Fort Lauderdale, Florida - Saltwater Fishing Report

It looks like the spring season has officially started. The birds are flying north, and the bait and predators are doing the same. The mullet had an appearance all winter. They could be found in the canals just about any day if you knew where to look. There is lots of small baitfish schools along the shoreline in the harbor and canals. Around them the Jacks are cooperating when a live bait is dropped in the general location. Most fish are in the 3 to 7 pound range but the back canals are holding some real slobs in the 10 to 18 pound range. That forces you to use tackle that normally gets its action offshore. If you stick with the light sticks in these canals you'll never see the end of your line and the culprit thats making your reel talk to you. Lots of Barracudas set up on thier favorite ambush points. Just swim a live pilchrad or blue runner by them while the tides moving and hold on. While doing this last week we caught a nice Black Grouper in the port that ate a bait off the surface intended for a cuda. You never know. The next month or two is my favorite time of year to fish down here. The winter was on the slow side because of how warm it was. If the last weeks offshore action is any sign of what we have coming this should be a great and welcomed bite for the spring.