Don't Tell Mom Sportfishing 7/8/26 Fort Lauderdale Report
Capt. William Daley
July 8, 2026
Fort Lauderdale - Saltwater Fishing Report
Weekly Fishing Report | Don't Tell Mom Sportfishing – South Florida
Fishing this past week was a tale of two different patterns. Trolling slowed down noticeably for much of the week, likely due to the full moon, which often has a significant impact on pelagic fishing. The biggest change was the Blackfin Tuna bite, which went from being very consistent to nearly nonexistent. Even so, we still found a few Bonitas, the occasional Mahi-Mahi, and a couple of Wahoo around the full moon.
When the trolling bite slowed, we switched gears and focused more on bottom and wreck fishing, and it definitely paid off.
Snapper fishing continues to be one of the most reliable options right now. We caught plenty of Yellowtail Snapper along with Mangrove Snapper, Vermilion Snapper, Yelloweye Snapper, and several other bottom species throughout the week. If you're looking to bring home fresh fish for the dinner table, the bottom bite has been outstanding.
The wrecks also produced several giant Barracudas using both live and dead baits. These aggressive predators always put on an incredible fight and are a favorite among anglers looking for a little extra excitement.
The highlight of the week, however, was the shark fishing—a sure sign that summer has arrived in South Florida. We caught and safely released two Nurse Sharks, including one giant male, along with a beautiful Lemon Shark. All three fish provided exciting battles and were released in great condition to fight another day.
Conditions remained fairly stable throughout the week with light north current and generally light winds. Sargassum grass varied from day to day. Some mornings we found very little, while other days it was scattered throughout the fishing grounds and created some challenging trolling conditions. Fortunately, the trolling bite began to improve over the last couple of days, which is an encouraging sign heading into the coming week.
Looking ahead, we expect to see increasing numbers of King Mackerel and Bonitas as July progresses. Both species provide outstanding action, and King Mackerel are one of the best-eating fish around—especially when they're turned into fresh smoked fish dip. As we move into the middle and end of July, we're optimistic that fishing will continue to improve and that some of the biggest fish of the summer will begin to show up.
We hope everyone had a safe and happy Fourth of July! We still have a few charter dates available for the remainder of the month, so now is a great time to get on the schedule.
Whether you're looking to fill the cooler with fresh Snapper, chase fast-moving King Mackerel, or battle a trophy shark, summer fishing is just getting started.
Visit www.donttellmomsportfishing.com or call or text 954-522-9399 to book your trip today.
Tight lines,
Capt. Will Daley
Don't Tell Mom Sportfishing 🎣
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