Back to Fort Lauderdale Fishing Reports
Cold fronts have improved the fishing!
February 09, 2026 Fort Lauderdale 4 photos
Fort Lauderdale Report Photo 0
Fort Lauderdale Report Photo 1
Fort Lauderdale Report Photo 2 +1

Trip Summary

In recent weeks, we've set a new record for low temperatures. Those cold fronts are always the driving force behind all fish migration and if we have enough cold, consistently, the fish end up well into the southern tip of fla and beyond! That being said, conditions have shown a good improvement from January, bait fish are more plentiful and the water temps are more ideal to see pelagic fish staying with us for a while. When trying to decide what type of charter to book, think more in terms of time and less about what type of fish can be caught. More time, offers more opportunities to try various methods (IF NEEDED) and or travel. A 5hr trip would be ideal for experienced anglers looking to catch a sailfish, black fin tuna or mahi and a 3hr charter is still the perfect fit for a novice client looking to dip their toe in the water. Many captains like to use kites with live bait however I prefer the use of live ballyhoo. The live ballyhoo is the only live bait that cannot be purchased and must be caught in person however they are a fantastic bait due to their ability to be "slow trolled" in longer distances. Kite fishing is a lot of fun however when the current slows to a crawl it stops then you'll want to be able to cover territory and various depths of water. Here's to a great Feb! Capt Matt Fann "Fish Advisor"!
Matthew Fann profile photo
Matthew Fann
Fort-lauderdale, Florida, United States
Fish Advisor – Ft. Lauderdale thumbnail
Ft. Lauderdale has a fish with your name on it, so let Capt. Matt Fann and the Fish Advisor help you catch it! With Captain Matt at the helm, you’re in knowledgeable and experienced hands. Captain Matt Fann has 25 years of local experience fishing i...

Other reports from this charter

There is a strong sailfish season coming
There is a strong sailfish season coming
December 1, 2025
In the past few weeks, I have come across something that I consider a very good sign. Small sailfish!!! Over the many years I have been a professional fisherman, seasons that start with a run of smaller sized fish, end up being great seasons. Sailfish are a very fast growing fish, just like mahi. They are known for growing around 4ft in length in their first year! In the weeks gone by, I've caught quite a few smaller sized fish that indicate we've had a large spawn of fish. Now with a few cold fronts to push the bait south and a little current, we could see high numbers indeed! Last week, we tried pulling live ballyhoo around which is one of my favorite methods over kite fishing and we managed to raise over 7 sailfish in an hour. Later that day, during our afternoon trip, we raised a few more, only this time it was on dead bait while trolling! Very exciting stuff! If you're planning a fishing trip, follow the cold front patterns and try to book a trip with a minimum of 4hrs, 6 being optimal. See you soon, Capt Matt.
Continue reading
Mahi on the move!
Mahi on the move!
October 13, 2025
Oct is a great time to fish. The weather is cooling off a tad from the summer heat and the fish are starting to move south. My charter is unique in that I fish two locations. Summer months, I'm fishing in the outer banks, NC and back home in fort Lauderdale FL during the winter months. We've had an outstanding summer up north this year and those fish are starting to move south. It's getting cold up north and that's the driving force that moves the fish. The mahi have been around in decent numbers as well as a few nice king mackerel, black fin tuna and a few wahoo. Fort Lauderdale international boat show is set to arrive at the end of the month and with it, large crowds will travel into the area. Sign up to fish with me and let's have a blast!
Continue reading
Mahi mahi may.......june!
Mahi mahi may.......june!
May 25, 2025
Good fishing lately! The mahi have come through and are a little bit larger than last month. April was decent with a lot of weed lines moving in but it was a tad choppy for a couple weeks. Now the weather has come into its summer time pattern and it's certainly hot! Afternoons will have a better breeze than most of the morning trips and sometimes that will generate a better fishing condition (no guarantees). What else is being caught? Nice sized kingfish are here as well. I've been catching them trolling with bonito strips, as is the normal routine but live bait certainly works well too. It's just another way to fish. Blackfin tuna are still around and like the mahi, are in better size than the previous month. Let's go catch em!
Continue reading
  • Settings