Sunday, September 7, 2008

9/7 - Taking Advantage.....of one gorgeous day.

Had Don Z. take advantage of the special offer I sent out for this weekend. (you may have received it.) Well, from now on, what ever "deals" I do. They will be for people who have "joined" my Lil' club, I guess you could say. To become a member, you have to log-in to my rates page.

Well, if you want to know my rates schedule, anyhow. You have to log-in. By doing so you go on to a list. a private list. And will receive e-mailed announcements. Announcements like Don, took advantage of.

It was for this weekend only. One passenger only. One on one learning, the how's and why's with the "Float Freak" - (me), and catching big Speckled Trout, target species.

I knew for a fact that after hurricane or tropical storm Hanna, passed by Friday. That Saturday & Sunday would be OUTSTANDING weather. And it was!!

Saturday went by, and I thought to myself, "are these people crazy??" "How could some one pass this offer up." After storm weather is always great. Then came Sunday and Don, emailed me for info on the offer, and reserved Sunday. And by the looks of him, I think he was very glad he did. I told him, "Don, it's TROUT, and gonna be all about BIG TROUT!"

So we took off this morning at 0700 hrs. By 0730 hrs. Don had his largest Speckled Trout he's ever caught on the line heading to the net.

Yes, folks he was hooked up to a big fattie within minutes of pulling up to spot #1.
IT WAS AWESOME!



Don admitted, I had to shake him up a bit to get him on the boat again. Last time we went he caught jetty trout and a big 21 pound Spring time Red, some more Reds and some monster spawning Sheepshead.

When I say, "LETS GO!!" He should really know after today's action.

I DON'T KID AROUND. I mean, "Let's go!"

Look at that fattie he caught. Not a long fish, but a girthy fish. The sun wasn't even fully up and shining yet.

If you are a reports blog reader, you need to go to my home page, click on the rates page, and go through the simple "sign up" procedure. That way you go into my special data base.
Heck, it could mean discounted charters, free stuff, tackle sales, and just plain members only info.


The Trout were chewing on Don's shrimp as well as really good sized Croakers from 12 to 14 inches. Yes, I mean super keepers for N.E. Florida standards. I only keep them if they are 12" or more. As a matter of fact, I just got done eating a fried Croaker dinner and they were yummy.

Think of the large ones as small Redfish that you'll never be able to keep. So it's kinda like Redfish revenge to me. Even thought it's revenge through relatives. Big Croakers are fun. Pull drag, and bite so damn hard. They are always more fun on a float-rig up in structure, as is most fish, in my opinion. But then again, I'm biased! Because there isn't much that swims the lower St. Johns River, that I haven't caught on my trusty Float-rig.

And now Don is building his resume, too.


Not counting only one Ladyfish all day long. Don caught Trout to 5 pounds, Croakers, Mangrove snappers, and a Sheepshead on his float rig today.

A good angler already, and a joy to fish with and have aboard. All I had to do is just point the way for Don, and then he took over.

This is what a true "guided" charter is supposed to be like, as was Wednesdays charter Paul M.

I don't mind larger groups, but it's really great being able to spend the time to really go over a situation, a presentation, or a trick. And someone can go away with that info, knowing it was thoroughly explained and covered by doing it.


Here's the Sheepshead Don caught right as the current died
and I was saying, "let's move....", right then, he hooked up!




The Croaks were some serious just plain fun fishing as always. And we never really had to weed through the small ones, because we caught them as we caught limits of Trout. And even released over sized Trout. We had our two over twenty inches!

I think I counted about 18 Croakers that we kept.

And Don said I could have them, so that was no problem with me, as I love them. If they are worth filleting of course.




















I got to help out a little bit, and boxed me a few fat Specks.






Been using low profile Shimano high speed reels.
They're light and powerful, and are really working out. Matched to G. Loomis "Bucara" series rods you'll only be using quality tackle on my boat.

No K-mart blue light specials, here.
Lucky for you, I have a high taste when it comes to my tackle. Even if you don't know anything about the difference between a blue light special rod, and a G. Loomis. Believe me, it's the same reason that a Master Auto Mechanic doesn't use K-mart tools to fix your car. I'm your fishing mechanic!


















Here's the box getting crowded.












It was a great day! (as far as weekends go)
Turned out, we certainly were not alone.




Thanks Don.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

9/6 - SAVE ON SNAPPER SAVERS

Have you visted my links on the side bar of this Blog, yet?

If so you've probably clicked on a revolutionary new product called the Snapper Saver.

The Snapper Saver, isn't just for Snapper Fisherman. Heck, I have one and love it!

It comes in handy for de-hooking Croakers, and at the same time, "venting" a big fat Redfish if need be.

http://www.snappersaver.com/products.html - Here's the products

Check out the how-to video:




The cone shaped end of the Snapper Saver handle has the "perfect angle", while depressing the buttom for the retracted venting needle to protrude, and into the air bladder of the fish. Then the dehooker, flips the fish off the hook. EZ2CY, the Snapper Saver is a very innovative product.



CONTACT ME, IF YOU'D LIKE A COUPON FOR 10% OFF YOUR PURCHASE OF ANY VARIOUS COLORED SNAPPER SAVER. I HAVE COUPONS, WITH A CODE THAT INSTANTLY SAVES YOU $$, ON YOUR PURCHASE,



And remember, this isn't just for Snapper. It works on any fish you want to de-hook, and the handy venting tool is there for when you need it.


Contact me, at charter@captdaves.com or 904-642-9546 for your 10% off coupon today!

Friday, September 5, 2008

9/6 - 9/7, This weekend

Attention:

Single passenger pricing that's usually done on weekdays, only.















Target: Blackening sized T-Routz!

















Call for rates, quick (904) 642-9546
















Float rig fishing, for T-rex sized Troutz.


















Call now, for reservation.














Let's go hunt down them speckley bastards.
GREAT TIDES, mean a Happy Cappy Dave.





One or more anglers? Refer to my Rates Page.
Learn from the Float-Freak, how & when.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

9/3 - Two Guys, Mania.....!

Okay, I read the weather report as I always do the day before (Tuesday). And it read windy!
All week the report was labeled, "SCA" - small craft advisory!
East-Noreast winds. Incoming tide. Usually K.O.D. - "kiss of death", is what I think most of the time.
Well, first thing this morning this is what I saw as I waited at the dock for 7am to arrive.


"red sky in the morning, mariners take warning"
Yeah, I go by all those ole saying. Because too many times they are true. If that sky isn't red, it's at least beautifully PINK.

So just before 7am Paul M. came walking down the dock, my solo angler for the day.

We talked yesterday about the weather report and I said, if nothing else, we'll try it and see.

So off we went left out the boat ramp rather than turning right. Which was a good decision on my part. I was the only Truck and trailer at the whole boat ramp this morning. So I just had to wonder....

We eased along shooting the bull, as I looked around a bit. "Getting the feel of the morning at sunrise." It wasn't windy, and was so damn nice.

I picked a spot to start off that had good current.......hopefully Trout current. And as I showed Paul all about the "float-rig", I caught the first fish of the day. That's funny, I usually do a quick show and tell WITHOUT bait on the hook. Just so I don't catch a fish! But on a bare hook I caught a nice fat Croaker.......on a bare hook!! That's not my first time catching a fish on a bare hook. But usually it's a 'snapper' Bluefish, they bite anything.

Well, as it turned out, that was a good omen. Because we caught fish after fish on this spot to include more Croakers, Ladyfish and some beautiful Speckled Trout. Even a 25", 5 pound GATOR.

Oh, we were on the right track. What a difference a few days can make.

Fish were flying over the gunnel and beautiful "local" live shrimp were getting eaten.

It was a great time, and we were 30 minutes into the fishing.

The tide slowed, so we moved on to catch more trout as I do when the tide shifts.

Next spot, a mere 500 yards away. And the action was steady there too, with a few more trout and keeper and non keeper Mangrove Snappers.

Okay, a few more Trout in the fish box and a few Mangroves.

Time to make a move again.

Well, I think Paul had the most fun here. It was fish, bite, fish, fish, lost shrimp, bite, bite, Croakers and Trout. Fast and furious action.

Now mind you, we were fishing in damn near fresh water. I tested the waters with my hydrometer, as we went along. The scale goes from 0-40 part per thousand of salt water. Zero meaning no salt water, and 40 hyper saline water. At the boat ramp in Mayport this morning the river water was a 6 PPT - parts per thousand. And it was damn near that low where ever we went. The Ocean is usually 36-38 PPT. So as you can see, 6 PPT is low to no saltwater. At least on the surface, where I can get a sample.

But a 6 PPT isn't a bad thing. I've had some of my best Trout days in the river when it was a 6 PPT day in the river. Tropical Storm Fay's effect will be long lasting. The river's high, and very fresh. It's a great thing. The boat and tackle isn't even salty after a days fishing, another neat thing.

After a while of constant bites and fish, we were quickly out of 9 dozen shrimp.

After 12 Trout, too many to count Croakers, a few Mangrove Snappers and Ladyfish. The box was looking good, so heading back wasn't all that bad.

It was a great day. And by the way, the wind never really blew all that hard, certainly not what I'd consider Small Craft Advisories. The sky was blue, and it was never all that hot.

Oh, I can't wait till those cool fall mornings that can't be here soon enough for me.

Because that sweat shirt in the morning, and the bailing of fat Speckled Trout is what I live for......we're on our way.

And not to leave out, Giant Redbass too. Let's go get us some!
Check out http://www.captdaves.com/
for all my charter info, pricing schedule, policies, and frequently asked questions page.

Monday, September 1, 2008

End of August...

End of August...(30th & 31st)

Here's what the last two days were.

Windy, over-cast and not a whole lot of catching.

Yeah, we caught fish. But I wanteds Trout, Sheepshead, Reds and/or Black Drum.
Instead we had small Trout, Ladyfish, Jacks, Croakers, small Yellowmouth's, SailCats, one Black Margate, a Lookdown, a few toads, and blennies.

EAST WINDS, and incoming tides all day I refer to as K.O.D. - kiss O' death.

In the last two days, I figured out that all that rain fall we had from T.S. Fay, has meant nothing. I got all excited over nothing. Again, bazzaro world throws me another........."fake out".

I've checked the salinity of the water and from Mayport to Arlington there's not much salt water, in the river, at least on top of the water. Even on a strong Flood tide.

So where are all the fish? Why was there a huge rush toward the inlet a few years ago when we had the same kind of rain fall amounts, in a short duration? And then not now....it's good Ole
J-ville. Remain rigidily flexible, ya never know what the hell's going on.

Croakers!! Wanna go Croaker fishing? That's no problem. Do I want to Croaker fish for 6 hrs.?
NO. I'm not cleaning all those 12 inch fish.

I fished hard the last two days in August, and then have charters booked for this week, too.
And what do ya know, luck gives me a storm in the Atlantic heading this way, Tropical Storm Hanna that might go Hurricane and hit close to Jacksonville. And if not, the EAST/N.E. winds will be up and howling anyhow.

Can't really give much of a report, because I don't have a clue of whats going on either.
All I know is Croakers are everywhere!

Croaker, Croakers, Croakers.

------------------------------------

On another note for ya'll BARGAIN HUNTERS.

I have (4) Abu Garcia 6500 Chrome Rockets for sale.


Time to turn over. Very good
condition for used 2 year old reels.
Level-wind reels, best Salt-Water Garcia reel made.
Chrome over all BRASS construction.
Some of them are tweeked with better bearings, and a Stainless Steel spool clutch rather than weaker brass.
I did the improvements, myself.

$90.00 EACH or $340 for all (4)

Still have a Shimano CORVALUS - 400 for sale - in box brand new $45.00














10' Bait Buster POGIE cast net - reduced! $70.00














2- Shakespere 8' VHF antenna's....both $45 each

A WHOLE GIANT BOX O' LEADHEAD JIGS!!!!!!! -
think ahead, you'll like them if it was December,
for sheepshead at Jetties, $40.00 Lead heads for
Grub tails, ball heads, slider heads, 1/8 th oz. ball heads,
Buck-tails, assorted sizes of Gotcha plugs.

*******SOLD******SOLD******SOLD********















Visa/MC/Amex/Discover / Google Check out, cash or Paypal
Contact me at: 904-642-9546 or e-mail at: charter@captdaves.com