bonefish

Now I don’t get out flats fishing in Islamorada too often, but today after finishing some maintenance on the Bn’M, I went out with our friend Capt. Dave, My Dad, and Sara in search of some Florida Keys Bonefish. Now Islamorada definitely used to be one of the best places in the world to catch bonefish, but the last 10 years they have because quite difficult to catch. You need patience and have to be willing to invest lots of time in search of the fish. We had a couple hours of day light left when we set up, and with the windy condition we set the anchor out and waited for them to come to us. It didn’t take long to get a bite. After fishing about 20 minutes my Dad released the first bonefish in Islamorada. It was a decent fish, around 5 lbs. It was the first bonefish I’ve seen caught in a while, and they are without question one of the friskiest and best fighting fish around. We caught a few small sharks the next hour and were gonna call it a day. But right before we headed home Sara hooked up. After a short battle she caught and released another bonefish, not a big one, maybe a few pounds, but a bone is a bone. After that we pulled the anchor and headed home. It was nice to get out for a couple hours and relax with some friends and family. I really prefer offshore Islamorada Fishing, but it was a nice change of scenery for sure.

: Islamorada Bonefish

: bonefish in islamorada

: bonefishing islamorada

A late season hurricane known as Sandy gave us some tropical storm force winds here before the beginning of november fishing in islamorada. It did give some opportunity to try some islamorada bonefishing. With the cloudy/rainy/overcast condition, changes in barometric pressure, and stirred up water, it gives a good ‘stake up’ condition. We sit and wait with baits out in strategically placed areas. As conditions were fairly dangerous otherwise, it was a good option this day as some great flats are literally within a minute or two of Bud n’ Mary’s. I had some regulars Jim and Gwen out who fished with me a couple days before in the everglades, catching Jims first snook fishing in islamorada as well as shots at many more, redfish, snapper, jacks, and the like. Another fellow guide, Capt. Jim Willcox, was fishing close by. Both boats landed florida keys bonefish and the parties were stoked! Also got into several bonnet head sharks, atlantic sharpnose sharks, and some other various ‘picker fish’ such as box fish – which don’t let them fool you they can give a hard fight! Some intense weather came in towards the end of the trip so we both came in early, feeder bands of hurricane sandy, scary to see especially now november fishing florida keys. However being so close to home it was fine, just a little wet but we were prepared for that! In November and December, this is always a great option to keep in the back of your mind, especially those days it is blowing 25+mph. You don’t have to sit in a hotel room you can be catching bonefish in islamorada comfortably!

Capt Rick Stanczyk
305-747-6903
rick@fishingislamorada.com