9/10/16 September Backcountry Fishing Report Islamorada

September is here and we are officially in our 'off season' as business has slowed down and things are quiet for a little while around town.  It's a much needed break for the locals as our busy season seems to have gotten longer and longer the last several years and gives everyone a chance to catch up on things.  When I say off season though I'm really just talking about business as fishing can be good all year round here.  September however is not necessairly great for anything in particular, but you can have a shot at catching just about anything really.  I've been on vacation and just got back to fishing yesterday after a couple weeks off.  We had a great day and landed multiple tarpon in the backcountry as well as a variety of sharks, and also got a nice snook casting artificials on the shoreline.  It wasn't easy conditions as the winds had kicked up tremendously the last couple days, it was blowing 20 out of the north in the morning and then 30+ out of the east in the afternoon.  With the northerly winds in the morning, we had a small taste of the fall bait run it seemed.  I saw tons of mullet around in many of the backcountry areas, however not the craziness of them getting busted by all kinds of fish everywhere, but that will be happening soon I think perhaps in October.  Capt. Bill Bassett had also fished and reported a handful of snook, some snappers for dinner, and some sharks as well.  He also said they had some nice snappers and porgies out on the patch reefs one day last week.  Capt. Mike Bassett had a good catch of snappers too yesterday.  Capt. John Johansen had fished some half days the last week and mostly been getting into the snappers as well, plus caught a few bonefish in the muds too.  Capt. Jim Willcox had some snook and jack crevelles the other day fishing deeper in the everglades.  

What I will say about this time of year which I've said before is it's really a new adventure every day.  Nobody is fishing consistently so you really don't have that day to day knowledge of right where to be and when to be there.  It can be kind of a crap shoot and you have to just make a plan based on conditions and go for it, if things work out great and if not hopefully you are able to go to plan B and still make your day.  However the plus side is there is very little pressure on our fishery and you do have the place to yourself, which means you can likely get to the good fishing spots your captain wants to goto without worrying about someone beating you there.  It's also generally good fishing conditions with calm winds (though as reported that wasn't the case recently).  When it all comes down to it though fishing is fishing - there are no guarantees no matter how well you were doing the day before or even the hour before! 

Anyways there are plenty of guides ready to go fishing if you are in the area and wanting to bend the rod.  Drop us a line if you want to.  We are more than happy to let you know whats been happening, how the weather looks, and show you a good time!  305-664-2461

Capt. Rick Stanczyk