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Articles tagged with: Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale Boat Passenger Limit

Written by Capt. Noah on Thursday, 30 May 2013. Posted in Fishing Boats

There are very few fishing boats in Fort Lauderdale that are allowed to carry more than six passengers. The United States Coast Guard has set this rule to maximize all life at sea, both yours and those already living there. Safety has always been the most important aspect of any deep sea fishing charter, and our Fort Lauderdale Fishing Charters make no exceptions to this rule.

If your group consists of more than six people, then we can still take them out to sea for an explosive fishing adventure. We are highly experienced at accomplishing this with ease and there are two ways that we can do it:

  • Only USCG “inspected” vessels are allowed to transport more than six passengers and we have a 45ft Stapleton in our Fort Lauderdale fleet that meets this criteria. It is authorized to carry over twenty people. This is our standard head boat, or party boat, and is set up for drift fishing. Everybody climbs onboard and we head out to sea where we switch off the engines. Lines are thrown overboard and your group can have an exciting time catching as many fish as possible. Usually they catch fish such as snappers, groupers, sea basses, jacks and others. This does limit everyone in the types of fish that can be caught. Due to the fact that the boat is drifting, it is impossible to chase big game fish offshore. It is also very difficult to use any of the techniques that these fish require.
  • The other alternative is to split your group up and go out on various sportfish boats in our Fort Lauderdale fleet. These boats are smaller and can chase fish farther offshore. They are able to move around and specialized techniques can be used easily. You can catch truly thrilling fish from these boats, including fish such as tuna, swordfish, sailfish, shark, mahi-mahi, kingfish, wahoo and others. The boats are in constant radio contact with each other and we have various activities that will keep your group together. The most popular of these is our mini fishing tournament where groups compete from different boats for the most fish, the biggest fish or a specific type of fish.

We recommend using multiple sportfish boats for groups on our Fort Lauderdale Fishing Charters. There are so many options available to you and you have the opportunity to catch larger numbers of more exciting fish. If you group needs to remain together on one boat, then we can certainly customize the perfect drift fishing charter for you in Fort Lauderdale.

Call today to book your Group Fishing Charter in Fort Lauderdale and experience true adventure.

Fort Lauderdale Tarpon Fishing

Written by Capt. Steve on Tuesday, 23 October 2012. Posted in Fish Info

Tarpon Charters

Fort Lauderdale Tarpon Fishing

Tarpon fishing in Fort Lauderdale is always the best when the shrimp or mullet are running.  The mullet started running a month ago in September so Tarpon fishing is hot.  The shrimp typically run in December, January and sometimes into February.  September through January is the best time for tarpon fishing and February is hit or miss.  Smaller boats tend to be best for inshore tarpon fishing because they are more maneuverable and provide 360 degrees of fishing.  Many anglers come down to Fort Lauderdale to catch a tarpon and check it off their bucket list.  

Fort Lauderdale Wahoo Fishing

Written by Capt. Steve on Tuesday, 16 October 2012. Posted in Fish Info

Fort Lauderdale Wahoo Fishing

Gorgeous wahoo caught in Fort Lauderdale.  Wahoo are found off the coast of Fort Lauderdale from June to November.  This young angler landed this wahoo with the assistance of the mate Brendon.  Great teamwork!  

Fort Lauderdale Tilefish

on Tuesday, 16 October 2012. Posted in Fish Info

Fort Lauderdale Tilefish

Here is a picture of two Fort Lauderdale tilefish.  We catch tilefish on the reefs just of the coast.  These tilefish are very tasty.  The crew filleted the fish for the angler and recommended a great restaurant that prepared a nice meal for him.

Fort Lauderdale Swordfish

Written by Capt. Steve on Tuesday, 16 October 2012. Posted in Fish Info

Fort Lauderdale Swordfish

Can you believe the size of this Fort Lauderdale swordfish?  This beast weighed in at few hundred pounds.  Specialized sworfishing trips in Fort Lauderdale last a full day and go faurther offshore than our normal charters.  This one was caught while deep dropping.  Friends and family ate swordfish steaks for days after this trip.

Fort Lauderdale Shark Fishing

Written by Capt. Steve on Tuesday, 16 October 2012. Posted in Fish Info

Fort Lauderdale Shark Fishing

In this battle of man vs shark man was victorious.  This hammerhead shark was caught off the coast of Fort Lauderdale.  This is what you call a bloody deck.  Usually bloody decks are a good indication that a boat is catching fish.  Fort Lauderdale shark fishing is one of "Local Knowledges" favorite types of fishing.  

Fort Lauderdale Sailfish

Written by Capt. Steve on Tuesday, 16 October 2012. Posted in Fish Info

Fort Lauderdale Sailfish

Another beautiful Fort Lauderdale sailfish.   There's nothing like catching your first sailfish on a trip to Fort Lauderdale.  Some of our clients decide to mount these beautiful fish so they can share their memory with friends and family back home.  Great catch!

Fort Lauderdale Sailfish Fishing

Written by Capt. Steve on Tuesday, 16 October 2012. Posted in Fish Info

Fort Lauderdale Sailfish Fishing

We've love taking out whole families for a day of fishing in Fort Lauderdale.  Check out mom as she shows off her sailfish.  Our Fort Lauderdale fishing charter kept the whole family busy.  Fort Lauderdale Sailfish fishing really starts to heat up in November December when season starts.

Fort Lauderdale Mahi Fishing

Written by Capt. Steve on Tuesday, 16 October 2012. Posted in Fish Info

Fort Lauderdale Mahi Fishing

Life is good when the mahi are biting in Fort Lauderdale.  Captain Mike has mastered the art of mahi fishing in Fort Lauderdale.  Mahi like to swim in schools so it's not common to have multiple mahi hooked on different lines at the same time.  We usually catch mahi by trolling multiple baits behind the boat.

Fort Lauderdale Barracuda Fishing

Written by Capt. Steve on Tuesday, 16 October 2012. Posted in Fish Info

Fort Lauderdale Barracuda Fishing

Check out the teeth on this barracuda caught in Fort Lauderdale.  Don't worry they used plyers to get the hook out of his mouth.  We tend to catch a lot of barracuda near the reefs in Fort Lauderdale.  They're fun to catch but I wouldn't want to run into one while snorkeling.   This barruda looks to be at least four feet long! 

Blackfin Tuna Fishing In Fort Lauderdale

Written by Capt. Steve on Tuesday, 16 October 2012. Posted in Fish Info

Blackfin Tuna Fishing In Fort Lauderdale

This blackfin tuna caught off Fort Lauderdale will become a nice little sushi platter for the angler.  Blackfin tuna fishing in Fort Lauderdale is best in October, November, March and April.  Fort Lauderdale black fin tuna usually range from small to medium size.  Fort Lauderdale clients love catching these tasty fish.

Mahi Fishing in Florida is Hot!

on Monday, 08 October 2012. Posted in Fishing Reports

Good news boys and girls, our captains are reporting awesome mahi fishing (aka Dolphin Fishing) up and down both coasts of Florida. Not only are we catching a lot of Mahi, we're catching big ones too.

Captain Ralph on our Hollywood sportfishing boat Outta Control sent us these awesome photos last week. I lost count at about 30 dolphin between these two photos. Come on Ralph, leave some for the rest of us!

hollywood mahi fishing charters

hollywood dolphin fishing charter

And then there's Captain Mike on our Fort Lauderdale fishing charter boat Local Knowledge. He sent us this sweet picture of a young angler who caught a huge bull dolphin last week off of Fort Lauderdale. Always a cool feeling when the fish weighs more than you do!

fort-lauderdale-bull-dolphin-350x469

We've also been getting reports from our Destin fishing fleet that they're finding a lot of Mahi up there too! Wow, I wish I were out fishing right now myself instead of writing these blog posts!!

Luxury Fishing Charter on a 65' Viking Sportfish

Written by Capt. Noah on Monday, 08 October 2012. Posted in Fishing Boats

Luxury Fishing Charter on a 65' Viking Sportfish
Highlights
  • Shaded fishing cockpit to keep you cool
  • Spacious, air-conditioned salon perfect for entertaining
  • All inclusive pricing is easy for corporate clients on expense accounts

OK, I'll admit it, I'm a boat snob. I've grown up on boats, my family is in the marine business, and I've seen a lot of awesome boats ranging from small, nimble sailing boats to 450 foot private mega yachts. As such, it takes something a little extra to get me excited. When I first saw the 65' Viking "Platinum Edition" sport fishing yacht my heart started racing faster, I thought could this be the ultimate fishing yacht for our VIP corporate clients ?

"What does the platinum edition mean?" I asked the captain.

"You'll see."

Starting from the stern, the fishing cockpit is huge. It is thoughtfully covered with a large top to keep you cool and shaded from the beating Florida sun. Forward of the cockpit there's mezzanine seating so guests that aren't fishing can get a birds eye view of all the action.

The flybridge offers spectacular views and features another huge space for guests to relax and lounge in true VIP comfort. The helm features a brand new state of the art electronics and navigation package giving the captain an unfair advantage to find where the fish are hiding. The bridge deck is high and dry and is truly the place to be on the ride out.

Just forward of the fishing cockpit you'll find the beautifully appointed main salon where there's a ton of space for entertaining. There's a large leather sofa, flat screen TV, dining area and galley (kitchen).

Down a flight of stairs are three staterooms, accommodations include a huge master stateroom which features a private den appointed with a leather couch, book shelves and a flat screen TV. The second spacious stateroom is to starboard and is equipped with another private head. Forward is the third stateroom offering comfy V berth accommodations.

Many of our clients want and need more then just a fishing boat when they're entertaining their guests and this magnificent sport fishing yacht is the perfect platform to do just that, mission accomplished!

As for the fishing, the captain and crew have been fishing the beautiful gulf stream waters off South Florida, the Bahamas and the fabulous Florida Keys for their entire lives and have been professional captains for decades. They both have great personalities and are comfortable dealing with VIPs and celebrities.

On a typical trip, expect to catch anything from sailfish, swordfish, tuna, mahi, kingfish, wahoo and more. Your crew will happily clean, fillet and package your catch and if you'd like, they can even have one of our local waterside restaurants prepare dinner where you can dine on your catch of the day (what a great way to end your day of corporate entertaining).

As I'm writing this article the yacht is completing a refit, where additional upgrades to the mechanical equipment are being made and she is getting fresh bottom paint and top to bottom detailing. It's hard to imagine that this yacht could be any nicer, but the captain and owner have high standards, which frankly is what we demand for yachts of this level.

One of the most exciting things about this sport fishing yacht is the charter price. Typically, yacht charters are quoted with a base price plus crew fees, catering and all the other expenses associated with chartering. Our corporate clients particularly those who are utilizing expense accounts need to have an all in price. We've worked with the owner to create an "all inclusive" price that includes not only the boat and crew, but also includes a continental breakfast and lunch service as well as ice cold beer bottled water and soft drinks. But don't worry, we can accomodate special requests such as additional catering with server, ground transportation and even a video photographer to capture your clients and guests sport fishing adventure.

Our all inclusive price is for up to eight hours and can be billed in advance right to your credit card. There's a twenty mile maximum range, which is more than adequate for most trips.

The boat is docked in Aventura, Florida, but can easily pickup guests at other marinas and hotels from Fort Lauderdale to Miami (additional delivery and/or landing fees, may apply).

For more information check out our online brochure at Miami Luxury Fishing Charter

Local Knowledge Fishing Charters Fort Lauderdale, FL Review

Written by Capt. Noah on Monday, 06 August 2012. Posted in Fishing Reports

The A-Dock of Bahia Mar Marina is the long time home of Fort Lauderdale’s sport fishing fleet. Here, two dozen or more sport fishing boats entice tourists with mounted sharks, dolphin, sailfish, and more, whetting want to be anglers appetites for the bounties that the Atlantic Ocean has to offer.

Unfortunately, rumors about unscrupulous fishing charter operations abound. Even as a professional fishing concierge, the task of trying to select the best of these boats is daunting, because if you look at them as most visitors do, just by walking down the docks, it’s hard to notice anything that sets them apart. The oft manipulated Yelp and Google reviews aren’t much help, nor are the hotel concierges who are usually on the take. You’ll notice that some of the boats have a few more rust stains than others, but although this is somewhat of a reflection for how much pride a captain takes in maintaining his boat, what’s really important is the crew.

mike guests 250x188After walking the docks and shooting the sh#t with captains and mates on different boats, I reached the southern end of A Dock and struck up a casual conversation with Captain Mike Johnson on the sport fishing vessel Local Knowledge. Twenty seconds into my conversation with Mike, I realized something was a little odd. Besides the fact that he was a friendly guy and could compose grammatically correct sentences (that’s something new for A dock), Mike was singing a song very, very different than the other Captains on the dock.

“I heard the mahi are running today,” I told him.

He laughed. “Oh yeah, who told you that?”

“A few of the guys down there told me,” I told him pointing north past the Jungle Queen reservations office. (Side note: although the Jungle Queen is the biggest tourist trap Fort Lauderdale has to offer, I highly recommend it!)

“Listen, man,” Mike responded, looking at me straight in the eye. “I would love to take you out fishing today, but that’s total bullsh#t about the Mahi. You are probably not going to catch one today. We can try, but they’ve been running far offshore and even on a full day charter, we probably couldn’t find them. If you want to catch Mahi, give me your number and I’ll text you when I know they’re back.”

Sold.

A few weeks later, I got a text from Mike. It said, “Mahi are back! Call me! It’s Capt. Mike.”

I went out on a trip with him and we had a great time. We caught a few Mahi, although not quite as many as I had hoped, but we also spent time kite fishing and landed a beautiful sailfish. All in all, for a four hour trip, I was happy with the catch. Unless you’re on a tight budget or limited for time, I think a six hour or eight hour trip is much preferable to a four.

Mike was extremely personable and you can tell he just likes talking to people. His mate Brandon was equally fun. Both of them were extremely knowledgeable and easy to get along with.

We had lines in the water just a few minutes outside the channel and we spent our entire time trolling. This is a notable thing about Local Knowledge and Mike’s attitude in general. He will move his boat around as much as he needs to in order to get you on the fish. This is a departure from several other fishing charters I’ve been on in Fort Lauderdale and elsewhere where it becomes pretty apparent that the Captain is trying to conserve fuel. On my day on Local Knowledge, we drove by other fishing boats a few times, clearly due to the fact that they were idling around a specific spot, while we tried different spots and speeds.

Mike’s boat, a 43’ Hatteras, I believe built in the 80s, is spacious and well equipped for fishing. It’s not luxurious, after all not many charter boats are, but it is clean and comfortable. The boat is in above average shape, and recently, Mike has undertaken some improvements that really make the boat stand out at the dock, including replacing windows and doors that were in need of some TLC.

All the equipment on Local Knowledge is high quality and in good shape. And more importantly, Brandon and Mike know how to use it all to their maximum advantage.

It was after the trip that I revealed to Mike that I was starting a business for reviewing and directing people to the best fishing charters.

“I’m in,” Mike responded, without asking any more questions. Again, his positive attitude shining through.

Mike ended up being the first boat in the VIP Fishing Charters fleet. After scores or possibly hundreds of trips I have sent to Mike, I have received only one bad review. When I called him to tell him, he was extremely apologetic and embarrassed and offered to do anything to make it right. I know things don’t always go right, but it is owners that react like this when things go wrong that win my business for life. And in Mike’s case, he has now won not only my business personally, but my endorsement for my customers as well


VIP Fishing Charters provides advice on the best fishing charters in Ft Lauderdale. Click here to request a free quote on Ft Lauderdale fishing charters.

Mahia Mahia Fishing in Fort Lauderdale

Written by Capt. Steve on Monday, 09 July 2012. Posted in Fishing Advice

Mahia Mahia Fishing in Fort Lauderdale

Mahia Mahia fishing in Fort Lauderdale (aka Mahi Mahi, Dolphinfish) is a tropical and subtropical fish species that's a South Florida favorite. It's name comes from the Hawaiian words meaning very strong. We catch Mahia Mahia in a variety of different ways, but primarily by trolling. When fishing for Mahia Mahia in Fort Lauderdale we typically use frozen ballyhoo or live baits, but mahia mahia can also be caught using bright colored lures.

Mahia Mahia is a delicious, mild fish that's often served grilled. Our favorite is blackened mahia mahia, which has a salty, spicy kick.

Typically, Mahia Mahia in Fort Lauderdale range from 15 to 30 pounds, but can grow to more than 40 pounds. They are one of the most beautifully colored fish in Fort Lauderdale, and truly in the entire ocean. They feature brilliant shades of yellow, blue, and green, with dazzling specks throughout.

Mahia Mahia fishing charters in Fort Lauderdale are one of our most popular requests, so please contact us if you are interested.

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