October backcountry fishing in Islamorada

October is going by fast and the fishing has been very good in the backcountry for tarpon.  We are experiencing the fall bait run where loads of bait, mostly mullet, are making their way back down the east and west coast of Florida.  Many of the larger tarpon that migrated up in the spring are making their way back down too as it cools off up North, and they are actively feeding on the huge bait schools.  The last couple weeks it's been a consistent thing and some of the best fishing we've had for them all year.  However this weekend we are getting a bit of a cold front which may switch things up, though I don't think it'll get cold enough to push them out so it could stay good for a bit longer.  I myself and Capt. John Johansen have been out there quite a bit the last couple weeks, and just about every day we've been getting multiple shots at tarpon.  There has also been some nice size mangrove snappers which has been a good way to finish the day, get a little bit of table fare.  Capt. Bill Bassett reported a decent catch of snook deep in the everglades several days ago.  Capt. Jim Willcox has reported a mixed bag everything from snook and drum to trout, snappers, jacks, etc...  Capt. Mike Venezia had his limit of mangrove snappers the other day on a half day trip which was good action for the kids he had.  The spanish mackerel should be on their way here and after this weekend we may start getting some good fishing for them.  The patch reefs usually start getting good soon too as things cool off.

Capt. Rick Stanczyk

10/19/16 October Deep Sea fishing report for Islamorada

Sorry I missed last weeks fishing report, I was out of town but now I'm back to tell you what's been biting in Islamorada so far this October. We've been seeing some sailfish caught and released most days the past couple weeks on the edge of the reef. The Kalex had the only release yesterday out of a handful of boats, but a few days ago the Cloud Nine released 4 , and a little over a week ago the Indigenous and Team Kalex teamed up and released 6 one day. I would definitely say you have a fair shot of catching 1 or 2 any trip you go out now, and it should only get better as we near winter.

 

The yellowtail snapper bite has been very good the past few days. Most boats have been catching their limit and there's been a few nice mutton snapper in the mix too. We haven't seen a lot of groupers lately but the Relentless did have one keeper black grouper his last trip. Once we get a cold front I expect to see some more keeper size groupers caught. There's been a couple king mackerel and cero mackerel around, and the Kalex had a suprise cobia last week one day as well. 

 

The dolphin bite slowed down for the most part the past couple weeks, but there's still a couple around. Usually we catch most of our dolphin 10 - 30 miles offshore in the late spring through early fall, but this time of year we catch a few on the edge of the reef. They are usually decent size as well, averaging 10 - 20 lbs. There's been a few blackfin tuna on the edge of the reef and there was a good blackfin tuna bite on the hump last week but the sharks were so ferocious it was nearly impossible to boat any decent size tuna while on the hump. 

 

The wind has been blowing hard lately which makes it difficult to run way out to try for swordifsh, so most trips have had to switch game plans the past week, but the Reel McCoy got a trip in last week before the strong winds and they boated a 215 lb broadbill swordfish. Congrats guys!!! 

 

It's still windy as of now but if you're fishing the edge of the reef the wind wont hurt anything. Sometimes it gets the sailfish biting and it stirs up some of the bottom fish to make the bottom fish snap as well. Give the marina office a call at 305 664 2461 to book your next Islamorada Fishing Trip. 

Capt. Nick Stanczyk 

10/4/16 October Islamorada Backcountry Fishing Report

October is here and so far the fall fishing is still very good overall.  Hurricane Matthew is currently looming out in the Atlantic affecting the islands, but we appear to be out of the 'cone' and may experience some stronger than normal wind and rain, but the chances of hurricane-force winds are very minimal.  Looks like we will get most of the weather the next couple of days.  I myself have been tarpon fishing mostly still and fishe the last three days.  It was epic fishing, again some of the best fishing I had all year.  The fish have stayed put in the same relative aras for a while now and for the most part have been happy and feeding.  Anyways we landed multiple tarpon every day and I had some very happy anglers!  Yesterday we were finished with the tarpon by 10 AM and then caught a few nice snook, a nice triple tail, and then even jumped a big tarpon on the light tackle while throwing arificials for trout!  Capt. Mike Bassett had some decent fishing in the everglades the other day he said he caught some nice pilchards and caught several snook and a handful of decent redfish.  Capt. Jim Willcox reported some big snapprs and nice trout and various other things out in the bays fishing on a half day trip.  Capt. John Johnansen had some tarpon the last week as well, plus some big sharks and a nice snook the other day on some cut bait.  Capt. Perry Scuderi also had some tarpon and a big bull shark the other day as well.  Unfortunately that is about all I got only a handful of guides have been fishing here and there as it is still our off season.  But as you can tell that does not mean fishing isn't good - far from it October can be one of the best times of year for fishing down here!  The next couple of days may be a wash, but I think by the weekend things will be much better.  We should start getting the fall bait migration going on here soon, and that usually brings loads of predator fish with it.

Capt. Rick Stanczyk

10/2/16 End of September/Early October Offshore fishing report

We had some great weather the last week of September here while offshore fishing in Islamorada. The wind picked up the last couple days but most the boats still made it out. Offshore the blackin tuna bite was still the best bet for action. Most of the fish were 4 - 10 lbs with a few in the 15 - 20 lb range. The dolphin bite was still hit and miss overall, but a couple boats did find "magical debris" and did very well, and a couple boats found nice schools of migrating fish. I think we'll continue seeing plenty of blackfin tuna the next month and I imagine the dolphin bite we'll be a little spotty, kind of how this whole season was. Some boats also caught and released some big dusky sharks the past week, with a couple reported over 300 lbs! A couple boats have also been doing some "deep dropping" and there's been a few barrelfish and queen snapper caught.

 

 

Back on the reef the yellowtail snapper bite has been steady with a couple muttons and mangroves mixed in. The king mackerel are showing back up on the wrecks as well. A couple boats got in on some early sailfish action, with the Relentless releasing a couple yesterday and the Reel McCoy releasing three last week during an afternoon trip. 

 

Way offshore a few of us have been swordfishing. Last week was pretty good, and we had one giant broadbill swordfish that weighed in at 411 lbs!!! However, the past few days the bite really slowed down and we are hoping it turns back on like it should be for this time of year. The Fall is typically peak season on swords, so hopefully they start biting again any day. 

 

Give the marina office a call at 305 664 2461 to book your next Islamorada Offshore fishing charter! We also have discounted rates this Fall for our accommodations. 

Tight Lines, 

Capt. Nick Stanczyk 

9/21/16 Mid September Deep Sea Fishing Report

We've had some super calm weather the past week here fishing in Islamorada in September. The week before was rough with strong winds, but it looks like it's going to be super nice the rest of this week. The strongest bite of fish we have had has been the Blackfin tuna bite on the humps. The sharks were thick some of the days and ate a lot of the tunas, but the past week they have been much more "catchable". We have trolled for them as well as "live chummed" with pilchards. The blackfins have averaged 5- 10 lbs with a handful of 10 - 20 lbers in the mix. There's also been plenty of skipjack tunas in the mix. 

 

The mahi bite has been hit and miss the last week, but the week before there was a big push of fish. Floating debris has been the ticket the last couple days, so if you come across that one piece of debris you could make your entire day in one stop. I think the next couple weeks we will some some fish as well, but you'll have to put your time in and it won't be every day. Last weekend Andrew took home "Top Junior Angler" in the Mako "Funament" tournament while fishing aboard the Indigenous, Congrats! 

 

Other fish caught offshore recently have included big dusky sharks on the humps, a couple amberjacks, a wahoo, and tripletail. Deep Dropping has produced some barrelfish, blackbelly rosefish, and we should see a few more queen snapper each week too.

 

Back on the reef the yellowtail snapper bite has been very steady and there's still a couple mutton and mangrove snapper mixed in. The king mackerel have been showing up on the reef and wrecks as well, and there's a few grouper around, most have been undersize but still fun to catch. There's also some barracuda around and we saw some really nice cero mackerel moving in on the patch reefs. 

 

Way offshore the swordfish bite picked up the past few days. We caught one fish on each of our last 3 trips and the Catch 22 caught one his last trip. It was slow the week before with no fish on a few trips, but I think the Fall push of fish is here, so if swordfish is on your bucket list take advantage of this nice weather and give it a shot! 

 

Give the marina office a call at 305 664 2461 when you're ready to book you're next fishing trip and don't forget we have discounted rates for our hotel rooms and houseboats this time of year! 

Tight Lines, 

Capt. Nick Stanczyk