Wednesday, June 29, 2016

6/29 - Going Cowboy'n

Had Mike D. and crew aboard today. His young boy, and his two neighbors. Mike said, "let''s go Sharkin'".  So that's what we did. Good and early. 6:30am.

Right off the git-go, they certainly didn't want my baits on my usual Big Balsa Floats, that I use to keep the baits from sinking into the Shrimp boat nets as we run and gun behind the shrimp boats out side the inlet.

So we nixed the floats and just let the 1/2 pieces of boston mackerel sink. And that was the ticket!

Mike was up.....




















The big Blacktip Shark gave us a show as it jumped and splashed behind the boat as it "SMOKED" the 60# mono off the reel.




















The Shark fought unusually hard and I could tell (from experience) that something was up.
Mike strained and strained to get the Shark to the boat, and as soon as it popped up, "Yep, this was a strange one!"








The Shark got lasso'ed! (is that a word?)
My 400# mono leader was wrapped around the base of the Sharks head, and my 10/0 VMC hook had the leader around it, creating a perfect Lasso.

I gotta give it to this Blacktip. It was a champion of a fighter as it pulled and Mike pulled and was about to pinch it's head off!


Yep, this is why I over gun it when doing this fishing. I used to use smaller hooks, and 200# mono leaders. But we also lost a lot of Sharks, too.

Because of the crazy things that "just" happen!





















I went to release the Shark from the grips of it's Lasso, and I knew it might not be good. As I grabbed it and snatched the hook off the mono leader, the hook swung around and foul hooked the Shark again! But, obviously not all that deep as it pulled loose after a few seconds.

That's why I tell everyone, "Until the hook is free and in my hands, stay in the fish fighting position, ready for mayhem! Just incase." 

Out of the three Sharks we caught, only one was actually in the jaw.





















Here's what I came home to Mike. (Mike is a Bird Vet)

Some kind of Hawk in my Tree in the front yard, staring down Lizards.

























Then, it swoops down and lands right at my front door, to take a closer look at Lizard Land. And says hello to my concrete Pelican statue

























Then later, my front yard gets visited (at the bird bath) by a group of Crows, which kept walking over and looking up under my covered "Boat-port", to admire the Jettywolf, ready for tomorrows, Kids Trip.








Tuesday, June 28, 2016

6/28 - Necessary Evil

After fishing the river last year with Jig-N-Shrimp combo meals and getting "spooled" by giant Bull Redfish in shallow water using "cheapy" Okuma 'Trio 30' Spinning reels.  I decided, to get those obtrusive necessary evil's called, NEW spinning reels....UGH!

The Okuma trio 30's have seen better days. Out of 6 of them, only 3 aren't stripped out.

I hate a spinner as you all probably know by now. But, because the general public are NOT avid anglers. I have to tote around the handicap of reels, so they can cast on their own.

(When we aren't float-rig fishing; AKA: letting the current do all the work, while using conventional bait casting reels)

NEW SPINNERS ON THEIR WAY:

















4- FIN-NOR LETHAL 40'S

A bit over sized for what you'll be doing with these reels. But you need it. Huge 30 pound braided line capacity, and built rugged, so as usual, they'll take a beating. and when you hook up a 30 pound Redbass in 8 feet of water this fall. You won't strip the handle off.

6/28 - YETI HOPPER 40, "AS A FISH BAG"

Monday, June 27, 2016

6/26 - Summer, "jack of all trades" fishing...

Let's see....

I've had a run of a week or more of trips and I've chased the shrimp boats shark fishing. Trolled Cigar Minnows on the beach because the Pogies were a pain in the ass to catch. Bottom fished the wrong tide for Bull Redfish, bottom fished the Jetties with a few super newbies, and it was dead, because all we had was shrimp. Used Live and cut Croakers for bottom bait, without a sniff.

So today with dark clouds, thunder and lightning, and driving rain. I stoked up the "Intensive Care Unit" to full max.(recycling pump), and filled the baitwell with ten dozen live shrimp and took 3 guys "Jig-N-Shrimp" fishing inshore. I even went up in a creek and ran aground on a sand bar!  Spent hours hiding under two different bridges in the rain, and it wasn't "brutally hot", because we were wet 70% of the day.....

Actually had pretty consistent action. They asked the night before, "what are we targeting??" twice in two different phone calls.  I repeated, "we're targeting action!"





















"HIDING" EZ tying off wherever, when your boat is HD plate alloy. No fear of crushing that fancy gel-coat!




















BUT, THERE'S LOTS OF NICE TROUT UNDER HERE!!



























Luke busted several Trout t0 17", under the bridge in the high winds and driving rain!
"I liked this spot!"




















The 3 guys caught loads of these, but sacrificed a whole lot of shrimp to do so.

Along with lots of Mangrove Snappers, they had  Speckled Trout, Jacks, Ladyfish, a couple Flounder, and Croakers.

No big Bubba fish. But at 1:30 the 10 dozen shrimp were gone. So we headed back to clean the fish.

I used my 40qt. Yeti Hopper soft sided cooler for a fish bag. It really worked out!  All the fish were extremely cold. I kept a "slush" in the bag, which chilled the fish a lot better than laying on ice in a hard cooler. Plus, the cooler bag takes up much less room on the boat. Stowing under my leaning post, very neatly.  I learned that if you add a handful of "rock salt", You can just about freeze the fish if you want.

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

VIDEO - REVIEW - INFO - COMPARISON - COMING SOON about the Yeti 40 qt. Hopper soft sided coolers.

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

6/22 - King Neptune shined on us

POGIES - MENHADEN - GREASERS - BUNKER - pain in the ass bait fish!

Whatever you call'em. 
They have never been the "end all" bait for me.
They are sissy baits. Yeah, I know getting some each time I go out is nothing but a shot in the dark.

So like fishing the Jetties and river. I never "NOT" have some plain ole dead shrimp. Well, when ever I plan on "trolling", I never not have a plain ole box of Cigar Minnows.

Ya gotta have PLAN B, always.

Today I spent way to long in the pursuit of Pogies on the beach with many others.  My 8' Pogie net is really letting me down. I threw that SOB, 25 times to catch ONE stinkin' Pogie. The water was deep, the Pogies were huge, and they just swim out from under my net. (plan for a way heavier net next year!)

As time ticked away and my 3 customers looked as if they were about to fall asleep, things were so exciting. I said, ENOUGH!

We drove out to the S.E. Hole area (50+ feet of water) straight out from the old Sea Turtle Inn hotel, that's now The One Ocean hotel, and costs twice as much!

I dropped a "naked" cigar minnow rigs over the side, and began to troll at just idle speed with my 250 Zuki outboard. And the 2nd rod I put out our ONE Pogie, I had in the well.

10 minutes, maybe 15 passed and we reached 54' of water and the Ugly Stik Catfish rod, and Daiwa Saltist 20HC started to bend over and scream.

We were due! All that looking and castnet throwing. And when it boils down to it, "I'm just a cigar minnow troller, anyhow. It's all I used to do years ago, with great success."





















This wasn't any Spanish Mackerel, or a Shark.
It was Big and Super fast.

I thought maybe a giant Jack Crevalle?

The battle went from Eric (dad) to his son, to his daughter, back to Eric, to his son, to his daughter, back to Eric, before we ever saw what it was. (probably a total of almost 30 minutes!!!)

When it finally came up it was a wonderful sight. A huge Kingfish. Not the usual "snakes" that I'm used too when trolling the inshore reefs. But a true "smoker".



In the 40 pound range as it crushed down my 30 pound Boga-Grip like a fall Bull Redbass from the river. The three of them just managed to get a good grip on it, for a good photo.



I'd have to measure my fish bags length. To get a idea. But it practically filled the whole bag, length wise. With maybe a few inches to spare.

We caught a small Shark afterwards that "sand bagged" the one live Pogie (yeah, it was still swimming), by eating it and we drug the shark to the boat as if it was a wet beach towel.

The heat poured on as the breeze started to fade off. And Eric's son battling a Cold wasn't really doing so well. So we headed in, and were back to the dock by noon.

"Time to make the donuts!"

And this was all that was left, after a good filleting.




BOOKED:

Friday thru Sunday, then a short prep, then time for the July 4th Vacationers.

In my mind and personal fishing calendar. The July 4th Holiday marks the 1/2 way point thru the summer fishing season for me. And I'm glad.  By now, I'm already dreaming of 40 degree mornings, with fog on the water, rods rigged up with Float-rigs and a livewell full of sprightly shrimp.......

NOT POGIES.





















Tuesday, June 21, 2016

6/21 - OPEN EYE SWIVELS

No longer available on Ebay.

I stopped the listing, because I'm getting low on these swivels.

Plus, I was selling them at a cost that ends up almost costing me.
Yeah, I wanted to offer them. But with free shipping at .70 to ship, plus ebay and paypal fees, I'd have to ask $20 for 50 instead of $10 for 50.

Which if you want some, that's what you'll have to pay, now.

I may re-order some more. Or I may not.

It's really tough for the "little guy" to make a buck or two on Ebay any longer. But that Global audience is what it takes if you actually want to do any business.

If you want a few, I maybe able to help you. But as of now, the sale of the open eye swivels is off the market.





Friday, June 17, 2016

6/16 - SUPER BAIT & FUN

Every summer while usually doing my 2 hour kids trips, we'll be anchored up at the jetties and will be fishin pieces of dead shrimp on the bottom. The little kids along with Mom and Dad are having fun, and we'll be catching:

-Croakers
-Whiting
-Sand Trout
-Jacks

and as of today, numerous BLUE RUNNERS!!!!














Why doesn't anyone anchor up, bait up a with pieces of dead shrimp, and catch SUPER KINGFISH BAITS RIGHT THERE AT THE JETTIES?

As I released a half dozen 12-14" lively Blue runners, all I could think about is fishing them, from outside the Jax beach pier to the S.E. Hole area. And the possibilities of having them revenged by a smoker sized Kingfish.

I do this all the time....but we stop in and catch live shark baits, for behind the shrimp boats. Live little Jacks, Croakers, Whiting, and even the Blue runners are killer baits for the Shrimp boat sharks, so why not for Kingfish??????

When I do a longer trip, with the adults. I'm going to do this. But, instead of shark baits. These small
baits will get drifted off the beach, looking for that big KINGFISH.


Thursday, June 16, 2016

6/16 - Just because it's summer............

It doesn't matter, just because it's "summer time" Vacation Time.  The Atlantic Ocean can shut you down like kick your butt and take your name. Any day it wants.

Everyone thinks just because it's summer and they are on vacation that it's "go time" 24/7.

NOT! 

Check out the Forecast for the rest of this week:

FRIDAY
SOUTHWEST WINDS 15 TO 20 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 3 FEET.
INLAND WATERS CHOPPY. A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS.

FRIDAY NIGHT
WEST WINDS 15 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 3 FEET.
INLAND WATERS A MODERATE CHOP. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY
IN THE EVENING...THEN A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AFTER
MIDNIGHT.

SATURDAY
NORTHEAST WINDS 20 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 3 FEET
BUILDING TO 3 TO 5 FEET WITH OCCASIONAL SEAS UP TO 6 FEET IN THE
AFTERNOON. INLAND WATERS CHOPPY. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS.

SATURDAY NIGHT
NORTHEAST WINDS 20 TO 25 KNOTS. SEAS 6 TO
8 FEET WITH OCCASIONAL SEAS UP TO 10 FEET. INLAND WATERS CHOPPY.
A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS.

SUNDAY
NORTHEAST WINDS 20 KNOTS. SEAS 5 TO 7 FEET WITH
OCCASIONAL SEAS UP TO 9 FEET. INLAND WATERS CHOPPY. A CHANCE OF
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.

SUNDAY NIGHT
NORTHEAST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. SEAS 5 TO 7 FEET
WITH OCCASIONAL SEAS UP TO 9 FEET. INLAND WATERS A MODERATE CHOP.
A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS.


Monday, June 13, 2016

6/13 - It's HOT....

From in the river to no matter where...without a breeze it's been really hot out there.
Water temps on the surface today were 84 degree's.
If there's a bite at all at the Mayport Jetties, ya better hope you booked a date with a rising tide!

At least the flooding ocean water kicks off a bit of a bite.
-Croakers
-Whiting
-Redfish
-etc.
So as I "ALWAYS SAY"......Your day is based on the tide.

Heading to a close reef. Oh, that's fun. Especially with  the 3-4 foot seas every morning. Or at least every time I try!!!

The whole reason I gave up doing offshore trips is the Atlantic Ocean Seas, in the 1st place!  Got tired of getting beat up all the time.

I've yet to see any "pond like" conditions outside the Jetties on days that I tried getting just a bit offshore.
















































(FREE shark bait. Anyone want to try for a 500 pounder?) 


Here's a Bonita, or rather a "little Tunny" as they are really called, caught while moving from spot to spot the other day while dragging a Buck-tailed Jig behind the boat.

With live Pogies being a 10 plus mile long trek to get. I "opted out", so we hit a close in ledge (8 miles out) and we bottom fished, and hooked up Sharks and Cuda's on the reef.

 To properly do offshore trips, I'd have to revamp my my whole thinking and boat set up.

So I just "dabble".

I used to troll dead cigar minnows and was very successful using them (back in the day).  From 45 pound kings too Sailfish, we caught the ole school way. "Making a dead cigar minnow look a live!"  But today, it seems like its a lost art, kinda thing.

BUT....like a few pounds of fresh dead shrimp on the boat, ALWAYS. When fishing inshore. When I'm thinking of heading to any reef for a bit of trolling. I'm not leaving the dock without a box of Cigar minnows!













People would rather run 15 miles, in hopes to catch a pogie. And spend till 10:30AM getting bait versus just going fishing, and fishing '"bait from a box".














First off, when it's rough out there, the last thing I wanna do is to troll so slow, that I'm going backwards in the seas. Cigar minnow trolling, means that you can go faster, and cover more ground at the same time.

Saturday, June 11, 2016

6/11 - too many

FOR SALE

I HAVE TOO MANY....

UGLY STIK TIGER LITE CASTING RODS
























FOUR - 6'9" BAIT CASTING RODS, MED. ACTION - ALL AROUND INSHORE CASTING.

OR

FOUR - 7' BAIT CASTING HEAVY ACTION - TARPON, COBIA, SHARK, OFFSHORE BOTTOM FISH

OR




























FOUR - 7' TIGER ROD, GIMBLE BUTT CONVENTIONAL TROLLING STYLE RODS, LIGHT ACTION. PERFECT KINGFISH RODS

'CAN'T FIND' THESE RODS ON ANY SHELVES IN JACKSONVILLE, IF YOU DO. YOU GOT LUCKY!!


FUGI REEL SEATS AND FUGI GUIDES - VERSATILE RODS,UNIQUE AND COMFORTABLE BUTT & GRIP ON UGLY STIK TIGER LITES

NOT JUNK TACKLE. IN PERFECT SHAPE.

I BUY IN GROUPS OF FOUR SO I'F SERIOUS $156 TAKES ALL (4) OR $42.5O EACH


PLUS...........(8) UGLY STIK INTRACOASTALS 7' BAITCASTING MED. ACTION
$29.95 EACH. no tax





















LOCAL PICK UP IN JACKSONVILLE, HEADING TOWARDS MAYPORT

RETAIL PRICE IN STORES AND ON-LINE:
FROM $39.95 TO $59.00 PLUS TAX, PLUS SHIPPING WOULD RUN YOU AROUND $70.00 PLUS PER ROD. SAVE $$$$$$$

CALL 8AM TO 8PM FOR PICK-UP INFO

Monday, June 6, 2016

6/6 - Its that time of year.

TROPICAL WAVE...?  COLIN

https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/tropical-storm-colin-june-2016



Well Monday was kinda "doomed". Bad winds, bad wind direction, bad tide, bad moon. 
So, from here on out folks, have a back up day.
It's storm time.

I awoke to pouring rain and that's a "here's yer sign"....
They got that right in the forecast, so the rest would probably be right too.

I hate going when the chances of actual catching is slim to none.

















Friday, June 3, 2016

6/3 - what's happening....

B-I-G S-H-A-R-K-S!
behind the shrimp boats...as long as you get on them early.

Then, before the S.E. "sea breeze" starts honkin'.

Get up on a spot in the river and hook -up BULL REDS.

But ya better take bait with ya. Because Pogies aren't a given if you show up late.

So since I've done a few late morning trips, because I had 2 hour KIDS TRIPS in the morning. And couldn't get a Pogie to save my skin. I take bags of Boston Macs. And the Redfish seem to like it.
Oily and Nasty, like a Pogie. It works.

















Lost this 30 pound Red, because it ran under the boat and cut the 20# braided line like a knife!!!










































































THIS DUDE was a beast....had to be 7' long!!
(way behind a shrimp boat)  We had a "double" on but lost one of them, Thank Goodness!