Islamorada's Other Highly Regarded Prize…

Islamorada Waters

Location: Islamorada, FL

The Florida Keys are known for some of the most tropical waters that run anywhere into the United States mainland. Currents sweep around and bring rich waters and countless fish into the Gulf of Mexico from the Atlantic Ocean and Carribean Sea. The variety of fish around these islands in simply amazing. These were the waters that Ernest Hemmingway often called home which helped induce the full on creativity for the story 'The Old Man and the Sea'. These generally warm waters teaming with life are a sportsmans paradise, and highly regarded by anglers from around the globe.

Below: Islamorda found in the Florida Keys is in a prime location for mayhem and adventure!

Islamorada is a very unique area. Just about any species that is present in waters between the equator and the north Atlantic can be or have been caught in close proximity to the Florida Keys. Anglers have a wide open choice and what they want to target. These waters are well known for blazing fast King Mackerel, super healthy populations of Sailfish, countless species of reef fish, Dorado, toothy Cuda's, and at times Tuna and other Billfish. Some of the largest sharks, including Great Hammerheads, call these waters home as they prey on giant silver-king Tarpon.

For Capt. Nick Stanczyk and crew of the B n' M out of Bud n' Mary's Marina , there is always an adventure to be had. Recently, they have perfected the art of daytime Swordfishing... a practice that isn't often utilized due to great variety of other offshore species. However, the boys have had some great success and continue to show us proof of monsters from the deep!

In normal procedure, Swordfish are targetted at night, which often come up to feed on squid and various baitfish. It is a common practice around many locations of the world, even Florida, to night-time fish for these Broadbill with Squid, usually with the aid of underwater lights. The practice has been altered and customized countless times over to fit the preferences of captains themselves. Up until recent the thought of targetting broadbill in the day was thought to be ludicrous. With nearly everything, it was only a matter of time until being perfected. Over the past 10 years day-time swordfishing has been growing more and more popular amongst anglers.

Nick has graciously sent the Waterman's Journal some killer pics of his recent outting... Enjoy

Below: A beautiful Broadbill is landed in the midst of the day...

Below: Hoisting up a quality Sword for boat...

While many, if not the majority of the swords off FL are released including this fish below, Swordfish are highly prized for table fare, which unfortuantely has led to their decline due to commercial fishing in the North Atlantic. Strictly laws have been in place throughout the world to help preserve these great fish.

Below: Getting ready to release another sexy Sword...

Swordfishing is a time consuming process. You may go hours and hours of waiting without hooking up to a single fish. It is then that methods are modified and optimalized in hopes of better success. It takes a special breed of angler to do this type of fishing. You could go just about anywhere around the Keys and hammer fish all day long, but to duke it out on the water hour after hour in the hot sun just waiting for a broadbill to inspect a bait down deep below takes a little extra patience. However, the rewards could be quite great and daytime Swords up to several hundred pounds have been landed.

Below: Nick sends us a pic of a large Tripletail they picked up while waiting for some action

Florida is and remains one of the top Broadbill destinations in Northern hemisphere. Due to advance techniques and new breakthroughs, many other locations throughout the world are learning to take advantage of their untapped sword fishery.

Below: The crew carefully sticks a gaff into a quality Sword...

Below: Teamwork Pays Off...

Below: Nick and the crew of the B n' M represent Islamorada proudly with this 209lb slab of goodness ...

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UPDATE

Nick sends us a pic of a rather unusual catch on another recent outting... It just goes to show you never know what you are going to pry up from the depths below! Great fish Nick!

Below: Nick poses with a Bigscale Pomfret

The Waterman's Journal would like to thank Capt. Nick Stanczyk and his fellow crew on another successful trip! If you have a killer trip and would like to have a chance at it posted here on the Waterman's Journal, please contact us and if we feel it is appropriate for our needs, we'll throw you on here!

To book a Trip with Capt. Nick Stanczyk on the B n M out of Bud n' Mary's Marina , please click the link below for more info...

Check back with the Waterman's Journal for more of the latest Sword Reports from Around the World.

Check back often at ** thewatermansjournal** for more photos and epic reports...