Tuesday, August 7, 2012

8/7 - No Love for Croakers.

The largest Trout of the entire summer, are being caught...and No one want to go. So as I say, "I'll go with ya or without ya'".

It's funny though. I get emails saying; "I want to catch as many fish as possible."

Really.....??  As if "I" want to go out and catch no fish all day?

I make video's, edit the video's, publishing the video's. After a 12 hour day fishing, doing research and development for "customers",  then that night.
I put in another 4 hrs editing, and publishing the video's here.

And the kicker is, I have to tell possible customers, who in which all the work was for. To sign up for my reports, to see what I'm doing.

I guess people are so used to old or no reports on charter service websites.

These reports, video's, photos, are for customers who fished with me, and possible customers, period. If local fisherman sign up, read and enjoy.  Consider it, "gravy on your weekend fishing buscuit!"

Since the full moon. Jig fishing is producing alot of short Trout. That's jigs and soft plastics. Today, I had at least 25 shorts on the jig. Action, oh yeah! But a boat load of keepers. Not on the jig. But, lately I have not float-rig fished. And I'm sure if I did, I could get some larger fish.

Had two monster Trout L-O-S-T again, on live Croakers. I really think, the Croakers are too large. A 3" Croaker would be best. The 4-6" plus Croakers are just too large to get a proper down the throat hookset. A drag smoking Gator Trout that I saw, readied the net for, got off a 7/0 Owner hook, today. And another on a Eagle Claw Lazer Sharp Kahle 5/0 shiner hook.

Give me a Treble.....any day!

But, after loosing the second big Trout. I caught a thick 24 incher on my Wide Glide subsurface lure. I have to say, this is the absolute best subsurface/topwater plug I have ever thrown. It's different. That's the key!

















I think I'll send these pics to Larry Dahlberg and let him know what a winner he designed.





















I caught two Flounder on a jig and soft plastic. Both "box worthy". That I didn't photograph.

I trolled...Yeah that's something I don't do much of. But experimented with. Against the tide, I was able to go slow enough. And found the perfect bank to troll along. Right in sight of a major road. So when I hooked up with this 26" Redbass on the troll. I had every trucker honking at me. It was a great light tackle battle, when I had out 150 feet of line.



















Of course, before the Redbass I had numerous Ladyfish. They loved the Glass-minnow colored Matrix shad, with a white jighead!

Not long after catching the Redbass. I had to seek shelter and fast!












I tucked under a bridge and tied off. Because I was stuck between storms to the West and to the East. That contained  lightning. I chilled out for awhile, and took pictures of the storms.



























It sort of cleared up. So I headed back to the dock. I did another.....9 hour, R&D day.

For you, the customer.

Friday, August 3, 2012

8/3 - Big Bait, Big Trout.



.....it started out as an experiment. Right now the river has some large Mullet around. But damn if I could catch any in my castnet. And as I watch and entertain myself reading Louisiana Sportsman Magazine, and watch Louisiana Trout fishing shows. I saw that the Louisiana CCA - "Coastal Conservation Association" STAR tournament, which is a tournament covers many species over the course of a few months. The current Speckled Trout leading fish, 8.3lbs. was caught on a live Croaker. So with large baits hard to come by for me in the St. Johns River here in Jax. I figured, Croakers sure are plentiful right now.

Plus, instead of chasing bait around with a castnet. Why not just fish for Croakers! I do it when I need baits for big Redbass. Many a monster Red has come from a frisky live Croaker. Making noise "croakin" in distress sitting on the bottom.

And like I always say....."Callin' them in for a free meal that they'll suck down like a fun sized Snickers bar on Halloween!"

Well, same goes for Gator Trout!

This short video I decided, needed a little more. So I added some favorite photos. And photos of today's R&D catch. I had around 20 Trout total. Lost two BIG Trout at boatside, had a run on one rod that ripped the bait off the hook. Had a bunch of "shorts" on a jighead and a Matrix Shad soft plastic, iced down 5 keepers, and of course had a 24, 26, and 28 inch Trout. And only had three Ladyfish bites all day. And caught at least 25 Croakers and kept 10 of the smallest for bait.

BUT, it all came at a price. With the full moon, and the afternoon due East sea breeze blowing 15 knots against a falling tide. What a royal pain in the ass that was!

I was leaving the dock at 5:15am. And got back to the dock at 4:30pm. Many times when I ran into a slump, I almost packed it in. Then, the wind blew really hard and fishing was really tough. And I about gave up, again. I was hot, sweaty, had "casting and anchor pulling shoulder" acting up, and I was tired.

Intead of thinking about all that and the cold PBR, comfy lazyboy and cold air conditioning waiting at home, I stratigised instead. And continued the GATOR hunt.

And I'm glad I did.

But then again.....I was looking for my next 10 pounder.


Thursday, August 2, 2012

8/1 - Trying the "other" live bait, that's in good supply.



Well...this is what I like to do. And since it's the start of a new month and everyone has to re-group from July. I'm getting sometime to do some R&D. (that's research and development) Because I'm addicted to fishing too!

When other guides go hunting, I go fishing. When other guides go on a "family" vacation. I go fishing, on vacation.

Yeah, I'm ate up with it. Be it 100 degrees or 20 degrees. I live to catch these fish every way I can. And love experimenting. Since the per person limit is just 6, hard earned Trout (sometimes.) It pays to play around a bit, and try other baits, or techniques.

So all who think I only "float-rig fish".......Well, this is the 3rd video, that proves otherwise.

You can bet, I've done my homework. When it gets time for someone to pull a date off their calendar and book a date.

And when I find my "favorites" piled up in an area. You can bet I'll be there, knowing every bump in the bottom.
( I do now after three video's, and fishing all tide ranges)