Tuesday, January 29, 2013

1/29 - another direction.....

Well, I sent back my DRIFT INNOVATIONS action/waterproof camcorder. The 4 times I had it out on the boat had the LCD screen getting condensation inside it every time. I guess it wasn't really waterproof after all. And I never even had it the water...yet!

So, I have spent hours on top of hours striving to find the next waterproof wide angle lens High defination action cam-corder for aboard the boat.





















I've combed the world wide web for hours. Because these camera's are all a compromise. Just like boats. Everyone and their brother "touts" the GOPRO camera's. But they do have their short comings.
Like so many pieces and parts. Cost of all that. And Audio, is a mute factor without spending lots more money.

I thought I had found the camera for me with the DRIFT HD GHOST. But like many who buy a ski boat, and then end up trying to fish from it constantly. Soon find out that all is not "spot on".

So I ordered what will be the 3rd waterproof action camera, since Christmas. I hope like hell number 3 is the charm. The rest have all been sent back.

Pictured is the Sports-Vue 360. Has many of the same attributes as the DRIFT camera. Costs less, and has a "TRUE" action cam RF remote control.  NOT all action cam remote controls are equal. And not all action cam's are waterproof, either. Some maybe "splash proof", and some are all out scuba diving cameras. This one is in between.  It supposedly goes to 60 feet deep.

The remote (pictured) is what I've been really looking for. Push a button and the camera TURNS ON and goes straight to RECORD. Push the button, and the camera stops RECORDING and turns, completely OFF!

Wow, truly an action cam!  Set the hook, hit the remote. After fish capture, or high fives. Push the button and the whole thing shuts OFF. Saving battery power!

It has all the same things my DRIFT camera had...swiveling lens, HD, rubberized coating. But has better mounts, and COSTS less than the DRIFT, or GOPRO's.

All this in striving for better BLOG education. Making video of customer days. And doing tech-tips, with maybe some actual under water footage!

My motto has always been...."I'm not a part-timer looking to make my boat payment each month. I want to offer more, and do more. This isn't just a J-O-B. But rather a life style I want to share with you the customer."

You already get reports of your day, photos of your day. And yes, I have made many video's of customers charter days before.

NOW....if I can only get people who inquire about charters, book a day, we go, but they NEVER EVER come here to do their "due deligence" before or after the fishing day.  I don't understand that. But, it's always out there (these reports) for all who wants to come see them.

So, crossed fingers!  I hope this will be the last boat camcorder I'll buy for awhile. But, if it works out I'd like to run 2 of them, and get different angles. Fish in the water, and people in the boat. So I may actually get another one of these camera's if they work out.

Just hope the manufacture/dealer realizes how much I'm wishing this search for the perfect boat video camcorder to work out.

We'll see.

Monday, January 28, 2013

You think "flatfish" are just laying around?



EVEN THOUGH THESE ARE "FLUKE" IN NY. FLOUNDER CAN'T BE MUCH DIFFERENT.
I WAS REALLY SURPRISED HOW THEY'LL CHASE AND CHASE A BAIT.

IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO WATCH YOUR QUARRY IN ACTION. BUT I CAN'T FIND FOOTAGE LIKE THIS OF SPECKLED TROUT.

Sunday, January 27, 2013

1/26 & 27 - More Full Moon non-action

What do I preach?

3-4 days before the Moons, and 3-4 days afterwards!

Well, I don't pick the days. So Saturday we fished and caught only 10 Trout, and 6 keepers. But we were out there all day long. We tried bottom fishing for the Black Drum with shrimp, just like my video report (below on a previous report). But that never happened. It wasn't as windy, but it wasn't calm either. Another west wind day, and TOUGH tide.

Zim, Kevin and Tom were all good sports. But it was what it was. And it wasn't from a lack of trying on our part. To not have any Drum or bottom bites at all.

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

Sunday I did a 2 hr Kids trip with Amy & Ken from Ponte Vedra and the two kids. Again, hardly any fish catching at the high tide. As we tried drifting the south jam and anchoring just off the south jetty.
I had the kids just dropping shrimp to the bottom. But the excitment came when I lasso'ed a Spiny Puffer around the tail, and the kids never seen a fish like that before.

They were entertained by the Dolphins, Gannet birds, and Sea Turtles, and Jellyfish. Plus they goit to drive the boat in from the jetties, too. So it was a successful Kids Trip.



Monday, January 21, 2013

1/21 - TECH-TIP #3, "the stopper knot"



When all else fails, and you're "sporting braid" on your reels, as you should. A piece of leader material, (20 pound mono) will do the trick. When making a "stopper knot" when float-rig fishing.  No pre-made, stopper knot BS needed.

Still need help?? "CLICK here"

10-4?

"Let's go fishin....."

Sunday, January 20, 2013

1/20 - Exciting month?

Sooo, what been going on?  Well, I see no less than 10 people signing up to read this blog per week. SO? What ya'll waiting on? Let's go fishing!

There's absolutely nothing wrong with fishing in January here in Jax Fla.  Finally, that 80 degree weather went away, and as of Friday & Saturday the 40 MPH gusting winds I'm sure snapped us back into what and where we

should be this time of year.

Although, I felt like a "Yankee Captain." working on the boat all weekend tightening her up a bit, instead of fishing with customers. Today, was one sweet weather day, that's for sure. Not warm, and not cold.

Had two guys cancel out on me for Friday morning. I was supposed to serve up certain fish species, obviously. And my plan to hunker down and Sheepshead fish.  Because of the possible wind direction. Wasn't one of those species they wanted to catch, I was told. And the last thing you should be doing is sitting in a bar all night before you go fishing. I know Beer drinking makes me lazy as a Cat.

Yep, fishing isn't like a restaurant. There isn't any menu to order off of. If so, it's called TV fishing show fishing. Where they fished for 4 days straight wearing the same colored shirts!

Ya'll burn your wicks short over the holidays?  No one allowed to go fishing in January?

Not me. I've had Epic days in January. Like the one the two guys had last January, which had them thinking all years are exactly the same.

My customers ought to be apppreciative. That I do A LOT of solo fishing on my own, or with my buddy Doc Miller during the winter. Spending that gas money. SO I KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE......while other guides go hunting, or don't even fish unless customers are on board!

So when I say NO we aren't catching Sailfish or Tarpon right now..."head to Miami and the keys for that", like the phone call I had today.

Like I've preached for 16 year.....Florida has winter too.

Especially NE Florida. No, it's not thongs and cosmopolitan magazine photo shoots on the beach in Jan. & Feb. But then again, you only need to know ENGLISH around here. Nothing else.

This coming week has some realy good falling tides all week long. PRIOR to the full moon on next Sunday.

If I was going. I'd work on this week.

And this is how to celebrate a nice day out fishing.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

1/15 - STILL TO NICE...??


The weather's too nice.

Yeah, you'd think it would be great (the weather that is) for tourism, the fish, snow-birds, and fishing. But everyone has burned their wick, as all the Holidays are over now.  Ya'll in the snow and cold......YOU MISSED IT!

The weather's supposed to "turn-back" to winter. (talked to a guy in Chicago today. Up there was 10 degrees this morning)

And here I am complaining about 78 degrees in January.....YOU BET!!!!!

IF YOU FOLLOW these daily reports you know that the Doggies....AKA: The Dogfish (small toothless sharks) were a super problem just days ago. And so was the NEW MOON. ( see last video from just days ago)

Both are now over. And we never saw a "doggie" all day long. But the fishing was still S-L-O-W for T-R-O-U-T!
Which had Doc and I, not all that happy.

It's all about EFFORT versus BIG TROUT in the box, at days end.  Today, we worked hard. And the box was lean at days end.

 


We had a few throw-back trout, one pup Red, and what ya saw at the end of the video. The 5-Trout to 22" and a 7 pound Sheepshead.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

How the JETTYWOLF was built....versus:



Versus: "the other way".

The Future...

With Plans for a 175 horse power.....would make a great little stern trolling motor on my boat.
And a perfect "slow trolling kicker" for the Kingfisherman, for sure. Shut those 300 Mercs off!!!!

I could easily have a welded Kicker engine bracket put on my stern.





















up to 5HP right now.

PROPANE OUTBOARDS by LEHR

see action video's "here"

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Not the best way to fish.....

Who needs stinkin' bait & expensive tackle??????

1/11 - Oh, those moons & huge tides!



In a matter of one week (as per all my video proof) the inlet aka: "jetties" have gone from bustin' gator Trout, to completely invaded with small toothless sharks. I believe, they are called "Dogfish". They eat everything and are carpeting the bottom!!

Left out this morning on a semi foggy morning with Mike & Matt. Worked the float-rigs hard, and came up with one Sheepshead and a few small Speckled Trout. But at the same time, most of our shrimp were eaten off the hooks by ravenous Ring-tailed Porgies. And the seas were seriously "Nautical", where we fished.

Mike and Matt, hung in there. But, for me it was just "S.O.P." for winter jetty fishing. The forecast was for high 70's, and it was a beautiful day, as you'll see as the early fog burned off. Though the swell continued. (BECAUSE OF THE TIDE)

Working with my new camera, the DRIFT HD GHOST action cam mounted on the boat, using the wide angle lens setting. I'm still getting used to it and playing around with it.

The current and lack of bites on the float-rig & live shrimp had me scrambling to find some kind of action. The guys were "spinning reel casters" when fishing themselves. So I said, "Bring a few of your own rods and reels." Even though they were well versed with my baitcasting float rig reels and did great with them.

So we went and did some "jig-n-shrimp" pitching, on the crowded north jetty. Where Matt, feeling not so well with some sea-sickness slammed a 29" Redbass, and we caught a nice pup Black Drum also.

The bites were few and far between from "real targeted species". But the small sharks were killing us. At one point we caught them on every single cast!

We ended up leaving and finishing the day and over 12 DOZEN live shrimp in the bait well, back float-rig fishing for more little sharks and a few Bluefish and a small Trout. With the Redbass (29") a Sheepshead, and the Drum in the fish box.

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

SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED OUT THERE AT THE JETTIES!

THE NEW MOON'S 5.5' TIDE WAS NOT ONLY A KILLER, BUT THE INVASION OF THE SHARKS MAKES ANY BLUEFISH SEEM ALMOST LIKE A WELCOMED SPECIES. (EVEN THOUGH I STILL HATE THE BLUEFISH).

UNTIL SOMETHING CHANGES. MY EFFORTS WILL BE CONCENTRATED ELSEWHERE! THE "JETTYWOLF" WON'T BE FISHING THE "JETTIES".

I'LL BE MAKING A BIG ZIP CODE CHANGE. MY MOTTO IS: "NO LONG BOAT RIDES" BUT THAT'LL HAVE TO CHANGE, AS I HEAD THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, AND HEAD UP RIVER FOR MY TARGETED SPECIES.

HMMM, "ANOTHER CHAPTER UNFOLDS", IN THE QUEST FOR GATOR TROUT IN BAZZARO WORLD.

AND HOW 'BOUT THIS JANUARY WEATHER???

PERSONALLY, I'LL TAKE COLD WINDY AND SPORTY ANY DAY. THE FISH SEEM TO BITE BETTER FOR ME. THAT'S WHY I LOVE N.E. FLORIDA WINTERS.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

1/9 - Finally....battery cables!!!!!



I'm a happy Cappy!   THE SPARE HONDA 225 PROJECT CONTINUES.....!

On my new Drift HD Ghost action cam. Playing with "wide angle lens selection".

Yes, it's always good to have a "SPARE MOTOR", when your "LIVING" depends on it!

1/9 - WARM BREEZE....


Jus' days ago....cold, windy, overcast, and "GATORS"
1/4/2013           7 pounder



















Yep, can ya believe the crazy weather we have? My dad and are were talking, and there probably isn't that many places along the East Coast where there's such huge swings in temps and weather as this area. I'd like to know the "facts" about that. From someone at the National Weather Service. Would be an interesting converstaion......

The mercury is still rising, can you believe it. But there is a little early morning fog to deal with and there may be a coastal shower or two.

But first we have to deal with the 'inverted trough' that is just off shore. This means we still have some showers and clouds to deal with but the rain chance is only 20% . This system will begin to break down today and open the door for dry and more warm temps.

As we move toward the weekend we will see more sun and highs near 80...yes it is winter!!

The "wind" forecast:

THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY
SOUTHEAST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO
4 FEET. INLAND WATERS A MODERATE CHOP.

FRIDAY NIGHT
SOUTH WINDS 10 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 4 FEET. INLAND
WATERS A LIGHT CHOP.

SATURDAY
SOUTHEAST WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 3 FEET. INLAND
WATERS MOSTLY SMOOTH.

SATURDAY NIGHT
SOUTHEAST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 3 FEET.
INLAND WATERS A LIGHT CHOP.

SUNDAY
SOUTHEAST WINDS 10 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 3 FEET. INLAND WATERS
A LIGHT CHOP.


 

LOOK AT THOSE TEMPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
 

Monday, January 7, 2013

1/5 - Much Nicer Day

Long story short.

The day before was pretty nasty. And as you can see we had to leave in the dark to catch the last minutes of falling tide in the Video.

Well, I had Gabe & Donna aboard 24 hrs later and it was a much nice day. Sunny, warmer. And they were kind enough to be really early. So we too could depart in the dark and catch as much falling tide as we possibly could.

Only thing..........The fish didn't bite as well as they did in the NASTY weather the day before. GO FIGURE. It's like that alot. Those day when I would run up into Mill Cove when the tide was super high, being pushed by near gale force winds out of the North, raining as we departed, and super cold.  THAT'S WHEN THEY'D BE ON FIRE!

You go back the next day when the "NOReaster is over", and you struggle!

That's what we sort of did today. That falling tide just didn't run all that long. But that of course is when all the bites came.

Donna catching the best Trout. (of course, always bring your best Gal!!) And maybe she even caught the most too.
But the most out of not many, wasn't my usual style...
 


Gabe & Donna came to learn about the float-rig. And I tried to show them the most I could with out all that much action. But they got the picture.

Funny thing is that we didn't have a single under 15" Trout the whole day. They boxed I think, the start of 2 limits, but fell short by 4 fish. Keeping 8 up to 19-20".
After about 9am, the tide slowed and started to creep in, and that's when the water temp changed. And we started to struggle at the jetty rocks.
 
NO LACK of "green scourge" bites. The ever present eat at least half your baits Bluefish. If there's a reason to run far south on the river. The inlet Bluefish are it.

Friday, January 4, 2013

1/4 - Cold, Breezy, Low tide, LIMITS!



Yeah, I have been preaching...."as winter sets in for awhile it seems that the big bites turn into just low tide bites at the jetties."

So Doc Miller and I depart at zero dark thirty and al ready have them in the boat before sun-up. Had a few pesky bluefish, but they weren't that bad. Had a few Redbass, with one keeper. A perfect eater (in my opinion) a 19 incher.

But as you can see. Cappy "Gator Trout" Dave  gets a fattie. A nice 7 pounder!  We had such a ball. No one was around, and as far as Doc and I, these are the kind of days we live for. Last minute, cold, breezy, leave really early, get the right tide, and fill the box with a limit of beautiful winter Trout.

Plus we released a bunch.

So it was an active morning.......but as the tide rose "as usual for this time of year". The action fell off.

Fine, Fine eating. Once again.

The LAST SHRIMP even caught a fish!

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

1/1 & 1/2....The New Year....on to #17

 
Ya know what I don't like more than anything? It's how time flies by. I caught myself sitting on the edge of my bed yesterday putting on my socks in the morning and thinking about how fast time passes us by. And how short life really is.

There's so much I'd like to do, places I'd like to fish. And no sooner as we just blink (so it seems) it'll be summer and hot as all hell!  I'll be complaining about catching less Trout, and sweating again by 8am.

And this year will mark 17 years of charter fishing here in J-ville. And how old I'm quickly getting without doing the things I want to do.

All this went tru my mind as I put on just two socks!

Kinda heavy huh??

Well with that said, here's what YOU may have missed. I say may have missed. Because I didn't see YOU there.
The B&M bait and tackle New Years Day Bash & Fish Fry.

As usual it was great. The food was unbelievable!

There was so many people vehicles were parked up and down A1A, plus the whole parking lot. Pitty the person who went fishing at 1pm and needed ice and bait with a boat in tow!!!

 

THE FRY MASTER AT WORK, Rusty.
Parking lot jammed....and Alan's old Ford!
THE CROWD...and all the food!
 
 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
1/2 - with Ed and Nancy
 
Had regular customer Ed B. from Michigan back on the Jettywolf along with his girlfriend Nancy. We had a rising tide right off the git-go. But on spot one it was dead low tide and just started coming in, very slowly.
 
It was a good spot to show nancy the how's and why's of Float-rigging for Trout. And of course some bluefish were present. So fish #1 was a Blue, but right off, fish #2 was a good keeper Trout via Nancy! 

 

 
And it was more than evident to me as we boxed 5 Trout on the first spot up to 21 inches, that the BITE is all about LOW tide!

 

It gets this way....especially as the water gets colder. Yes, you can pick and poke around. But the LOW tide is where it's at!
 
As the tide came in we had to work hard, really hard to pick up a few more trout, toss back a few, and get eaten alive by bait stealers.
The moral of the day was work for the bites. And keep on track.  But as the tide got higher the bites slowed. Even my go-to spot only yielded one Trout, and it was where the wind and seas were pushing into the jetty rocks. Which is usually the ticket (?)
 
So right when ya think you know what's happening......Mother nature shows you another side. But either way we had a good time. No serious "kicker fish", like picking off a Sheepshead, or even getting a Redbass on the float-rigs. No Yellowmouth Trout either.

 

But at days end Ed had a 1 gallon bag full of nice fish fry fillets, and it was much much better weather than it is in Michigan. And I hope he brings Nancy along again.
 
I always say, "bring your best gal".  You could be surprised at how good she fishes! And Nancy hung right in there!
 
(dang, my camera wasn't having a good day. The photos are not up to par)
  

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

12/31 - YEAR END VIDEO



-Was supposed to have Capt Kris from Dockside bait & tackle in Slidell Louisiana aboard today. REALLY was kinda upset. Because all I want is to find out the details about fishing Lake Pontchartrain from a Pro. We were "swapping fishing trips". As I always say, "when I grow up, I wanna be a Gulf Coast Angler, someday."  And now, I missed my chance. Because he couldn't make it after extensive planning, while he was here. (actually Orange Park, kinda like here......)

So I went out anyhow. 8 dozen live shrimp later, and working thru a long boring tide. The fish bit like NUTZ at the low tide. Still the iinfluence of the NEW moon, I guess.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE IN THIS VIDEO, OF HOW MY "TECH-TIP #2" CAME INTO PLAY.
(see all "tech-tip" video links, along blog right side bar)

-SOFT LIMBER ROD MANDATORY!!!!!

COUPLE THAT WITH BRAIDED LINE, SOFT AND EVEN HARD MOUTHED FISH WILL COME TO THE BOAT.

-ALSO MANDATORY ANYMORE FOR ME IS A REALLY FAST GEAR RATIO REEL!!!

12/31/2012
Today I set a personal "record". That 7 pound Sheepshead was caught by drifting my float-rig back NO-LESS than 150 feet behind the boat.

Yes, go pace off 150 feet and see what I mean! It could have actually been further. Never before I have set the hook on a Sheepshead that far away. I have done Reds & Trout. NEVER a Sheepshead before.

When you get really "into" float-rig fishing. These are the types of landmarks you'll set. Catching is one thing. Catching the way YOU want is another.

A very wise angler once said, "First there's catching fish, then there's catching big fish. After it's all said and done, then there's catching fish the WAY you want to catch fish."
as said by; Larry Dahlberg - Freshwater Fishing Halll of Famer. Host of, Hunt For Big Fish TV show.