February 2019

Got out with return customer Irv and his buddy Bill.  We decided to stick to the backcountry with possibilities of small tarpon and hopefully snook, redfish, and the like.  Today the wind was cranking 25 mph southeast, with a little bit of rain to dodge as well.  We caught some dinner fish early, and then picked away at a few redfish and snook in some spots in the everglades.  But we eventually got in an area loaded with small tarpon.  Tide was coming in, and they were happy!  We had a good rally, hooking about 6 of them and landing 3 with a technical release on a 4th to the boat.  Then they shut off.  But it was fun!  The little tarpon are funny like that if you hit ’em at the right time, they bite good, but otherwise it can be like waiting for grass to grow waiting for a bite.  Anyways we made a good move today and had great fishing despite tough conditions.  Back at it tomorrow, tarpon is on the list so we’ll likely be trying it at some point.  4 for 6

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

Got out with Larry, Jay, Rex, and Trip today.  Larry had wanted to try to catch a tarpon, but we also wanted to get some action for the boys Rex and Trip.  We hit the tarpon grounds first.  Had some leftover bait from yesterday.  A big mess of fish back there, same ones I’m sure that pushed in yesterday.  They were jumping and flopping all over.  Not biting real great though.  We put in a good hour and made several moves, a few shark bites and that was it.  But finally we got in the right spot and jumped a nice tarpon off!  Then about 5 minutes later, hooked another that stayed on.   Larry fought him well and we got him to the leader next to the boat, but unfortunately he threw the hook before we could get him laid up for pictures.  Anyways a technical release.  After that we ended up trying for some mackerels out in the gulf but didn’t have much luck with that.  It was pretty windy so took a while to travel, but we tried again for tarpon after that and got some big sharks and a sawfish that we didn’t get a good look at because we couldn’t budge him.  But we finished the day off with redfish catching about 40 or so.  All in all not a bad day, and always good to get a tarpon!  The tarpon fishing still isn’t red hot though there are plenty of fish around, I think once it calms down and the water warms up a few more degrees, it should go off.  And in all honesty, it’s probably better for our normal season fishing that it doesn’t get too good too early.  1 for 2

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

Got out with Mike, Michael, and Don today for a full day trip.  They had wanted to try for snook and redfish, though we had a light south breeze which would mean that the bugs would likely be insane in the creeks.  We tried it early, and they about carried us off the boat.  But luckily I had a good plan B.  We had seen one free jumping tarpon on the way to the area we were trying for snook and redfish.  So I had hopes there may be a few around.  We ran offshore and caught a ton of mackerel which was fun.  Then we came back in as the tide began to change.  Once we got close to shore, it was tarpon city!  For as far as I could see there were free jumpers, splashers, rollers, just tarpon all over the place.  We set up near some and didn’t get much activity for a bit.  But after 20 minutes or so, both rods bowed over and one was a big tarpon that went airborne!  Michael hooked him and fought and landed the fish, a good 110-120 lber.  Unfortunately whatever we had on the other line had spooled us and I hadn’t been paying close attention as I was trying to get the tarpon boat side.  But we lost all our line on the other rod to likely a big ray or something we couldn’t stop at all.  Anyways we landed the tarpon so it was all good.  I respooled the other rod and we moved around a bit and kept trying for silver kings.  But they weren’t having it, we saw a ton of fish but they just weren’t responding.  The water is still on the chilly side for them.  We did catch a ton of sharks though, and finished the day with a monster 14 lb tripletail, and about two dozen redfish and some nice sea trout.  All in all a great day, I think i’ll be giving the tarpon a whirl again tomorrow.  1 for 1

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