Lauderdale Mahi

[bigcamel33]

Headed down for a long weekend in late March, anyone know of fly-fishing experienced guides that might be able to put me onto a mahi bite? How far offshore do you have to be to find mahi? just looking for a guide with a center console, not a big sportfishing boat...

thx for any and all thoughts

[Capt.Dino]

You don't have to go to far here in S.E. Fla. Here in Jupiter it's about 5 mile's to the offshore ground's. To target Mahi only is a bit much to ask.

[sa1280]

Try capt Bouncer or Matty Tambor, both out of Miami Beach, 30 Min from Lauderdale. Mahi are hit or miss, it depends on whether or not a body of fish are moving through or not. Your best bet would prob be to troll around until you locate fish, then chum and break out the fly rod. You also could rent a boat - there are several rental places around.

[lemaymiami]

As others have said the mahi are a hit or miss proposition (and the actual weather then will have something to do with things...). An alternative is the night fishing in the urban areas of Miami to Miami Beach. Lots of hungry small tarpon every night under all the bridges that will be a bit large compared to mahi - they'll average 20 to 40lbs with an occasional much larger.. It's true sight fishing at close quarters, you'll be watching the fish strike... We use 8 or 9wt rods with floating lines.

Just an alternative, but a good one....

[albacized]

As others have said the mahi are a hit or miss proposition (and the actual weather then will have something to do with things...). An alternative is the night fishing in the urban areas of Miami to Miami Beach. Lots of hungry small tarpon every night under all the bridges that will be a bit large compared to mahi - they'll average 20 to 40lbs with an occasional much larger.. It's true sight fishing at close quarters, you'll be watching the fish strike... We use 8 or 9wt rods with floating lines.

Just an alternative, but a good one....


Is that night tarpon advise good for July as well?

[lemaymiami]

Yep, here's the deal... It's all based on the shrimp runs. The major run is in the winter and ends at the end of April.... A slightly smaller run of shrimp runs almost all summer long. All you need is an outgoing tide at night. In the winter the fish average 20 to 40 lbs. In summer they run a bit smaller at 10 to 30lbs.... On any night though, you might have fish a good bit bigger in front of you that will bite the same small 1/0 flies. The summer nights have a lot easier weather and are very reliable. In winter the cold fronts with sudden temperature drops and high winds can shut them down.

It's my idea of tarpon heaven when the tide's right.

[albacized]

Thanks a lot - I know what I'll be incorporating into my July trip:)