2/17/16 Mid February Backcountry Florida Keys Fishing Report

Spring time is getting closer and we are having a little more warm weather.  January was super cold after a warm december, and we've still had a few good cold fronts this month though has been overall warmer than last month.  The fishing has been a little up and down we've had a few very nice, calm days that have yielded some stellar fishing, and some other days when it's been blowing a gail and/or raining and making things a little more difficult.  It's not quite warm enough yet for the big boys (tarpon) and shark action has been slow too, but once the water temperatures get up in the mid 70s that will start getting much better.  As it looks now things will cool down tonight though not a ton, and then stay in the 70s for a while and we may start getting warm spring conditions.  I was out of town for a little bit and just got back a few days ago.  As I said fishing had been a little up and down though while I was gone there was a steep temperature drop followed by a couple gorgeous days of calm, cool weather.  Action on the patch reefs, in the gulf, and in the backcountry were all pretty good.  Capt. Dave Peck reported a hot hogfish bite out on the patches.  A few guys got into some permit including Capt. Gunner Guthrie and Capt. Perry Scuderi.  Capt. Bill Bassett had some good fishing in the everglades with his son catching some redfish and drum and a few snook.  Capt. Jim Willcox also had a good day fishing the bigger canals that day, he has also reported good trout fishing in the afternoons closer around flamingo in the channels.  Today I had regular customers and we had a great day in the everglades catching quite a few nice redfish, a few black drum, a nice snook, and a half dozen tripletails.  We had good mackerel action a few days ago, and yesterday the weather kept us from doing much but were able to get some snappers for dinner and sightfish a few bonnet head sharks which was fun for my young anglers Fergus.  Today Capt. Mike Bassett had a bunch of spanish mackerel and caught quite a few tripletail too, including a 14 lb monster!  What a fish one of the biggest we've seen this year back in the gulf.  Looks like the winds are going to kick up a bit so things won't have a chance to warm up drastically.  I'm not sure if we will get any more cold weather or not, though there is a good chance we will be on the tarpon come early March.  If you are wanting to get out fishing give us a call at 305-664-2461!

Capt. Rick Stanczyk