6/6 - Day 2, with Paul & Hoss

Remember, yesterday I said I wanted to go show Paul & Hoss a "ass handing" sized piscatorial punisher?

Well, I did. Unfortunately we never landed a single one.

What we did land was the small sharks in the photo's, plus a nurse Shark about 50 pounds, and a mini-Manta Ray. (and these guys thought those were whoppers!)

But right after we got the Nurse Shark to the boat and messed with it, I noticed one of our lines that was out and away from the boat, was now underneath the boat.

I grabbed my HD Loomis backbouncer, slammed the Accurate twin-drag to 30 pounds of pre- set drag pressure reeled fast and handed it to Hoss.

Here we go...........That fish turned out to be a 100 pound Spinner shark, and when it felt the sting on the 8/0 circle hook it BOOGIED! Snatching ole Hoss into reality. The drag smoked at 30 pounds of drag pressure like it was nothin'.

The fish flew out of the water tail walking and then spinning violently across the surface of the water. Cork-screwing like it was driven by some sort of machine. And at 150 yards away from the boat the leader broke. (50# Mason "hard type" nylon)

Hoss said, "I guess that's here's yer sign in shark talk? Huh, Dave?"

Yep, it sure was, I replied.

I ran out of greenies since I only jigged a few so we went and caught some big fat juicey pogies, and returned to the Mayport Jetties.

This time I re-rigged with 7 foot of 200 pound test crimped leaders with a 15/0 VMC monster circle, and a break-away sinker set up.

And as the incoming tide built......here we go again.

Hoss yells, "Dave I think there maybe something on that one". I reel down, feel, feel, feel. And off it goes!!!

Another monster spinner shark (nearly a Blacktip shark, but with really a bad attitude).

Line literally evaporates off my spool on my Accurate 870. The lever drag is now pushed into the F-U-L-L position. I want to hand the fish to Paul, but cannot. I lean into the shark with all 250 pounds I have, as if I'm trying to break the rod. The fish heads for the north end of the jetties. Go's airborne, and starts "cork-screwing" again. But I have it, and I'm hanging on.

Paul & Hoss are freakin' out.

The fish is now close to 200 yards from the boat, goes airborne again and twists and POP goes my line. I look at Hoss, and say........"here's yer sign".

Man, do those tackle ruining SOB's have some Power. I want tackle that can handle them. The rods and reels I have right now work but I'm not sure if they work that great for this extreme animal that lurks around the jetty rocks in the summer. I 'd like a reel that can drop 75 pounds of drag on these fish. That's over double the drag I have now.

Before I went into being a full time "float-rigger". Me and an ole friend Pelican, used to sit out there and hook those spinners one after another. We started with 7000 Abu Garcia Ambassador reels, Big Game ambassadors, which aren't for any Big Game at all. We soon learned that those reels had no part in fish this size as we'd ruin them and then re-build them, and them ruin them again . That's when I moved up to Accurate reels with twin drags, and they graciously accepted me onto their Guide Program. And shortly after I owned 12 of the best reels I have ever used. BUT...I wasted time with smaller reels that fit on bait casting rods, mostly for big drum in the spring and big Reds in the fall. They work for them, because lets face it, a 30 pound red fights....but not really, compared to a 200 pound Shark hauling ass with a falling tide......and JUMPS!

So I see now that if I really want to be a contender, I'll have to some day step up to the plate and get me a REALLY BIG reel. Because if a 400 pound Tuna can be taken on a Big Accurate reel on a Long Range boat out of San Diego with 30 other guys fishing too, then that's what I need for these sharks. You cannot "light tackle" them at the jetties. Capt Randall my shark "go-to" guy who's commercial fished them for years says, "Dave, you'll never be able to dog one down so bad to keep him from doing the twist somehow. But catch'em at the jetties is asking for doing it the hard way!"

But catching them behind the surf on the beach requires way to much work! Chumming and all that bullshit. They are at the north and south jetties...and when they are there they are ready and able to eat about anything (although small sharks and stingray wings are the best bait) A big fat juicy Pogie always works. You just need good current, as with any fishing.

Here's a photo of the last one I personally boated at the jetties (by myself on a Chunk of stingray wing, of course in the month of June) It was about 125 pounds.

But I want bigger and more of them.

MAYBE LIKE THIS HAMMERHEAD???

WOW! Now that "was" a big Shark.

It was fun today, but I was missing Float rig fishing

up in the river while fishing the inlet today.

Am I obbsessed or what? I know I have the right tackle

for that kind of fishing, already.

6/5 - Float Freakin' one mo' time.......

Had Paul O. and his buddy HOSS on board today, they were from Pennsylvania comin on down to Jax. for a little R&R and fishing with the Float Freak.

I have them for two days, so today was day #1 so I figured I feel them out and see if they could "float the float", and they did. Catching 10 puppy Drum. It was all out drum fishing....they were carpeting the bottom on one of my good trout spots, just as they've been for a few trips lately.

So why not????

And the Trout have sort of slacked a bit on the spot, so the drum make for great light tackle fun. No fighting any crowds or seas, it was just what the guys were looking to do.

(maybe tomarrow I'll take them out the inlet and hook them up on something they may not want to tangle with. We'll see. EKG's please? Because now that we're finally in a summer pattern after Tropical storm Barry. Which is just what we needed to get out of that east wind pattern. With lighter SW winds in the morning, I hear bait is everywhere, sharks are prowling, big Reds are scowering the bottom, and Tarpon have been sighted!!)

They went away at the end of their trip with a giant bag of fillets. Care of my fast fish cleaning techniques at the dock.

I told them to get a good nights sleep, eat a good dinner of fish for good luck, drink plenty of fluids, and be at the dock again at 7am.

The river fishing is great. The salinity is lower, and with a good rain shower each day, river fishing will stay steady.

Not everyone is a monster fish kinda angler (I know who and who can not can handle monster fish, believe me.) and although Paul and Hoss may not be able too either, since they are fishing 2 days in a row with me. They deserve an "ass handing" experience tomarrow, before leaving to go back to Pa.

2 passengers for 2 consecutive days is a great way of doing a charter, by the way. Save some dollars by booking two days and getting to do different fishing each day. I enjoy it and if I enjoy YOU WILL TOO!

Call to reserve your private customized 2 day trip now.

Save $$$$$

Here's their recent catch pics: http://www.captdaves.com/Catch2.htm

JUNE 1st - Now it's really SUMMER!

C'C'mon...It's JUNE 1. Yeah, Now It's Really Summer!

Especially since today is the first day of hurricane season.

Other states probably celebrate June 1st with a Apple Harvest Parade.

But not here. We celebrate the summer season with a TAX FREE day to go buy hurricane supplies. And wonder if your home owners insurance company is gonna keep you or send you a nice letter in the mail that you've been cancelled due to "catastrophic catastrophe reduction down sizing".

Either way, here's what I did today; went to the eye doctor for the 4th time in two months, because I can't see right after wearing contact lens' for 34 years. And am attempting to see better with new glasses instead, for at least 3 months, so my eyes will return to normal. So I can get refractive surgery. I hate having to wear glasses & clip-on sunglasses! I will get the eye surgery no matter what I have to do. Then off to run some errands.....

Then I stopped by B&M bait and tackle. PEOPLE went fishing.....two friends of mine. One caught a few trout and was back early. One went and got frustrated. But while I was at the bait shop. Wade, the LOCAL bait shrimper from Yulee, brought in some of the sweetest looking NATIVE shrimp. I'm about sick of those west coast shrimp. They die easy, and just aren't as hardy and lively. These shrimp looked so sweet, I left the bait shop and went and got my boat and came back to get some of those river crickets, and went fishing. It was 1:00 pm.

I hit the river and went shopping for bites with my LOCAL shrimp.

The best source when shopping for bites is going to the fish mall.

Pilings! Pilings! Pilings! But as we all know, not every set has

the occupants we're looking for. But mine did.

And I was into TROUT.

It looked like rain the longer I fished. AND THAT'S OKAY WITH ME!

And now it's "tropical storm" number two called Barry. And it's going to dump some rain on us. Which will only do the St. Johns River some real good. It's starving for some fresh water. Which in turn makes the fishing better.

I caught during the falling tide; 10 - Speckled Trout, 1- Sheepshead, 1 baby Gag Grouper, and a few blues and ladyfish.

The largest Trout (in photo) was 20 inches. And I easily had my 5 fish limit. But I didn't take any ice, didn't plan on keeping a single fish, and released them all.

It was just nice to go out on a whim. I love living so close to the river and the bait shop.

I didn't get any whopper Trout today. I didn't go where I have been fishing with charters. I stayed closer to home. But did fish some old stand-by spots.

LOOK for the rain to make a difference "IF" they aren't blowin smoke up our transom's. 4-5" would be great. But remember, as long as south of Jacksonville gets it real good, it's about as good. Because that fresh water will flow north and give the river a sweet water boost.

I have three days Pre-Reserved next week, so I say Bring on the wet stuff!

FLOAT FREAK.....out.