June 2018

Got out with Chris and Davis today for a full day charter for tarpon fishing.  The guys had been following me online and were excited about fishing.  Unfortunately the fish didn’t cooperate very well today.  We had the winds kick up a bit out of the south south/west, not a great direction.  Not crazy wind but blowing a solid 15 mph in the morning.  Also we are near the full moon which so far hadn’t seemed to bother the daytime bite too much.  Anyways we got back to the fishing grounds and caught some bait.  Bait was very easy we got a big load of it, the easiest it’s been in a while for me.  We then ran to check out some of the channels.  I looked in the areas where we’d been fishing the last several days.  Today though there just wasn’t anything there…  We looked and fished and did eventually see one tarpon roll, but no bite.  We did get a big old triple tail though which was cool and a few sharks.  We left out of there and tried some other channels where some fish had been a week ago.  Not much there today though just some more sharks.  We looked in some areas and fished in few, and nothing.  We kept moving and got into another area where we finally did see a handful of tarpon.  But we had some weak tides and the tide was already starting to die out on us.  The sharks ate us up and then I gave the boys an option of trying some other fishing since it didnt’ seem to be working out.  Davis said he wanted to stick it out though since they got to catch trout and such at home.  I said OK and we decided to look back where we had been earlier.  The winds had laid out somewhat and the tide was starting to change again.  We saw a tarpon roll in one of the channels, and then set up and saw several more!  I was excited it was what we’d been waiting for all day.  However it just didn’t happen.  We moved around several times, and definitely were in some fish.  I even stayed an extra 30 minutes to try and make it happen but the fish were just not into it.  Anyways we caught a few more sharks and a sting ray and that was it for the day.  I talked to several other guides who fished locally and in the backcountry and they all had tough days with the tarpon, nobody I talked to had caught one.  Anyways it can change in a hurry sometimes.  The guys still had a great time and were a pleasure to fish with and said they’d be coming back.  Hopefully things get easier I think the winds suppose to lay off again and get nice and calm like it had been so that should help.  0 for 0

Capt. Rick Stanczyk
Instagram: @richardstanczyk
Facebook: Islamorada Tarpon Fishing

Got out with Brian and his sons Drew and Carter for a full day trip today.  Tarpon were the main desired target so we set out after them.  I’d had the last couple of days off, I did go fun fishing with my dad yesterday and we caught some snook and redfish.  Though I was also able to catch a little bit of bait for today as well.  That was a good thing because bait was pretty difficult.  There has been a lot back there but it’s all staying up very shallow, and very spooky every time you try to get near it they run.  Being their before the sun comes up has been critical as of late.  Anyways we were able to catch a little bit plus what i had we were good.  We found some tarpon where they had been a few days ago.  A little more spread out in the first stop.  But we jumped around and we were able to get one.  After that they thinned out again and I decided to run and look in another close by spot.  Here the tarpon were thick.  The sharks ate us up early but we moved and then got a tarpon pretty quickly.  A little later we got another one and then dad and the boys had all caught one – great!  We made one last move before it was time to go and ended up getting a final tarpon.  All of them stayed on the hook which was lovely.  We tried for snook for the last couple hours of the day, unfortunately where the snook fishing has been good it’s another 20 miles from where we were, and there was some weather back there so we couldn’t really make that trip.  We tried some other spots that were closer but just a lot of nasty water.  Nothing in the first couple stops, then we did get a couple bites in the last stop, but unfortunately the one snook jumped off the hook, and the other got buried in some fallen debris.  Oh well anyways still a great day with four tarpon!  4 for 4

P.S. Again tarpon under 40 inches we are allowed to pick up for photos.  We take them out of the water carefully, trying not to drop them or wipe off any slime, then do a quick picture and release right back into the water.

Capt. Rick Stanczyk
Instagram: @richardstanczyk
Facebook: Islamorada Tarpon Fishing

Got out for a 3/4 day today for tarpon with Tom and Rich.  We headed out early and made our way back into the everglades.  Caught some bait on the way found it in a spot that was a little easier then the last few days.  Hopefully they will stay there!  We looked around where we had caught a couple tarpon yesterday and didn’t see much.  I didn’t really want to stop unless we saw signs of them as that’s proved to be better opportunity as of late instead of just sitting and waiting in a spot.  Anyways we rode around a bit and didn’t see a whole lot where they were yesterday.  But I figured they were close by.  After a little investigative work we stumbled across them.  We got eaten up by sharks first thing though, and then finally when I was about to move we hooked a nice tarpon of about 40 lbs!  He stayed on and we got a good fight out of him.  When we released that fish, then all of a sudden we were surrounded by tarpon!  Just so exciting when that happens.  We ended up catching another one, and then hooked a double header!  One of those came off though, but before we landed the other one we hooked another.  This one stayed on so we were able to land both fish for the double officially!  Been getting a few doubles lately it’s that time of year for sure.  After that we jumped off a couple more fish and then things died down aside from the sharks.  We decided to do some light tackle stuff after that and caught a bunch of nice sea trout.  Anyways a great day nice when things just work out as planned.  Fishing is really good right now and as I keep saying I expect July will be a very good month for the tarpon.  It’s my favorite time of year and a lot of times the fishing is like clockwork – the weather is stable and warm with light winds, there aren’t a whole lot of other guides fishing, and the fish get in very predictable patterns.  If you are a fishermen then there is no better situation to be in then that!  I have the next couple of days off then back at it Friday, but I may go fun fishing Thursday with my dad and try a few different things.  4 for 7

Capt. Rick Stanczyk
Instagram: @richardstanczyk
Facebook: Islamorada Tarpon Fishing

P.S. Again we only lift small tarpon under 40 inches out of the water for pictures, big tarpon you are not allowed to do so with.  We lift them quickly by the mouth and belly, get a picture, and put them back in head first to swim away unharmed.  Trying to make sure not to drop them or wipe off too much slime.