Capt. Rick Stanczyk's Islamorada Tarpon Fishing

Fun day 2 with Dave, Jack, and grandad Wally. Winds were blowing a little which was a nice break from the steamy hot and calm. Little northerly so it felt nice in the morning with a touch of cool air. We caught bait and headed to tarpon land. Didnt see a whole lot but we just set up. Soon Dave was hooked up to a beast of about 100 lbs! We landed her, Dave went for the facegrab but the fish kicked him off and then broke free before we could get a good picture. After that Wally hooked a nice one that we landed, about a 65 lber still good size for this time of year, but again just not cooperative for a boatside picture. After that Jack had a couple shots and hooked a couple fish both of which we fought a few minutes before throwing the hooks. Things slowed down a little and we decided to do some jigging as the tide turned. Caught a few redfish and nice trout. Then we tried the poons again and caught one more for Wally that finally cooperated for a good picture. A few more sharks and it was time to call it a day. I’m off for a couple days and then back at it Sunday. Looks like we may have a bit of weather over the weekend but hopefully nothing too bad.  3 for 5

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

Had Garrick and Leslie out today visiting from Texas.  They wanted tarpon!  We had a half day scheduled, however I told them with the fishing I do in the backcountry we would probably need more like a 3/4 day trip… as you have the 45 minute/hour run, plus time to catch bait, so it’s hard to put it together in 4 hours unless you get lucky and stop in the right place the first time!  Well luckily for us that’s what happened.  Bait was fairly easy again, in a little different spot than yesterday but close enough.  We ended up getting leader on 5 tarpon, and missed the bite on a 6th one!  Just stellar fishing, in the same area we found them yesterday so that was nice.  We ended up actually going home and making it a 5 hour trip as the tide was quitting and it was getting hot.  But of course if I told someone sure 4 hours no problem, I’m sure we would’ve struggled 🙂  Anyways good to see, think I’ll be trying that again tomorrow as I have the same crew from yesterday then we may look for permit or something else in the afternoon.  Hopefully these are signs we are getting into the more consistent fishing of summer which often happens in July.  5 for 6

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

Got out with Dave and his father and son Jack for a family trip today!  We focused on tarpon but left the options open for a mixed bag day too.  I’ve had good fishing the last few days, however I will say the tarpon thing is still a little hit and miss – definitely not a guaranteed thing and there are no spots that are consistently producing on a timely basis.  So a lot of days you have to just grind it out and fish several spots/tides until you get in the right one and it can be good.  That’s what happened today, we blanked early on in the first couple spots we tarpon fished.  Sharks were horrendous.  We tried where we had done good yesterday, but today the tarpon were in a completely different mood.  We did bail for a bit and caught a good handful of snook and redfish to mix it up a bit.  Then we ran around a bit more and were on our way to do something else when we saw one tarpon show himself in a different area.  We pulled in and saw a handful of fish.  Had the tide change so we still had to sit and wait.  Finally after 30 or 40 minutes, the tide switched and it looked like it may happen.  We gave it a bit more time and finally Jack hooked up and landed a tarpon.  A bit later, Dave got one too a little bit larger 50 lb fish.  Then it was grandpas turn, he had another big fish on but this one broke through the leader!  He got another shot though and landed a 30 lb tarpon.  Then finally before it was time to go, Dave got another one about a 40 lber.  So we had a pretty terrific day when you tally up the scorecard, but again had we not seen that one fish or been in that spot at the right time, it could’ve been a totally different ball game.  Hopefully as we get more into July, the fish will settle into spots where you know they’ll be and it’s just a little more consistent like clockwork.  4 for 5

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