4/15 - TAX DAY

Had Tom & Larry D. aboard the Jettywolf today...and going in I knew from the forecast that it was gonna be a challenge. SE-15 knots against a building Full Moon falling tide. Makes the Mayport jetties angry, with the wind bucking the strong current. In turn, the seas build and make for a roller coaster day. So I briefed the guys the night before on the phone.

But as we deaprted at 8am, we would still have an hour or so of rising tide. So I taught the guys how to Float-rig fish, and how to lob with a baitcasting reel. As I told them, I wish a "spinner reel" was never invented because that handicap of a reel is not what I use, and not proper for any type of Fishing, I do.  So with wind and no curren,t we had to pitch to the rocks.

Again, no Trout or Yellowmouths, where I've been catching them each April for the last twenty years!!!! And I'm getting really tired of the inconsistency. We burned bait like match sticks, and then Tom hooks the years FIRST Jack Crevalle. I swore it was a Pompano when I saw it in the water. Yeah....this same spot "used to" produce Pompano too, every single APRIL.


Area's to fish close to the dock are getting scarce since along the Navy Base for a mile or more is off limits. You can count on NO LONG BOAT RIDES, when with me. Because I like lines in the water.

I seen big Spanish Macs along the rocks on Wedsnesday, and now we catch a Jack. In my mind, spring is over and summer is here. We caught nothing else on the float-rigs, so we moved on.

Next we anchored up to bottom fish. The rolling seas were pushing the boat ahead on the anchor. But we were okay and staying anchored, because of my 25 pound grapnel and 12 feet of heavy chain. 99% of the boats I see at the jetties are ill equiped when it comes to their anchor and chain. When I wanna stick like glue, I drop over the "man-maker anchor". Because just lifting it in the boat isn't for boys.

We came there for large Redbass, and that's what we got!  A DOUBLE-HEADER!  For the lingo impaired, that means two on at once.

All the while in the rolling seas we get waked by the every faithful Navy Ship and Sea Tractor tug boat barreling out the jetties. The wake hit us at over the height of my boats bow. Tom got his fish to the boat first. My anchor was yanked from the bottom, and we were heading straight into the rocks "thank you again, USN". I started the engine and as Larry was way over worked by his fish, I swung out and let the anchor grab the bottom again.




Larry was really struggling with his fish. The way the rod was bowed and the drag zipping out. I thought he caught a 50 pound Black Drum. But as the fish came close to the surface it was spinning. It was a Redbass, not a Black Drum. The Red was foul hooked. For the lingo impaired, that means the fish isn't hooked in the mouth.

The Redbass was hooked in the gill plate!

Larry was whopped. And this was the largest fish he's ever caught. Tom's Red was 28-1/2" and Larry's was 33 inches.

All this was going on as I was multi-tasking my ass off. Keeping the boat in position, after getting slammed by huge wakes, working the boat,  netting fish, and taking pictures. All I needed was the phone to ring.

The seas got where it was really not the place to continue to fish, so we moved inshore of the jetty tip. But caught Zip. So back out we went, and headed over to the south Jetty. It was calmer. We anchored up on the Sea Bass hole for hell. One after another as fast as you could sit a bait on the bottom. Some were 12" and I was wondering, "am I allowed to keep Seabass inshore in state waters??"
Because at this time we hadn't' put a fish in the fish box, yet.
Then came a Sheepshead, but the spot was incessant Seabass.....so again,  we moved on.

The next spot was basically currentless, and only a Whiting came over the side of the boat. So we packed it in, after fishing MORE than just the day's tide.

Either way, it wasn't easy fishing today. But these two guys sure learned allot. And never got sea sick either. Which was really good.

No Fishing for me Saturday......yet another day not worth being out there at the jetties, besides a tournament going on:

SMALL CRAFT EXERCISE CAUTION

SATURDAY - SOUTHWEST WINDS 15 TO 20 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 4 FEET. INLAND WATERS CHOPPY. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE MORNING...THEN ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE
AFTERNOON.

4/13 - Catching a "fish fry".

I changed the spark plugs in the Honda, changed the lower unit lube, raised my fish cleaning table on the boat. And the forecast was for a perfect day. So I went out "solo" for some messing around.

First thing. I went down the beach a little bit, and saw Pogie schools. This wasn't the first time this year. I saw them a few weeks ago just south of the south jetty. With birds diving on them...."but I was on a Trout hunt." So I didn't care.

Today, they were from the Navy base beach half way down Hanna park, muddin' up the bottom real good. So it was a "no brainer" spotting them in the 12-15 feet of water.

About ten days ago I got on the big Whiting really good on a falling tide in between the jetties. Myself and the Gross Crew caught 20 really fast. But before I tried that I wanted the tide to slow down  a bit first. So I tried some drifts off the beach. The Whiting were all small and really hard to hook for some reason compared to inside the jetties where they'll inhale a bait. So after about an hour of releasing most of them I hit the rocks.

On the way back to the jetties, I ran over my first Tripletail floating along in a jellyball line up. The "TT" dove to the bottom as I approached of course, not to be found again.

Back at the jetties, the current out in 45 feet was screaming. Along the rocks, boats were butt deep in over sized Redbass. I certainly wasn't into catching them. But I did manage a dozen Whiting and a "pup" Black Drum, for the fish box. Before the tide went slack and started to turn.

I later float-rig fished for 6 Trout, with only two keepers to 17" on a spot that was so hard to get properly anchored on, because  the breeze switched out of the ESE. I also caught three Redbass. Boxing a 26"one and letting go a 21" and a 23".












The bluefish on one spot were so bad that they ate the damn sinker off my float-rig. And as I was reeling my float back to the boat it was attacked by a monster Spanish Mackerel.

Damn, each year is so different. Right now, ought to be Yellowmouth Trout heaven, along with monster Specks at the jetties stacked up. But they certainly cannot compete with all the "TEETH"  out there. Personally, I always hope for a spring that's bluefish free. But I guess I'll have to move to La. to get that. There's also allot of those nasty looking "clear-nosed" spiney backed Rays on the bottom. And flocks of those bat or cow-nosed rays swinging down the rocks.

This area always has an abundance of junkfish, from pinners inshore to rays at the jetties. If we had as many "game fish" we'd really be doing something!! Allot of MY time and effort is put in just fishing the right tide, and attempting to avoid all the junkers. To get at the game species, or other "eater species" at least.

I might have to explore the river for my trout friends, already. Usually, I don't have to do that till at least May.
Here's a short video, to include a endangered Wood Stork at the dock, that had a Rapala top water plug hanging from it's neck and bill. And during my fish cleaning process, it took over the dock. I watched this bird kick the crap out of two Pelicans, and I mean it sent those Pelicans away "HURTING".

Never knew the Wood Stork to be so aggresive and MEAN! Hell, I try evenly distribute  my fish scrapes , as I give back after a days fishing. But this bird didn't want no parts of "sharing with fellow dock buzzards".

Next up for me, is Friday:

FRIDAY:  SOUTHEAST WINDS 15 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 4 FEET. INLAND WATERS A MODERATE CHOP. ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AFTERNOON.

Unfortunately, that SE breeze maybe about 10 knots TOO strong, out of that direction. For my liking, we'll have to see.

NO, I'm not fishing the Redfish Spots tournament (too many people, for me)  I'll be at Gander Mountain at 10am for their parking lot even, doing a seminar on "float-rig, how-to."



FYI to local N.E. Florida fisherman:

FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION PUTS REDFISH BAG LIMIT RULE ON HOLD TO OBTAIN UPDATED STOCK ASSESSMENT. FINAL ACTION WILL BE TAKEN IN NOVEMBER


The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) placed the proposed redfish rule amendments on hold until their November Commission meeting. CCA Florida is opposed to the increase in bag limit and urged the FWC to wait until they received the most updated assessment on redfish which is due later this year.

“Florida’s redfish fishery is so valuable and important that a few more months to insure that the data and assumptions are correct and understood is certainly warranted,” said Ted Forsgren, CCA Florida Executive Director. “We greatly appreciated the Commission’s decision to get the most updated info before taking final action,” said Don Roberts, CCA Florida Chairman.

FWC Commissioners Ken Wright, Dick Corbett and Ron Bergeron led the move to defer to get the latest assessment. Commissioners Brian Yablonski and Kathy Barco were satisfied with the existing data and wanted the vote to be taken then. Chairman Rodney Barreto forged a compromise motion that holds the proposed redfish rule in its current state until the November meeting. At that time the bag limit rule will be voted up or down. Additional hearings are not anticipated.

More than 25 years ago redfish stocks on both coasts were at dangerously low escapement levels. CCA Florida led the charge of conservation minded recreational anglers in the successful campaign for strict regulations on recreational fisherman and no commercial sale. The redfish “gamefish” rule was approved in 1988 and created significant increases in population abundance. “That was the beginning of the great redfish fishery that we now enjoy,” said Forsgren.

For more than 20 years, recreational anglers and statewide groups have monitored and protected the redfish stocks. CCA Florida and others have focused on creating a high quality fishery, one with high abundance and lots of fish to catch and release, and the opportunity to keep one to eat. The Commission has recognized that desire by setting the redfish management goal at 40 percent Escapement Rate, similar to the high protection goal set for snook.

The great success of the program has drawn much attention and greater fishing pressure on redfish. “The FWC’s own data shows that escapement rates have been steadily declining over the last 20 years,” said Forsgren. “At the same time fishing effort has steadily and dramatically increased. On the west coast annual directed trips for redfish have gone from just under a half million trips to two million trips and east coast has gone from a quarter million to two million trips annually.”

All of the major statewide recreational fishing groups are united in their support of the 40 percent goal and the desire to keep the current one fish bag limit. The groups include CCA Florida, Florida Guides Association, International Game Fish Association, Florida Wildlife Federation, Florida Chapter of the Federation of Fly Fishers and many local fishing clubs.

“We greatly appreciate the Commissioners decision to act positively on our request for a deferral,” said Don Roberts. “We thank them for the time they have spent to manage this great Florida gamefish”.

4/12 - Windy, Rainy day project

Here's what I want:

Here's what I had, (too low) of a fillet table.



















So...was gonna head out this morning and see if I could catch a box load of Whiting on the falling tide, and then some T-routz on the incoming tide. But it was way too windy (west 15 and gusty) then came the on and off rain. So I'll try again later.

I took what you see the bird standing on and raised it so I don't have to bend over, while cleaning fish. (All until I can get a "ALUMINUM" set up like the photo at the top) which belongs to my friend Peter in Melbourne, Austalia.

The Aussies have the coolest stuff. I'm getting closer though. I got my Chum Chopper like the Aussies have (aka down under: a Burly Bucket) And eventually I'll get a custom made aluminum (for J-ville, Florida that is....) Fillet table.
 

Before it becomes 95 degrees..."it's around the corner."

Before it becomes 95 degrees by 9am in the morning. I want to take just a minute to reminisce. It's never cold, if you dress properly.

I love it. Maybe because there's no one else around...