5/1/16 May Fishing report for Islamorada

April came and went so fast I didn't even get a chance to fill everybody in on the Offshore Fishing in Islamorada the last couple weeks. The second half of April we saw a decent mahi bite overall. Some days all the boats did very well, a few days half the boats did well while half the boats struggled, and a couple days the fish just weren't out there in Big numbers and some of the boats only found a couple. The good news is the mahi fishing should only continue to get better and more consistent as we get into summer. The blackfin tuna showed up in good numbers the last few days, mostly footballs in the 3 - 7 lb range, but there has been a couple in the 12 - 25 lb range too. On the humps we've still got amberjack and some big sharks too. The predator released a white marlin today while trolling, and last week the Bn'M released a 250 lb blue marlin! Islamorada isn't a marlin destination by any means, but it doesn't mean you can't get lucky and catch one! With today being the 1st of May that means our shallow water grouper season is open, so a lot of boats fished the reef today. The grouper bite was decent, with most of the boats catching a couple keepers. We saw mostly black groupers on the dock, with a couple gag and red grouper too. A lot of boats have been catching yellowtail snapper, and a couple days last week the Miss Islamorada had perfect fishing conditions and limited out! There's been a few big mutton snapper as well as a few nice mangrove snapper in the mix too. The permit have been hit and miss on the wrecks, but a few boats have got in on the action with fish from 15 - 35 lbs. We also had a good bite of sailfish for a couple days when the conditions were just right last week. The reel McCoy had 8 one day, and 5 two days in a row after that. A few boats caught a couple and a couple boats put in some effort but no luck. It is definitely toward the end of sailfish season, but I'm sure there will be a couple here and there the next month. Way offshore the swordfish bite has been steady and we saw two really big swordfish at the marina the past week. Capt Nick Stanczyk put his clients on a 341.5 lb broadbill swordfish the other day, and the day before Capt. Travis on the Indeginous caught one of similar size while filiming an epiosode of "Reeling in the Keys"! May is a prime month for swordfish so if you want to try your luck, give the office a call at 305 664 2461 and we'll set you up. Don't forget to check out our new outfitter store with the largest selection of Pelagic gear in the Florida Keys next time your at the marina too! 

Tight Lines, 

Capt. Nick Stanczyk 

4/28/16 End of April Islamorada Backcountry Fishing Report

Boy time is flying it's hard to beleive it's almost May and summer time is just around the corner.  It is starting to feel that way as things are heating up and the winds have laid down from the crazy 20-30 mph stuff we and we look to have a nice weekend in store.  The late cool fronts have also slowed down we were still having a lot of wind shifts through early April and that kept us guessing as far as the fishing went.  Tarpon season has been in full swing however it's not been very easy for much of April.  The fish have really been biting good in little windows though many a times it's been tough to get them to respond.  It's not that they aren't around but they have just been very moody.  I myself had done several early morning trips and we had good success with that getting a few bites each trip and landing fish on just about all of them.  The evening fishing has been decent too with sunset being a good time to be out there.  The day time bite has definitely been a little more hit and miss.  Today we found a pack of tarpon though and got them to respond and managed to catch a couple along with a few sharks and some nice sea trout as well.  Capt. Bill Bassett has been getting on the tarpon in the backcountry the last week along with Capt. Skip Nielsen.  Capt. Vinnie Biondoletti and Capt. Gunner Guthrie have been working hard around town and have had success as well.  Capt. Mike Venezia has been catching some tarpon too along with Capt. Jeff Beeler.  Capt. Richard Stanczyk Sr. has had some good fishing he guided his friend Capt. Al Ristori with the star ledger to a 15 lb bonefish as well as multiple tarpon.  This was the biggest bonefish Richard had seen landed in his life that's something to be said for over 40 years of bonefish fishing.  He also got on some snook and tripletail in the backcountry last week.  Anyways things are looking up and May is usually a great month for fishing down here and as always I really love the summer time when the winds are calm and conditions remain relatively the same, fishing can be very good!

Capt. Rick Stanczyk

4/16/16 Mid April Offshore Fishing Report

The month is flying by here in Islamorada and it's already past the mid way point in April! Boats have been venturing out both way offshore in search of mahi and tuna, and staying on the edge of the reef. Each day has been a little different, and we are definitely in the spring time transition. Overall there has been good fishing but a couple days were definitely slower. On the reef the past few days the yellowtail snapper bite has been on fire. There's been nice "flags" averaging 2 lbs on the deeper reef and smaller keepers on the patch reefs. We've also seen a couple mutton snappers in the mix. On the bottom rods there's been both black and red grouper caught and released, and I know everyone is excited for May 1st when season opens for them! 

While live baiting outside the reef there's been a couple sailfish still around. We're still seeing some king mackerel, a couple tuna, permit, amberjack, and a few other fish around the wrecks just outside the reef. Check out this big 37 lb african pompano! 

Further offshore the mahi bite has been on and off. A few days boats have done decent with 8 - 12 fish, raning from 3 - 20 lbs, but some days boats ran all over the ocean for just a couple fish. One day Last week the Catch 22 had a spectacular day, and Jo Anne caught a big 46 lb Bull!!!  It was funny becuase we posted the picture to our social media outlets and everyone accused us of photoshopping the picture!! Sure it was a good camera angle with the iPhone, but I had to tell all these wannabee Sherlock Holmes' not to quit their day jobs! It was a good thing I took multiple pics of the fish when it hit the dock. I think most of the guys sitting behind their computer and phones were jealous that Jo Anne caught a bigger mahi than them! It looks like we are going to get some east wind here starting tomorrow so hopefully this coming week the mahi fishing gets a little more consistent. There's been some blackfin tunas, amberjacks, and sharks around the humps as well. 

Way offshore there's been a couple swordfish around and Capt. Nick Stanczyk caught a 160 lber his last trip and a 95 lber the trip before. 

Give the marina office a call at 305 664 261 and we'll help set up your next fishing charter in Islamorada! 

Tight Lines, 

Capt. Nick Stanczyk 

This weeks fishing report brought to you by YETI! 

4/13/16 April Backcountry Fishing Report

April is here and tarpon fishing season is in full swing!  It's been a little slower start this season I think we've all gotten spoiled with the good early february/march fishing we had the last few years though weather patterns were totally different.  The late chilly weather with the ever changing wind directions seems to have settle down now and this was an 'el nino' year which had goofy weather for people all over the country through the winter and spring.  Anyways the last couple weeks there have been plenty of tarpon around the bite hasn't always been consistent though water temps are still in the mid to high 70 degree range.  I've had many several days where we have seen fish all over the place literally hundreds of them and just can't seem to get a response.  Other times they are biting everything that hits the water.  Though they should normalize now as we get a little more consistent east/southeasterly wind and the water gets into the 80s.  The evening fishing on the falling tides has been very good the last week.  Previous to that I had a few tough mornings where we only had a bite each morning with a handful of cheap shots and things just didn't come quite together to land a fish, but things are getting better now.  We had good fishing the last several nights and landed multiple tarpon.  The mornings and days have been OK though a bit more work a lot of moving around and getting a bite here and there.  I didn't fish this morning but I heard it was pretty good around a few of the bridges.  Capt. Mike Venezia, Capt. Gunner Gutherie, and Capt. Mike Nichols both reported good tarpon action this morning.  I know the last few nights Capt. Mike Bassett, Capt. John Johansen, and Capt. Vinnie Biondoletti were also on a good tarpon bite.  Capt. Bill Bassett got a handful of nice snook yesterday in the backcountry, as well as some very nice tripletails in the gulf.  The traps won't be out much longer so this is the last chance to do a little bit of triple tail fishing out there.  Capt. Skip Nielsen has been on the tarpon of course and has had good fishing the last couple weeks as well.  Capt. Jim Willcox has been tangling with big critters in the backcountry including large hammerhead, tiger, and blacktip sharks, as well as big 'mud marlin.'  Spring time is here so get out and go fishing!

Capt. Rick Stanczyk

4/4/16 early April reef and offshore Fishing Report for Islamorada

It was a super busy week here fishing in Islamorada at Bud n' Mary's Marina. Tons of boats fished and we saw a variety of fish caught. On the reef there was a couple sailfish around each day, and one day they bit pretty decent and a handful of boats had 3 - 4 releases a piece. 

We've also seen a few kingfish each day, especially if you have the right live bait. One of the most impressive catches the past week was a giant 82 lb wahoo aboard the Warbird!!! I believe it's the biggest wahoo ever caught out of Bud n' Mary's Marina, and Capt. Shannon had it in the boat within an hour of leaving the dock! You just never know when that fish of a lifetime is going to bite! There's also been a couple regular size wahoo too. 

The amberjack bite still remains strong with fish from 20 - 50 lbs. The blackfin tuna have been hit and miss on the humps, but they should only get better each week. There's been a few mahi around each day, but it is just the start of the season as well, so we should only see more fish each week. 

Capt. Nick Stanczyk released two big tiger sharks estimated at 500 and 600 lbs a few days ago as well. 

Bottom fishing on the reef has been decent for yellowtail snapper most days, a few days were really good when the conditions (water color and current) were right. There also been a couple mutton snapper in the mix and some groupers to release (grouper season opens May 1st). The cobias have been hit and miss, but I imagine we'll see a few more the next few weeks. The Relentless found a school one day and cuaght a giant 70.5 lber! There's also been some barracuda around the reef as well. 

Way offshore Capt. Nick also had a 211 lb swordfish on his last swordfish trip. It was the only bite of the day, and it came late in the afternoon, but it paid off! 

Give the marina office a call at 305 664 2461 when you're ready to book you next fishing trip! 

Tight Lines

Capt Nick Stanczyk

This fishing report brought to you by YETI!