1/12 - The student......

Wanna see what the float-rig can do for you?

Ya think it's some billybob way of fishing?

Well here's Kirk, the Navy fella who's been going out with me twice a month.

Who has access to an area we can't anchor the boat......off the jetties on the Navy Base.

And went today.

Here's what he said...
"That float rig is deadly from the rocks too!!!!!!"

Of course it is. That's how I'd be fishing if I was on a rock, attached to land.

And btw....to ya'll "clicker float" (cajun thunders, etc. and poppin corkers) keep them for the shallow water with no current. In the big water, ya may want to go traditional, with traditional "float" rigging.

Kirk said he had 25 trout today from 13" to 28".

1/10 - Quick Trip....

Was sitting checking emails this morning drinkin' coffee and the phone rang, It was Ernie, "Hey Dave, let's go......" "What, now?", I replied. "Yeah, If you can......" "I was thinking about going, because today is supposed to be last great weather day...." I said to Ernie.

Ernie and I have talked over the last few months via emails. And he's a faithful blog reader.

And obviously read my last report when I said, "hell, just call me. I'll let ya know when it's a good day to go, if you're local" Of course, I meant weather wise. Because so many people even locals have no idea of what our weather is doing. But Ernie does, he's an avid fisherman! So when I said that, it sparked him to give me a call.

So at 10:30am, I finally got to meet him as we were heading out to do our best. Ernie uses the Float-rig as a LBA - "Land Based Angler" and fishes a lot up in the Ft. George area.

Now, I know that it was tougher fishing on Tuesday than it was on Sunday, even though I did have a nice big fattie on my 52M "winter ugly" MirrOlure. But, I had a friend that was out yesterday and he did well on the Redfish and had a 22 pounder on a float, even. But the trout were a tad slow. So I knew going in that it may not be a whirlwind day of floats going down.

But Ernie is a fisherman, I'm a fisherman......Key word: F-i-s-h, that's what we do. So why not go try. But reality was all too in our faces as we fished and fished, and waited and waited for the tide to turn and start to fall. And nothing!! A few bites, but damn it was DEAD!

Then all of a sudden Ernie was shocked back into the fishing world with a slam dunking, big fish. Just as we were talking about how dead it really was. The fish ran under the boat, around the bow, down the side. It was a 28" Redfish. From zero to a hero!! Ernie was up on me big time, all with one fish. As we worked the area together.




Alrighty....nice Red! And it seemed that the tide was starting to finally move too.

So we kept at it as I moved us around a bit and maneuvered us into better positions for our attack.

I my 12" bottom scope, I passed over a huge pile of what looked like Yellowmouth Trout out in deeper water. So I tried out deeper and caught, ONE! And that was it.

"If the eating machines of the inlet are not chewin', what the hell!"

But as we worked our float-rigs, we finally stuck it to a few Specks. The first one I caught on my "winter ugly" MirrOlure, but it was a small fish.

Then Ernie caught what I call a ocean size Trout. One of those solid and fat 18-19 inchers. No measuring needed. That's more like the fish I'm used to this time of year.

So, we're finally cookin'.....and boxed a few more jetty sized Trout. My favorite!

As you could see it was slick dead calm. A serious "bluebird" day. But I wouldn't blame the slow bite on that as much as maybe because just as we thought the current would run hard. It really wouldn't. My theories always are; If you don't have the proper water movement to move bait, then you don't get moving predators. But I wasn't about to give up on where a 7 and a 6 pound Trout just came from this week. Not until I gave it plenty of time.


It's funny how we're catching out there speck-less Speckled Trout. Many of the fish have no body spots, or very few.

Ernie said, "yep, I think this area is about speck-less and spot-less today" because, where were more Reds and where were more Trout?

It's a fine line we travel....We want super weather days. But super fish days aren't always super fish days. But when we have super fish and super weather days at the same time, it's a Monumental thing!!

And the ole saying is, that no one ever thinks about is "want more fish, that go fishing more often". So, I see those days. And as a reader you certainly can tell when they happen, because I'm so excited.

So we ended up moving on, to try another zip code. And that's when the pesky engine temp alarm went off again on my outboard, No biggy. It's a bad sensor, I'm sure. Because the buzzer has been going off so intermittently. So we ided and went slow from spot to spot and found that the current everywhere else was practically unfishable inside the inlet.


So we went a threw some jigs for those Black Drum. But never really had a bite.

Hmmm, I think Mother Ocean is trying to tell us something.

So we went to a spot where the tide and current ought to be right. And it was.

And we caught some Trout, but not an whoppers and 3 big Ringtailed Porgies, and finished up the rest of the shrimp in the livewell.

Today's totals were maybe 10-12 Trout, with 7 in the fish box, the 3 Ringtails and a released 28" Redfish....everything on the float, and live shrimp.

Not a killer day. But a beautiful one for sure.

And that dang sensor in the motor went off enough that I'm taking the boat on it tomorrow morning to Deonas Boat works in Yulee, to have that thing changed out. Just in time for the wind and rainy weather to come in to the area over the weekend.

Ernie and I are gonna go do it again this month. And I'm sure we'll do better. It was a good day, but could have been much better.

And BTW....that cider block anchor anchor????
I'm still using the same one and it works good.
Why the hell have I spent thousands on jetty
anchors that I cared too much about all these
years?

1/8 - Do not read this without reading 1/7 report first!

http://captdaves.blogspot.com/2008/01/1708-i-cant-believe-it.html - Jan 7th report.


REDEMPTION.....I NEEDED REDEMPTION!

After yesterday's follies in Simpson Creek and numerous other creeks with DOA Rob, where I fished behind him all day and never caught a fish on a DOA Shrimp lure. As he caught at least 18-20 fish! Good fish.....Specks!!


I went out to dinner with my dad after fishing yesterday, because it was his birthday. And as we sat in "Rite Spot" in Jax Beach eating a fine meal, all I could think about was what a crappy day I had. I take these things personally. And I know what you're thinking because I hear it all the time from readers in e-mails....."geez, I'm glad to hear you had a day like that too. It happens to me all the time, Capt Dave".


Well, my response is..."I can have a bad day when someone else picks the day, and I'm not fishing, THEY ARE." But I can tell ya, it doesn't happen to me very often. Just so you know before you hit that email button!


So, I got up to yet another wonderful morning. And had NO plans on going fishing. Even told a friend that asked me too go, "naw... I've fished three days in a row I think I'll take a break."


But as the morning went on, all I could think about was redemption. I needed to fix, my mental attitude. So I checked my email, drank my coffee, and looked out the window at yet another perfect day. (why people are letting the first weeks of January go by without calling to go fishing is beyond me. The first two weeks or so of January is ALWAYS beautiful!!!!)


So I hitched up the boat, threw in a few rods and took off. I could feel my anxiety starting to subside just by putting the boat in the water, if ya can believe that. I needed redemption. And this fishing thing and competing with myself is like a sickness. Plus, THEY'RE BITING, so get while the getting is good folks. February will roll around quickly and the Specks will be closed for harvest then. So this guy's stocking up!


I ran to the spot where I have confidence galore. And found two friends sitting there Float-rigging. I asked them how they were doing and they said it was super slow. Oh No! I need redemption!!!


So I grabbed my Loomis 8'2" casting rod matched up to a Shimano Curado DSV 300, that had the last lure I was throwing yesterday with DOA Rob, and that was a ugly colored MirrOlure TT. It was one of my bargain bin lures, perfect for winter time trout fishing. Because the flashier and the weirdest colors work in the winter time. This MirrOlure has a fluorescent orange head, yellow body and a gold foil insert. Really an ugly lure......perfect for winter time!


I made my second cast to the rocks with this winter bait, and it got slammed. But it was a small Trout. So I kept throwing. Only to feel it get hit numerous times without another hook-up.

So I grabbed my float-rig rod and fished a live shrimp.

My friends were right. Damn, hardly a bite. I worked deep, shallow and in between. Eventually getting a few small Trout and small Yellowmouth Trout. Then my buddies picked up and left.


They happened to be anchored right near a spot I call "point rock" now, after Kirk and I caught so many the other day in front of that rock. And their leaving left the spot wide open now.


So I picked up the MirrOlure rod and made a cast up to "point rock" let the MirrOlure sink a bit and then gave it a twitch, and I GOT SLAMMED!!!! Something hit that MirrOlure hard and was peeling line down the jetty. This was the exact spot where I caught the 7 pound Speck on Monday!!


I worked the fish toward the boat, very easy. Never ever yank and crank on a possible Trout when on a MirrOlure. They have a way of throwing THREE treble hooks real easy, for some reason. I could see it now, it was a big ass Speck, and had my lure across it' jaws. I grabbed the net, eased the fish closer, and went for it.........SCOOP.....and my REDEMPTION was made!!


Holy crap, I was so happy. I did it, and I did it with one of the lures that I used yesterday with Rob, after cutting the DOA Shrimp off my line out of frustration. Which made this fish only sweeter. I grabbed the boga-grip and weighed it. An even, 6 POUNDS!



I grabbed my phone and called my buddy Jeff.
"hey Jeff, you won't believe what I just caught on that MirrOlure from right where you were just fishing......a 6 pound Speck!"


He was glad to hear something good was caught, because he left because it was so damn slow out there.

But, I stuck to it. And it felt good.


So I continued fishing back and forth with the MirrOlure and my Float-rig. The lure caught a few more aggressive but small Yellowmouth Trout, and the live shrimp on the float rig was catching nothing! Because I kept having Sheepshead eat my shrimp. My float would "bob", and my shrimp would be gone. So I went to the smallest shrimp I had in the well, and kept at it. And finally nailed me one on the float-rig.



A 6 pound
Sheepshead


"SIX" was my number, today.


I anchoring once. And had redemption just that easy. And it felt so good, too. The tide really slowed, so I moved on with 4 yellowmouth trout, my big Trout, one 15" Speck and the Sheepshead in the box. But I needed my limit. I eat a lot of Trout, so stocking up was the plan.


I pulled anchor or should I say, "pulled cinder block" .......By the way, I'm still using the first cinder block as a jetty anchor. I bought 5 because I thought I'd break it or loose it, but as it turns out, this 1/2 cinder black thing is really the way to go for me. Back to ole School. Because like many things in life, over complication is sometimes just that COMPLICATION! (see older report for Cinder Block anchor tutorial)


I tried jigging for a Black Drum for about 15 minutes, had one good fish on, but it got off somehow. Then went and Float-rigged a really good winter Trout spot, and caught 5 more trout, and kept 3 to fill my 5 Speckled Trout limit.


Then, headed back to the boat ramp, to clean my fish. So I can stare out the window at probably another nice day again tomorrow. A day I should be booked. But for some reason ya'll only want me to take ya fishing on windy, freezing cold days instead of perfect ones, like today!
I caught the tide perfect too. I wasn't even fishing till noon, and was done fishing at 4:00pm.


Not bad.

And what did I do when I got home?
I ate me some 7 pound Speckled trout fillets from Sunday's trip.


So when are we going Gator trout chasing? Reserve your charter for them quick, because in February it'll be all "catch and release".

1/7/08 - I can't believe it!!!!!!!

Remember me saying how I was so looking forward to fishing up in Simpson's Creek with DOA ROB, since it's been years since I had a boat small enough to make it in there?

Well, today was the day we planned on going.

Weather.....Perfect

Wind......Perfect

Temp......Perfect

I was so psych'd up last night. Especially after having such a great day with Kirk M. on board.

So I called Rob, and we figured out the tide and what time to leave. He had been up in Simpsons creek on Sunday too. So I said, "I hope ya have them all penned up for me." and he replied, " I had a great day today, the Reds were going off......"

I was so fired up, I was like a lil' kid and had a hard time sleeping!

This particular creek we were going to is a "local knowledge only creek". Because like most of the area it's filling in with continent sized sand bars. And it's for shallow draft boats only. And getting in and out is reserved for the people who frequent it, all the time to watch the changes.

I was once one of those people.

I used to fish it in my 17' Carolina Skiff, and my 22' bay boats I ran for Caps Marine. And had some great days up in there. Mostly tossing lures, as in MirrOlures and DOA shrimp. Hence DOA Rob's nick name. It's about all he uses. The only lure that has the perfect fake shrimp posture, profile and fish ability. I used to use them enough, that I got a bulk discount from the manufacture, even. So, I don't feel like I'm a rookie user. But DOA Rob has taken it to a new level.....almost the same level as Mark Nichols the inventor and owner of DOA Lures. Rob just does it on a local level in his boat and kayak. Mark, does it globally!!

So here we are. In the creek we always refer to as and "Ocean creek" because of it's proximity to the Ocean on both ends of it. Clean clear water abounds, especially in the winter. And so does BIG Speckled Trout, for the regular angler. DOA Rob, is that regular angler. Like I have names for certain jetty rocks and can tell ya' what tide and time of year that I've caught what size Trout or Redfish, so does DOA Rob. Each lil' feeder that dumps into Simpsons creek, he can remember what size Trout he caught there, and when.

That's called, LOCAL KNOWLEDGE!

We no sooner get into position for a drift with assistance from his trolling motor on his 'customized' McKee Craft 17 footer, than he catches the first Speck of the morning. We're using nothing but "almost" matching DOA Shrimp lures. His is a 1/4 oz. grey colored really almost black. Mine is a 1/2 oz. a tad larger, but not by much, and is Black with silver fleck.

He always throws the 1/4 oz. on a fairy wand spinning rig. And I always throw a 1/2 oz. dark in color, (doesn't really matter to me just as long as it's dark) and I was using a light bait casting rig.

The DOA shrimp is a great lure. IF you just use it the way its intended. It's a do nothing lure.

Just cast it to the right spot, and pull it along the bottom. No jigging, no hopping, or jerking. Because a naturally swimming shrimp neither jigs, hops, or jerks. Go to the bait shop and look at the live shrimp in the tanks. They "HOVER"....like waterbourne helicopters. They swim forward with the use of their finlets, located under their tails, and use the planers on their heads for up and down. Kind of like a submarine. Natures, lil' submarines is how they swim. And only kick and go backwards when attacked by a predator. A DOA shrimp is designed to look like a swimming shrimp.....ready to be attacked by a predator. Like a Speckled Trout.

Rob hooks up with probably 5 small trout in the first hour. I get one bite. Mind you, that we're both casting the same banks littered with oyster beds that have drop offs, where Trout lurk. Now, it's two hours into our day and Rob's got the first keeper Trout, I got 3 bites, and not a single taker.

I'm starting to wonder what the hell is going on?

I've been in this same creek, this same time of year, throwing the same DOA shrimp and caught loads of Trout. JUST AS ROB, IS DOING!

So, I continue. But one thing I do know, is that Rob knows the area way better than me. Hell, he was just here yesterday too! And secondly, the first cast into a good spot, usually nabs the aggressive single Trout. And who gets first dibs?

The person running the trolling motor!!!!

I was in the back of the boat. So I had to search my own spot to make a cast, at high tide, not having a clue of the topography of the bottom. Just relying on my own instinct. But it never helped. So I changed my DOA shrimp and put on another, with a lighter Fluorocarbon leader.

Still Rob was "wack happy", catching a Trout off of every little spot, it seemed. And I still could even get a bite! So I went to a MirrOlure

Catch 2000. A slow sinking or suspending mullet imitator. And finally got a bite, now 3 hours or more into our drift down the creek. But Rob kept waxin' me. And now had released at least 7 or 8, and put 3 in the box up to 4 pounds! Plus, he had a pup sized Redfish or two. Along with tons of bites.

We did bring live shrimp, just in case. And I even tried the float-rig, but have ya ever fished a Float-rig as the boats driving around on a Trolling motor?? It can't be done, correctly.

Pissed ain't the word.....

I said after I finally caught a 12 inch Trout on a

3-1/4" MirrOlure, "Geez Rob, this is why I got up at 5am this morning!"

My frustration was hurting. Especially after I've been here before, done this very successfully before many times, and was so excited last night.

That's what really hurt. The dreams I had of a great day!

Rob and I just couldn't figure out what was wrong. I was just not meant to be here today or any other day, I suppose.

And the funny thing was that I'm not some guy that fishes once a year. If Rob was in the charter biz, and this was happening. Holy crap, I can't imagine what a client would think.

And I was thinking also about all the charter guides I see fishing their asses off up on the front deck on the trolling motor, as they catch one fish after another. Sometimes looking oblivious that they actually have paying customers standing behind them that aren't expert casters, or fisherman.

We fished our way out of the creek, because we had to get out before the tide got to low to do so.

But not after Rob catches a nice Redfish off a shell bar, that I probably casted too a few times also with the MirrOlure and never had a bite.

After the Red, we moved on... and out after even running into a few sand bars because the water was so low.

We went to a second area that I have float-rigged before with another friend Nick, in his 17' skiff and that day we caught 4 trout, but the gnats ran us off before we could really enjoy the spot.

This area has Trout written all over it. Deeper swifter moving water. And Rob catches more Trout, while I get a tap on my DOA Shrimp, and that was all.

I switched to the float-rig and a live shrimp....pretty much futile in a moving boat, but I did catch a pinfish and another 12 inch Trout....sort of a mercy fish.

We leave there, run up another creek on the way home, and Rob catches only one big Trout there....I get one or two hits on my DOA.

Then, we run back the intra-coastal waterway back to the St. Johns River. And stop by White Shell rocks. I catch a 12" Trout there on a MirrOlure, Rob catches a few Trout on his DOA.

We left as the tide went dead, because I had to be home and on to an engagement by 5pm. And Rob ended up with 7 big fat Specks and a 23" Redfish in the box and probably caught damn near 20 of various sizes, to my 3 tiny yearlings.

So, what do you think the deal was today?

I certainly don't know for sure, but can guess....

If it's at all possible for a 1/4 oz. Grey/black "non" silver flecked DOA shrimp, to be all that different than a 1/2 oz. Black with silver fleck DOA shrimp?

I know local knowledge has it's benefits.....but I didn't fall off the mullet truck yesterday, either. I should have at least connected a few times with my DOA shrimp.

Was the cards not in my favor after catching a big fat Trout yesterday with my client Kirk?

(and just so you know our agreement is that I fish along with him....99.99% of the time, this fishing guide does not fish with his clients)

I really don't know....but if you'd like some 1/2 oz black with silver fleck DOA Shrimp lures. You can have them. I'll stick to my Salmon Stalker Float, and live shrimp, behind an anchored boat in perfect current. I won't wear out my casting arm that way, and will always catch me some dinner.

And you will too!!

Float-Freak, over and out!

01/6/08 - A GLORIOUS DAY!

Okay......I'll admit, I went out on Saturday by myself and didn't do a Blog report.

ecause it was cold, and I had a lot of just plain "funk" all over me. I left out too late, it was cold as all get out on the river, it was windy, and all I caught was a bunch of 14-3/4 inch Trout and one small Sheepshead. It was basically the first day after the gale force winds, and freezing cold we got slammed with. But I just had to go. And nothing was worth discussing here.

So today was a day I had planned with Kirk M. to fish, since we were actually scheduled to go on that first day of sub zero temps. And I told Kirk.....I don't think it'll happen. Even though we have fished together in 20-25 knot winds in 30 degrees before and caught a load of Reds in Dec.

http://captdaves.blogspot.com/2007/12/1222-iffyweather.html - here's the report.

Kirk is local #1, and he's a good angler #2, and he does a charter right #3. What do I mean by does it right? He wants "one on one" guided fishing trips. Kinda the way I always envisioned this business would be. Ya know, like a Fly fishing flats guide in the keys. But what are a lot of the calls I get? Well, I had one call today for 12 people, and another for 4 passengers offshore.

I don't have a boat the size of the Queen Mary, and secondly......I don't fish offshore! I inshore fishing, period.

And here's good reason:

Kirk & I caught fish, after fish. 2.5 miles from the boat ramp where we left from. Bait was in the water 90% of the time. And we fished a whopping two areas and came back with limits of Speckled Trout to 7 pounds, Yellowmouth Trout, 3-Black Drum to 6 pounds and 2-Sheepshead to 6 pounds. ON LIGHT TACKLE.

We had so much fun that in another country it might be illegal.
NO LONG runs to a distant land. Real easy to make a pit stop,
and I even had too. So we ran back and I visited Mayport Marine's

facilities, next door to the boat ramp. And then we soft peddled our way right on back out to the inlet.

This is what I live for. And this is the way it always seems to be when Kirk's out with me. We have great days together.

Live shrimp and a Float-rig, Trout and Sheepshead. And the action was constant as long as the tide was moving. Then, we finished

up the shrimp on 3 - Black Drum.

We even got one of those "us" in the boat photos.

Here's my "redemption" from a bad day on Saturday.

My 7 pound, 26" Speck!

I think this is the most pictures I've tried to jam on to this

space.

If you're gonna let the good weather report this week

pass you by......oh well. But if you want to go out and give

this a try.

CALL ME!

Remember.....I always believe in Photos say a thousand words. If it's happening, you'll SEE it here.

1/4/08 - Cramping my style

I'm never prepared for this. Especially mentally. And it's a sure sign, "I'm getting older".

THIS WEATHER IS SEVERELY CRAMPING MY STYLE!

Wind Direction (WDIR):
NE ( 40 deg true )

Wind Speed (WSPD):
15.0 kts

Atmospheric Pressure (PRES):
30.67 in

Air Temperature (ATMP):
49.6 °F

Wind Chill (CHILL):
43.7 °F


I want to go fishing. Hell, I have shrimp in my live well covered up with a blanket and the well sitting on a heating pad jacked up to maximum warp heat. But, can I muster the strength. Knowing all too well that the wind speed is 15 knots, but in reality more like 20 knots when I get out there. (something ya learn as you get older and wiser)

I'd go out and fool around, if the wind would die off. I bet it can cut ya like a fillet knife. Especially, when you're not used to such cold.

I don't mind the cold that much and can dress for it. But that wind is making me very apprehensive.

Here's a few pics of last year in late January and in February, when I was told I looked like "Yukon Cornelius" on vacation!



It was bone chilling this day too. But ZERO wind!

I have a charter on Sunday. The weather guessers say by this weekend, it should be bearable. I'll have Kirk M. with me....
Mr. N. Dakota.

He's obviously immune to all chill. But then again, I'm sitting here right now and freezing behind my desk! The heat in the house is running and just won't stop. I live in an ole Florida house, not really good for anything less that 40 degrees.
Unless I spent several thousand dollars in upgrading it. IE: insulation, windows, doors etc.

And the friends I have that live up in Mass. and Maine can't believe Floridians get "cabin fever", but I can tell ya that the first signs of it are coming.

Fever or not, I'm getting e-mail after e-mail for charters. Or "tire kickers" as I refer to them as. From all over, but I only take seriously, PHONE CALLS!

Most E-mailers, I never hear hide nor hair outa them ever again. But they want, something? And all this info here and on my web site ain't enough, I guess. (that's Amazing!!!!)

I'm sure we'll bounce outa this freeze soon enough. But what concerns me is big changes. I like to keep up with my fish, and visit them often. And I just can't muster the strength to go out today in this burning wind and cold.


I'm another year older.....and maybe smarter???

1/2/2008 - His name is D.O.A

Well, not much to report....all ya have to do is walk outside. And that's yer report.
The huge weather occurrences are obviously easy to forecast, ever notice that?
But the slight things, like wind direction, speed are the tough ones. So, the weather guessers surely got this one right. It's really really cold.

I was standing in front of B&M bait and tackle yesterday, along with 50 other people on "customer appreciation day", which is always New Years day. Eating some of the best food I've ever eaten out-of-doors. Fried Grouper, Snapper, bbq ribs, greens, salads, beef, venison, chicken, corn bread, tater salad, brownies, cookies, stews, you name it....Each year I look forward to this on New Years day. The B&M folks, Rusty, Tracy and Patsy do it up right, along with help from customers who bring some superlative dishes for everyone.

If you're reading the blog, but not from here. Today was the start of a massive cold blast to hit Fla. Winds are gusting to gale force, the high temp is 40 on my back porch, and this morning it was even colder. The wind gusts have the temp feeling like it's 30 degrees...this morning it must have felt like in the teens. I've fished in some cold windy days (which can be seen here on this reports blog) but C'C',on....This morning had to brutal.

Not what we're used too. And 99.999% of us don't fish in. Because we're too used to nice warm days. (60 degree at least)

Yesterday, while at B&M bait and tackle, I was standing there talking to all my friends with a long sleeved T-shirt on and shorts. AND SWEATING in the sun.

I was invited to go fishing with a friend yesterday. Not even thinking about the cold and wind, I replied, "I have errands to run, or I'd go". Well, I just got back from B&M where I stopped in to say hello. Come to find out, this guy went fishing!!! According to J.B. that works at the bait shop.

"Dave, your cohort went fishing this morning", said J.B.
"WHAT????" I replied.
"Yep, and he left out real early, like 15 minutes after we opened this morning at 6am." said J.B.
"Holy Crap. Yeah, he invited me and I told him I could go after 9am, but he said that was too late. I said to him, man it's gonna be cold and he said, Oh well I'm gonna run the boat, anyhow"
"So how did he do?" I asked J.B.
"he's crazy.....But he caught himself some Trout!!!"
"Wow, that's one tough dude" I replied. "almost makes me wish I could have gone too."

His nick name; "D.O.A. Rob"

He's a fellow year round Speckled Trout chaser, and has now gained even more respect of mine.

He's my kinda guy.

12/31/07 - Ate by the Alligator!

Holy Mother Of All Creatures, Big & Small !!!!

If only I had a crystal ball. Because today, out with Jeff and son Dillon, was like I was in Bazaro World. By no means was it the sweetest day of December weather-wise. But at least it would have been nice to give away a live river cricket to a gamefish or two, especially some nice Trout, like I had with 3 guys on the 27th.

Between myself and every other fisherman I talked too out there today. It was the same deal. Loads of bait, no fish to eat it.

We tried the jetties, the back waters, the river, under docks, along rocks, and back to the jetties again.

Also known as the "World Tour of fishing". I probably used more gas today, looking for fish than I have in the last 6 trips. We were all over the place. And when I change zip codes and there still isn't a change in the "bite".......it's a "Here's yer sign" kinda day. Here come Mr. Alligator!

I even went and made the trip to my "double whammy secret winter trout creek". Totally reserved for deep winter, tough days. We did have a big fish hooked up, but Jeff had it break the line right at the hook. Something was funny about that whole deal too??

We did have one small Bluefish, and one small Speck, and this one Sheepshead Dillon caught along a breakwater wall on his shrimp and float-rig.

It wasn't a float fisherman's day. But I wasn't gonna sit and stare at a rod tip either and bottom fish. In the creeks at low tide it was bait stealers galore. Literally, every single shrimp was ate off the hook with out them hardly noticing.

Is the impending weather at fault?

It's gonna be really cold this week. Unlike last year the first week of January, where it was 80 degrees.

But according to my log book from January 2007,
by the middle of the month the Specks had about dropped off the face of the earth. And for two weeks, it was one hard day after another, till the end of January to find quality Specks.
I hope it's different this year. Because in one month, they'll be closed for harvest. (February)

I did all I could today, short of fishing my butt off. And doing what I see so many other guides do.....forget they have customers, and fish and fish away......

Instead I tried to work with Jeff and Dillons technique. I did the "10 drifts and we're outa here" deal, if no bites. I worked an area, start up here, then move back there.
Nothing worked.

Sometimes ya eat the Alligator, and sometimes the Alligator eats you!

I have to check the barometer. Something was funky today. It never got better, and never got worse. It just was dead slow all day.

Suppose to fish on Thursday. The forecast is for 25 degrees in the morning, and probably high winds. I suppose we'll be re-scheduling the first trip of 2008, and doing all I can to forget the last trip of 2007.










LOOK AT THIS GRAPH OF TODAY'S BAROMETER!

That huge fall, and then spike was TODAY.
(that can't be good)
hmmm, I think I found the Alligator that ate us!

12/27 - Where was RED?

Happy to report, my idea of going back to "old School" jetty anchoring, with a 1/2 cinder block worked just fine today. And I got it back each time I retrieved it. And when it held....IT HELD!

I've been called "Captain Gadget" before by friends. Because I always have an eye out for the latest and greatest fishing/boating product improvement. Although, I don't fall for hype, I do give many items such as rods, reels, terminal tackle and yes, even anchors a fair shake and if it works in my world....I usually talk about it. (been there, done that with those Mighty-Mite aluminum anchors. If that's what your thinking....)

That's the reason I even mentioned the folding grapnel hook anchors. The problems I was having with my old jetty anchor in high winds, and basically getting fed up in the long run, in previous posts.

I ended up taking my large chain and looping it through one of the holes in the block. It did drag of course when it wasn't in the rocks. But if I placed it up in the jetty. It held tight.

And as with many days out there, I needed a good hold today. This morning at 8am it was pretty sloppy where I anchored. With the incoming tide pushing hard, a swell breaking on the tops of the jetty, and a serious chop on the surface. It was S.O.P in Dave's world. But it calmed to a tranquil slick sea as the day went on.

I had Bill N. and his two brother-in-laws out with me. I was supposed to have 2 kids and two adults. So when Bill's brother-in-laws walked up to me at the boat ramp. They weren't who I was looking for. I had my eye out for a few kids and dad's.

We soft peddled our way to the inlet, as we talked a bit. I wasn't in a huge hurry, for I know my tides and I didn't have to hurry...it was incoming and I needed good current and it'll be there on my spot, no worries.

I went over all the details as usual, but was on the big danforth style "fluke" anchor out in the sand. And as I went over the fine art of mending your line, tackle handling, pinning on a live shrimp. I observed that "yes, it's gonna be a cinder block kinda day".

So I changed out the anchors and went to work getting us, Just Right. Remember, I had two new guys to this kinda of fishing, and one that was on top of this game. So positioning and having behind the boat being the "point of origin" in which the float-rig will drift from makes it easier for the new guys.

Bill, scored the first and second as we drifted back on the anchor "block". Two nice Yellowmouths. I had to get used to using a cinder block for an anchor again.....it's only been 18 years since I've used one.

Everyone ended up getting bit. We lost some and we caught some, and the cooler was starting to look pretty good. Especially as the nice Specks from 16 to over 20 inches started coming to the net.

The tide was getting really high, and we should start getting bit by a Redfish or two, and it never happened.

I was coaching the guys, they were running right through where they should be. Every thing looked really good. The current was perfect, the position I was in was perfect. The only thing that wasn't perfect, was the size of the shrimp.

They were really small.

I'm always thinking like a good lure angler or even a fly fisherman.....PRESENTATION, PRESENTATION, PRESENTATION!!

And you should be too, unless your just "bait-n-wait" fishing on the bottom. That still is about presentation, but not nearly as crucial. Bottom fishing is more about, LOCATION.

Bill did have a big fish hooked up, probably the big Red we were looking for, but it broke him off in the rocks. (a here's yer sign...It was an ass-hander!) And one his brother-in-laws also lost a bigger fish.

Bill then hooked the largest Speck of the day, and it fought so good I thought it was a small Redfish. I think Bill did too.

I think a congratulatory Beer was opened after that Trout!

The guys caught some more till the current completely faded......but still no Redfish!

So, I headed to a new spot and it was time to do some Jiggin'. I busted out my "meat mover" rods, and tied on fresh 1/2 oz jigs and pinned the tiny shrimp on them. And the first fish was a monster Ring-tailed Porgy. (a true sign...it's really winter)

Then it was Bill's turn. I said we were here to catch a damn Redfish, but we could catch a Redfishes UGLY cousin, a Black Drum.

And what does Bill immediately hook-up with? A perfect sized eater, Black Drum. Was Bill the groups "ringer". I think so.

We worked the area hard, pitchin and jigging, till the current again on this spot, went slack.

And not a single Red. Hmm, that's really something. I usually don't mind, because if the Trout are chewing really great and we hook some Reds while working the specks. All is great.

But the Trout had to be worked at to get them too. At least that's the way it seemed, to me while observing /coaching/ anchoring and tying hooks and leaders.

We headed in to clean fish, and we had way more Trout than I thought as I filled a bag with prime boneless, skinless ready to fry fillets.

It was one heck of beautiful day, that's for sure. And it got warm, really fast.

Next up: 12/31 with 2-3 anglers.

12/26 - I'm goin' back to old school

Well, if you've been keeping up. (kinda hard with all the Holiday BS going on I'm sure) You know that I've been trying my best to work out my Jetty Anchor woes. I usually have no problems at the jetties unless the winds blowing 15 knots or better, with my jetty anchor.

But, are those days in the winter time far and few between? NOPE. The wind is always up along the inlet in the winter it seems, or at least when I'm there.


If there's one place in all of Florida that can be an anchoring nightmare, it's here in J-ville. From up in the river in deep swift currents, to out at the jetties in swells and currents. Not to forget the ever "CONSTANT" wakes from Pilot boats, Ships, US Navy contracted sea tractor tugs, and just plain other boats.


So taking into account that I sometimes don't know what I'm getting myself into when I head to
the inlets jetty rocks in the winter, I'm going back to "OLD SCHOOL" anchoring.

Yes, I remember the days in my old 1970's something AlumaCraft 14 footer. That had limited space to stow multiple anchors. But I was a jetty-guy! So the best anchor was a "BRICK".
I could carry 3-4 of them. If it got so stuck in the rocks.......SO WHAT! I'd just break it, or just loose it and tie on another one and be on my way.


Ahhh, things were so simple back then.


Well that was a 14' boat.
Today's aluminum craft
that I fish from is
substantially heftier.

And btw....that's the reason I LOVE ALUMINUM!

It was the 14' foot AlumaCraft's fault. That lil boat was 3 plies of thick aluminum, sandwiched together, and then riveted, and was tough as hell.

Today, I wouldn't even think of having a the same AlumaCraft....they ain't built like they used to be. Their thinner today, then back in the "ole days". And welded is the way to go in the saltwater world.

So as I was welding supports on my old jetty anchors, trying to beef them up, since they bend too easy. I just said "hell with all this mess!" I jumped in my truck Christmas eve afternoon, and went to the Home Depot!


They have lots of cheap jetty anchors there!


$1.50 a piece! And I left out with (5) - "1/2" blocks. Yep, a cheap, who cares jetty anchor. That given the nature of this material, I bet I can break it if I have too. With cleats WELDED to the boat, I can really get some serious tuggin' going on. If I have too. Wrap a piece of chain through the holes in the block and I can snap it like a twig. Grab another and re-anchor!

Sounds all good in theory right? We'll see. But you're saying....."where the hell do you keep these cinder blocks in your boat?

Hmmm, that's the big difference between YOU and ME. I have a monster anchor locker, with lots of room. And rubber tiles on the deck to store them on. Plus a boat, that a few weighty 10 pound blocks won't bother. Hell my ole jetty anchor weighed in at 10 pounds. My weight carrying capacity is 4600 pounds. Almost twice of a comparable sized Fiberglass boat.

I'll probably get to try it all out tomorrow, with a FULL boat. I have a family trip and there will be 5 of us on board, including me. So, I'll be carrying a lot of weight! And that's when the jetty anchor really bends out of the jetty rocks, when a swell or wake comes.


Damn, I hope this works!

12/23 - I MADE IT

Wow, I made it......through this week, and three days were absolutely heinous! (4) scheduled trips in (7) days. One cancellation due to the bad weather and people not wanting to fish in it. But like an "even Steven", this whole week worked out after all.

Today was not perfect by no means. But I had two guys that were fun to have on board, and eager to learn and were interesting too.

Left out about 9:30am, and met up with Manny & Dan. Headed up into the backwaters, to where Kirk and I had a ton of action yesterday. But, we were pushing the tide, (being a tad too early) but at least the tide was falling.....I mean more like screamin'. A good acclimation spot seeing Dan from N.Y. never Float-rigged before, but Manny had. So I had time to really go over the in's and out's. Dan of course was the first to hook a few, some small Trout, Redfish and Bluefish. Then, Manny scored a Flounder.




But like most of my favorite spots, as the tide got right I could just tell something wasn't right.


We did have what felt like a hard south wind, maybe that was it, because the amount of Reds or Trout and size just wasn't coming. Even after a slight anchor adjustment.

The current was so screamin' fast with the wind behind it, I had the guys using my heavier float-rig rods, that could hold a two ounce Trout lead, and larger Float. So our presentation would be better. A bit of over-kill for the small Reds and Trout that usually are the first to bite on this spot. But I'll take presenting the bait right, to get the bite over battling the current and having a bad presentation, any day. I personally will use my heavy duty float rig tackle even for small fish, many times. Because it's all about catchin', not feeling good.





Dis-appointed, I headed on to the jetties. I surely had no reason, as I did yesterday in the nasty weather to put all my time into just one spot, especially if I could tell something was goofy.



I choose the south Jetty. And HOLY CRAP, was it a washing machine. I told Manny and Dan, "Its gonna be rock & roll boys!" But, they didn't mind if it meant bending a rod.


And easterly swell, and I'm talking 4 foot or larger. With a nasty wind chop from the south west on top of it all. So I ran out and dropped anchor way far away and made sure I had enough scope out to really hold us. The seas rolled over the tip of the jetty in true winter form. Helped along with the surging falling tide, that was ripping between the North and South Jetty.


We set the H.D. Float rig rods relatively deep because there was no backing up on anchor to get close to the rocks....no way. Not near the tip where we were. So the guys set out and made some drifts. Dan, the rookie float fisherman hit the first few. And they were small Yellowmouth Trout. The bites were pretty steady, and the fish were only 12-15". So the larger they were, the quicker they headed into the fish box. Then Dan scored a good size Sheepshead.


I had a good feeling we should catch a big Redfish, and maybe a few big Specks. But Yellowmouths it was, and only the one Sheepshead. And I gave it plenty of time, as we sat fumbling all over the boat, in the washing machine seas. We left out of there with 12 Yellowmouths and a 5 pound Sheepshead.


No photos. Sorry, I could hardly stand up. So taking pictures was out of the question.


So we headed over to the North Jetty. Ahhhh....it's actually calmer!! But it also had a evil side too. I anchored up and it ended being all wrong, but I quickly pointed out too Manny & Dan, they'll be into a whole new set of challenges.


It was Jigging Time!


So I showed them what to do, and made a cast up to the rocks. And of course as I showed them how to feel the rocks, and work the jig-n-shrimp combo meal I felt.....tick,tick!

I dropped my rod tip, took a reel, and set the hook and handed Manny the rod. ZZZZZ.... goes the drag and Manny's hooked up on the first cast to a 25" Redfish.


But as I said, we were anchored all wrong. The sea was sucking us into the jetty rocks, and we were really close. One rouge swell or weird gust of wind and we would be eating granite. So I pulled anchor and attempted to get it right. The wind was bucking the current, the end of the jetties was crashing with monster swells, but we were just going up and down and in and out with the sea....right into the jetty rocks!


The second time I went to pull anchor, the seas dragged the anchor (not a jetty anchor) into the rocks, and I couldn't get the anchor out. It's been a long time since I lost an anchor out there. And I could just feel "today was my day!"


So before the guys could really fish the spot, I had to cut the anchor line and leave an anchor, a swivel, and an 8' piece of chain in the rocks. Damn, I hate that!!



So we headed in to clean our catch.
12 - Yellow-mouths
1-Flounder
1- 25" Red
1-5# Sheepshead


So in the last week, I sat through 29 degree bone chilling freezing 20 knot winds, then gale force west winds and burning cold. 20-25 knots N.E. winds and dreary moist cold, and then today that started off as sunny and breezy, and ended up cool, windy, rough as a cob and then loosing all my ground tackle to the rocks.


Whewww...I caught fish in the 29 degree weather, and I couldn't believe we did as good as we did, I cancelled one trip and 30 minutes later, gained another. Caught hardly no fish on Friday in the gale, then had a blast catching a whole bunch in the crappiest weather Saturday. Then had decent weather today, but lost $50 worth of anchor equipment, but did catch some fish, just not enough.


And it's all in a weeks work, in the winter time.

And just think every stuck in an office employee who owns a boat and thinks he knows how to fish real good wants to take my job, or ever retired executive with too much time on his hands want to take my job from me. If this was really easy........Everyone could and would do it. It certainly isn't no walk in the park that's for sure. I earned ever penny this week.


Have a happy Holiday......I'm here for all your Sport fishing needs.


Next up pre-scheduled: 28th & 31st

12/22 - Iffy.....weather??

Had trip planned for a long time this morning with a fellow float freak, Dr. Dick and his family.

But the 20-25 knots winds and cold, wet weather at 7:30am wasn't looking like it was gonna be their kind of day. So we decided not to go. And then 30 minutes later, ole Kirk calls me. (the fella from N. Dakota) and he says, "hey, I'll go", after I told him that we decided not to do today's trip. I said, "heck the boats hitched, the rods are in the boat, I guess if ya want to brave it we could go" . Kirk's from the serious north country. He said, "Dave, I'm looking for a serious challenge", So I met him at the boat ramp, and it was really CRAPPY....with a capital "C".

Winds were N.E. and the tide was high as all hell, so we went and hit the backwaters.

At first it didn't look all that promising. But as the tide fell, I made a 100 foot move, and we found what we came for.

First it was a few small Trout, then came Reds of all sizes. Pups first, then keepers, then an over sized Red, then a few Blues. For 4 hours straight we worked a shell bar, and had some fun just plain catching fish against the odds. The wind was whipping, it was cold, dreary, and foggy. But as the tide fell, we just kept working the shell bar and hooking Reds.

Overall, it was a great morning. In at 9am, and out at 1pm, and burned at least 6 dozen shrimp, put two Reds in the box 22" & 24", released at least 12 pupper Reds, and pulled a 28 incher off the shell bar. Kirk wanted a challenge and the weather gave us one....but we only had to fish 2 spots all day.

AND MY ANCHOR HELD!

That was a good thing. And made the day a whole lot more bearable for me! And as you can see, I was quite bundled up. And Kirk, Mr. "N. Dakota", looked like it was a fall day, and just another walk in the park.

Looks like Sunday's gonna be pretty nice, too.

Report to follow!

12/21- Gale Force winds, Cold, Rainy, lets go fishin'!

Whewwwww........Today compared to last Monday when it was 30 degrees, and windy.... was a cake walk. The forecast switched from not good to absolutely pitiful, late last night. But what do you do when you've had a trip planned for over a month. You go and make the best of it.


GALE FORCE WINDS, RAIN, AND COLD is what it was when we left the dock, and being that it was a full moon rising, the falling tide current being pushed along by a heinous gale force wind sucked the water out of the river down to dead low tide, really fast.

Didn't want to get too close while taking this picture and make the poor sap feel too bad, but look hard and you'll see that Flats boats need water too. Understanding the tides, especially when there's a full moon, a 30 kt west wind, and taking a 26' deep V-boat up in creeks myself, has me on my toes so that kind of 4 hour wait doesn't happen.


Had Kirk and daughter Caitlin on board today from the Atlanta area. The last time we went it was 95 degrees, and Jack Crevalle was the big fish of the day. I told Kirk, "man, ya ought to fish in the fall or winter, it's soooo good then" . Well, it is! Except for today. But they were glad to just be out on a boat and doing some fishing.

We ended up leaving way later than initially planned, because of the weather. It was just so iffy this morning.

Of course, I wanted to fish the jetties. I wanted limits of those Speckled trout that chewed like it was their last meal yesterday instinctively knowing a meal in the next day of two would be hard to come by, obviously.

Caitlin was the first to hook up on something other that a creek Pinfish. And she caught a decent Trout. Net worthy and I was glad too because this guy was hangin on the hook by a thread.
Then Kirk caught a small trout we quickly let go.




As the current dropped and the boat swung on anchor sitting the bow up on the muddy creek bank, Caitlin hooked up something a bit scrappier, a small 7-striped Jetty Snapper, aka: Sheepshead. Then after that had a Needlefish hooked up. I haven't even seen one of them since the river was 80 degrees!


But then again Monday in the freezing wind a customer had a Jack. So the 62 degree water isn't phasing many species. A friend went on way back in one of those famous southerly Snook creeks we have here now, and caught 7 small Snook on Tuesday.


So, don't tell me that these fish are not
acclimating themselves, over the years.


That was about the end of our fish catching.

As we worked our way out into the ICW and into the 2-3 foot chop that was a whipping, frothing storm of whitecaps.


I was about to say, "well, lets bag this", but Caitlin was cheery and still fired up. So I headed to the back side of Ft. George to get out of the wind, and we found that anchoring was almost impossible, and the current had completely died.


Giving it a try for a moment, we headed back out of there, and headed for the little jetties to try a spot on the first of the incoming tide. But without any luck because my anchor wouldn't hold anywhere I wanted to be. So we finally bagged it and headed in. I cleaned Caitlin's Trout and Sheepshead for her, and bid them farewell till hopefully spring time.



I've been doing R&D with this style of anchor. A BIG one!
And found out today that there is no way it will hold my boat
in a gale of wind, of course. So there I am, back to the ole Fluke style. I'll stick to a small grapnel over a jetty anchor for fishing the rocks on windy days. Because my jetty anchors just bend out way to easily, and I've been needing a jetty anchor with 1/2" tines at least. So I'll see if a carefully placed 12 pound folding Grapnel will work.

It was one heck of a day. And as I sit here and watch the weathermen on TV that can't even imagine, can they? They talk about the wind as if it was just a disturbance to their hair-do's today. I'd love to take them out there and give them a real dose of wind, while trying to have them catch some fish.

The forecast is looking worse and worse for tomorrow, than just earlier today. Especially if catching a lot of fish is the concern, and I was told it was. So I doubt the bite will be hot and heavy in the N.E. 15-20 knot winds tomorrow, so as of right now I doubt I'll be going.
----------------------------------------------
Update: Saturday morning. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY NORTH 25-30 KNOTS BECOMING EAST 15-20 LATER IN THE DAY.
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Another NON-Christmas for Cappy Dave. I'm sort of getting used to this holiday having zero meaning. Because how can ya enjoy them when you can't fish, and make some dough?

But I'm sure glad when they are over and life returns to normal.

12/20 - If there ever was a day...

If there was ever a day to be out at the jetties 'wackin some fatties', it was today.
It was as perfect as the conditions in this photo.

This is an ole favorite photo of mine. Not because I'm an Ad for "ABT", but the position I'm in and where my float is behind the boat.
(can ya see that white speck?)

But of course, I was at the V.A. for a getting my "health care" enrolled from 7:30am till 12:30pm. It was something I could not miss, so I paid the price. Heard the Trout were off the chart, via my sources.

And of course here comes the weather...because I have the holiday rush.

Now the winds are supposed to pick up and as of this writing at 5pm Thursday they say its Small Craft Caution right now with 15-20 SE winds.

Here's the forecast I go by:
FRIDAY:
WEST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS BECOMING NORTH 15 KNOTS IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 2 TO 4 FEET. INLAND WATERS A MODERATE CHOP. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS.

SATURDAY:
NORTHEAST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. SEAS 4 TO 6 FEET. INLAND WATERS A MODERATE CHOP. ISOLATED SHOWERS.

SUNDAY:
SOUTH WINDS 10 KNOTS. SEAS 3 TO 5 FEET. INLAND WATERS A LIGHT CHOP.

Sunday sure looks good, except that may not be 10 knots when I go, because we're not leaving till 10am. Need to fish just the falling tide because of that FULL MOON.

Not gonna make that mistake again of going on a Full or New Moon incoming or at high tide!

The JettyWolf howls at the moon, but only on a falling tide....Thank you.