6-Hour Fort Lauderdale Wreck Fishing Adventure
Private Trip
Wrecks/Reefs Fishing
Sixhour fishing adventure with Captain Taco in Fort Lauderdale watersMultiple techniques include trolling, kite fishing, and deep dropsTarget species range from reef fish to Sailfish and Mahi Mahi
Captain Taco knows Fort Lauderdale waters like the back of his hand, and he's ready to put you on fish around some of the area's most productive wrecks. This isn't your typical half-day trip - we're talking six solid hours of fishing time, which means you'll have the chance to hit multiple spots and try different techniques. Whether you're after grouper holding tight to structure or mahi cruising the blue water, this trip gives you the flexibility to chase whatever's biting best that day.
We start every trip by hitting the reef to get everyone warmed up and put some fish in the boat. Once you've got your sea legs and confidence up, we'll switch gears based on conditions and what the fish are telling us. Some days that means breaking out the kites for sailfish, other days we're making the run 20 miles offshore where the mahi have been showing up. The beauty of a six-hour charter is having time to adapt - if the bite's slow in one spot, we've got plenty of daylight to find where they're feeding. Captain Taco's boat handles six anglers comfortably, so you won't be bumping elbows when the action heats up. The Hooked Up Sportfishing crew provides all the tackle and knows exactly what baits and lures work best on these wrecks.
Wreck fishing requires a different approach than open water or reef fishing. We'll be dropping baits right into the structure where grouper and snapper love to hang out, which means heavy tackle and knowing how to work fish up and away from their holes before they cut you off. When we're trolling for mahi, we'll pull spreads of ballyhoo and artificials at different depths to cover the water column. The kite fishing setup is something special - live bait suspended right on the surface drives sailfish absolutely crazy. For the deep drops targeting bigger grouper, we're talking serious weight and circle hooks to handle fish that might go 20, 30, even 40 pounds. Captain Taco will walk you through each technique, so even if you're new to wreck fishing, you'll know what you're doing when a big red grouper tries to head for the bottom.
Red Grouper are the bread and butter of Fort Lauderdale wreck fishing, and for good reason. These fish hold tight to structure in 80-150 feet of water and put up a serious fight once hooked. They average 5-15 pounds but can push 20-plus if you're lucky. Red grouper bite year-round, but fall and winter months tend to produce the biggest fish. What makes them so popular with anglers is they're aggressive feeders and excellent table fare - sweet, flaky white meat that's perfect for grilling or blackening.
Mahi Mahi, also called dolphinfish, are the acrobats of the offshore world. When we find them cruising 10-20 miles out, the action can be absolutely electric. These fish travel in schools, so once you hook one, there's usually more underneath the boat. Mahi average 10-25 pounds in our waters, with bulls occasionally pushing 40-50 pounds. They're most abundant from spring through fall when the Gulf Stream pushes closer to shore. What gets anglers fired up about mahi is their aerial displays - these fish will jump, tail-walk, and put on a show like few other species. Plus, they're incredible eating with firm, mild flesh that's perfect for fish tacos.
Red Snapper are the crown jewel of bottom fishing when the season's open. These fish are structure-oriented like grouper but tend to suspend a bit higher in the water column. A good red snapper runs 5-15 pounds, with trophy fish reaching 20-plus. They're incredibly wary and light-biters, so success often comes down to using the right bait and keeping everything quiet when you're over a school. The federal red snapper season is limited, but when it's open, there's no better eating fish in the Gulf. Their sweet, delicate flavor has made them a restaurant staple for generations.
Black Grouper are the heavyweights of the wreck fishing world. These bruisers can exceed 50 pounds and will test your tackle and technique to the limit. They prefer deeper water than red grouper, typically 100-300 feet, and have a habit of heading straight for the bottom when hooked. Black grouper are more common in winter months when they move inshore to spawn. Landing a big black grouper is a badge of honor among serious bottom fishermen - they're smart, strong, and know every cave and crevice on the wreck.
Gag Grouper round out the grouper slam opportunity on Fort Lauderdale wrecks. These fish are slightly more aggressive than their cousins and often suspend higher off the bottom. Gags typically run 10-25 pounds and are most active during cooler months. They're known for their distinctive dark blotches and slightly different body shape compared to red and black grouper. What makes gag grouper special is their willingness to eat artificials - jigs, spoons, and large plugs can all produce strikes when they're feeding actively.
Six hours on the water with Captain Taco gives you the best shot at experiencing everything Fort Lauderdale wreck fishing has to offer. From the technical challenge of working structure for grouper to the pure excitement of mahi on the troll, this trip covers all the bases. The Hooked Up Sportfishing crew has built their reputation on putting clients on fish and making sure everyone has a great time doing it. With only six spots available, these charters fill up fast, especially during peak fishing months. Don't wait - book your wreck fishing adventure today and find out why anglers keep coming
Captain Taco's beautifully restored 1964 custom sportfisher is your ticket to Fort Lauderdale's best wreck fishing spots. This 41-foot legend packs twin 450HP engines that'll cruise you out to productive waters at 20 knots, while the fish finder pinpoints exactly where the big ones are holding. The spacious deck gives all 6 anglers plenty of room to work, whether you're dropping baits on deep wrecks or kite fishing for sailfish. When the Florida sun gets intense, retreat to the air-conditioned cabin complete with kitchen, bed, and full bathroom. The flybridge offers perfect visibility for spotting fish and navigating to those secret honey holes. With GPS, radar, and a multimedia system onboard, plus an icebox and fridge to keep your catch fresh, this classic sportfisher has everything needed for productive days targeting mahi, grouper, snapper, and whatever else the wrecks are holding.
Mycteroperca BonaciBlack Grouper are the bruisers of the reef, with olive-gray bodies covered in dark rectangular blotches. Most average 10-20 pounds, but they can reach massive sizes - the record is over 100 pounds. These ambush predators hang around wrecks, ledges, and reefs in 30-300 feet, using their powerful jaws to inhale whole fish and crustaceans. They're solitary except during winter spawning season. The fight is what makes them special - pure bulldogging power trying to get back to the rocks. The payoff is excellent table fare with mild, firm meat. We target them year-round, but cooler months bring them shallower. They're not picky - live or dead bait works, just get it to the bottom. Here's the deal: bring heavy tackle with at least 20 pounds of drag because once hooked, it's a tug-of-war. The moment you feel that bite, start cranking immediately - don't let them get their head down and run for cover.
Mycteroperca MicrolepisGag Grouper are gray, marbled-looking fish that average around 20 inches but can reach 50+ inches and 80 pounds. The males are darker with distinctive reticulated dorsal fins, while females stay lighter gray. They love rocky structure - reefs, wrecks, and drop-offs where they can ambush crabs, shrimp, and small fish. Juveniles hang inshore around grass beds, but adults prefer offshore structure in deeper water. Best fishing is fall through spring when they're more active. These fish are prized for their excellent table quality and the tough fight they put up. They'll try to drag you straight back to the rocks once hooked. Live pinfish and mullet work best, but cut squid and crab are solid choices too. My tip: look for stone crab traps when sight-fishing - gags love hanging around them for easy meals. Keep your drag locked tight and don't let them freewheel back to cover.
Coryphaena HippurusMahi are fast-growing fish that average 15-30 pounds, with brilliant gold and green colors that put on a light show when they come out of the water. We find them around floating debris, weed lines, and current breaks, usually within 20 miles offshore in blue water. They travel in schools, so when you hook one, there's often more around. Spring through fall offers the best action when water temps warm up. These fish are popular for good reason - they fight hard with lots of jumps and runs, plus the meat is top-shelf with a mild, sweet flavor that's perfect grilled or blackened. The key to landing more is keeping your baits in the water once you find them. When we hook the first one, I tell everyone to get their lines back out fast while I work the hooked fish - that school might stick around for multiple shots.
Epinephelus MorioRed Grouper are solid fighters that live around rocky bottoms, reefs, and wrecks in 10-300 feet of water. Most run 5-10 pounds, but they can hit 50+ pounds. They're aggressive feeders with big mouths built to swallow prey whole, so they'll hammer shrimp, crab, or cut bait without much hesitation. The meat is outstanding - firm, flaky texture with a sweet taste that makes them a favorite at the dinner table. These fish are tough customers once hooked, using their bulk to try getting back to the rocks. Best fishing is during cooler months when they move shallower. Here's the key: when you feel that thump, don't wait around - crank hard immediately. They'll inhale your bait and head straight for cover, so you've got to turn them quick before they wrap you up in the structure.
Lutjanus CampechanusRed Snapper are the crown jewel of bottom fishing around here. Most run 2-8 pounds, but they can push 20+ pounds on the deeper reefs and wrecks in 60-200 feet. They're true warriors - once hooked, they'll make powerful runs toward structure trying to cut you off. The meat is what dreams are made of: firm, white, and sweet with that classic snapper flavor. We target them year-round, but fall and winter tend to be most productive when they're more active. These fish live around hard bottom, artificial reefs, and shipwrecks where they ambush smaller fish. They're not picky eaters - live pinfish, cut squid, or cigar minnows all work great. Pro tip: use a fish finder rig with enough weight to stay on bottom, and when you feel that tap-tap-thump, set the hook hard and keep steady pressure. Don't give them time to think about it.
Fort Lauderdale, FL