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

2/22/13 Fishing east cape in february islamorada

Capt. Mike Bassett reported a great day on his islamorada fishing charter in february today.  His guys were looking to catch some snook and they had some good luck.  Capt. Mike fished around the east cape/mainland area which can hold some nice size snook at all times of the year.  They fished many of the creeks and runoffs that wind into the mainland.  They caught 6 nice snook, plus several nice drum mostly blacks.  They also got about 20 trout later in the day too.  Not a bad day fishing the florida keys in february.  Capt. Rick Stanczyk and Capt. Bill Bassett had a group trip half day fishing islamorada today.  They were after some stuff for the dinner plate, they both caught limit of mangrove snappers and also several nice trout and some rod bending ladyfish in some of the local muds near islamorada.  Bigger snappers are moving back in around the islands and cuts as the water temperatures are getting back to the low to mid 70s.  Capt. Vinnie Biondoletti and Capt. John Johansen have fished a few evening trips for tarpon the last couple nights and had some action too, not hot and heavy but a couple bites and some decent size fish... if your thinking of tarpon fishing in february as long as the weather stays warm it is a good possibility, ask about doing some evening fishing there are guys who are ready and willing!  Capt. Jim Willcox also has had a couple hammerhead sharks this week shark fishing in islamorada.