10/12/15 Islamorada Backcountry Fishing Report October

October is winding on and the fishing in the backcountry has been pretty good.  We were starting to get a little feel of fall at the end of September however the last 10 days or so it's gotten down right hot and muggy again.  We've had a predominantly light westerly wind and it has kept the humidity and summer feel in the air.  Fishing has been decent however and there are shots at just about everything.  There has been some good bait nearby with a mix of pilchards and mullet so that part things has been fairly easy.  The everglades has been fair there has been some decent snook action with a few reds mixed in.  We've had some luck with that the last few days you have had to work at it and may only get a bite or two on a spot and just have to keep jumping around.  But if you are into the scenery and catching those kinds of fish it's well worth it.  Fishing the creeks, shorelines, and island moats with pilchards has been the most productive.  Once the wind swings more northeast it should get better as the water cleans up and we start getting a harder push of the fall bait again.  In the gulf there have been a few tripletails and if you take time running around you can get some shots at them.  Capt. Bill Bassett has caught some the last few days he even got one on fly today.   Capt. Jim Willcox has been catching a few snook casting the beach shorelines off of the mainland.  It's not always red hot action but if you have patience it is definietly a notch on your anglers belt to catch these guys on aritifical like this.  Capt. John Johansen reported good shark activity the other day they saw quite a few tarpon but there were not responding to any bait or aritifical presentations.  He reported good action on the light tackle with trout, ladyfish, jacks, etc...  Capt. Dave Morris caught a nice permit out on the patches with his kids there were also a few porgies and hogfish out there too.  That fishing will get better as things cool down.  Mackerel will also start showing up in number after the first good cold front we have which we all look forward to.  Capt. Vinnie Biondoletti has been on the bonefish again lately he has had some luck sight fishing the local islamorada waters in his micro skiff.  Capt. Mike Venezia also won the mad dog tournament a local islamorada backcountry tournament here this week.  They caught trout, snapper, redfish, snook, and more.  Congratulations Mike good job.  We should get another good push of bait in the backcountry and a window where things really light up once we get more northeasterly winds.  It looks like the rest of the week is suppose to stay fairly calm and go back to west by the end of the week, but maybe the following week will have a better wind forecast!

Capt. Rick Stanczyk