Predictable weather / Unpredictable fish
February 06, 2018 Fort Lauderdale 4 photos

Trip Summary

The weather is exactly (for a change) as predicted with clearing skies and essentially no rain with every day in the mid eighties. This will be our weather at least for the next five days. As predictable as the weather seems to be the fishing in Fort Lauderdale has been very unpredictable. Once again a good catch can be a short memory with many lulls in the action thereafter. As you can see by a couple of our photos we have been deep dropping out in 700 plus feet of water and Golden Tiles have been available due to light current conditions. Some have been good fish as seen with a couple of our recent crew of 4 Maine and Massachusetts cousins who joined us here aboard the Marlin my Darlin. There are some Sailfish, with inside of 250 feet of water seeming to be best. The Sailfish in the photo with this report took a surface trolled strip bait in 85 feet of depth. Mahi-Mahi have been scattered anywhere from 80 feet to 500 feet and have been either singles or pairs. Keeper sized but certainly no danger of bottoming out your fish scale. Happy to see them when they come into the spread. Blackfin Tuna off the edge and late in the day again seems to be the time to hunt them. Most are small but there are big ones as the nice one seen in Chicago Fireman Greg's grip. That fish took the last bait left out in the spread as we prepared to head back to the dock on a late afternoon charter. So “it ain't over till its over” as the late colorful Yogi Berra said. We were all very happy to see that fish join us in the last minute. Our last report mentioned that Winter may be over for us here as we saw manatees that were headed north. Well... saw a single and a group of three today, again they were northbound. And moving steadily and with some pace, as far as manatee speed goes. Tight lines and good fishing. * bright spot: Swordfish are biting, and biting well. That info through the coconut telegraph, as none of us here in the charter fleet has had the opportunity to try them. Give us a call, we are ready and on that note do have two trips booked for them beginning later this month.
All-Inclusive Sportfishing
Fort-lauderdale, Florida, United States
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Marlin My Darlin Sportfishing is a company with an excellent reputation and almost half a century of local experience in Fort Lauderdale and the surrounding areas. Offering all types of fishing, the crew specializes in catching big fish in a professional ...

Other reports from this charter

February 1, 2026 charter report
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Fort Lauderdale Fishing Report: January 26, 2023 – Aboard the Marlin My Darlin Over the past few weeks, Fort Lauderdale has experienced some chilly weather, which has led to exceptional sailfish fishing! January is proving to be one of the best months for targeting sailfish, along with blackfin tuna, mahi-mahi, wahoo, snappers, and grouper. Overall, fishing conditions have been consistently fruitful here in South Florida. #### Kite Fishing: A Winter Favorite Our kite fishing technique has been outstanding lately. This method is particularly effective during the winter months, as it allows us to target large trophy sailfish along with a variety of other species as bycatch. The excitement of not knowing what will bite next makes kite fishing an exhilarating experience. #### Reef Trolling: A Steady Bite Reef trolling has yielded decent results over the last month, with several large wahoo catches reported. The blackfin tuna bite has been especially strong in the late afternoons and is expected to remain consistent through June. This technique not only provides steady action but also ensures a reliable supply of fish for our customers. #### Bottom Fishing: Hot Action Before the Cold Front Just before the recent cold front, bottom fishing was incredibly productive, with local boats reporting excellent catches of snappers, amberjack, and even a few shallow-water groupers. Snappers are a crowd favorite among our clients, and many love to take them home for a delicious dinner. #### Offshore Mahi: Slow but Steady On the offshore front, mahi-mahi fishing has been slower than usual. Most boats venturing into these waters have either caught undersized mahi or faced complete skunks. Historically, offshore fishing picks up around March and continues through October, offering much better opportunities during the summer months. ### Looking Ahead As we move into the next few months, fishing in South Florida is expected to improve. We eagerly anticipate the late-season cold fronts that will further enhance our fishing conditions. Stay tuned for more updates from aboard the Marlin My Darlin Sportfishing Charters. Call to book your Fishing Charter today.. Marlin My Darlin **hidden content** **hidden content**
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Marlin My Darlin fishing reprt
Marlin My Darlin fishing reprt
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**Fort Lauderdale Charter Fishing Report: Aboard the Marlin, My Darling** This week, aboard the Marlin, My Darling, we're navigating the winds and choppy seas that have characterized the past couple of weeks in Fort Lauderdale. Fortunately, the fishing has been rewarding, with mahi-mahi, sailfish, and sizable blackfin tuna making their presence known. While trolling along the reef has seen some slower action, we've still encountered smaller Bonitas and the occasional wahoo. A few nice-sized blackfin tuna and skipjacks, along with mahi-mahi, have also been caught, typically in waters ranging from 100 to 400 feet just beyond the reef. Kite fishing has truly shined, especially under windy conditions. Large trophy sailfish, mahi-mahi, blackfin tuna, and even some sizable game sharks have been caught, making it a favorite winter fishing method. On the downside, bottom fishing has been quieter, though there has been a notable presence of smaller snappers around some shipwrecks. Noteworthy catches included a 35-pound black grouper and a couple of amberjacks from the deeper wrecks. Offshore, mahi fishing has been sparse due to a lack of debris and fish activity. However, December brings anticipation, as it's typically a productive month. The post-Christmas period is our peak season, so we encourage you to book your charter early. Visit our website or give us a call to secure your adventure aboard with us at the Marlin My Darlin **hidden content** **hidden content**
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Fishing on the Marlin My Darlin
Fishing on the Marlin My Darlin
December 3, 2024
**Fort Lauderdale Fishing Report: Marlin My Darlin Charterboat - December 1, 2024** November has been one for the record books here aboard the Marlin My Darlin. The month delivered exceptional charter fishing experiences, boasting an impressive array of pelagic species including mahi-mahi, blackfin tuna, and a plentiful number of wahoo. It was certainly one of the most productive Novembers we've had in recent years, complemented by fantastic weather and bustling business. The offshore fishing scene has been a mixed bag. While we haven't encountered much seaweed or floating debris to target, the mahi fishing remains promising, albeit somewhat inconsistent. The catches offshore haven't been enormous, but we've landed a respectable number of school-sized fish with a few larger catches adding to the excitement. Kite fishing has been the highlight of late, benefiting greatly from the increase in wind. The conditions have ushered in a healthy collection of sailfish, mahi, blackfin tuna, and impressively large king mackerel. Kite fishing is a beloved practice in our waters this time of year, and it never fails to deliver thrilling moments on the line. Trolling along the reef has been a tale of two shifts. Morning charters have seen moderate action with a smattering of kingfish and small bonito. Conversely, the afternoon reels tell a different story, showcasing an abundance of blackfin tuna and the occasional wahoo as the day winds down. Our bottom fishing endeavors have been fruitful, with an influx of small vermilion snappers and a modest number of snowy groupers, which we've been careful to release. Although amberjacks and groupers have been somewhat elusive, we expect their numbers to grow in the coming months. Swordfishing offshore remains robust, with commercial boats and our charters alike enjoying success. The daytime fishing has been particularly noteworthy, landing sizable swordfish ranging from 150 to over 500 pounds using electric reels in depths of 1,700 feet. Lastly, shark fishing along the reef has been nothing short of phenomenal. In recent weeks, we've had exhilarating encounters with some truly remarkable specimens. Big Hammerheads, Tiger Shark, Bull Sharks around lately. Get in on the action soon. As always, we're thrilled to provide unforgettable fishing experiences. Whether you're here for the rush of the catch or the serenity of the sea, the Marlin My Darlin is ready to make your adventure a memorable one. Book your trip today and let’s make some lasting fishing memories! Marlin My Darlin **hidden content** **hidden content**
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