2/2/13 February islamorada fishing report

February fishing Islamorada is well under way here now on 2/2/13.  The water temperatures in the backcountry are still pretty chilly in the mid 60s this morning, but we are starting back on a warming trend.  A good possibility once the temps get back in the mid-70s the tarpon will show up and bite good.  This is the time of year they do begin to show, often back in the backcountry channels and around the cape area.  Also Capt. Ken Cohan reported some 'sea monster' action a.k.a. mud marlin last week here fishing florida keys in february when the water temp was in the low 70s right after the full moon, time to bring the big guns!  As for today, Capt. John Johansen fished a full day and started out front on the patches.  They braved the rough water as the winds were more northeast and not due north, but it paid off... Not much going on with the regular suspects, but they did get a nice 20 lb permit!  They later went into the backcountry and the trout bite was good when the water warmed up with the lower water levels.  Capt. Clyde Upchurch reported the same, keys backcountry fishing  did not get going till later in the day... but eventually they did get some nice big trout.  Again as things continue to warm up we should be getting into much more of our spring time fisheries, which is just about everything you can catch here in fishing in the florida keys.  Call and book your 2013 tarpon trips now as many desirable dates are filling up fast.  305-664-2461

12/10/12 December Islamorada Fishing Report

Well today was fairly windy and warm for december fishing in islamorada.  Had a southeast breeze of 10-15 mph, unusual for this time of year.  Most of the time we are getting northerly breeze bringing down the cooler air in the winter.  Saturday and today I had Mike Traut fishing the florida keys backcountry.  On saturday we fished near flamingo, had the incoming tide all morning.  The water levels have not been fluctuating much this week due to unusual tidal influences, similar to the neap tide.  We picked around some islands at redfish that day, moving from spot to spot, finally did get into a decent mess of them catching 25 or so in all.  Finished that day with a snook in around a deeper island moat.  Flamingo fishing has been decent overall as the weather had not mixed the water up too bad back there.  Today on 12/10/12 we ran back to the cape, however the water out near east cape was fairly mixed up.  We caught the last of the falling tide in some of the creek runoffs there, and picked at redfish, jacks, and ladyfish.  I ran back to middle cape in search of cleaner water for our islamorada fishing trip and we did find some, however not much in the way of fish.  Did find a couple snook on one corner which looked very fishy but not much else, and caught some jacks and ladyfish on the shorelines.  So we ran back towards home and hit some spots on the way to the spanish mackerel fishing grounds, and did catch another dozen reds and a couple more snook.  We ended the day mackerel fishing, the chum didn't last long as the pinfish tore it up though luckily we didn't need much, within 15 minutes we were getting a mackerel bite every cast.  Caught maybe a dozen, plus a mix of bluefish, blue runners, and jacks.  Was good to see as the water temperature was warm about 77 degrees and incoming tide - not usually a good bet for spanish mackerel but I had a report from yesterday they were swarming which held true!  Had a very large shark that I don't think was a blacktip eat a mackerel right next to the boat which was pretty exciting too!  Shark fishing islamorada can be good this time of year when out mackerel fishing for the large blacktips!  Capt. Jim Willcox reported similar snook/redfish action today.  Capt.  Bill Bassett and Capt. Clyde Upchurch reported good spanish mackerel fishing yesterday on a half day as well.  Great time to be december fishing in the florida keys!

Capt. Rick Stanczyk
305-747-6903
rick@fishingislamorada.com