Deep Sea fishing in Fort Lauderdale

February 06, 2017 Fort Lauderdale 4 photos
Bonito
Bonito
Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
King Mackerel (Kingfish)
King Mackerel (Kingfish)

Trip Summary

The Deep Sea fishing here in Fort Lauderdale continues to mirror the previous two weeks with some very nice fish available but with the overall numbers of fish continuing to be below what we would prefer. Fishing the reef line and just inshore has often been below what we would like to see with only an occasional Kingfish and Bonito. The exception has been that occasional larger fish caught using those small live Bonito as bait. Some larger Kingfish continue to be in our area and have a soft spot for them, so we continue to spend some time there. We are also continuing to target the Blackfin Tunas by trolling just off the reef line and on out to 650 feet of water, which is just over 2 miles off the beach. These fish are working over small minnows and smallish flying fish and showing a tendency to hold in an area as opposed to feeding and then quickly moving on their way. This has been good as once we can locate them we can stay as opposed to beginning a search again for them. Occasional Mahi-Mahi out there as well. Fishing on the bottom on our local shipwrecks and good bottom structure has produced Grey and Golden Tilefish in the customary depths ranging from 400 to over 700 feet of water. We have had some success with Jacks on those same wrecks and good structure areas. A bright spot has been the larger sized Vermillion Snapper on these bottom spots as well. Snowy Grouper on the deeper spots, which are a Grouper species that is presently in season and therefor legal to keep. That is Greg in the photo with a good one, easily identified by those large snow colored spots. The weather and fishing conditions have been great. Mild days of bright sun with very little wind. Calm sea conditions day after day along with only moderate light current situations have allowed us the ability to move freely and fish our spots comfortably, which has been huge, as choppy seas and big current would be a poor mix as we try to make the best of available options. Tight lines and good fishing. Marlin My Darlin
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

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.
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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**
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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**
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