4/7 - whoopin them, with our Ugly Stiks

Had everything that could go wrong, actually go wrong, with a booked charter for today.  (instead we're heading out Friday, now)
So Doc Miller and I headed out. And like I told him, "It's all about T-ROUTZ! Don't  care about anything else!"

Doc is heading back to the mountains later this week. So my "fellow trout fishing float freak" won't be around, till next fall again. So he needed a last hurrah. Head out with a B-A-N-G.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE DID.

We tossed our float-rigs up to the rocks with live shrimp pinned on the hooks and for the next hour and a half it was nothing but Shooting Trout in a Rain Barrel!! 






















We boxed our limit in what seemed like minutes, tossed a good handful back that were not making the grade, and just kept on going till  we had our fill, and the bite slowed down. It was one of those EPIC mornings. Not a soul around, no wind at all, a bit cool, and the water was like swimming pool. We could actually see the Trout in the water a boat length away.






















OH.....then there was those damn Brutus T. Redbass. That got in the way. Yep... See, to a die hard Trout angler, Redbass put up too much of a fight. That 10 minutes that you take messing around with a 30 plus inch Red, you could in all reality put 3 more Trout in the boat. "If ya get bit." And even though we had our limit plus all we wanted after that. Trout is what we live for. Not Reds. Heck, I watch Louisiana Sportsman TV, and the guides over there say the exact same thing when they hang a monster mauler on super light tackle. WHY? Because down deep, they're Trout anglers, too.


















But, actually. Today was the first time I've had multiples of "keeper" slot sized Redfish, also. We got our limit of two Reds easily. In between the 10-15 other ones, from 16" to 32". The keepers were my kind of Reds too. Perfect, 20 something inchers. Good eater types.

Then, as out of no where we had 5 boats near us. But by then, we were about done on this spot. So we made a move. Doc caught a Sheepshead on the ole Float-rig. But really at this point in the tide we could have gone home. But, like a crazed fish nut that I am, I talked him into hitting a big time Redbass hole......"Jus for the fun of it." Since the Trout bite was over. Why not take advantage of more line rippers????












So we picked up anchor for only the second time all day and made the move. And I was dead on, right. MO'  REDS!  And toss in a Ring-tailed Porgie for good luck and some large for around here, this early in the spring, Bluefish. Yeah, the bluefish are real "rip yer shorts, and steal yer hook size."  I'd just as soon catch a Jack......or a cold. But heck, they're out there so we  better get used to their mass invasion.


















It was one hell of a great day to send Doc back to the mountains with.  And till next fall he'll have to live vicariously through these blog posts, if he wants to see what the trout are doing.





























































We came back to the dock, and did a VIDEO on cleaning the fish with my new HAVALON knife. The one I've been raving about.
Well let me tell you..."Do you think a fillet knife can change your life, as a fisherman?"

THIS ONE CAN, AND WILL!!


http://www.havalon.com/


It can change the way you clean fish 100%. It can change your life, really fast if you slip and cut your hand off too! It's deadly sharp. Hell, this is a knife that has S.S. surgical razor sharp replaceable blades!!  As I used it, we videoed my very first time. And I hope it comes out okay and you can see how good this thing works.

So, stay tuned for the video coming soon.

I've reccomended rods, reels, boats, line, all before. But at the same time people get what they get and use what they use. But this Havalon Fillet knife will be like gold to me in my charter business, now. It changes the way I feel about fish cleaning. I'm really amazed it took this long to come to market,  and for me to get one.

I love rough water........but!!

I love rough water, especially in my alloy plate boat. But believe I'd need a "Depends" undergarment, especially going BACKWARDS.

Yer, aluminum boat FYI, for the month:

LINE SALE: "FFO"

FISHERMANS FACTORY OUTLET - LINE SALE, TAKE OFF 25%

http://www.ffo-tackle.com/detail.cfm?PassProdId=4840

I JUST DID!! 

1100 YARDS OF 20# "SUPER BRAID LINE" FOR $54.00 AND NO HAVING TO SIT IN TRAFFIC!!

""""click here for promo""""

BARACUTA KNIFE

Got my Havalon "surgical blade" fillet knife today. It's wickedly sharp!!!!  Allot sharper than any fillet knife I have ever seen. It feels good in the hand, "super light weight" with a really nice grip.

As soon as I can, I'll be doing a fish filleting review via VIDEO.

Is this a JETTY wolf??

I'll also be bringing it with me to Gander Mountain for show and tell on April 16th, during their Parking Lot Event.

Although, they don't sell them. I believe I can sneak it in to my seminar, about Float-rig fishing.

I hope this is the end of my constant knife sharpening chores. But then again, if all I ever had to clean was big fat Speckled Trout, I'm sure my knives wouldn't be constantly needing sharpening.

But those dang Sheepshead scales and bones are fine bladed fillet knife blade ruiners.

Now, if my blade gets dull, just switch it out to a brand new surgically sharpened blade! And proceed...

Blade changing: http://www.havalon.com/howtoreblvi.html



SAME DEAL FOR FILLET KNIVES:

4/4 - The Tanner boys

I cannot believe what I just did.

I went to load up todays photos of Greg, and his two son's Duncan and Will's catches from today and hit the wrong button and erased the pictures. And of course I can't find a single way to get them back!!

Where do they go, is the big question.
The camera software doesn't have a recycle bin. It has a "restore data base" but it doesn't seem to work.

Duncan is 6, I believe and Will is 9.....don't quote me on that.  I've been taking these guys fishing normally in July for years. But this time the Tanner boys are on Amelia Island for "spring break".

Here's Will from when he was just a "little kid" with a gator Trout from years ago. He's 3 years older now.  























We headed to the jetties, the tide was rising and not much was going on besides a few Seabass and Bluefish. But as the tide started to fall, came two Sheepshead. And I threw a float rig  up into the jetties and the floatwent down. I handed it to Greg and he reeled up a GATOR TROUT.

Oh it was sweet!
A nice 5 pounder.
That's the photo I didn't want to loose. The guys with a big honking Speckled Trout.

With the south wind howling and then the tide falling, it was gonna get nothing but nastier out there. Will wasn't feeling all that good. So we called it a 1/2 day and I cleaned up just 3 fish and it made for a nice bag of fillets.....especially Trout fillets!!!!!

Oh well, this was a first to loose photos like this. IT WILL BE THE LAST.

I'm gonna call Greg and see if he can send me his copies. Heck, I gotta have a completed report....it's a routine. I can't break my routine!



GOT THEM:

Okay, I got the pics!

BIG TROUT!
(needed a close up...)



















More Sheeps.

I got Duncan to hold his Sheeps like an ole Pro. "the eye socket method"


WOW...glad we went yesterday (4/4) The big weather came thru here this morning with some severe winds. The jetties must have got pretty nasty after we left. Because the boats we saw out there were all in the river after I dropped off the Tanner boys at Sisters Creek boat ramp. 

Today's forecast - 4/5:

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR WINDS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON...TORNADO WATCH 102 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EDT THIS MORNING

SOUTH WINDS 20 TO 25 KNOTS BECOMING NORTHWEST 20 TO 25 KNOTS IN THE LATE MORNING AND AFTERNOON. SEAS 3 TO 5 FEET. INLAND WATERS ROUGH. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE MORNING...THEN SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AFTERNOON.

Navy Base.....B.S.

Jacksonville's very own "black eye."

I see NO SIGNS.....do you?

-Blount Island - miles of shoreline
-Mayport -Miles of shoreline

Taking food, straight out of my mouth.




d. Unfunded Mandates Act. This regulation does not impose an enforceable duty among the private sector and, therefore, is not a Federal private sector mandate and is not subject to the requirements of Section 202 or 205 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (Pub. L. 104-4, 109 Stat. 48, 2 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.). We have also found under Section 203 of the Act that small governments will not be significantly or uniquely affected by this rule. What does this mean....any Lawyers out there?



List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 334

Danger zones, Navigation (water), Restricted areas, Waterways.Show citation box

For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Corps amends 33 CFR part 334 as follows:

PART 334—DANGER ZONE AND RESTRICTED AREA REGULATIONS

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1. The authority citation for part 334 continues to read as follows:

Authority:

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40 Stat. 266 (33 U.S.C. 1) and 40 Stat. 892 (33 U.S.C. 3).Show citation box

2. Revise § 334.500 to read as follows:

§ 334.500 St. Johns River, Atlantic Ocean, Sherman Creek; restricted areas and danger zone, Naval Station Mayport, Florida.


(a) The areas. (1) The St. Johns River restricted area and the Atlantic Ocean restricted area described in paragraphs (a)(2) and (a)(3) of this section, respectively, are contiguous but each area is described separately for clarification. Show citation box

(2) St. Johns River restricted area. This restricted area shall encompass all navigable waters of the United States, as defined at 33 CFR 329, within the area bounded by a line connecting the following coordinates: Commencing from the shoreline at latitude30°23′52.97″ N, longitude 081°25′36.51″ W; thence to latitude 30°23′56.71″ N, longitude 081°25′36.51″ W; then the line meanders irregularly, follow the shoreline at a distance of 380 feet seaward from the mean high water line to a point at latitude 30°23′54.20″ N, longitude 081°24′14.11″ W, thence proceed directly to latitude 30°23′46.33″ N, longitude 081°24′03.73″ W, then the line meanders irregularly, follow the shoreline at a distance of 380 feet seaward from the mean high water line to a point at latitude 30°23′53.08″ N, longitude 081°23′34.00″ W, thence follow the arc of a circle with a radius of 466 feet, centered at latitude 30°23′48.52″ N, longitude 081°23′33.30″ W, to a point on the jetty at latitude 30°23′50.06″ N, longitude 081°23′28.26″ W.Show citation box

(3) Atlantic Ocean restricted area. From the last point identified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, latitude 30°23′50.06″ N, longitude 081°23′28.26″ W, proceed to a point at latitude 30°23′49.12″ N, longitude 81°23′28.10″ W, then the line meanders irregularly, follow the shoreline at a distance of 380 feet seaward from the mean high water line to a point at latitude 30°22′54.37″ N, longitude 081°23′44.09″ W, thence proceed directly to shore to terminate at latitude 30°22′54.46″ N, longitude 081°23′48.44″ W.Show citation box

(4) Sherman Creek restricted area. This restricted area shall encompass all navigable waters of the United States, as defined at 33 CFR part 329, to include Sherman Creek, its tributaries and associated tidal marshes located within the NAVSTA Mayport area boundaries described in this section. The restricted area is completely encircled by roadways and is bordered on the south by Wonderwood Expressway, on the west by SR A1A, on the north by Perimeter Road, and on the east by Mayport Road.Show citation box

(5) Danger zone. The danger zone shall encompass all navigable waters of the United States, as defined at 33 CFR part 329, within the area bounded by a line connecting the following coordinates: Commencing from the shoreline at latitude 30°24′00.31″ N, longitude 081°25′06.02″ W; thence to latitude 30°24′11.16″ N, longitude 081°25′03.90″ W; thence to latitude 30°24′00.62″ N, longitude 081°24′10.13″ W; thence to a point on the shoreline riprap at latitude 30°23′41.26″ N, longitude 081°24′08.82″ W.Show citation box

(b) The regulations—(1) St. Johns River restricted area. All persons, vessels, or other craft are prohibited from entering, transiting, drifting, dredging, or anchoring within the area described in paragraph (a)(2) of this section without the permission of the Commanding Officer, NAVSTA Mayport or his/her authorized representative. This restriction will be in place 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Warning signs notifying individuals of the restricted area boundary and prohibiting entry into the area will be posted at 500-foot intervals along the property boundary.Show citation box

(2) Atlantic Ocean restricted area. All persons, vessels, or other craft are prohibited from entering, transiting, drifting, dredging, or anchoring within the area described in paragraph (a)(3) of this section without the permission of the Commanding Officer, NAVSTA Mayport or his/her authorized representative. This restriction will be in place 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Warning signs notifying individuals of the restricted area boundary and prohibiting entry into the area will be posted at 500-foot intervals along the property boundary.


(3) Sherman Creek restricted area. All persons, vessels, or other craft are prohibited from entering, transiting, drifting, dredging, or anchoring within the area described in paragraph (a)(4) of this section without the permission of the Commanding Officer, NAVSTA Mayport or his/her authorized representative. This restriction will be in place 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Warning signs notifying individuals of the restricted area boundary and prohibiting entry into the area will be posted at 500-foot intervals along the property boundary where practicable (e.g., not in the wetlands). In addition, a floating Small Craft Intrusion Barrier will be placed across Sherman Creek just east of the A1A bridge and another will be placed across tributaries to Sherman Creek just north of the Wonderwood Expressway.Show citation box

(4) Danger zone. During periods of munitions movement at wharves Bravo and Charlie, no person or vessel shall be allowed to remain within the 1,250-foot Explosive Safety Quantity-Distance arcs generated by the activity. NAVSTA Mayport will not announce or publish notification prior to enforcing this regulation due to the unacceptable security threat posed by advance public notice of military munitions movements.Show citation box

(c) Enforcement. The regulations in this section shall be enforced by the Commanding Officer, NAVSTA Mayport and/or such persons or agencies as he/she may designate. Military vessels will patrol the areas identified in this section 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Any person or vessel encroaching within the areas identified in this section will be asked to immediately leave the area. Failure to do so will result in the forceful removal of the person or vessel from the area in question.Show citation box

Dated: April 7, 2010.
Approved.
Michael G. Ensch,
Chief, Operations, Directorate of Civil Works.

4/2 - Parking Lot Event??

Whewwwww....was the jetties a parking lot today. We had boats pull up along side us and anchor, boats pull up right behind us where we were tossing out behind the boat, boats parked in front of us. And this was only when we were bottom fishing along the north Jetty.

Oh, that's why I love my "float-rig" fishing so much. Most of the time we can be tucked away and fishing on our own piece of water. And that's how we started the day. Float-rig fishing.  But that sure was slow.....

I had Ryan and Mike aboard, and they were drifting float rigs out with the current behind the boat to a point of rocks. Nothing was happening. I knew fish were back there. And as I told the guys on the way out this morning, "I am your ringer...." So I picked up my rod and made a few drifts. A Redfish, a Trout, and a Sheepshead later. It was real evident fish were back there.  Sometimes it be that way. But it's understandable. The fish weren't carpeting the bottom by now means, weren't suicidal either. And if it's all new to you, it can take awhile to get into the groove. I don't expect everyone to be an expert at what we're doing. But I will show you that fish are there.

I believe Ryan caught a few "shorts" that didn't measure 15". And then we made a move. Mike still had to connect. And at the next drop of the anchor he did. And it was a real nice fattie.

I told Mike I chopped the top of his head off taking the photo, so I took another just to get a better shot.

It didn't take long, for the current to die on the spot, with the west wind pushing. So we stayed at it a while longer, without another keeper. Only "shorts".  Damn, one thing is for sure. In consistency sure is running rampid, out there. Things change over night at the jetties.

Just like the arrival of the scourgy Bluefish.One day there isn't a one. Then the next day, they're everywhere. Up in the rocks we never had a Bluefish bite. But as the boat swung out deep, I could literally see huge clouds of Bluefish schools on my sounder in 20 feet. Make a cast with the float rig out to them,  and yep. It's a confirmed Bluefish school......the float disapears, and ya' got one hooked up, instantly!

As the tide started to fall we made our way  inside the rocks. Time to bottom fish. And as it turned out, time for some I.G. - instantaneous gratification. Ryan drops a dead shrimp down, and gets instantly hooked up on a whopper Red.

 
We had a few mess ups and tangles, and had a double header of Reds too. And the second one fell out of the net, as I dipped up Mike's Red, right as the tide was perfect.

We boxed a Whiting and a Black Drum, but the boats surrounding us  had it where I certainly couldn't get any wiggle room. We were limited to where we could even cast, everyone was so damn close. Weekends are such a "me, me, me" time out there. That not many people have any shame. They have to park  on top of you. And at the same time, we sat in a non-vortex of current. Which is a fancy way of saying the opposite of what I really wanted. But I wasn't about to move. With so many other boats thinking this is the only spot to fish.

We saw a boat behind us a good ways haul in a giant Black Drum......probably 50 pounds(?) I'm still waiting for one. They sure ain't thick like they used to be years ago. When were ever you looked, someone was hooked up to one. It's definately their time of year.

Mike was ready to go, so pulled my anchor thru the maze of boats and we headed back to "make the donuts".
Here's the keepers we had. Actually a perfect amount for a decent fish fry for Ryan and Mike.

Turned out to be a really nice day on the water.
COOL and almost a bit too cool for me this morning. Ryan and Mike were two really good guys, we all had fun.

So, next up is Monday with the Tanner clan, Greg, Duncan and Wesley. Usually my 4th of July week folks. But, they're trying it during spring break this year too. (It's at least cooler than during July!)  Hope the winds stay low and Monday should be back to work for everyone else. So less boats, and more wiggle room.