1/4/13 Backcountry and Gulf Florida Keys Fishing Report

Had Sue Cocking down from the Miami Herald today on 1/4/13 for a little fishing story for the outdoors section of the Herald.  There was a last minute cancellation to her original plans and we set something up the day before.  We decided to go for a backcountry islamorada fishing trip and to showcase a variety of fish, as that is one of the special things about fishing in the florida keys.  We started out near flamingo, fishing some high-water spots near some mangroves for redfish.  We caught about a half dozen or so, as well as a few black drum and sheepshead.  We later moved to some deeper moats on the change of the tide to look for some snook.  We did hook one nice one that broke us off near the boat, and ended up catching a few more black drum and sheepshead.  Later we moved to some other channels where there had been some nice muds with a good mix of fish.  Trout, ladyfish, pompano, and a baby permit were to be had.  All fish to this point were caught on simple shrimp and jigs whilst islamorada fishing.  We started to use some tiny ladyfish pieces to catch pinfish,  and we mohawked them catching a couple dozen while bending the rod with other stuff!  We then headed out into the gulf of mexico fishing as the weather was slick calm and looked too pretty not to try.  We found several tripletail on the way out, and caught several keeping 3 for dinner.  Casting shrimp on a bare hook with tiny float was effective, and we even caught a few on light jigs as some were staying down a little deeper.  We then went gulf wreck fishing and caught several cobias up to 15 lbs, as well as another permit, and a large 100 lb goliath grouper!  Cobias were all caught on our fresh pinfish.  We then wanted to try to catch some mackerel, so we headed back towards sprigger bank and fished a few miles out from there.  On the way we came across something very unusual - several large packs of bonitas in the 8 - 12 lb range feeding on something very small.  We didn't get any bites out of them, but were able to drive right on top to confirm what they were!  As soon as we anchored and casted in our mackerel area we had fish on, we put a little chum out and caught about a dozen spanish mackerel as well as a few bluefishfish and snappers.  We then headed home, another beautiful day here and fun to be had in all areas, not just islamorada flats fishing in the backcountry!  Capt. Vic Gaspeny has reported excellent water and temperature conditions for tarpon fishing in islamorada.  They caught 9 in early morning trips as well as a 30 lb permit.

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

12/6/12 December islamorada fishing report backcountry

Well it's december and islamorada winter fishing is happening.  Today on 12/6/12 we had a gorgeous day, the rain looked like it may have been an issue with weather pushing in from both sides, however we lucked out.  The wind also laid down almost flat most of the day.  The water in the gulf and backcountry is about as pretty as it gets for this day of december islamorada fishing.  I myself fished for fun with family/friends today for fun and Capt. Jim Willcox fished a charter in the florida keys backcountry.  Capt. Jim reported lots of bugs and noseeums around the mangroves, but they were able to fish in some more open areas and had a good bite of redfish, black drum, and some big trout.  He said almost everywhere they stopped they caught some fish which is good to see, and managed not to get eaten alive by bugs!  We tried fishing some snook spots in the trees however the bugs drove us away so we headed to the gulf.  We ended up catching not a whole lot of fish but several quality ones, including multiple nice cobia.  We did find a pile of large gulf redfish too, catching one of almost 20 lbs that had some that were 30+ lbs with it.  Unfortunately they all took off after they saw the boat, never to return!  Oh well such is life fishing the florida keys.  We also managed to catch some juvenile goliath groupers and triple tail, plus an assortment of spanish mackerel, bluefish, and plenty of jacks/blue runners.  Looks like nice weather for the next few days through the weekend, great time to go out and fishing florida keys in december!

Capt. Rick Stanczyk

11/28/12 November Islamorada Fishing Report Backcountry

Well just back in town after a much needed vacation and glad to have gotten back out on the water the last couple days even if it was just for fun!  Well this last few days of november fishing in the florida keys have been rather productive and looks like the wind will be blowing the next several days starting after today 11/28/12.  We ran deep into the everglades fishing today along with Capt. Jim Willcox.  Hit a couple gulf spots early this AM on the falling water, managed a nice cobia on light tackle along with a nice redfish, plus a large sting ray that got us a little excited!  Once the tide turned we headed back towards the mainland cape sable.  It was king of a slow and steady pick of fish we had to work and move around, managed 15 or so reds with a few nice size fish on pinfish, plus plenty of ladyfish, jacks, snapper, and a few trout.  Lots of variety thats what we love about fishing islamorada backcountry.  Later in the day fished some deeper creeks and shorelines where we got into a few snook.  Had a bite or two in several spots we hit, mostly nice larger size fish.  Ended the day at east cape the water and current was so good looking we stayed late, however did not have much luck there, but at least we had a satisfying overall day!  Capt. Jim Willcox reported a similar bite of redfish and some snook in the back, they also ran deep into the everglades.  After some more cold fronts look for many of the redfish, snook, and black drum to stack up in the deeper water and provide an excellent winter time fishing in islamorada place to go!  Yesterday we also fun fished, caught several spanish mackerel in the morning and got some cool video footage of big goliath on a wreck, plus some tripletail footage on buoys in the gulf.  We caught several large redfish and a cobia later in that day, broke off a big snook, and caught a couple dozen puppy drum to end that day as well.  Great backcountry fishing in the florida keys in november!  Capt. Skip Nielsen reported good action on the patches fishing the ocean side today, as well as a good spanish mackerel bite in the afternoon yesterday on the incoming tide.

11/7/12 Winter time fishing in Islamorada

Had a 3 boat trip today out of Bud n' Mary's Fishing Marina in Islamorada Florida Keys on 11/7/12.  This is a transitional time of year so the fishing varies a bit and can be a little inconsistent as temperature and winds fluctuate often.  Today myself, Capt. Perry Scuderi, and Capt. Vinnie Biondoletti fished the Kanipus party.  We fished the flamingo area, which winter fishing in islamorada is often good back there.  The wind kicked up good as yesterday it was flat calm and suppose to get cold tonight, but wasn't too bad 15 mph out of northwest.  Capt. Perry and myself started out with some nice catches of redfish, we got probably close to 30 with several nice slot size fish.  They were eating pilchards and shrimp as the pilchards have been easy to get and close by.  Capt. Vinnie reported a decent pick of various fish including redfish, snapper, trout, and a few juvenile snook where he went november fishing in the florida keys.  Later our boat was after meat so we hit some runoffs for trout which usually gets good as the water temperatures drop, we caught plenty of trout and got 5 or so keepers plus some snapper, jacks and ladyfish, mostly on pilchards again but a few on shrimp too.  Capt. Perry reported some mangrove snappers, jacks, and a few small snook as well around one of the islands back near flamingo.  We then decided to try to catch something bigger and ran out west to try for either big shark or goliath.  We put the big rod out and a few pinfish for possibly a cobia or big snook, and of course we caught a 10 lb cobia on the big rod on a dead ladyfish on the bottom.  Oh well at least we got one!  Great day on an islamorada backcountry fishing trip, the boys are bringing all their fish to lazy days for a fish fry tonight and had a great time!  The cold weather thats coming should start pushing more fish to their winter time spots, including the spanish mackerel into the edge of the gulf of mexico fishing.

Capt. Rick Stanczyk

11/4/12 November Islamorada Fishing Report - gulf turns on!

Well the mud and nastiness from hurricane sandy has finally started to clear in the gulf and bays in the backcountry this islamorada fishing in november trip on 11/4/12.  We headed out west looking for spanish mackerel this morning as they start to show up this time of year.  Shrimp, pinfish, and some fresh pilchards were easy to obtain this morning and would prove great baits to have!  We hit a wreck that was loaded with various fish.  Some big mangrove snappers, lots of bluefish, jacks, ladyfish...  After 45 minutes or so a few mackerel started making there way in, we caught about half a dozen mostly decent sized fish and broke off a few others backcountry fishing florida keys.  In a few more weeks and after some more cold weather this fishery should improve.  Fishing the gulf of mexico can be a great option before the water gets down below 70 degrees. After we had our share of that, we headed further out into the gulf.  The water on the way was looking much better than previous days, we did hit a few muddy strips but once we got out further it was decent looking.  The tide was still falling and we hit another wreck 40 or so miles out from home.  Saw a school of islamorada permit as we pulled up, we set the anchor and put out some pinfish and a big rod on the bottom.  Had a couple more shots at permit, one swam into the boat and spooked and another would not eat he was laying on the surface though with a big chunk out of his back - must have almost been shark food!  We then had shots at cobias, catching 4 and one nice on of about 20 lbs on light tackle.  We also caught a small goliath grouper and about a 100 lb goliath, as well as a 250 lb bull shark that gave us a real fight!  After the tide quit things slowed down, so we looked for a few triple tail on the way in, saw a couple caught 1 and had another one eat, spit, and get spooked.  Anyways great day fishing the florida keys in november, we should have great tides and weather hopefully through the end of the week, so it's a great time for cobia fishing in islamorada as well as the rest of the gulf!  Capt. Jim Willcox and Capt. Perry Scuderi also had a group trip, both reported a couple cobias, mackerels, bluefish, snappers, and some big sharks - lots of action for their customers.  Capt. Ken Cohan had similar a simlar catch as well including two goliath groupers.

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