With the Mahi-Mahi fishing being erratic offshore we have continued to spend a lot of the time on our Fort Lauderdale fishing charters inshore on the reefs. A sunny day (at least this morning) as we headed out the inlet hoping for a continuation of the good action we have been having on those near shore reefs. About ¾ to a mile off the beach has been best with the water depth there ranging from 65 to 120 feet.
The late summer heat has kept a lot of the fish off the surface unless they are on a school of bait and today was no exception.
Our planer rods accounted for 90 percent of the bites today. Our usual 5 to 6 inch Bonito strip on a long leader fished on those planers fooled the Kings today. Schools of medium sized Bonito are swimming quickly to the north. No Wahoo today. Slightly cloudy water on the reefs and the pink colored baits worked best. Calm sea conditions also contributed to the deep lines being so much more productive than our surface ones. The surface lines can be quiet when the ocean is flat.
We are seeing the first schools of Fall baitfish and this is good news. Despite the continuing warm afternoons and so much rain here there are glimpses of change. On some the early mornings as we head out the inlet the ocean has that slightly different look and feel to it that signifies the time of year. Summer is headed out the door and we will see fishing change along with the changing conditions.
