The Fort Lauderdale fishery is at its early-summer peak this week. The mahi run is in mid-window with the Gulf Stream positioned right off the beach, snook are stacked at the inlets and on the night dock lights, and the offshore mix has been excellent. Light easterly winds most of the week kept the Stream fishable.
Offshore — Mahi Peak, Sails Holding
The mahi-mahi bite has been the headline. The Gulf Stream is sitting tight to the reef line (within 3-5 miles from the beach), putting the productive blue water within easy reach. Trolled ballyhoo and naked rigs over weed lines and current rips are producing schoolies daily and consistent gaffers in the 20-35 lb range. A few 40+ lb cows have come in this week from boats running the deeper edge.
Sailfish numbers have held up better than typical for late May. Boats running ballyhoo with kite-fished baits are getting consistent shots. Late afternoon flat-calm conditions have produced multiple-fish days for some crews.
Wahoo continue scattered along the deep humps and the edge of the Stream. High-speed trolling with Yo-Zuri Bonitos and Brad Smoker rigs in the 600-900 foot depth zone is producing the better catches. The Sunday morning incoming tide has been a reliable window.
Inshore — Snook at the Inlets, Tarpon Building
Snook fishing has been outstanding this week. Hillsboro Inlet, Port Everglades, and the Las Olas/New River system are all holding heavy concentrations of fish. Live mullet, pilchards, or shrimp on circle hooks with 30-40 lb fluoro are the standard rigs. Heavy tackle is necessary around the bridges where bigger fish push under structure.
The night dock-light bite through the Intracoastal from Pompano down through Hollywood continues to produce excellent numbers of slot snook. Small white DOA Shrimp, MirrOlure Lil John, and 3-inch swimbaits on light jigheads are the high-percentage approach.
Tarpon are stacked at the New River bridges and the Port Everglades approach on the outgoing tide. Live mullet and crabs are producing daily hookups. Sight casting to rolling fish in the calmer mornings has been productive.
Jack crevalle continue to harass the bait schools through the Intracoastal — pure fun on light tackle when the snook isn’t committing.
Beach and Pier
The Anglin’s Pier and the Pompano Pier are producing a mix of Spanish mackerel, bluefish, tarpon (sight cast in the morning), the occasional permit, and big jacks. Live shrimp and Got-Cha plugs are the standard.
Surf snook fishing has shifted to the dawn and dusk windows. White swimming plugs in the trough are the producer. Catch-and-release season (verify FWC dates) means no harvest.
What’s Ahead
The new moon is June 5 — expect a strong tarpon push and energized offshore bite cycles. Water temperatures are climbing through the low 80s offshore. The summer pattern of dawn fishing and afternoon thunderstorms is settling in.
For this weekend: mahi on the Stream at first light, sailfish on the kite mid-morning, inlet snook through the day, dock light snook at night.
Tight lines.