What Fish Can You Catch in Fort Lauderdale? A Guide to Our Favorite Offshore Species
One of the first questions we hear before a fishing trip is pretty simple:
“What are we going to catch?”
We wish the ocean came with a daily menu.
The truth is, that unpredictability is one of the best parts of fishing in Fort Lauderdale. You never know exactly what is going to eat the next bait. One trip might bring steady Blackfin Tuna action. Another could turn into a Mahi Mahi day. You could be working a wreck when a big Amberjack decides to test your arms, or trolling along when a Sailfish suddenly shows up behind the spread.
Fort Lauderdale gives us access to an incredible mix of offshore species, and Captain Will has spent decades learning how to target them. He has more than 30 years of boating and fishing experience and has chased big game species including Tuna, Wahoo, Swordfish, Sharks, and Marlin, along with some of South Florida’s favorite table fish like Mahi Mahi, Grouper, and Snapper.
So, what might you hook into aboard Don’t Tell Mom Sportfishing?
Here are some of the fish that make fishing in Fort Lauderdale so much fun.
Mahi Mahi
If there is one fish that gets almost everybody on the boat excited, Mahi Mahi is high on the list.
They are beautiful, fast, aggressive, and absolutely capable of turning a quiet moment into chaos. Their bright greens, yellows, and blues make them instantly recognizable when they reach the surface.
Mahi are also one of Captain Will’s favorite edible species to target. When conditions are right, finding floating debris, weed lines, birds, or concentrations of bait can lead us toward fish.
And sometimes, once you find one Mahi, things can get busy quickly.
That is when everyone needs to listen to the crew, keep lines organized, and be ready. A school of Mahi can create the kind of fishing story that gets retold for years.
Don’t Tell Mom guests have landed Mahi Mahi alongside species such as Blackfin Tuna, mackerel, Barracuda, and Snapper during recent offshore trips.
Sailfish
Seeing a Sailfish behind the boat is a completely different kind of excitement.
Sailfish are built for speed, with their unmistakable bill and huge dorsal fin. They are one of the signature big-game species found in Atlantic waters and are managed as highly migratory fish.
Hooking one is only the beginning.
Sailfish can jump, change direction, peel line off the reel, and make an angler work for every inch. It is the type of fight that gets everyone on the boat paying attention.
We have had guests experience the adrenaline of catching and releasing Sailfish right here off South Florida. For us, seeing that fish light up beside the boat and watching it swim away is a pretty hard moment to beat.
Blackfin Tuna
Blackfin Tuna might not be the biggest tuna in the ocean, but don’t let that fool you.
They are powerful fish.
Once a Blackfin realizes it is hooked, you are going to know about it. They are fast, strong, and capable of giving anglers a serious fight for their size.
Blackfin Tuna have also been a regular part of the action aboard Don’t Tell Mom. During one June 2026 stretch, Captain Will reported excellent Blackfin Tuna fishing, with much of the action occurring in roughly 200 to 500 feet of water. Other recent guests have caught multiple Blackfin Tuna on a single trip.
For anglers hoping to combine sport with the possibility of bringing home fresh fish, Tuna can make for a very good day.
King Mackerel
King Mackerel – or Kingfish, as you will hear plenty of South Florida anglers call them – have a reputation for one thing: speed.
When a Kingfish hits and starts running, the sound of the reel usually gets everybody’s attention.
Trolling can be an effective way to target them, and their aggressive strikes make them a favorite with anglers who enjoy fast-paced offshore fishing.
Recent Don’t Tell Mom trips have produced King Mackerel during mixed days of trolling and bottom fishing, sometimes alongside Barracuda, Amberjack, Snapper, and Bonito.
King Mackerel are regulated in Florida, as are many of the species we catch, so size limits, bag limits, seasons, and current regulations always need to be followed.
Wahoo
There are fast fish, and then there is Wahoo.
Wahoo are built like missiles. Their streamlined bodies and razor-sharp teeth are perfectly suited to chasing prey at speed, and when one connects with your line, the first run can be unforgettable.
Captain Will has targeted Wahoo throughout his career, including during his years working aboard private sportfishing yachts before specializing in South Florida charter fishing.
They are not something we promise on every charter – no fish belongs on a schedule – but they are absolutely one of the offshore species that makes South Florida big-game fishing so exciting.
Snapper
Not every memorable catch needs to be a giant.
Snapper can provide some of the most enjoyable fishing on the boat, especially when the bite gets going.
Different Snapper species inhabit South Florida waters, and they can be targeted around reef and bottom structure. Yellowtail Snapper, in particular, have appeared regularly in recent catches aboard Don’t Tell Mom. One June fishing report described some of the strongest Snapper action the crew had seen in a while.
Snapper fishing can also be a great introduction to offshore fishing for anglers who are still learning. There is plenty to pay attention to – feeling the bite, keeping the line tight, learning how the rod responds, and figuring out when a fish is actually there.
And when legal fish come home for dinner, nobody complains about that either.
Grouper
Grouper fishing is a different game.
These fish tend to stay close to structure, which means once one eats, you need to react. Give a strong Grouper too much time and there is a good chance it will try to get back into the reef, wreck, or structure below.
That first part of the fight can be intense.
Grouper are among Captain Will’s favorite edible species, and guests aboard Don’t Tell Mom have landed Grouper during recent trips along with Tuna and Mahi Mahi.
Florida and federal Grouper regulations vary by species, location, size, and season. Some species are protected or have closed periods, so the crew follows the regulations that apply on the day of your charter.
Amberjack
If you want to find out how strong you really are, hook a big Amberjack.
There is a reason experienced anglers sometimes call them reef donkeys.
Amberjack are powerful, stubborn fish that can turn a fishing trip into a workout very quickly. They are commonly associated with reefs, wrecks, and other offshore structure, and once hooked, their instinct is often to pull hard toward cover.
Don’t Tell Mom guests have landed some impressive Amberjack, including fish caught during trips that also produced Yellowtail Snapper, Bonito, Barracuda, and King Mackerel.
Greater Amberjack are regulated, and Atlantic seasons and limits apply to recreational fishing.
Barracuda
Barracuda look exactly like the kind of fish you would expect to find in the ocean.
Long body. Big teeth. Bad attitude.
They are incredibly fun sport fish and are capable of explosive strikes and hard runs. For someone fishing offshore for the first time, seeing a big Barracuda arrive beside the boat can be one of those moments when you suddenly realize just how different the underwater world is.
They also show up regularly in the variety of catches our guests experience. Recent anglers aboard Don’t Tell Mom have reported Barracuda alongside Mahi Mahi, Blackfin Tuna, King Mackerel, Snapper, and Bonito.
Florida maintains specific recreational regulations for Barracuda, so any fish being kept has to meet the applicable rules.
Sharks
Then there are the trips nobody forgets.
Sharks are part of South Florida’s offshore ecosystem, and hooking a large one can turn into a serious battle.
Recent Don’t Tell Mom trips have included encounters with Lemon Sharks, Nurse Sharks, Sandbar Sharks, and a massive Scalloped Hammerhead. Some of those fights have become the highlight of an entire family vacation.
Shark fishing also comes with important responsibilities.
Atlantic sharks are federally regulated, and some species cannot legally be retained. NOAA requires prohibited shark species to be released with minimal injury and without removing them from the water.
When we encounter sharks, proper identification and responsible handling matter just as much as the fight.
A big shark beside the boat is impressive. Watching one swim away after an unforgettable battle can be even better.
So, What Are We Fishing for Today?
That depends.
And that is not us avoiding the question – that is fishing.
Water conditions change. Currents move. Bait moves. Weather changes. Fish that were active yesterday might behave completely differently today.
Recent Don’t Tell Mom fishing reports are a perfect example. One week brought strong Blackfin Tuna and Snapper action. Another produced excellent trolling and wreck fishing. Other trips have delivered Mahi Mahi, King Mackerel, Grouper, Amberjack, Sailfish, Barracuda, and sharks.
Captain Will’s job is to look at what the ocean is giving us that day and make decisions based on experience.
- Sometimes that means trolling.
- Sometimes we head to a wreck.
- Sometimes bottom fishing is the move.
- …and sometimes we change the plan because the fish have a different idea.
That is why having an experienced captain matters.
Tell Captain Will what kind of experience you are looking for
The Don’t Tell Mom is a fully equipped 46-foot Hatteras Sportfish carrying more than 25 rod-and-reel combinations, along with the tackle needed to target South Florida saltwater species. The boat also has a large cockpit for up to six passengers, fighting equipment, oversized live wells, coolers, air conditioning, a bathroom, and an interior area when you need a break from the sun.
- We bring the gear.
- We bring the experience.
- We bring the bait, tackle, fishing licenses, and plenty of hard work.
- You bring the sunscreen, snacks, and good vibes.
Come see what’s biting What’s Biting in Fort Lauderdale
You can read about Mahi Mahi, Sailfish, Tuna, Kingfish, Wahoo, Snapper, Grouper, Amberjack, Barracuda, and sharks all day.
It is a lot more fun when there is a rod in your hands.
Every fishing trip is different, and that is exactly how we like it. We cannot tell you which fish is going to bite next, but Captain Will and the Don’t Tell Mom crew will work hard to give you the best possible day on the water.
First trip or hundredth trip, there is always something exciting about watching a line disappear into the Atlantic and wondering what is on the other end.
Book your Fort Lauderdale fishing charter with Don’t Tell Mom Sportfishing or call Captain Will at 954-522-9399.
Let’s go fishing.
Tight lines!