11/23/11 Islamorada spanish mackerel fishing

Well the wind came around from the south this morning and laid down nicely as the day went on during 11/23/11.  Wasn't too bad to start out with.  We got out for a morning half day and had good conditions, tide headed towards the gulf off sprigger bank area.  Put the chum bag out and fish were around us instantly.  Started off with lots of big ladyfish and blue runners, and several nice mangrove snappers as well as a handful of trout.  Spanish mackerel were soon to follow, several large fish that were 4-5 lbs.  Much fun on light tackle.  Bare jigs with shrimp worked fine, though shiny mylar jigs were the hot ticket, didn't even need shrimp at the end.  Here is Ambrose pictured with one nice Mack.  They bit almost every cast eventually until the tide stopped.  At the end of the tide we put some dead mackerel chunks on the bottom for sharks, hooked a couple big black tips though they broke us off pretty quick, as well as a big nurse shark we pulled the hooks on.  Oh well still plenty of fun, get on out there this thanksgiving weekend, will have great tide for that, as well as in the backcountry for most of the day!

Capt. Rick Stanczyk
305-747-6903

11/17/11 Islamorada reef fishing november!

Capt. Vinie Biondoletti fished with Bill Hayden and his mother Barbara on 11/17/11.  They had a great halfway on the patches. They caught grouper and jacks. Then went to the bay and caught trout and ladyfish.  The weather was nice enough to get out to some shallow patch reefs, which are on the oceanside of Islamorada.  This time of year as the water cools, especially during and after a cold front, lots of fish move out to the warmer water in these areas!  They are very fishable during a north wind as well since you are on the lee side of Islamorada.

 

Update on Friday, November 18, 2011 at 01:45PM by Capt. Nick Stanczyk

The Reel McCoy also had a banner day on sailfish! Capt. George and his group caught and released 8 sails, which is the first big day of the season at the marina. Hopefully it's a good sign for the rest of the season.

11/9/11 Islamorada Offshore & Backcountry Report

Fishing was good all around today here in Islamorada Florida Keys.  In the backcountry Capt. Rick Stanczyk reported hooking double digit snook and catching 8 or so.  Redfishing around flamingo was not so hot just a few small rats.  Capt. Mike Bassett caught a real nice size fish on a half day back there as well.  Capt. Jim Willcox ran deep into the backcountry and caught some snook, redfish, and a baby tarpon.  Capt. Skip Nielsen did say he got a few nice size reds out to the west.  Capt. Vinnie Biondoletti fished the patches and caught several nice size hogfish - great eating!  Also plenty of porgies and other fish.  Offshore Capt. Nick Stanczyk on the BnM got into several nice mahi, great to see them this time of year.  They also caught 2 sailfish.  The gulf edge got a little nasty this afternoon, Capt. Rick reported it started blowing out of the west shutting a lot of fishing down out there this afternoon, we did catch some nice jacks and found a big goliath grouper on some structure.  Unfortunately we hooked him about 6 times and could not pull him out of it with the rod we had, must of been a very big fish!!!  Great fun still though to feel them pull!

11/7/11 Florida Keys Fishing in November

Capt. Rick Stanczyk and Capt. Jim Willcox took the Bonacci family fishing today for a half day in the backcountry on 4/7/11.  Florida Keys Fishing in November has been producing a decent redfish bite and some snook in the back, which is what we caught today.  Together we probably caught over 100 fish in all.  We had about 20 redfish, 1 snook, and several ladyfish and jacks.  Capt. Jim reported a similar catch, he had dad and daughter, Rick had mom and son.  The girls may have beat the boys it was a close match though we lost count in the end!  The reds bit best early at the end of the falling tide.  The in tide brought some sea trout with it as well, they bit the gulp aritificials good.  Live shrimp did the trick otherwise.  Young Steven did hook another nice snook at the end of the day though we pulled the hook, though he did get a nice red after that. Tides should be good the next several mornings back in the everglades and flamingo, hopefully the fish will continue to bite good!  I'm sure they got pounded over the weekend with the Redbone tournament going on.

11/4/11 Sailfish turn on for Kalex, early november fishing islamorada!

The Kalex fished today on 11/4/11.  They reported lots of bait around, especially pilchards off the beach.  The sailfish bit well for them.  They caught 5 today!  Catch 22, Reel McCoy, and Sugaree also reported catching some sailfish!  Great to see them showing up, it is that time of year again, and with the cooler weather on the way, they should continue to bite well!  Great november islamorada fishing!