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Got out with Aaron and Beth today for a full day of tarpon fishing in Islamorada.  We caught a little bit of bait early though had a good amount already.  We made a far run into the ‘glades as I told them we had conditions where that made sense.  With the south wind and all I knew some areas that would be more protected and have clean water so we ran a ways.  We stopped along the way where we had seen some tarpon but no bites there though did get a shark.  Once we got to the next area we had a bunch of sharks to start.  Thought it might of been a bust but eventually saw some tarpon showing and had to move around.  As soon as we reset Beth hooked a nice 90 lb tarpon straight away!  Another boat came in behind us and they also hooked up almost instantaneously!  We both fought our fish and landed them, then went to reset.  But by that time it seemed the big body of fish had already moved on!  It was surprising as there seemed to be a lot of fish there.  We saw a handful more but only had some more shark bites after that.  We ran back towards home and tried another area on the way home.  Did see a few tarpon and set back up and here the fishing got better and better!  We had another 5 tarpon bites here!  Unfortunately they weren’t staying on the hook very good for us, Beth jumped some smaller guys and Aaron had one he jumped off, and then one he technically landed as we got it to the boat on the wind-on leader.  But the fish never jumped and we thought it was a shark so as soon as we got it boat side, it took off and went under the boat and got wrapped around the motor.  When the fish felt all this pressure it finally decided to jump and show that it was a tarpon but unfortunately ended up throwing the hook!  Sometimes those technical releases make leave you wanting more but thats the way she goes sometimes.  We gave it a little extra time and had one more tarpon bite we missed and then a few larger sharks.  Anyways it was great to have such good action throughout the day and I think the tarpon are going to be very good for the next week or so here while the weather is nice.  Back at it tomorrow!  2 for 6

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

Got out with Billy and his son Walter for a full day today.  Tarpon was the desired target and we put in a good effort!  We were hooked up with some bait and went straight to fishing.  Last of the falling tide which was a little different from what we had yesterday, water didn’t look great pretty muddy.  But had some shark action early on and once the tide started to change we saw a couple tarpon.  Though just sharks in the first spot but some nice bulls and blacktips.  We moved a bit and saw a tarpon and then set back up.  After 20 minutes or so Billy hooked one and we landed him nice fish not a huge one but about 50 lbs.  We moved again and then Walter had his turn, roughly the same size fish seems to have been a pack of these medium size ones there today.  But lots of fun!  We landed both fish and then things seemed to slow down.  We ended the day catching a few trout on some artificials which was fun.  Back at it tomorrow looks like the winds will continue to die out and then looks to be 10-15 mph for the foreseeable future!  I’m very excited this should mean game on for tarpon for the next week or so, medium/light winds and no cold weather.  Should be a productive week!  2 for 2

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

Got out with Easton and Jake today for a full day of tarpon fishing.  Borrowed my dads skiff to get her done since my boat was still being worked on, but thankfully I got it back already this afternoon ready to roll for tomorrow!  We caught bait early on but not a lot, so I had to catch a little more on the way out which worked out.  Winds were still cranking but slightly less then yesterday and definitely fishable.  We had good shark activity early on but no tarpon bites in the first stop for an hour.  We moved a bit and then had a few more sharks and sting rays, then Easton jumped a nice tarpon!  We moved around again after that as things seemed to slow down and Jake caught a tarpon in that spot… about a 50 lber good fish.  We then had more shark action with some blacktips and a bull shark.  Jake put his rod in the rod holder to film Easton on a shark and of course then we had another tarpon bite!  The fish stayed on for a minute and we reeled him into the boat quickly on the wind-on leader for a technical catch, but he unfortunately threw the hook on a jump as it just wasn’t in there very good.  That always happens as soon as you put the rod down that’s when the bite is going to come!  Oh well at least we got one up to the boat for pictures and a technical catch on another.  We tried for a snook on the way home but no dice there.  Back at it tomorrow and back on my boat very glad it was fixed so quickly.  Winds should be coming down a little more and by the weekend it looks like a nice stretch for a while so the tarpon fishing should be game on then!  2 for 3

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