2/12/17 February backcountry fishing report

February fishing in Islamorada has been marked by fairly warm weather so far and looks to be an early start to our spring time fishing.  We've had a few chillier days with some minor fronts that didn't turn out to be much, but several very warm ones as well.  Tarpon have started to show up and we had some successful days targeting them in the backcountry of the Florida Keys.  Capt. John Johansen, Capt. Bill Bassett, and myself had some good luck catching them last week.  Howard fishing with me landed large tarpon, 120 and 150 lbs!  Water temperatures creeped up into the mid and high 70s, which is the bottom range of when we expect to have a decent shot at catching them.  It wasn't always red hot fishing islamorada tarpon fishing, but if you put time in you could get a shot or two, and there were plenty of sharks as well as some big 'mud marlin' to pull on as well.  Out in the gulf the spanish mackerel fishing has been pretty consistent still as well.  The days with wind have been much more productive out there, the few flat calm days fishing for them was a little tougher.  Capt. Perry Scuderi and Capt. Mike Bassett both reported some quality action out there with the spanish mackerel, and I've been getting out there most days with my little larger boat which is nice when its windy.  Capt. Mike also reported some large sharks and goliath grouper yesterday for his client.  We also got a couple big goliaths and 'mud marlin' I had some good luck catching nice mangrove snappers around the islands too with cutbait and pilchards.  Some of the larger snappers have been around if you can get up tight to the mangroves which they like to hide under.  Capt. Mike Bassett had a very large specimen one day too.  A few days ago when it was very windy we had incredibly low tides in the backcountry, some of the lowest I'd ever seen!  Several boats had trouble even getting into the east cape canal area.  I had decent fishing with Howard and Mike, we caught some live pilchards and were able to catch half a dozen snook, and lost probably another half dozen, so enough to keep us entertained on a very windy day - we then caught our snappers for dinner afterwards.  Earlier this month I had Dan in the backcountry and we caught redfish, drum, and snook... and Bill Levore caught some very nice snook with me the day after along with mangrove snappers.  and I had Capt. Jim Willcox and Capt. Ted Wilson also had some snook action back there as well.  Capt. Tim Arce had some good action on the patches today and got a nice permit to start the day!  Capt. Vinnie Biondoletti reported some good mackerel fishing and a cobia last week, and Capt. Jim Willcox also got a nice cobia a few days ago too.  Loosk like this week we will have another minor front hitting us later in the week, don't think it'll get very cold but may slow the tarpon down again.  Hopefully though the next few days it'll warm up enough where we have a some shots at them in the meantime.  Soon enough it'll be tarpon on a daily basis though, I know I'm ready for that.  Give us a call if you want to get in on the action, 305-664-2461.

Capt. Rick Stanczyk

Mackerel on fly for Dan!

Nice redfish for Dan earlier this month.

Bill Levore showing off a very nice snook earlier this month.

Big bull shark for Chase.

Nice cobia for Capt. Willcox's angler.

Dave and Mike show off a pair of snook.

Dan got a big tarpon on this day too, gorgeous weather!

Howard fight one of two large tarpon he caught, this one 150 lbs!

Nice snook for Mike on this very windy day with super low tides.

Goliath grouper out of the muddy waters in the everglades.

Pretty patch reef parrotfish!  Say that 3 times really fast...

Nice permit for Capt. Time Arce angler this morning.

Monster mangrove snapper with Capt. Mike Bassett

Sawfish a.k.a mud marlin

Great shot thanks Jason Stemple of Capt. Bill Bassett's angler fighting a tarpon!

2/10/17 February Reef Fishing Report

There was some exciting catches here at Bud n' Mary's Marina the past week. Last Wednesday, the 28th annual Poor Girls Sailfish tournament took place, which is a fun inexpensive tournament for the ladies, and the Indigenous took second place with 7 releases, and the Cloud Nine took third place with 4 releases, The Reel McCoy also had 4 releases and finished in fourth place. Great Job Ladies!!! The sailfish bite has remained fair overall, most boats getting 1 - 3 shots per trip, with a couple better days mixed in. 

 

 

We had a cold front move through last night with pretty stiff winds, but the winds are suppose to start letting tomorrow. Wednesday and Thursday were "pre frontal", with light winds, calm seas, and with the approaching full moon we saw some beautiful wahoo caught. On Wednesday in the sailfish tournament Taylor caught herself a big 57 lb wahoo! The Cloud Nine also had a wahoo that day and there was plenty others lost. We caught a couple on the Broad Minded yesterday as well. They seem to bite better when its calm, so I bet we'll see some more the next week once everything begins to settle out. 

 

The kingfish bite has remained pretty strong, with fish in the 5 - 20 lb range, and a couple in the 30 - 40 lb range! There's been a few african pompano, mutton snapper, amberjacks, and grouper around the wrecks as well. Grouper season is closed until May, but they are still fun to catch and release. We haven't seen as many cobias as I thought we would, but last week there was one day with a few caught. I expect to see more on the dock any day now. There's been a couple blackfin tunas around while live baiting as well. 

 

The Cloud Nine made it way offshore on a swordfish trip yesterday and released a 50 lb swordfish. On the Broad Minded we did a couple "deep drop" trips last week, bottom fishing in 500 - 1000'. The bite was a little slow, but we wound up catching a couple really nice fish in two days, including a golden tilefish and a queen snapper. We had plenty of small blackbelly rosefish too. 

 

Give the marina office a call at 305 664 2461 when you're ready to book you're next fishing adventure in Islamorada and we'll set you up with a great boat and crew! Also don't forget we have lodging options at the marina and our Outfitter store is set up with a ton of great fishing apparel. 

Capt. Nick Stanczyk 

  

2/2/17 End of January and Early February Deep Sea Fishing report

We had some of our coldest air temps the past week here in Islamorada, Florida Keys. It reached a brisk 60 degrees or so, but it didn't stop our offshore charter boats from going fishing! Last Thursday was the one day Islamorada Fishing Club Sailfish tournament, and the Bud n' Mary's boats did well again. The Kalex took 2nd place with 4 releases and the Cloud Nine finished in 3rd with 4 releases. That was the third and final leg of the Florida Keys Gold Cup Sailfish Championship, and team Relentless took top honors with 22 combined releases over the three different tournaments this winter. Congrats to all the boats here on a great season!!! Overall the sailfish bite has remained fair, with most boats getting a shot or two per trip the last week, with a few better days mixed in. Hopefully they turn on again and we start getting a handful of shots per trip. 

 

The yellowtail snapper bite has been very good most trips, with many boats limiting out. There's been a few mutton snapper in the mix as well and some grouper (but grouper have to be releases untiil May 1st). The king mackerel really showed up the past few days, with fish from 5 - 20 lbs. We've seen the occasional blackfin tuna in the mix and some cobia are starting to move through. February is usually one of the best months for cobia, so if you're patient and put your time in you should have a good shot at find them! There's also been some amberjacks on the reef and wrecks, but remember they are closed for harvest until March 1st. 

 

Way offshore I made it out on a few daytime swordfish trips, but the bite has been tough. The last two trips didn't yield any bite, and we missed a couple bite a few trips ago. This time of year was very slow last year as well, but when you are fishing for that one fish you just never know when he's gonna eat your bait! There has been some beautiful queen snapper caught deep dropping on the way in and out from the swordfish grounds, so that's been a plus. 

 

Give the marina office a call at 305 664 2461 when you're ready to get out and go fishing in Islamorada! We'll set you up on a great boat! 

Tight Lines, 

Capt. Nick Stanczyk 

 

1/29/17 Late January Backcountry Fishing Report

January is almost over it's hard to beleive!  We are currently having a cold front hit us though it's a bit unusual as it's not only cold but wet as well.  Got down around 60 early this morning and some rain bands have moved through.  Suppose to dry out later though and just be cold throughout the week, possibly getting into the high 50s the next few nights and then mid 60s later this week.  This is only really the second blast of cold weather we've had this winter, the other being in early January.  A few days ago it was flat calm and in the mid 80s!  This weather should get the backcountry fishing fired up again with things like snook, redfish, drum, and sheepshead.  In the last couple weeks I myself have been focusing on the gulf fishing.  With the warmer, calmer weather the backcountry had been a little tougher plus very buggy.  Last weekend it blew 45 mph one day and it really stirred up parts of the backcountry too, but thankfully blew a lot of the nasty algae water in the middle bay we'v been dealing with for over a year out into the ocean.  This hasn't been good for out there but at least the tides and wind should carry it away now.    Out in the gulf the spanish mackerel fishing has been stellar and there have been a good mix of snappers out there too, along with big ladyfish, bluefish, and jacks.  Last week we had some days where the cobias were popping up and had a few good catches of them.  I've caught a handful of tripletails as well, though really have not been seeing a lot of them but if you keep your eyes peeled you may get a shot or two in a day.  In the backcountry as I said it'd slowed down a bit with the warmer, dirtier water.  But still picking away at a handful of snook most days back there.  We got a nice tarpon a few days ago too when it was flat clam and warm, as well as some big sharks (lemons and blacktips), and even a few goliath groupers and 'mud marlin' one day.  Capt. Bill Bassett reported stellar fishing on one of his canoe trips, landing tarpon, snook, and redfish back in the mainland protected areas of the everglades.  Capt. Jim Willcox had reported a good mix of mackerel, jacks, bluefish, snapper, etc... in the gulf, and a few snook back in the everglades as well.  Capt. Mike Bassett has reported some nice lane snappers out in the gulf the last couple days along with plenty of mackerel, and some nice mangrove snappers yesterday on his trip with a few snook too.  Capt. John Johansen reported a decent snapper bite locally around the bridges when the water was very nasty out front on the patch reefs a few days ago, was able to get a bucket full for dinner.  Capt. Perry Scuderi and Capt. Clyde Upchurch reported some good fishing locally the other day, getting a mixed bag of ladyfish, mackerel, jacks, snapper, and some blacktip sharks on lighter tackle.  Capt. Jeff Beeler and Capt. Mike Venezia reported some snook, drum, and juvenile goliath groupers back in the everglades a couple days ago.  They said the fishing was best in the earlier morning on the lower tides back there.  All in all looks like we will have a bit more 'winter weather' this week, but it should be good for our backcountry fishing as I said.  The sediment in the water from last weeks hard blow should settle out as it cools off, and the winds aren't suppose to be cranking crazy hard but more in the 10-15mph range, so shouldn't be too gnarly out there.  Give us a call if you'd like to get out and fish we have plenty of availability!  305-664-2461

Capt. Rick Stanczyk

1/22/17 Reef fishing report for Mid January in Islamorada

We just finished up the Cheeca Lodge Sailfish Tournament here in Islamorada yesterday. It was a two day event and the Bud n' Mary's boats made another strong showing! Capt. Travis Dickens aboard the Indigenous led his team to a first place finish with 8 releases. Capt. Paul Ross aboard the Relentless finished in second place with 7 releases. Congrats everyone!!! Overall the sailfish bite has been fair, with most boats getting 1 - 4 bites per trip. The week before The Relentless also took second place in the Islamorda SailFly tournament, with Konnor Ross releasing his first ever sailfish on fly! Last Tuesday was the "Over the Hill Sailfish Tournament" for anglers over 50 years old, and Capt Ray from the Reel McCoy charterboat ran a local privately owned boat in town to take first place and Capt. Joe aboard Fearless put his family in 3rd place! Great job everyone!!! 

We had a couple calms days of weather last week as well and sure enough some nice cobias were found just inside the reef. It's a hunting game that takes extreme patience looking for them, but if find a big stingray with a school of cobia following them be ready for action! There's been some nice king mackerel on the reef and wrecks, as well as the occasional wahoo and african pompano. The snapper bite has been decent most days with enough yellowtails for dinner and the occasional mutton snapper in the mix as well. Remember our shallow water grouper season is closed, but it's still fun to catch and release the black groupers and red groupers. 

Way offshore I made it out on one daytime swordfish trip aboard the "Broad Minded" and Jerry landed his first ever swordfish. We've had a lot of luck with my new personal "STANZ daytime swordfish rod" which are available for sale now here at Bud n' Mary's Outfitters and online at www.floridakeysswordfishing.com. 

Give the marina office a call to book you winter time fishing adventure here in Islamorada and we'll get you set up with a great boat and crew! 305 664 2461! 

Tight Lines 

Capt. Nick Stanczyk