Capt. Rick Stanczyk's Fishing Islamorada

Backcountry Fishing Reports

3/20/13 Spring islamorada fishing report!

Well spring is officially here today the wind died out and left a beautiful flat calm day for march backcountry fishing islamorada.  We started out the morning a little late but that was ok, we searched for some mullets and found a few on the flats nearby.  Made a few throws only to get a couple of them which was what we needed!  We ran back into the islamorada backcountry and fished some channels for trout, ladyfish, etc…  We had lots of action and saved the ladyfish for bait too which we turned out not to need but saved for another day!  Plenty of tarpon seen at this point in the main channel, so after we had enough fun with that we set up there for the big stuff.  Within 10 minutes we hooked a gorgeous 80 lb fish that went airborne and nuts, he ate a mullet with the tail cut off on the bottom.  Got the fish boatside after 15 minutes, but before we could get a picture we broke him off unfortunately, oh well still a technical catch with the leader in the rod tip!  I’ve included a picture of a similar sized fish caught the day before.  Everglades tarpon fishing is going to be getting better and better from this point on I think.  After this we caught a smaller blacktip shark, and then decided to run to the gulf.  Hit some structure in hopes of a cobia, which one did pop up and we cast a pinfish too him… He sunk down after it but did not eat it, and we did not see him again.  Ran further out and got into a mess of tripletail, they were a little spooky but we caught about a dozen or so, including our limit of nice ones for dinner!  Inshore fishing islamorada in march offers many different opportunities especially on this flat calm gorgeous days.  After this we headed home, tomorrow heading out for a day of fun fishing with my dad so going to run deep in the backcountry to try some new things – hopefully have a good march islamorada fishing report!

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

 

March 20, 2013 by Backcountry Fishing Reports Fishing Reports

3/14/13 Islamorada tarpon fishing and backcountry report

Well last night took my first official evening tarpon fishing trip in Islamorada.  Not ideal conditions with the breezy north wind and impending cold front, though luckily the water temperatures did not drop too drastically and had time to warm during the day.  Anyways had all different kinds of baits – big shrimp, cigar minnows, crabs, and pinfish.  We drifted the local channels for some tarpon in islamorada.  I had seen several there days before, though early in the afternoon not much activity.  We stopped near one of the bridges and I saw a fish roll, we set up our anchor and drifted baits back towards the bridge.  We had a couple bites, one on cigar minnow and one on shrimp.  Not sure what the shrimp bite was but likely a tarpon as it pulled drag for several seconds.  The cigar minnow definitely was a tarpon but didn’t get a hook set.  We did end up catching a legal gag grouper and nurse shark off the bottom to keep busy.  March tarpon fishing Islamorada is just like any other time, around sunset can be your best bet for good bites.  We ran further back to catch the end of the falling tide in one of the channels.  Again saw fish roll right as we made our first drift, a welcome sign!  After a couple more drifts we finally hooked up on a live crab around 7:30.  After a 20 minute battle we had a nice 75 lb fish to the boat, just in time to make our way back home on our florida keys night tarpon fishing charter!

Today we fished in the backcountry for a half day, the winds were way up 20+mph out of the north.  Pretty chilly too but not brutally cold.  Not many options but we ran and hid behind some of the islands and caught some nice mangrove snappers.  Got our limit of nice 12+ inchers, including this nice 17 inch fish which for the backcountry is gigantic!  After that we tried to find some muds in the bay for trout/ladyfish/etc… but it was tough to fish in the bay as it was so rough, we anchored down in a muddy area and did catch half a dozen big ladyfish for something different before heading home.  Islamorada mangrove snapper fishing is one of the best bets for edible tablefare in the backcountry, and they can be caught almost any day even when its blowing and nasty.

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

March 14, 2013 by Backcountry Fishing Reports Fishing Reports

3/10/13 March islamorada tarpon fishing report

March is usually a great time of here for fishing islamorada tarpon.  It’s been off to a slow start as we’ve had several cold fronts, almost every week, for the last 3 weeks.  Oddly enough january had 2 weeks of 80 degree weather – go figure!  However even with the mid 60 degree water temperatures we were able to find a nice tarpon today.  A 60 lb fish caught on fairly light spin gear on a live pinfish!  We also caught some nice islamorada trout fishing further out west near the edge of the gulf in the morning.  Later in the day we caught several more along with a ton of ladyfish and a spanish mackerel.  The report on redfish and snook have not been very good, some guys saw fish today but they would not eat.  We tried a few spots but muddy and cold water, with no fish…  But the nice everglades tarpon made our day!  Tarpon fishing in March should continue to improve, we are getting a tad cooler weather again in a few days but I don’t think very cold so hopefully the water temps won’t drop and the tarpon will show up in force!

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

March 10, 2013 by Backcountry Fishing Reports Fishing Reports

Big cobia in the backcountry/gulf

Last week while fishing islamorada we caught several nice fish.  We started the morning fishing the backcountry channels for variety and bait – trout, ladyfish, pompano, jacks, mackerel, etc…  It’s amazing the mix of fish you can get in some of these areas and at the start of the spring fishing is really good.  Islamorada trout fishing gets very good later in the spring, and lots of big spawning fish move into the bays.  You can get tablefare to eat as well as stuff to use for bait for bigger species.  We mainly keep the spanish mackerel and ladyfish for such fishing.  Later on february fishing the florida keys we set up at one of the channels mouths where lots of big fish venture in from the gulf.  We caught the start of the incoming tide.  We had one tarpon bust a ladyfish which we had fished live on the surface, unfortunately he missed the hook and bait altogether.  We hooked a gigantic ‘sea monster’ of some sort which we battled for over an hour… we noticed a brown stain staying close to whatever it was we had on, and I knew right what it was!  A few casts later we had hooked the 2nd fish while my angler still battle the first beast.  I traded rods with him for a while, and after 25 minutes he boated a 45 lb cobia!  Cobia fishing in Islamorada is best in the spring when fishing the gulf areas.  A fantastic catch especially on 15 lb braid with 30 lb leader only.  After that we went back to the other rod which was still bent over with something big on the other end.  We finally got that up to and it was a gigantic mud marlin.  After some high-fives we went back to put the big rods out some more, and within 5 minutes hooked a big shark.  This time it was a florida keys hammerhead shark!  I love catching these guys as we don’t catch them every day and people love to see them – they are truly an interesting shark and people always get a kick out of catching them!  We also had caught several smaller black tip sharks on this day.  Unfortunately right now we are experiencing a late cold front which will slow down the march islamorada fishing for some of the bigger species such as sharks, tarpon, etc… However I’m thinking by next weekend the water temperatures will have had a chance to warm back to low/mid 70s, and the big tarpon and others are ‘around’ and will start biting again.  It’s a great time to go fishing so make some plans soon.  I myself am booked just about every day in March, however I do have some evening trips available – drop me a line if your interested in getting out for some big tarpon around sunset.  Islamorada tarpon fishing in march can be very good as the fish are not so ‘beat up’ from the tons of anglers fishing for them.

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

March 3, 2013 by Backcountry Fishing Reports Fishing Reports

2/23/12 Looking for goliath grouper fishing islamorada in february!

I had Martin Williamson today from across the pond on 2/23/13.  He fished with me a few years ago and we had an excellent day then catching tarpon, hammerhead shark, several other sharks, plus some other rod benders.  Today Martin was after an islamorada goliath grouper fishing trip.  Winds were a bit too high to get out into the gulf to hit the wrecks for them, so tried some other protected areas.  First things in the morning with the low water we hit some channel run-offs to stock up on bait – lots of big ladyfish plus a mess of sea trout, jacks, and even some pompano, mackerel, and bluefish mixed in.  This was going to be tough to leave!  We put big rod out for fun and caught 4 blacktip sharks as well, saw a couple tarpon roll in the distance but not much activity from them.  Tarpon fishihng in Islamorada in February is a definite possibility – but they can be very hit or miss!  After we were loaded on ladies, we ventured to the next spot which is a hole that sometimes holds goliaths as well as other big fish.  We anchored up, tide against the wind but got the boat positioned right.  Had a big pack of cobias come right up under the boat… quickly reeled in our pinfish on top and hooked one!  Martin dropped a bait to another though unfortunately we missed the hookset, but he caught the other one on the surface bait – good job!  Not a huge fish but a first for him.  A bit later both big rods went off with the ladyfish on the bottom, a double header!  Both at first appeared to be large sawfish as they dogged us and didn’t stop despite the heavy pressure we both were putting on them.  Sawfish in Islamorada have made a terrific comeback.  I gave chase to Martin’s fish leaving the other in the rod holder going the opposite direction!  Eventually the fish behind us kind of rolled over and I told Martin to switch to that one as it was acting more like a big grouper now, thumping quite a bit.  Sure enough it was, hooray another first for Martin a 150 lb goliath grouper!  We then focused on the other rod which was still bowed over.  We leadered up the behemoth on the mono filament line… all of a sudden his bill broke the surface and slashed violently!  We got him up one more time like that but this time he cut us off, but we were happy to get a look at the beast.  My first sawfish of the year, and yet another first for Martin.  After this we fished for a bit under an hour back at the hole, alas not much other action.  Decided to hit a high-tide spot for some reds on the way home which worked out nicely.  Martin caught about 10 or so mostly nice slot size redfish, something else he hadn’t caught yet!  A fine end to a fabulous day february fishing the florida keys.  This was another special trip for Martin and a great birthday present for himself!

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

February 23, 2013 by Backcountry Fishing Reports Fishing Reports
Capt. Rick Stanczyk
Hello my name is Capt. Rick Stanczyk and welcome to my website! I’m a fishing guide in the fabulous Florida Keys, Islamorada to be specific. Tarpon are the species I spend a lot of time fishing for and they are my passion. I fish a more limited schedule these days though I have a team of young talented guides who I've been training that are available for fishing charters, so please get in touch if you want to go fishing!

305-747-6903
rick@fishingislamorada.com

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