Cool Runnings Sportfishing Charters
FORT LAUDERDALE OFFSHORE FISHING CHARTERS
Sailfish, mahi, tuna, wahoo, and marlin on a 32-foot Contender out of Cox Landing.
Fort Lauderdale puts you on the doorstep of the Gulf Stream like few places on the East Coast. The current runs in close enough that a half-day trip on the Cool Runnings offshore boat can hand you a screaming reel before the city skyline is out of sight. Captain Jason has spent more than a decade reading these waters out of Cox Landing, and the boat carries gear matched to every bite the Atlantic might offer that morning.
Fort Lauderdale offshore fishing charters mean Gulf Stream access in under 20 minutes. The current sweeps north past Port Everglades only a few miles east of the beach. That warm-water highway is what brings mahi mahi crashing weed lines, sailfish tailing on the surface in winter, and blackfin tuna stacked up off the wrecks. Captain Jason runs Cool Runnings out of the Cox Landing, so the shortest run between the dock and a hooked fish is a real advantage on a half-day trip.
We don't guess where to fish. Every trip starts with a read of the day, water temps, bait pods, the report from the morning boats, and where the fleet is working. Some mornings that means a long troll along the color change for mahi and wahoo.
Some afternoons it means setting kites in the sailfish lanes off Hillsboro Inlet. Other days the bite is on the deep wrecks and we drop chunks for tuna. The boat is rigged for all of it.
The species list is real Fort Lauderdale offshore. Mahi Mahi school along the floating weed lines in spring and summer, with the bigger bull dolphin showing in May and June. Sailfish are the winter and early-spring headliner here, and Fort Lauderdale sits squarely on the Sailfish Alley flyway. Blackfin Tuna and Yellowfin Tuna stack up on the deep humps and wrecks, fall through winter for the consistent fall blackfin bite, and spring for the chance at yellowfin.
Wahoo show up on the high-speed troll near the reefs and shelves, especially around new and full moons. Kingfish hammer slow-trolled live baits over the reef edges. Marlin, both blue and white, are the bonus on long runs to the deeper water in spring. Cobia patrol the wrecks and free-jumping rays year-round.
The boat for the job is a 32-foot Contender with twin Yamaha 300 outboards. Wide, dry, and quick enough to make the run to the next bite without burning an hour of fishing time. We provide tackle, live and dead bait, ice chests, rods and reels rigged for the day, plus all required Florida saltwater licenses for the whole party. You bring sun protection, soft-soled shoes, food, and a camera.
We clean and bag your catch at the dock at the end of the day. Trips run roughly four hours for a half day, six hours for a three-quarter, and eight hours for a full day. The heaviest pelagic action almost always wants the longer slots.
For a closer-to-shore alternative, look at our Fort Lauderdale bottom fishing charters on the reefs and wrecks. If you want to fish skinny water for snook and tarpon instead, inshore fishing in Fort Lauderdale is the call. Read through what to expect on board in our charter info breakdown before your trip.
Captain Jason has placed and won in world-renowned tournaments out of South Florida and has been featured on Bass2Billfish with Peter Miller. That tournament-level boat handling is the same approach you get on a private four-person charter. We keep the party small, two to three guests is the sweet spot, four maximum, so everyone gets real rod time when the bite turns on.
The crew runs every trip the same way, prep hard, fish harder, and send you home with a great day on the water. Call (954) 588-0578 to lock in a date, or read what past charters have said on our guest reviews.
WHERE WE FISH OFFSHORE
WHY THE GULF STREAM SETS FORT LAUDERDALE APART
The single biggest reason Fort Lauderdale produces is the proximity of the Gulf Stream. The axis of the current sits roughly five to twelve miles offshore here, closer than most of the East Coast, and that warm-water edge is where the pelagic action lives. From the home dock at Cox Landing we can be on the color change in 15 to 20 minutes, fishing kite baits or trolling spreaders before slower boats have even cleared Port Everglades. We work the reef lines down toward the Dania-side beaches for kingfish and sailfish. The deep wrecks off the 17th Street Causeway hold blackfin tuna, and the long ledges past Hillsboro Inlet light up when the wahoo bite turns on. A decade working this stretch of coast has shown us the rhythms. Where mahi school after a south wind, which wrecks hold tuna after a cold front, when the sailfish push through on a north breeze.
Know Before You Book
WHAT MAKES OFFSHORE DIFFERENT FROM INSHORE
On the Water
HOW A DAY OFFSHORE PLAYS OUT
PRE-DAWN DEPARTURE
Meet at the home dock in Cox Landing before sunrise. Quick brief on what we are targeting, where we are running, and how the spread is set.
SHORT RUN TO THE STREAM
Idle out the no-wake zone, then a 15 to 20 minute run east to the Gulf Stream color change, the reef edge, or whichever pelagic pattern is on that day.
SET THE SPREAD
Live bait kite rigs for sailfish, deep diving plugs and trolling lures for mahi, wahoo, and kingfish, or chunk bait setups over the deep wrecks for blackfin tuna.
WORK THE PATTERN
Move with the bait, the birds, and the floating weeds. The captain runs the boat, the mate handles the rigs, and you fish. Every bite is your fish to fight start to finish.
RUN IN AND CLEAN UP
Photos with the catch on the way back to the dock. We clean and bag your fillets right at Cox Landing so you go home with cooler-ready fish.
Why Anglers Choose Cool Runnings
WHY ANGLERS PICK OFFSHORE WITH US
- Tournament-placed captain with over a decade fishing the Fort Lauderdale Gulf Stream
- 32-foot Contender with twin Yamaha 300s, wide cockpit, dry ride, room for four
- Short run to the action from Cox Landing
- All gear, bait, ice, and Florida fishing licenses provided
- Catch cleaning and bagging at the dock included
- Featured on Bass2Billfish with Peter Miller
- Four-guest maximum keeps every angler on a rod when the bite hits
Trip Pricing
CALL FOR CURRENT RATES
Trip pricing varies by season, party size, and trip length. Half-day, 3/4-day, and full-day options available. Call 954-588-0578 or use the Fort Lauderdale booking form for a quote. Ask about the discount on your 3rd booking.
Offshore Fishing Questions, Answered
Real questions from real anglers booking the Cool Runnings boat.
Other Trip Types
MORE WAYS TO FISH WITH CAPTAIN JASON
INSHORE FISHING CHARTERS
Sight fish the flats and work the Intracoastal channels for snook, tarpon, redfish, and seatrout. Quiet trolling motor on a 32 Contender means no spooked fish.
BOTTOM FISHING CHARTERS
Drop baits over reefs and wrecks off Fort Lauderdale for snapper, grouper, amberjack, triggerfish, and more. Steady action, dinner-quality fish, half or full days.
Book A Offshore Fishing Trip
Two to four guests, all gear and bait covered, catch cleaned at the dock. Captain Jason confirms your dock time the night before.