Capt. Rick Stanczyk's Islamorada Tarpon Fishing

Got out with Scott and Xander down from Broward in Miami for a days tarpon fishing.  We headed out early and caught some bait on the way.  The 2nd bait stop though I got hung up on a tree and had to cut my net up to get it back, so that wasn’t a good start to our day!  Luckily I had leftover bait from yesterday plus the few we caught before that so we were in good shape.  Tarpon were thick today we saw plenty of activity when I pulled up, so maybe losing the net and getting their early was a blessing in disguise!  We proceeded to catch 3 tarpon in about a 30 minute window, just pulling you out of the boat they were.  After that things slowed up a little, we dropped further back where I had seen a few fish roll, and after a bit we caught another one.  Then a big old triple tail floated by that we caught, probably a 13 lber or so, very nice fish!  There has been a lot of them floating around back there we’ve caught them the last several days all big.  After that we moved one more time just randomly, and I thought the bite was over but we ended up catching a couple more fish.  Hooks were staying in them and we didn’t miss a bite it was pretty epic.  I didn’t get a lot of pictures in the madness but managed a few.  After that we bent the light rods a little bit but that was slow so we headed on back as it was very windy and took a nice easy slow ride home.  What a day out there!  I’m booked up through Friday and then from Saturday on I don’t have much.  Our tides for catching bait are getting easier on Wednesday, and I think the fishing will stay pretty good.  If you are looking to catch a tarpon I’d say right now there is no better time to come.  6 for 6

Capt. Rick Stanczyk
@richardstanczyk

Got out today again for a full day of tarpon fishing out of Islamorada, Florida Keys.  Tarpon was on the agenda and we headed into the everglades.  Stopped for bait back there, it wasn’t real easy to catch but we managed a couple dozen again.  The falling tides in the morning haven’t been as easy to catch bait but we’ve been able to make it happen.  We hit the channel where we fished yesterday, saw some fish roll, but didn’t get a bite right away.  After 45 minutes or so we hooked a shark, and then a tarpon on the other line!  We chased him and landed him and the shark cut us off, but glad to have gotten a tarpon early to take the pressure off especially after the longer day we had yesterday trying to get one.  After that we moved around a bit, saw a splashing tarpon outside the channel and moved in on him.  Got bit pretty quick and landed another tarpon which was cool.  Had a few triple tails swim up and we caught a nice one for dinner.  Then we drove around looking for triple tails and saw a few more, one of which we caught which was fun.  Then we saw another tarpon rise up and we caught him near the end of the tide.  Things were cooperating nicely but we had to work for it and keep moving, no sitting in one spot like we had been the last few weeks.  After that we did some light tackle stuff catching some ladyfish for fun, and then headed home.  All in all a banner day.  3 for 3

Capt. Rick Stanczyk
@richardstanczyk

Got out with Arthur and Chris down from Miami today for a full day of tarpon fishing.  We got out early and caught some bait in the backcountry, wasn’t real easy but we managed a couple good tosses and loaded up.  We found some tarpon where they were yesterday morning, but today they didn’t want to play.  We fished hard for 45 minutes or so, had them rolling right on top of our baits, but never a sniff.  Had 1 shark bite and that was it.  We tried another channel where they had been several days ago, didn’t see much there just a bonnet head shark.  Tide was changing so we tried another channel further out where the tide would be coming in now.  My buddy had caught one there a little earlier, and said he did well there yesterday.  We had them rolling around there too, right on top of our baits again at one point, but never had a bite again.  One big shark that we had cut us off, and my buddy caught another shark too.  After that things were looking kind of glum, strange as fishing had been so good the last few weeks I haven’t had to look around in more than a couple spots.  Anyways we ran back towards where we were this morning to try on the incoming tide now that it had changed.  First stop again nothing but catfish and a small shark.  Then we tried the morning spot again.  We sat for 45 minutes or so, and was almost getting ready to move when we hooked a big lemon shark for Arthur.  Soon after Chris had a tarpon bite while he was on his phone!  Luckily I was able to get the rod from him as the fish came up behind the boat quickly and almost cut us off on the motor, but I was able to put it in free spool and clear the back of the boat and the anchor line, and get him on the rod again when he got off the phone.  We had a good fight of about 25 minutes, landed both the shark and the tarpon, but unfortunately when I had the tarpon boatside on the leader, I put the rod in the holder about to get a picture with him and the hook literally just fell out of his mouth.  But Arthur had some good pictures while Chris fought him, and we got the legal release anyways.  After that we caught one more lemon shark and it was time to go home.  Not sure why the tarpon didn’t want to bite well today, I know yesterday they got lockjaw after the first couple hours in the morning, but today it seemed to be right from the start.  Could be the full moon they may have fed hard over night and just weren’t hungry.  Oh well, hopefully it’ll get better again.  The fish are definitely still around, I think we’ll have another window of good fishing soon… hopefully tomorrow!  1 for 1

Capt. Rick Stanczyk
@richardstanczyk