11/19 - DAY ONE, of two.....

Had Brian and Kelly M. aboard the Jettywolf this morning. As I will tomorrow for day two, of their visit. Well, weekends.....what can ya do. I went straight as fast as I could to where I wanted to fish, turned the corner. And bam...there was a boat sitting slap on the spot I usually fish.

Further investigation..."I know these two guys, and one even did a charter with me on a heinous windy day, and this is where we "had" to fish because it was out of the wind."

Just a few minutes earlier and we would have the spot.  But it really didn't matter. The Jettywolf is flexible. We sat just the other side of the creek and caught TROUT, like they were going outa style, boxing twelve, and tossing back several small ones. On float-rigs.  And even picked through a few Blues. And lost a bunch of fish that could have been Sheepshead bites. But Brian and Kelly were just getting used to what we were doing, so it was okay. They quickly figured the float-rig fishing out with my expert coaching.

At one point Kelly was catching nice fat Specks just a rod length off the side of the boat. The fish were thick. I liked that.

As the tide died, we only had a short period of falling tide this morning. We "all" picked up and headed else where. The fellas in the other boat left and so did we. I was gonna go to the jetties, but figured we can do that tomorrow. So we  went about 1200 yards away from spot one anchored up in shallow water and immediately Kelly had a fish on but it came off.   This spot I broke out the spinning gear and my home made, "mega-loud" Clicker Floats.  Fishing real shallow and letting the wind and the current drift the live shrimp around a tight cove and across the front of a small patch of oyster bed.

Again, it was Trout after Trout. REALLY nice fish.  Figure that, the Jettywolf fishing up in a creek!! And everyone was wacking them on almost every drift, on the spinning gear.

I came back here to spot #2, because I wanted them to catch Redbass. But the action was so good it almost didn't matter. A slight adjustment, and while studying the banks contour, I told Brian, get you float to drift that section of the bank. So he re-cast his Clicker Float, let it drift perfectly and I said "RIGHT THERE!". And like clock work, his float went down and he set the hook.

The drag was peeling on the light tackle and here comes the first keeper Redbass! 

Hmmmm, I haven't lost it completely!  I've spent my share of time shallow water fishing in all these creek on two of my "past" 'glass" inshore boats. Only difference now is if I pay a bit more attention, in my 26 footer now...."she floats WAY higher than any Glass boat of her size". Which is why I had her built, she does everything I ask of her.

Then it was Kelly's turn. She got to the right spot, the hooked herself a nice Redbass too!

A good portion of the rising tide was Red after Red, and Trout after Trout!  Kelly even had a whopper trout hooked up that came off the edge of a oyster bed, that she lost at the side of the boat, and that fish went at least 5 pounds!!!!

We finished up the day of this addictive fishing with no less than 30 Trout, boxed our 3 person limit easily. And at least 10 Redbass, keeping two for my mom.  Brain and Kelly weren't keeping fish, so I cleaned them all up and have many a debt to pay to my Momma. And fresh fillets usually helps pay it off.

It was a great day, not even a mile and a half from the boat ramp!


Sunday, I'll mix it up and the three of us will head to the Jetties for some Float-riggin' and bottom fishing.

This is the way to do it. Brian and Kelly came down here for Brian's Birthday (Sunday) and booked two days in a row. By the time they head home, they will have fished the BEST TIME OF THE YEAR, and seen all what the Jettywolf does.

11/18 - the weekend

SATURDAY
EAST WINDS 15 KNOTS. SEAS 3 TO 5 FEET. INLAND WATERS
A MODERATE CHOP. ISOLATED SHOWERS.

SATURDAY NIGHT
EAST WINDS 10 KNOTS. SEAS 3 TO 5 FEET. INLAND
WATERS A LIGHT CHOP. ISOLATED SHOWERS.

SUNDAY
NORTHEAST WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 4 FEET. INLAND
WATERS A LIGHT CHOP. ISOLATED SHOWERS.

I know today, "Friday" seems to be reminding me of weekends past where it was blowing a gale. B-U-T, at least Sunday's forecast isn't all that bad.

I'll be out Saturday and Sunday with the same crew from the Chicago area, I believe. Yeah EAST, sucks for this Jetty-Jockey. But as the saying goes here in J-ville, Fla.

"you must remain, rigidly flexible!  There isn't a single constant"  That's what makes it interesting, huh?

Check back, reports to follow I'm sure.......

Learning to tell her....."off"

NUMBER 1 METHOD:



NUMBER 2 METHOD


SUPER FUNNY STUFF.....I LAUGH EVERY TIME I WATCH THIS.

TRY THIS WITTY BUT CALM AND NON CONFRONTATIONAL STYLE, WITH YOUR WIFE AND SEE IF IT WORKS OR NOT, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

11/17 - MORE info on new Redfish & Trout regs.

Additional info pertaining to the latest FWC meeting in Key Largo:  (see other posts further down my blog page.)


On its first of two days of meetings in Key Largo, the seven-member Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted on three marine fisheries topics that drew plenty of interest from the angling public, professional fishing guides and commercial fishermen, as well.

"What we are trying to do is be fair in a fishery that is in abundance, and in some cases, way in abundance," said FWC Chairman Kathy Barco. "We are dealing with a success story."

Touting robust stock assessment numbers for spotted seatrout, the FWC voted to make six changes in trout rules, upping the take for recreational and commercial fishing sectors.

Beginning in February, there will no longer be closed seasons for harvest for recreational anglers and anglers in northeast Florida will have a bag limit of six per person instead of five.

The state will be divided into four management zones for trout — instead of three.
Commercial fishermen will have a trip limit of 150 trout caught by hook and line if two licensed fishermen are on board.
They also will be able to sell trout for 30 days following a closed season, not throughout the year as was one proposal considered.

There will be no allowance for using beach seines or haul seines to catch trout commercially nor will there be a 75-fish bycatch allowance.

The choices were praised by groups such as the Coastal Conservation Association of Florida. Recreational anglers were concerned ambiguity in proposals would open the door for future regulation changes that might allow drift gill nets in state waters.


The FWC also voted to double the bag limit for redfish in north Florida from one to two per person per day.

(personally, I was hoping for a change in the keeper sizes, for NE Florida to more like Georgia and have multiple Redfish, just smaller as in 16" to 23". Larger Redfish aren't worth keeping in my book.)

Tiger sharks and three species of hammerhead sharks also received protection from harvest in state waters. The state now prohibits the harvest of 25 species of sharks.

------------------------------------------
-want to read more about Florida's Speckled Sea Trout stocks, and more?

Here's the latest edition of "SEA WATCH" pulished by the CCA (Coastal Conservation Assoc.) in a pdf.
http://www.ccaflorida.org/seawatch/Seawatch_Spring_11.pdf

11/16 - Float-rig building & tips

11/16 - NO SEINE NETS! Thank goodness...

Wow, the ruling came thru via this email from the CCA. 


 CCA FLORIDA COMMENDS FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION'S ACTION TO NOT ALLOW A DIRECTED  SEATROUT NET FISHERY 

     The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) discussed the very controversal proposed seatrout rules during their Wednesday meeting in Key Largo.

The Commission voted to remove the closed months in the recreational sector and extend the commercial fishery while not allowing beach and haul seine nets.

The action taken by the Commissioners keeps good conservation measures on the fishery while providing additional access to the recreational fisherman.

“It was extremely important to keep the by-catch and the beach and haul seine nets out the seatrout fishery” said Don Roberts, CCA Florida Chairman.

"The impact from the regulations that were adopted by the Commissioners will be great for the jobs and economic value associated with the recreational fishery."

Your son or daughter may still be able to catch one of these!!
This smile is "worth" how much. More than $1.90 per pound, I'll tell ya that!


Throughout the process CCA Florida has worked with the Commission and their staff to help develop proposed rules for the Commissioners consideration to help this fishery thrive.  We applaud their efforts in their work with the stakeholders and continued success in managing the state fisheries.

     “We greatly appreciate all the work that the Commissioner’s and their staff have done” said Ted Forsgren, CCA Florida's Executive Director. "It is great for fisheries conservation of seatrout and the recreational fisherman."

Horray!!!!!!

11/12 - Brrrrr....chilly morning Trout.

Had me a "solo" angler today, Jason C. from up in Georgia.  Jason's usually an offshore angler, but this time wanted to dabble in some river fishing.  We left out early, and it was quite chilly. But there wasn't hardly a breeze, so it wasn't all that bad.

I'll take what we had over GALE FORCE winds on a weekend any day! With this being the first Saturday without GALE FORCE winds in the last two weeks. The boats/fisherman were out in force.

My idea was to take advantage of the early morning 9:30am high tide and go hit some shallow areas. Areas that in the GALE FORCE winds, we even caught Trout in past weeks.

(A "gale" as defined by the National weather service is 34–47 knots, or 39–54 miles/hour of sustained surface winds.)

But, it's really unusual that the Trout bite was better when the winds were honking. So bad I couldn't stay anchored in 3 feet of water.....compared to today, and this past Wednesday at high tide. With light to no wind.

Go figure, huh?  Must be a barametric pressure thing....

Between Jason and I we caught Trout. And many were small ones. Little skinny "buck" males.

The nice ones caught were beautiful fish:

As the tide flood tide slowed, we headed straight for the jetties. In search of a Black Drum or over sized Redbass.

I have not seen the end of the jetties for weeks, because of the winds. So I was really excited to get anchored up and fish hard out there. This should be the time when my Drum friends start showing up really good.

Well, Jason and I were in for a BIG suprise. Anchored up perfectly, in a great spot (at least it used to be) we fished "cut ladyfish" on the bottom for a big Redbass, and also fished LIVE shrimp at the edge of the rocks looking for a fat Black Drum.

Of course because of the full moon tide conditions, we had to be patient and wait it out till the brown water at least flushed on through. Hours went by, and we never had as much as a SNIFF!  Yeah, Jason caught a few small Seabass. But right there was a "HERE'S YER SIGN".  When you're not even getting bit by small Sea Biscuits, SOMETHING is w-r-o-n-g!!

I believe that the quick drop in water temps, the extreme winds, and water roughness of the last two weeks has had the jetties all messed up. About every boat that was even near the end of the rocks, left after awhile. We used the power of observation to determine, they were probably having the same action we were. And that was NIL to NONE.

I've experienced this before after weeks of 10 foot seas out at the inlet. So after waiting for the brown water, and fishing really hard for a few hours. We also took off, and headed up river. Back to Float-rig fishing for Trout.

We pulled up on a spot, and right away the Trout had Jason's shrimp jumping across the surface. Trout were jumping out of the water for his shrimp. Then he caught two nice 17 inchers back to back.

But, that quickly ended. It became a "flats boat" parade coming by us, as the sun got low in the sky and the tide became dead low. It must have been a parking lot of boats up in the marsh behind where we were with all these little boats coming by. And as they did.....our bite of Trout stopped as fast as it started.

I've never ever seen a bite of Trout start so good, and end so abruptly, because of boat traffic. The Trout were jumping out of the water, chasing Jason's shrimp on his float-rig. He and I looked at eachother and thought..."we're in the meat!!!"  And then after two nice fish it ended.

So we too packed it in. Jason had a 4 hr. drive home ahead of him.  And I think I may have a new and future "Float Freak". Jason enjoyed the ANGLING aspect of fishing a live shrimp on the float-rig. As most people do. No having to feel a bite, just pay attention to that float, and it'll talk to ya.


NEXT UP, PRE-BOOKED:

Saturday and Sunday with the same husband and wife fishing team from Chicago.

So that means "weekdays" are wide open. And hopefully devoid of heavy winds.
Let's go Float-riggin'.