Don't Tell Mom Sportfishing 9/25/26 Fort Lauderdale Report
Capt. William Daley
September 25, 2026
Fort Lauderdale - Saltwater Fishing Report
Weekly Fishing Report | Don't Tell Mom Sportfishing – South Florida
We had another action-packed week aboard the Don't Tell Mom, with some excellent fishing as we head into the full moon. The last several days have produced a great variety of fish, including Wahoo, Mahi-Mahi, Barracudas, Bonitas, Snapper, Amberjacks, King Mackerel, Jack Crevalle, and several species of Sharks.
Wahoo and Mahi-Mahi Steal the Show
The full moon is right around the corner, and as is often the case this time of year, the Wahoo bite has been heating up. We caught two really nice Wahoo this week, including one around 18 pounds and another impressive fish weighing approximately 30 pounds.
The 30-pound Wahoo came on a 6-hour morning trip with Sean and his son. We found a beautiful blue-water edge in roughly 400 feet and started trolling the area. After catching a few smaller fish, we put some larger baits deeper in the water on our big planers. It didn't take long before one of those baits was crushed by a big Wahoo.
The action didn't stop there. We also caught 10 Mahi-Mahi on that same trip, providing an incredible combination of quality fish and nonstop action. It was a great example of why having enough time to search for productive water can really pay off on longer trips.
Barracudas, Bonitas and Live Bait
Barracuda action has really started to heat up around the reef, with some very nice fish being caught both trolling and on live bait.
We're also beginning to see the first wave of smaller Bonitas showing up. As fall progresses, we typically start seeing larger schools of Bonitas, and these smaller fish make excellent live bait for bigger predators. They're not always easy to keep happy, but with the large live well aboard the Don't Tell Mom, we're able to keep them swimming and put them to work when the opportunity arises.
Once we had live bait in the water, we saw some exciting action from Barracudas, King Mackerel, Blackfin Tuna, and even some big Rainbow Runners. We also caught a nice Jack Crevalle, and the reef continues to hold plenty of life.
An Incredible Shark Battle
Shark fishing was another major highlight this week. We caught a big 8' Nurse Shark along with a 98" Lemon Shark. The charter we caught the Nurse Shark on was an especially memorable trip because one of our young anglers got the opportunity to battle a big sea monster.
The fish picked up a bait after playing with it a few times and then took off on a powerful run. Our 11-year-old angler did an amazing job staying with the fish for over 30 minutes and eventually wore it out and brought it boatside with some help from his dad and coaching from my mate Zach. We were able to measure the Shark, take a few photos, tag it, and safely release it.
Watching a young angler successfully battle a big Shark is exactly the kind of moment that reminds us why we love charter fishing. These are the experiences families remember long after the trip is over.
Snapper and Wreck Fishing
Bottom fishing has also remained productive. We've been catching Yellowtail Snapper along with some other good Snapper opportunities, and we have started seeing more Amberjacks around the wrecks.
As always, we're constantly watching the conditions and changing techniques when necessary. If the troll isn't producing, we'll switch gears and move to live bait, wreck fishing, or bottom fishing. Some of the most productive days this week came from mixing things up and staying flexible.
Fall Fishing Is Here
Conditions were fairly stable for most of the week, with generally nice mornings, light winds, and some cloud cover. We did have a few days with unusual current, including situations where the surface current and deeper current were moving in different directions, which made things a little more challenging.
Rain also played a role on some days. This time of year, we can get substantial afternoon storms, and when fresh rainwater sits on top of the saltwater, fishing can temporarily become more difficult. Fortunately, the water has been clearing up and the overall trend has remained positive.
Fall is one of our favorite times of year to fish. The days are getting shorter, water temperatures will gradually begin to cool, and bait movement starts to increase. We're already seeing more Flying Fish and Mullet around, and that migration should continue to bring more predators into the area.
Looking ahead, we're excited to see more Mahi-Mahi, increasing numbers of King Mackerel, and more Wahoo opportunities around the full moon. Sailfish should also begin showing up more consistently as we move farther into fall.
Whether you're looking for fresh fish for the dinner table, fast-paced action with Bonitas and Mahi-Mahi, or a chance to battle a trophy Wahoo or Shark, there are plenty of great opportunities right now.
Fall is one of my favorite times of year to fish, and we'd love to have you aboard the Don't Tell Mom.
Don't wait to book your trip. Visit donttellmomsportfishing.com or call/text 954-522-9399 to reserve your charter.
Tight lines,
Capt. Will Daley
954-522-9399
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