5/23 - Different in a new way......

As I pulled into the boat ramp this morning very early. I couldn't believe my eyes.

Here's what I saw, as the sun rose and revealed. DEAD-CALM waters. Can this be for real, is this imaginary? After I tied off to the dock, and parked my truck. It sunk in that, "yes, this is what it's like here on the river with no wind."

As I waited for Jake & Doug, my customers to arrive, I quickly realized there's always a give and take. As the Gnats ate on me. And must have been attracted to the Bull Frog sunscreen I had all over myself.

But sunscreen was just a habit to put on if I have time. Because as it turned out. There was no real sun, just lots of cloud cover. With possible rain clouds over head in the west.

I have not seen such a slick calm river since April. That's why I'm so shocked. It was like the warm summer morning's, rememeber from years past.

Jake & Doug arrived at 7am. And because of the bugs, I was quick to leave. We headed out the jetties and I told them I'd like to get some Pogies and bottomfish this morning. Of course, Jake wants TROUT.

So we head down the outside of the south rocks.
And what do I see everywhere???

My arch enemies. Tiny Bluefish popping the surface all over. At first they looked just like Pogies. But upon further examination of their "flipping the surface" they weren't. Too fast, and jumpy. Rather than the clumbsy "flip & splat" of a Pogie.

Lately, "If I had no bad luck, I'd have no luck at all....." (yeah, sing it with me....the ole Hey Haw song) "gloom dispair and agony on me......." Because, I've had to spend some big dollars at the house, I hurt my ankle, been to the doctor and he can't tell me what's wrong. You know, it all comes in 3's.

So as I head toward the beach, and look in my scope. I see no signs of life. All the way to the Jax. Beach Pier we ride.......Gulp, Gulp, Gulp, goes the fuel. On a 40 minutes search for zero. We ride all the way back to the north jetty. And the tides just starting to pour in the rocks, which for me means "Greenies" .

I break out the bait rod, and start casting and I'm catching good ole "jetty bait". Pogies....hell with them, till I need chum. Especially if I can catch me Greenies, from now on. The jumbo sized Spanish Mackerel were all over the place too. Which would have meant instant hook-ups, but I usually don't carry any casting rods, since not many people I take can cast. But I'm certainly thinking, jigging rods instead, next time.

I anchor up right next to the jetty and cut some Greenies and pitch them out on my bottom rods, thinking there could be a big Redfish lurking under all that baitfish. And right away, we get two sharks. The agressive "lurkers" are there and if I stayed we'd probably be knee deep in shark bites the whole tide. So we move and break out the float-rig rods, and drift down the face of the north jetty. Jake's having a time getting used to it all...he's the begginer on the boat. And needs my undivided attention, every single minute. Doug is pretty experienced, so that was good. He could get along on his own. But was getting eaten alive by bait-stealers. So we moved from the jetties.

I had enough...I could just imagine getting setup on a good spot, and then have the tiny blues come in and give us grief. But before we left, I peered into the water along the rocks that was super clean and clear, and saw one 4' wide Stingray after another passing by. Oh, ya gotta love summer huh? Not me, I like winter around here. Less of the unfavorable fish species around, like stingers.

So this was the writing on the wall. Sharks, Sting Rays, tiny Blues, slashing Spanish Mackerel teeth everywhere, and little baitstealers up in the rocks. And then I looked on the tip of the jetty. And saw the first TARPON of the year roll on the surface with tail completely out of the water. Alrighty then....I have a targeted species to fish for out here when I get that one die hard angler on board!!

And I mean die hard! One that can operate the tackle with no problems, wants to pursue a species, and can adequately take fishing my 9' Loomis Pelagic series rods, Accurate twin drag reels, with a big float and jumbo shrimp or mullet/pogie/greenie, on the hook and work it properly. As I reported a few weeks ago, I'm all geared up. Because last year I hooked 5 Tarpon in one morning, on just live shrimp!

It'll take a special angler........ "DALE HOUCK", I hope your listening....reading and ready.

Getting fed up, I really needed an easier place for Jake to fish. He's got limited mobility, and I wasn't seeing a quick skill improvement, that's necessary for fishing the big water. So GULP,GULP,GULP, I went down the river towards the White Shell area. Looking for a spot with adequate current so he could just drop his float behind the boat and hook a fish.

It took a few spots, but I found one. And instead, Doug caught Grouper, and I caught a Grouper. Blacks and Gags. There's so many juvenile Grouper in the river it's amazing. My Black was probably 16" or better. It was the last of the incoming tide, and certain docks really had no current pushing around them. So we sat in this one spot that did for awhile as it poured rain on us. But never caught a single Trout. And Jake was doing well here, as was Doug.

Then, as I rifled through all my easy spots to fish on a high tide in my head and remembered a place called the Magnet...Haven't been there in a long while. But since Jake wanted Trout, that's usually all this spot is. So now good and wet, we headed further down river.

I don't know what got into me. I made such a mistake of heading east first thing on a pogie hunt, and then to the big rocks. I should have just headed this way right off as we left the boat ramp, and hunted up an easy spot for Jake to fish. Doug, is easily adaptable. Don't have to worry about him.

We arrived at the magnet spot, and the current was perfect. Just drop your float behind the boat and let it go....Jake had the first bite, and reeled in the first Trout, which was a first. A decent keeper about 16-17". He was happy! He's usually not first. We sat there for a few hours, but only picked 3 keepers out of probably 10 or more Trout. As always, I was sort of amazed, because the magnet spot in the past has produced for me some seriously big Trout. But not today. That may only happen when I fish there alone. Ya' know, I have the gift, sometimes.

We left as the tide slowed. Jake was happy and tired. But Doug and I tried a few other neighboring areas. With only Mangrove Snapper bites on the first of the falling tide current. So we headed in. I cleaned up Jake's Trout and he was happier still. He was going to have Trout supper!

I left the boat ramp and headed with my charter cash in my pocket and spent nearly all of it, putting fuel in the boat. The gas station was an absolute nightmare of people at 3:00 pm.
All fueling up for the big weekend. They say on the news people aren't going anywhere or doing any travelling. But not by the looks of what I saw. I was one of 5 boats that pulled in here, also.
As I filled the boats tank, Jake called me and said, he really had a lot of fun today, and his back wasn't hurting, and he was glad he went. Jake doesn't get out much due to his health.

I have not a clue of what I'll be doing when fuel is $5-$6.00++ a gallon...possible charters no further than a few miles from the boat ramp? How can I go any further and do the traveling I did today? And not charge $600 a day? I have to live, buy tackle, fuel, pay insurance, pull the boat to the ramp, fill up the truck, maintain the boat and the truck, buy bait and ice, and pay the ever growing taxes on a simple business like mine. Fishing licenses, Business Licenses, the new Tax hidden in a fee called the Transportation Workers Identification Card (TWICS) that the feds are making us have (because Captains License holders are possible terrorist too, ya know.) I just don't know what the future holds for us. Maybe that's the reason my blood pressure is through the roof! And my doctor wants to see me all the time. I told him it's stress!

I didn't get any photos, because it I was kept pretty damn busy all day. And never really thought of it.

It's Saturday morning right now. And I just scrolled down to the "Mayport weather gauges" I have at the bottom of this Blog, and the wind is dead calm. Could this be a new trend? What makes a trend, how many days is a weather trend?

Because I'm not fishing till Sunday morning at 0700 hrs. Wonder if dead calm winds will "trend" there way that far? NOPE!!!!!!! (remember the Hee Haww song?) I have a family of (3) one is 9 yrs old.

Here's the forecast:
SUNDAY: NORTHEAST WINDS 20 KNOTS. SEAS 4 TO 6 FEET. INLANDWATERS CHOPPY.
"They should have booked Saturday......"

5/21 - The Wrath of Weather

Yep, had a trip scheduled for Wednesday. And the WRATH of FLORIDA WEATHER was in full glory. Got to the boat ramp and my god was in heinous. West winds just ripping across the river. With no place to hide. The sky was dark, and as far as having the ability to actually fish properly, well that was out of the question. So to make a long story short. We didn't go. And of course it was one of these "budget charters", that could only be done on one day.

FOLKS, THAT DOESN'T WORK THIS MONTH! SO FAR, IN MAY WE'VE MOVED ABOUT EVERY DAY I'VE HAD RESERVED TO ANOTHER DAY, that was just less windy.

How the hell are people supposed to pick'em? The wrath has been the winds. No matter what day I'm out there.

Okay, if you don't know why I'm not an offshore fisherman anymore. Here's the story plain and simple.

First, the weather. You can not survive doing offshore charters here in N.E. Florida in a small boat. The Jodie Lynn in St. Augustine might be able too. Because she's what....a 60' Sport fish?

Then, I quit bottom fishing when Gag Grouper went from 20" minimum fish to 24" minimum fish.

At the height of my business I ran three boats. My ole 23' MayCraft, a 22' Seachaser bay boat, and a 17' Carolina Skiff. Commonly referred to as; MY THREE WIVES. That was the fleets unofficial name. I had about every base covered. And those were good years, back then. Compared to today's world.

I'd love to see some years like those again someday. But I truly believe, I never will.
Offshore species such as Grouper, Snapper, Vermilion Snapper, are constantly under attack by the "watchers".

And again, these fisherman are bracing for the 10th round, with new rulings that are scheduled to impact anyone who is a die-hard offshore bottom fisherman from the Gulf of Mexico, to off the coast of J-ville, Florida.



























Here's a link to my friend Ron Brooks' "ABOUT" Blog where he explains it briefly with a link to the amendment http://saltfishing.about.com/b/2008/05/18/safmc-amendment-16.htm?nl=1 - try and make heads or tails out of amendment 16, it's written in their code lingo.

So, I used to do a lot of offshore fishing. And when I did bottom fish, I used to say "let's go Seabass fishing, and whatever else we get is just gravy on top of biscuit." I never took it all that seriously. But then again, this was back when there was no Seabass limit either. I remember spending some really fun, slick calm foggy December days close-in on hard bottom areas, dropping cuttlefish on river rods with 6500 Ambassadors and filling a 186 Qt. cooler with the tasty fish. Was I to blame for the reduction in bag and size limit of Seabass too? Maybe, but then again I was just going for what was fun, easy and good eating fish. If I was a meat fisherman, then I was a Seabass meat fisherman and that was about all.

Now, I'd love to go offshore. And since I still can't take bottom fishing all that serious. Because if you don't make it your backyard and frequent it all the time, how can you expect to go out and fill the cooler these days. So, I'd like to just go play. And by "play" I mean, JIG FISH, for the fun of it and try and catch anything. But I sure did pick a hell of a time to want to get out there and jig, huh? With fuel at an all time record high, and possible $200 a barrel of crude oil looming in our near future. Which equates to $7.00 for a gallon of unleaded??

My prediction is, that if we see $200 a barrel, and $7.00 for a gallon of gas. This country as we once knew it is going to end. I'm talking Armageddon in the USA. There will be no fishing. So the fisheries people making all these new rules have nothing to worry about, and soon after their jobs won't even exist, along with anyone connected with fishing. And the fish populations will boom like they've never seen it before.

Just think about that for a moment.

I'm supposeed to go on Friday and Sunday....or at least that's the plan.



Just one last thing. Have you ever looked back in my "archieved Blog pages" just for the hell of it? And at least surfed through them just to look at the pictures? I do all the time. And have long realized that the best inshore/river fishing is when it's cold. Jacket weather, to serious fleece underwear weather! And it's usually when no one wants to go because it's too cold for them. (sissies) BUT......If I had my druthers, and I might just get exactly what I'm asking for in the near future, I'd fish here in November through April. And then go north for the rest of the year to pursue my wanting to learn to become a aluminum boat welder/fabricator the rest of the year.

Just a whacky thought, based on truth.

5/17 & 18 - The weekend...

If you've been following the weather saga, then you know how days got switched, because of supposed weather threats. (that never happened)

Well, we got out on Saturday versus Friday. Had Dan, Dan Jr. & Matt on board, for a 8 am Saturday departure. It was dark with ominous black low clouds hanging over Mayport as far as the eye could see. Winds and possible rain looked to be killing what seemed to be a busy Saturday at the boat ramp. I was there really early, and watched the boats come streaming in. Some folks just sat in the parking lot and stared at the sky, while some just loaded up and took off eastward offshore.

I sat waiting on my guys, thinking "damn, there was nothing wrong with Friday......"

They arrived and now my plans were really in a funk. Go up river? Go East?

What happens if all hell breaks loose? Those black clouds, and cold winds screwed me all up.
So I decided to stay relatively close just in case. And as we began fishing from spot to spot. It was quickly evident that something was wrong. No Trout.

The guys caught some fish, but of course not targeted fish. We worked areas in the river, then as the front lifted and just seem to move away. The sky cleared, and here came the sun. We even ran to the jetties for awhile and never lost a bait to a decent fish. That was really something!!!

We tried a lil' bottom fishing for a big Redfish for awhile. Using cut pieces of ladyfish, but only had the bluefish tearing at it. I think momma nature was saying to me; "HERE'S YER SIGN."

The guys ended up catching Jacks, Blues, Ladyfish, a Spanish Mackerel, and a big Croaker.
And as we pushed into the 7th and 8th hour of the day, I had to cry UNCLE! I had to go again on Sunday, and that's when Dan Jr. finally caught a 14" Trout.

It wasn't the easiest day of fishing. The wind was ever present as always, and turned to the East North East in the afternoon. Which made things tougher. Float fishing should have been really easy for them, but turned out to be a challenging. All in all a tough day, with not many keeper fish.

Thursday... was I believe the best day of the whole week. But of course I wasn't booked then.
--------------------
I got home on Saturday pretty whooped, and called Adam my Sunday charter. The weather forecast seemed to be better. So I went over the plan of attack in my head that night.

Different zip code, earlier depart time. Adam and his dad arrived right on time at 7:00 am on Sunday. No way was I going to leave late. Not with the afternoon winds that we're experiencing each day.

So we headed off up river. A bit easier trip with just two guys. Both were locals and fish the river and offshore themselves.

But it's all a "give and take". A early start meant leaving just before high tide, and having to work through slack tide also. A ran straight to a spot that has produced some great Trout and Redfish before. A dock with loads of structure....but a tough place to get any current on a high tide.

As I showed them what we would be doing, I nailed a 19 inch Trout. "I.G." - instantaneous gratification! Okay, let's try here. Adam and his dad caught 2 or 3 Trout, and we tossed two more in the fish box. Then, the spot seemed to dry up. Plus, I had other places I just had to hit, if I wanted to fish with some current. And it's easy to just sit in one spot, and miss any tide for a later area that might be productive....so like any expedition. We have to stay mobile.

So we took off south again. Still on an incoming tide. We anchored no less than 4 times and on these super old, but proven Trout spots. One of them we never even had a bite! I think we had a few small Jacks and Bluefish, that was it.

Not nearly as many Jacks and Ladyfish as on Saturday. Probably because we were 12 miles up river.

I kept thinking of an ole rule of thumb I was always told by my mentors..."Incoming tide-Full moon, can mean the kiss of death for a float fisherman." But I hit my #1 incoming tide Trout spot and we never got bit. It may have been that the current was going on way, and the wind was blowing the opposite?? Rules of thumb like that are fine, but if someone has one day to fish. And we have to choose the best time of day. We just have to work with what we have. So I kept on the move.

Still no Trout, so I ended up back at the first spot, now on the falling tide...And the Trout were still there. They were smaller and sporadically biting. So we just laid back and enjoyed the bites that came every once in awhile. Adam and his dad who really were not bait caster people ended doing very well at it. Adam was really getting it.

Remember, it's not a cast, but rather a "lob".

I really do not like having to cast, but rather just flip the float-rig out behind the boat and let it drift. But unfortunately, this weekend wasn't much of that. Which again makes it tougher for folks.

Getting to the boat ramp dock was a chore at the end of the day. In high gusting winds from the west, a hauling butt falling tide. Which had to calculated, and looked at for a few minutes before attempting with out smashing the dock at 25 MPH!! Glad we got started early, because it was nice and windy in the afternoon, as I predicted it would be. And we even had a little bit of rain and thunder.

My next trip is on Wednesday.....check out this forecast! Sounds like I cannot win no matter what I do, huh?

Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 8am. Partly cloudy, with a high near 90. Here's the neat part......."Breezy, with a west wind between 10 and 16 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph." WHAT??????????

Maybe they are completely wrong and that's actually Thursday's forecast. I'm pretty much gonna go by what Dave thinks, not what I read.

5/16 - YOU WANNA? I KNOW, I WANNA

Dang, I want too so bad...and jigging too.

I have all the stuff, but only in a set of (2).
If you have yourself and one friend.








Call me to discuss (if you can operate a baitcasting reel)

"Hell, with all that sleepy, easy, sissy trolling crap."




By the way.......the "big rains" here today were nearly 12 hours late.

5/16 - Believe Nothing!

Believe nothing that you read or listen too about forecasting weather around here.


I could have been fishing today instead of tomorrow, SSSSSSSATURDAY!! (weekends are not my favorite times)


Zero rain, No high winds, no lightning, no nuthin.


Damn, I get sick of playing this game with the guessers. NO MORE am I paying attention to them. My neighbors offshore fishing today, no problem.

5/15 - Cut me a break!

Well, looks like I'll be moving Friday's charter to Saturday.
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Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 8am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. Southwest wind between 11 and 14 mph.
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Atlantic+Beach&state=FL&site=JAX&textField1=30.334&textField2=-81.4051

http://radar.weather.gov/Conus/Loop/southeast_loop.gif
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So that means if I move them to Saturday, and I have a small group on Sunday too......Wow, I'll sort of feel busy.....yippee!

Have people coming from Tennessee tonight. Another planned well ahead trip, that given the odds that the weather turns to crap on just their day, is probably up in the tens of thousands!

And given that everything is "throwin' this dog a bone", every charter right now is a prized commodity. That's for sure.

Man, filled up my (4) - 5 gallon jerry cans yesterday at $3.80 a gallon!! And it cost me $93.83 for a whopping 24.69 gallons. So like I saw on the news yesterday when they talked to restaurant owners, they said they have to give small portions for a higher price now.

Why doesn't that work in the fishing biz? Well, it's gonna have too.....I can't be running all over hells half acre. Not that I run all over anyhow. But there's places I'd love to go. And now can't. Not if I have to reduce or keep prices the same. Having that "Wiggle Room", is what has me NOT minding making that 10 mile run to a special spot. So when you think about paying a little less, it means that you maybe giving up running to that killer spot on that perfect tide. In hopes of catching that giant Gator Trout, or filling the box with those perfect size Black Drum. So you may not want to cut into your "wiggle room".

These guys in Texas have it all figured out. They've been doing it for ever....Using the boat to run to where they fish, then get out and wade fish. But then again when the Trout are this size....and the charter costs $550 a day; bring your own waders and rods and reels. I guess they stay pretty damn busy, over there.

Wow, now that's a T-Rex Trout!!
And my next GOAL.
(I wonder how many
that size actual
exists in the
St. Johns River
around
Mayport)

5/13 - Relentless winds....but fun none the less!

Had Scott & Markus aboard the "Big Metal" today. And I'm sure glad I have the boat I do. Because that river and inlet on windy days can be a real soup sandwich. It doesn't matter what the water's like....we go through it.

First off, we were supposed to go on the 12th. But the wind was just so bad. So I said, "since your here, lets just try Tuesday instead." When I was at the bait shop at 6am, I said to the guys there, "let's take bets now on when the wind's gonna blow....." Since I live in reality, not fairy dream land. So when Scott & Markus came down to the dock right on time. We left out for the inlet.

I was right. It was blowing pretty damn hard at 7:20am. I looked around for a few minutes for some Greenies (threadfin herring), then went over to the beach side of the jetties and looked around for some Pogies half hearted. If they were there and smacking me in the face, I'd get some and had plans to do some bottom fishing for big Reds or whatever, with them. All we saw were Jacks popping the surface eating tiny minnows.

The wind was constant, and I really felt that we'd be fighting a loosing battle. So I went west.

Tried a few spots, and the wind would just blow the boat in circles. So I picked up and headed west again. Pulling up to every spot I knew, and did a wind check. Needless to say we ended up further and further up river. Then I pulled up to a spot I haven't fished in years.

Markus and Scott drifted back their float-rigs and Markus started scoring on Specks. Not whoppers, but 14 and 15 inchers. While Scott caught the "exotics" as I called them (Jacks, Ladyfish, Mangrove Snappers) I pulled a Flounder out of the spot, not a biggy, but a keeper while trying my hand at it. The guys probably caught 8-10 Trout here. And I was very happy! Because the morning was wearing thin.

As the action slowed, we moved on to where I had plans of monster Trout, coming to the net.

But the first fish was a Sheepshead, Markus caught on his first drift of his float.

We sat there and sat there. Working the area every angle I could figure out.
When we finally started catching some Specks. Good Specks!

It's that time of year, that's for sure. For big fat specks, I mean. And obviously serious winds, too.

I can remember other May's, when the winds were bad. So this isn't all that weird. I can easily look in my Florida Sportsman Tide planners, where I make detailed notes. And see the same thing we're experiencing right now. But I have to go way, way back to research an economy like this. Nothing like this recession has dealt a blow to me like what's going on right now. Not 9/11, a stock market crash, not hurricanes in 2005.......NOTHING!

I finally found a spot where we had everything in our favor. And the bites were good and constant and so were the fish.

Overall the guys probably had 20 Trout total up to 4 pounds, a few 3 pounders, and some other eater sizers. The Sheepshead, a Flounder and Mangroves. While releasing small Trout and a pup drum. And the fish box was looking pretty good, considering.

We laughed after Markus said, "hey should we move and find another spot, Dave""

I said, "yeah, that's what I want to do, leave fish to go find fish." Cardinal rule #1...never do that! Especially if you are happy, not getting blown around, the water's calm, the fish are there, and everything is just hunking dory.

I suppose he liked the "boat ride" version of the day. Heck they both did. Before we started catching, Scott & Markus both mentioned how they liked the cruising we did from spot to spot, in search of a less windy spot. Personally, I can done without the boat ride. But each day I'm out is totally different than the last. So, not every day can be; go to the jetties 2.5 miles away and get into an all out waylay.

We really had a great time. Laughing and cutting up. Markus was getting on Scott about his fish netting techniques. I asked Scott "what will it take for me to put you on a Speckled Trout, today?" Because at first it was all Markus, on the Trout. Teaching Scott the finer details of bait casting. Comparing Manatees to people and telling stories.

But the one thing we didn't encounter was a lot of people fishing. And that was a real pleasure. That's reserved for windy weekends!

The guys left out with a pretty damn big bag of fillets. And I told them as I do many visitors. They can take the fish right over to Singleton's Seafood Shack 200 yards away and for a couple bucks they'll cook them right up for you.

Scott and Markus had more than enough to take the girlfriends, back at the hotel out for a big fish fry dinner that night. Why not eat'em fresh. I would. Plenty of people keep just enough fish to do a lunch or dinner at Singleton's. Just tell 'em Capt Dave sent you.

Since Mayports future is up in the air, we have to keep it the best experience we can. And eating your catch, fresh that day is a good experience in my book. I love fried fish....but you can get baked too.

Next up for me is Friday, and the forecast really sucks. This trip has been in the planning for a long time. So we'll see what happens. Another front coming, with winds and rain. We have Saturday as a backup day.

What is killing me is the need for "backup" days in May! Just like with Scott and Markus, we had to use a backup day on this trip too.

Oh, by the way. It was actually cold this morning as we headed out. And was never hot at all. Just an FYI, we set a record for low temps and high temps all within a few days. Wow, this is some wacky weather!

Here's today photos on my recent catch pages: http://www.captdaves.com/Catch2.htm

5/12 - More beatings....from Momma Nature

Well, the wind seems to be again, relentless. What is it, the 5th day or so of 20 kt plus winds?

Was supposed to be out there today. But the Small Craft Advisory has me thinking Tuesday instead. It may not be SCA Tuesday, but just "a little less worse"....that's a cool term, huh?

One of my favorite saying is from the movie "Something about Mary", where Chris Elliott says to Ben Stiller, "yep, each day is worse than the next." Now that's funny!

A few people have called. Although after doing a few e-mailing with past customers I did have one fella reply with, "it costs too much to travel there for one day of fishing, Dave...."

I'm all switched in to a different gear. I have the Twin Drag Accurate reels on the heavy Biscayne rods. All ready for those Sharks and Tarpon along the rocks and beach. The mini -197 Accurate's are now on the 9' Loomis Pelagic series "whoop-ass" rods. For deep water float-rigging, with jumbo shrimp or pogies.

A few years ago, during one of the seasons first kingfish tournaments. I sat out on the south Jetty as the sun came up and watched all the 40 foot, 4 engine go-fast boats come out the inlet and run down the beach to find pogies. And the pogies were right there on the south jetty. If they just slowed down and opened their eyes, they would have seen them.

I pitched my net on a few, and stuck them in the livewell. Grabbed my mini Accurate and a heavy float-rigged rod and pinned on a pogie. I drifted the float behind the boat and in the next 2 hours hooked (and lost) 5 Tarpon. I knew they were there, because I could see them rolling in the swells. It was a really nasty day. Good for me, bad for a King fisherman.

It's fun to go 2.5 miles, get a few baits at boat side, drift them out, and hook up on fish that fly through the air. While being entertained by the boat show of go fasters, leaping the waves.

The Tarpon were all in the 50-80 pound range. I'd have a few on for awhile, drop off anchor and start the outboard and pull off the rocks giving a slow chase, as they sped eastward, "when they were in the water." But it's almost just as much fun getting hook-ups, and short battles over and over again. Especially when you're alone, fishing solo.

I really hope we get enough pogies around this year so it's easy to just go net some up and pull out to the chum hole area off the north rocks and start a drift. Better yet, would be pogies in the chum hole area itself, as I've seen it before. One bait on the bottom for a big Red, and two on the surface for a Tarpon, shark or Cobia. All the bait and fish in the same area sure does make it convenient.

Using the resources you have "close", is what the theme of this summer will be. As fuel prices reach record highs, I'm finding that I can't charge anymore. The public just won't pay it. Everything that's mandatory is going up, while fishing charters (not mandatory) can't go up....It's a luxury. They're not mandatory. Unless you are a die hard.

Hopefully I'll have a decent report in the making after tomorrow.

Here's a few pics from last May...dang these were some pretty fish. It was a banner day....look at the blue sky!

5/9 - Florida Alloy

Alloy brotheren, well someone was...and a Cobia Hunter too, so it looks. "Who's not a Ling chaser over on the pan handle?"

Here's a link to a used 23' Plate Alloy like mine full of serious toughness: (YOU DO NOT FIND THESE USED VERY OFTEN!)
http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/boatDetails.jsp?boat_id=1911083&checked_boats=1911083&ybw=&units=Feet&currency=USD&access=Public&listing_id=23264&url=

Worth every dime in the long run.
Awesome Live well set up!
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Here's my new Sea-Trial page http://www.captdaves.com/frequently%20asked%20questions%20page-new.htm which is linked off my NEWS PAGE, where I talk about BlackLab Marine boats.

No fishing still, so no reports.

4/6 - HISTORY

Great site with loads of local info.....Serious history!

http://www.savemayportvillage.net/

Especially, the Mayport Time Line:

http://www.savemayportvillage.net/id5.html

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NO FISHING, means no reports.....you want reports? Then, let's go fishing.

It's not that bad, C'mon!

It's $5.00 a gallon in Alaska and the charter boats are rolling out of the docks daily.

This is FLORIDA!

5/3 - a test of patience

Had my first trip of the month, (I mean customer). Glen Teague from Georgia, here for a Navy retirement party for his brother in law. But Glen had one thing on his mind. And that was fishing. Excited wasn't the term to describe Glen.

ECSTATIC, was more a proper description of Glen. As we talked while heading to a few spots on the high tide this morning.

Between the jetties that was a soup sandwich already, and gonna get really worse as the sun grew warmer and the S.E. winds blew harder. Then, add the tide change shortly. Wheww, that's not going to be pretty.

We ventured our way there, of course. And watched friends head out past the rocks, that were fishing an Offshore Club Tournament. Glad, I'm not them. It looked to be a slow and gas sucking trip all the way offshore.

We worked a few spots at the high tide with zero success, waiting on the tide to change. And when it did, I immediately headed to a BIG trout spot for Glen.

I'm talking about a fella who's a fisherman. And ever since he booked his trip back in February has utilized the tools I provide on my web site. So he became a regular BLOG reader. Learning about what his trip would be like. So he's read about bad days, good days, and big Trout days.

I was gonna work my tail off for him. And we were going to fish as hard as we could together as a team.

I anchored on a spot that as soon as the tide starts ebbing, we have a chance at scoring a BIG Trout. And the longer we worked the rocks, the more it looked like it wasn't going to happen. How long do you wait? That's the question that's in my mind. Shrimp after shrimp went drifting down the jetty rocks. Trout up to 9 pounds have been caught here, by a friend and up to 6 pounders just as of two Monday's ago for me. It's not a quantity spot, but rather a quality spot.

I think we had a few Jacks, and that was it.

Right about then, I was feeling the tone of the day. If I come here and it's balls to the wall, it's going to be a good day. If not, I guess we'll struggle.....for a big jetty Trout.

With the New Moon and a front approaching, Saturday boat traffic, S.E. winds 15+ knots, and no Trout at my big fish spot at the prime tide stage. It's easy to get discouraged fast. But I don't. I'll stick with it till that last shrimp is gone from the live well.

We worked every spot hard, and Glen was really working his float-rig well. We even went outside the jetties and sat in the soup for awhile, never hardly getting a bite even at another "go to" spot. And as we returned inside the jetties......wheww....the seas were really up then. Between the jetty rocks the river current against the hard E.S.E. 15 knot winds had the swells folding overinto white water, as we climbed the 5 footers to get in the river again. All, not a good sign. And the "gut" feeling I had wasn't getting any better.

So we changed zip codes. I really hate having to make drastic changes, and make runs up river. Not at these fuel prices. And the prices I have to charge to still get any charters. There really isn't much wiggle room anymore. In reality, If I charged another $100 I wouldn't feel taxed to run anywhere if I had too, I'd run to Amelia Island if I had too then. But not now. But the public won't handle it. So it's a Captain can loose situation these days. If you want to catch fish.

My charter started on Friday evening actually. When the prospect of a busy morning at the bait shop had me getting my shrimp and ice the day before. Then, I was up at 5am loading the boat, for a 7am departure. By noon, we ended up fishing no where near where I had anticipated going. And then the bites were so slow that we stayed out to fish the low tide, and use the rest of the 9 dozen shrimp up. Which put us over two hours past, when we were supposed to be finished up and back at the dock. A 6 hr. charter turned out to be a 14 hour day for me, with the time I got bait and ice. Then on Saturday by the time I was home and done putting the boat and tackle away. I went way further, and fished way longer. I guess I don't mind if I have just one person aboard. But today was a test of patience when it came to the fishing.

We ended up with Jacks to 4 pounds and Ladyfish of course, 2-Reds (16 to 21"), 4-Trout - (two keepers at 16") a 5 pound Sheepshead, several Mangrove Snappers and a 2- baby Grouper. From the jetties all the way towards Blount Island.

Versus; a good limit or two of Trout, add in a BIG one, a few larger Reds, no Ladyfish would be nice, and no Mangrove Snappers would be even better. All with in the Mayport area and jetties would have been nicer too.

You read me saying here sometimes that it was a 25-anchor day...well today was one. Glen and I laughed that in the first hour of the day I anchored and re-anchored 4 times.

And Glen got to Float-fish his butt off, that's for sure. He reiterated my sentiments exactly at days end to his wife, "We worked our tails off today." And he wanted some take home fillets, so we at least had that.

It was my pleasure to have another good fisherman aboard. And I'd love to have Glen back on the boat again sometime. We worked well together. He's a bait casting fool, like me. And has a never give up attitude. He told me a story about him and a friend back home in Georgia doing a all night, and then all the next morning fishing trip to two different lakes. Telling his wife that night, "I'll see you sometime tomorrow morning." Now that's a die-hard!

As always we had a good time. And once out of the wind it was a beautiful day for us.
I hope I gained another Georgia Float-rigging convert. Seeing Glen was pretty dang good at it.
Thanks Glen.

4/28 - TWO DAVE'S

Had regular Dave Cohen from Virginia Beach aboard.....A fella who can appreciate a good Trout.
And I'm glad he does. Because he's one of my "solo" customers. Just him, no one else. And I run no clock, we just go, fishing.

Well today the wind blew like hell and back. 20 knots out of the south it gusted. Front passing through, of course. Rain behind it.

It was one tough day! I had monster plans to attack a spot that's been giving up some healthy Trout. But all Dave pulled out of there was a 20" Redfish and a few Spanish Mackerel. Yep, Spanish on the float-rig. One made it to the fish box, the other ate the hook off his line at boat side. And the current for a statistically no tide height day sure was blasting. Maybe it was the south west winds pushing on the water.

Dave caught a few Jack Crevalles and one bigger one maybe 6 pounds or so that pulled really nice. Dave also wants me to fish along with him. I usually suppress the urge. Because I want him to have all the chances. But at the same time he doesn't have to wrench my arm to badly to get a rod in my hands, and a float-rig drifting behind the boat....I can do that.

At about our 10 spot, and 20th re-anchor, Dave and I tried an area a friend pulled three healthy Trout out of earlier.......Because it was out of the wind. That's all really. Wasn't expecting to catch much. It was a dive bombing barometer, windy, cloudy and we were just plain working our tails off, with not any bites because of it all.

So after multiple attempts to put my 26 and a half foot Big Metal boat into a small notch in the bank, and stay anchored with no scope on the anchor line. We work and work the area. Deep, shallow, casting and casting since there was wind......but no current. Thank God, Dave can cast okay. If I had my druthers, we wouldn't be casting at all! It does nothing but cause tangles, beats up your shrimp, and of course when we have to cast it's always into the wind! But here, we really had too.

My float finally goes slamming under water. Ahhhhh...Nice fattie Trout. 20 incher! Finally, TARGETED SPECIES! Then 5 minutes later, my Float goes under in a hurry again. Another Trout. It boils and head shakes across the surface. I do what it takes to keep the fish on. And Dave kindly nets another one for me, its a 24 incher.

Can I tell ya' I was feeling like a real ass!

I wanted Dave to catch these. I know I'm a "ringer", but come on. My J-O-B, is to get one of these on Dave's hook. But he wants me to keep on fishing. It did feel good. These were the only two real bites I've had since we left this morning.

I kick back for a moment, and let Dave get in there. While re-anchoring and positioning the boat over and over again as we drift off the spot.

Dave catches a few small Jacks, looses a few shrimp, ya know the drill......

I pick up my rod again, make a cast into where I caught the other two trout. My float goes down, I see a fish do a big boil on the surface. It pulls really hard, "It's a Trout!" Dave says, "bigger than the last one??" I reply, "hell yeah, this is a super STUD!"

The fish throbs my rod tip, comes up and then goes down, pulls drag, and now we see it. It's a damn monster!

I tell Dave, "this has to be the biggest Trout I have ever caught!" But it isn't caught 100% yet.

I'm playing this fish with kid gloves. No pulling, just working it. Closer and closer to the waiting net. The fine tuned drag on my reel works it's magic. I've hooked fish like this several times before, I know the drill, they can get off the hook in a milli-second if just one thing goes wrong.

I lost a monster Trout last Sunday, that pulled off the hook at boat side.

Dave gets her in the net. And it's the Trout that I have fished 20 years for. Finally in the boat. I've caught, or helped catch probably 5,000 Trout? I dare to even do the math. And this was her. She's the one!!

I drop her on the Boga Grip scale.....I see 10 pounds! My hands start shaking. It was the fattest Speckled Trout I have ever held. The girth on her was almost here length. FAT, FAT, FAT.

(28+ inches and had a 18+ inch GIRTH! That photo of course, doesn't do it justice.)

Finally, at only took 5,000 Trout and 20 years to get in the club.

We try some more, to get Dave a Trout too. But the current goes all wacky, the winds has us laying funny now. We move and adjust. Still nothing. So we go to head in and here comes the rain. Forrest Gump "BIG RAIN".....I can hardly see down the river it's raining so hard. But miraculously, we get back to the boat ramp, and it stopped. I clean up the fish, (keep my trophy in the cooler for over night observation) say good by to Dave as he heads back to Ponte Vedra with a nice sack of fillets for supper. Make some calls to friends. And then hit the "club house" the Mayport China Buffet for dinner at 5:30pm with Trout Crazy D.O.A. Rob, to hash over the days events.

Wheww...what a day.

Here's the rest of the Trout Photos from today: http://www.captdaves.com/Catch1.htm

C'COM.....LET'S GO CATCH US SOME MORE FATTIES!

THE TIME OF THE YEAR IS NOW.

reminder: check out my 2 passenger, special rate charters. See the link on the top of the side bar, for details. SAVE $$

BTW...I see folks out there using my "find", the Salmon Stalker floats which are the cats ass compared to anything BillyBob can make. And here's another reccomendation. Shimano Curado 300-DSV reel.....Oh what a joy these babies are to fish with.

For years, I've noticed the Texas Speck hunters using low profile reels, with FAST retrieve speeds for inshore fishing. Now I know why. But they are proud of them too, at a mere $250 a piece.

And wait till you see the custom "Big Metal" themed, custom Trout rods I'm having built to my exact specifications. You'll need to have your jaw strapped shut! I'll have no worries of having my "jetty shadow's" copying me out there, using a rod like mine. That's for sure!

4/27 - SHOCK VALUE

I guess everyone is in sticker shock, as I am. And that's why I never got even as much as a call for this weekend. "They", who ever they are....said, "get ready for $4.00 a gallon fuel." I guess, "they" were correct.
Every single flex in the economy, every single world event, ever storm, every corporate melt down, and every Presidential election year, is felt by me in the charter business! And the feeling ain't good.

Via all my world wide buddies on Aluminumalloyboats.com. One who lives and fishes in Mexico, said fuel there in U.S. dollars is only, $2.20. Then, one in Alaska mentioned that fuel there is now $5.00 a gallon. I suspect, now is when we'll really start to see some really serious problems in this country.

Took my mom with me to Saturday's 2nd Annual Jax Irish Music Fest, at the Fairgrounds. It was really warm down there in the sun, and thank goodness for some trees on the grounds. Many people sat under them as the bands played. Including Mom and I after about noon.

We were there for the openers, and stayed till fishing buddy Nick Watson's band, Rathkeltair was on and over. I really enjoyed seeing them again. And finally got to hear a local girl, Janna Light in person. With addition of her sister singing with her. She's really something too! This girl has a serious, serious voice, you do not forget.

No fish pics, for a week.
So I'll go with band pics.


































Nick on drums.
Neil on pipes.
Trevor on Guitar.
Billy on Bass.
They're Rathkeltair!

You've probably never heard anything like these guys, before.
http://www.rathkeltair.com/

4/25 - looks like they called it wrong again

I'm seeing no wind and especially no due east wind. And the Mayport weather station is reading NNE at 6 knots at 10am.

So I guess that the EAST 10-15 knots was wrong?? (which someone like me usually equates that with 15-20 knots really)

Oh, well I guess an entire week of no fishing and no booking is good for the soul???

I'm not out till Monday with one passenger, as of right now.

Just sitting doing some planning, architect'ing, and development for a new items on the boat, for this summer.

I will have the coolest stuff. Just wait and see what I'm up too....

4/25 - with east winds and zero fishing comes......

Zero going on, east winds blowing, fuel is up .20 cents in 5 days, so......It's boat show time!

My second love, besides fishing is looking at and riding in, if I could on bad azz boats. Especially if they are made out of Plate Alloy.

When you think Aluminum boats, I bet ya don't think of anything like these.

AMF plate alloy's from New Zealand.

Yes, just because it's painted you'd walk right on by and never say to the owner, "hey how many bud cans does it take to make one of these" like I have to hear from the rednecks scientists, at the gas station when I'm filling up my boat. (mine is not painted)

First one is a AMF 850 classic, fashioned after the American-style 'picnic boat'. Which the owner now wants a 45' version. (must be one wealthy man)

This second boat a AMF 720 Viper is a concept hull developed by Paul Sharratt to show what he can do with aluminium. And I say......"he do, well."

Then the last I have to show you is the AMF's first Outboard Powered QRV 950 (rescue vessel), Fitted with twin 25ohp Yamaha Fourstroke Engine this boat as seen in these photos is doing 47.7kts !!

Okay, Boat Show from the "other side" is over, for now. But you're looking at just a few of the strongest, fastest, boats in the world. Real world. The craftsmanship is only rivaled by wood boat builders.

4/24 - Looks like Saturday or Sunday is "IT".

Well, another wind blown week is passing by. Just got back from breakfast at Nicklyn's Cafe with dad. Where we chat about what's going on. Dad didn't realize that an East wind just about shuts down any and all "jetty bites".

Saturday & Sunday is it folks. And if I do not get any calls in advance I will be at the Jax Irish Music Festival on Saturday. And I know, the phone will ring with some one asking to go right now, because they see sun out the window. It always happens.

But since weekends are getting to be a really big hassle, dispite fuel costs sky-rocketing 20 cents a week. There's no lack of boat traffic in the river or offshore. We're what, up to $3.50 - $3.60 a gallon now?? And there is no end in sight. Maybe a complete "shut" down of all commerce in the country will change the state we're in, now.

Everyone says it has will get worse till it gets better. I blame the ones in charge, it's just that simple for me.

I believe it all stems from Bush #1 and the first bombing of Iraq, in 1991. Now, the Bush #2 goverment has really ruined it for the regular person. The fat beauracrats don't worry about having to stay in business, buy food, or fuel. They have life long jobs, being fat politians with big checks "we" pay them. Has anyone ever really met a life long politician that was poor?

I decided to post a special on charters for two persons on my NEWS page. Here it is;
http://www.captdaves.com/news.htm

I guess, I'll also make up an "notice" for the sidebar of the blog here, so to make it permanent and seen by everyone who doesn't know I also have a complete web site with changes going on weekly too.

Yep, I've received calls from people wanting me to recommend a fishing guide to them, because they somehow found these blog pages, and figured "why not ask this dude about who he'd recommend they fish with"......Totally unaware that I was a fishing guide and have links down the side to my web site. Yes, people can be that clueless. That's like asking a salesman at a car lot, "who's the best dealer in town where I can buy a mini-van like that one there.....?"

I learn something new about the public everyday.

4/23 - Cracked me up!!!

With the daily knee jerk reactions of homeland security people at airports, in our own river via the USCG. I recieved this as an email from a friend and man did this crack me up.

here's what he sent me......

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If you are sitting next to someone who irritates you (IE: a bath, two seats, a hair-cut, a breath mint, a base ball bat over the head) on a plane or train follow these instructions: (and maybe say goodbye!).


1. Quietly and calmly open up your laptop case.

2. Remove your laptop.

3. Start up

4. Make sure the guy who is annoying you, can see the screen.

5. Close your eyes and tilt your head up to the sky as if to pray.

6. Then Click the link below

http://boortz.com/mp3/archive/countdown.swf

No guarantee who will be moved off the plane/train/or Ferry ship!!

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And just think, you may get to ride all by yourself to your destination. And get those silly "shoe inspectors" back, BIG TIME!

4/22 - News

I'll be posting some tidbits from time to time, I find on http://www.aluminumalloyboatscom/ - where you'll always find me and my world wide friends who are also plate alloy owners.

Who here thinks Aluminum Plate boats are some new fangled idea?

Obviously a lot of the general public I run into does. And that's a shame. Since their minds have been fogged by the marketing success of the Plastic boat builders, and the ad agencies. Come on...the world just isn't Carolina Skiffs and tubes of 3M 5200.


Just so you know, here's a plate aluminum boat from way back. (1941 aluminum plate PT-boat) And talk about holding it's VALUE!!













Here's the link, it's on Ebay!! http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1940-US-Navy-81-All-Aluminum-PT-Boat-PT-8_W0QQitemZ280217931676QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

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Friday & Saturday - 2nd annual Jacksonville Irish Music Festival

Jax. Fair grounds. Saturday gates open at 11am till midnight

Jax Fair Grounds. Friday evening, Seven Nations, playing with the Gainesville Chamber Orchestra

For more info go to: http://www.jaxirishfest.com/

-Catch the Beaches Flyer to the Festival! Leaving from Lynch's from 5pm Friday night and from 10am Saturday Morning. For all you drinks of the brew.

I'll probably see you there....

Wanna hear a sample of what LOCAL TALENT, will be there?

Go to this link and listen to RATHKELTAIR, my fishing buddy Nick's band.
http://www.rathkeltair.com/ - listen here

Or

Janna Light, former lead singer of Celtic Soul
http://cdbaby.com/cd/janalight - Listen here

4/21 - James from the Chesapeake

Since I did my R&D yesterday, and had a nice game plan laid out for James from the Chesapeake area of Maryland, down as a solo passenger. I felt good as we left the dock at 7:30am on a what was surely to be a tranquil MONDAY MORNING....but in the first hour of fishing, I could see the plans I had mapped out needed to be used as toilet paper instead. And Monday morning just might as well be Sunday morning, I guess.

At one point, I was anchored up tight to the rocks with my "cinder block" jetty anchor. I had two boats come in ahead of me, one behind me was already there. Then came one next to me, and then another guide drops with the trolling motor and is fishing off my starboard side 40 feet away.

I'm usually a people person, gregarious, fun loving, kid friendly, joke'ster. But put all these people in boats around me, and I get claustrophobic!! I had zero "wiggle room". And what gets me is no one is catching a damn thing, I know we weren't. So we picked up and went where no one was and caught (2) beautiful Redfish back to back on our Float-rigs. One 27" fish that was a healthy 8.5 pounds, and another at 25".

I knew there were Reds on this spot. But it took a little while to find them. James also had on what we thought was a nice Trout, but lost it. I had in the back of my mind all day that I wanted to go where the Black Drum were. So we tried it a few times even, but only caught one 15" Trout and a Whiting there. Those dang puppy size Drum remind me of Tarpon. Here today by the schools, and then gone tomorrow. Sunday, I saw literally stingers full of Drum but after 2 attempts in the same area James and myself, just figured it wasn't gonna be.

We moved on as the tide started to fall and went to BIG Trout-dom. Again, PEOPLE were the problem but I worked around them. As the tide got perfect I had James working it hard, "details details" I stressed. And when push came to shove, my float went down! As I was fishing along with James. Drag pulling like a red, head thumping back and forth, was this it??

Oh, I was so excited, but also kinda upset that James wasn't on this fish. I could have handed over the rod. But if this was a big Trout I was so afraid we'd loose it on the hand off as so many are. Along the boat, now..... "is it?" " Yes, it's a big Trout!" Jame's grabbed the net and the fish certainly knew it's fate was sealed and made three attempts to pull away. Swoooosh, in the net!

Ahh, what a beauty. If I fish all day without a bite and then catch me a big fat Trout, I'm satisfied. On the Boga-Grip it turned out to be a perfect 6 pounder.

We continued to work the spot, looking for the next GATOR, but as with the whole day.

Things just weren't feeling right.

I kept telling James, this day feels weird. And I'm gonna go with my gut. Because of the wind direction, the current from the full moon, the sea breeze I know it's something, and I'm getting a vibe.

So we moved on looking for some faster action.

The next move I made was as fruitless as a dead tree. Gut said, "get the hell outa here!" So we did, and hit an area where the afternoon wind wasn't all that bad.

Here we had 4 good bites, and boated two small Reds. The low tide on this area was getting oh so perfect. But James had a taxi to catch, I had fish to clean. So we packed it in for the boat ramp.

Overall if I had to classify the day it was just one that we had to work hard for everything we got.

But most importantly, James hadn't fished since last November and got to do it in 83 degree weather, Florida sunshine, on a Big Metal boat.

Which he said he certainly wouldn't be doing back home. And he learned a lot and we had FUN.

Plus he took home with him a nice sack of fillets.

Thanks James, it was my pleasure.

Remember, you always will get the "reel scoop" here at Capt Dave's Sport Fishing Report Blog.

4/20-Windburned R&D

Like a fool.....I had to go out on Sunday. I had a new rod. That's why. Just was killing me not to try it out. So I left out at 10:00am and got to a boat ramp that was packed out. Do you realize, that people are now parking all the way down across from Singletons Seafood shack? Holy crap, this cities getting just too big. I still waiting for the economy to drop boat sales in the garbage can, and fuel prices to have the boat ramp absent of people on a Sunday. I know it's killing me to spend $100 and get 28.9 gallons of fuel. That's the reason, I'm only fishing the jetties...can't afford to go anywhere else, these days. No hawg wild runs to Nassau Sound, up Nassau River, past Amelia island on a 6 hr charter. Not unless you want to pay way more. And the people have spoken. They barely want to pay what I have to charge now. And everyone constantly asks me, "so when you gonna start doing offshore trips?" I guess, when I can get $600 a day for two anglers.


I can remember when there was no over flow lot across the street from the boat ramp parking lot, one ramp and that was just fine on a weekend. But either way, the boat ramp would be a lot better if there was no stupid peoples CARS, where Trucks and Trailers are supposed to park.

Everyone ought to print notices and carry them with you. When you see 6 cars in prime truck and trailer spot, you post a notice on their windshield with Elmer's glue; "Hey asshole...this is a boat ramp parking lot. This is a parking spot for a truck and trailer not your car. Your lucky we don't hitch up to ya and pull your car out into the middle of the parking lot. If you are this stupid how did you pass the drivers exam?"


At this point in time. I believe I'll have to start charging a weekend rate. Sorry, but it was bound to happen. A lot of charters do so. Reason being, that there's so many people at the bait shop on Saturday mornings this time of year that if YOU want ME to actually have bait and ice and be on time, I've been getting Saturday mornings bait and ice on Friday instead. Because of Friday they still have some shrimp left usually.....wait till a bad Saturday morning and you can be shit outa luck. So I have to make special trips there on Friday, and do all I can to keep 10-12 dozen shrimp alive over night. Many people think I catch my own live shrimp...."yeah, for a $400 day, I'm up at 1:00am, and in my shrimp boat dragging nets for your charter at 7am, NOT!!"

The jetties were a mess of people on Sunday. So I had to find a spot where I could be alone and fish happily. And I found it. I caught about 10 Trout, only 3 were keepers a few bluefish, and a 5 pound Black Drum. I lost another Black Drum, and probably the largest Trout I've ever hooked in my whole life, just 10 feet from the boat. It was no less than 30 inches as it came up to the surface and the hook pulled. And I was all alone. Which was so nice.

There's still a place or two people don't fish, and there is fish, thank goodness. Big Trout don't care for boat motors running over their heads all day long. So I will explore this are more for Big Trout again. And there's plenty of Black Drum there too. Because I saw them caught.

The wind was bad by late day, and I fished the area hard with my one new rod in hand. Caught more than enough for a dinner. Liked the feel of my new rod. But still needed a bigger fish on it than the Drum, to be a real test. I searched high and low for this rod, but it's still missing one key item I was looking for, a heavy duty trigger real seat.

But, alas I did find the rods I'm looking for, custom made on the west coast. Wait till you see these beauties! They'll be like nothing you've seen around here.

Go to: www.deep-color.com and be prepared to blown away!

4/19 - No, No it isn't....

The title of this post shouldn't be confusing. I'm just answering the title of my last post.
THE WIND HASN'T GONE AWAY!

Holy crap it was windy today. Totally screwed me over. Had a two boat, 8 passenger trip with Richard Ridgway and crew, visiting Amelia Island. We (me and the other boat) had big plans of hitting the jetties as early as possible. With 4 passengers a piece we needed a sure thing. So the inlet is always in order when these trips come around.

We both left the dock and rounded the corner past the Navy Base and I was shocked. The south jetty was a chopped up mess I wasn't gonna anchor in and try to show 4 people how to float fish in.

And we also had a big drop in the Barometer today....(seen via my new weather screen on my home page as seen this morning at 0530 hrs)

I didn't want to leave so we looked around and around. Incoming tide, Full moon, south wind at 20 knots, 4 passengers....I had a mindful of worries. Where to go, when the #1 spot is unfishable. Unfishable for a Float-rigging 4 passenger trip. I needed current. And we had NONE!

So after goofing around making up my mind we headed up river. As I told my folks, it's like this..one time my dad said to a waiter at the Chinese Restaurant, "Man, this yellow mustard sure is spicy!" The old Chinese waiter said in return, "no sir, it's just exciting!"

That's what jetty fishing is in my book, compared to fishing the river or some creek.

Just plain more exciting!!

So we headed down river as the incoming tide got higher and higher, and the wind blew stronger and stronger. First spot, out of the wind, but no trout bites, just this years first bait stealing Mangrove Snapper, and a few sand perch.

I said to my group..."looks like ya'll are gonna get the river world tour", as I pulled anchor and hauled ass even further up river. There's only so many places to hide from a south wind, and I know of maybe a few that could produce today. The first one didn't on the high water.

Morale was LOW, I could tell. But 99.9% of all freshwater fisherman, don't get what tides do and how important they are. If nothings happening on a incoming, then the opposite, the falling tide must be the tide to fish.......BINGO!

After the tide just started to turn on the very bottom, in two drifts we had back to back, Specks.
First one was 18", and the second 20".

Finally.... it wasn't like we were burning down the house here. We just had two really nice fish all in 2 minutes. As the ebb tide slowly started.
I made an adjustment and we started catching some Yellowmouths, a few okay sized ones for the box and several small ones.

But the action was very refreshing. And as it happens many times. The river's tide change, changed the atmosphere above, and the wind died. A very refreshing change there!

We ended up with 9 keeper fish in the box. And then I talked to the other boat. They were heading out to brave the jetties again and take a look.

They ended up fishing there, but as the Captain said..."Dave, it's hold on with one hand fish with the other, if you can. It's that rough but we're catching yellowmouths at least and caught a small Pompano."

In short order, we started to run low on shrimp. So I stayed longer and we finished them off. It was a 12 mile run back to the boat ramp from where we were, and the wind backed off inshore, but was still honking in Mayport when we returned.

Saw a few really small boats heading offshore this morning. If I was bitchin' at the jetties I can't imagine what it was out there.

Next up: Monday, single solo passenger trip. Just the opposite of today. And since the forecast was WRONG today. I hope I can fish someday in the opposite of today, and that would be "calm winds".

Two Saturday's in a row of heinous winds has me hating weekends!