Mike Johnson

April fishing has been quite good. Large kingfish have made a showing on the reef. While you may catch a decent king now and again trolling with planers and a spoon or a strip bait sea witch combo, your real smokers will fall for live bait. I prefer to pull speedos ( a common bait caught around the offshore buoys) out of the riggers. Eight feet of #5 wire and treble hook stingers will complete your terminal tackle. Watch your rigger pins they will tell if a predator is near. The bait will get nervous and start pulling rapidly shaking the pin.

Fish light drags as blistering first and second runs are common and too much drag will pull the small treble hooks. This past week we caught a 50# king pulling speedos and lost a 30# right at the boat. After we ran out of the speedos we caught bullets which are baby bonitas. Boy did it pay off big in the form of a 70# wahoo and a 30# wahoo. There were lots of sore arms on the Local Knowledge that day.

Give me a call 954 522 4773 and ask for Capt. Mike. Fishing has been great and its only getting better. April proves to be one of our best months. We still have big sharks, a few sailfish, kings, bonitas, jacks and mahi mahi.

Fish Species: Kings and wahoos
Bait Used: speedos
Tackle Used: 30#
Method Used: Slow troll Live bait
Water Depth: 135
Water Temperature:
Wind Direction: SE
Wind Speed: 5-10

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Mike Johnson

About The Author: Captain Mike Johnson

Company: Local Knowledge

Area Reporting: Southeast Florida - Fort Lauderdale

Bio: Born and raised in Fort Lauderdale Capt. Mike Johnson has lifetime of experience on local waters. A charter fisherman since 1994, Mike obtained his captains license in 1996. He has several tournament wins under his belt in both the Bahamas and Florida's east coast. He recently purchased a 42' Hatteras, The Local Knowledge, which is in charter at the Bahia Mar Radisson Marina, located in Fort Lauderdale. Capt. Mike aims to make sure that charters not only catch fish but have a great time doing it. Nobody likes a grumpy crew!

954-471-8560
Click Here For Past Fishing Reports by Captain Mike Johnson