The offshore bite in Fort Lauderdale continues to heat up, and this week delivered an unforgettable day of deep sea fishing and kite fishing action. If you’re looking for the latest Fort Lauderdale fishing report, this one showcases exactly why South Florida is one of the top sportfishing destinations in the world.
Trophy Gag Grouper Caught & Released Before Season
One of the highlights of the trip was hooking into a massive gag grouper (Mycteroperca microlepis) estimated right around the 30-pound class. This true trophy fish struck a live herring that we sent down toward the bottom over structure offshore of Fort Lauderdale.
About halfway down, the line came tight—and we knew immediately it was something special.
Gag grouper are notorious for:
- Crushing live bait mid-drop
- Diving straight back into structure
- Testing even the most experienced anglers
After a strong fight and careful maneuvering, we successfully brought the fish to the boat. Since this catch came just before the Florida gag grouper season opened, we made the right call to release this breeder-sized fish safely, ensuring the sustainability of our local fishery.
Catch-and-release moments like this are what responsible Fort Lauderdale charter fishing is all about.
Kite Fishing Produces Sailfish & Blackfin Tuna
While bottom fishing produced that incredible grouper, the kite fishing bite offshore Fort Lauderdale was just as exciting.
Using live bait suspended on the surface, we had steady action throughout the day and ended up going:
- 4 Atlantic sailfish releases
- 2 blackfin tuna landed
The sailfish were aggressively feeding, putting on spectacular aerial displays and long runs—exactly what anglers travel to South Florida for. Meanwhile, the blackfin tuna added a bonus to the day, providing both a great fight and some of the best eating fish in the ocean.
Kite fishing in Fort Lauderdale continues to be one of the most productive techniques this time of year, especially when targeting:
- Sailfish
- Tuna
- Kingfish
- Mahi-mahi (season dependent)
Conditions & Fishing Strategy
Conditions lined up perfectly for a productive day offshore:
- Clean blue water pushed in tight to the coast
- Strong current helping keep baits active
- Abundant schools of live bait including herring and small bonitas
Our strategy included:
- Deploying live herring for both bottom fishing and kite fishing
- Targeting artificial reefs and wrecks for grouper
- Running multiple kite lines to cover a wide spread offshore
This combination allowed us to capitalize on both bottom species and pelagic fish, maximizing the action for our clients.
Best Time to Fish in Fort Lauderdale
While fishing is productive year-round in South Florida, April through June are widely considered the best months to fish in Fort Lauderdale.
During this peak spring and early summer window:
- Sailfish action remains strong with consistent releases
- Blackfin tuna fishing is at its peak
- Grouper season is open, giving anglers the chance to bring home quality fish
- Migratory species like mahi-mahi begin to show in greater numbers
If you’re planning a trip, this is the ideal time to experience a true multi-species offshore bite with some of the highest catch rates of the year.
