Fort Lauderdale Fishing Trip
A Fort Lauderdale fishing trip gives you access to productive reefs, deep Atlantic water, and many game fish. Depending on the season, you may encounter sailfish, mahi mahi, tuna, wahoo, kingfish, snapper, grouper, swordfish, and other species.
Second Wynnd Fishing Charters offers private fishing trips for up to six guests. Each trip is planned around current conditions, seasonal fish movements, and your group’s goals. Whether this is your first time offshore or you are pursuing a specific species, our crew provides the equipment and guidance you need.
What Happens on a Second Wynnd Charter Boat?
Your trip begins at Cox’s Landing in Fort Lauderdale. Before leaving the dock, we prepare the boat, fishing tackle, bait, and safety equipment.
Once everyone is aboard, we'll review basic safety information and discuss the guided fishing charter plan. Your destination and fishing method may depend on several factors, including:
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Water temperature and current
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Recent fishing activity
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Seasonal migrations
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Available bait
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Your preferred species
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The length of your trip
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Your group’s experience level
Conditions can change throughout the day. A good fishing plan must remain flexible. If one location is unproductive, the captain may change depths, move to another area, or use a different technique.
Our Premium Fort Lauderdale Fishing Charters
Pricing includes up to 6 guests.
1/2 Day
4 HOURS
Private charters run from 8am-12pm, or 1pm-5pm. Want to fish but don't want to commit the entire day, the half option is the smart choice.
Full Day
8 HOURS
Full-day trips provide enough time to enjoy numerous styles of fishing, allowing us to catch a multitude of species.
3/4 Day
6 HOURS
Our most popular option, and typically runs from 8am-2pm. These trips allow us to be a bit more flexible with our fishing style.
Swordfish
9 HOURS
They can be found year-round in our area. Fishing for these “gladiators of the sea” is a passion and specialty of ours.
Fishing Techniques Used
We select fishing techniques based on the target species and current conditions. No single method works everytime.
Kite
Kite fishing is one of South Florida’s best-known live-bait techniques. A fishing kite carries lines away from the boat while keeping live baits near the surface.
The bait can swim naturally with limited tackle in the water. This presentation is especially effective for winter sailfish. It may also attract tuna, mahi mahi, wahoo, kingfish, and cobia.
Kite fishing requires active line management. We'll watch the baits, adjust the kite, identify strikes, and help anglers react at the right moment.
Trolling
Trolling, or drift fishing, involves pulling rigged baits or artificial lures behind a moving boat. Outriggers help spread the lines and create a larger presentation.
This technique allows the boat to cover more water. You may troll around temperature changes, weed lines, color changes, birds, floating debris, or areas holding bait.
Trolling can target mahi mahi, tuna, kingfish, wahoo, sailfish, and other predatory fish.
Reef
Reef fishing typically involves anchoring near natural or artificial structure. Some excursions may use chum to attract fish before presenting baits at different depths.
Possible catches include snapper, grouper, amberjack, and other reef species. The lighter tackle and active pace can make reef fishing a good choice for families and first-time anglers.
Deep Sea
Deep sea dropping uses weighted rigs to reach fish living hundreds of feet below the surface. Electric reels are commonly used because of the depth and weight involved.
Depending on the location and applicable regulations, targets may include tilefish, deep-water snapper, and grouper species.
Deep dropping is often added to a longer trip when time and conditions allow.
Shark
Shark fishing requires heavy tackle, strong leaders, and careful boat-side handling. Some sharks can reach several hundred pounds and fight for an extended period.
Shark species are subject to detailed state and federal regulations. Many must be released, and prohibited species cannot be removed from the water.
The captain determines whether shark fishing is appropriate based on conditions, regulations, and the group’s experience.
What Happens to Your Catch?
Legal fish intended for the table can be kept on ice during the trip. When the boat returns, we can clean and process the catch.
Second Wynnd can also arrange vacuum sealing, flash freezing, and overnight shipping for an additional cost. This service allows visiting anglers to send properly processed fish home.
Trophy fish mounts can also be arranged through a local taxidermist. Modern fish mounts are commonly created from measurements and photographs, allowing the original fish to be released when appropriate.
Fish that cannot be harvested should be handled carefully and released promptly. We use appropriate release methods based on the species, fishing depth, and condition of the fish.
Book Your Fishing Fun with Second Wynnd
Capt. Preston Courtney was born and raised in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He has spent much of his life fishing and diving locally, and his professional charter trip experience began while he was still in high school. His experience also includes fishing throughout Florida, the Bahamas, and Cuba.
Your trip takes place aboard Second Wynnd, a custom-built 2020 37-foot SeaVee. The boat is powered by triple 300-horsepower Mercury Verado engines and equipped for several fishing styles. Features include a custom marlin tower, outriggers, five live bait wells, three large fish boxes, Simrad electronics, and extensive rod storage.
Our crew plans each trip around current conditions instead of following the same routine every day. We consider seasonal fish patterns, weather, recent catches, water conditions, and your preferences before choosing a strategy.
Whether you want a family-friendly introduction or a focused offshore fishing challenge, we will help you choose the right trip. Call Second Wynnd Fishing Charters at 954-770-2832 or book your private Fort Lauderdale trip online.