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

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 

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 

5/7/12 Islamorada tarpon fishing in May.

Islamorada tarpon fishing in May is starting to pick up.  The weather has been stabilizing, winds calming, and few more fish starting to move in today on 5/7/12.  Capt. Rick Stanczyk reported a couple bites last night, catching one tarpon of 80 lbs.  Capt. Mike Bassett reported one of 150 lbs the night before they fought for almost 2 hours!  Today Capt. Rick fished the backcountry with Jim and Mary long.  It was Jim's 50th birthday and he had a great day fishing in the florida keys!  We caught some ladyfish for bait, a few snappers for dinner and some throwback trout, and then tarpon fished for an hour.  Had 2 bites at the start of the incoming tide, and caught one nice islamorada tarpon of 65 lbs or so, good fighter too!  Nice to see some fish showing up out in the backcountry.  We then fished for some reds around some islands, and the bite was on!  Probably caught 30 redfish in an hour, up to about 10 lbs, some real nice fish!  Mostly on live shrimp, though they were eating pinfish especially the larger ones!  Capt. Ken Cohan reported getting a few tarpon bites and catching one today too.  Capt.  Bill Bassett did some poling, sightfishing for bonefish, and caught a nice bonefish in islamorada.  They also caught a few reds as well.  May is usually prime time for tarpon, look for them to start biting good in the evenings the next few days, as we have falling tide for most of the night through sunset.  Night tarpon fishing in the Florida Keys is lots of fun!

3/4/11 Howling wind, but a lunk florida keys bonefish!!!

Mark Brouse of Salt Late City, Utah, fishing with Capt. Ken Cohan caught this MONSTER bonefish weighing in at 14 lbs on a boga grip.  This was Mark's first bonefish, and what a fish to catch!  It was howling wind again today likely gusting over 30 mph so fishing options were limited, but as you can see staying close to home doesn't mean you won't catch the fish of a lifetime!