Jim and Richard from Texas chartered the Happy Day Today last week out of Fort LauderdaleFL

The weather was absolutely perfect – clear skies, crystal blue water with the temperature in the 70’s. We started out fishing for Mahi-Mahi, King Mackerel and Barracuda by using Ballyhoo surface baits and two deep baits. We fished in 100’ of water out to 200’ of water until we finally found a nice rip off the reef line.  It took over an hour before we caught our first fish which was a 12 pound Bonito. We continued to troll and caught another Bonito which was about half the size of the first one. In the last hour of fishing, we trolled to a wreck which is located in 230’ of water located off Sunrise Blvd out of Fort Lauderdale. Just before we arrived to the wreck, we caught a King Mackerel on a deep line which was a sea witch with a strip.

About three hours into the trip, we were on the wreck. The first bait dropped was a Blue Runner, with a 20/0 circle hook and 40 foot leader.  Within five minutes a stud Amberjack jumped all over the bait. Jim fought the Amberjack for around 30 minutes and we got the fish in the boat by using a lip gaff, got the circle hook out and de-pressured the Amberjack (because the fish fills with air as they raise up from 200+ feet down). The air was squeezed out of the fish, got some photos and we released the fish safely to swim away just fine to aFort Lauderdale wreck.