5/14/15 Mid May Deep Sea fishing report

The time is flying by here in Islamorada and we just finished the second week of May fishing in Islamorada. Most the offshore charter boats are doing full day charters now, but a few are still doing half day charters. The boats are fishing both offshore in the gulf stream, hunting for mahi and blackfin tuna, as well as on the reef for bottom fish, like snapper and grouper. You really need a full day trip to have the best bet at catching mahi, but a couple of the faster boats can give you a shot on a half day if that's what you want to try. The mahi bite was pretty good the past week. A few boats had some great catches, and a lot of boats had decent catches. Of course there was still a couple slow days in the mix where some boats would find fish and some wouldn't. On the humps the "football" blackfin tuna have showed up in good numbers, and almost all the boats that have made it out that far have had action with them. A couple boats have still been fishing for the sharks around the humps, catching bulls, duskys, and the Bn'M released a 400 lb tiger shark. There's been a couple wahoo caught while trolling, and a few tripletail caught on floating debris. Most the mahi have been from 3 - 12 lbs, but we've had a few nice Bull's on the docks from 25 - 35 lbs, and the Predator weighed in one mosterous 50 lber! A couple boats have also been doing a little deep dropping (bottom fishing in 350 - 650 feet), but with the new regulations on Blueline tilefish is has really thrown a curve ball at us. We can keep one per boat now, as it used to be 3 per person. There's been a few snowy grouper, yellowedge grouper, rose porgy, and vermillion snapper. We actually caught the 2nd biggest snowy grouper of my life on the Catch 22 the other day, which tipped the scales at 38.7 lbs! On the reef the yellowtail snapper bite has been good most days as well. A couple days the current was into the wind, which made the conditions tougher, but with some adjustments the boats still put a catch together. There wasn't as many groupers caught as during opening week, but we still had some blacks, reds, and gags caught on the reef and wrecks. There's also been a few mutton snapper around. A coupel of the wrecks have permit on them, and a few of the boats have got in on the action using live crabs for bait. I've made it out on two daytime swordfishing trips the last week and we caught 2 fish the first trip, and 1 fish yesterday. We are getting into "sword season" here, and we have a handful of boats all capable of doing it, so if you want to ever try to catch one the next few months are prime time.

We are hosting the Gotta Luv Them Charity Dolphin Tournament kickoff party this Friday, May 15th, with fishing on the 16th. Weigh in will be right here at Bud n' Mary's. And on the 25th we are hosting the Pelagic Memorial Day Classic. The kick off party for that will be on the 24th. If you have a charter booked during either of these tournaments feel free to sign up, or if you have your own boat feel free to fish on that.

Nice bull dolphin caught on the Catch 22

Predator with a great catch of mahi including a 50 lb bull! and a sailfish release

Gon Fishin V with a rack of mahi, a pair of cobia, a wahoo, and more

Big Permit caught and released on the Buzz On

Giant snowy grouper caught while deep dropping on the Catch 22

Great catch of mahi, tripletail, and yellowtail snapper on the Gimme Jimmy

tiger shark on the leader aboard the BnM

Yellowedge grouper caught with Capt. Travis from the Man O War

Swordfish on the Bn'M with Capt. Nick Stanczyk

Mahi, Amberjack, Barrelfish, Snowy Grouper, and Tripletail on the Catch 22

Tight Lines,

Capt. Nick Stanczyk

5/10/15 May Backcountry Fishing Report for Islamorada

Well we are well into May and things are keeping busy.  Tarpon fishing has still been the priority of most anglers.  At the end of April we had a little bit of weather with a slight drop in temperature, but with the high winds and rain the water had really cool down.  It went from the mid 80s to low 70s which is very late in the year for a dramatic drop like that.  Anyways with that occuring plus some flat calm days after the moon next, tarpon fishing had gotten a little tough.  The last few days things have picked back up again thankfully.  Tarpon seem to be feeding on crabs a little more and mullet are starting to thin out, though both can still be effective baits.  With the flat calm weather some captains had good fishing out in the gulf.  Capt. Jim Willcox and Capt. Skip Nielsen had good action with multiple permit, cobia, some goliath groupers, tripletail, and big sharks.  Capt. John Johansen repoted similar fishing out there.  They'd reported some good tarpon fishing in the backcountry as well with shark action mixed in.  Capt. Jeff Beeler has been having some tarpon action around town in the mornings and evenings as well.  Capt. Rick Stanczyk reported decent tarpon action way back in the everglades.  Today they had some nice size trout and mangrove snappers in the gulf plus plenty of shark action.  Capt. Bill Bassett had some tripletail and a couple tarpon the other day too.  Capt. Mike Venezia had some nice tripletails the other day too plus a nice tarpon around the bridges in the afternoon.  Capt. Mike Bassett has reported some snook in some of the everglades creek areas.  May should continue to be good fishing we look to be having a little bit of wind starting into next week.  There are plenty of options for this time of year thankfully!

Capt. Rick Stanczyk

5/7/15 early May offshore and reef fishing report

Well we've just finished up fishing the first week of May 2015 here at Bud n' Mary's in Islamorada. A lot of boats were anxiously waiting for May 1st because of the opening of the shallow water groupers (all the reef species). A lot of people fished the reef the past week and some people caught some incredible groupers. A few boats caught the limit on some trips, and a few of us caught a one or two. We saw mostly black groupers on the dock, but there was a few gags and reds mixed in too. A couple people were fortunate and caught some big boys, I saw a 38 lber behind the Man O War and the Reel McCoy had a 35 lber. Most fish were 7 - 20 lbs. In addition to the groupers a lot of boats had yellowtail snapper and a couple mutton snapper. Some areas the current and tide were into the wind making it difficult to drift for yellowtail, but the boats that were patient and didn't give up have still been getting plenty for dinner.

We hadn't seen many cobias the past couple weeks here, but sure enough the Relentless found a nice school yesterday, limiting out, with one monsterous 65 lber too. There's also been a few permit caught and released on the wrecks, as well as a couple surprise african pompano caught.

We've had quite a boats make the run further offshore in search of mahi and tuna, and most days were decent. There was a few slow days where the fishing was inconsistent and only a couple boats got them, but it should only get better and better as we get into summer. Patience is definitely the name of the game, and the boats that stick it out, and look for fish on their full day charters, finding floating debris, and birds working are being successful for the most part. A few days some boats struck out on mahi, but most boats have had from 10 - 25 fish on recent trips. There's been all sizes of fish too, the majority from 4 - 15 lbs, but the Predator weighed a 40 lb bull today. The "football" size blackfin tunas are on the humps, with a few bigger ones as well. Down deep on the humps we've seen quite a few ambjeracks from 30 - 50 lbs. I made it out on one daytime swordfish charter last week and we caught a 75 lb fish. We are getting into the prime months for swordfishing so hopefully I'll have some more good reports.

We had some bad weather a few days ago, with strong winds and lots of rain, but after a couple days it cleared up and it looks great the next few days. The bad weather didn't stop all the boats from fishing, some did reef trips and still had plenty of action, altough some people rescheduled. The Reel McCoy also had 2 sailfish releases today, but I think the sailfish action will be only occasionally from here on out. Give us a call in the office when you're ready to book your next fishing trip and we'll set you up! 1 800 742 7945

Remember we are hosting 2 different tournaments this month. The first is the Gotta Luv Them Dolphin Tournament on May 16 (so feel free to sign up if you have a charter booked) or have your own boat, and the next one is May 25th which is the Pelagic Triple Crown, Islamorada Memorial Day Classic. Bring your own boat for that one, or go on one of our charter boats as well. There's gonna be great prizes, trophys, and even some nice checks for the winners!

Capt. Nick Stanczyk

4/30/15 End of April Deep Sea Fishing Report

We had some great catches here the past week fishing in Islamorada in April. The weather was very crummy yesterday, with solid rain all day, but we can't control the weather and I suppose we were due for it. The mahi bite defitely picked the past week compared to the week before. Still a few days about 1/2 the boats would get them and 1/2 wouldn't, but overall it definitely has been getting more and more consistent. It should only improve as we get into May. A few boats had as many as 30 fish on some full day charters, including schoolies (3 - 5 lb fish) and a quite a few medium size fish (gaffers) in the 8 - 12 lb range. There was a couple slammers up to 30 lbs too. The fish have been caught by just trolling, as well as on birds and floating debris. There's been some nice tripletail around the debris and a few wahoo too.

On the humps we are catching some blackfin tuna and amberjacks. The Tuna have been from 3 - 15 lbs, and the amberjack from 20 - 50 lbs. There's been some big sharks around the humps too.

Today is the last day we have to release shallow water groupers aka "reef groupers" for the rest of year. I know everyone will be excited when they get catch that big grouper starting May 1st, since they will be able to bring it home for the dinner now.  A lot of boats have released black, gag, and red groupers the past month here. We've also had some quality size yellowtail snapper on the reef lately, and May is a great month to catch the "flags" , with fish in the 18" - 24" range. The permit have been around the wrecks lately too. I haven't seen any cobia the past week, but I'm sure there is a school out there somewhere, you just have to put in the time to look for them. There was a couple sailfish caught the past week, and I think we'll see the occasional sailfish caught and released the next month. There's been some king mackerel on the wrecks as well, both "snakes" in the 4 to 10 lb range, but the Kalex had a pair of 40 lb smokers the other day.

Way offshore we have been doing some daytime swordfishing. My last trip we had 2 fish, keeping a 153 lber and releasing a 50 lber, but the trip before we didn't captalize on our shot and pulled the hook on a sword.  If you ever want to try your luck at getting a broadbill the upcoming months are prime time. I recently sold my boat, Bn'M II, and will be running some trips on the Bn'M as well as the Catch 22. If you'd like to fish with me, Capt. Nick Stanczyk, just mention it when you call the booking office to book your fishing trip at 305 664 2461.

We also have 2 great fishing tournaments coming up in May. The first is the Gotta Luv Them Charity Dolphin (mahi)Tournament. It's on May 16th. You don't have to be a serious fisherman to enter. If you have your own boat or are going on a charter and want a little competition and the chance to win some $$$ you should sign up. Many of the proceeds go to a good cause as well. It's the combination of the 3 biggest fish added together. The Second tournament we are hosting is the first annual Pelagic Triple Crown Memorial Day Classic on May 25th. This tournament has 2 seperate divisions, and is going to be nothing but FUN! There's a blue water division and a reef division. "Jungle Rules" apply, so if you have your kids out fishing and they need a little help, jump right in! Mahi, Wahoo, Tuna, Amberjack, Snapper, Grouper, and Mackerel can all put you in the winners circle. Bring your own boat, or go on a local charter boat! Both tournaments are going to have a kick off party the night before, and an awards banquet with dinner the night after the fishing. The weigh in Station will be Bud n' Mary's Marina. 

 

Get on down here while the fishing is good! Give the marina a call at 305 664 2461 to book your next fishing adventure!

Capt Nick Stanczyk

4/27/15 Late April Backcountry Fishing Report

April is almost over and it already feels like summer time!  We've had some record setting heat the last few days.  With light southwesterly winds it's been very muggy but the fishing has remained pretty good.  The tarpon have been active throughout the day both in the backcountry and around the local channels and bridges.  Mullet is still often the bait of choice though crabs are being used some as well.  The presence of mullet should remain strong for a few more weeks and then we usually start getting more into summer time mode, however with this warm streak who knows how that may affect things coming up.  Capt. John Johansen, Capt. Jeff Beeler, Capt. Skip Nielsen, Capt. Rick Stanczyk, Capt. Bill Bassett, and Capt. Mike Venezia have all reported good tarpon fishing lately around the local bridges and channels.  Capt. Bill had a very good day last week landing multiple fish on bait and finishing with a nice fish on fly in the afternoon.  Capt. Rick Stanczyk had some banner fishing with Darrell Brock for 3 days they landed multiple tarpon and had lots of action mostly on live bait.  Today he repoted good shark action in the backcountry and got into the tarpon back there as well.  Capt. Skip Nielsen had long time customers Tom and Wendy Sims out today, Wendy got a backcountry slam redfish, snook, and tarpon.  Capt. Mike Bassett reported a very good day of snook fishing last week too.  He found some nice size pilchards around some of the backcountry islands.  Capt. Jim Willcox had some good redfish and snook fishing deeper in the everglades a couple days last week as well.  He also got into a few nice hammerheads the other day shark fishing.  It's the time of year that anything is possible with the calm weather conditions the water is looking very nice and you never know what you might find out there.

Capt. Rick Stanczyk