Don't Tell Mom Sportfishing 8/11/26 Fort Lauderdale Report
Capt. William Daley
August 11, 2026
Fort Lauderdale - Saltwater Fishing Report
Weekly Fishing Report | Don't Tell Mom Sportfishing – South Florida
The past week brought a great mix of fishing, with conditions changing throughout the week but plenty of opportunities to put some quality fish in the boat. We had several days when the fish were feeding aggressively, with lots of Bonitas and a few King Mackerel mixed in, while other days required a little more searching and changing up our approach.
The Bonita bite continues to build, and on the right days we've had some excellent action with multiple hookups and plenty of hard-fighting fish. A few more King Mackerel have also started showing up, which is an encouraging sign as we move toward fall. We've also seen schools of Jack Crevalle patrolling the reef, providing another exciting target for anglers looking for a strong fight.
Mahi-Mahi have remained scattered, with a few fish showing up when the current was stronger. We've also seen the occasional Wahoo and some nice Barracudas and Rainbow Runners mixed into the trolling action. The Blackfin Tuna bite has slowed considerably, but that's a fairly typical seasonal pattern as we move out of the heart of summer. We expect to see them make another push as conditions change later in the season.
We've also been catching plenty of Blue Runners while trolling, and these have been especially valuable as live bait. When we get a good supply of runners, we can put them to work on the deeper wrecks or slow troll them in areas where we're looking for bigger fish. This has produced some exciting opportunities for anglers looking to step up the size of their catch.
One of the biggest highlights of the week was a large Bull Shark that put our anglers through an incredible battle. While we had the shark boatside, we noticed a couple of Cobia hanging around the fish. We quickly pitched baits to them and were fortunate enough to hook and land the Cobia as well. Having a Bull Shark and Cobia around the boat at the same time made for a pretty exciting few minutes!
Shark fishing has slowed somewhat from the peak of summer, but we're still finding some quality fish, including another nice shark caught today. With trophy Sharks typically remaining active for several more months, there should continue to be plenty of opportunities for anglers looking for a serious fight.
Snapper fishing has remained one of the most dependable options. Yellowtail Snapper, Blackfin Snapper, and deeper-water Snapper have all been producing well. Fresh dead bait has been especially effective, and chumming has brought Snapper up behind the boat where we've been able to target them with both live and dead baits. For anglers looking to bring home fresh fish for dinner, the bottom fishing continues to be a great option.
Sargassum grass has been scattered throughout the fishing grounds, making trolling more challenging on some days, but we've also had periods where we found clean water and the fish were feeding very well. Strong north current has been a consistent feature recently, although it finally began to ease over the last couple of days. Light east winds have kept conditions relatively comfortable on most trips.
Looking ahead, we're still waiting for the Bonita run to really kick into high gear. We've seen some good numbers already, but the big schools and nonstop multiple-hookup action they're known for should hopefully arrive soon. We also expect to see more King Mackerel and Jack Crevalle around the reef, while Mahi-Mahi should continue to provide opportunities. Snapper fishing should remain strong, and the chance to battle a trophy Shark will continue through the coming months.
Late summer and early fall can be a fantastic time to fish South Florida. Whether you're looking for fresh Snapper and other fish for the dinner table, fast action with Bonitas and King Mackerel, or a chance to battle something big, we'll keep adapting to the conditions and doing everything we can to make your day on the water a memorable one.
Fall is also typically a quieter time here business-wise, so we have more availability than we do during the peak summer months. If you've been thinking about getting out on the water, now is a great time to book a trip.
Visit donttellmomsportfishing.com or call or text 954-522-9399 to reserve your charter.
Tight lines,
Capt. Will Daley
Don't Tell Mom Sportfishing 🎣
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