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Lauderdale-by-the-Sea
Fishing Charters

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is a diving and snorkeling town because the reef comes in close there. The same reef runs north past Pompano, and this is the boat that fishes it.

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Sportfishing out of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, on a six angler boat

Gradyful is a single boat with a single captain. Six anglers is the maximum, the gear and the licenses are already aboard, and the person who answers the phone is the person who runs the trip. From Lauderdale-by-the-Sea it is about 15 minutes north on A1A.

The three reef lines that make Lauderdale-by-the-Sea good for shore diving are the same structure we fish further north in deeper water, where the bigger snapper, kingfish and bonito hold.

If you are staying near Anglin's Fishing Pier and the shore-dive reef off the beach, the dock is roughly 15 minutes north on A1A. Captain Shawn confirms the exact slip and where to park the night before, so nobody is hunting for it at a quarter to seven in the morning.

Getting to the boat from Lauderdale-by-the-Sea

Distance
About 7 miles, about 15 minutes north on A1A.
Where you leave from
2772 NE 3rd St
Pompano Beach, FL 33062
Out through Hillsboro Inlet.
Departures
7:00 AM daily, plus 12:30 PM for half days when the morning is open.
Near
Anglin's Fishing Pier and the shore-dive reef off the beach
Check a date

What a charter from Lauderdale-by-the-Sea costs

The same price list wherever you drive in from. No travel surcharge, no fuel surcharge, nothing added at the dock.

Gradyful charter prices for guests traveling from Lauderdale-by-the-Sea
Trip Hours Price
Half Day, Shared4 hours$200 per person
Three-Quarter Day, Shared6 hours$275 per person
Night Snapper, Shared5 hours$125 per person
Half Day, Private4 hours$700 for the whole boat
Three-Quarter Day, Private6 hours$900 for the whole boat
Full Day, Private8 hours$1,100 for the whole boat

Rods, reels, tackle, bait, ice, fuel, the saltwater fishing license for everyone aboard and cleaning your catch are included in every price above. The only thing left is the mate’s tip.

What is biting off Lauderdale-by-the-Sea

Winter is the sailfish and wahoo season and it is the reason a lot of people book at all. Spring and summer belong to mahi, and the wrecks hold amberjack and cobia. The reef itself never really switches off, so even a flat week in the shoulder season puts snapper and blackfin in the box.

Species and seasons

Which trip suits a Lauderdale-by-the-Sea booking

At about 15 minutes north on A1A, the 7:00 AM departure means leaving Lauderdale-by-the-Sea around six, which most groups would rather do once than twice. That tends to favour the six or eight hour trip over the four, so the drive is attached to a full day on the water rather than half of one.

See every trip

Do you run fishing charters from Lauderdale-by-the-Sea?

Yes. Gradyful Fishing Charters serves Lauderdale-by-the-Sea and the surrounding Gold Coast. Every trip departs from our dock at 2772 NE 3rd St, Pompano Beach, FL 33062, about 7 miles from Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, about 15 minutes north on A1A. Call or text Captain Shawn on (973) 953-4866 to check a date.

How far is the boat from Lauderdale-by-the-Sea?

The dock is about 7 miles from Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, about 15 minutes north on A1A. A short run up A1A puts you at a dock just inside Hillsboro Inlet.

What does a fishing charter from Lauderdale-by-the-Sea cost?

The same as anywhere else we fish: $200 per person for a four hour shared trip, $275 for six hours, and $125 for the five hour night snapper trip (minimum three anglers, weather permitting). A private boat for up to six anglers is $700 for four hours, $900 for six and $1,100 for eight. Rods, reels, tackle, bait, ice, fuel, the saltwater fishing license for everyone aboard and cleaning your catch are all included. There is no travel surcharge for coming from Lauderdale-by-the-Sea.

What fish can you catch off Lauderdale-by-the-Sea?

Mahi mahi, sailfish, wahoo, blackfin tuna, kingfish, yellowtail and mutton snapper, amberjack, cobia and grouper offshore, plus snook and tarpon inshore when the ocean is rough. Sailfish and wahoo peak from November through March, mahi from April through August, and the reef fishes for snapper and blackfin all year.

Do I need a fishing license to fish out of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea?

No. The vessel license covers every angler on board for saltwater fishing, so nobody in your group needs to buy their own before driving over from Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. That applies the moment you step on the boat at the Pompano Beach dock, and it covers the reef, the wrecks and the blue water alike. A couple of species carry their own tag requirements, so mention it when you book if you are targeting something specific.

How early do charters leave from the Lauderdale-by-the-Sea area?

Trips depart at 7:00 AM seven days a week, half day trips also run at 12:30 PM when the morning is open, and the five hour night snapper trip leaves at 7:00 PM. From Lauderdale-by-the-Sea allow 15 minutes north on A1A for the drive, plus a few minutes to park and stow a cooler.

Should a group from Lauderdale-by-the-Sea book seats or the whole boat?

If you are four or more, take the whole boat. Six hours of shared seats for four people is $1,100 against $900 for the private boat, so the private trip costs less and you set the plan. One, two or three anglers are usually better off buying seats. Six is the maximum either way, because the vessel is a United States Coast Guard six-pack. Groups coming from Lauderdale-by-the-Sea often share the 7 mile drive and split the private boat between them.

Can beginners and kids fish out of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea?

Yes, and a lot of our trips are exactly that. The mate rigs everything, shows you how to work the rod and coaches first-timers through the fight. Because the run out of Hillsboro Inlet is short, a four hour trip is comfortable for children who would not last a long ride offshore. Tell Captain Shawn when you book if you are bringing kids and the crew plans the day around them. The boat is not wheelchair accessible, so call ahead if anyone in your group has mobility needs.

Captain Shawn answers his own phone

No booking engine, no call center, no back and forth with a receptionist. Tell him the date and how many people, and he will tell you straight whether the fishing is worth your money that week.

Prefer email? captainshawn311@yahoo.com

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