Backcountry Fishing Reports

4/12/13 Tarpon fishing stays hot!

Last night we went 2/6 on big tarpon in islamorada in the evening. Started at 4PM and the action was on pretty quick, we were at the dock by 7 since my angler had enough! Most fish were biting live mullets though a few bites on dead bait too. Yesterday during the day I did not fish but was told it was action all day long with multiple boats hooking up in the local channels and around the bridges. Today we ran into the islamorada backcountry tarpon fishing. Caught 1 out of 2 early on, though the bite stopped around 9 AM and we stayed till 10 but no more action. We caught plenty of ladyfish and some nice trout after that for a bit, and then ran off east cape sable. Caught 5 ‘mud marlin’ and 3 big sharks – a lemon, a blacktip, and a nurse. Not a bad day you could say we literally caught a ‘ton’ of fish! This week has been great tarpon action every day and on most trips multiple fish caught, now is the time to go tarpon fishing in islamorada!

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

: islamorada mud marlin

: april tarpon fishing islamorada

April 12, 2013 by Capt. Rick Stanczyk Backcountry Fishing Reports Fishing Reports

4/9/13 Tarpon fishing very good this morning!

Well the april islamorada tarpon fishing was much better today than yesterday, what a difference a day makes sometimes. We ran all over and fished about 8 different spots, and did an extended day, only to get 1 tarpon bite and 1 shark bite… Unfortunately both fish we lost. Today was a different story we landed 2 big tarpon right off the bat, jumped a couple others after, and also caught several sharks. Great news for the islamorada tarpon fishing report. Later today we caught some ladyfish and a handful of trout and mangrove snappers for dinner. Tried a few spots at the end of the day for redfish, but nobody was home. The tarpon today were all caught on dead mullet from the day before. Hopefully tomorrow will be similar, will have an hour more tide and a cooler full of good bait so will try it again! The islamorada night tarpon fishing will be getting better and better as more spawning migrators begin to arrive in our local basins and channels – look out!

Capt. Rick Stanczyk
305-747-6903

islamorada tarpon jumping

April 9, 2013 by Capt. Rick Stanczyk Backcountry Fishing Reports Fishing Reports

4/6/13 Islamorada hogfish fishing on the patch reefs!

Well today we had a breezy north 15 mph wind in Islamorada, Florida Keys. This seemed to have slowed the tarpon down for a day or so hopefully tomorrow it will pick back up. I had anglers from the other day that had already caught some big tarpon in islamorada so we decided to mix it up and do something different. We fished the patch reefs which are often good when it is cold and with northerly winds as it stays calmer out there. We hit some rocks fishing jigs and shrimp. The islamorada hogfish fishing was good we caught about half a dozen fish off one spot, with 5 of them being keepers! We also caught some porgies, yellowtails, mangrove snappers, and a couple small groupers. Though lots of fun on light tackle regardless with the groupers! One trick to the florida keys hogfish fishing is chumming with bits of shrimp, this really can get them going and to find you out there. Tomorrow it’s back to tarpon fishing in the morning, hopefully the warmer incoming tide early in the morning will have the fish happier – we shall see!

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

April hogfish islamorada

April 7, 2013 by Capt. Rick Stanczyk Backcountry Fishing Reports Fishing Reports

4/4/13 Great april tarpon fishing in Islamorada

The april islamorada tarpon fishing was excellent today! Incoming tide in the backcountry and this evening around the local bridges. We caught plenty of live mullet first thing. The day bites came on bottom rigged baits, we caught 4/4 before 10:00 am. After that my anglers had enough, and we finished up catching trout, ladyfish, and some mangrove snappers for dinner. Always good options on a backcountry fishing charter in islamorada. This evening we had bait left over and fished the local bridges where we had some tarpon action the night before. We weren’t able to land any the night before but had 2 solid bites and 1 miss a mullet. Tonight was different we landed 4 out of 9 solid strikes which was great fishing. Most the bites came on life mullet on the top, very exciting to watch the fish blow up a live mullet on top, just as fun as catching them! If your looking to go on an islamorada fishing charter give us a call. A total of 8 out of 13 tarpon today is very good fishing! Islamorada tarpon fishing.

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

April 5, 2013 by Capt. Rick Stanczyk Backcountry Fishing Reports Fishing Reports

3/29/13 Islamorada backcountry fishing report

We’ve been extremely busy here in Islamorada, Florida Keys. One of the busiest spring times I can remember! Unfortunately this last week we had another late cold front dropping the temperatures extremely low. Some parts of the everglades national park the water was in the high 50s, and even florida bay was in the low 60s – not ideal for this time of year or any time! The hot ticket for my anglers has been fishing the islamorada patch reefs. The last several days we’ve done that and the fishing has been pretty good. Lots of good eating fish too! We’ve caught some nice mangrove snappers, porgies, and hogfish which are all delicious! There has also been a mix of smaller yellowtails, mutton snappers, various groupers, blue runners, grunts, chubs, and even a few small sharks. A few days ago one of my anglers was after sharks, but with the water temperatures being what they were I did not think much of our chances. However we fished near the ocean side with the incoming tide from the atlantic and that kept things quite a bit warmer than in the bayside. We didn’t catch anything we consider ‘trophies’ here, but he was thrilled to catch a few very large nurse sharks, big sting rays, and large bonnet head sharks. The april tarpon fishing in islamorada should pick up too. The last several nights have obviously been pretty slow with the cold water. We saw plenty of fish last night, though never could get one to eat. I fished 3 different spots and all held fish that we could see rolling consistently. The cold front has since passed and the waters should have a chance to warm up, once they reach ~70 again everything should get better slowly. If your thinking of doing a backcountry islamorada fishing charter give me a call!

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