Got out with Jon Patten today and his boys. We were mostly targeting snook and redfish and had a decent day with them getting into the double digits overall. At the end of the day though we found some small tarpon busting in one of the creeks. We drifted shrimp to them and were able to get a few strikes. Ended up jumping 3 of them and getting 1 to the boat before he jumped and cut us off nearby. Anyways still some tarpon around and it is definitely possible to catch one as long as it stays warm. Out all this next week so maybe I’ll have some more to report! 1 for 4
Capt. Rick Stanczyk
10/22/16 October Tarpon Fishing in the Everglades
More tarpon action today. The fish were not as visible as they’ve been several days before. Though we saw a handful show themselves and were able to get in on them. Had to move around a couple times. Though we had three bites and caught two fish, smaller guys in the 25-40 lb range. We jumped off a larger fish too. A handful of sharks and also caught a big redfish which was a nice surprise. Another great day. Not fishing tomorrow and then I am open all next week if anybody wants to go fishing. I think the next few nights it will be a little chillier, but not suppose to get very cold. The tarpon may not mind at all, I’ll be able to talk to a few other guys who will be out there. Drop me a line! 2 for 3
Note: We normally do not pick tarpon up out of the water as it is unhealthy for larger fish supporting their weight like that, flopping on the deck and wiping slime off, etc… and is also now illegal in Florida. However tarpon under 40 inches you are allowed to (which this one was) as they aren’t so massive as to injure themselves by holding them out of the water and you can keep them from flopping all over and wiping their slime off by supporting them properly like so.
10/21/16 October Tarpon Fishing in Islamorada
Fished back in the everglades today again. The fall bait run is still in full swing and the tarpon are still very happy. We caught some extra mullet on the way but still had some leftover bait from the previous days. We caught three tarpon and a few sharks and then left to do some other stuff. I must say it is still going strong but we are suppose to be getting some cold weather Saturday. Not very cold but it may turn things off a bit. But it’s been the best fishing we have had all year in September and October – go figure! 3 for 4
