May 2017

Got out with Matt Newman and his son Aiden today.  We fished a 3/4 day and mixed it up a bit.  Did snappers and trout early, and that was pretty good fishing.  It was nice to not have to stress about catching tarpon after just fishing hard for them the last 5 days in not so great conditions especially the last 3 days!  But we did give the tarpon a try for the last hour of the day.  Set up near the bridge where we had hooked one late yesterday, and within 10 minutes or so, Aiden was on a nice 80 lb fish!  Great fight and we landed him quickly in about 20 minutes or so.  After that we fished a little longer but no more bites and headed home.  It’s nice when fishing is easy and a plan comes together.  Off tomorrow I think then fishing Monday through Thursday and out of town for the following weekend.  Looks like it’ll be a good week or fishing with light winds.  1 for 1

Capt. Rick Stanczyk

Last day with Pete and crew today.  We stayed local around town, winds were still kicking though not as bad as the last couple of days, 15-20 most of the day not 25+.  Tides were still messed up from the hard winds and didn’t start/stop on schedule.  We found some fish in a few spots early but they didn’t want to play.  We finally had a little action later near afternoon time.  We had one bite by a bridge but unfortunately it was hung in the bottom and the line got cut right when the fish took off and jumped.  Later on the slack tide at another bridge, we had a nice 100+ lb fish eat though he went ballistic, charging the boat and then going the other way and jumping.  Somehow the hook didn’t stay in him though, the line was chaffed about 2 feet up so he had swallowed the bait, but it all came out bait and all.  Oh well, we were due to miss a few, the boys had caught fish on all 4 of the other trips and I think caught 9 in total in 5 days, not too bad considering the last 3 days were very tough conditions.  Tomorrow I’m scheduled for a full day not sure what we are gonna fish for, then off sunday.  Monday it looks like it’ll get nice again so hopefully we’ll have a good week of tarpon fishing.  0 for 2

Capt. Rick Stanczyk

The wind was howling again today 25 knots or so… really kicking!  We stayed close today as I had Pete & crew again and wanted to just do something different.  We fished the backcountry the last 3 days and with the winds howling like they are, figured we’d just try staying close.  The tides were very weird with a weak falling tide and hard wind, it didn’t seem to move much early.  We didn’t get a bite early on, but on the 2nd stop after sitting for an hour or so, we hooked a nice 80 lb fish that we landed relatively quickly.  Pulled the hook but well after we had him to the leader several times, just couldn’t get him to stay turned for the boatside picture.  After that a couple other boats in the area also hooked up, and that was it.  We decided to run down to some of the other bigger bridges and channels.  Marked quite a few fish on the bottom and saw one roll… I figured we’d wait it out.  We caught a few sharks, then hooked a nice 100 lb tarpon!  Another fairly quick fight we landed him in 15 minutes or so, but again had him on the leader and he chaffed through it before we could get him to lay still, but at least got a good jump shot of him.  After that things slowed down no more bites, but on a windy day like this to catch two is very good that’s for sure!  Anyways tomorrow is the last day hopefully our lucky streak will continue.  Looks like monday things will get nice again hopefully for a little while anyways, I’m ready for the calm days of summer to be here!  2 for 2

Capt. Rick Stanczyk