Can’t believe it’s the middle of august already, boy time flies! I’ve been as busy as ever still fishing just about every day though I am getting ready to go out of town here for a couple weeks to get married. August Florida Keys Fishing has been so good figured I’d share before I left – if your interested in booking a charter don’t hesitate to email me I can line you up with a good guide while I’m away! I’ve been still doing a lot of islamorada tarpon fishing charters. Things have been very hot mid day and the fishing has often been a bit slower come that time so early starts have helped. We’ve had mostly light breezes, if any at all, out of the south which is a much warmer wind usually. I’ve still been getting mullet regularly first thing in the morning with the 6 AM departures. The backcountry tarpon fishing off the beaches of the mainland has been very consistent. My last 7 trips we have landed 14 tarpon, so averaging 2 per trip and all trips caught 1 fish at least – not bad at all for mid-august! Many tarpon in the 30-60 lb range which we consider on the smaller side or ‘resident’ size tarpon. I’m happy to see that and hopefully if the weather stays relatively stable these fish should be there for a bit longer. There are plenty of sharks, mostly blacktips, mixed in with them too. When not fishing for tarpon I’ve still been doing some trout and snapper fishing in the bays. Using small cut ballyhoo, chunks of mullet, or even GULP artificials can do the trick, however as I tell my customers most the best keys tarpon fishing is the first few hours of the day. So often it’s a pick though when we have a lot of bait and chum you can usually get the snappers going pretty good at least if nothing else. When pilchards or pinfish come up we are still catching those and I’ve been catching a few snook here and there around the islands and mangrove-laden shorelines. But to be honest this time of year I am happy to do a 5 or 6 hour day, put in the hard work early for a few tarpon and sharks, and be back home in time for lunch!
8/16/14 Mid August Islamorada Fishing Report
Capt. Rick Stanczyk
Capt. Rick Stanczyk is a locally born and raised charter fishing captain in Islamorada, FL. He caught his first bonefish when he was 3 and has been 'on the water fishing' ever since. He loves what he does and enjoys showing his clients a great time fishing in the Florida Keys. Contact him at 305-747-6903 or rick@fishingislamorada.com!
