Guide Spotlight: Nick Stanczyk of Daytime Swordfishing Charters

Already a Florida legend before he was a household name, Nick Stanczyk was just a fishy kid from Islamorada. But since then, his antics on the swordfish grounds have taken him from hungry young angler to world-class slayer. As one of Florida’s most well-known guides, we are excited to include Nick in this issue’s guide spotlight!

NAME: Capt. Nick Stanczyk

LOCATION: Islamorada, Florida Keys

SPECIALTY: Daytime swordfishing

BOAT SPECS: 2021 42’ Freeman powered by quad Yamaha 300s, named Broad Minded

AFFILIATIONS/SPONSORS: Stanz Fishing, Freeman Boatworks, Yamaha Outboards, Yeti, Penn Fishing, BlueWave cleaning products, Smith Optics, JL Audio, Tigress Outriggers & Gear, B’laster Products.

MEDIA AFFILIATIONS: I run my own social media accounts.

HOW YOU GOT STARTED: I grew up at Bud n’ Mary’s Marina, which my family has owned and operated since 1978. I fished mostly offshore on the Catch 22 with my uncle Capt. Scott Stanczyk and my dad, Capt. Richard Stanczyk. I also spent quite a few days on the headboat and a little time in the backcountry. As a young kid, I fished off the docks a lot, but circa 2000, my dad banned fishing on the docks because a kid hooked a tarpon and it jumped into a guide boat returning from a trip (Thanks, Colby). There only used to be the occasional tarpon in the marina basin but now there are hundreds, and they are part of the atmosphere. Growing up, I fished with my family and friends and, once I became a teenager, I started riding along and helping out as a second mate.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN GUIDING IN YOUR AREA: I got my captain’s license the summer of 2003. I was 18 years old and getting ready to go off to the University of Miami. I wound up running quite a few trips on the weekends and breaks during college. After I graduated, I ran some trips and then started traveling on private boats as a mate for the next couple of years. After a couple years doing that, I came back and ran one of the family boats (34’ Crusader Bn’M) before buying my own boat in 2014. I had a 36’ Jersey Devil (Bn’M II) for two years and then, in 2016, I took delivery of a 37’ Freeman (Broad Minded).

CLAIM TO FAME: I’ve caught my fair share of swordfish, but I’m probably best known for the 757-pounder we caught back in 2019 after an eight-hour battle.

SEASONALITY: We fish 12 months a year for swordfish. Every year is a little different so it’s hard to predict the best time, but we’ve had both good and bad trips every month of the year.

GENERAL AVAILABILITY: I never thought I would be in such high demand but somehow, with social media, there are a few thousand people on my email waiting list. I haven’t taken on many new clients the last few years and my fishing days have been cut down since having two young children, starting the Stanz Fishing Brand and trying to keep my health up. I do have a great deckhand who runs the boat when I’m not, so Capt. Mike Varney has been running more trips on the boat than I have the past year. If you want to fish on an awesome boat and have a great shot at catching a swordfish, shoot us an email.