August 2016

8/8/16 Florida Keys Tarpon Fishing Report in August

We got out today but only got to fish for a little bit the weather got us unfortunately.  We made the run back into the backcountry this morning and caught some bait on the way.  It looked nice when we left on the radar.  Though by the time we got back there there was weather brewing close to home and blew up into a huge frontal line that took a while to go over the bay, with more coming behind it.  Anyways we got to fish for an hour or so, where we found tarpon yesterday and they were there.  But today they were not happy we could not entice a strike.  Hopped around several times but no dice.  We tried to go out and around the weather towards the gulf side but it kept building, so we had to hide in Flamingo for a while until it passed.  After it did there was more weather coming so we just bolted home and turned it into a half day trip.  Stinks when you have to do that it is pretty uncommon but today was just one of those days.  0 for 0

Capt. Rick Stanczyk

8/7/16 August Tarpon fishing Florida Keys

Got out in the backcountry august tarpon fishing in islamorada with Steve, Steve, and Michael down from Texas.  They fished with me last year we had stellar fishing for both days then.  Today I told them things weren’t quite what they were last year which has been true.  Luckily we got on bait early, had to make a few throws but loaded up nice on mullets.  The flamingo tarpon fishing was pretty good we found fish in the first channel we stopped.  Caught one right away and then caught another one after that, big bruiser at 100 lb or so.  The latter one took about a 45 minute fight!  Afterwards the tide had switched and started to fall we had a couple more shark bites and landed a nice lemon shark.  We ran out to check off the beaches though not much for tarpon life out there we caught several sharks and that was it.  Finished the day trying to catch a few trout for dinner but didn’t have much luck, we found a handful of trout and ladyfish and that was it.  Anyways great day always very glad to get a couple poons!  Back at it tomorrow.  2 for 2

Capt. Rick Stanczyk

8/5/16 Everglades Tarpon Fishing in August

Got out today for some tarpon fishing in the everglades.  We left early at 6 AM and caught our bait on the way.  The mullet were swarming which is a good sign, lots of bait around throughout the day.  We fished some areas where I had seen some tarpon the previous days.  The tide was just starting to fall and it was very muddy from the heavy south winds plus the torrential rain a couple days ago that stirred things up.  Some tarpon started to roll but weren’t very happy.  After 45 minutes or so we finally got a bite but he didn’t stay buttoned.  We moved around later and saw tarpon at the next stop but no bites there.  We did catch a monster 350 lb goliath grouper which was very cool and a lemon shark.  Not much after that so we ran up inside the channel further.  A few tarpon were showing on the edge of the flat and eventually we got one on the line.  This time he stayed on there and we landed a nice 50 lber.  We also got a few blacktip sharks and bonnet head sharks.  After the tide quit we moved back out to the channel mouths, but no more luck with tarpon just a couple more sharks and it was time to go home.  Not easy fishing but we got what we were after so that is always good.  Tarpon fishing in August in the Florida Keys will hopefully get better the winds started to subside this afternoon, and the next few days look very calm!  1 for 2

Capt. Rick Stanczyk

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