Bar Jacks Fishing Report – April 13 | Tuna Everywhere & Mahi Going Off
Bar Jacks Fishing Report – April 13
Spring Bite Is Red Hot Despite Rough Weather in South Florida
Hello and welcome back to another Bar Jacks Fishing Report for April 13. The weather has been pretty awful again this week, making it tough to get offshore. But for the few boats that have made it out, the spring bite has been absolutely red hot. Looking ahead, seas should finally start laying down later this week, hopefully setting up a good weekend to fish.
Sailfish
The sailfish bite has been solid. Fish are still crushing kite baits like goggle eyes and threadfin herring in 80–300 feet of water. If you're strictly targeting sailfish, it's highly recommended to run only fluorocarbon no wire. Kite fishing remains the top method, but drifting live baits is also producing when conditions line up. The bite has stayed consistent even through the rough weather.
Tuna
The tuna bite is still red hot. Football-sized blackfin tuna have been everywhere on the troll in 100–400 feet of water. A lot of fish are showing up around structure and the cargo ships. Watch your sonar because once you find a pack of these tunas, you can work that area and load up on fish — a great way to put sushi in the cooler. Jumbo blackfins haven't shown up yet, but as we move deeper into spring, we expect them to start arriving. The best bite has been early morning and late afternoon.
Wahoo
The wahoo bite has stayed red hot. Trolling seawitches with planers remains the best way to get one in the box. If you want your best shot, get out early right before sunrise and work wrecks and structures just offshore of South Florida. That early window continues to produce the best results.
Mahi
The mahi bite has been insane. It's awesome to see them showing up this early in the year, and it's a great sign for a strong season ahead. There have been plenty of schoolies, but if you take your time and work the schools, you can definitely pick off some keepers for dinner.
Bottom Fishing
Bottom fishing has been okay overall, but it's still a solid backup when trolling is slow. Heading into May, grouper season opens along with blueline tilefish, so you can now target those fish. Even right now, it's a great way to put something in the cooler when offshore fishing is tough. Even with rough conditions, the spring bite in South Florida is on fire right now. Once the seas settle down, it's going to be game on offshore.
We hope you enjoyed the April 13 Bar Jacks Fishing Report. DM us @barjacksgear on Instagram to be featured in the next report!
Gear up for the spring bite with Bar Jacks offshore fishing lures and performance fishing apparel — built for South Florida anglers.