2/6 - WIND?.....Grossly Wicked

There's two wind directions I really dispise in this area. And that's due West and due East. Kick that up to a sustained 20-25 knots. And ya have yourself one wickedly heinous day, on the water.

Had my usual and leisurely breakfast at the RiteSpot with Dad this morning at 7:00am. Where we discussed our possible trip to Louisiana at the end of the month. I've been trying to make it there for about two years now. So we're thinking after Mardi Gras, and before the end of the month. Just a scouting trip, not a fishing trip. I want to go there many more times, too. So this maybe just the start, if I get there the first time.  Because I'm wanting to make a move there. At least seasonally, if nothing else. I have many contacts there. And everyone says, "C'mon on over Dave and see us."  But realistically, I can only do that during the dead-ness of February.

They catch truck loads of Trout there, all summer long. WITHOUT HAVING TO JUMP THROUGH HOOPS. Like I have too here. In the heat of the summer. Here, it's Oranges. And There it's Apples. There is no comparisons.

So after my breakfast with pops. I headed home. The gusts were bending the tops of the 70 foot tall Oak trees in my neighborhood. So I figured today was a real wash, as forecasted. A good time to check routes, and places we'd be heading too, via Google Maps.

Then the phone rang......

It was Jason S. and he wanted to take his young son Jase out for a little fishing. Jase was 7 years old. I told him "sure, but it's gonna be windy!"  Jason wanted to just try 3 hours, and a noon departure. I knew it was gusting bad. But until I got to the Mayport boat ramp. I didn't really know how bad. I told Jason, I wasn't doing anything on Sunday, if he wanted to try then, instead. But Sunday was out. So I backed the boat down the ramp, they hopped aboard and we headed down river. The ferry boat was still making its runs across the river so.....That reminded me of a motto I used to tell my buddy Capt Randall on days he said it was too windy to be out. "If the ferry stops crossing the river, I guess it's too windy for me to be out there fishing with customers."   It's not like you can give up any trips in this town, these days. Because of a little gale force gusting winds, huh? This is a new day and age we live in.

I tried to get a photo of the river here, as we came towards the "cauldron of hell" where the river and ICW cross. The spray was flyin' and the river was a 2' washboard, as I headed into it.

HIDING, was the name of the game no doubt about it! But where? The tide was attempting to rise against the 25 kt sustained west wind. This wasn't a "touring" trip. Jason said it had to be catch a fish trip.
No pressure there, huh?

First, second, and third spots I tried, my anchor wouldn't even hold the boat! I have an anchor on back-order, since my last big Danforth was "pretzel'ized" at the north jetty. So I don't even have any thing on board that'll hold us in this kind of wind. So my forth attempt was, beach the boat. And toss the anchor up in the marsh grass. So I pulled the bow up on a shell bank that dropped off, so the stern was still floating, and I threw the grapnel anchor up in the grass.

No fancy fishing here. Cast out two live shrimp on egg sinkers, stick'em in the rod holders and wait! That's all we could do.

Time passes

Time passes

Time passes

Holy crap, not even a bait stealer touching a shrimp back in a creek on a shell bottom? And ya' know how fast a 7 year old gets bored if nothing is going on? .......about 10 minutes!

That's why I like taking kids in the fall when there's lots of Croakers around. Except, there wasn't many Croakers this year, that's for sure. There's wasn't much of anything this year. And there wasn't a fish anywhere around us, on this spot either. Which is par for the course......I don't know why I'm ever surprised.

So we moved on. And now that the tide was pouring in, so I hit a spot that's strictly been a fast current incoming tide spot. Plus, it was out of the wind, and I could tie off to a piling. So we could actually stay put, for a while.

First bait out and it hits the bottom.......FISH ON!















Jase reels in a fish that he thought was too big for him. A "pup" Black Drum. It was funny because Jason asked what we might catch here. And I said pup Black Drum and pup Redfish. And then the other rod went off......

And what was next? A pup Redfish.
We fished for a little while longer till the current slacked off on the spot and so did the bites. So we headed back to the boat ramp. Through the "cauldron of hell" and when we got back my two crew members were soaking wet. The spray of water from the blowing wind was hitting the windshield, soaking all the rods and reels and both of them, too.

I was very surprised to see a "mosquito fleet" of 17' flats boats running up and down the ICW today. I guess, because it was "Saturday", people just go fishing anyhow.

The forecast for Sunday is so much better......"maybe"
SUNDAY - NORTH WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 4 FEET. INLAND WATERS
A MODERATE CHOP.

I may try some R&D on Monday myself.......because, "I CAN".
MONDAY- NORTHEAST WINDS 10 KNOTS. SEAS 3 TO 4 FEET. INLAND WATERS A LIGHT CHOP.


So, we made the day. But it was certainly a 3 hour challenge, for a 7 years olds fish.

2/3 - Brrrrrrr......not for all of us

I got a call on Tuesday night from Lima, Peru. It was Kirk M. a long time customer who's a Navy officer stationed there. The call wasn't all that surprising, because Kirk calls me from time to time on "SKYPE", and we talk for an hour at least, each time.

Kirk said, "you open, so we can go out on Wednesday afternoon?"  I was a bit surprised. Because I knew he was coming to J-ville for work business, but his day wasn't booked till the 13th. He then explained how he was packing and heading to Florida early, and that he could be at the Mayport boat ramp, by noon on Wednesday.

Reminiscent of James Bond, Kirk is a savvy traveller. And he's not a guy to mess around, or "himm 'n haww" about a charter. When he says, "I'll be there." YOU can count on it.  It doesn't matter how cold it is. How windy it is. The water could have ICE on it, and he's ready to go! And he has a HUGE tolerance to COLD.
Being a "native son" of those super tough folk from the great white north of....North Dakota. Kirk never seems to be dressed the same, as I am.

He ran across the Mayport Boat Ramp parking lot, from dashing in with his rental car, to the dock where I had the Jettywolf tied off ready to go. And I was in Grunden wind stopper fleece pants, long sleeve T-shirt, heavy sweatshirt with a hood, and my Grundens Fisherman's Jacket. Plus, I had my hood up and over my "hat" wearin' head.

Kirk had a light jacket on. No hood, no hat. Just his lowered Navy ears out there in the wind. I said, "Dang Kirk, I have a hooded sweatshirt in my truck, ya want to wear it so ya have a hood?"  "Naaww.... I'll be fine, let's go."  He said.

What do I always say?  "A sweatshirt is just a sweatshirt, but one with a HOOD is a friend!"

It was max high tide. The wind was blowing from the N.N.E.  I had one game plan. Fish the creeks.....or at least what I call, creek fishing. So we started in Hannah Mills area. But good gawd the tide was so high with no sign of it falling any time soon. So we left out of there and went back to the Sisters Creek Bridge. The current was rippin' there. So we eased up into East Hannah Mills, I guess folks call it. There we found current and as the tide fell we caught some Trout. Small ones. But we at least got bit.

(this report contains LINKS to products I used. You may just want to check them out.)

Kirk worked a float-rig and live shrimp. I worked a popping cork, with my hot new float/cork lure under it.

















I knew it was gonna be a tough afternoon. Being we had high water, N.E. winds, cold, and zero....nada.....no sun shine at all.  At least sun shine would have warmed our bones a bit and with it possibly sparked a decent bite of fish. But Kirk knows. He's a very experienced angler. He always says to me, "Dave I'm your easiest charter. No stress here."

So we just hopped from point to point up in the creeks. Finding areas where there was current running down the bank. Catching a few here and there. But I brought some ice. That meant a Sheepshead, Drum, or Redfish.....more like a little Redfish, is what I wanted to put in the box. (since Specks are closed now)

We always have a great time together, that's for sure. When I started in this business 14 years ago, Kirk is the kind of customer I always wanted to have aboard. Laughing and cutting up and yelling at the fish in the water, or bait stealers we couldn't even see. We just had plain "cold weather fishin" fun.

I was very surprised how well I did casting my "home made popping cork-clicker rig", with my hot lil' lure. If a Trout see's it, the fish is gonna eat it. Because every bite bite I had caught a Trout. There's no half hearted take down's of my cork. It's Pop-pop, fish on!! And I like that. In shallow water, 3-6 feet it's like fishing a lure, without all the casting. Because I still let it drift along with the current, and no re-baiting, and no pinner (pinfish) bites Interesting......huh? I also tossed a 3/8ths oz jig and a Bass Assassin "chicken on a chain" Sea Shad.

We worked our way out of the Sisters creek area and to the lil' Jetties. Fished around there, but the tide was still too high. Then, we ended up back into shallow water.......really shallow water! (for me, at least) We picked up a few more Trout and Kirk caught a nice one, that would have been in the box if we were able to keep Specks.

Does Kirk look cold? Well if the camera was turned around pointing at me you would have seen "hat plus hood, Dave". But as the day got closer to sun down, the wind faded off nicely to a mere puff. We fished awhile longer and moved about the area. Picked up another small Speck.

And even though Kirk and I have caught on a windy winter day as many as 16 Redfish from 16-28 inches on this exact same spot, back on Dec.23rd 2007 . Just goes to show ya how things change. Especially on a year when the water temp took such a dive, south. But heck, we caught fish. And as you can see in these photos it wasn't a Florida sunshine kinda day.

But, dang we had a good time. And no matter what, that's what it's all about. Especially, when your customer flies all the way from Lima, Peru to go fishing with you. (not really, but almost)

Saturday: 15-20 knots out of the Northwest

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY- 10 KNOTS OUT OF THE NORTHWEST.  It's gonna be way more fishable Sunday.....withless people around?

DO YOU HAVE?

IF SO, I'LL TAKE $50 OFF FOR A 1 PASSENGER, SUPER BOWL SUNDAY CHARTER, FOR UP TO 6 HRS.

Departure 8-8:30am

Jacksonville fishing - click for info.

2/2 - Same crap, just another State...a state with more Reds!!

Greedy...even though they have more Reds and easy angler limits, I still read stuff like this.

Oh, how I could run them dudes through Cappy Dave's Fishing Boot Camp! 


Three cited for Redfish violations.

From News Reports (La. Sportsman Magazine)



January 26, 2010

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agents cited three Baton Rouge men for allegedly taking over the limit and undersized red drum and angling without the proper licenses in Lafourche Parish on Jan. 12.

Thomas Marrero, 58, Louis Baker, 25, and Ron Carter, 34, were cited after agents found them in possession of 92 red drum while fishing near Highway 1 between Fourchon and Grand Isle.

(when is the last time you caught 92 Redfish here?)

All three subjects were also cited for angling without a basic fishing license and angling without a saltwater fishing license.

Out of the 92 fish, 72 were found to be under the legal size limit of 16 inches. All of the fish were seized and later donated to charity.

(16 INCHES?????????)

The penalty for the take or possession of undersized red drum is a fine up to $350 or jail time up to 60 days or both plus court costs. The take or possession of over the limit of red drum is punishable by a fine up to $350 or jail time up to 60 days or both plus court costs. The penalty for angling without a license includes a $50 fine or jail time up to 15 days or both.

($50 with out a License? Wow, that's cheap)

All three subjects also were issued civil restitution citations for the value of the illegally taken red drum and if found guilty could pay up to $1918.61 jointly.

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4 - 2 of 4 Comment(s)

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4 - What Morons!

What is it over there? Reds a piece?  (answer: Redfish regs for State of La. - 16 inches -5 per person per day. No upper size limit at all!)

Goes to show ya how moronic and greedy people are at heart.

Here in Fla. it's one!!!!!!!!!!!!!

18-27' ---WITH TAIL PINCHED!!

Of course we get alot of Morons here that keep more and get caught.

But C'mon. Another case of Louisianan's not appreciating what they have.

Come on over to Florida...'yeah I thought so'.

Throw them in jail, and a fine. $1981 jointly?

That's chump change. Pay with TIME.

posted by JettywolfReport Abuse February 02, 2010 at 03:56:10 PM
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3 much too easy

I mean heck, I would pay 500 for a good fishing trip like that, really no incentive not to do it again. you know if the risk doesnt outweigh the benefit then the act is likely to be repeated. this penalty is really a joke

posted by FF_T_WarrenReport Abuse January 26, 2010 at 09:12:29 PM
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2 BS

They should all serve jail time and be unable to obtain hunting or fishing license for at least 10 years or maybe even a lifetime ban. Make them all serve the max(135 days) time in jail and have them do community service in orange jump suits when the big Grand Isle tournaments are going on

posted by LanceReport Abuse January 26, 2010 at 06:20:32 PM

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