Capt. Rick Stanczyk

Well back from a nice vacation it was good to get away out of the heat for a few days!  Today I was back at it I had Juan, Carlos, and Carlos down from south miami.  We left out around 6:30 a little later than I would’ve liked but it was OK.  Bait was very tough and one of those days the extra 30 minutes could make a big difference.  Anyways we had to hit two areas for bait and managed to scrape together a few dozen.  I went off the mainland areas I’d been fishing before I left and fish were still there.  Saw a few jumping fish and we set up on them and before you know it we jumped a small tarpon.  15 minutes later we hooked a nice 40 lber we caught.  Sharks started to bite us up and we moved a bit further down and nothing but more sharks.  Then I ran another mile or so down and we set up where I’d been fishing the week before on some numbers.  Saw a few tarpon roll right away and we jumped a nice fish quickly.  Another 10 minutes and we had a big 80 lber on that we caught!  Good jumps and fighting out of that one.  A bit later we hooked our final fish another big 70 lber that we fought for a good 45 minutes or so.  After that we had a little under an hour left but things shut off just a few shark bites and that was our day.  Not bad though just coming back.  All 3 anglers got to catch a tarpon that is always a great day! Unfortunately I didn’t get any good jump shots was just an off day for that. Tomorrow goliath grouper is the request though I may give the tarpon a shot we will see!  I do have some openings throughout July it is slowing down a little bit.  The everglades tarpon fishing can be good all the way through August so drop me a line if your interested in going!  3 for 5

Capt. Rick Stanczyk

More tarpon action today.  Bait was very difficult this morning luckily I had some leftovers from yesterday.  I could of spent some time scrounging up some but definitely not the ‘1 throw and go’ that I like!  We tried some of the flamingo channels first since we’d be waiting on a tide change out where I’d been fishing in the mornings.  No signs of life though not even a shark bite we fished for a good 30-40 minutes.  After that we ran out to the beaches and set up, just catching the start of the tide.  Sharks were not too bad it was very fishable which was nice as I didn’t have tons and tons of bait.  Eventually the tide got moving and we hooked a nice 75 lb fish Chester caught.  Sharks stayed not so bad and eventually Matts hooked a nice 50 lb fish he landed.  After that we were running a little low on bait and sharks got a little worse.  Though the last bait we had Matts hooked a nice 80 lb tarpon and he landed that one.  Great day one of those where we caught every bite we had.  The boys did well taking direction and pointing the rods at the fish, hooking them with circle hooks.  It was very hot back there the last couple days and we decided to head back in around 12:15 calling it a day!  I’m going out of town myself now for a week or so.  Be back fishing on the 7th of July have a 3/4 day tarpon trip.  See you all then!  3 for 3

Capt. Rick Stanczyk

Well had a day off yesterday and then Andy with his boys Derek and Conrad again today.  Had some bait leftover from our trip the day before yesterday but we tried to get a few freshies.  They weren’t easy and I was glad we had some to start with.  They were running hard when I got there and one toss we only got 1, then on the other end of the channel a group came out already moving but not super fast.  Was able to get one good toss of about 15 baits, mostly black mullet again.  Anyways we checked some channels and did not see much life it was flat calm to start then we tried off the beach.  Tried one area on the end of the falling tide and did not see much life, a few sharks.  Then we ran where the fish had been the last few days as the tide was starting in.  Did not see anything as far as rolling or busting fish which was funny.  Though we eventually did get a bite we missed and soon after another 90 lber that Conrad hooked and landed again.  A longer 45 minute battle.  We caught plenty of sharks including a big lemon.  After that we kept at the tarpon and tried the channels where we found them the other afternoon.  Though this time it was all lemon sharks.  We caught about half a dozen and it was super hot – i noticed the water temperature was about 92!  Anyways we had about 30 minutes left and we tried another close by channel.  I was counting down the seconds before winding them up when Derek had a bite and as soon as he felt pressure up came about a 50 lb tarpon!  We were very happy and the kids came through ‘clutch’ again!  2 for 3

Capt. Rick Stanczyk