Backcountry Fishing Reports

Got out with a long time friend Charlie Kluck and his buddy Herman down from North Dakota.  We had a slick out with the weather and looked like a gorgeous day.  Stuck on the outside as I figured the bugs would be bad early. We picked away catching a few redfish, trout, jack, mackerel, croaker, and stuff jigging along with shrimp.  We got in a good area and got a couple big black drum too which was awesome… big nasties about 22 and 25 lbs each!  After that we found a few more black drum and some snook in an area.  Then we got a nice redfish.  Worked our way into the creeks after that and tore up the smaller snook and a few decent reds along with a couple small goliath grouper, and had a tarpon on for a minute.  All in all just a fantastic day!

Capt. Rick Stanczyk
Instagram: @richardstanczyk
Facebook: Islamorada Tarpon Fishing

Got out with Jim today just by himself again for our last day, gwen stayed at home.  We focused on trying to get some trophy fish, in hopes of some big ones but giving up possible numbers.  Picked away on some spots early.  A nice redfish, a couple nice juvenile goliath groupers, a few black drums including jims personal best about a 20 lber.  After that things slowed up a little we hit a few spots without much luck, but then finished up with a few more juvenile goliath groupers.  All in all not too shabby, back at it tomorrow but I think we’re going to be more in the numbers game but may try a few spots for some big ones.

Capt. Rick Stanczyk
Instagram: @richardstanczyk
Facebook: Islamorada Tarpon Fishing

Fun day with my dad, bean, and Vic Gaspeny.  We went after the big dogs…  good condition for it with the wind slicking out and colder water temps.  Found ’em good where we left them yesterday.  Big reds and some nice black drums, no snook here though.  Found some more reds in another area, and then one nice snook off another spot.  A few more nice black drums and one more smaller snook.  Then some more reds and drums to finish up the day.  Got some beauties up to 38 inches or so on the red dogs!  Glad to see those fish around.  Off for the weekend then back at it Monday!

Capt. Rick Stanczyk
Instagram: @richardstanczyk
Facebook: Islamorada Tarpon Fishing

Long time customers Jim & Gwen. Crazy fog early and warmed up considerably from the coldest day we’ve had in 10 years! Felt like a crushing situation. Snooks, reds, and drums early on though nothing huge. Tried some spots in hopes of big ones but lots of mud. Lots of smaller snook later on, then we nailed a home run with quite a few big black drum, couple large snook, and Jim’s biggest Red about a 15 lber! Calm days coming up should be some good fishing.  YouTube video will be up in a few days so check out the channel and make sure to subscribe!

Capt. Rick Stanczyk
Instagram: @richardstanczyk
Facebook: Islamorada Tarpon Fishing

Yesterday we found a big school of tarpon in the everglades with the warm, calm weather.  Angler Mark Gregg caught about a 140 lber on light gear.  Almost got eaten by a huge shark but it got away!  We caught it all on video which you can watch below!  We also got about a 60 lb tarpon today for Gentry.  But winds are suppose to kick up to 30 mph tomorrow, and a cold front coming dropping temps into the 50s, so the tarpon thing will likely shut down again.  But I expect a good early season again like last year come February.

Capt. Rick Stanczyk
Instagram: @richardstanczyk
Facebook: Islamorada Tarpon Fishing