Deep Sea Fishing in Fort Lauderdale with Top Shot Fishing Team
Capt. David Zsak
July 23, 2025
Fort Lauderdale - Saltwater Fishing Report
Fort Lauderdale Deep Sea Fishing Report – July 2025
Top Shot Sportfishing Charters | Aboard the Happy Day Today
Captain Dave Zsak | Fort Lauderdale, Florida
As we hit the heart of the summer, deep sea fishing in Fort Lauderdale has been nothing short of spectacular. The offshore waters have delivered a steady stream of action, from trophy King Mackerel and Blackfin Tuna to bottom fishing for Snapper, Grouper, Amberjack, and even Sharks. Whether it's a half-day trip for families or an all-day offshore adventure, the Happy Day Today - 52' Hatteras sport fish and Top Shot Sportfishing Charters have been busy putting smiles on faces and fresh fish in the cooler.
Below is a recap of some of our most recent charters:
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Trip 1 – Family Adventure from Belgium | Half Day Charter
We had the pleasure of hosting Klaas, Kathleen, and their three boys from Belgium on a half-day deep sea fishing charter in Fort Lauderdale. With the boys aged 7, 8, and 10, we focused on making this trip fun, hands-on, and educational.
We started the day at the sea buoy catching live bait, which is always a great way to get kids comfortable with the rods and reels. Each of the boys reeled in Cigar Minnows and Blue Runners, learning the fundamentals of live bait fishing while helping fill the livewell. For families, this is often the perfect way to break the ice and get everyone engaged. Fishing in Fort Lauderdale at the sea buoy is a home run for kids.
Once the livewell was stocked, we deployed our trolling spread, setting out two deep planner lines and four surface baits on the outriggers. The ocean was calm, with a light 10-mph breeze—ideal conditions for trolling the reef line.
The first bite came fast. One of the deep planner rods bent over, line screaming off the reel as the drag pulled tight. One of Klaas's sons grabbed the rod and did a fantastic job fighting the fish. After a solid battle, we brought a 55-inch Barracuda boat-side. Known as the saber-tooth tiger of the sea, Barracudas are aggressive, hard-fighting predators, and this one put on a great show. We took a quick photo before releasing it safely back into the ocean.
Minutes later, the same deep rod went off again. This time, another of the boys was up, reeling in a second Barracuda with just as much excitement. Two big fish in a row—great action for young anglers!
With trolling success under our belts, we shifted gears to try some bottom fishing, targeting deeper reef species. First Mate Kyle rigged up a bloody Bonita strip bait on an 8/0 Shimano Tiagra and sent it down. At the same time, we set out a few snapper rods with live bait.
The action continued. We hooked into a King Mackerel, which was especially lucky since we were fishing with a light monofilament leader—not typical Kingfish gear. Fortunately, the fish was hooked perfectly in the corner of the mouth, and Kyle gaffed the King cleanly into the boat.
As we were handling the King Mackerel, we noticed the shark rod bouncing hard. Suddenly, the rod bent all the way over, nearly touching the waterline as drag peeled off the reel. It was obvious that this was a big fish. Since the Shark was likely too large for the boys to handle, Klaas jumped in the fighting chair. The Shark made deep runs and heavy dives, but Klaas stayed steady and worked the fish perfectly. Eventually, we brought the Shark boat-side, removed the hook, and released it unharmed.
At this point, the Shark had pulled us out to 400 feet of water, so we regrouped and headed back inshore to one of our bottom fishing hotspots in 150 feet. Using lighter tackle, Klaas and the boys spent the rest of the trip catching Yellowtail Snapper and Mutton Snapper. All the Yellowtails were big and healthy. The Mutton Snappers were just shy of the legal 18-inch minimum, so we released them using a descending device, ensuring they safely returned to their deepwater habitat.
This trip was the perfect mix of family fun, learning, and action-packed fishing—an ideal Fort Lauderdale half-day charter experience!
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Trip 2 – Full-Day Offshore & Wreck Fishing | Michigan Family
Next up, Jeff and his family from Michigan booked an 8-hour full-day deep sea fishing charter in Fort Lauderdale with us. On longer trips like these, we like to plan for a variety of fishing opportunities, including offshore trolling, inshore trolling, bottom and wreck fishing near Fort Lauderdale.
We left the Port Everglades Inlet, turned south, and headed offshore, watching for bird activity. In about 200 feet of water, we found what we were looking for—birds working the surface, usually a sign of Tuna feeding below.
We deployed our trolling spread and before long, the long rigger bait snapped free from the clip. After a great fight, Jeff landed a 25-pound Blackfin Tuna, a hard-fighting pelagic species that's always a welcome catch.
After working the area with no more bites, we changed plans and targeted a series of sunken shipwrecks known for holding Amberjack, Snapper, and Grouper. On the deep wreck, Kyle rigged up a live Blue Runner with a 2-pound lead, dropped it to the bottom, and hooked into a solid fish. Jeff jumped in the chair and reeled in a big Amberjack—always a favorite for anglers looking for a challenge.
We then moved to a shallower wreck and sent down a live Ballyhoo bait, hooking into a Jack Crevalle, which Jeff's son fought to the boat after a spirited battle. Using a mix of live and dead bait, we stayed on the wreck and finished up with a Mutton Snapper and two nice Yellowtail Snappers.
As the day wrapped up, we trolled at high speed (10 knots) back toward Fort Lauderdale, targeting Wahoo and Tuna. Although we didn't get a Wahoo bite this time, the trip was a success. We cleaned the catch at the dock, and the family took their fish to a nearby restaurant for a fresh seafood dinner.
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Trip 3 – King Mackerel Limit | Illinois Group
Robert from Illinois and his two sons joined us for a 5-hour morning charter, and the action started immediately. The first bait in the water got crushed, and line started screaming off the reel. This fish made a blistering run, typical of a Smoker King Mackerel, and after a hard fight, we gaffed a 35-pound Kingfish—a true standout catch!
We worked a color change in 150 feet of water, where blue Gulf Stream water met greenish inshore water—a productive spot for pelagic predators. The deep planner lines stayed busy throughout the trip, with another five King Mackerel caught, bringing us to our legal limit of 2 Kings per angler.
The group left with full coolers, big smiles, and sore arms—a sign of a successful fishing charter in Fort Lauderdale.
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Trip 4 – Afternoon Tuna and Bottom Fishing | Gainesville Family
In the afternoon, we welcomed Denise and her two sons from Gainesville, FL, to a Fort Lauderdale fishing charter. The weather was perfect—calm seas, clear skies, and great water conditions.
We started in 200 feet of water, trolling a combination of planner and surface lines. The deep rod got hit, and Denise fought a 20-pound Blackfin Tuna, bringing it in like a pro.
When the bite slowed, we pivoted to bottom fishing near a sharp drop-off. Using light tackle, live bait, and cut bait, we hooked into a Grouper and a couple of Mutton Snappers. Some of the bigger fish managed to get away—which is part of the excitement of bottom fishing—but the boys still landed several quality fish and had a great time doing it.
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Final Thoughts
Fishing in Fort Lauderdale this July has been excellent, with a wide range of species and plenty of action for anglers of all ages and experience levels. Whether you're trolling the reef, deep dropping on shipwrecks, or high-speed trolling for Wahoo, there's always something biting off the South Florida coast.
Recent Catches Include:
• King Mackerel up to 35 lbs
• Blackfin Tuna (20–25 lbs)
• Amberjack & Jack Crevalle
• Barracuda
• Mutton & Yellowtail Snapper
• Grouper
• Sharks (Catch and Release)
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Book Your Fort Lauderdale Fishing Trip Today!
If you're looking for a family-friendly fishing experience, or you're ready to battle big game fish, give us a call. At Top Shot Sportfishing Charters, we offer half-day, ¾ day, and full-day trips, customized for all skill levels.
📞 Call Captain Dave Zsak at (954) 439-8106
🌐 Visit us online at www.topshotfishing.com
🎣 Come fish with us aboard the Happy Day Today and make your own Fort Lauderdale fishing memories!
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