2/25/13 Backcountry fishing in the Florida Keys Report

Had a good day today in the backcountry florida keys fishing.  We ran out to some channels in search of some big fish in the backcountry and gulf waters.  Had a few hours of falling tide this morning, we started out catching a variety of ladyfish, trout, and some nice pompano.  Saving the ladyfish for live and dead bait.  Saw a handful of tarpon in islamorada rolling so we put some baits out.  Caught a couple blacktips and did have a tarpon bust a live ladyfish however he missed it and didn't come back for seconds!  After the tide quit and we had enough bait we hit some shallow runoffs for some trout where the tide was still trickling out.  Caught a handful and made a few throws with the net in hopes of mullet, however only came up with one.  We went out a little further towards the gulf and set up for some february shark fishing in islamorada with hopes of getting lucky and maybe snagging a tarpon.  Lots of action with smaller blacktips, and hooked a monster 'mud marlin.'  He had a nice companion following along with him, a 45 lb cobia!  We hooked him up and took a break with the sea monster and focused on the cobia... after a 25 minute battle on light spin tackle he was ours!  We then went back to the big rod and fought him for another 30 minutes and finally got a good look at him before he rolled over and cut us off.  Ran back to our spot with an hour or so left to fish and within a few minutes hooked up this nice 100 lb hammerhead shark!  After that saw a few more tarpon busting and a couple rolling around, however not our day for them, but all in all still a fantastic day fishing islamorada in february!  Capt. John Johansen and Capt. Bill Bassett both reported good rod bending action with ladyfish, trout, etc... and also had lots of action with the blacktip sharks in the backcountry.  Capt. Vinnie Biondoletti reported several hook ups the day before fishing some rock piles on the ocean side when it was flat calm for permit.

Capt. Rick Stanczyk

2/23/13 Florida Keys Shark fishing in the backcountry february

Another beautiful day here on 2/23/13 fishing in the florida keys in february.  Today I had Martin Williamson who fished with me a couple years ago and had a great time.  He was back from across the pond for another special birthday fishing trip.  I got to dust my big rods off as I haven't used them much as of late.  We started out early catching some small stuff for bait, but got into a plethora of fish.  Lots of ladyfish, jacks, and trout.  Even a few spanish mackerel, bluefish, and pompano mixed in with them.  Trout fishing in Islamorada should pick up in the bays and muds as the water warms and we enter our spring time islamorada fishing period.  We put one shark rod out whilst catching bait and got lots of action on that, caught 4 small to medium size blacktips.  After we were loaded up on ladyfish we made our way back towards another spot.  Martin wanted to catch a goliath and it was a little too rough for the gulf wrecks so I tried closer in around some protected areas.  We had a pack of cobias swim up on us about 20 minutes after we got there, caught 1 and had another one eat a bait and spit it.  Another 20 minutes later and both big rods doubled over - double header!  Martin fought one while I through our anchor ball and gave chase, all the while our other rod/fish is going the opposite way behind us.  Eventually the fish behind us tired a bit and I had Martin switch to that... low and behold that was the goliath he was looking for a nice 150 lb fish!  A great islamorada golaith grouper!  We got pictures of him than moved back to the other fish which was absolutely massive.  Finally got him to stop and started leadering him up, I could tell what it was from the big dead weight and big slashing movements - mud marlin!  We got him near the surface with bill sticking out of the water, but unfortunately on the monofilament he cut us off before we could get a real good look/picture.  We gave it another 45 minutes there but no other action, and decided to try a spot for some redfish which worked out nice.  Caught about 10 mostly slot reds to end the day, perfect end to another great day of february fishing in Islamorada.

Capt. Rick Stanczyk
305-747-6903
rick@seethefloridakeys.net

1/21/13 Great weather, great fishing in the florida keys!

Well fishing has continued to be good throughout this january fishing florida keys.  Yesterday and today the Cromwells, Rich and Luke, fished with Capt. Rick Stanczyk and Capt. Nick Stanczyk for some offshore and backcountry fishing.  Yesterday we fished the gulf mostly, stopped at the cape on the way to try and catch a snook.  We were successful and caught 2 nothing real big but snook none the less!  We then ran out into the gulf and hit some structure, no luck at the first stop, so continued west and ran the trap lines.  Tripetails were out, we messed with those for a bit and caught 6 in total all sight casting plus a few for dinner.  Islamorada triple tail fishing is lots of fun!  We hit our wreck destination right on time at the change of the tide.  Cobias popped up fairly quick, we caught 4/5 including one keeper all on light tackle.  We also had one goliath eat a live bait on the bottom though he wasn't able to swallow it and a shark ate it, unfortunately he was being picky and we never got him to bite again.  On the way home we caught some nice trout too, great day on this january backcountry fishing islamorada.  Capt. Ken Cohan also reported a good mix of fish in the bays.  They included spanish mackerel, bluefish, trout, ladyfish, pompano, and jacks.  Mostly fishing muds near the edge of the gulf back towards the cape area.  On the offshore side with the BNM they fished an afternoon 3/4 day.  They caught some tunas early offshore, nice blackfins.  Tuna fishing islamorada has been good as of late and provides great dinner for those that love fish!  They also caught nice yellowtail florida keys reef fishing.  At the end they stuck it out and Luke released 2 sailfish as well!  The Fearless with Capt. Joe Hendrix reported 20 nice blackfin tunas this morning out at the humps.  Also on the Catch 22, Capt. Scott Stanczyk fished Kris and Eugen Fine with a group of 6 including 4 US Army Officers on 1/20/13.  They had 5 sailfish dancing on the surface and caught!  They also caught some large blackfin tuna, a cobia, and bonita.

Capt. Rick Stanczyk
305-747-6903
rick@seethefloridakeys.net 

1/19/13 Backcountry and Gulf fishing islamorada in january!

Well we've had another minor cold front hit the keys a few days ago for our islamorada fishing in january and chilled the water down a bit, luckily however not too cold and is back on a warming trend already.  Islamorada backcountry fishing has been decent the last few days.  Capt. Rick Stanczyk and Capt. Perry Scuderi had a group trip yesterday.  We picked at the redfish, black drum, and sheepshead.  Got one snook as well around an island moat.  In the afternoon we caught our limit of trout for dinner plus plenty of ladyfish, jacks, and a few pompano.  Today the islamorada flats fishing was similar in the back.  We got into a good snook bite this AM catching 8 or so, plus a nice redfish.  Picked a few more redfish as well as black drum out of the hole.  Then picked at fish in a few other places - sheepshead, mangrove snappers, and jacks.  Decided to try the trout january fishing islamorada again in the afternoon and we caught plenty of those, however not quite as large this time no keepers but lots of fun rod bending action.  Also got some pompano as well before heading home.  Capt. Mike Bassett reported good fishing in the gulf, they got into some spanish mackerel, a few cobia, a permit,  a 40 lb kingfish!!!... and some larger trout out there.  The weather is suppose to be calm tomorrow and continuing to warm, so look for some good fishing all over the place fishing in the florida keys!

Capt. Rick Stanczyk
305-747-6903
rick@seethefloridakeys.net 

1/7/13 Great fishing offshore and backcountry fishing for the Dwyers!

Jason and Brendan Dwyer from Arizona recently visited and went florida keys fishing with us last week after new years .  They fished offshore on The Reel McCoy as well as in the backcountry with Capt. Rick Stanczyk, and early morning for tarpon near Islamorada with Capt. Vic Gaspeny.  Successful in all venues, they caught sailfish offshore with Capt. George McElveen on Reel McCoy, tarpon and a even a few permit with Capt. Vic, plus a mixed backcountry bag of mackerel, snapper, bluefish, trout, pompano, and a couple cobias with Capt. Rick Stanczyk.  With the warm winter weather we have had recently, just about anything is possible fishing in islamorada.  Give us a call and we can set a trip up for you!