Friday, December 4, 2009

12/4 - Rain??? Ba-hum-bug!!!

Yeah, like I'm gonna go with what the weather man says.... No, Dave goes by what Dave says!! And Dave's usually right. Sure the forecast called for rain and turning much colder. But I knew it was going to be a good looking morning. "So why not go." I called Dr. Dick. He was out yesterday and did well. And was easily talked into going again.

So around 8:00am we departed. We knew just where to go, too.

It was chilly. But not like we weren't dressed for it. People who are #1 unprepared and #2 are whimpy, are the people that don't want to, catch any fish....RIGHT NOW.

And again, NO you're not doing what we did this morning in the summer. IT'S NOW....WHEN IT'S WINTER, IS WHEN IT'S GO-TIME!

Actually the bite was a tad slow. Boxing some small to medium size yellermouths, right off. But as the tide got better so did the bites and so did the Speckled Trout.
















So, we went back and forth between the two kinds of Trout. Filling the cooler, with what I call "Fishing Guides subsistance fish". Because "WE" have to eat too.
Then the Specks got alot better as we fished. NOW, we're talking my kind of fishing!




















Let's talk a solid 6 pounder!! Yeah, one that'll feed this poor "Indian" for a couple meals. "Chief Wacka'trouta", that's who I was. Hooked up to a drag burning, side winding, beautiful Trout. And I needed it, too.

Our tide went dead eventually, so we moved on to happier hunting grounds. But not really, because the tide was slack there too. But Dick nailed another Speck as I tried for a Big RB or Sheepshead while tight-lining a live shrimp.

Then, finally the drizzle of rain started. What the heck, let's call it a day. So we went on back and filled two big ole bags full of prime Trout fillets.

Let's see.....we fished only 2-spots. About 2 miles from the boat ramp. Filled 2 bags full of skinned, deboned and filleted fish. And I was home before 2pm.

Let me ask, YOU. Do you think it gets much better than that, here in N.E. Florida?

Well, I'm here to tell you........IT DOESN'T.

CALL: 904-642-9546 to book your private light tackle charter. Dress per the weather, and have the frying pan ready in "go" mode, waiting at home.

- Let's review.

The last time I was out with Dick, he caught a "tailess" 5 pounder. Then, I was out with D.O.A. Rob and he caught a pretty 4 pounder. Do you think I could have had you catching big Trout too? Yes, I could.

So, it was my turn.... As a veteran member of the fishing guide tribe of Jacksonville, big Trout like this sure come in handy.




Thursday, December 3, 2009

12/3 - Winter Fishing/Marine Clean-up, Sale:

2- Ugly Stik Tiger Lites "Dan Hernandez" Custom Casting rods. Super nice! (Two have sold already. I have just two left)

NEW!


7' casting, EVA & Cork grips makes these rods "LITES". All Fugi reelseats and guides. Ugly Stik "howald process" mix of graphite and glass. Rods can handle up to 6 ounces and 30 pound line.
See Retail here: http://www.histackleboxshop.com/Shakespeare-Ugly-Stik-Dan-Hernandez-Custom-Rods-s/1644.htm






"Designed, used and endorsed by fishing professional, Dan Hernandez, these rods offer the strength, balance and performance demanded by top-notch anglers. They have 100% graphite Howald Process? Double-Built? sanded blanks with custom hand-wound diamond wrap. Outstanding strength and sensitivity come from blank-through-handle construction. Double-footed Fuji? guides add even more fish-fighting backbone while permitting friction-free line feeding. Genuine Fuji reel seats give your reel a secure platform for battling the big ones. Five-year limited warranty." .....Super tuff rods at a Super DEAL!


Good St. Johns river Redbass, Black Drum, deep water Sheepshead Rods, and Kingfish rods. I hardly use them after purchasing 4. I have many Ugly Stiks, but don't do much bottom fishing and these are perfect for that.

Take each for $60 each, retailed for $89.99-$110.00 each. 7 year warrenty via Shakespeare. And no shipping or sales tax. Casholla on the barrel. "Ugly Back 60-day/5-year limited warranty."   No wear, no nothing, These rods look and fish as NEW!  (I take primo care of my tackle)




Galvanized "BOX" anchor:
http://www.slideanchor.com/   MSRP: $150 
18-19 pounder, no chain needed, Folds Flat. Grabs bottom on either side. Superior design, EZ to use. Have a flats boat, a deck boat, a pontoon boat, a ski boat, a fishing boat? No room for a big bulky anchor? 1/2 price - $80.00





















2- brand new. 8' one piece Biscayne custom rods for float-rig fishing Trout & Reds.
Fiberglass, EVA grips, all Fugi reel seats and guides. Medium PARA-BOLIC action. $110 each




These rods catch F-I-S-H!  (I have 6, letting go 2 of them.)















23 pound Redbass on a float-rig with Biscayne custom f'glass rod.





2- Used G. Loomis Pelagic series one piece 9 Foot casting rods, cork grip. You Will NEVER See Rods Like This Again!!
Premium Pelagics, worthy of Tarpon, big Snapper, Cobia casting.
$200 each OBO  MSRP: $350 Come see...and handle them.
Trigger cast, 1/2 to 6 oz. 15-30# line.
This "Cob" didn't stand a chance.


















contact: Capt. Dave @
http://www.captdaves.com/
call: 904-642-9546
e-mail: charter@captdaves.com

Items located just west of Mayport, north of Atlantic Blvd. Jacksonville, Florida

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

12/2 - I FOUND ONE......at ABT.

After a search around town, via the phone numbers in my cell phone I found a Florida Sportsman 2010 Tide Planner. After one quick call to Carmen over at ARLINGTON BAIT AND TACKLE, confirmed the availibility of the book, I was hunting for.

I MUST HAVE ONE!

And boy, it sure was nice talking to Carmen again. I told her, "Hang on...I'll be right there to come get it." But she stopped me quickly and said, "Now Dave, we're in a new store. Over in the Town & Country shopping center at University and Arlington Xpressway." "Wow", I said. Being that it's been a very long time since I've even been on University Blvd.

Carmen & Bill of "ABT" were sponsors of my Saturday morning radio show when Pelican and I were on ESPN 1460, years ago. And to chat with them is to quickly like them both. Carmen will likely be the most bubblie gal in a bait shop, you'll ever meet. And as usual, when I went to pick up the F.S. Tide Planner I was there for hours, talking to Carmen and Bill.

The new store is just only a month or so old. And it's NOT going to be your average bait shop. Carmen is going to make her sandwiches!! Besides being a full service tackle shop, with every concievable plug, soft bait and hook. They have rods and a impressive selection of reels. The new store has a "sitting room", that will be utilized as an area to just relax and BS and will also work as a future seminar room. They also have a full blown kitchen. So before, after, or during your fishing day, you'll be able to enjoy one of Carmen's special sandwiches..."Empanada's", mmmmmm.....
And as Bill put it, "they'll be just like home made. You'll bite into them and stuff's gonna fall out of them!"  

(well...like Fishin' sometimes the best laid plans get a bit fuzzy. This is a cell phone photo of Carmen and her new shop, that I attempted to take.)


My new motto you'll be reading here, after turning up the volume and intently watching President Obama's message on TV last night, is a very old one we just don't hear enough of anymore.

KEEP AMERICANS WORKING!
We have to patronize our local neighborhood establishments, and Fishing guides too, don't forget! They're the fabric of our town, and our local fishing communitee.

I hope you will go on over to ABT the next time you need some fishing equipment, live-dead bait, a home made sandwich, for your fishing trip. Or just to have a good ole time chatting with Carmen and Bill. Remember, when the local barber shop was the place to meet all your freinds? Well, that barber shop is a "bait shop" for us fisherman.

ABT is located just down the street from Arlington road boat ramp, and the Lion's Club boat ramp north of Ft. Caroline rd. on University Blvd North, past J.U.

Presently, they have two more Florida Sportsman Tide Planners left.  (Carmen said a quick order of one is not a problem either.)

They make great stocking stuffers.

Tell 'em Capt Dave sent ya. And you'll be in there for awhile, if you're anything like me.

There's plenty of parking, plus you can pull up behind the shop too, to load up a baitwell easily with live bait. The store is located in the "court yard area" of the Town & Country Shopping Center.


Visit: http://www.abtfishing.com/
The phone number is: 743-3200
983 University Blvd. N.
Jacksonville, Fl. 32211

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

12/1 - That time of year again.

I know I'm still looking locally. And yeah, waiting for them to come in. But, it's that time of year again to get your Florida Sportsman Tide planner book.


As I say in my quote on the inside front cover, "I don't book a single charter without refering to it."

The story started when I was doing seminars at the Florida Sportsman Fishing show at the Prime Osborne Convention Center in down town Jacksonville. And Dave Blackwell of Florida Sportsman Magazine walked by my booth. He saw me on the phone with my FS tide planner open. He stood there till I was off the phone, introduced himself and asked to look at my planner.

He was amazed by what it looked like. Tattered,  with stickers and tape holding it together, I had notes all over it. And had stapled papers to the pages with all my charter dates/names and telephone numbers written down.

He told me he was incharge of the book at Florida Sportsman, and that I was the only one he had ever met that used the book like this. I told him, I don't take a single charter call without refering to it so I can see the tides-moons etc for my customers.

That's when he flipped me his card, and said "send me a quote about the book for the inside cover", and I'll make sure you get new books each year. He was impressed, as I told him I've been using them as my reservation book and fishing log book since the day the first one came out.

Plus how many of you have been on my boat, and I broke out the FS planner to show you how to read the tides in N.E. Florida? When I did a Saturday morning radio show on WNNR & ESPN 1460, myself and co-host Ken "Pelican" Hubbard, used to pull out the book to get trivia question when giving away prizes. Because the back of the F.S. planner has some really great articles about tides, weather, along with state size and bag limits, records, and solar/luner charts.

It's my fishing bible!

I can go back ten years and read my notes and tell you who was on my boat, what we were catching, and when. Now, I realize you may not use it that extensively. But let me tell ya.....you should! Knowing the tides and studying them is one part of being a successful fisherman in this area. Because we have the highest tides of the state. I have learned as a Float-rig fisherman, if we don't have at least 4 foot of water movement in the St. Johns River, then fishing will be tougher. Picking up on small details, rather than just looking for that one big reason you are not "catching", makes you a better angler. Because we all should know. It's all in the details, not that statement I hear from folks all the time......"Oh well, we're just unlucky fisherman I guess."        

Don't let that be you. Know your tides.

https://store.intermediaoutdoors.com/shop/ItemDetail.aspx?item=10FP

They make a great stocking stuffer!