We started out the morning catching live bait, and headed towards the sea bouy in Fort Lauderdale in 120 ft. of water, 1.8 miles from shore. We put out small jigs and caught eight Bullet Bonitos. Next, we hooked the baits up to a wire rig with a single #6 hook and slow trolled the baits, which is another good live-bait method.
The first strike we had ate the bait fish in half and got away. This happened a second time where only the head came back and the bait was ripped in half. We continued slow trolling the Bullet Bonito in 150 feet of water south of Fort Lauderdale. A Shark fin popped up behind the right rigger bait - he ate the bait, and we had this five-foot Shark on for a few minutes, but he got away. We re-rigged and went back to fishing - this happened a second time only the Shark fin was bigger. A seven foot Hammerhead Shark ate the live bait, and the fight was on. First thing we did was clear the lines and then started backing down on the Shark. When you have a big fish with light tackle, it is always best to get as much line back on the reel and help out the angler. After about twenty minutes of fighting, the Shark popped up very close to the boat. Mark, our mate, grabbed the leader line making this an official caught fish. The Shark was not done fighting, though, and sounded for another forty-five minutes. The Shark came up a second time, pictures were taken, and the Shark was released to fight another day.
Next, we decided to try some trolling and put out four surface baits, which were Ballyhoos, and one deep plainer line. I worked the area back and forth looking for signs of life, whether live bait, birds or rip currents, but did not find any, so we decided to go back to live Bullet Bonito slow-trolling fishing. Marc cleared out the trolling spread and put the live baits back out. I started pulling the baits up the reef line, and a nice twenty pound Kingfish ate the bait and jumped out of the water, shook his head and got away. I continued working up to the north of Fort Lauderdale with a second opportunity on a Kingfish, and this time we caught him. We next decided to troll the Ballyhoo over the reef. After an hour, we finally got a bite on the left Ballyhoo rigger bait, and ended up catching a Sailfish. After a great fight, we got the Sailfish in the boat, removed the hooks, took a couple of quick photos, and released the Sailfish.
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 Bar Yachting Center, 801 Seabreeze Blvd. Fort Lauderdale 33316.
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.