Dania Beach/Fort Lauderdale - Mid November - Offshore Kayak Fishing 2020

John McKroid

Dania Beach/Fort Lauderdale - Mid November - Offshore Kayak Fishing 2020

Weather has been windy, rainy and rough with few opportunities to fish offshore.  On the lucky day of Friday, the 13th, the first calm weather day presented itself.  During the early morning hours, I slow trolled for bait off the Ft. Lauderdale inlet, and the area between there and Dania pier without luck.  Several other kayakers were working the Dania pier area, and nobody seemed to be catching bait.  Sometimes the bite does not occur until sunrise, but since I prefer to be fishing for bigger prey at that time, I headed out deep prior to sunrise.  Even Though I stopped on several bait marks on the way out, I had no luck.  

When I got out to 250ft.  There was a reasonable amount of activity on the FF, but the fish had lockjaw.   Although the seas were calm, the water quality was still dirty green with sediment from the weeks of wind and rain.  No cobalt blue water for this trip. The current was a weak 0.5kts Sth, and It was a slow morning of fishing.  For the first 3 hours, I had one missed strike and one bit off lure.  Finally, around 10 am I had a solid drag ripping strike that produced a nice Amberjack which I released.

About 30 minutes later, I bagged this Little Tunny which I cut up for chum and strip bait.  

The local half day boat, “Catch My Drift” was fishing nearby.  Somebody caught a nice Mahi over there.  Little Tunny strips have worked well for Mahi in the past, but this time they only produced a shark.  Tired of working my lure on lockjaw fish, I moved closer to the inlet.  Near the inlet my jig was nailed by this Mutton that ended up being an inch short of keepable size(released).

  I continued to work my way Nth off the structures just Nth of Ft lauderdale inlet and continued to be teased by fish. Like the one on the Fishfinder that intercepted my jig at around the 50ft depth for a  closer look.

Eventually, I did fool this one Blackfin into striking in 275ft of water. 

 We made Poke, Tuna Casserole, and Sushi Rolls from the Blackfin fillets.

In the afternoon, I did manage to catch one nice Speedo which I promptly baited up and slow trolled deep on a downrigger.  Eventually, it was hit by this King Mackerel which was surprisingly small considering the size of the bait.

After the King, I headed back out to 300ft hoping to jig up another Blackfin --no luck.  It was a slow day of fishing, but at least there was some variety and food for the table.