One of the things that makes South Florida a special place to fish is the variety. Inshore and offshore both provide excellent angling opportunities. I was attending my company’s Christmas party in Dania Beach and was able to get some offshore fishing as well as freshwater fishing in as well.
Fort Lauderdale Blue Water
Fishing out of Pier 66 Marina we headed out with the game plan of trolling for tuna, possibly fly fishing around any surface action and bottom fishing. We worked our way from the 150-foot depths all the way out to 550 feet, the entire time we were only a few miles off the beach!
The tuna bite was a little bit slow, but we did pick up a blackfin as well as a few bonita near a weed line.
It wasn’t the greatest trolling bite, but the bottom bite for triggerfish was absolutely on fire. We caught numerous triggers on strips of bonita using a chicken rig.
Freshwater Success
The next day I met up with my friend Angelo, (go check out his YouTube channel, Adventures with Angelo) to do some peacock bass fishing. Every time I come to South Florida, I make it a goal to catch a few peacock bass. These hard fighting cichlids are awesome in appearance and inhabit practically every single body of water you can find down there.
We explored some new water that I had never fished before and caught a few small largemouth and baby peacocks. We decided to try one more pond before I hit the long drive home. I walked down to where a pipe was jutting out off the shore where I spied a group of five fish coming down the bank. The fish weren’t huge, but there was one quality one. I casted my clouser and it immediately ate it, but it unfortunately threw my hook. However, he didn’t spook, he was still milling around, so I recast and he ate it again! The peacock took me down into a limestone crevasse and nearly broke me off, but I was able to point my rod directly down into the depths and walk backwards, this was able to ply the fish from his hole.
South Florida – An Angler’s Dream
Whether you want to fish offshore for any number of pelagic species, fish inshore for monster snook, bonefish, tarpon and permit, or fish freshwater for the many exotic species that call this part of the state home, there is something for all anglers in South Florida. Plan your trip today, you won’t regret it!
Click here to watch the full video recap of this trip.
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Until next time, tight lines.
