June 2018

Had Shannon and Derek again today for a tarpon fishing trip.  We decided to fish locally around Islamorada after not seeing much in the backcountry yesterday.  We headed out early and tried some spots around the bridges, did see a small handful of fish but note bites.  We tried drifting and some other baits too but no luck.  We then caught some fresh mullet and tried around the bridges themselves.  It was a weedy nasty mess and never saw a fish roll there, tough to keep baits out with all the weed.  We checked another area and fished for a bit, much cleaner there as far as the weed and such went but didn’t see a fish.  We then ran up near home to try out on the oceanside.  I had a report that a group of fish did move up the ocean in the fly fishing areas and a friend of mine had caught one on bait when they went by.  But we didn’t see much we did have one roll nearby but no bite.  After that we decided to cut the full day to a half day and I sent the boys out on an evening trip with another guide as that seems to be the time when people are getting a few bites right now.  Good falling tide at dark and whatever handful of fish are around are wanting to bite then.  Anyways back at it tomorrow may try out back again.  I did get a report that an offshore boat saw thousands of tarpon 10 miles offshore in 500 feet of water so that is likely where a good majority of our fish are.  0 for 0

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

Got out with Shannon and Derek today for day 1 of 3 for tarpon.  We found fish where we found them yesterday morning, but today they weren’t catchable for us.  The sharks were horrendous and we couldn’t keep a bait out more then 10 seconds.  We moved around a few times but to no avail.  We looked in some other areas, we did find a handful of fish in a channel.  Again we jumped around 3 times trying to line up on ones we saw rolling but no bites.  I think it may of been the same couple fish we saw didn’t seem like a big group.  We checked another channel and just gave it a look and didn’t see anything.  I offered to switch it up not really feeling the tarpon thing today but the boys wanted to go all in for the tarpon.  We ran and tried another channel – impossible to fish because seaweed was so bad.  We ran way up inside and fished, more sharks.  Looked in another area and never saw anything, and then tried near home for the last 45 minutes.  Did see one fish roll and had one swim under us off of the flat, but no bites.  I’m ready for the tarpon fishing to get good again… this has been one of the longest slow stretches I’ve seen since I’ve been guiding.  Hope it gets better soon!  There have been a few being caught but sounds like more near dark or super early morning.  With a few more days of west wind I don’t have very high hopes until we have some light easterly wind direction that fish like.  0 for 0

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

Got out with Graham and his dad Paul today for the last of their 3 days.  We headed out early and found some fish a little closer to where we were yesterday which was nice.  But they weren’t biting super great though a little better than yesterday.  Unfortunately we had a lot of catfish and sharks to deal with too.  But we did manage three bites and got one fish to the leader before he jumped off for a technical catch.  After 9:00 or so the tarpon seemed to thin out though we did keep seeing a handful.  We looked around in several other areas while waiting on the tide to change, and didn’t see any elsewhere.  Hopefully more show up soon but at least it was good to see a good number this AM and glad to have gotten one.  We did catch several big lemon sharks, a big bull shark, a couple monster blacktips, and several smaller sharks as well so there was steady action all day long.  Back at it tomorrow the winds look to be light so will probably try the same routine again.  Then we have some west wind coming this week don’t think that will help what has already been a little bit of a tough time.  1 for 3

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