2/14 - Jetty Revolution!

I thought hard and long about if I even wanted to pass-on my new Jetty fishing idea. Because this is revolutionary, I think. Just remember, you heard it first here. Don't try to pass it off to someone as if you came up with this idea, because I will find out!

No one is probably less of a "crowd follower" than I am. C'mon....I had a MayCraft boat, no one else in the whole area had such a brand. I fish Accurate twin-drag reels from California. None the less for charter fishing! I do not guide out of a flat bottom $10,000.00 Carolina Skiff....that right there, can make you different around here! And ya'll know, I went Plate Alloy with my new boat, because I wanted a life time boat.

I made my own "Capt. Dave's Approved Jetty jigs", banana head shaped, to snag less in the rocks than a round headed jig. But over the years I have found jigs can even be a pain in the butt.

My light tackle jetty jigging has slowed down over the years. I anchor up, take my time, let my customers pitch and work an area, then maybe move around. I like it that way, no hurry.

No cast here get a bite, and then the boats somewhere else 2 seconds later, because the wind's blowing and the trolling motor is at warp speed trying to hold us on the spot. I did the trolling motor bay boat gig for many years.

Plus, pitching up to the rocks isn't my only fishing method. I like to mix it up with other kinds of fishing, these days. You know...Float-rigging! Ahhhh, I love it.

So I searched high and low for something that just doesn't get stuck in the jetty rocks, like a jig does. Because c'mon, "if you are not snagging the rocks you just aren't fishing jigs correctly, right?"

Yeah, that's what I used to think.

Remember, I'm in the business of taking people fishing who probably do not know how to fish like you and I. Everyone assumes, that taking the general public fishing is like taking their buddies fishing. Who you cares if they caught any fish, as long as you do. Well, it's totally different for me. I want my folks to catch fish, learn, have fun, and enjoy the day.

So taking into account the fact that jigs are always getting snagged in the rocks, because most people I take never pitched a jig up to a 60' pile of underwater boulders before. Snags every two seconds with some folks can mean a lot of re-rigging, and a lot of lost jigs.

I remember my ole Bay Boat/trolling motor days, with spinners, 12# mono and jigs. Taking three people usually meant 30 jigs a day or more!

So I came up with what seems to be an alternative:

(please excuse the fuzzy photos, my water proof dive camera doesn't do all that good close up)

First, I found these small 3/8ths ounce weights called Mojo sinkers. An "inline" thin shaped weight

that some bass fisherman came up with for ahead of a rubber worm..."carolina rigged".

But they are really expensive, $4.00 for 10? And what if you want a 3/8th's one spot, and a 1/2 oz. on another? Then ya have to buy more of them. But I tried them, anyhow. I slid it up on my super braid line, and then just tied on a hook. Just as some people find that "pointed worm weights", again from the bass fishing world, work good too. But the larger they get, the wider they get also. Cheaper than a jig still, but "stream lined" and versatile they are not.

I made a "knocker-rig" of sorts with the Mojo weights, and it does the exact same thing as a jig. It worked okay, and the snags were less than with a jig. I had a thin profile, but that was about all.

I wasn't satisfied. So I scanned the world wide web and studied various rigs that are used by Salmon fisherman in swift rivers. They all talked about a "slinky weight". Hmm, that was interesting. A piece of parachute cord with small lead shot inside it, and then the ends melted together, to form smooth stretchy sleeve. Then, poke a hole thru the end and attach to your line. A no foul sinker for bumping down rocky streams. My mind was really working then......but a "slinky weight" still looked like a big fat snagging sinker. So I scrapped that idea.

So, I pressed on....And low and behold it came to me.

I remember seeing this lead called Hollow-core a long time ago. A roll of super soft lead, that had a small diameter, and a small hole that ran thru it, hence the "hollow-core" name. But where can I find some. So I kept searching, then found the manufacture, and then found who sold it. I quickly ordered 2 rolls at 9 feet a piece. 3/16th's inch in diameter.

Now, instead of just a 3/8th's oz. Mojo sinker, I can cut this to certain lengths and have 3/8's or a 1/2 or 1 oz. depending on how long it is. And rig it like a knocker rig, (like a egg sinker) above a swivel and a short leader.

Wella, I had stream-lined, economical, and versatile all in one.

Next was the experimentation stage....

So one day, Ernie a customer of mine and myself went to the jetties, to do some "jigging" or is it called "hollow coring" now??

Ernie fished a length of the hollow core that weighed in at 3/8th's oz. above a short leader and a 1/0 Eagle Claw wide bend hook with a shrimp on it. And I fished a piece of hollow core like a knocker rig, with it sitting on top of the same wide bend hook.

We pitched the rigs up into the North Jetty, and worked it just like a jig-n-shrimp. And it worked, for me! No snags. But Ernie kept getting the hook on his leader hung in the growth on the rocks, and would have to break his mono leader. Which meant re-tying hooks and leaders.

I'd call myself a master "jetty-jigger", because I've been doing it a very long time. But with a regular lead head jig, I still loose a few during the day. But this time, if I got hung up at all, just a quick snap of the rod tip freed my rig. It was a Joy!

Since I use 50 pound super braid line, I doubled it, then added a length the hollow core, and then tie on the hook. The system worked great. The hollow core bends easily, doesn't wear the doubled braid, and the doubled Braid is so strong that if the hook gets really stuck, I can straighten out the hook, bend it all back, pin on a new live shrimp, a be back in the action right away.

Our water is so dark, and jetty fishing has never been a stealthy type of fishing. What's the big difference between a jig and a length of hollow core?

Other than, jigs are expensive, bulky, and snag easily. Hollow core is cheap, versatile, and rigging time isn't that much more.

A jig-head never stopped a Redfish, Black Drum, or a Sheepshead from eating a shrimp, and I seriously doubt the hollow core will either.

And can ya just imagine the usefulness of this for vertical Sheepshead fishing with a fiddler crab, on a short leader? What a nice slim profile. No more getting that fat egg sinker stuck between the jetty rocks. Personally, I like the knocker way of rigging. Since I rarely do any "dabbing" the rocks with fiddlers....too boring! I gotta be doing something. I have to actively working a bait. Not just hanging it over the side of the boat. Although, it is a successful and traditional way of Sheep herding.

The other day when I was out at the jetties with Jason M.

He used the hollow core on a short leader, and I used a Mojo weight at first. Jason caught Sharks and Seabass (it's all that would bite at high tide) casting up into the rocks with his leader and hollow core rig, and I did loose a Mojo weight rigged knocker rig style. So I went to the hollow core rigged knocker style, and never lost another rig while we were there, and neither did Jason.

The hollow core is so flexible, and soft that getting it stuck isn't a concern, the hook is your only concern.

So....do I have something here? I think I do.

I don't have any trips till Saturday, and figured the Blog needed something.....since no one's interested in making a bid on the rods I have for sale. BTW...they are some kick-butt rods, those Okuma's.

So, I could have and probably should have kept this exciting new rig up under my hat. But since I told my neighbor. I figured I'd tell you all.

Not everything is free!!

I think I'll let you all find the hollow core yourself, if you're interested in giving this non-snagging rig a try at the jetty rocks.

Remember, your hook can still get caught, but it's hard to catch a fish without a hook. So, my next step is to use a smaller hook instead of a 1/0 wide bend. To lessen the entire profile of the rig.

If you are successful, send me a photo of your catch. (please size photos first to an email-able size, 400 x 400 is a decent size.) I may use it here, in a blog report, ya never know.

This is what I do during the deep winter, I contemplate things. Always looking to make my charter trips better. I'm a "tinkerer". Always wanting an edge so I can take someone fishing, no matter what the skill level, with the least amount of headaches.

I continually upgrade my tackle, looking for the best rods and reels to do specific jobs, for my clients. And at the same time YOU as a Blog reader hopefully can also benefit, either in learning a new trick, or by getting a great deal.......on maybe some Okuma rods?????

I change rods and reels like tournament Kingfisherman change boats. I buy stuff just to try it out, like the Mojo sinkers and Okuma rods....It doesn't mean they didn't work. But many times a week later, I may have found something I like better.

It's my J-O-B, to play and experiment.

Someone has to do it!

2/10 - Rods for sale

I have 4 - Okuma Guide Select rods, brand new...well as of right now used twice.

They are California "Swim Bait" rods, meaning HEAVY action casting. Seriously sweet rods, very light weight, but MEAT MOVERS! .

I had Tarpon or giant Reds, in mind for these, that's how bad azz these rods are.

Split rear grip, ALCONITE (hard as a diamond) Fugi guides made for super braid line usage.

Could be used for casting, jigging, heavy lures, or sinkers for Big fish.... Or bottom fishing for Snapper/Grouper even, with a nice quality reel, like a Shimano Calcutta 700. Would make for some mighty fine rigs.

7'6" Heavy action - Bait casting - Split Rear Grip - all Fugi materials - rated for 1-5 ounces.

Google, Okuma Guide Select 1-5oz. rods, and you'll see them from 109.00 to $89.00.

ALL (4) for $300 (that's only $75 each) - Visa/MC/PayPal, accepted.....Shipping/Ins. for what is quoted via UPS.

I'll supply the rod tube and professional packaging. I have tons of rod tubes. Under 8' for UPS is still affordable that's why rod manufactures do not make long one piece rods anymore....FYI.

Here's one of my favorite web sites for tackle, being a rod & reel enthusiast and all.....

http://www.tackletour.com/reviewokuma711mhsb.html - Read a review on a very similar Okuma rod.

Call Capt Dave at: 904-642-9546

2/7&8 - Winter wackiness.....

Had "regular" Kirk M. and his buddy Bill that was visiting from N. Dakota on board Thursday.

Man was it a nice morning. We left early to go fish a different zip code. I needed a scenery change, and just a day to be left alone. No Cone-heads driving over my lines, no FWC bothering me, no Coasties, and no rent-a-cops, or noise pollution.

But the story was "no bites = no fish", where we went, except for two scrawny specks. And not long after the tide finally turned so we could fish the falling. The wind started to blow, the air temp fell 20 degrees, and it clouded up. Our nice sunny day was over.

But here's an FYI.... I marked 68 degree water on one spot, at low tide. Haven't seen 68 degree water in 2 months. But it didn't matter. The front came. And our day was just practice in futility. If ya can't get bit anywhere; shallow, deep, river, or creek. What can you do?
So we went home.

Then today, on Friday. I had Jason M. on board. Just he and I, out on what promised to be as super nice winter day. By no means the same as on land, when the temp is concerned, it was chilly. But at least I was in my Aftco shorts, with just a jacket, and was perfectly comfortable all day till the late afternoon. Water temps back at the "hub" are on the rise....so why is fishing still so dang tough? I marked 60-66 degrees, from the jetties to the backwaters today. We fished the falling tide all day.

Started out at the jetties.....No more "world tours" for me. I got that out of my system, real quick, yesterday. We jigged the rocks and had a some Seabass, and a couple cold water sharks at the high water. Then, we went float-rig fishing the rocks for one small Speckled Trout.

There was 3-6" what looked like mullet everywhere, 12 feet deep. I marked knots of them stirring up the sandy bottom on my scope at 12 feet. Then they started flipping the surface.

As one fella yelled to us, "the birds sure are eating better then me!" I agreed. They had all the dinner they could catch.

So we left the jetties as the tide started to fall good and fast. Jason wanted a Redfish, I would have settled for a Drum or at least some fast Yellowmouth Trout action, to keep us busy. But they are not even there.

We ran for awhile, and went into some shallows.
Where Jason and I both caught some nice fat Specks, with no current just plenty of due East wind...which was forecasted to be a west wind.

(could they have gotten that any more WRONG?)
Then, as the baitstealers arrived, the Trout bites stopped as fast as they started. So we moved on up in the river.

My first drift at the next spot was another nice "would be fishbox" size Speck. Then a monster of a ship passed us and we drug anchor off the spot a little, and couldn't get another Trout bite.

So we went back to jigging. And then scored on a Sheepshead. And not long after the current died there too, and we swung around as the east wind pushed the incoming tide in quick on us.
So we packed it in and headed to the dock.

Not much different than I thought the day would be, really. We weren't keeping any fish. So I just wanted "action" and we had a little. But it could have been worse. Thank goodness it wasn't.

Gander Mountain Outdoor store in the new City Square shopping center off Duval Rd. up near the Airport is having a "Meet your Maker" event this weekend.

Factory tackle Reps, tackle sales, seminar speakers, various Pro Anglers...and ME. I'll be there too. Hopefully answering questions about
Trout and Float-rigging techniques, and maybe a seminar??

I'm unsure exactly what I'll be doing exactly.
But a meet and greet is cool too.....I'll be bringing loads of photos and my favorite float-rigging tackle, to help show the technique.

If you aren't out chasing the illusive fish in the river.....come on up and see us.

2/6 - Internet weekly, call-in radio show

Well.....the "poll" announcement I made on the right side of this blog. Saying I was contemplating doing a weekly internet radio call-in show, recieved about 8 replies in the last few weeks. That's maybe 1-3% of the emails I usually recieve.

Just call me, Ron Paul! (Great ideal's...just not in the political liar's club.)

Yeah, that means taking one day a week, to sit down and set aside an hour or two to go over what's been happening one evening, would have maybe 8 listeners?

Whoooooppppeeeee!

So at this time, I'm not going to go thru with the set-up of it all.

Like this blog, the intent ALWAYS is for the purpose of "future" charter cleints to get a feel for what I do and what's going on. And I don't neccessarily think, that 1/4 of the callers I get even look past the home page of my web site, to even get to this wealth of information, and entertainment many times, that's posted here.

Let alone, they would listen to their computer speakers, at 9pm on a thursday and call-in and ask a question. I get 20 emails a week on average and can't even get those people to call, rather than "tire-kick".

I take CALLS, seriously. And have learned over the years that e-mails, are window shoppers 95% of the time.

I appreciate the folks that did email me and let me know. And I guess they are the loyal readers, and past and future loyal customers.


Thursday is my next day out, with "the Kirkinator", and his visiting friend from N. Dakota.
Plans are to get out of the "hub", where all the activity is, and really try a different area.

Hopefully we can avoid the seriously handicapped and inconsiderate, by doing so.

I need a change of scenery....anyhow.

Usually by this time of February, I'm all about heading to south Florida for a serious change of scenery, by going to the Miami Boat show. But have decided that how many Fiberglass boats do I really need to look at anymore, since my passion is 5086 welded Plate Alloy!

-wanna learn more...go to: www.aluminumalloyboats.com - here's is where you'll find me, and my think alike friends.

The Seattle International boat show is where I'll head next....it's where the toughest of the tough are on display, each year.

Problem is, there's probably no cultural shock factor, and 1/2 naked "cuban chiketta banana's" walking around. Because it's certainly not 80 degree weather in Seattle! I guess up there, the gals wear Flannel shirts, and wool long pants? Not as appealing, that's for sure. So the boats have to be the draw.....

2/4 - So called "perfect" day....

Well, it's deep winter now. Being that it's February and all. But unlike February, the weather this week is warm and sunny, at least according to the weather reports. Starting Saturday, and probably ending on Thursday. We're in a nice un-seasonable warm weather pattern......or that's what you may tend to believe.

So at 8am on Monday, myself and Nick "Rathkeltair" Watson went and hit the river.

BUT WHERE'S THE RIVER??????

It was so foggy, we couldn't see anything. No kidding, once out of the shoot at the boat ramp. We were at a dead stop. Not even my "spidey sense" could get me to jump on plane and head to our destination. Which was at least 10 miles away. Ten miles, would have had us arriving somewhere around 3pm, if I continued on at the same speed inwhich I left the dock....."IDLE SPEED!!!"

So right off the git-go, those plans hit the perverbial white sheet! Since it was just Nick and I, my plans were to go hit an area of the river, that I haven't been too in awhile, NOT looking for Trout, because of the closure. And if we did, maybe out sized fish. A place where dark shallow muddy bottom scattered with structure prevails. 99.999% of the time over looked by many.

But years ago, me and the Pelican went in there with DOA shrimp's and MirrOlures, and actually caught a few nice Trout, Flounder and Reds. I could just imagine what maybe could be, when I hit the area with the power of the FLOAT-RIG, and live shrimp!

But high water entry along with a falling tide during the day was mandatory.

As we idled past the Ferry, after stalling to wait for it coming accross the river, tooting it's fog horn "not enough", we waited to pass after we heard it pushing into it's slip on the Mayport side.
I followed along the shrimp boat docks, and I mean hugging them as we couldn't see 50 feet even, and then on down to the Coastie Station. Lucky for us the tide started to just push eastward as we arrived. So I dropped anchor and on my first drift, I caught a Trout.

Nick was all "Sheephead like", and was wanting to catch a convict today. But admitted, he probably doesn't have the fortitude to sit and dab over the side, even when fishing in his own boat. Which is partly my fault, I think. I got him into the "float" way of life, and now he's pretty addicted to inter-active fishing, rather than baiting and waiting.

We left out with 3-4 Trout caught, and eased down river in search another spot that was out of the way of possible traffic, and to where we might be able to catch a Red or Drum. But two spots later, we had neither. I went into a creek...what's the deal with the creeks anyhow?? The tide was rapidly falling, and the only thing that we could even get a bite from was the herds of pinfish that seem to thrive in any water less then frozen!

I said to Nick, "No matter what the water temp is, 89 or 50 degrees pinfish seem to always bite in the creeks. I bet the water could be damn near frozen and we could get pinner bites, while all the other fish are dead floating on the surface."

Creeks.....to me they are a neccessary evil sometimes. I don't like fishing them, but sometimes have too. And sometimes catch fish in them, and sometimes I don't. My favorite fishing is big water, with the possibilities of big fish, backed up to monster structure where I have to work my float like a fly fisherman works his fly down a stream in between the boulders. And when I connect, it's an all out tug of war, to perplex the fish from it's liar.....that's my favorite scenereo.

We did try a few other spots, and found a not so likely spot where there was thousands of tiny ribbonfish popping the surface of the water. They were maybe 6 inches. And what a big Trout candy. But we never lost a bait to anything other than....you guessed it. PINFISH!

About then the fog lifted. All in one a matter of 5 minutes the sun pierced thru the dense whiteness, and blue sky and sun along with warmth appeared. Yes, warmth. It was quite cold out there. But now it was too late in the morning to traverse up river to where I had planned to go experiment. So we hung around all the same spots in the Mayport area.

We caught Trout, Trout, and a few more Trout!

We were on one spot, mind you it's a MONDAY at 11am. Minding our own bee's wax when some asshole in a bright yellow flats boat come racing up to us. Comes off plane with his noisey engine, points his bow straight at my float drifting along a set of rocks, and drives right up to it with his bow. Holy crap! Who does this asshole thing he is?

I yelled to him....."hey, can't ya see I'm drifting right back there?" And he replies, "Oh I didn't see your float....and don't you know your blocking the gap in the rocks to get to the other side?" "There's 10 more gaps in the rocks, use one of those....." I yelled back. Then he murmers something else and I yelled to him, "I have a photographic memory....I'll remember that boat, believe me!!!!!" (yes, I can throw a big wake if I want)


Nick and I can't believe it. And the guys got a kid with him, great example for the kid, "so spawns a future inconsiderate!" when ya have an perfect example like that.

Yellow, off brand flats boat, with a Yamaha V-max engine with some scribbly name on the side in black letters. Obviously some "cool guy wannabe", who came in like a lightning bolt and started throwing some lure and feverishly working it as if the fish were swimming in 75 degree water he was twitching and casting so fast. I get such a kick out those Flats boat crowd. They all think they're the Roland Martin's of the saltwater fishing world. In their Columbia fishing shirts and fast cast attitudes.

Needless to say, Nick or I ever got another bite after this wannabe drove all over the fish. So we left out, and so did Mr. cool-guy....as we followed him down the river. He obviously didn't catch squat at that spot. And I know why!

Okay, now were maybe up to a "limit" or more of keeper Trout...So we hit another spot. Nick immediately hooks up before I even toss the anchor, but looses it. We anchor and set up on the spot and never get another bite.....?? Okay, I can take a hint, and we go to where the water from a huge flat pours into a deeper channel. The water temps really up now, almost 61 degrees!

I catch a Flounder, and then we make an adjustment and we start catching more Trout.
Redfish....where is a Redfish?? We can't believe that there isn't any here, along a wonderful shell covered bank on the first of the incoming tide. In the bright warm sun. Not even a pupper.

So we move on to a spot DOA Rob told me about that's real close. I've caught Sheepshead, and Trout on the spot, but never any Reds, but DOA Rob says it's a Redfishy spot. I pull up and go to drop anchor in the wide creek. And here comes two old guys in a 16 foot Carolina Skiff. I walk to the console and start backing up on the anchor. And these dumbass's drive straight down the side of my boat, and as I was backing down and to the right I had to quickly take the boat out of gear or I would have run my Honda straight in the side of their skiff, they were so close to me.

OH MY GOD....this area is the land of the IDIOTS!!! Who the heck drives right down the side of another boat in a creek that's 150' wide????? This bastard does!!!!
I'm telling ya, I waited till Monday at 8am to go fishing. Because I saw the boat ramp on Sunday and there's no way I'd fish in that without getting compensated heavily. And here we are on a Monday, and we have two encounters within 2 hours with two complete idiots. I must have been the magnet of the day.

The spot has two big shell bars that are slowly being covered with the incoming tide. So Nick ties on a MirrOlure 52MR and starts chucking around and I go to a jig-n-shrimp combo meal. I working for anything besides a Trout.....I guess Nick's working on his "cool guy" casting techniques, I don't know. I could not keep the pinfish off my jig. So how the hell is a Red or Drum gonna eat it. I worked the jig as long as I could take it. Then picked up my Float-rig, so I could catch a fish. And immediatly started catching........TROUT, again. Not big ones, but at least they were fish. Then I caught a Bluefish, and then back to more Trout.

Nick went back to the jig-n-shrimp. And too was eaten alive by pinfish. And caught ZERO.

As we sat there we could see the fog rolling in again over the trees from the east where the fog pulled out too. When the fog burned off in the river you could plainly see it hovering over the ocean to the east. As if just waiting to come back again. And by the time we left for the barn, we were in the thick of it again.

We caught at least 20 Trout, and possibly had two limits of 15 inchers (10), no out sized Trout, a keeper Yellowmouth Trout, and a 14" Flounder.

Needless to say, it was a frustrating day having to hang around the "the hub" as I refer to it. Between the jetties and the ICW crossing at the little jetties, up a few miles towards Ft. George, and down to Atlantic Blvd to the south. It's the area that gets pumbled by the masses who don't know where else to go. And we got stuck fishing it. Because of the weather. On usually a quiet Monday, in February. Which wasn't.

I'm so looking forward to the July 4th Holiday on the St. Johns, already.....
NOT!!!!

1/31 - Stick a fork in my............

Last Tuesday, I had Ashley G. call me. And I was excited, because I just got back from catching at least 20 Trout, which probably equated too 3 limits, had a Sheepshead and a Flounder as a cooler spicer upper. Only fished two areas, and dropped anchor 3 times. All by myself and had a ball, just messing around.

Well......since then "stick a fork in my ass", cuz I'm done! Today I had Ashley, and his dad and son on board.

Today reminded me of that line from the movie, "Something about Mary" Where Chris Elliott who played Woogy, says to Ben Stiller, "Each day is worse than the next."

Since last Tuesday, that's how it's been in the Mayport fishing department for me. And I can see that it not only is a change in the fishing. But it's a change in the people I have fishing.

When the fish aren't behind the boat chewin'.....it's not as fun. People get all quiet, and I'm the only one even making any comments.

I'm not gonna go into any details, because honestly I don't have the strength too.

BITES, ya gotta get'em if your gonna catch a fish!

Somethings gotta give. Redtide wasn't even as bad as this week.

March 1, is only 29 days away!

1/28 - Fishing the right tide

Had Tom, Roger & Larry aboard today. Left out at high tide (noon) on a less than 4.0' falling.

So we had some time till the water started moving the "right way".

The water was cold, but I had confidence that once the tide got low we could do better than yesterday's freezing incoming, all morning.

The fellas were not all that "keen" on my racks full of high dollar baitcasting reels. But they seemed to do fine as most do, kicking the spinner habit for one day. Ya' don't fly fish with a Zebco, and ya don't float-rig with a Spinner! It's just that simple, in my mind.

So to make this short and sweet, cause I'm tired today. They didn't even get bit until the water was low. And I knew it was gonna be that way, going in. We fished some creeks that I can get in. First was a winter sized Flounder around 14". Then a Sheepshead. We then moved on after seeing that those two were it, in between the pinfish bites. And caught a few Reds at that spot, too.

One thing I observed is that even though float-rigging is easy. You have to work at your presentation constantly.

I told Tom the ole story about two tournament King fisherman in the same Go-Fast boats with racing stripes and 5 engines on the stern. Both boats are exactly the same....as so many are in that field of fishing. Both are fishing 6 lines, on down riggers, and on top. Both are dragging chum bags. Both have the latest and greatest tackle. Both have the stealthiest rigs out with hand caught ribbonfish. Both are side by side on the same stretch of bottom offshore.

But one boat is getting bites, hooking fish, and putting them in the custom fish bag. And the other isn't......WHY?

Well the answer is; one of the boats is doing 25 things right all at the same time. The other isn't. They're drinking beer, listening to the radio chatter, and only shaking the chum bag every once in awhile.

That same thing goes for Float-rig fishing or any fishing. And when the going gets tough as it is now with the cold water, and tides that aren't all the strong. I believe presentation and every detail counts. That's fishing.

We went to a spot I had planned on trying once it got right. Again in shallow water. The temp was now up to 57 degrees over the 54 we had at the high tide. It was GO time.

And the guys caught a few Trout, a throwback, and a few more pup reds. But, it may have just been me. I think there was a lot more fish behind us....there had to be!

The water was warmer, the wind was damn near dead calm, and the water was slick as glass. As the sun started to go down we moved not far away and I pitched them to right where I caught a 21", a 20" and a 19" Trout in three casts last Tuesday. The only difference was the current speed.
They caught a few Trout, but no big fish bites.

Many spots where there's shallow water fish, are out of my reach I'm sure. Back in the creek behind the creek....especially the larger Reds. It's this way every year at this time.

DOA Rob did real well early this morning at low water in his Kayak. He caught good Trout, in a shallow area off the main river.

Right now, it's as if you only need to do a 1/2 day trip, with a just before low tide departure. And as soon as the tide starts pouring in and the water starts to come up. Time to go home. No sense trying to work any high water. At least not in my opinion.

Thursday's my next day up, again with a 3 pak.

1/27 - You would never have known....

Holy Ice sickles Batman! Was this morning cold. I mean, I've had to fish on cold morning before but for some reason it felt like death to me at 7am as I backed down the boat ramp and wetted the big Alloy machine.

You would have never have known it, by the looks of the weather report. And the way the afternoon turned out. But Jaclyn & Brian H. from Ft. Worth Texas showed up right on time.

Prepared? MMmm, personally I don't think so. Brian must have polar bear in his blood, because just looking at him made my heart skip a beat, the way he was dressed.

I gave fair warning over the phone twice. While they were still in Texas, and when they arrived in J-ville.

Another thing I had a bad feeling about was the FISHING! Being that we were all freezing. Can ya' just imagine how the fish feel? The Cold Blooded critters? Water temps were 54 degrees on my RayMarine C-120 machine as we headed to the first spot. That was the first thing, now for the second. INCOMING TIDE! All you're asking for then is more cold water to come flood the shallows. Not a favorite of mine by now means. Third thing, but not all that bad as forecasted, was the 15-20 kt. winds from the N.W. I have a good feeling that's why it felt so dang cold. All that fridged air blowing from over land, cold land! If the wind was N.E. or S.E. at least that's air that came across warmer waters.

One thing about water temps and fish species. Most of our local fish really seem to fade off, when the water temp drops below 60 degrees. Check a preference chart, sometime and see for yourself. It's just part of the burden we bare here in N.E. Florida in the deep winter. But on the bright side, thank goodness it's not below 60 very long.

Right off the "git-go" I handed Brian a rod and reel and got him used to Float-rigging, and casting my Chrome Rocket Abu's like an ole pro. I could tell he had some talent. Then, I went to give Jaclyn a rod and reel to get her going, and the reel was hanging up from the cold......yeah, like ice in your rod guides up in some "land of the Inuits", the chrome over brass Rocket reels do this from time to time. So 5 minutes into the morning here I am breaking out the leatherman, and taking the other float-rigged reel apart. And after a bit of man-handling it started working properly.

I told Jaclyn and Brian, "I hate a tackle failure, and if it fails just a few times, it's off to the auction block! I'll replace it in a heart beat"....yeah I get super pissed off when reels don't work right. But I guess, I'll be keeping this one. It was just hung-up.

Brian caught two micro yellowmouth Trout around 10 inches. Not a good start. Moved off to another spot where a likely larger Trout would "maybe" be.......ZIP.

So in the back of my head, I had an alternative plan. BAIT-N-WAIT, fishing on the bottom.
Oh yes.... the dreaded bait-n-wait, which on a morning like this equates too Bait -n- Freeze, starring at rod tips. So that's what we did, on a Sheepshead spot not all that far away in the ICW.

My mini-Accurate reels & Loomis Backbounce rods, were on a winter day mission. I practically had to blow the dust off them bastards this morning as I grabbed them off the rock and said, "boys, your going today!" (I know...only nuts talk to their tackle) Usually, these rigs don't see any action till at least April on the whopper sized Drum if they are biting well.

We moved around and tried a few more drops that had hard bottom, and submerged shell bars, And still came up with ZERO.

I really wanted Brian to get a decent sized fish at least. Instead of the imaginary T-shirt that said, "I went all the way to Florida, only too freeze may ass off and catch a 10" fish." (photo c/o, S. Conrad)

So, we packed it up and took a cold ride to the jetties. The south side of the south seemed really popular, since the North side of the north had white water crashing over it. So that's where we headed. At least 10 boats were there, and I never saw any catch a fish. I had Jaclyn Float-rigging deep and Brian was casting up shallow. And Brian got bit.......Wow, a BITE!
His float went down twice, but it was a 7-Striped Jetty Snapper, and when he reeled in he had a perfect tail-less Shrimp. And after close inspection, you could see the teeth marks practically.
----------------------------
Tip O' the Week: If you're Float -riggin, and want to have a "better" chance at hooking up with a sheepshead, as a variety fish. Use the smallest shrimp in the live well. You'll have a better chance at getting that sheepster to take the shrimp whole versus nipping off the same part we eat.
----------------------------

We left the jetties as did 90% of the other boats out there and headed to a spot in the river not far away. The tide was high, the current was zilch, but we still tried it as a last ditch effort.

I pitched out Brians float, and while he was taking a close-up photo of his lovely wife holding big fat Shrimp, I had my float do a lil dance, and I set the hook on a Flounder about 14". I handed Brian the rod and he reeled it in. (I have been called Capt. Magic before....)

So, there ya have it. Our one and only gamefish species. I tried to take a pic for today's blog, but my camera batteries were dead. Go figure.

Monday's charter (3) passengers, departs at noon........lets see if a falling tide makes any difference.

1/26 - A poll and a wacko...an editorial

Ya'll just don't know what I put up with, sometimes. Because I hear it all the time from customers, "damn, it must be nice fishing all the time, and having such a cool boat and all...."

Well, even though most people don't consider charter fishing as a business, because I don't have employee's and a office door you can walk into. The I.R.S. considers it a business, and so do I. And a business is out to make money. So my usual response is, "It's okay, but it always looks better from the ouside".

Then there's the enthusistic e-mails I get, where local folks want me to give them the perfect spot to be where they can catch all the fish. Back in my WNNR & ESPN days doing a expensive radio show with friend Ken aka: "the Pelican" as the co-host, we'd always reinterate, "there's no magical spot" .

And the other kind of e-mails where someones all "Gung-Ho" to go fishing, and you end up reading, and replying back to them 4-5 times and when it all comes down to it.....They never book a charter, and may have never intended too.

Then there's the Nigerian scam artists. Those emails are so stupid and blatantly idiotic.
Example: "Dear sir, I ams traveling froms London to your area and would like to charter your boats for 4 days, 2-couples, for 4 hrs eachs days. Please let mes know whats credit cards you recieve and I will expoditiously sends yous monies to covers the deposits......bla,bla,bla." Yeah like that sounds like a real person? And in my almost 12 years of chartering full-time, I have never had anyone reserve 4 days in a row!

Then how's this one I recieved today......

ksp4fish@comcast.net> wrote: (his e-mail address is here so you too can spam him, if you'd like)

"Those are some nice you trout in those pictures you post on your website. Too bad no one will ever get the chance to catch them again. I would like to be able to take my future generations fishing. I am sure you only keep what you eat, but how much can you eat? You must be related to Jim Hammond." -Fellow fisherman

Obviously, this asshole doesn't get the fact that I subsistence fish, like an Alaskan Indian Tribe.
Yes, I eat it all. And go by the limits. I guess Jim Hammond received the same non-grammar checked e-mail, also.

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

I am looking into doing a Internet based radio show. One evening a week. A call-in show, where you as a listener can call in and ask questions. I'm thinking something like a Thursday from 8-10pm. Just listen from your computer speakers, LIVE.

The nice thing is no sponsors have to be involved, I don't have to worry about offending anyone. I can talk about some of the same stuff that goes on here on the blog, but in probably greater detail, and anyone with speakers and a computer and telephone can listen and be on the show too. I can have guests on it, and they don't have to be standing here next to me. They can be in another state all together.

I WANT YOU, to let me know if you would be a listener and/or caller. If I don't hear from a good group of people, I'm not gonna waste my time. Because like all things, even this Blog. It will mean hours of work on my part. E-mail me at: Charter@captdaves.com with "Radio show" in the subject line.

So if it's something that interests you. You'll have to let me know.

(wheww....just re-read this myself on Sunday evening and fixed all the edits. Sorry, but I get distracted. Usually it's the phone.)

1/24 - Obvious as all hell

Had a quick decision trip with Ernie Taylor today. We decided to head out this morning at 8am.

Tuesday I went out and it was a glorious day. Wednesday I couldn't go. But on Tuesday Ernie couldn't go, but could on Wednesday, so we went today.....Thursday.

Being it's still a full moon tide, we didn't leave out till 10:30am. And man was it nice. We headed to the jetties to try out a new rig I've been working on, to replace snaggy and expensive jig heads, that I normally would cast up to the jetty rocks.

Personally, I don't have much problem fishing a jig deep in the jetty rocks. Probably because I was one of the originators of the technique and have been doing it for a long, long time. But I'm always thinking about my customers, wanting it to be easier for them, while saving me the cost of so many jigs.

So Ernie and I went an anchored up along one of my normal spots along the rocks. I had two different rigs set up, with basically the same concept I came up with.
Ernie snagged the jetties a few times, but it was his hook that he'd loose and that was it. I on the other hand kinda snagged a few times, always got my rig free, but never lost a single rig.

Okay, so what was the out come of the development of a new rig? I don't know!
But one thing was for sure, the weight part of the rig was never lost. Will it work? Yes, it did.
Now did we catch any fish?
NO.....but we only "jigged" one spot, waiting on the falling tide. And when we saw a boat up in the river go "stern east", we left out to follow the exact same pattern I worked on Tuesday.

Oh and by the way. It was warm, hardly any wind, and slick seas at the jetties at 11:00 am today. Absolutely gorgeous! The water temp on the other hand, is a cool 55 degrees on the surface, on my machine. And since all the true wintery cold nights and days really started. The jetties for me have been quite dead overall.

We caught some Trout instantly on the next spot. But it's a tough spot to fish on the full moon falling tide. So it was in and out, with 4 Trout in a matter of just a few minutes. They're there, big time. But the tide doesn't give me much time to fish the area.

Then here came the wind, and I was still on track to follow Tuesday's pattern. And this is when things started to fall apart. The sky darkened, the wind picked up, and it was obvious as hell, here comes the FRONT! One Flounder and a few Trout later, it was time to move on. The N.W. winds are not too kind on this spot if you're a Float Fisherman.

By the time we left and anchored up on another close spot, it was evident our beautiful morning weather was over. But we kinda knew this going in....all the forecasts said late afternoon it would be all over us. The air temp plummeted, and at our last 2 spots we tried anchoring which was a chore in the 20 knot winds, and then came the rain.

So we packed it in.

Didn't take any photos today. I think ya'll know what a 17" Trout looks like by now.

I'm looking forward to Monday and Tuesday which are the next trips that I have reserved.
The weather's "supposed to be" great, and the temp in the 70's.

1/22 - Observations.

What a difference a day can make, huh? Just to add a bit of science to this thang called fishin'.

First the barometer/atmospheric pressure chart.

Remember the Ye Ole Rule?

*Rising Barometer: Fishing is Best

*Rapidly Fluctuating: Indication of good Fishing (regardless of fluctuating up or down).

*Static Barometer: Fishing is poor

*Falling Barometer: First part of fall is good fishing. After the fall continues for several hours, the more the it goes down the poorer fishing will be.

*Unusually Low Barometer: Don't bother as there is no fishing.

So? Where does today fall in to this graph? I say FALLING BAROMETER, and as we can see from mid night till 12'o clock noon, would fall into the first several hours category.
left out at 10am this morning.....but what else was going on that makes me a happy angler??

Today was the day of the full moon, too. And we had a 5.7' high tide, with a negative 7" on the low. Which makes for lots of current which means no bait stealers, and a very low tide. Take in the fact that it was BRIGHT & SUNNY all day long.

And when the tide is going out, we have a warming effect, since all the shallows are draining warmer water into my hot spots. Also know as just one great day to be out on the water catching fish.

And that's what I did! First spot, 3rd drift of the float, Trout! And it was on. Mostly smaller fish, and a few 14 inchers. But steady action. Plus a Sheepshead.

Next spot....balls to the wall Trout, all in one spot. Holding on a drop, adjacent a sand bar. Mostly 15-17" fish, and a few 14 inchers. But non stop action.

Thought I might tag a Redfish here, but didn't. Never caught a single pinfish, or had a problem with the pinners. It was a dream! As the tide fell, I kept waiting for the fish I came for. Bigger Trout! So at low tide I adjusted, and re-anchored and started making casts up into 2 feet of water with my ever so versatile Salmon Stalker Float and 1 oz. lead.

But to really fool them I used a real long leader. And on my first cast up into a shallow shell covered bank, I had my live river cricket, snapping across the surface.

Then with a boil of water, I knew this was it. The float went down, and I hooked my first 21 incher of the day!

Without wasting one second of time, I pinned on a new shrimp and pitched to the same exact spot and my spitely shrimp was again greeted with some fangs and a big mouth, connected to a

19-3/4 inch Trout!

TIP 'O THE WEEK:
When you catch a big Trout. Do not waste an ounce of time. Get that fish to the boat, netted and de-hooked fast! And another bait on and back out to the same exact spot.

Because too many times, these fish are in a loose group of fish the exact same size. The pecking order rules, so it seems. The next fish or two may be in the same size range. But #1 is usually the largest.

Many times, I do this instinctual. But have never mentioned it. Because it's like I told a buddy...."it's stuff I do without even thinking about it because I know it, but forget to mention it."

Just try what I'm saying. When you're on a good spot and know it, as I was. And everything is saying it's GO TIME! Don't waste time, fiddle fartin around. "Net-dehook-drop-rebait and cast" Like a machine. And you just may find yourself catching not just one good trout, but several off one spot, and in a row. As I did today. And people don't get it when I just want to fish by myself sometimes. I love getting in that "machine mode", I'm waiting on it. And ready to go into 4th gear, when I sense all is perfect.

Certain observations say to me, this was a good day because.....

Not that I know all the reasons why. But the signals are there, and the same signals were present on other good days. Take for an example: I could see really funny looking clouds in the sky today over the ocean. Low clouds that never moved all day long. I never went any where near the jetties, so I wasn't sure what they were. But I have seen this many, many times before.

It was FOG. Hanging over the ocean. And if it isn't like an omen, when I see that I have usually have a great day. (it's again, a atmospheric thing) The photo is from the boat ramp, looking at a departing ship in the river.

I did have what I'd call a great day. Probably had over 25 Trout to 21", at least 3 limits of Trout. But of course easily caught my measly (5). A Sheepshead, and a Flounder. To add a lil' variety.

I left the house late, caught fish from my first shrimp to my last. Leisurely went back to the dock, cleaned my fish, fed the Pelican's, talked to an old friend for while, and then drifted on home. Sprayed off the boat, and then made me the freshest Trout dinner that you can have, anywhere.

What did I say in my last report?

-"Don't let a nice day with sun shine happen all too soon, or the Trout will not

all too happy."

Hey, I know more than anyone how bad it feels to go through winters around here. It's not as if ya'll Jacksonville residents are banging my door down to go fishing.

So if cabin fever sets in after a few days of heinous weather. I know I'll snap out of it. Just wish my bank account snapped back as easy as I do.

Oh, have ya noticed my slideshow up on the top right? Yeah like that was easy to do...NOT!

1/21 - Star system Earth..in November

Yeah! This is a great day for some reminiscing, that's for sure...

It's gusting to Gale Force (32 MPH), over cast and cold still, along the surface of these local waters

Yeehaw!

This time of year, each day runs into the next. And I don't even know what day it is without looking it up, on the Plasma Driver. Kinda like I'm caught in a time warp continuem, on the back side of a star cluster vortex.

So I have plenty of time to play around on the ships computer....

Here's a bit of video shot on November 14th earth year: "2007", out along planet Earths, Mayport jetties rocks. The fish were chewin' that day so good it was almost "EPIC".

Nick Watson, from the galaxy "Rathkeltair", was behind the lens of his vintage Sony cyber-shot 21st century, digital camera. Experimenting with the Video option.

I don't have sound on my ships computer anymore, from back when I was hit by a Romulen pulse ray, and the ships engineer can't get the sound to work. So I have no idea of what I was even saying in it. "I just may have to try the replicator."

We messed them up on what was a super great day to be an Earth Jetty Angler!

Here's the days end photo, ya may have seen it before posted here. Like I said it was an Epic battle between marine species and us. And we won!















Because we had "limits" of Trout, Yellowmouths, Reds, Black Drum, and several Sheepshead.
Freezer stockers.....

I hate replicator, Fish. It ends up tasting like Vulcan ass!
So fresh is what I go get.
And we released a bunch of Reds, Black Drum and Trout.

Yes, November is one of my favorite months to visit earth. And so is April.
The two transitional times of year.

Falling water temps in November.....rising water temps in April.
Hence, TRANSITIONAL!! I learned all that by talking with local 19th century anglers.

But today is another story....I wouldn't wish this kinda wind on my worst enemies, the Kilingons!

And people on Earth don't think we here get "cabin fever".

This a time of the year for contemplating. I'm working on a revolutionary new rigging method for fishing the jetties.....by studying my success on other planets, besides the tried and true Float-rig.

To all the Earth Anglers,
Thanks for visiting my star date log.

1/20 - Sun...makes a difference!

Check it out....

Just as an experiment, I'd thought I'd throw this up here the next day I saw bright sun shine!

Comparing the Barometer to the last few days (prior to that spike on the 20th.)

Look at that spike in Atmoshperic Pressure!

Gee-whiz info to the average person. But being ever so vigilant for the "fishing guide".

Now, if only the wind would go away. It's honkin' 15-20++ MPH. NNW.

1/18 - G-L-O-O-M-Y

How Gloomy can a winter day get?

It doesn't matter, when you have Kirk M. on board. Kirk as you may remember is a fella I've had out with me many times in the last month or so. He's the guy from N. Dakota. And is doing 2 trips a month, this winter. The stuff that bothers most people, like wind, cold, fog, and wet doesn't effect him one bit. Even if all of those conditions are in the same day. And with that kind of attitude, it doesn't bother me either. Because I can hang with the best or worst conditions, also.

Well, since I've been teaching Kirk the inshore fishing ropes (IE: that the Float-rig rules!) You may have seen a few of his land based catches he made on a prior post on this reports blog, aptly named...."The Student".

He found himself a nice lil' spot along the inlet's rocks and has been wackin' the Trout pretty damn good lately. So of course, we were all excited to fish it from the boat. And that's where we went this morning at 8am.

Bundled up in my usual post Christmas attire of multiple layers of fleece, and with my slicker pants with shorts underneath. I have to remain Florida like...C'mon.

We soft peddled our way over to his spot and anchored up, so precisely, I amazed myself!
When he said, "that's the rock I stand on"....That's where I put the stern of the boat. Then I hit the "save" button on my GPS map plotter. "It's logged and in my files, now!!"

Now I have to give that rock a name, and I think "Kirk's Rock" it'll be.

Yes, I have many names for rocks out there. The Poop Rock, The Bull, Prudential, The Cave, The Blow-out, is just a few that come to mind. Fisherman are famous for wacko names for where they caught a fish. It always has to be something that you'll remember.

So here we are at the wrong tide or more like the tide that Kirk said he doesn't catch them on. "The water's too high and the currents too fast", he says. "It's okay, we have all day to try it on and off if we want", I tell him.

So we grab the "HD" Float-rig rods -(8' G. Loomis Bucara's matched up with Shimano Tek-300 levelwinds, a 2 oz Salmon Stalker EVA float, a 2 oz. Trout lead, and a heavier leader and hook.) All for deeper, swifter water. And the ass to pull a big fish from any structure.

We weren't on anchor 5 minutes, and I floated my rig way, way past the hot spot that Kirk pointed out, and my Float goes down! I click the reel into gear and reel and lift......


"It's a good fish! Pulls line, and it's a Trout!"



Ahhh, a nice 21-22 incher, in the net. I drop back in the water with a new shrimp, let it go back to the same spot, quickly learning the way the current moves along this patch of jetty and my Float goes down again....drag pulls harder, loads of head shaking!



"Oh, Oh, this may be a giant Trout. "
Now remember Kirk caught a giant Trout here. So that's why we're here. For "Gator Trout", not anything else. As I work the fish back towards the boat, all I can think about is that this maybe a 6-8 pound Trout..."please let it be a Gator! It sure feels like one."

Then we see it, and it's a 26" Redbass! A nice catch, but a let down. A real let down.



Yes folks, a 26" Redbass can be a let down to a Gator Trout hunter. It happens to me all the time.

This time I really thought the fish was a big Trout, because it did way more head shaking, and less running. Usually Redbass run, and run. And do less head shaking than their speckled counter parts. But Specks & Spots, go together. So it wasn't all that bad.


The problem was, that Kirk of Fargo, "master of the Kirk Rock area", had only one bite!

We have a deal, we fish together. No one sits and watches the other guy. And no matter who catches what, Kirk gets 99% of all the fish. All I need, is some dinner that night. So he usually goes away with a pretty damn hefty cooler full, each time.

So we keep at it and wear out the spot all we can. Going for deeper drifts, shallower, closer to the rocks, further behind the boat. We worked that place till each live shrimp saw ever jetty rock from the boat to 100 feet behind the boat.

And not a single other bite!

So we moved on.....

To the South Jetty, then Snag Ally, and then again at low tide, back to Kirk's Rock.

"this ought to do it, the tides much lower now"...is what both of us thought.

Nothing!

"Holy cold water Batman.....I think we have a problem!"

We sure did. For some reason no matter what we did, we couldn't get bit.

At Kirk's Rock, both of us had so much confidence that because it was now lower tide and the current was slowing. "If they would have fired up, it would have to be NOW!"

And they never did.

I even broke out some bottom rigs, for a little 'Bait-N-Wait' fishing and never lost a shrimp to a gamefish.

So then we went and tried a "Capt Dave Gator trout spot" on the north Jetty, that's like "Kirk's Rock". Deeper, swifter and if there's a Gator Trout in the area, it ought to be here too. We caught nothing. And I even tried a bottom bait too, as Kirk worked the rocks on his Float-rig.

"Okay, were they the only two fish at the jetties today?"

But we can't quit now. So we packed it up and ran to another zip code up river.

First spot, had some nice current, but only Pinfish. We worked it feverishly too.

So we went to a last ditch spot. I managed a small Speck. Then made a slight adjustment, and found a bunch of small Yellowmouth Trout, and Kirk finally caught one decent keeper, and a few throw backs.

I know who had the "funk" on him, today! Mother River was paying him back for all the fish he's caught off of his rock during the week. And I was thrown a few bones, and I'm usually the one screamin', "I GOT BAIT TOO!"

So it was a frustrating day overall. But of course we had a blast out in the gloomy, nasty, cold weather. Can ya tell by the photo's that it was a perfect "winter day"?
Dark and grey without one glimpse of sun shine.

I know the fish are tough to catch in the 59 degree water.

Oh, the life of a Gator Trout hunter....it's a tough job sometimes. But it's not all that bad when ya have a guy like Kirk on the boat. Who always has an up beat attitude, mixed with killer instinct.

Can't wait to see the sun again. Because when I do and the Trout do too, it may not be good for their health and well being.

Here' it is again....a "here's yer sign"...

Look at that drop since the 16th when it was warm and sunny, and then 00 - GMT (greenwich mean time).

I'm no expert in this but I'd just contemplate that the fishing MAY be better when the Atmospheric pressure is steadier? Hmmmm...

1/16 - Distance casting? (SOLD, as of 1/19)

-SOLD-

I was so into surf fishing and long distance casting that I wore my bank account dry, before I bought my 26' BLM. I used Breakaway tackle mostly......the brits have it ALL figured out!



And used to be on the Breakaway Tackle forum, talking fishing and casting with the guys in Corpus Christi TX. That fish the 63 miles of undeveloped beach also know as Padre Island National Sea Shore, P.I.N.S - as it's called.


And I used to talk on the phone with an "old Kodger" who forgot about as much as most "yungin's" like me knew. And from him is where I was turned on the one of the best LONG DISTANCE Fishing reels ever made.

Today, Penn's distance casting mag reels are cheapy looking and have lower spool capacity. This reel is old school and old school works! A Penn 970 Mag. What makes it special....the fact it's SIMPLE.




-(1) rare Earth fixed but adjustable Mag, assisted spool slow down
- easy to adjust!
-High spool capacity
-Power Handle
-Parts easily obtained at: http://www.pennparts.com/
-Easily cleaned and lubed



I have for sale one of these 80's vintage Penn 970 Mag reels in absolute pristine condition. Original box with metal corners...remember them??? Original paper work, cloth bag, and rod clamp. If this reel was used once it doesn't look like it. And I doubt it. I had line on it, but I took it off.



Perfect for 20# mono, and I had this reels sister and made my farthest measured cast of 460 feet! Get used to the mag, protect that thumb, attached to a 13'6" Breakaway LDX or HDX.....and let her fly!!!!



These reels have EZ access to bearing cups and can be tweeked with Rocket Fuel high speed or slowing oil, and look out. Not a competion grade reel, but rather a fishing reel for the beach. Back in the 80's these reels were all the rage around here for King Mackerel fisherman, and for casting to Cobia...from a boat.




250 foot casts out past the first 'gut' should be achieved in the first day for a well rounded Bait Casting angler, with an educated thumb. Spinner people do not apply.

Sorry the photos are sharp, but I took them with my dive camera and it's not the best at close ups.



Box, paper-work (schematics) rod clamp, and reel are for sale here, before it goes to Ebay or Craigslist or Breakaway's Forum where I know it'll get a respected value.



This reel is in all respects is brand new...in box since 1980...something.




I'm starting out at $100. (OBO)



Can easily accept PayPal, Visa, M/C, money order payments. Will ship priority mail for whatever it costs, which won't be much.

If you're a real surfing angler and want to hit the deep water. This reels for you.

1/14 - No story today...

Had the pleasure of fishing with Jim Sutton again today. Jim's the Times Union Newspapers Outdoor editor.

The last time we fished together is when he worked for the St. Augustine RECORD, and we did a story about pitchin Jigs-N-Shrimp at the St. Augustine inlet's rocks way back in 1998 I think.
Ya know.....back when hardly a soul threw jigs n shrimp at the jetty rocks in Mayport even.

I know it was in April, because I just did the Florida Sportsman Fishing Expo. And did seminars about light tackle Jetty fishing, and the expo was in March.

And man, did we catch a lot of fish that day down in St. Augustine!

Reds, Trout, Yellowmouths, Ringtails, Drum, Jacks, Blues, Spanish Macs, Flounder, Sheepshead....It was a rally of fish down there along the rocks.

Well, today we tried it out of Mayport. I talked to Jim via email because I read his article on fishing with a "clicker" type float in Fernandina with Terry Lacosse up in the creeks.

So we got talking and planned on doing a story about the REAL style of Float-rig fishing for Trout and more, that I do.

We left out at 8am damn near dead low tide. It was cold as all get-out, but of course we've fished in colder. The wind was light, but blew harder and harder as we fished.

We fished and fished....I did sort of catch a few right off the bat. But I lost each fish , as if I had Teflon all over my hooks. They just shook off, or slipped off the hook as I was reeling them in. This hardly ever happens to me. But never say never!

It was really tough conditions. I could just feel it in my bones after the first spot we tried, that this wasn't looking too good. Because I know what "should" happen on my spots.

I did box a small 15 incher though, and Jim caught a small Yellowmouth Trout and a Bluefish.

We really didn't just, give up. We stayed at at. I fish as hard at 3pm as I do at 7am, and that's a key to success many times. But you have to get bit, before you can catch. And we weren't getting bit!

The largest Trout I did catch up in the backwater's was 19 inches. But that fish was a loner. And with a slow tide because of the NW winds blowing at least 15 knots and gusting, the forecasted 4.2' incoming was obviously stifled, and we got ate alive by Pinfish with no current moving.

So we bagged it and headed in after a good 6 hour try.

JUST MY DAMN LUCK!

I would have loved Jim to see a day like we had on January 6th or 8th....when I had 6 and 7 pounders on the boat, plus Drum and limits of specks. But the weather today was nothing like then.

REMEMBER, I SAID THE WEATHER IS USUALLY DAMN NEAR PERFECT THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF JANUARY????

WELL, TODAY IS THE 14TH...THE END OF THE FIRST TWO WEEKS. FROM HERE ON OUT 80 DEGREE DAYS ARE HARD TO COME BY!!

(just call me if ya need to know the real fisherman weather patterns....don't call Tim)

With Speckled Trout closing on Feb. 1st we were sort of under the gun to get a float fishing story out there with some really big time action. But we'll be trying again.

Jim's on notice that a call from me could come any day. If the fish are chewin and the weather's good....even in February. Because I don't stop fishing for those Trout for 29 days. That would be like asking an Eskimo not to eat snow!!

I'm thinking of a plan, I have in the back of my mind. Where the trout stack up, and the action is good. It's a run from my regular waters, and a gamble to say the least. But we'll not only be using a float-rig and live shrimp, but we could also use my "winter ugly" MirrOlures too. To catch'em.

I have my next charter on Thursday. The temp is supposed to be up and down, and the rain is supposed to go from up to down too....We'll have to see what the deal is.

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".