Capt. Rick Stanczyk's Islamorada Tarpon Fishing

Got out with Brian and his sons Drew and Carter for a full day trip today.  Tarpon were the main desired target so we set out after them.  I’d had the last couple of days off, I did go fun fishing with my dad yesterday and we caught some snook and redfish.  Though I was also able to catch a little bit of bait for today as well.  That was a good thing because bait was pretty difficult.  There has been a lot back there but it’s all staying up very shallow, and very spooky every time you try to get near it they run.  Being their before the sun comes up has been critical as of late.  Anyways we were able to catch a little bit plus what i had we were good.  We found some tarpon where they had been a few days ago.  A little more spread out in the first stop.  But we jumped around and we were able to get one.  After that they thinned out again and I decided to run and look in another close by spot.  Here the tarpon were thick.  The sharks ate us up early but we moved and then got a tarpon pretty quickly.  A little later we got another one and then dad and the boys had all caught one – great!  We made one last move before it was time to go and ended up getting a final tarpon.  All of them stayed on the hook which was lovely.  We tried for snook for the last couple hours of the day, unfortunately where the snook fishing has been good it’s another 20 miles from where we were, and there was some weather back there so we couldn’t really make that trip.  We tried some other spots that were closer but just a lot of nasty water.  Nothing in the first couple stops, then we did get a couple bites in the last stop, but unfortunately the one snook jumped off the hook, and the other got buried in some fallen debris.  Oh well anyways still a great day with four tarpon!  4 for 4

P.S. Again tarpon under 40 inches we are allowed to pick up for photos.  We take them out of the water carefully, trying not to drop them or wipe off any slime, then do a quick picture and release right back into the water.

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

Got out for a 3/4 day today for tarpon with Tom and Rich.  We headed out early and made our way back into the everglades.  Caught some bait on the way found it in a spot that was a little easier then the last few days.  Hopefully they will stay there!  We looked around where we had caught a couple tarpon yesterday and didn’t see much.  I didn’t really want to stop unless we saw signs of them as that’s proved to be better opportunity as of late instead of just sitting and waiting in a spot.  Anyways we rode around a bit and didn’t see a whole lot where they were yesterday.  But I figured they were close by.  After a little investigative work we stumbled across them.  We got eaten up by sharks first thing though, and then finally when I was about to move we hooked a nice tarpon of about 40 lbs!  He stayed on and we got a good fight out of him.  When we released that fish, then all of a sudden we were surrounded by tarpon!  Just so exciting when that happens.  We ended up catching another one, and then hooked a double header!  One of those came off though, but before we landed the other one we hooked another.  This one stayed on so we were able to land both fish for the double officially!  Been getting a few doubles lately it’s that time of year for sure.  After that we jumped off a couple more fish and then things died down aside from the sharks.  We decided to do some light tackle stuff after that and caught a bunch of nice sea trout.  Anyways a great day nice when things just work out as planned.  Fishing is really good right now and as I keep saying I expect July will be a very good month for the tarpon.  It’s my favorite time of year and a lot of times the fishing is like clockwork – the weather is stable and warm with light winds, there aren’t a whole lot of other guides fishing, and the fish get in very predictable patterns.  If you are a fishermen then there is no better situation to be in then that!  I have the next couple of days off then back at it Friday, but I may go fun fishing Thursday with my dad and try a few different things.  4 for 7

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

P.S. Again we only lift small tarpon under 40 inches out of the water for pictures, big tarpon you are not allowed to do so with.  We lift them quickly by the mouth and belly, get a picture, and put them back in head first to swim away unharmed.  Trying to make sure not to drop them or wipe off too much slime.

Got out with Brian, Elijah, and John today for a full day.  Tarpon and snook were on their list of species to catch.  We went after tarpon to start.  Bait was a little tough I had some leftover and we did find some back there but it was up shallow.  Tough to get lined up on them and they were spooky but eventually we got enough to fish with.  The winds kicked up a little today not crazy but not flat calm anymore, probably 10 to 15 southeast.  Also lots of rain around.  We found some tarpon where they were yesterday morning, but they did not respond today.  Just sharks and they tore us up!  We made a couple moves and then got out of there.  We tried another area for bait where I hadn’t been lately, we got a few more baits there but I think that might be good first thing in the morning so I will be trying that tomorrow as the bait was there but it was later in the morning now.  We then found some tarpon in another area and a couple other boats were set up there.  We pulled up in the middle of them and soon after hooked a double header of tarpon!  We landed both fish but Brians broke off before we could get both of them in for a double header picture.  But he got a good picture with his anyhow.  Elijah got his which was a little bigger, but both fish in the 30 to 40 lb range.  After that the tide quit and the fishing slowed down.  I decided to make a run and try to catch some snook bait, which we did and avoided more rain that was heading towards us.  We got a few snook baits and then hit a couple islands.  Brian and Elijah both caught a snook and we missed one more bite.  We then tried for tarpon again for the last hour but didn’t do much.  A few more sharks and catfish, did not see any more tarpon.  Anyways still a great day two anglers caught both of their desired species, just had to work a little harder at it to make it happen.  Winds suppose to come down a little more the next couple days and then pick up slightly for the weekend but not bad.  Fishing should remain decent!  2 for 2

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