ladyfish

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 tarpon fishing

: march tripletail

March 20, 2013 by Capt. Rick Stanczyk 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

: night tarpon fishing

: islamorada mangrove snapper

March 14, 2013 by Capt. Rick Stanczyk Backcountry Fishing Reports Fishing Reports

2/20/13 February Fishing in Islamorada Backcountry

Well lots of half days this week, we are so busy it is making my head spin! Double half days every day which is a good thing! Today on our february islamorada fishing charter we fished a bit further in the backcountry. Yesterday fishing was tough locally around islamorada, with the cold water temperatures from the cold front that passed over the weekend. Though we did catch what we needed and the afternoon picked up quite a bit as it warmed. Today was good all around. This morning first thing we got into a mess of nice pompano which I’ve only been catching a handful of through the winter. We got about 15 or so pompano fishing in islamorada. Also some nice big drag pulling ladyfish kept mom and son entertained! Next somebody hit the switch and the trout started biting one right after another. Nothing spectacular size wise but it was fun, getting them on shrimp, gulp, artificial, popping cork – you name it! In the afternoon we did the same thing… no pompano this time, but a lot of trout again plus ladyfish and jacks. My same anglers from yesterday afternoon loved it and still had plenty of fresh mangrove snapper we caught yesterday for dinner. All anglers reported sore arms which I like to hear!!! Look for the florida keys fishing in february to pick up and with that hopefully being our last front of the year, tarpon can be just knocking on the door. The water temps did break 70 this afternoon, a few more degrees and the tarpon should be much happier and willing to feed. Well thats all for this february islamorada fishing report.

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

islamorada pompano

February 20, 2013 by Capt. Rick Stanczyk Backcountry Fishing Reports Fishing Reports

1/26/2013 Great islamorada backcountry fishing in the winter!

We’re still having some great islamorada winter backcountry fishing in january here! The young boys today and dad had lots of fun catching puppy drum. We caught 30 or so in total jigging shrimp back at the cape. The colder water this time of year has fish in many of the creeks and such back there and on low tide they can only be in so many places! We also got some nice big black drum, one cut us off unfortunately after we chased him down, but did boat a large double digit one! Conrad also got a snook which we had been wanting to catch january fishing islamorada. We also caught plenty of sheepshead, ladyfish, jacks, and a few trout. All fish today caught on plain old jigs and shrimp, worked slowly on the bottom. The water at the cape is nice in certain places, though you must work around and find the corners and such that look good. A nice slow moving current and lightly cloudy green water is what you need to look for florida keys backcountry fishing at the cape.

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

: sheepshead florida keys

: snook florida keys

: black drum islamorada

January 26, 2013 by Capt. Rick Stanczyk Backcountry Fishing Reports Fishing Reports

1/13/12 January islamorada fishing report gulf/backcountry

We’ve had a gusty east wind the last several days however we didn’t let that put a damper on the islamorada fishing charters. The last few days we’ve hit the edge of the gulf of mexico for the spanish mackerel. Yesterday fishing was red hot, today was ok we caught about a dozen or so plus a nice 8 lb kingfish (king mackerel). A good mix of mangrove snapper off a wreck out there too plus plenty of jacks and blue runners. We’ve also caught some big bruiser blacktip sharks which are lots of fun. They jump, spin, bite, do everything they can to try and get off the hook and they are a challenge! The specimen pictured here was one of the biggest caught and close to 70 lbs! January fishing islamorada is a often good in the gulf here. We even had a big 300+ lb goliath grouper try to eat one of the smaller blacktips the other day which was exciting to watch him lurking underneath thinking about it! Yesterday we also went back into the park as we had a full day and fished several run-off ditches for trout, ladyfish, etc… Some of the trout were very nice size which have not been easy to find the last several months. January fishing the florida keys continues to be productive even with the howling winds and unusually warm weather. If your looking to get out on the water this winter fishing islamorada give us a call we’ll put you on the fish!

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