Getting right on along here in April and had a busy week tarpon fishing here again. Had a bit more wind again this week with another late cold front blowing in Tuesday. While the temperature didn’t get super cold it blew about 25 knots and had the northeasterly direction so it definitely did drop water temps from what they were down to low 70s from near 80 what it was Monday. So Monday I had Ian and Brooke, regulars who have fished with me the last couple of seasons. Tarpon fishing was pretty good again this day was nice and calm. We found fish in the backcountry where we’d been getting them the last couple of weeks. Ian had a nice one to start the day within the first 15 minutes. We got it boatside several times but it ended up chaffing through the leader before we could get a picture. Which he really wanted because we hadn’t been able to seal that deal. Luckily a little later he got another bite and that one cooperated we got the nice boatside picture! We ended up jumping three or four more fish in the next couple of hours didn’t even really have to move so really good fishing. After 10:00 or so things slowed down we did find a pack of fish free jumping and busting offshore from where we were but we didn’t get any bites out of them though got into some big sharks of course. So the next day was a complete 180 on Tuesday. I had Ian and Brooke again and it was blowing a gail, steady 25 knots I would say about as windy as it gets for us to fish. We were able to get to the same area just hugging the banks carefully for the ride. Once we got there it wasnt too bad as the backcountry areas are often protected by shallow water so that was nice. Fishing was slow to start we tried the same little area and did not have a sniff there. As mentioned the water temps were a bit colder but still not out of the realm of tarpon biting I didn’t think. We moved a few times and tried another nearby channel but no luck aside from a sawfish and a hammerhead shark which was cool. We ran a little ways to check another area where I had found some smaller fish the week before. We ended up stumbling into a pack of them rolling and set up and lucked out we had seven or eight bites though only landed one fish but it was lots of action. One of those days where we had to hunt them down though as opposed to the day before where we were able to just sit and wait for cruising fish to come by. So Wednesday then I had Karl and crew visiting from Maryland. We did the backcountry again the winds were still blowing pretty good though not as crazy as the day before. We pounded it out in that area where we found those little fish the day before and they were in there but not as happy today. We moved a few times and after an hour we hooked one but it came off spitting the bait right away. We fished a bit more and just had some shark action. The tide quit on us and once it started falling we worked an area where the fish had been the day before. Sometimes you find some edges or live bottom where the fish seem to congregate more and this was what we’d found as when we snagged bottom a few times we pulled up some sponge and live bottom. And the fish had been laying here multiple times where we had bites. Sure enough we got another one there we landed. That was it for the day. Thursday it got nicer it was still a little blustery but a steady 15 mph so we were able to run across the bay getting out. Tried that same area again and sure enough we got a nice 60 lb fish to start the day. A big shark ended up spooking it though after we got it boatside and it broke off but got away I’m pretty sure which was good. We did not hook any more after that though we did get into a good pack of fish which I was surprised didn’t bite as we marked them on the sonar multiple times right on our baits. After the tide started slowing down I decided to run back down to long key bridge to check that out. I hadn’t been there yet this year and we got there right on the tide change. I did mark a good group of fish right where we first stopped and we put our baits out and within 5 minutes Karl hooked a nice one! We jumped it off unfortunately but then his buddy John hooked into one about 10 minutes after that which stayed on. We had an excited battle through the bridge a few times. Got it boatside fairly quickly for the size fish that it was a good 130 lbs or so. But a big hammerhead got after it and we broke it off. It was an exciting view watching the hammer chase it around but not much we could do being right next to the bridge. We tried again for another hour and the tide started ripping in then but we did not have another bite. So all in all we had a consistent week of catching tarpon every day. So good fishing when it was nice and then of course got a little tougher with the cold front and extreme wind but we still were able to make it happen. Next week it looks like it’ll be calming down and hoping we have a very exciting May. I think the bridge fishing will hopefully be a little more productive later into the season this year as I think that happened last year too though I was fishing the backcountry mostly at that point. But time will tell. I don’t have anything left until a few days in early June. Capt. Steve has a handful of evenings and days available in May and much more in June. June can still be great fishing so if you want to set something up give us a shout!
Capt. Rick Stanczyk
Instagram: @richardstanczyk
Facebook: Islamorada Tarpon Fishing
YouTube: Bud n’ Mary’s Marina
