Capt. Andy Roydhouse

The Fort Lauderdale fishing has been red hot these past few weeks.  Great action on the edge of the gulfstream with sailfish, mahi-mahi, blackfin tuna, wahoo, and some huge big game sharks.  There has been a lot of baitfish around and whenever they around, the big game fish are not far behind.  Mullet, blue runners, and speedo mackerel have been thick at every bait spot I know of, and right on the outskirts of those spots have been a multitude of predatory fish circling.  This month has been a bonanza for sailfish, sharks, big amberjacks and larger mahi-mahi. 

Big game sharks are king this time of year.  All you have to do is go out to 300’ of water or more and put out some big bloody or oily baits.  It’s not a sure thing, but it’s definitely high percentage fishing.  The Out of the Blue, our 48’ Ray Davis sportfishing boat has been coming in with a couple monster sharks this season.  The biggest hammerhead we’ve caught this year has been 12 feet in length and a little over 600 pounds.  Several big bull sharks that have been caught on our shark fishing trips have been over 400 pounds also.  This is the time of year to go fishing if you want to hook into something bigger than you are. 

Sailfish, dolphin, wahoo and tuna are also a good shot this month.  Right on the edge of the gulfstream in about 200-400’ of water has been a lot of scatter seaweed and debris floating.  Underneath those weeds and floating debris are mahi-mahi, tuna and if you put a deep trolling bait down, wahoo.   When the fish seem to stop biting the trolling lures, try throwing out some live bait to catch just a couple more fish before the entire school of fish gets spooked and swims off. 

As if all that action wasn’t enough, lots of big golden amberjacks and large groupers are being caught around my favorite shipwrecks.  I’m not going to tell you exactly which spots are working the best, but if you haven’t tried any drops lately at any shipwreck spots you know, it’s a great time to throw a bait down to the bottom.  Amberjacks are here in huge numbers and they are gigantic this year.  We are catching some huge ones.  Groupers too are biting and they are bigger than usual as well.  All in all, there is some great fishing in the Fort Lauderdale area this time of year, so if you can make the time, come out on a fishing charter with us.  Sea you out there on the water.