9/2 - Great Day....was this a "cold spell"??

I can't remember a single day this summer so far as pleasant as today was. Down right "chilly", I'd say. No, it wasn't cold at all, but so dang nice. It just made me feel really good.

See what a completely overcast day, light winds and a weather system of some sort over our neighbors in Georgia can do? Made for one hell of a nice day. Not to mention I had some really good company out there with me.

Thursday, when I went on my long journey north, far far away from the Mayport area to do some exploring and enjoy the serenity. I came back down the Intra-coastal water way and stopped by the ship yard at Sisters creek. In hopes of sending a float rigged with a big fat local river cricket (shrimp) up under the pier at the shipyard, so to catch some Trout. But the current wasn't running right and all I caught was more Jacks. And up on the pier walks Jason, a Captain of a 150 yacht that's up on the dry dock getting some work done. He asked how things were going and asked me what I've been catching. To make a long story short, he gave me a call and brought two crew members.......(Boy, I'm bad with names. Drew and Phil???? If I don't write names down I quickly forget)

I told him I had Sunday open, so he reserved Sunday at 0630 hrs, at the dock for a river charter.

He mentioned he'd like to Redbass and Trout fish. Perfect because that's what I like to do too.

We talked Tarpon, but with the chances of getting slim to no chum, or at least not enough to do the job. We settled on a river trip.

Armed with 120 live shrimp, and a dozen mullet we left the dock and headed west, then a bit south on the river.

We picked and poked (that's what I call it when we have to hunt up a good spot) But we ended up only fishing 3 spots all day. Catching some Trout, and battling through the too many Mangrove snapper bites as usual.

A big fish probably a large Drum was lost to the anchor line. Wish we could have seen that one. We had to settle for perfect eating size Black Drum rather than Redbass, because they were there and willing.

We went through all 120 shrimp, had maybe a 1/2 dozen or more die, that's all. Which is next to nothing compared to the fatalities I have been getting, because of the hot sun and hot water.

And on the last shrimp of the day, Jason hooked a big strong fish. Acted like a Redbass, and a big one......and even fooled me when it came up and was a about a 7 pound Jack Crevalle.

One of the guys caught a big Mangrove Snapper from under a dock....big figuratively speaking, about 15". Most are 3-4" and are nothing but bait stealers, which is their trade while growing up in the river, before heading offshore. The fella's caught about a dozen Trout, and keeping the solid 15" or better ones. Small Grouper, Ladyfish, Jacks, Needlefish, Pinfish, and a Skate. That's why I take 10 dozen live shrimp for 3 guys!! In December, all I'll need is 6 dozen because all the bait stealers will vacate the river. But the action was relatively constant.

And they went away with a nice big bag of fillets, which is number one in my book. I want to get plenty of "eaters", if I can.

While cleaning fish at the dock, I quickly realized what a zoo it was out there today. People everywhere. But since we started early and finished up early, and went far far away. We never had to deal with the holiday boat traffic.

If "labor day" is the un-official end to summer. I'm going to pay close attention to see if this applies here. Will the weekends get a bit less crowded, or will it stay the same. I always say when the official start of Football season begins is when crowds thin out....and that's just around the corner too.

See more of today's photo's on this link to Recent Catch Page #4:

http://www.captdaves.com/Catch4.htm

9/1 - End of Summer....good, because I'm ready.

Here is a little bit of info about Labor Day:

The holiday began in 1882, originating from a desire by the Central Labor Union to create a day off for the "working man". It is still celebrated mainly as a day of rest and marks the symbolic end of summer for many.

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"Like sands through the hours glass, so are the lives of a N.E. Florida Trout" ......(a tutorial)

I know some of the best local Speckled Trout Fisherman in my area. We Talk. Me? Well, I can hold my own, when it comes to catching them. But take today for instance.
I was at my local bait shop, and in comes...(we'll call him Hank, to protect the innocent). Hank's been a trout fisherman his entire life. Like myself he finds Redbass fun, but not as good table fare as a big fat Speckley fish.

Hank has been catching his fare share in the SURF...yes, in the surf. Off the Pier. Conditions such as wind direction and water clarity have to be right, though.

So here's the question I posed to Hank, "so they're still out there huh? So why is it that all ya read about is that since they spawn all summer, they want "X" number of parts of saltwater, and "X" number of parts of freshwater, which they supposedly need for spawning. That's why there's so many Trout up river, near the fresher water."

"So why are you catching them in the surf?" And why is it that you can fish all day along the jetties....that are connected to the beach and not catch a single Speckled Trout, IN THE SUMMER? Wouldn't ya' think if they were hanging around the Pier they'd hang around the jetties? "

Hank looked at me with his years of experience and said, "you're absolutely right. And I've never been able to figure it out either."

I said,"I can understand that Trout being big time shrimp eaters follow the food chain, and go to where the shrimp are more plentiful. To find shrimp all you have to do is travel the local rivers and see where the shrimpers are working." There should be some trout in the area then, right?

Hank concured 100%.

I know he's not surprised that I think about stuff like that, because we've discussed Trout habits like this before.

"But the biggest question is WHY are they in the surf, and not along the St. Johns River jetties that are attached to the beach. Which are structure, alot better than the Pier huh Hank?", I said. And "I've caught a good amount in the surf. In the slews and around certain sand bar areas, but the big jetties......forget it. "

As most ole timers, Hank says, "Dave if we knew what they did every time we went, we'd be catching them every single time we went". " I've caught plenty in the surf over the years from boat and Pier. It used to be a lot better though, he said. "I went in the river just around the corner, and worked good areas for 4 hours, and never had a trout the othewr day. But then I go to the pier, and catch'em."

I felt really good hearing that. Because I've been catching them, but this summer has been a tough one so far. I told Hank, I've been picking a big one here and there too.

I don't consider myself and ole timer, just yet. But I've seen many a change since the 80's.

Stumped, neither one of us could answer the big question. I told Hank that I have searched the world wide web for information and found it hard to find any answers. Hank went to prepare his boat for a beach trip tomorrow.

I read a lot of reports and have quickly realized that around here, the St, Johns River out of Mayport, Florida, isn't the same as just north of us in S.E. Georgia. As another friend of mine says; "This river isn't really a River, but more like a big salty bay, especially in the summer."

The biology of a Speckled Trout seems to closely follow the same patterns as the local shrimp.

Trout are hatched up river and grow then work their way towards the ocean to complete the cycle. And a cycle I always think about is just this simple; SUMMER way up river, WINTER closer to the Ocean. And it seems true, but then throw-in the snag called trout in the surf in the middle of the summer....And big Female Trout too!

All of this may sound like micro-managing a subject to death to a non-fisherman or even someone who couldn't care less about Speckled Sea Trout. But as one who purses them, and they still are the #1 Game fish in the south east, I find it frustrating. Because as the saying goes; "THE MORE YOU THINK YOU KNOW ABOUT THEM. ONLY MAKES YOU REALIZE HOW MUCH MORE THERE STILL IS TO LEARN ABOUT THEM."

Some of the best days I've ever had fishing was when my customers caught limits of nice Speckled trout, and some other species to go along with them. And while easily filleting, de-boning, and skinning their fish........
"thank goodness that SHEEPSHEAD, are not my favorite species to go after!" (I hate cleaning them)

My lil' secret is that I just don't like Trout for the table, I like what it takes to catch them, I like that they are "not just another bottom feeder", and high on the list of "likes" is how easy they are to clean.
Since I do fish cleaning on a fillet table that mounts in a pole holder on my boat.
It's way to much to ask for the city of Jacksonville Florida to have fish cleaning tables at the local boat ramp docks. (we have NONE!!)
My newest thing is frying my Specks in Olive Oil. It's less fatty and I think they taste better too. Some Zaterains Country Style Fish Fry Mix, some steamed veggies, a tall glass of some of that new "green" iced Tea. That's about as healthy as I can cook. Really Monster Trout fillets I blacken, just like a Redbass.

I heard a good Trout report today. My charter cancelled on me, so I never got passed the boat ramp.