Florida Sailfishing Techniques

Sailfish are one species of billfish available to Fort Lauderdale charter fishing boats. The majority of sailfish are found within two miles of shore, making them an accessible and often willing target species. Boats hook many incidental Sailfish while trolling for other species such as dolphin fish and kingfish (a Ft Lauderdale fishing species that is often a "go to" for groups looking for steady action).

Sailfish mostly strike rigged baits made up of strip baits or dead ballyhoo, but on occasion strike trolled artificial bait. On some days anglers get multiple shots at fish using this technique. Some boats target sailfish while trolling using 'dredge" or "daisy chain" teasers and carefully rigged swimming baits at crawling slow speeds. This is great fun and a real challenge for anglers as well as crewmembers. But by far the most successful way to catch a sailfish on a Fort Lauderdale fishing charter is by the use of live bait. The following are favorite methods to present live bait to sailfish.

Ft. Lauderdale Fishing Kites

When targeting sailfish off the coast of Fort Lauderdale, kite fishing is the extremely popular. Kites are specially made in varying weights for differing wind conditions. They range from an ultra light for use in minimal wind velocity up to a "Force Five" for extra breezy days. Anglers fish two or three live baits on a single kite.

A typical "spread" employs two independent kites. These live baits are dangled at 75 foot intervals just under the surface of the water along the main kite line via a small sliding release clip. When a Sailfish strikes the bait and your reel engages tightening the line, the clip releases its hold on your fishing line putting you in control of the Florida state fish. Double hook-ups are not uncommon. And on a good day even a triple or quad hook-up. Kite fishing allows fishermen to present baits across a large area and in a way that can fool most leader conscious fish into an aggressive take as all the leader material is essentially above the surface.

Keeping the leaders in the optimal position is a result of constant attention and adjustments to the presentation of live baits by mates or solo for anglers that prefer hands-on fishing. A properly presented bait is held at the surface in this manner and not allowed to rest as it constantly struggles to swim downward against the applied vertical tension. This struggling sends vibrations through the water attracting the sailfish to the bait. Baits of choice are goggle-eyes (aka shad), threadfin herring, tinker mackerel, pilchards and blue runners (from the jack family). The Fort Lauderdale fishing areas offer numerous locations to catch these various baitfish or they can be purchased directly from professional bait boats.

Traditional Sailfish Presentations

Often a frisky live bait is fished off an outrigger or "flat line" and gets eaten by a hungry sailfish. Flat lines and outrigger baits are often used in conjunction with kite baits, but may also be fished alone in a more "traditional" approach to sailfishing. Under certain conditions the "spread", when fished at a slow troll from outriggers and flat lines, is from four to six lines along with a teaser presentation designed to draw fish close to the boat. The previously mentioned baitfish work well, but there are three that excel with the traditional presentation.

Ballyhoo when fished alive from riggers and flat lines take the most sailfish. Ballyhoo are bite size and spend a lot of their time running for their lives from one predator or another. Speedos and baby "bullet " Bonito also work well when fished this way as they are difficult when used under kites. Downriggers are often used along with the surface lines for these baits.

Fort Lauderdale fishing offers an opportunity for sailfish 365 days a year. Late November thru April are good months with January and February being the best. A typical adult fish is from six to six and a half feet. On rare occasions they exceed seven feet. Fishermen catch little three to five footers mostly in the fall and they are a lot of fun. Perfect smaller fish with the aggression that explains why they grow so quickly. A slim and graceful acrobat, the Atlantic Sailfish is Fort Lauderdale fishing's golden girl. One of natures most beautiful fish and a favorite of many an angler she will wow you with her leaps and impress you with her "give it all fight" right up to boat side. A truly great game fish, which is why so many sailfish caught in Florida are released.

For anglers that want something to remember their catch with, there are replica fish mounts, fishing t-shirts or other nautical art.