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While much of the sportfishing world shifts to the Carolinas and New England from June through September, Black Book Charters keeps three tournament-ready vessels in South Florida year-round. The 61' Chadwick in Palm Beach, the 80' Viking in Fort Lauderdale, and the 82' Viking are all booked through the summer and fishing every week.
Summer in South Florida is not an off-season. It is one of the best stretches of the year for anglers who want to fill a cooler, target something different, or fish the deep drop for a chance at a broadbill swordfish during the day.
Daytime Swordfish
The summer swordfish bite in South Florida is one of the most unique fisheries in the Atlantic. The deep waters off Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale put you in range of swordfish in 1,200 to 1,800 feet of water, all within a short run from the dock. The Gulf Stream pushes close to shore along the South Florida coast, bringing the deep water and the temperature breaks that swordfish follow right to the edge.
Daytime deep-drop swordfishing is a technical game. A rigged bait goes down more than a thousand feet to the bottom, where swordfish feed along muddy slopes and ledges in near-total darkness. The crew manages the drift, works the bait up and down through the water column, and waits for the bite. When a broadbill eats at depth and the rod loads up, the fight to the surface is one of the most intense experiences in offshore fishing. Swordfish come up angry, lit up in purples and blues, slashing at the surface.
The boats in the Black Book summer fleet are built for this. Deep-drop swordfishing requires a stable platform, quality electronics to read bottom contour, and the patience to manage long drifts in open water. Seakeeper stabilization, advanced sonar, and experienced crews make the difference between a productive trip and a long day staring at rod tips.
Summer sword trips run as full-day charters out of Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale. The bite is most consistent from June through September, with the best days typically falling on calm, blue-water mornings when the current is running right.
Mahi Season
Summer is mahi season in South Florida. Dolphinfish push through the Gulf Stream in schools from May through August, stacking on weed lines, debris, and floating structure along the edge. On a strong day, the mahi bite can produce double-digit fish in a single trip.
Mahi are one of the most exciting species to catch on light tackle. They eat aggressively, fight hard on the surface, and they are among the best table fish in the ocean. For families, corporate groups, or first-time charter guests, a summer mahi trip is one of the most rewarding ways to spend a day on the water. The action is fast, the fish are colorful, and you go home with a cooler full of fresh filets.
The crew will typically run out to the edge and work the weed lines, pulling dredges and trolling ballyhoo until the first fish comes to the boat. Once a school is located, the spread shifts to pitch baits and live bait, keeping the school fired up and the bites coming. On the right day, you will pick up wahoo, blackfin tuna, and kingfish in the same water.
Summer Sailfish
The South Florida sailfish bite does not end in April. Over the past several years, the summer sailfish fishery has been getting stronger, with consistent catches extending well into June and July. The kite fishing program that produces all winter and spring continues to work through the summer months, particularly on days when the current pushes in and the bait concentrations shift close to shore.
A summer sailfish on a kite in Palm Beach is the same world-class experience that makes the winter season famous. The boats and crews in the Black Book fleet run the same program year-round. The 61' Chadwick, the 2026 Quest for the Crest Sailfish Series Champion, fishes kites in Palm Beach through the summer. The crew that won the burgundy jacket is the crew you fish with on charter.
Fill the Freezer
Summer in South Florida is meat fishing at its best. Between the mahi schools on the edge, deep-dropping for swords, and the bottom fishing for snapper and grouper, a well-run charter trip in July or August will send you home with a full cooler. The boats carry the tackle, the cooler space, and the crew to clean and bag your catch at the dock.
For anglers who want to combine a swordfish drop in the morning with a mahi troll on the way home, the summer schedule allows for flexible trip structures. Talk to the crew about what you want to target, and they will build the day around the conditions and the bite.
The Summer Fleet
61' Chadwick | Palm Beach
The 2026 Quest for the Crest Sailfish Series Champion. A custom Chadwick build optimized for kite fishing, dredge fishing, and bottom fishing. Based year-round in Palm Beach with tournament-proven credibility on the South Florida circuit.
80' Viking | Fort Lauderdale
A year-round 80' Viking with enclosed bridge, Seakeeper stabilization, advanced sonar, and air-conditioned mezzanine. One of the strongest Viking charter options in Florida for anglers who want big-boat comfort and tournament-grade capability.
82' Viking
The 82' Viking rounds out the South Florida summer fleet. Seakeeper-equipped, tournament-rigged, and running the same program as the rest of the fleet through the summer months.
All three vessels are privately owned, captain-maintained, and available exclusively through Black Book Charters.
Summer Availability
The South Florida summer season runs from June through September. Dates fill faster than most anglers expect because fewer boats are available and the fishing is consistently strong. If you are planning a summer trip targeting swordfish, mahi, or sailfish out of Palm Beach or Fort Lauderdale, now is the time to secure your dates.
View the full fleet or explore all Black Book Charters destinations.
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