Expert Guided Night Fishing for Snook and Tarpon
Private Trip
Flats/Shallows Fishing
Night fishing targets active snook and tarpon after darkCaptain provides specialized shallow water boat and premium tackleFourhour guided trip through Fort Lauderdale Intracoastal waters
When the sun goes down over Fort Lauderdale's Intracoastal, the real fishing action begins. This 4-hour night charter with Florida Flats Fishing Adventures puts you right where the big snook and tarpon come alive - under dock lights and around the bridges where these predators hunt in the darkness. Captain Steve Purser knows these waters like the back of his hand, and his Maverick Mirage 17 HPX-S is purpose-built for getting into those tight spots where the fish are feeding. You'll be fishing with top-shelf tackle and live bait, with everything provided except your Florida fishing license and the stories you'll tell afterward.
Night fishing the Fort Lauderdale Intracoastal is a completely different game than daytime angling. The water comes alive after dark, and that's when the big snook and tarpon start their feeding frenzy. Captain Steve positions the boat strategically around lighted docks, bridges, and canal mouths where baitfish gather under the artificial lights. The Maverick Mirage 17 HPX-S runs whisper-quiet through these shallow waters, letting you get close to the action without spooking the fish. You'll be casting live pilchards, pinfish, and shrimp into the shadows where these apex predators wait to ambush their next meal. The whole experience feels like you're part of an underwater hunt, watching the food chain in action while trying to outsmart some of South Florida's craftiest game fish. Captain Steve provides all the rods, reels, tackle, bait, plus a cooler stocked with ice and water - you just need to bring your sense of adventure and maybe a light jacket for the boat ride.
This charter runs medium to heavy spinning gear perfectly suited for the hard-fighting fish you'll encounter. Captain Steve rigs up with 20-30 lb braided line and fluorocarbon leaders that can handle the sharp gill plates and sandpaper mouths of snook and tarpon. The technique is all about precision casting to structure - you'll be pitching live bait to pilings, bridge abutments, and the edges of lighted areas where the predators stage. Free-lining live pilchards lets them swim naturally into the strike zone, while weighted rigs get pinfish down to the bottom-hugging snook. When a tarpon rolls on your bait, Captain Steve will coach you through the critical first moments - keeping steady pressure while the fish goes aerial, then working the angles to tire out these 50-100 pound silver bullets. The shallow draft of the Maverick lets you follow jumping tarpon into water barely three feet deep, giving you a fighting chance against fish that would otherwise spool you in deeper water.
Fort Lauderdale's Intracoastal has been producing some monster snook and tarpon this year, especially during the warmer months when both species are most active after dark. Snook in the 10-20 pound range are common around the residential docks, with slot-sized fish hitting live shrimp and pinfish with aggressive strikes that'll test your drag settings. The real excitement comes when a 30-40 pound tarpon crashes your bait under a bridge light - these fish go completely ballistic, jumping clear out of the water multiple times before settling into a bulldogging fight that can last 20-30 minutes. Captain Steve's been seeing consistent action around the Las Olas Boulevard bridge area and the residential canals off the main waterway, where the combination of current, structure, and ambient light creates perfect hunting conditions. Recent trips have produced multiple hookups per outing, with anglers landing fish in both species categories and getting into some serious battles with oversized tarpon that put both angler and equipment to the test.
Snook are the bread and butter of Fort Lauderdale's night fishing scene, and for good reason. These ambush predators lurk in the shadows around dock pilings and bridge structures, using their excellent night vision to spot prey silhouetted against the lights above. They're incredibly structure-oriented fish with a nasty habit of wrapping your line around the nearest piling or cutting you off with their razor-sharp gill covers. A good snook fight starts with a bone-jarring strike, followed by several powerful runs toward whatever cover they can find. The slot limit keeps things interesting - you're looking for fish between 28-33 inches, which typically weigh 8-15 pounds and fight like fish twice their size. What makes them special is their unpredictability; they might ignore your bait for an hour, then suddenly explode on it without warning. Peak feeding times are during moving water, especially on the outgoing tide when baitfish get swept past their hiding spots.
Tarpon turn night fishing into a contact sport. These prehistoric silver giants patrol the Intracoastal after dark, hunting in packs and creating surface disturbances that'll get your heart racing before you even make a cast. Fort Lauderdale's resident tarpon typically range from 40-120 pounds, with the bigger fish showing up during their spring and summer migrations. What sets tarpon apart is their fighting style - they're pure aerial acrobats that can jump 6-8 feet out of the water, shaking their heads violently to throw your hooks. The initial run on a hooked tarpon is absolutely electric; they'll peel 100 yards of line in seconds before launching skyward. Night fishing gives you a slight advantage because the fish can't see the boat as clearly, but it also means you're fighting a powerful fish in limited visibility. The key is staying calm during those spectacular jumps and keeping steady pressure during the long fight that follows. Landing a tarpon under the lights is a bucket-list experience that'll have you planning your next trip before you even get back to the dock.
The Maverick Mirage 17 HPX-S is your ticket to serious shallow water fishing in Fort Lauderdale's Intracoastal. This specialized flats boat draws less than 6 inches, letting you slip into skinny water where bigger boats can't follow. Built for stealth and precision, it poles quietly through the shallows without spooking fish. The shallow draft design keeps you dry and comfortable while positioning for those perfect casts under dock lights and bridge pilings where snook and tarpon hunt at night. An onboard icebox keeps your drinks cold during those long waits between strikes. With room for just two anglers, you get personalized attention from your captain while targeting these powerful gamefish in their prime feeding spots. This boat's designed specifically for getting into tight spots and technical water where the big fish hide after dark.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are built for ambush hunting with their sleek bodies and that signature black lateral line running down their sides. Most fish you'll catch run 18-24 inches, but the big females can push 3-4 feet and really put up a fight. They love structure - docks, bridges, mangrove edges - anywhere they can hide and wait for baitfish to swim by. Night fishing is prime time since they're most active in darkness, especially around lighted areas where bait congregates. What makes snook special is their explosive strike and strong runs when hooked. They'll jump, shake their heads, and use that wide tail for powerful bursts. The cooler months from October through March are your best bet here in South Florida. Pro tip: when working around dock lights, cast into the shadows just outside the light beam - that's where the big ones wait to pick off unsuspecting prey.
Megalops AtlanticusTarpon are the ultimate gamefish - silver kings that can reach 6-8 feet and over 100 pounds, though most we see run 60-80 pounds. They're famous for those spectacular jumps, often clearing the water by 6-8 feet when hooked. You'll find them cruising shallow coastal waters, channels, and around bridge structures, especially during warmer months from April through September. They move with the tides and often roll on the surface, giving away their location. What draws anglers is that raw power and acrobatic show - there's nothing like watching a tarpon go airborne right next to the boat. They're strictly catch and release since the meat isn't great eating. Night fishing under lights produces consistent action as they hunt baitfish. Here's a key tip: when they jump, bow to the fish by dropping your rod tip toward them - it gives slack and prevents the line from snapping on their gill plates.
Davie, FL, United States