The offshore game is the headline in Fort Lauderdale this week. Mahi are at full peak, daytime sword fishing is picking up, and inshore the tarpon bite has shifted to a strong night-canal pattern.
Mahi — Peak Season
Mahi-mahi are at full peak in the Gulf Stream. Boats running east 10–15 miles to the color change and any weedline are finding scattered schools of schoolies with bulls mixed in. Ballyhoo on light skirts is the standard troll. Pitch live pilchards or chunks to floaters and fish under birds. Good color changes and weedlines have been running 8–12 miles offshore this week.
Daytime Swordfish
The daytime swordfish fleet is getting busy. Boats fishing 1,500–1,800 feet with rigged squid and electric reels are finding decent numbers of fish in the 100–200 lb range, with the occasional bigger fish in the mix. Best window has been the slack high.
Tarpon in the Canals
The tarpon bite has shifted to a strong night pattern in the canals and Intracoastal. Bridge fenders along the New River and 17th Street are loaded with rollers from full dark to about 2 AM. Live shrimp, small pilchards, or a dark fly worked slow at the lights is the move. Some boats are also doing well at the Port Everglades inlet on outgoing.
Beach and Inshore
Snook are on the beach in good numbers at first light — DOA Bait Busters and live pilchards are producing. The hot spot continues to be the beach immediately south of Hillsboro Inlet.
Specific Spots This Week
Mahi action has been best at the 14-fathom curve east of Hillsboro Inlet and at the Hillsboro Ledge — run east 8–12 miles to the color changes and work any weedline or floating debris. Daytime swordfish boats are dropping at 1,500–1,700 feet east of Port Everglades — best window has been the slack high tide. Tarpon night-bite is firing at the New River fenders, the 17th Street Causeway pilings, and the Las Olas Bridge from 9 PM to 2 AM. The Port Everglades inlet on outgoing tide has also been productive. For early-morning beach snook, the half-mile of beach south of Hillsboro Inlet has been the standout — get there before sunrise and work the wash with DOA Bait Busters or live pilchards.
Conditions and Outlook
Water temp 79–81°F. New moon Saturday — strong night tarpon bite and excellent dawn beach window. Light SE winds all week, ideal offshore conditions through Friday.
Local Intel This Week
Hillsboro Inlet south beach at dawn has been the consistent snook bite — sunrise to about 9 AM on live pilchards or DOA Bait Busters. For mahi, the color change has been around 8-12 miles east this week — look for weedlines and the frigatebirds. The Port Everglades inlet on outgoing produces tarpon at night. New River bridges (Las Olas, 17th Street) all loaded with rollers after dark. Florida saltwater license required, mahi bag limit 10 per angler. Tight lines.