Jeff and Robin Lantz from Deerfield Beach and friends, Katie and Mike, from Boston, MA chartered the Top Shot Sportfishing Charter Boat team to do some deep sea big game sport fishing in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at Bahia Mar Yachting Center, 801 Seabreeze Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316.
Fifteen minutes after leaving the dock, lines were in 120 ft. of water at the sea buoy in Fort Lauderdale, 1.8 miles from shore. We started out trolling with two #8 plainers, one with a blue and white sea witch and the other with a pink and blue sea witch, both with double hooked Bonito strips. For surface baits we went with two Bonito strips and two Ballyhoos.
We trolled the reefs, targeting Snappers. Conditions were very good for Snapper fishing – we had a light north current with clear blue water and light easterly winds. The first spot we fished was a rock pile in 175 ft. of water south of Fort Lauderdale. We used cut Bonito chunks with #5/0 circle hooks on a 4 hook rig with 20 oz lead, and we caught a 15 pound Almaco, three big Eye Toro Snappers and a Vermillion Snapper.
Next we tried fishing over a deep water airplane wreck in 300 ft. of water with no luck. Our third spot was in 200 ft. of water and we caught five Vermillions and one Yellowtail Snapper. When you go Snapper fishing, they either bite as soon as the bait hits the bottom or they do not bite at all. It is best to keep on trying different spots at different depths and keep moving.
The last spot we fished at was in 250 ft. of water. We dropped the baits but no Snapper bites, so we decided to try for a larger fish. We went out to 400 ft. of water and put a kite up in the air with a couple of live baits. We also put out a bait on the surface and on the bottom. When using larger baits we are looking to catch anything from a Shark, Grouper or Sailfish. We got all the baits out, and we were ready for a bite. A Hammerhead Shark showed up and ate the live bait. Katie was the angler and did an awesome job fighting and reeling in the Hammerhead Shark to the side of the boat. Pictures were taken, hooks were taken out and the Shark was released to fight again.
It was now time to head back to the dock. The anglers retired into the a/c salon and enjoyed the relaxing trip back to the dock at Bahia Mar Yachting Center, 801 Seabreeze Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316, while watching the plasma TV. At the dock, all the fish were fillet out and given to the anglers for dinner that night.
For a successful and adventurous deep sea fishing charter in Fort Lauderdale FL for Sailfish, Shark, Bonito, Mackerel, Swordfish, Snapper, Wahoo, Tuna, Mahi Mahi and Grouper, contact Captain Zsak. - 954-309-7457 or email us at tzsak@bellsouth.net Website: http://www.topshotfishing.com.