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

12/29/11 Islamorada fishing guide report

Islamorada fishing guide Capt. Jim Willcox fished a full day today on 12/29/11.  They ran deep into the everglades all the way up to the cape area of the mainland.  The cool weather from the cold front we've had the last day often turns these fish on - and it did today!  They caught lots of redfish, sheepshead, trout, black drum in some of the different creeks.  They also caught this monster snook!  The wind layed down today to a nice 10 knots or so in the AM, and was even lighter by this afternoon almost turning out of the west.  Capt. Rick Stanczyk reported a decent spanish mackerel bite this morning along with plenty of blue runners, ladyfish, and mangrove snappers.  They also caught a 250 lb hammerhead shark but unfortunately it got wrapped in the leader before we could snap a picture.  This afternoon he fished another party and they caught several snappers, sheepshead, jacks, a nice pompano, and a few big trout!  Capt. Perry Scuderi looked like he had some nice hogfish this afternoon, he was able to sneak out to the patches!

7/28/11 Baby hammerhead, tarpon, big trout and snaps!

Well it's not all about lobster mini season this week!  Capt. Rick Stanczyk fished a full day in the backcountry today on 7/28/11 and had a wonderful time.  The wind was howling almost 20 knots most the day - very unusual for July!  Though it kept the heat & sweat down for the most part which was a welcome change.  With thousands of people in the water snorkeling and diving looking for those caribbean crawlers, we ran way in the backcountry and only saw one other boat the whole day back there!  Fishing was fantastic early, we caught several large trout on shrimp and artificials.  We also caught some jumbo mangrove snappers!  The ladyfish were chomping too and we saved several of those for bait.  We set up in one of the channels for some bigger stuff, and the bite was slow to come but produced nicely.  We caught a 75 lb tarpon after our first hour.  Then a 60 lb lemon shark, followed by a 40 lb hammerhead, and finally a small 30 lb blacktip!  Not too shabby for the conditions and time of year.  We tried around one of the islands at the end of the day for a few reds but we didn't find any. However a few days ago, Capt. Vinnie Biondeletti took his son Ryan out and did manage to wrangle up a few sight fishing in the everglades!

3/12/11 Cold weather? No problem for these florida keys fish!

Capt. Rick Stanczyk fished today with his girlfriends brother John Baxter and company down from Tennessee.  They had a late start so instead of running all the way to the cape they fished half way back in the everglades.  Caught plenty of trout, ladyfish, jacks, and snappers, then went and put the big rods out.  Caught a nice lemon shark about 100 lbs or so, and not much else while there.  So they ran out a little further to another gulf spot and put 'em out again, and within a few minutes had this nice hammerhead shark on!  The water was pretty stirred up out there and no mackerels bit, so they ran back on the edge of some banks and caught some nice mangrove snappers and this nice red grouper as well!  Great action for a fairly chilly day in the middle of March!  Soon there will be great florida tarpon fishing again so be ready!