12/13/16 Islamorada Deep Sea Fishing Report Mid December

We had a few really nice days of weather the past week as well as a few windy and rough days. The majority of the boats are fishing the edge of the reef this time of year so even on the rough days they are able to anchor down and make the the best of the conditions. The sailfish bite slowed down the past couple days, with just a few caught amongst the fleet, but last week we saw a good bite of fish for a couple days, with the Catch 22 releasing 6 one day and the Cloud Nine releasing 4. Hopefully it will get back to that sort of action again in the upcoming days. 

The kingfish bite has remained decent the past week, although some days were more productive than others. There's been a couple blackfin tuna in the mix while live baiting and I wouldn't be suprised to see a couple wahoo coming up as well. The bottom bite for yellowtail snapper was good most of the days, one day in particular the Miss Islamorada party boat had 290 yellowtail snapper! We've seen a few nice mutton snapper, mangrove snapper, and a couple black grouper as well. A couple boats have released goliath grouper and big bull sharks too. 

Way offshore I made it out on one daytime swordfish trip and the bite was on. We went 3 for 4, the biggest around 80 lbs. We also did some deep drop bottom fishing on the way out and caught a few queen snapper and barrelfish. The winter time isn't always prime time for swordfish, but you never know what day will be the lucky day and you can have that trip of a lifetime. 

Give the marina office a call at 305 664 2461 to book your next Islamorada Deep Sea fishing charter! Remember we have hotel rooms and houseboats available for accomodations, so you can be right close to the fishing action! Check out Bud n' Mary's Outfitters for all the latest performance fishing gear and Kev's Cafe is open daily at 6 am to make box lunches as well as cook a hot breakfast. 

Tight Lines, 

Capt. Nick Stanczyk 

12/12/16 December backcountry fishing report

The winds have finally laid off again after several days of it blowing over the weekend.  Yesterday it was blowing 30+ in the morning, but it calmed down in the afternoon and today it was much nicer maybe 10-15 mph southeast, and even calmer in the gulf/backcountry.  Yesterday Capt. Jim Willcox snuck out in the late morning and caught some mangrove snappers around the islands.  Several days ago before it was blowing he got out into the gulf too and got a mixed bag - mackerels, grouper, tripletail, and sharks.  Today I got into the near gulf and we caught plenty of spanish mackerel and blue runners, it was about as good as spanish mackerel fishing as want.  We were catching them two at a time for a good clip.  Finished up with a few snappers around some islands too but it was tough to find any larger ones in the limited time we had though we managed a few filets for dinner.  Several days ago when it was calmer I got out with Jeremy Fellgraff and his dad Jon, we caught a mixed bag of pompano, mackerel, snapper, jacks, porgies, and even a couple snook - all on a half day around town!  Also had Jon and Jeff out a little over a week ago in the backcountry for snooks, reds, and drums, and we had a good day.  Capt. John Johansen spent the morning today snapper fishing and was able to work around some different islands and had a good catch of snappers.  Capt. Bill Bassett today reported a handful of nice redfish and couple snook in the everglades, though he said the bugs were horrendous with the calm and warm air.  Capt. Skip Nielsen a few days ago had a banner day in the gulf with cobia, permit, mackerel, tripetail, snappers, and more - everything seemed to be cooperating!  Anyways this week looks like it'll be good conditions so give us a call if you want to get out and fish.  Christmas week is just around the corner and that is the busiest week of the year here in the Keys, so make sure you get your trips planned before it's too late!

Capt. Rick Stanczyk

12/6/16 Offshore/Reef Fishing report for early December

We just came off a busy weekend here at Bud n' Mary's Marina in Islamorada, Florida Keys. Last Friday, Saturday and Sunday the Islamorada Sailfish Tournament took place and Capt Paul Ross and his crew took 1st place with 15 sailfish releases over the 3 day event! CONGRATS!!! 

A lot of other boats have got in on the sailfish action the past week, averaging 1 - 3 fish per trip. The king mackerel have showed up in pretty good numbers, with fish ranging from 5 - 20 lbs. Also while live baiting on the edge of the reef we've seen a handful of blackfin tuna and a few mahi. This isn't the time of year to expect mahi every trip, but you always have a shot at getting one or two. 

 

The bottom bite has been very good for yellowtail snapper, mangrove snapper, mutton snapper and a few grouper. Remember we can keep grouper throughout December, but on January 1st the season closes for 4 months. I didn't hear of any cobia caught the past week but I'm sure we'll start seeing some more soon. 

 

Way offshore I made it out on one swordfish trip and we went 2 for 2, with fish up to 80 lbs. We also had a few barrelfish and a queen snapper. The winter time is the hardest time of year to plan on swordfishing because the weather is usually a little more unstable and windy, but if the weather cooperates you always have a fair shot off Islamorada. Keeping reef fishing as a back up option is the best plan, because if it's blowing 20 knots and we don't want to run 40 miles offshore, you can always go 4 -5 miles from shore and still have action with reef fish. 

 

Give the marina office a call at 305 664 2461 when you're ready to book you're next fishing adventure!!! Remember we can mail out Bud n' Mary's T shirts for Christmas Gifts, so give us a call if you want to order a couple. Or if you're intown check out our Outfitters store and see all the new gear. 

Tight Lines, 

Capt. Nick Stanczyk 

12/3/16 Early December Backcountry Fishin' Report

December is here but you wouldn't know it by stepping outside.  It's been very warm and for the most part pretty windy though we did have a couple days of light winds just before this weekend.  Fishing has been fair in general, with the wind direction and the warm weather the usual winter time options haven't always been available or very productive.  But if you keep your chin up and work at it there are definitely plenty of fish to be caught.  I myself have mostly been mackerel fishing in my larger bay boat and that has been very good.  We've had to run a ways to get to the better fishing grounds, but my last three trips were fantastic and we caught mackerel the whole time we were out there among other things.  Capt. Jim Willcox yesterday said when the winds calmed down and the water got nice they hammered the redfish in the everglades.  Before that it was a bit more of a pick and there had been some black drum, snook, and sheepshead mixed in.  He also got a nice cobia off the beach one day too.  Capt. Bill Bassett was out in the gulf a couple days and said the mackerels were pretty good out there.  Last week he had some very nice triple tails while out fun fishing with his son, though a few days ago he said they had disappered or perhaps were just tougher to see due to the very muddy water.  He also reported some pompanos locally in the bay yesterday.  Capt. Clyde Upchurch reported some nice snappers and trout fishing in the islands in the florida bay, Capt. Vinnie Biondoletti reported some good rod bending action on his half day with ladyfish, jacks, and trout.  Capt. Perry Scuderi reported good action on the patch reefs with porgy, hogfish, and snappers on one of the calm days we had, though they tried bonefishing later in the day and said that was slow.  Anyways looks like it'll be a little windy the next few days but maybe mid week will be laying down again.  Hopefully things will cool off for us sometime soon but we are making it happen regardless, give us a call if you'd like to get out fishing!  305-664-2461

Capt. Rick Stanczyk

11/30/16 End of November Deep Sea Fishing Report

November came and went just as quick as the other months while fishing here in Islamorada, Florida Keys. We've had a couple real nice days with light winds but most of the days we have had the usual winter time wind and sea conditions. The good news is that the majority of the boats are fishing on the edge of the reef and even when it's a little rough you only have to travel 3 -5 miles from shore to get in on the action! The sailfish bite has been fair, with a couple good days mixed in and a couple slow days. I would say the boats have been averaging 1 - 3 shots per trip, but one day the "Bn'M" went 6 for 8. Sailfish are one of those fish that if you make you shots count you'll have a great trip, but if they jump off (which some of them do), it can be a little frustrating. This coming Friday the Islamorada Sailfish Tournament starts, and it will end on Sunday, so good luck to all the boats fishing it! 

 

If you're not into chasing sailfish there's been plenty of action with snapper, king mackerel, barracuda, amberjack, a couple grouper, a couple tuna, etc. while fishing on the reef and wrecks. A couple boats found schools of cobia inside the reef as well, which can be very exciting and they are great fighters. Boats have been anchoring down and chumming for a lot for the bottom fish, and then slow trolling and kite fishing for the pelagic species. 

 

Way offshore on the "Broad Minded" I made it out on 7 swordfish trips the past couple weeks. It was slow a couple weeks ago, with one fish on 4 trips, but the past week was much better with one fish on each of 3 trips, as well as some more bottom fish one day on the way out. Capt. Scott on the Catch 22 had one swordfish his last trip and had a big day a couple weeks back with 3 swordfish on one trip. Swordfishing is big game fishing, and most of the time you are fishing for one fish, so if action is what you want I wouldn't recommend this type of fishing. We are getting to the time of year where swordfishing can be tough to plan because if we get a passing cold front it's hard to make the 30 - 40 mile run in and out and fish comfortably, but if the weather cooperates you always have a shot! 

 

Give us a call at Bud n' Mary's Marina at 305 664 2461 when you're ready to book you're next fishing trip and we'll find the right boat for you. We are booking up already for Christmas week, so if you're planning a trip down here to Islamorada give us a call and get a boat on hold. Bud n' Mary's Outfitters is up and going with the largest selection of Pelagic Gear in the Florida Keys, and also plenty of Yeti products, as well as some custom Columbia gear. 

Tight Lines, 

Capt. Nick Stanczyk