1/12/16 January Backcountry Fishing Report

Well we've finally got a taste of some cold weather since the start of the new year.  Cold for us means in the 60s but it is definitely chilly out on the water in the wind.  Anyways it's been good for the overall winter time fishery here.  Capt. Rick Stanczyk reported a stellar day fishing with his dad and friends back at cape sable several days ago.  They got multiple snook and black drum, with a couple big snook one up to 15 lbs, and a couple lunker black drums one was 25 lbs!  They finished the day with double digit redfish on the shorelines.  It was a gorgeous day in the backcountry.  A couple days ago with Steve Holsinger he got into double digit snook, a handful of redfish, and finished the day with 1 out of 2 small tarpon for the SLAM for Steve.  He's also reported good action on the half day trips with patch reef fishing - porgies, snappers, groupers, hogfish, and a few cero mackerel!  He was able to sneak out today and avoid the rain for the most part with long time customers Jim and Gwen Johnson, they had good action and some good eats for dinner by the end of it.  Capt. Vinnie Biondoletti also snuck out today and had decent action fishing ou front, and also bagged a bonefish for his clients!  Capt. John Johansen got a big old tarpon a few days ago after it had warmed up a little on a day where it slicked out and was flat calm.  Capt. Skip Nielsen had Cliff Fox (Fox Tackle) out fishing several days ago too and they got into a good bite of redfish and snook.  Capt. Bill Bassett has been making the run deeper into the everglades and also reported decent action with redfish and black drum, with a few snook mixed in as well.  Capt. Perry Scuderi out fun fishing a few days ago when it slicked off got a big old permit sight fishing - he was very excited on a busmans holiday!  Out in the gulf there has been some good mackerel action still.  Capt. Mike Bassett and Capt. Mike Venezia both reported some good action with the mackerels out there.  Things look to be cooling down again considerably tonight and will warm up slightly but looks like we will be getting more cold again near the end of the weekend.  This will be good for the patch reef fishing, mackerel fishing, and the deeper everglades stuff.  However not ideal for fishing for tarpon or sight fishing for things like bonefish.  But more typical winter time weather we are glad to have it after a very warm start to our winter!

Capt. Rick Stanczyk