4/11/12 Winds lay down.. major gulf/backcountry action!

The winds subsided the last couple of days to flat calm, giving some new options on florida keys backcountry charters.  Capt. Jim Willcox fished the gulf the last few days, running far back 30-40 miles to some wrecks.  They had some big sharks, goliath groupers, cobia, permit, and tripletail.  Capt. Rick Stanczyk fished off the cape, reporting several big sharks, mud marlins, and a big tarpon today.  They also caught plenty of big trout and tripletail on the way home.  Capt. Vinnie Biondoletti also had a nice goliath grouper and cobia today.  Many of the guides ran the trap buoys out west and the tripletails were pretty thick.  Lots of options, this is the time of year for great islamorada permit fishing in the gulf of mexico!.  The tides are right for evening tarpon fishing here the next several nights.. get out there and go fishing for tarpon in islamorada!!!

10/13/11 Flat calm seas.. gorgeous! Nice permit and red!

Capt. Rick Stanczyk and Capt. Mike Bassett went out for a day of fun fishing themselves today on 10/13/11.  The islamorada fishing guides went and caught some bait very early in the morning - pilchards and pinfish.  They headed back to the flamingo/everglades area.  Hit a few islands and channels back there, not too much except snappers today, a few jacks.  Did catch one nice black drum.  We ran further down the cape area and hit a couple other spots.  Saw some tarpon rolling and busting, though they didn't want our bait they were after the mullets.  We hit a gulf spot and as the tide died some big schools of permit showed themselves!  Unfortunately we had no crabs, though we had a bunch of shrimp (mostly dead at this point!)  Rick got one to eat a few shrimp chunks luckily and caught this nice one!  We took off after that and hit some shorelines and a couple creeks.  Not much luck still, did catch one red out of one of the creeks, along with some jacks and catfish.  Oh well the permit made the day, and it was gorgeous scenery!!!  Come on down there can still be some quality fish caught while islamorada fishing charters are happening!

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

7/22/11 Islamorada night tarpon fishing

Capt. Rick Stanczyk fished a later evening trip last night, 5:30 to 9:30, for some florida keys tarpon fishing.  The bite was ok we had 3 for sure tarpon bites, and one other possible one.  We jumped the first two off, couldn't keep them on.  The 3rd we fought for a bit, got near the boat, and he took off again and unfortunately wrapped us up around another guide who was fighting a shark.  But we got him up and got a good look at him at least, plus some nice jumps!  Also had a couple shark bites.  Once it got near dark we began drifting crabs.  Rick ran to the other side of the basin and put them out and instantly a nice permit swam right up to the bait and inhaled it.  10 minutes later Glen Gilmore got this nice permit, close to 20 lbs!  Glen really wanted to catch a permit so it worked out great for us!

 

5/7/11 Big day backcountry fishing Islamorada!

Capt. Rick Stanczyk fished two half days today on 5/7/11.  In the morning we went in the back and caught plenty of ladyfish, snapper, trout, and jacks.  We decided to put the big rods out for a shark or something... and the tarpon had moved back into some of my favorite areas back there!  We went 1/2 plus caught a 100 lb hammerhead and 30 lb blackstip all in about 40 minutes - great fishing!!!  This evening we also did a night tarpon trip, went 0/2 on the tarpon they eluded us, but did have a couple permit crush the crabs one of which we caught this nice 25 lber on a medium spin rod!  Going early tomorrow for tarpon at 5 am to catch the daybreak bite!

5/5/11 Busy in the backcountry!

Braganini brothers,long time Bud & Mary's folks, today with Capt Jim Willcox caught Tarpon, 4 tripletails,many trout & doubleheader redfish way far away from the crowds!!!  Also Capt. Rick Stanczyk made it out there today.  Had my regulars Rick Coyne and Steve Tyson for 2 days and 2 nights.  Had several big bull sharks, hammerhead shark, cobia, mackerels, jacks, lost possibly a big tarpon to a huge tiger or hammerhead shark???  Reeled a permit to the boat that ran off and also got eaten by bull sharks.  Very exciting day.  The other day we caught big goliath and had a mud marlin on we pulled off.  Also caught several tarpon on our two evening trips.  Have a few pics but forgot the camera o nthe boat, sorry on the lack of updates fishing full days and nights all week has left me a little drained.