Archive for the ‘Fishing Reports’ Category

Today sportfishing was awesome.  We started out catching live baits, called speedo mackeral, at the bait buoy.  After 15 minutes of catching live baits, we went out to the edge of the Gulfstream current, in about 400′ of water, and put out the kites to do some kite fishing.  We had a few baits dangled from the kites, a couple deep lines down, and live bait out of the outrigger.  We waited for about 45 minutes, when all hell broke loose.  A big hammerhead came up on the outrigger bait and another one on the kite bait.  We hooked up both of them.  While we were fighting those 2 hammerheads, a third hammerhead shark comes up and eats one of the remaining kite baits.  3 hammerhead sharks on at one time, now that is excitment. 

Nice hammerhead shark

During the fight on these fish, one of the hammerheads gets lucky and shakes the hooks.  Sad, but we were still happy because we had 2 other big sharks on the line.  It was a long, hard battle for about 45 minutes.  We were fighting both sharks on only 30 pound test and severly outclassed on tackle for these big fish.  The anglers did a great job and after a tiring fight, we landed both of these trophy gamefish.

Nice Hammerhead Shark

We pulled them into the boat, got a couple quick photos, took measurements and tagged and released them.  They swam off strong in good condition.  The anglers who landed their fish were Kenny Becher and Drew Weatherford.  I was Drew’s first sportfishing trip, who told me he was not very lucky when it comes to fishing.  It seems he was just saving his luck up for today.  It was a slow day and none of the other charter boats had seen much up to that point.  After we landed those fish, the entire Ft Lauderdale charter boat fleet swarmed to fish where we were just fishing. 

Hammerhead shark

That was an unexpected catch because these big game sharks usually come through much later in the year.  Thanks to the anglers who came fishing with us, I had a great time fishing with you.

Bottom fishing trip for groupers, snapper and cobia

The fishing in Fort Lauderdale was excellent this week.  A lot of bottom fish are biting around our bottom fishing spots.  We’re catching some really nice snowy groupers right now.  Snowy groupers live in depths of water over 400 feet.  They average in size around 5-7 pounds but can sometimes reach a weight of 30 pounds.  They fight very hard for their size and sometimes, using a 3 hook rig, you can catch more than one grouper at a time.  This week, we’ve spent some time poking around at the bottom spots looking for these groupers.  

Bottom fishing for grouper

Red snappers are biting great out there now too.  Fortunately for us, they bite on the same bait and same rig that the groupers do, so we can catch both snappers and groupers at the same time.  Snappers are smaller fish, but wow do they taste delicious.  On one drop, we caught a snowy grouper, a red snapper and a cobia on the same rig.  A bottom fish grand slam in a single drop.  Bottom fishing is excellent right now, fishing in Fort Lauderdale.  Until next week, sea you on the water.

Capt. Rod Roydhouse

(954)707-2147

Bottom fishing for a little bit of everything

The weather has certainly changed as we are experiencing a cold and windy season so far. The ups and downs of the vast ocean are nothing new but wow does my back get tired after 6 hours in 4-6 foot seas.

A nice Sailfish bite continues as proven in the miami tournament with well over 300 Sailfish caught and released. If you can find a nice rip in a north current you might get some smokin action. We were slow trolling live baits in 400 feet of water and found an aggressive Sailfish chasing our baits. Jason Bourne of North Carolina made quick work getting his fish to the boat.

The Kingfish action we rely on comes and goes but as the winter progresses we expect them to show up everyday. A few Mahi-Mahi are around and heading south fast. They are one of my favorites to set up on.

The Dark Side of the Moon Swordfishing tournament is this coming weekend and the weather and moon look like they will be cooperating together. Lets hope for the best and good fishing to all.

Dr. Otis Allen and Floyd with a nice catch Saturday night 9-27-2008. The Swordfish ate a live Blue Runner in 1,500 feet of water off Ft. Lauderdale beach. He weighed 120 pounds.

Sorry for not reporting on the fishing scene in the past month but I’m starting to hate computers and viruses.

We have had some great outings this month but I’ll get to the real time for the latest bite this week. Just from live baiting we have had some great success on the afternoon bite past the 3:00 hour. On Sunday live Goggle eyes produced a nice Wahoo about 30 pounds. A Wahoo bite from a drifting boat is always nice as your rod bends over and line peels off like you got a 50 pound Kingfish. Its always a plus to have fisky baits and a good baitwell that keeps the water circulating at a good pace. We had baited the hook and as soon as the Gog hit the water he swam off in a hurry. I knew he would get some attention and within 5 minutes we were on.

On Tuesday’s afternoon trip we had great baits again with nice Gogs and large Pilchards. Our first drift a Sailfish rose up to our spread, knocked the first Gog off the hook, swam over to the far Gog and we got tight on him. We had a nice north current making it harder for us to just real this fish in. We had to persue the chase to get back some line on the reel. We billed the Sailfish, removed the hook and set him off home. The Kingfish were a steady bite down deep at least 50 feet with no King bites on the surface. Our last few moments on the trip one rod slowly bent and finally a sailfish busted the surface making 2 Sailfish bites for us. One fish on a Goggle eye another on a nice Pilchard. Our last Sailfish I noticed as he was jumping he was throwing blood, usually indicating he’s hooked inside the gills. Whenever you notice blood, it’s best to cut the line rather then struggling with him to get your hook back so that he can still swim away alive.

The days are becoming a bit cooler in the mid 80’s with a nice breeze. This month and next should make for a great time to get on a boat and do some kick back fishing with some nice action.

See you on the rip

It’s a great time of year to enjoy the calm sea off of south Florida. Nine out of ten mornings we leave the inlet and enter mirror calm seas. The early morning bite has been active with alot of 10-20 pound Kingfish action. Sailfish are moving in one week and gone the next. Jarred Pullum from North Carolina reeled in a large 80 inch Sailfish for his first billfish catch. Some very large Barracudas have been stalking baitfish and getting caught on our lines. These toothy fish are unpredictable when there is a hook in there mouth, jumping like Sailfish, skyrocketing from left to right. Dolphin have been offshore as of last week in the 7-800 feet depths. The schools have been big with alot of schoolie size fish. The Wahoo bite should turn on this month and also the Swordfishing. We have had some of our best bites on the August moon. Lets do some fishing my friend.