Don't Tell Mom Sportfishing 11/12/26 Fort Lauderdale Report
Capt. William Daley
November 12, 2026
Fort Lauderdale - Saltwater Fishing Report
Fort Lauderdale Fishing Report | Don't Tell Mom Sportfishing
What a difference a couple of weeks can make! After nearly two weeks of strong winds and rough conditions, we've finally been treated to some absolutely beautiful South Florida weather. Light winds, calm seas, beautiful blue skies, and temperatures around 80 degrees. This is what Florida is all about this time of year, and it's been a pleasure getting back out on the water and enjoying some fantastic fishing.
The fishing has been excellent, too, with Wahoo, Blackfin Tuna, King Mackerel, Amberjacks, and some big Barracudas keeping things exciting. But the big story this week has definitely been the Wahoo!
Wahoo Are Making Their Presence Known!
We absolutely love catching Wahoo. They're one of the most beautiful and exciting fish in the ocean, with their distinctive stripes, incredible speed, and powerful runs. They're also fantastic eating, whether served as sushi or simply seared.
We've caught several Wahoo recently, primarily while trolling deeper baits on our planers. One came on a small spoon, while another hit a blue-and-silver Mylar Sea Witch rigged with a Bonito strip. Both were caught on our deeper presentations, which tend to be especially productive for Wahoo.
The biggest fish of the week weighed in at over 40 pounds and was caught on one of our four-hour shared charters! One of our guests had been dreaming of catching a Wahoo, and it was his wife who got to reel this beautiful fish in. That's a pretty special way to make a fishing memory together! Wahoo also yield an impressive amount of meat, so they went home with plenty to enjoy.
What's especially encouraging is the amount of bait we've been seeing. Small Bonitas, Skipjack Tuna, and Blackfin Tuna have all been around. These are exactly the kinds of baitfish that larger Wahoo love to feed on. In fact, we had just worked through a school of what appeared to be small Bonitas when our big Wahoo struck a Bonito strip on the planer. Finding these concentrations of bait is often the key to locating larger predators.
Blackfin Tuna Action Is Heating Up
The Blackfin Tuna bite has really started to turn on. Just yesterday, we found a school of them while trolling in approximately 320 feet of water and managed to catch five Blackfin Tuna in less than half an hour!
We were getting toward the end of the trip, so finding that school and staying with the fish long enough to put five in the boat was a fantastic way to finish the day.
We've also been seeing Skipjack Tuna mixed in, which adds some nice variety to the action. With all the small Bonitas and other baitfish around, there's plenty for these Tuna to feed on, and we're excited to see how the bite develops.
King Mackerel, Amberjacks, and Big Barracudas
Another pleasant surprise has been the King Mackerel fishing. The bite has actually been better recently than it was earlier in the fall and over the summer, which isn't necessarily what we typically expect this time of year. With so much bait around, though, it makes sense that the Kings are taking advantage of the opportunity.
We've also caught several large Barracudas and some nice Amberjacks around the wrecks and reefs. These fish are always exciting to target, especially when you're using live bait.
One of our favorite approaches has been catching small Bonitas and putting them in the live well for slow-trolling. It's an excellent way to fish when you're looking for something bigger. A lively Bonito can attract some serious predators, including large King Mackerel, Wahoo, Barracuda, and Sailfish. You never know what might show up!
In shallower water, we've also been seeing plenty of Spanish Mackerel and some Cero Mackerel. Both are fun fighters and excellent eating, so they're always welcome additions to the catch.
Mahi-Mahi Fishing and Changing Conditions
While the Wahoo and Tuna fishing have been excellent, the Mahi-Mahi bite has slowed down a little compared to what we were seeing a week or two ago. We've still caught a few, but not in the numbers we were enjoying recently.
We've had unusually light current throughout the week, and that may be part of the reason. Mahi generally seem to prefer stronger current and a little more wind, especially when those conditions bring together clean blue water, floating weeds, and baitfish. You can certainly catch them on calm days, but we've had better results when the water is moving.
We're entering a new moon cycle, so we're expecting the current to pick up. Hopefully, that brings some more Mahi-Mahi back into the picture. Fall is still one of my favorite times of year for Mahi fishing, and the season certainly isn't over!
Looking Ahead: Sailfish Season Is Approaching
We've already started seeing some Sailfish, and we're expecting that action to improve as we move further into the season. We're also looking forward to seeing more Ballyhoo showers develop along the reef.
This time of year, large schools of Ballyhoo can get pushed to the surface by feeding predators, creating spectacular showers of baitfish jumping out of the water. It's one of the most exciting visual fisheries we have here in South Florida. When those bait showers develop, Sailfish are often right behind them, along with Mahi-Mahi and King Mackerel.
We're also expecting some colder weather to move through, which typically gets fish moving and can really help kick the winter fishing season into gear. Between the Wahoo, Tuna, King Mackerel, and the Sailfish season just getting started, there's plenty to look forward to over the coming weeks.
Book Your Fall and Winter Fishing Adventure
The weather has been beautiful, the fishing has been productive, and we're looking forward to an exciting stretch of fishing through November and December.
Our schedule is already starting to fill up, especially on weekends, between now and the New Year. If you're planning a trip to Fort Lauderdale, don't wait too long to get your date reserved. There are some fantastic fishing opportunities ahead, and we'd love to have you aboard!
Whether you're hoping to catch a trophy Wahoo, load up on Blackfin Tuna, battle a big King Mackerel, or experience the excitement of Sailfish season, there's plenty of action to look forward to.
Call or text us at 954-522-9399, or book online at www.donttellmomsportfishing.com.
We look forward to fishing with you!
Tight lines,
Capt. Will Daley
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