11/18/16 reef/offshore fishing in Mid November

We're past the half way mark while fishing in November in Islamorada and it's starting to feel a little more like winter. Temperatures have dropped down a few degress and we've had some north wind. Last week we saw quite a few sailfish caught and released, with most of the boats catching atleast a fish or two if they put their time in. The past few days we saw the sailfish bite slow down, but I'm sure it will pick back up any day now. 

We're starting to see more and more king mackerel caught each week on the reef and the wrecks. They've been averaging 4 - 12 lbs, with a few bigger ones in the mix. The yellowtail snapper bite has been a little on and off, but catching at least a handful for a fresh fish dinner while on vacation shouldn't be a problem. A lot of boats caught mutton snapper, mangrove snapper, and a few grouper on the patch reefs with the windy weather the past few days. The Kalex had a nice wahoo a few days ago while live baiting on a wreck as well. 

Way offshore the swordfish bite was was steady until today. Today was slow with no bites, but before this we had 1 fish on 4 different trips and 3 fish one trip. The fish have averaged 60 - 100 lbs, but we did have one big 253 lber. We also caught and released a mako shark estimated at 250 lbs, that came up eating a swordfish. We cut a piece of the swordfish off, and hooked it on another rod to catch the mako. There hasn't been a lot of mahi around, but on 2 different trips we found a school, and it's always nice to get some bonus fish. We tried some deep drop bottom fishing on the way out a few trips, a couple days finding a few barrelfish.

Give Bud n' Mary's Marina a call at 305 664 2461 when you're ready to book your next fishing adventure in Islamorada, Florida Keys! Also our outfitter store will be back open on November 25th, so make sure to check out all the different apparel and accessories!  

Tight Lines, 

Capt. Nick Stanczyk 

11/16/16 November Backcountry Fishing Report

November is half way through and it's starting to feel a little like winter here in the Florida Keys.  We've had a couple mild 'cool fronts' so far, and just last night it dipped into the high 60s again and will be again over the weekend.  Normal for this time of year.  We had some nice calmer days though now the winds have kicked up again out of the north/northeast as the cooler air is moving in.  Fishing has been good overall though with a lot of the normal winter time fisheries starting to fire up.  The spanish mackerel have been around for a few weeks, it hasn't been super consistent yet for catching them but when conditions are right it has been pretty good.  Sometimes we've had to move around until we find the right colored water and falling tides have been optimum in the gulf.  There has also been a few permit around some of the wrecks out there we got one on each of the last couple trips out there.  Some nice cobias as well Dan last week got a cobia and permit on a wreck with me.  There was even a big 400 lb goliath grouper trying to eat our cobias and mackerels which was awesome to see!  Tripletails haven't been swarming but if you look we've been seeing a handful on the buoys, but not really worth riding around until you see them but if you are going from spot to spot, it's worth keeping an eye out.  Capt. Mike Bassett has also reported good gulf fishing described above, as did Capt. John Johansen.  In the backcountry the snook, redfish, and black drum fishing has been decent.  We got a few nice snook, reds, and a black drum in the last couple hours of our day the other day which was a great way to end it.  That should get better as things continue to cool off.  Usually right after the first good cold front we know things can really turn on for the drum and snook around some of the deeper creek areas.  Capt.  Jim Willcox has reported some good redfish fishing in the deeper creeks of cape sable.  Out on the patch reefs fishing is getting better too there have been plenty of porgies and variety of snappers.  Some hogfish are starting to be caught as well.  Capt. Bill Bassett had some nice hogs today plus a variety of the other mentioned fish, as did Capt. Perry Scuderi and Capt. Vinnie Biondoletti.  Capt. Clyde Upchurch had some good local fishing the last week, getting into plenty of rod benders (jacks, ladyfish, snappers) and even getting a few local snook and small barracudas as well.  Capt. Skip Nielsen reported some nice size mangrove snappers on some of the deeper patch reefs and a few mackerels out there as well.  Capt. Chris Daly has a nice snook and couple small tarpon fishing the other day in the backcountry.  There have still been a few tarpon around back there though that will likely start slowing down as the water temps drop into the lower 70/high 60 degree range.  

Capt. Rick Stanczyk

11/7/16 Early November Deep Sea Fishing Report

We're a week through November 2016 and there's been plenty of fish caught so far. Fishing the edge of the reef is where the action has been and we've seen a variety of fish caught. The sailfish bite has been pretty good overall, but of course some days were much better than others. On the better days most the boats that put their time in all had with 3- 5 sailfish releases each, and on a couple of the slower days there was just a couple releases amongst the fleet. Sailfish will be one of the main target species for many anglers this winter and you never know when you'll see a double digit day with releases! We use all light tackle, 12 - 16 lb line, and a big sailfish will put on quite the show! 

There has been steady action with yellowtail, mutton, and mangrove snapper as well. All of these fish are great eating and many people will take a bag of fresh fish to dinner at one of the local restauarants. There's been a couple keeper grouper in the mix, with lots of juveniles to catch and release. A lot of kingfish (king mackerel) have moved in as well, ranging anywhere from 2 - 10 lb range, but a couple over 20 lbs have been caught. On the shallow "patch reefs" we've seen some hogfish and porgy as well. 

Way offshore I made it out on two day time swordfish trips last week. The first trip was extremely quiet, without a bit all day, but it was an enjoyable experience to spend the day with Tred Barta. The next day was much better as we did a little deep dropping on the way out and caught some barrelfish and then got a 100 lb swordfish in the afternoon. The Catch 22 fished on Saturday and caught two swordfish, the biggest about 80 lbs. 

Give the marina office a call at 305 664 2461 when you're ready to book your next fishing Islamorada Fishing Charter and we'll find the right boat for you! Don't forget we have a variety of lodging options including houseboats and hotel rooms right at the marina and if you come before December you can get the "offseason" rates. 

Tight Lines, 

Capt. Nick Stanczyk 

11/3/16 November Backcountry Fishing in Islamorada

November is here and it is definitely feeling like Fall.  We had a mild front about a week ago and things have warmed up a little since, but it hasn't been hot since it's been blowing pretty hard for several weeks now.  Most mornings we've had a 15-20 mph northeast breeze, and by the time we've been coming home it's been a solid 25 out of the east.  Today the wind finally let up a little and was only 10-15, and it looks to stay nicer through the weekend at least.  But November can be a breezy month as we change season and things cool off, but you can definitely still get out there and catch some fish.  I myself have been targetting snook mostly as of late.  There has been plenty of pilchards around locally and some mixed bait still in the backcountry including various sized mullets.  The snook fishing hasn't been super red hot every day, but if you put the time in and work areas you can put together a nice catch.  The fishing was fairly similar through the rest of the week, though some days we'd been getting into the double digits on snook numbers, other days only catching a handful and having to catch one and move, catch one and move.  I had Jon Patten earlier this week for a couple days and we landed quite a few snook each day with a few reds mixed in.  Also had shots at tarpon both days but couldn't get them to stay on the hooks.   Shark fishing was good also we caught some big black tips and lemons.  Today we got a couple tarpon as well as some snook and redfish for a couple of backcountry slams.  A nice 50 lb tarpon and a smaller juvenile.  Capt. Mike Bassett reported some nice mangrove snappers in the gulf.  Capt. Jim Willcox and Capt. Bill Bassett have reported some good redfish action deep in the everglades.  Capt. John Johansen reported some nice mangrove snappers a few days ago and a couple little tarpon as well to go with it.  Capt. Chris Daly had a young angler the other day with a mixed bag of jacks, snappers, ladyfish, trout, etc... and some nice blacktip sharks.  Soon we should be catching spanish mackerel regularly it hasn't really gotten consistent yet but as it cools off they will be.  The patch reefs should start to be an every day thing as well and that is great for table fare and anglers of all experience levels!

Capt. Rick Stanczyk

10/27/16 Reef fishing in Late October 2016

We've have some really windy weather the past week here in Islamorada but it hasn't stopped all the boats from getting out to the edge of the reef. For a three day period last week the dolphin and sailfish bite really turned on! Most the boats had between 2 - 5 sailfish releases per day and 8 - 15 "gaffer" size dolphin. The fall is a transitional period here so the fishing for certain species will turn on and off every couple of days, but there's still always something to catch. The sailfish bite should remain somewhat consistent from now through winter, but the dolphin bite probably will probably be hit and miss as we are nearing the end of their usual migration. 

 

The past few days the dolphin thinned back out and there's still been a few sailfish caught. The yellowtail snapper bite has been very good, with a few mangrove snappers, and some nice mutton snappers mixed in. I've seen a couple keeper groupers on the dock and once we get a good cold front we'll probably see a few more. There's been a steady bite of "snake" king mackerel in the 4 - 8 lb range and a couple nice blackfin tuna as well. We should start seeing some bigger kings each month and we'll have a few tuna here and there while live baiting on the edge of the reef. 

 

I was able to get out on two swordfish trips last week before the wind really picked back up again and we tagged and released one juvenile broadbill swordfish. The bite was off from what is usually is this time of year, but hopefully they are snapping once the wind lays back down and we can make the 30 - 40 mile run. Give the marina office a call at 305 664 2461 when you're ready to book your next fishing adventure in Islamorada, Florida Keys!!! There's always something to catch! 

 

Tight Lines, 

Capt. Nick Stanczyk