June 2019

6/30/19 June Florida Keys Tarpon Charter in the Everglades

Fished a full day today and had Alan visiting from Louisiana to try and catch his first tarpon.  He’d tried a few times but hadn’t had any luck yet.  I’ve been off the last couple days, we had a lot of weather over those two days with some major storms blowing through Friday, and some again on Saturday and even early this morning too.  So I wasn’t sure what was going to be up with the fishing.  We caught bait early, it was pretty tough to get.  We checked multiple areas and just didn’t see a whole lot.  Finally we found a few in one spot, and after a few blank throws, we finally caught about 18 or so which was goo enough.  We ran back to where I was fishing last week with high hopes of a lot of tarpon being there.  Though today it was slim pickings.  We didn’t see a whole lot, maybe just a handful.  We set up and caught a few sharks, then we did hook up a nice 100 lb tarpon that Alan landed!  It ended up being the only one we got, but at least it was a big one probably largest I’ve had in the last month.  After that though things went quiet, we moved a couple times where we had seen fish, but seemed to be not much when we set up just some more sharks.  Eventually some more weather came through but dissipated.  We worked our way through the backcountry channels, fishing 3 more spots and looking in a couple others, but I don’t think we ever for sure saw another tarpon today.  I really think the weather over the last couple days must’ve pushed them around, as the last day I fished we had seen tons of fish.  I think it will get better as the weather stabilizes.  Looks like we have slick calm conditions possibly tomorrow, which should be good for them.  We’ll see what happens!  1 for 1

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

6/27/19 June Tarpon Charters in Islamorada

Fun day 2 with Dave, Jack, and grandad Wally. Winds were blowing a little which was a nice break from the steamy hot and calm. Little northerly so it felt nice in the morning with a touch of cool air. We caught bait and headed to tarpon land. Didnt see a whole lot but we just set up. Soon Dave was hooked up to a beast of about 100 lbs! We landed her, Dave went for the facegrab but the fish kicked him off and then broke free before we could get a good picture. After that Wally hooked a nice one that we landed, about a 65 lber still good size for this time of year, but again just not cooperative for a boatside picture. After that Jack had a couple shots and hooked a couple fish both of which we fought a few minutes before throwing the hooks. Things slowed down a little and we decided to do some jigging as the tide turned. Caught a few redfish and nice trout. Then we tried the poons again and caught one more for Wally that finally cooperated for a good picture. A few more sharks and it was time to call it a day. I’m off for a couple days and then back at it Sunday. Looks like we may have a bit of weather over the weekend but hopefully nothing too bad.  3 for 5

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

6/26/19 June Keys Tarpon Fishing Charter Report

Had Garrick and Leslie out today visiting from Texas.  They wanted tarpon!  We had a half day scheduled, however I told them with the fishing I do in the backcountry we would probably need more like a 3/4 day trip… as you have the 45 minute/hour run, plus time to catch bait, so it’s hard to put it together in 4 hours unless you get lucky and stop in the right place the first time!  Well luckily for us that’s what happened.  Bait was fairly easy again, in a little different spot than yesterday but close enough.  We ended up getting leader on 5 tarpon, and missed the bite on a 6th one!  Just stellar fishing, in the same area we found them yesterday so that was nice.  We ended up actually going home and making it a 5 hour trip as the tide was quitting and it was getting hot.  But of course if I told someone sure 4 hours no problem, I’m sure we would’ve struggled 🙂  Anyways good to see, think I’ll be trying that again tomorrow as I have the same crew from yesterday then we may look for permit or something else in the afternoon.  Hopefully these are signs we are getting into the more consistent fishing of summer which often happens in July.  5 for 6

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