4/27/15 Late April Backcountry Fishing Report

April is almost over and it already feels like summer time!  We've had some record setting heat the last few days.  With light southwesterly winds it's been very muggy but the fishing has remained pretty good.  The tarpon have been active throughout the day both in the backcountry and around the local channels and bridges.  Mullet is still often the bait of choice though crabs are being used some as well.  The presence of mullet should remain strong for a few more weeks and then we usually start getting more into summer time mode, however with this warm streak who knows how that may affect things coming up.  Capt. John Johansen, Capt. Jeff Beeler, Capt. Skip Nielsen, Capt. Rick Stanczyk, Capt. Bill Bassett, and Capt. Mike Venezia have all reported good tarpon fishing lately around the local bridges and channels.  Capt. Bill had a very good day last week landing multiple fish on bait and finishing with a nice fish on fly in the afternoon.  Capt. Rick Stanczyk had some banner fishing with Darrell Brock for 3 days they landed multiple tarpon and had lots of action mostly on live bait.  Today he repoted good shark action in the backcountry and got into the tarpon back there as well.  Capt. Skip Nielsen had long time customers Tom and Wendy Sims out today, Wendy got a backcountry slam redfish, snook, and tarpon.  Capt. Mike Bassett reported a very good day of snook fishing last week too.  He found some nice size pilchards around some of the backcountry islands.  Capt. Jim Willcox had some good redfish and snook fishing deeper in the everglades a couple days last week as well.  He also got into a few nice hammerheads the other day shark fishing.  It's the time of year that anything is possible with the calm weather conditions the water is looking very nice and you never know what you might find out there.

Capt. Rick Stanczyk