#topshotfishing

[happydaytodaycharters-blog]

Mark caught this barracuda wreck fishing using live bait. Capt Dave Zsak 954-439-8106 www.topshotfishing.com #fortlauderdalefishing #HappyDayToday #happydaytodaycharters #topshotfishing #wreckfishing #fortlauderdale #ftlauderdale (at Happy Day Today Charters) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cam4LfXL__t/?utm_medium=tumblr

[happydaytodaycharters-blog]

Based out of Bahia Mar located in Fort Lauderdale the fishing charter boat Happy Day Today and Top Shot Sportfishing. On Tuesday September 1st we fished a half day morning charter from 8am till noon. Nice conditions with light Easterly winds, small chop and a light North current. The fishing charter boat Happy Day Today headed out of the inlet ready for some action. I had a group of 3 people on board, two of which have never fished before.  With having Lady Luck and first timer on our side. Our initial plan was to troll to a wreck and try for an Amberjack or Grouper.  The wreck fishing has been good out of Fort Lauderdale and using live bait has been the most productive. Since the conditions looked right we started our morning trolling. The first mate rigged up 4 surface swimming Ballyhoo baits and 2 deep planner sea witch baits.  The planner baits get down 50 feet and we fish a long and shot bait. The surface baits are two long and short set back along the wave formation so they are spread enough apart yet close enough to appear as a school of baitfish.  The reef system along the Fort Lauderdale coast runs North and South dipping in shallow and jets out deeper. We work this drop off from 100 feet to 300 feet of water which produces most of our catch. The first hit we had was on the long planner which can be the most active rod on the boat. The planner tripped and one of our anglers starting reeling in the fish, once the planner came up the mate removed it, wired the remaining leader and gaffed a nice 15 pound King Mackerel.  I was working a current edge in 150 feet of water that had blue water on the deep side and blue/green color on the inshore side. As we trolled along the rip my high line bait had a big splash behind it. Quickly getting my attention I reeled up on the Ballyhoo and at that time he hit my Ballyhoo again however this time I saw it was a Sailfish. Never getting the bait in his mouth I tried teasing him up and the Sail was following my bait.  The Sail tried it again and this time dropping back a few seconds and reeling tight we had him on. The Sailfish immediately started running and jumping away from the boat. The angler got in the chair and started fighting the fish. It took about 20 minutes of the fish running and maneuvering the boat to stay in front of him before we had the fish along side the boat.  The first mate reached down removed the hook out of his mouth and after a quick photo we released the Sail back into the water.   Fishing our of Fort Lauderdale we practice releasing Sailfish. We briefly celebrated then lines back in the water.  There’s an old saying “don’t leave fish to find fish” so I continued working the area we got the first few bites. With lines back in the water it didn’t take long and we had a rigger and planner bite both ended up being Bonita.  I continued trolling from 100 out to 300 feet of water into the blue edge along the rip and back over the reef. We ended up catching another two King Mackerel on the deep planner lines.   With the troll bite being soo good we decided not to wreck fish and continue staying in the action off Fort Lauderdale.  As we were trolling along the rip I looked up and saw a War bird or Frigate bird circling around.  This is always worth checking out.  After we passed the area the right rigger Ballyhoo bait like came down and we had a real nice hit.  Line ripping off the reel and in the distance we could see a Sailfish jumping.  Clearing all the lines out of the spread the first mate passed the rod to one of our anglers and they started fighting the Sailfish. Another awesome show with this one jumping higher than the Sailfish before.  Pulling drag, running and jumping we fought this Sail and our anglers were doing a great job. We got the fish along side the boat, removed the hooks and after a quick photo releasing the fish back in the ocean quickly swimming away. It was time to head back to the marina ending another great day fishing on board the Happy Day Today with Top Shot Sportfishing. If interested in booking a fishing charter contact Capt. Dave Zsak at 954-439-8106, check out our website at:www.topshotfishing.com or send an email to: [email protected]