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Hooking Up Anglers Since 2011.
Cobia fishing under migrating rays has been very good in the Florida Keys lately, but a wind shift to the south changed everything Sunday -- and Richard Stanczyk of Bud N' Mary's Marina in Islamorada figured that would be a problem for cobia as we headed offshore with his brother, Capt. Scott Stanczyk, on the 56-foot Catch 22. Richard turned out...
Cobia fishing under migrating rays has been very good in the Florida Keys lately, but a wind shift to the south changed everything Sunday -- and Richard Stanczyk of Bud N' Mary's Marina in Islamorada figured that would be a problem for cobia as we headed offshore with his brother, Capt. Scott Stanczyk, on the 56-foot Catch 22. Richard turned out to be right, as we didn't see a ray all day, but still had a great time.
Joan Salvato Wulff, widow of Lee Wulff who was probably the most famous fisherman of the last decade, was among those aboard -- along with Vin Sparano of Waretown -- retired editor of Outdoor Life. Joan is the daughter of the late Paterson outdoor writer Jimmy Salvato, and was a champion woman caster who could compete on equal terms with even such famed male fly casters as Ted Williams and her future husband. Now she's now retired from her fly fishing school in the Catskills that's being run by her son -- and she's able to spend the winter and spring at her condo in Islamorada.
The other object of our trip was the fine-eating yellowtail snapper, and they didn't disappoint. Our group caught 42 while drifting baits astern in a chum slick, and could have limited out (10 per angler) in just a bit longer. We had to fight though blue runners swarming in the slick, and also hooked a few colorful blue parrotfish, a green parrotfish, and a filefish. A big fish ate one of my hooked fish, and Richard said he saw a 50-pound cobia before it broke off. I had another hooked fish eaten later, but that was a barracuda well over 20 pounds. There was no hope of holding that toothy cuda as we were using only small #2 short-shanked Mustad hooks tied directly to 15-pound mono to fool the wary yellowtails, but the cuda ended up hooked just outside the mouth. Even after a run under the boat, I was eventually able to bring it in for an improbable release.
After we had all the meat everyone wanted, Scott Stanczyk moved off to mark some pilchard schools that attracted cero mackerel that were caught on fly tackle by Joan and famed flats guide Capt. Rick Ruoff. A final look for cobia was unproductive, but Scott Stanczyk suddenly stopped the boat, and his mate, Hunter, found the only pilchard in the live well to throw to a cruising sailfish -- and I was soon fighting a five-footer to the release.
The main object evaded us, but we had a very pleasant variety day that's typical of what can be expected in this semi-tropical paradise. Bud N'Mary's has lots of charter and guide boats available along with a complete tackle shop and motel accomodations. Stanczyk can be reached at 800 742-7945 or at bnmfm@budnmarys.com. The web site is www.budnmarys.com.
This Fishing Report was submitted on 3/27/2011 7:54:01 PM by Seamus and last updated on 3/27/2011 7:54:01 PM.
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