Backcountry Fishing Reports

We had some action this morning with september islamorada tarpon fishing around the flamingo area.  Mullet can still be found on the flats and around island moats until it really gets cold so this is a possibility all the way through october.  We were able to get a few baits first thing to give it a good shot.  Had several bites and caught this nice 60 lb tarpon.  The tide quit after an hour and the air temperature dropped as frontal cells approached so things shut off there.  We went around some mangrove islands and caught some snook.  Fall snook fishing in the florida keys is a good bet.  There were also plenty of nice mangrove snappers to be had, great table fare if your into cooking your catch.  Or you can bring them to a local resturant to have for supper!  We also did catch one small redfish completing our ‘backcountry slam’ for the day!

Capt. Rick Stanczyk
305-747-6903
rick@fishingislamorada.com

The august fishing islamorada is still going strong both offshore and backcountry.  We’ve still been getting out almost every day – it is unbelievably busy and the fishing is still top notch!  We landed several big goliath groupers today with some young teenagers, plus they got a big tarpon and plenty of sharks of the blacktip and blacknose variety.  All this was done on fresh live mullet bottom fishing.  We also had good action on the light rods for big trout, mangrove snapper, and ladyfish.  Tarpon fishing can still be very good through September – getting out early to catch the proper live bait is key which I am doing most of the time this time of year!

Capt. Rick Stanczyk
305-747-6903
rick@fishingislamorada.com

We’ve still been bagging the tarpon pretty good back around flamingo and the rest of the backcountry.  Been catching fish every day and most trips multiple tarpon.  Still many 30 – 60 lbers.  We even had a double header two trips in a row with the same customers – on a full day trip and an evening trip.  The fresh mullet has been the ticket which I’ve been getting with ease most days.  There has still been some good snook fishing around many islands and creeks.  Casting big shrimp or soaking pinfish has done the trick for them.  We got into some big goliaths in the gulf the other day, groupers that is.  Along with some big bull sharks.  We also had some good action with a few decent sized sea trout on the edge of the gulf, mostly on shrimp though some on artificial GULPs as well.  If you want to go fishing this August, I can probably fit it in my schedule as it is getting to be off season.  Tarpon are still a very good possibility if your looking for them shoot me an email!

Capt. Rick Stanczyk
305-747-6903
rick@fishingislamorada.com

The backcountry fishing especially around flamingo has been stellar the last few weeks.  It has been ‘the place to be.’  We’ve been catching tarpon just about every day.  The key is getting good fresh live mullet which we’ve been finding in the mornings.  It’s necessary to leave early and spend time catching these guys… once the sun is up high they get much tougher.  You only need a handful and the tarpon are eagerly awaiting them.  Many of these fish have been what we call smaller ‘residents’ – in the 20 – 60 lb range.  But still a heck of a lot of fun, and we’ve been still getting shots at some 60-90 lbers once in a while too.  In the mix is plenty of blacktip sharks along with a few lemons and bulls.  Of course a vicious hammerhead made his way into the mix as well.  The past few days we’ve caught multiple tarpon every day with many more ‘jumped off’ and a plethora of sharks.  The snook fishing has been good the last 3 days we’ve hooked double digit snook and boated almost as many.  Again lots of smaller fish though a handful of nice 5-10 lb fish in the mix.  Live shrimp have been fairly large so they work well, plus pinfish are a favorite bait of mine either suspended or put on the bottom with a weight.  Mangrove snappers have been around too as well as a few juvenile goliath groupers.  The snappers make good dinner.  Thats mostly what I’ve been up to lately there may be some other good fisheries but I’ve been having a lot of fun with two of my favorite species – the snook and tarpon!

Capt. Rick Stanczyk
305-747-6903
rick@fishingislamorada.com

Well just get back from a mini-vacation.  The tarpon fishing before I left was off the hook.  We had caught 8 out of 14 in 2 days, plus several more the days we fished in the backcountry.  All these fish were on fresh dead mullet.  There has also been a good mix of trout and snappers in the bays.  Some sharks, goliath groupers, and a few cobias here and there have been on some of the near wrecks.  It’s been a little too rough for permit fishing the gulf which is unusual this time of year but conditions are conditions.  Snook have been around the mainland cape area as well as a few around flamingo, eating big shrimps on jigs or pinfish drifted back.  Tarpon is still a good point of focus this time of year and I have some night trips coming up.  That can be very good there is much less pressure on the fish and they are often happy to feed!  Today we caught this massive kingfish in the gulf while tarpon fishing, we also caught several goliath groupers, gag groupers, black tip sharks, and a big bull shark.  Plus plenty of snappers, some ladyfish, and a few trout in the bays.  Fun day fishing in the florida keys in july!

Capt. Rick Stanczyk
305-747-6903
rick@fishingislamorada.com