a big Wahoo. The action didn't stop there. We also caught 10 Mahi-Mahi on that same trip, providing an incredible combination of quality fish and nonstop action. It was a great example of why having enough time to search for productive water can really pay off on longer trips. Barracudas, Bonitas and Live Bait Barracuda action has really started to heat up around the reef, with some very nice fish being caught both trolling and on live bait. We're also beginning to see the first wave of smaller Bonitas showing up. As fall progresses, we typically start seeing larger schools of Bonitas, and these smaller fish make excellent live bait for bigger predators. They're not always easy to keep happy, but with the large live well aboard the Don't Tell Mom, we're able to keep them swimming and put them to work when the opportunity arises. Once we had live bait in the water, we saw some exciting action from Barracudas, King Mackerel, Blackfin Tuna, and even some big Rainbow Runners. We also caught a nice Jack Crevalle, and the reef continues to hold plenty of life. An Incredible Shark Battle Shark fishing was another major highlight this week. We caught a big 8’ Nurse Shark along with a 98” Lemon Shark. The charter we caught the Nurse Shark on was an especially memorable trip because one of our young anglers got the opportunity to battle a big sea monster. The fish picked up a bait after playing with it a few times and then took off on a powerful run. Our 11-year-old angler did an amazing job staying with the fish for over 30 minutes and eventually wore it out and brought it boatside with some help from his dad and coaching from my mate Zach. We were able to measure the Shark, take a few photos, tag it, and safely release it. Watching a young angler successfully battle a big Shark is exactly the kind of moment that reminds us why we love charter fishing. These are the experiences families remember long after the trip is over. Snapper and Wreck Fishing- Bottom fishing has also remained productive. We've been catching Yellowtail Snapper along with some other good Snapper opportunities, and we have started seeing more Amberjacks around the wrecks. As always, we're constantly watching the conditions and changing techniques when necessary. If the troll isn't producing, we'll switch gears and move to live bait, wreck fishing, or bottom fishing. Some of the most productive days this week came from mixing things up and staying flexible. Fall Fishing Is Here Conditions were fairly stable for most of the week, with generally nice mornings, light winds, and some cloud cover. We did have a few days with unusual current, including situations where the surface current and deeper current were moving in different directions, which made things a little more challenging. Rain also played a role on some days. This time of year, we can get substantial afternoon storms, and when fresh rainwater sits on top of the saltwater, fishing can temporarily become more difficult. Fortunately, the water has been clearing up and the overall trend has remained positive. Fall is one of our favorite times of year to fish. The days are getting shorter, water temperatures will gradually begin to cool, and bait movement starts to increase. We're already seeing more Flying Fish and Mullet around, and that migration should continue to bring more predators into the area. Looking ahead, we're excited to see more Mahi-Mahi, increasing numbers of King Mackerel, and more Wahoo opportunities around the full moon. Sailfish should also begin showing up more consistently as we move farther into fall. Whether you're looking for fresh fish for the dinner table, fast-paced action with Bonitas and Mahi-Mahi, or a chance to battle a trophy Wahoo or Shark, there are plenty of great opportunities right now. Fall is one of my favorite times of year to fish, and we'd love to have you aboard the Don't Tell Mom. Don't wait to book your trip. Visit **hidden content** o

Weekly Fishing Report | Don't Tell Mom Sportfishing The past week and a half has produced some really exciting fishing aboard the Don't Tell Mom, but the biggest highlight by far was an incredible 98-inch Lemon Shark that put on one of the most memorable battles we've had in a long time. We were wreck fishing with a large dead bait on the bottom when the big female Lemon Shark picked it up and took off. The fish immediately started peeling line and putting the tackle to the test. Our angler, Sean, was quickly in the fight, and he battled this massive Shark for roughly 40 minutes before finally getting it boatside. The fish was an absolute giant. Lemon Sharks are powerful predators and can be incredibly impressive up close, and this large female was a fish we don't get to see very often. After getting some photos, we tagged the Shark and safely released her to continue swimming. It was a true trophy catch and an experience Sean won't soon forget. King Mackerel Are Showing Up- One of the other really encouraging developments over the past week or so has been the increased presence of King Mackerel. We've been seeing more fish around and, importantly, we've been catching them ourselves. The Kingfish bite has been noticeably better, and we're excited to see what happens as we continue into the fall. There are also still opportunities for Blackfin Tuna, along with some Barracudas and other hard-fighting reef predators. Live bait has continued to be an excellent option when targeting bigger fish around the wrecks and structure. We've also been catching some nice Amberjacks and more Barracudas on live bait, giving our anglers plenty of opportunities for a serious battle even when we're not specifically targeting Sharks. Fall Fishing Is Starting to Take Shape- Conditions have been fairly stable, with generally light winds and comfortable seas. We've had the usual South Florida afternoon showers and thunderstorms, but overall the weather has been very cooperative. Current has been relatively light recently, although we're beginning to see some of the stronger tidal movements that come with this time of year. You can definitely feel the seasonal transition beginning. The days are getting shorter, temperatures are gradually becoming more comfortable, and bait movement is increasing. Flying Fish and Ballyhoo are around, and the Mullet Run is getting closer. That bait migration is one of the things that makes September and October such exciting months to fish. As the bait moves, the predators follow, creating opportunities for King Mackerel, Mahi-Mahi, Wahoo, Sailfish, Sharks, and plenty of other species. We expect the King Mackerel bite to continue improving, while Mahi-Mahi and Wahoo should become increasingly important as fall progresses. Blackfin Tuna should also become more consistent as water temperatures begin to drop. A Great Time to Get on the Water- September is typically one of our quieter months from a business standpoint, which means there is often more availability for anglers looking to get out on the water. We're taking advantage of that by spending plenty of time on the water and making the most of every opportunity. Whether you're looking to catch fresh fish for the dinner table, battle a hard-fighting Amberjack or King Mackerel, or chase a true trophy like the 98-inch Lemon Shark we caught this week, there are plenty of exciting possibilities right now. Fishing is never guaranteed, but we'll continue to use our experience, knowledge of the local waters, and whatever techniques are producing to give our guests the best opportunity possible. The fall bite is just getting started, and there is a lot to look forward to. Don't wait—come fishing with us! Visit **hidden content** or call or text **hidden content** to book your charter. Tight lines, Capt. Will Daley

Weekly Fishing Report | Don't Tell Mom Sportfishing We had another excellent week of fishing aboard the Don't Tell Mom, with a great variety of fish showing up and some exciting action throughout the week. Conditions were generally very favorable, with mostly smooth seas, manageable winds, and good water movement. The current was stronger around the full moon before easing off over the last few days, which actually helped create some better opportunities for Shark fishing. Bonita Action Is Heating Up- The Bonita bite has really started to build, although we don't think the full fall run has arrived quite yet. We're seeing good numbers of fish from roughly 60–70 feet out to 200 feet, with some of the best action coming early in the morning. Bonitas have been eating a variety of presentations, including spoons and Sea Witches pulled behind planers as well as surface baits. They're incredibly strong fighters and are a favorite with our guests because they provide plenty of action and great battles on lighter tackle. This is also one of our favorite times of year to catch them. We use many of the Bonitas we catch to make fresh bait strips and freeze them for later in the season. Those strips become excellent bait for Wahoo, Sailfish, and other game fish, so we're always happy to see the Bonitas moving in. Sailfish, Wahoo & Shark Action- We also caught a beautiful Sailfish this week while trolling a Sea Witch with a Bonita strip. We had a bachelor party aboard when the Sailfish came into the spread, screaming line and making several long runs before we were able to bring it boatside for photos and safely release it. Sailfish aren't something we typically expect to see in good numbers during the summer, so it's always exciting when one shows up in the spread. We also caught a really nice Wahoo around 20 pounds. The full moon often brings Wahoo into the area, and this fish was a great example of why we always keep a Wahoo rod in the spread. Shark fishing slowed around the full moon but improved as the current eased. We were able to catch a big Dusky Shark, which was safely released after an exciting battle. Four Mahi-Mahi at Once! One of the most exciting trips of the week came on Sunday with a family visiting from Pennsylvania. While trolling, we suddenly had four Mahi-Mahi hooked at the same time! It was pure chaos. All four fish were solid keepers, and with some quick work from the crew, we were able to get all four into the boat. Three were gaffed and one was flipped aboard. Multiple hookups like that are exactly why we love Mahi fishing—and why having an experienced crew makes such a difference when everything starts happening at once. We've been seeing some Mahi closer to shore recently, particularly when conditions have kept the Sargassum farther offshore. Strong current can really turn the fish on, and when we find the right combination of clean water, current, and bait, the action can be fantastic. Snapper Fishing- Mutton Snapper and Yellowtail Snapper both provided some great opportunities this week. Mutton Snapper are known to become more active around the full moon as they gather to spawn, and we saw some good numbers of them around the reef. We caught several Mutton Snapper this week, including some nice keepers, giving our guests looking for fresh fish for the dinner table another excellent option. Yellowtail Snapper has also remained a dependable target. Looking Ahead- We're beginning to see the first signs of the seasonal transition, with shorter days and bait movement becoming more noticeable. We've been seeing plenty of Ballyhoo and increasing numbers of Flying Fish around the reef, and the Mullet Run is just around the corner. As the bait moves in, we expect to see more King Mackerel, Sailfish, Mahi-Mahi, and other predators following them. October is typically one of our favorite months for Mahi-Mahi, and we're looking forward to the excellent fishing ahead. The Bonita run should also continue to build. When it really gets going, the action can be incredible, with multiple hookups common and plenty of hard-fighting fish keeping anglers busy. Come Fishing With Us- Fall is typically a quieter time of year here as kids head back to school and the busy summer season winds down. That means we have more availability, making it a great time to get out on the water. Whether you're looking for fast-paced Bonita action, Mahi-Mahi, Wahoo, Sailfish, Snapper, or a chance to battle a trophy Shark, we'll use our knowledge of the local waters and whatever techniques are working best to give you the best opportunity possible. Fishing is never guaranteed, but we're going to work hard every trip to find the fish and make sure you have a great day on the water. The fish are biting, the weather has been beautiful, and there's plenty of exciting fishing ahead! Don't wait—book your trip today. We'd love to have you aboard the Don't Te