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Back after the tarpon today again.  Conditions and fishing have gotten a little tougher, we had it pretty easy for a long time but starting to get that mid season time when things get hard sometimes.  Winds are not very favorable especially for the backcountry, wanting to stay more south/southwesterly, but that shouldn’t last long looks by the weekend should go back predominately east.  Bait seems to have really dried up hard to find many mullet currently.  Everything I think has gone out to spawn but hopefully they’ll be back in a day or two.  There are some around but not nearly as easy as it had been.  We caught a few early in the morning and then some more on our way out to the tarpon areas in the backcountry.  We saw a few tarpon early to start, got set up and after a little bit we hooked one.  Herman landed a nice 40 lber we got to the boat for pictures.  We had another bite a little later that we missed unfortunatley and jumped off.  After that we got a few sharks.  The tarpon seemed to had shut off so we checked a few other areas.  Didn’t see a whole lot, we gave it a shot in one area for a while and did catch a few more blacktips and a nice little hammerhead.  We switched gears after that and found a good school of redfish, had fun with them though sharks got in there and got a couple of ’em.  We then decided to run and try some channels near home for tarpon again, saw one roll as we approached and set up.  Didn’t get a bite but we did catch a big old sting ray.  Called it a day after that.  Back after them for the next few days hopefully we can keep on the fish!  1 for 2

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

Glenn and Karen had a great time with me yesterday! We focused on tarpon early and had some good luck. Glenn jumped a fish off first thing, then a little later got a nice smaller 40 lber to the boat. After that Karen was up. She landed two 50 lb and 65 lb fish. We also got a tripletail that floated by us. After that the tide slowed down and we switched gears. Found a good school of redfish to keep us busy the next hour. Had a big lemon shark get after them though, but we were able to lock our drags down and keep any more reds from his mouth. We tried one last area for snook before heading home, no luck there but we did get another redfish and a few catfish. Fishing feels like it’s getting a little tougher, bait has gotten a bit more difficult we will likely have to spend some time on that today. But overall still great fishing!  3 for 4

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

Got out with Matt and his sons Aiden and Zack who have fished with me several times of the last few years.  It was Aidens birthday.  First day in the new Contender boat which is in service now!  It proved to be good luck – we found a good group of tarpon to start the day and caught three in the first hour plus a nice tripletail for dinner!  After that we jumped one more and the tide quit.  We tried some other stuff, and caught a redfish and a few jacks and other things.  Then came back to the tarpon grounds for a bit and jumped three more just couldn’t get them to stay on the hook.  Headed in a little early as the boys were getting hot.  But still good action and a great day on the new boat, broke her in right!  I’m off tomorrow, then back at it for the week on Sunday.  3 for 7

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