6/15/14 June Islamorada Fishing in the Florida Keys Backcountry

We are in mid june and the weather has been stable and nice.  While it has gotten a little hot on some days, most have had a slight southeast breeze which has kept the real heat down.  The mornings are often a little overcast too, perfect for half day fishing trips though if you do the full day at least you get a break with the clouds off and on.  Fishing has been good for the most part we’ve enjoyed lots of action in the bays with plenty of mangrove snappers along with a mix of trout, jacks, ladyfish, and more.  The backcountry channels have had a variety of sharks and there have still been plenty of tarpon around too.  Most full days we are mixing it up with the smaller fish bending the lights rods, perhaps catching dinner, and then going and trying for tarpon or sharks.  We’ve gotten a few reds and snook on occasion as well as the occasional floating tripletail or cobia when we are running around.  For the most part though tarpon is still my mainstay this time of year.  For the best fishing leaving early gives you an added chance of success as the mullet are much thinner now though there are a few spots you can find them before it gets too bright.  You can also catch the last of the falling tides in the morning and have good fishing drifting crabs.  This is the same on the evenings, the tarpon are feeding on crabs much more now especially with the falling tides and near dark.  Of course soaking mullet on the bottom or fishing them live if you can find them is still a good method too.  I’m pretty booked up the rest of the month though I have days available in July which can be great tarpon fishing in the everglades then.  Again it’s an early game though we often depart the dock at 6 AM or earlier.  Drop me a line if your interested in getting out!

Capt. Rick Stanczyk