Hurricane Debris
Capt. Ryan McBride
October 1, 2008
Fort Lauderdale - Saltwater Fishing Report
The past two weeks we have been having a lot of debris floating by offshore. With it have been a lot of dolphin and weehoos. Anywhere from 5-20miles offshore have been a good amount of floating trees that are just covered with fish. Are best day in the past week we caught 17 dolphin from 8-10lbs and 6 weehoos. We could have caught a lot more hoos but the most were small and after the first three they got a lot smaller and were released. Some better sized dolphin have been mixed in with the smaller fish and every other day we are finding nice sized dolphin from 15-25lbs. Also there have been some nice sized triple tails if you can get a bait past the jacks schooled under the debris. Along with the dolphin are a lot of skipjack tunas and small blackfin tunas, which pull hard on inshore tackle and offer non stop action when you chum them up with some live chum. They also make a good bait for daytime swordfishing.
The daytime swordfish bite continues to be strong with a lot of fish in the 300lb. class, along with a few fish up to 600 being caught. Again most of these fish are being taken on electric but if you wanted to tangle with these fish on manual we can set you up, just be prepared to do some crankin. Bites have been on squid and butterflied bonitas for us and lots of bites can be had if you are fishing the right areas.
On the reef the current and water quality has been off. When it changes fishing should return to normal but for now the best bet has been bottom fishing. Snappers have been in the shallows with most of the catches being yellowtail snapper. The wrecks are holding some amberjacks and almacos but you have to keep moving around to stay on the fish. Also there are a few kingfish and odd sailfish here and there on the reef. I have a heard of a few wahoos on the reef but nothing consistent like it should be with a full moon.
Inshore the mullet are still on the beaches and most days we are getting shots at 2-10 tarpon. Most of the fish are in the 10-50lb. class and are great on light tackle. Snook fishing has bee consistent in the inlets with most fish being under slot but again fun on light tackle. Best bet have been on mullett and pilchards.
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