Fishing Report for Ft. Lauderdale & Port Everglades
Capt. Cary Hanna
July 31, 2003
Fort Lauderdale - Saltwater Fishing Report
Doesn't get any better
The sea conditions have been so calm over the past week it doesn't even feel like work. Seas have been 1 foot and less making great conditions for going offshore. This pattern should remain for the rest of summer with the exception of a few passing storms hopefully. Fishing for the Dolphin has been best in the early morning hours with fish in the 4 -12 pound range being the norm. Occasional large fish can be caught but it takes a lot of trolling on a long weedline. We caught a 30 pound Bull (male) after trolling for almost an hour on the same weedline as he knocked down a naked blue and white Islander lure.
Take your pick of either fishing the reef or to go offshore because both bites are happening in the early morning. The reef in less than 200 feet of water just 2 miles out of the inlet we are catching Sailfish in the faster part of the current and inside the Kingfish, Bonita, and Blackfin Tuna are there. The Kingfish have some great size to them up to 30 or more pounds, and the Blackfin have been on the smaller size, 20 pounds or less but will challenge you to a good fight. The Bonita are plentiful for those who just want to sweat it out and fight a strong fish all day, but have no eating value. We might take one to cut a few strip baits and chunk baits but thats all. Amberjack offer a big challenge on the deeper wrecks this time of year, we have been dropping Speedos and Runners down to them and coming up with 30 -40 pound fish on 50 pound gear.
Last Saturday night we fished the "Dark Side of the Moon" Swordfishing tournament and came up empty handed. Out of almost 60 boats only 1, I mean only 1 boat weighed a fish on the scales of 84.5 pounds from the boys of KMC marine. Don't be let down from the results, the fish are there they just bite inside of a small window according to the moon phase it seems. I have always done my best on a growing moon phase, but never any good on a decreasing phase, mainly because when the moon is waining it rises very late. On Saturday night a small sliver of a waining moon came up after 4 am. By that time we were very tired as the seas were pitching us 3- 5 feet all night. We did get one bite around 3:30 am but our fish gave a short tug and stole our bait. We have August 5th through the 8th open to go Swordfishing. This is the phase that works best for us. If we catch one over 150 pounds I will have the Swordfish bill mounted and painted for you at no charge, courtesy of RJ boyle Studios, my pleasure. Lets go fishing! Captain Cary Hanna
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