Fort Lauderdale Fishing Guide

The scenic Intracoastal Waterway and canals flowing among South Florida's most elite communities of Fort Lauderdale aren't just known for magnificent yachts and luxurious homes.

Anglers fishing here have been known to reel in tarpon over 100 pounds. The New River and Port Everglades are home to hundreds of tarpon, snook, barracuda and jack crevalle. Whether this is your first fishing trip or you're an experienced angler, be prepared for a good fight, and a great relaxing vacation. Here are some tips to make sure you vacation is the absolute best it can be!

There are some must haves for every fishing trip. These include, but are not limited to: plenty of water, sunscreen, a hat, and a camera to back up your fish stories. Find out before you go on your charter if licences, food, and ice are provided by the boat or if you need to bring your own. Also, remember that the crew works for tips. If you have a good trip and they give good service, make sure to tip them from $50 for a half day to $100 for a whole day's work. Pay attention to the captain's safety rules. They're there for your protection. Wear any safety equipment provided and make sure you know the location of the fire extinguisher.

Most importantly, make sure you have a good time .You want to be able to remember this fishing trip fondly for years, or at least until the next one! By paying attention to these simple tips, you should have a great time fishing in South Florida and the Fort Lauderdale area.

So you want to come to Fort Lauderdale to fish. That's a good idea. Fort Lauderdale has amazing weather almost every day of the year, winter or summer, and many different species of sport fish available in the area. Now all you have to do is decide how you want to do it!

You can always charter a fishing boat in South Florida. Depending on weather and fish availability, there may be different trips offered. There are a few recommendations to follow to make sure that your fishing trip is what you want it to be.

Make sure you get a captain who has experience in sport fishing. There are many sport fishing contests in Fort Lauderdale. Some boats are known fishing tournament winners, and will be happy to help you win your own fishing trophy. Decide what kind of fish you are wanting to try for. It may or may or may not be in season at the time of year you are in Fort Lauderdale. Also, think about if you want to do a particular type of fishing. Some ships specialize things such as wreck fishing or reef fishing. Do you have your own equipment that is suitable for the type of fishing you want to do? Different tackle may be provided, or you may need to bring your own. How long do you want your trip to last? Trips can last a few hours or all day. There are even some yachts which will go out for two or three days at a time. Do you want a crew or a bare boat? Crews are there to help you bait the hook and other things, and are very important for a new fisher. A more experienced fisherman may want to be out with a single guide.

Spring and fall are the biggest sport fishing seasons, and the time when you are the most likely to land a big one. Winter can give you the occasional storm, but most are usually isolated and can be ridden out. If you end up in a front, there's nothing stopping you from dipping a rod in the harbor! No matter what kind of fishing you want to do, you'll find a great place for it right here in South Florida and Fort Lauderdale.

Avid sport fishermen will not want to miss out on the fishing available in Fort Lauderdale. This activity makes an excellent corporate team building exercise as well as offering a wonderful vacation for the fishermen in your family. From Amberjack to Wahoo, you will find the fishing excitement you want in this ocean side paradise.

Offshore fishing is very popular in Fort Lauderdale, especially coming out of the Mar Marina area. Here you will find boats for hire that may have a crew with upwards of 30 years of sport fishing experience. These guys know where the fish are and what to use to catch them. Very often you will find that these professional fishermen are winners of the some of the large fishing tournaments in Fort Lauderdale. Some fishing boats also book cruises and island charters.

Don't worry about the weather in Fort Lauderdale for fishing. If you run into the occasional storm front that actually prevents you from going out on the water, there's plenty of fishing in the deepest water on the Eastern coast of the US. Coming in the spring or fall is the best way to guarantee a fishing trip you will remember fondly forever. Although no reputable guide can promise you will catch a fish, going out with one of these men and their crews is the best way to try!

There is only one guarantee in the fishing business - you won't catch one if you don't bait a hook and drop it in the water.

Fort Lauderdale is a sport fisher's paradise. Places like AWOL fishing charters actually offer fishing on the New River as well as the deep water fishing Florida is so famous for.

Happy Day Today specializes in larger sport fish like marlin, as well as offering cruises to Bimini island. Sandbob, a fishing cruise charter, will take you out for speciality fishing like shark and sailfish. Larger boats like these often offer air conditioned comfort so you can get in out of the sun while you're out for your day of sport and relaxation.

The weather's great, the water's beautiful. We hope to see you here with a great big tarpon on your hook soon!

Looking for a holiday activity that's fun and exciting for the whole family? Why not try a fishing excursion of the coast of beautiful Fort Lauderdale Florida? There are hundreds of charters available, both for a single person or for groups, and many different types of fish to seek. You can go deep sea fishing, or stick around the harbor. No matter what type of trip you choose, you'll always have a great time when you do your sport fishing in Fort Lauderdale.

Drift fishing and reef fishing is an exciting way to pass a few hours or a whole day. Fish love to live in these sunken ready made homes, pooling in great numbers in the cool shade they provide and feeding on the plant life that grows on the old hulls and coral. Reef fishing does offer its own set of challenges, however, with a lot of places to lose a hook or snag the line. It takes some skill a to fish a reef or wreck, but the rewards can be fantastic. Fortunately, most charter boats offer instruction in sport and reef fishing for an added fee, or as part of the charter.

Sport fishing such as marlin fishing is an adventure in itself, and no, we're not talking about the baseball team! Marlins are enormous heavy fish with a great spike at the end of their head. These large fish put up quite a fight on the line. You'll have broken a sweat before you bring one of these babies in, you can bet on that. Fisher people of all ages can enjoy a marlin hunt, with fishing equipment specifically designed for bringing them in. Dolphin, wahoo and tuna are all big game fish which will provide you with hours of rewarding fun and excitement while soaking up the South Florida sunshine.

Fly fishermen aren't left out of the fun in Fort Lauderdale. If you're a novice fisherman, you'll find many boats that offer instruction. Some charters will even supply the flies and tackle. More experienced anglers can often get instruction in fine tuning their skills.

No matter what type of fishing you want to do, you will find it's a fun sport that can really bring a family together as you strive to conquer that next fish. Fort Lauderdale isn't just wonderful for beach lovers. Everyone can have a great time here!

Methods of Catching Fish

Before you can go fishing, it'll help to know a little bit about what kind of charter you'd like to take. There are many different types of sport fish, and as many methods of catching them.

Trolling consists of cruising up and down the coast using bait or lures. They are pulled at an average speed of 6-12 knots depending on the species you desire and the depth of water.

Kite fishing is a different method of presenting live bait, with it suspended vertically from the kite to the water .This is one of the best and easiest ways to catch sailfish, sharks, and king fish.

Reef fishing or wreck fishing involves using live or dead bait to catch such fish as amberjacks and barracuda.

Bottom fishing is the way to get a flounder or other bottom dwelling fish. Because the water around this area is so deep, you can do most bottom fishing just a mile or so off the coast, which means you don't have to take a long boat ride to get to your fishing spot!

Spear fishing is a bit different choice for fishing that you may want to check out if you're a diver or love being underwater. There are many dive boats taking reservations throughout the area. This is a different way of seeing the ocean, from underneath, and makes for an exciting day's adventure.

However you want to spend your fishing time in Fort Lauderdale, you will find plenty of species biting, and even more friendly natives to shoot the breeze with later. This is one fish story that's completely true: you will love fishing in Fort Lauderdale.

As Bill Ring once said: "If you're too busy to go fishing... You're too busy!" Fortunately, that's something that you won't have a problem with in Fort Lauderdale. Fishing is a full time job for some folks in this bustling beach town. With wonderful weather, and an average temperature between 70 and 80, there is rarely a bad day to go when you're in town.

There are many marinas that specialize in fishing boat charters. Bahia Mar Marina, Bill's Sunrise Marina, and Pier 66 Marina are the home ports of several charter fishing crews. The good part about fishing wit ha marina based crew is that on the few days when the boat can't go out, you can still get in some great casts right at the marina.

When you go offshore fishing, you can expect to catch some very large fish. Offshore fishing can produce some nice wahoo, sailfish, sharks and dolphin (Mahi-mahi). Open water fishermen can find wahoo and sailfish, while wreck fishers can expect to bring in sharks amberjacks, barracudas, cobia, snappers and groupers. Amberjack weighing close to 100 lbs, and barracudas at over 50 lbs are not uncommon.

If you don't want to have a guided tour, you can also rent boats at marinas in the area. For instance, Pier 66 Marina hosts several businesses that will allow you rent a boat from 21 to 35 feet in length, including bow rider and center console designs. Don't forget when you're out there to keep a sharp eye out for porpoises! These friendly critters are all over the place, and they know where the good fish are. When you spot a school of them you know the fishing isn't far away.

There are many ways to catch fishing, and lots of fishing spots off the coast of south Florida. If you are a novice or old hand, fly fisherman, bait fisher or surf caster, you fill find something in the area around Fort Lauderdale to suit your needs. There is absolutely no place on earth like it, so make sure you don't miss out! Spend your fishing holiday here in Fort Lauderdale. You'll be glad you did.

You want to spend a long, relaxing vacation fighting the big fish offshore and bringing in 100 pound amberjack and 50 pound barracuda? Fort Lauderdale is home not only to crystalline white beach and sky blue water, it is also home to some of the deepest water on the eastern US coast, allowing for some amazing offshore fishing without having to deal with long boat rides to get to the best fishing spots. Be it wreck fishing, reef fishing, bottom fishing or surf casting, you will have success doing it all in Fort Lauderdale.

There are literally hundreds of charter fishing businesses in Fort Lauderdale. Depending on what type of fishing you want to do, you should check out some of these companies.

For instance, Fishing Headquarters out of Fort Lauderdale holds charter trips on its boat, the Mary B III. This company offers half, three quarters and full day fishing trips. There are also extended trips going to the bahamas and the Florida Keys. Exciting marlin fishing trips can also be arranged, as well as corporate tours for team building and other functions. AWOL Fishing Charters is captained by a Fort Lauderdale native who comes from a family of charter boat captains. With 22 years of Florida fishing experience, this business will get you out to where the fish are, then the rest is up to you. This is a nice hands off charter which offers instruction if you like it, or you can fish on your own.

No matter what charter company you go with, you can bet you'll have fun. These charters are run by people who love to fish, and know where the good spots are. Although you can't fish every day in Fort Lauderdale, the storms are few and far between. The best fishing is usually in spring and fall, so make your plans early and come for a week, a month, or a season. It's always a good time offshore fishing in Fort Lauderdale.

There is nothing that can compare to the thrill of wrestling a huge marlin or amberjack onto the deck of a fishing boat. The feeling of success, and the exhilaration of fighting a massive creature and winning is indescribable. Luckily for us, there's a place where you can see exotic sights and fish for sharks, marlin, tuna and lots of other fish without ever leaving the United States. This place is Fort Lauderdale, Florida. if you haven't fished here, you haven't fished.

There is probably no better way to relax with friends or entertain a potential or special business client than a fishing trip. Some charter companies offer half day charters for those whose busy schedule can't accommodate a whole day off, plus three quarter and whole day trips to give guests more time to enjoy the great Florida weather! Some companies provide night trips for shark and swordfish fishing, as well as multi-day packages to the Bahamas or the Florida Keys. Catered lunches and dinners are often included.

If you come to Fort Lauderdale in the fall, you will be able to catch the fall mullet run. These bait fish are followed into the beach areas by huge numbers of predator fish like sharks and amberjacks, making for excellent beach fishing at this time of year. If you see pelicans or sea gulls dropping out of the sky into the water, drop your line there. You may find barracuda or other game fish that these birds feed on. You can also find unusual game fish, like porcupine fish, which usually bite on flies instead of live bait. Renting a kayak and floating up the canals allows you to take advantage of the inlets and slower moving water to catch snooks and blue runners.

Deciding on which charter to use, or whether to just rent a boat and go it alone can be a tough decision in a place as filled with good fishing opportunities as Fort Lauderdale. your best bet might be to do some of each! Whatever choice you make, you'll find the fish are always biting in Fort Lauderdale.

It is possible to fish right off the shores and piers in Fort Lauderdale but you have to go to some lengths to get satisfying results. However, there still are excellent opportunities to catch jacks, snooks, tarpon and a host of other game fish if you are willing to put some effort in to it. If you want to fish like a local, you will find boat fishing to be the best option. Many charter companies are available to get you off the coast and out into the offshore areas .Night fishing at lighted docks for snook and tarpon is also very popular. You will also find quite a few guides are working from the marinas and ports along the Fort Lauderdale coastline.

At the Bahia Mar Marina there is a host of charter vessels waiting for customers to fish the nearby Gulf stream and Intracoastal Waterways. You will find that these are usually bait fishers instead of fly fishers, so it's a good idea to check with them first if you intend to go fly fishing! You'll find that most will take on a fly fisher, especially if the day is slow.

To fish in Fort Lauderdale, you will need a saltwater license, plenty of sun block, water and a hat to survive the intense heat and sunshine during the day. Don't underestimate the misery of coming home beet red, not to mention the longer term health effects.

When looking for appropriate fishing tackle, you will find that an 8-weight rod with a corrosion resistant reel load and a very fast sinking line and a floater will do just fine. The leader needs to be fitted with a heavy shock tippet to prevent the line from being ripped away by lady fish, snook and mackerels. All the excitement of that first big strike will quickly vanish along with your line! If you want a shot at the big tarpon along the beach in fall, go for the heavy artillery rods, 12 pounders and up. Flies to use can be small minnow imitations in silver/dark green and Clouser deep minnows in chartreuse and white or brown and orange.

If you don't have the proper equipment you can buy this at one of the local stores such as LMR in the Southport Shopping Center or the Fly shop of Fort Lauderdale on Federal highway north. There are many other shops specializing in tackle and rods, and will be happy to outfit you with the correct size and weight for your size and the type of fishing you want to do. Take a break from pier fishing for a while and try the offshore style. You'll be happy you did.

If you like to fish, Fort Lauderdale is where you want to be. It has some of the finest saltwater and freshwater fishing spots to be found anywhere on earth. Over 400 saltwater species of fish can be caught offshore. Reef fishing and wreck fishing offer adventure for fishers of all ages and walks of life, from avid anglers to the novice holding a rod for the first time. Florida's unique reefs were born 5,000-7,000 years ago, and grow at a rate of 1-16 feet every 1,000 years. The living portion of the coral extracts calcium from sea water, thus constructing the elaborate limestone skeletons that unite in colonies and form the reef backbone. The coral reef community creates a diverse and brightly colored habitat, providing shelter, food and breeding sites for sponges and shrimp, and of course, the fish which feed on them.

How to Avoid Getting Sea-Sick on Your Fishing Trip

No matter how many times you have been at sea, you may still find that you are afflicted by "mal de mer", or seasickness. Although it seems that some people are more disposed to this than others, you can head it off at the pass by taking Dramamine or some other OTC remedy the night before your trip, then again before heading out to sea. This gives the medication some time to work through your system. Other ways to avoid this awful and uncomfortable situation are to eat a light breakfast (don't go on an empty stomach and don't have a hearty grease fest), and stay above deck. As a last resort, you can always take a dive into the water. The cooling effects of the water can go a long way to relieving the symptoms and get you away from the movement causing the problem in the first place!

Checklist of Essentials for Your Fishing Trip

Don't forget to bring a camera and/or video camera, motion sickness pills or patches, sunscreen, sunglasses and hat. There is no misery like seasickness, nor is there a much worse lasting memento of a sea trip than a second degree sunburn. A little preparation goes a long way.

When booking a charter for offshore fishing on these reefs, there are some things you need to find out. Getting the answers to these questions before you go will make your trip a much more enjoyable and productive time.

You should know:

• Who provides the bait? If the boat doesn't, how much is it? Live bait can be from $30-$60 per dozen pieces of additional charge depending on availability. The cost could be higher due to weather or tournaments. If bait is extra, make sure you get a quote on the price on the day of your charter. Do be aware that even if you have to pay more for it, using live bait will increase your chances of catching many more species of sport fish.
• Does the captain provide all necessary licenses, ice, and tackle? While most charter boats do, it's important to check. You will find the fee to get a license is much less than the fine for fishing without one. In this case, it's much easier to ask permission now than it is to apologize later!
• Are food and drinks included in the charter price or do you need to bring your own? You can usually bring anything on board that you like, and the boat may supply ice and coolers. Often times, food and beverage can be arranged prior to your trip for an additional fee. But you need to work out these details before you get on the boat!

Tipping the Captain's Mate

If you haven't been on a charter fishing trip before, you may not know that the captain's mate works for tips. It is customary to tip them. Usual and customer tip for a half-day is $50, $75 for a 3/4 day, and $100 for a full day. If there's fishing-cleaning involved when you get back to the docks, that's extra.

With a little background checking and some preparation, you will have a great time on your fishing trip in South Florida.