Erratic fishing on charters in Fort Laud

February 06, 2018 Fort Lauderdale 4 photos

Trip Summary

We are back to seeing erratic results on our fishing charters in Fort Lauderdale. There have been some bright spots, but since our last report there have been some tough days in the mix for fishing offshore. We have included the pictures of Noel and Robin who fished with us this morning. Girls trip for these two celebrating a friendship spanning many years. Really nice Mahi-Mahi today ( 600 feet of water) and the ladies posing a second time with a pair of Skipjack Tunas that were caught in 750 feet. They also landed and released a shark. We have caught Blackfin Tuna but these are a species that has backed way off the last three days after regularly being seen and caught in water ranging from 200 to 400 feet. We are of course pulling for them reappear and be available to us here as they are good fun and give a good pull on light tackle. Near slack current conditions have slowed the bite on them. Hopefully the northerly trickle of current we began to experience today will kick start them into moving around, it certainly shouldn't be a negative circumstance if the current continues to move northward. Golden Tilefish have been a bright spot and there are some good ones as represented by the decent sized fish in the photo, but again they can and have shut down on south current days. Today we had very nice blue water on the reefs and out to 400 feet, and then beautiful Gulfstream colored water beyond there. A very slight current to the north had the Vermillion Snappers beginning to bite in spots in from 300 to 340 feet in depth. Those Golden Tilefish like that north current too and we would have certainly tried them again today with the slight north current if not for the choppy seas. Firm easterly winds had it a bit too bouncy for most anglers out in the 700 plus feet of water where we target them. The weather forecast is calling for the wind to remain steady in the low teens and occasionally stronger in spots, so choppy seas will continue throughout the week. Swordfish are basically out of the picture due to the seas that far offshore. Too bad as they have been biting. The better news is the breeze will likely bring more Mahi-Mahi into our area and they should be near shore and fishable with this clean clear blue water pushing all the way inside onto the reefs. And of course plenty of wind for live baiting with the kites near shore or just outside the reefs in more reasonable sea conditions for Sailfish.
All-Inclusive Sportfishing
Fort-lauderdale, Florida, United States
Marlin My Darlin Sportfishing thumbnail
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

Marlin My Darlin charter fishing report
Marlin My Darlin charter fishing report
June 16, 2026
Fort Lauderdale Fishing Report – June 16, 2026 Fort Lauderdale Charter, Fishing Report Overview Over the last 10 days, fishing has been consistently good. Most boats report catches of mahi-mahi, blackfin tuna, tuna, wahoo, kingfish, bonita, and even a few late-season sailfish still around. We’ve also seen several larger sharks in the area over the past couple of weeks, including a few big hammerheads. Looking ahead, the forecast for the next couple of weeks is excellent, and fishing should improve as we move deeper into summer. Reef Trolling Reef trolling has been absolutely fantastic. Expect steady catches of blackfin tuna, wahoo, bonita, kingfish, and mahi-mahi. This has been the most reliable fishing pattern throughout the summer and has continued to deliver strong results. Shark Fishing Shark fishing has been outstanding over the last couple of weeks, with many bigger hammerheads reported, along with lemon sharks, sandbar sharks, reef sharks, and even a big tiger shark this week. Summer shark fishing is typically strong and should stay productive through October. Mahi Mahi (Mahi Mahi Offshore) Offshore mahi fishing has been a mix of good and challenging days. Some boats are loading up with large numbers of smaller school-size fish, while others have had more limited success. Expect this fishery to become more consistent as summer progresses, with the peak typically arriving in September. Bottom Fishing Bottom fishing has been steady to light the last couple of weeks. Most boats are catching consistent numbers of smaller snappers and amberjacks, with occasional groupers mixed in. Bottom fishing remains a reliable, crowd-pleasing option throughout the summer and into fall. Conclusion Overall, the official Fort Lauderdale fishing report is positive and should continue to improve as the season progresses. If you’re in town or looking to get out on the water, give us a call to book your Fort Lauderdale fishing charter. We can accommodate corporate events, bachelor parties, birthdays, and more. Let us tailor a trip to your needs. Contact Marlin My Darlin Phone: **hidden content** Website: **hidden content** Call to action Ready to fish? Book your Fort Lauderdale fishing charter today and experience the best in reef trolling, shark fishing, mahi, and bottom fishing with our experienced crew.
Continue reading
June report
June report
June 9, 2026
Fort Lauderdale Fishing Report – June 9 Over the past couple of weeks we’ve hosted several large corporate events and bachelor parties, plus a few birthdays. Every charter has been memorable, with guests leaving raving about the experience. The seagrass has been tougher this year, making for some challenging fishing conditions, but the bite is very much alive. Target species and bite notes - Mahi-mahi, blackfin tuna, tuna, snapper, grouper, sharks, and sailfish are all actively chewing. As we head from May into June, summertime fishing is in full swing. Trolling - Reef trolling has been excellent when we can find clean water away from the seagrass. Expect mahi-mahi, kingfish, blackfin tuna, and the occasional wahoo. Depths of 100 to 400 feet have produced the best action recently. Bottom fishing - With grouper season open, bottom fishing has been outstanding. We’ve seen sizable gag and black grouper grabs in the last several days. The June full moon typically brings a strong mutton snapper bite as well. This is a prime time for bottom fishing trips. Kite fishing - Kite fishing has been slower due to heavy seagrass and dense seaweed plumes, which makes live-bait presentation tricky. Once we find clean water, kite fishing pays off with big-game targets like sailfish, hammerheads, sharks, mahi-mahi, and even wahoo. Offshore mahi - Northshore mahi fishing has been red-hot over the last two weeks. The seagrass has pushed schools into bigger groups and brought in some larger fish, with several 20–25 pound mahi reported. Offshore patches of seaweed and debris remain productive for big mahi and active schools. Conclusion June is shaping up to be a fantastic month as school winds down and we head into peak summer fishing. We’re excited to welcome new friends and returning guests for family charters, corporate events, and birthday celebrations at Marlin My Darlin. If you’re looking to book, we’re happy to accommodate you in any way possible. Contact Marlin My Darlin Phone: **hidden content** Website: **hidden content**
Continue reading
February 1, 2026 charter report
February 1, 2026 charter report
February 2, 2026
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**
Continue reading