Capt. Rick Stanczyk's Islamorada Tarpon Fishing

Got out with Dan Styf today he fished with me a few years ago and we had caught some nice tarpon in the summer.  Today it was pretty slick calm early and then a nice light easterly breeze later on.  We caught bait and saw tarpon rolling out in the open water as soon as we got in the area I wanted to fish, we had to jump around a few times, but eventually got in front of some hungry fish.  We had good incoming tide for a while and we ended up getting four nice tarpon, all big ones in the 65-100 lb range!  One never jumped which was cool I thought for sure it was a big blacktip shark, and another one we had to fight for a good 30 minutes he dragged us for quite a ways.  Also one fish we didn’t get to the hand, but got him on the windon leader next to the boat and he took off and spit the hook on another jump but got our technical catch anyways!  Just an epic morning you can’t ask for much more than that…  We also caught some blacktips and a big lemon shark.  After that we tried off the mainland and caught the start of the falling tide.  Didn’t see much for tarpon our there though we caught some little sharks.  We got a nice triple tail that floated by, and then spent the rest of our time looking for them.  We had several shots and hooked one more but he got off near the boat.  Wow what a day just everything Dan had asked for.  I’m fishing the next few days then out of town Saturday, I’ll be back on the 23rd and have some availability from then on to the end of the month.  The tarpon bite has been strong and can remain that way through October sometimes.  4 for 4

Capt. Rick Stanczyk
@richardstanczyk

Got out with Chad and Michelle today for a 3/4 day after some tarpon.  Had very light southerly winds, not my favorite direction but it wasn’t howling so all was good.  We caught bait on the way there and hit some channels.  Didn’t see much activity early, we sat for a bit in one spot with no action.  Eventually did see a tarpon roll and we scooted over there, and got a shark bite soon after and then Chad had a tarpon bite that was missed unfortunately.  A buddy of mine had pulled up in the area where we were before, and within a few minutes he actually hooked double header tarpon!  We slid back over there nearby and he took off to chase one of the fish because it was big.  I was about to give up and after 25 minutes or so, Michelle hooked a nice 60 lber that we landed.  Didn’t get any pictures myself since we were having to do battle and it was a wily fish going under the boat a few times.  We got it on the leader but as soon as Michelle took some wraps to go for pictures, it kicked it’s tail and snapped the leader.  Oh well but a good release.  We then headed out towards the mainland to try for the last hour.  I didn’t see a whole lot out there but did see a little bit of busting and a possible fish jumping, we set up and caught a bunch of blacktip sharks but no tarpon bite.  I then moved in near shore where I had good action a few days ago, we didn’t see much but after 20 minutes there we jumped another tarpon.   Smaller guy that didn’t want to stay on the hook.  After that unfortunately it was time to go.  Was glad that we got one, wish the others had stayed on the hook but that’s fishing.  I’m booked the next few days and will be out there after them, going out of town this weekend and then will be back at it the following Wednesday.  I have good availability near the end of the month and definitely in September if anyone is looking to go.  We catch tarpon all the way through October.  1 for 3

Capt. Rick Stanczyk
@richardstanczyk

Got out with Stephen and Daria today down from NC for a full day of tarpon fishing.  Very light winds, more easterly today as opposed to the south wind we had early yesterday which I never like…  We headed out early and caught some bait.  Had to dodge a few showers but didn’t get too wet luckily.  A little lightning off in the distance but didn’t ever get too close.  We tried one of the channels early on where I had caught some fish a week or two ago, but not much going on there this morning.  We fished the last bit of the incoming tide.  When it slowed down we headed out into the main basin, and a buddy of mine hooked a fish right then nearby.  We set up, and had slack tide for a bit but caught a shark.  When the tide started going, we started getting some tarpon bites and seeing a handful roll occasionally.  Stephen landed a nice 65 lb fish that we chased and got to the boat.  Then it was Darias turn with a large 90 lb fish!  Pretty big for this time of year and put on a good fight with some great jumps!  After that we jumped one more fish for Stephen.  Things slowed down and we ran further west to try near the mainland areas.  We had a good day there the day before yesterday, but yesterday we didn’t see much but I think the wind had something to do with that.  Saw some little tarpon rolling near shore as soon as we pulled up, and we put our lighter setups out there and had several shots at fish.  Daria landed two more tarpon and jumped off a couple more, little guys in the 15-20 lb range, but lots of fun.  Stephen was the shark man and he hooked several big sharks, we got a couple to the boat but most were cutting us off.  Though he did jump one more tarpon before our day was done.  It was still fun pulling on all of them.  After that we headed home, a banner day for this couple!  I have the next 3 days open if anyone is looking to go, then booked up mid week and going out of town next Saturday for a few days.  It can get a little hit and miss this time of year with tarpon, but for the most part it’s been a hit.  Let me know if you are looking to get out there.  4 for 7

P.S. We normally do not lift tarpon out of the water, though if they are under 40 inches like the one pictured it is allowed as long as you are careful with them, support the belly, and release and revive them unharmed.

Capt. Rick Stanczyk
@richardstanczyk