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.

2/10/13 February Islamorada Fishing Report Backcountry with wind!

Winds are howling today on 2/10/13.. 20 miles an hour from the east.  One great thing about february fishing in islamorada is when it blows like this as it often does with the changing of the seasons to spring, is that you can always run and hide.  Capt. Jim Willcox and Capt. Mike Bassett both report good fishing back at east cape and beyond cape sable.  On this day fishing in the florida keys in february they had some low water in the morning for several hours.  With this ideal condition the fish are much more congregated as they have no where to go.  Jim reported getting into several large redfish, as well as some more slot size fish, over a dozen or so deep in some creeks.  They also caught 3 snook backcountry islamorada fishing.  Capt. Mike fished Will and Pat down from upstate New York.  He reported a mixed bag of redfish, black drum, sheepshead, and 10 snook!  They also got into a big mess of seatrout.  If your looking for table fare there was some of that too.  Capt. Bill Bassett caught his limit of mangrove snappers and sea trout with his anglers who wanted stuff for dinner.  Capt. Vinnie Biondoletti also reported several large bull sharks while he was shark fishing today.  Islamorada fishing in the spring is happening now, water temperatures are approaching 75 and as long as it stays warm, the spring time fishing should be in full swing (meaning tarpon!).  On the offshore side it was very rough, though a handful of sails were caught on the Kalex and Fearless.  Kalex also got a nice mutton snapper.

11/7/12 Winter time fishing in Islamorada

Had a 3 boat trip today out of Bud n' Mary's Fishing Marina in Islamorada Florida Keys on 11/7/12.  This is a transitional time of year so the fishing varies a bit and can be a little inconsistent as temperature and winds fluctuate often.  Today myself, Capt. Perry Scuderi, and Capt. Vinnie Biondoletti fished the Kanipus party.  We fished the flamingo area, which winter fishing in islamorada is often good back there.  The wind kicked up good as yesterday it was flat calm and suppose to get cold tonight, but wasn't too bad 15 mph out of northwest.  Capt. Perry and myself started out with some nice catches of redfish, we got probably close to 30 with several nice slot size fish.  They were eating pilchards and shrimp as the pilchards have been easy to get and close by.  Capt. Vinnie reported a decent pick of various fish including redfish, snapper, trout, and a few juvenile snook where he went november fishing in the florida keys.  Later our boat was after meat so we hit some runoffs for trout which usually gets good as the water temperatures drop, we caught plenty of trout and got 5 or so keepers plus some snapper, jacks and ladyfish, mostly on pilchards again but a few on shrimp too.  Capt. Perry reported some mangrove snappers, jacks, and a few small snook as well around one of the islands back near flamingo.  We then decided to try to catch something bigger and ran out west to try for either big shark or goliath.  We put the big rod out and a few pinfish for possibly a cobia or big snook, and of course we caught a 10 lb cobia on the big rod on a dead ladyfish on the bottom.  Oh well at least we got one!  Great day on an islamorada backcountry fishing trip, the boys are bringing all their fish to lazy days for a fish fry tonight and had a great time!  The cold weather thats coming should start pushing more fish to their winter time spots, including the spanish mackerel into the edge of the gulf of mexico fishing.

Capt. Rick Stanczyk

9/4/12 September Islamorada Fishing in the backcountry

Islamorada fishing in September has started off great in the backcountry.  The water is still fairly cool from all the rain/wind of hurricane Isaac.  The water for the most parts in areas around flamingo is not too grassy and very fishable.  Capt. Vinnie Biondoletti a few days ago had a great day, fishing with Ron Taylor and family.  They caught 40 redfish up to 8 lbs, 6 snook, and a couple small tarpon.  He also fished yesterday with young Justin Block and father for some Islamorada flats fishing.  Justin caught his first bonefish in the morning.  They saw a fair number of others, as well as a few small tarpon and permit.  Capt. Bill Bassett this morning also reported good redfishing, catching 20 of them, as well as 2 snook and one small tarpon.  Capt. Rick Stanczyk reported good fishing around some islands fishing in the florida keys backcountry the last 2 days.  They caught plenty of mangrove snapper, abou t 15 snook each day, a small goliath grouper, and a few small redfish.  Most this fishing has been done with shrimp and on artificial GULP shrimps.  Fishing in Flamingo should stay decent especially if the water temps stay a little cooler, early morning will likely be your best bet to ensure that!