6/24 - Breakin' in a greenhorn.

Had Patricia M. and her 14 yr. old grandson Brendan visiting from Texas, aboard today. When I talked to her yesterday evening I said, "tell your grandson to eat his Wheaties...he's gonna need it".

Well, he needed more than Wheaties. Because to use an ole 'Celtic' term (inside joke) used by my friend Nick Watson...Brendan didn't seem too "Sprightly", even as we pulled away from the dock at 7am.

I jigged up bait, for possible live bait King Fishing (King Mackerel) after we paid a visit to the man in the big brown suit...the BlackTip Sharks, that are infesting the waters behind the shrimp boats. Again, big fat greenies at the inlet were a real bear to catch. Their small, and far and few between. Probably because I haven't been out there on the best tide to catch them.

So after putting maybe (10) Greenies in the live well we headed toward the Shrimp boats dragging beyond the inlet.

Being totally unaware of any one's fishing experience, I give as quick a lesson as I can. But this is really an O.J.T. fishing. When hooked up to a 100 pounder, dumping 3/4's the spool of line on the reel. There's no explaining every aspect. Ya just have to do it.

I pulled up on a shrimp boat just as they were hauling back the nets. I took about 3 casts before I put the bait in the right spot........then it was game on! I handed Brendan the rod.

It was about the only time that he looked "sprightly" as he held on for, my tackles sake!
He started pumping and reeling as I coached him.

I never know if the kids I take are really into what we're doing. I certainly cannot ever get a read on many of them. And the ones that I do feel are having a ball, of course tell me. But most are blank pages of paper. If I only got to go on a private charter to go after Trout to Sharks when I was their age. I'd probably be more addicted than I am now.


Brendan worked the shark closer to the boat and than had enough. He did good. But his arms were giving out on him. So now I gave some instruction of how to handle these bad dudes at boat side. But this Blacktip wanted no parts of us or the boat. The rod was doubled over into a horseshoe shape for probably 20 minutes before I could hand the rod back to Brendan, so we could get a photo and then a release.


We had the shark boil the surface, then come up and see us. Then splash us, then smack the side of the boat with it's tail, then splash us again, then finally I handed the rod off to Brendan, and immediately the shark would take advantage of it and go south again. So I pulled it up from under the boat, and would attempt a hand off again. Then I realized I needed my leadering glove (btw, a Kevlar filleting glove makes a great leadering glove for these fish). So Pat while trying to take a few photos got me my glove and Brendan and I went for it.

I usually want the shark to flip over and give the "I'm really tired sign" before going for the photo and release. And we barely got it.

Brendan was suppose to stick his head somewhere in the photo, but between the shark fight and the un-Sprightly-ness, we missed him and just got my big _ _ _ in there holding the shark at boat side.

I say, let'em chew on this.... does Aluminum alloy taste good?

In my old boat I had marks in the fiberglass where these same Sharks chewed on the gunnel of the boat. But before I could pull this one any closer it copped a bad attitude, so I just cut the leader....quick!














We regrouped, and packed in the chasing shrimp boats and headed to the kingfish spot.
By now Brendan was in the head down, looking kinda pukey stage of life. But we proceeded.

I decided to forget about trolling these tiny live Greenies for Kings and instead I set up a good slow drift, with two sea anchors. The wind was blowing SW so if we drifted we cover the same ground as on a troll.

I pitched out two live greenies had the boat laying nicely. And commenced to waiting for a load ZZZZZZing on the clicker of my mini B-197 Accurate twin drag reels. Brendan was what I call a, d-e-a-d soldier by now. Sea sick? We just couldn't tell. But lifeless, Yes.

So Pat and I sat and talked. And as I was reeling in a line to check my mighty but tiny live baits, one of the rods bent over and the line took off with a Kingfish on it. And by the time I was handing the rod to Pat.......The fish was off the hook.

Dang, I'm not having much luck lately keeping these fish hooked, and getting them to the boat is almost like asking too much. Of course the fish hit right when I was in the middle of checking the baits. Perfect timing.

I put on all new fresh baits and continued to drift. Pat was concerned for Brendan, and he was pretty lifeless. So we gave it a few more minutes and headed back to the dock.

Damn, two days in a row with strikes. Two days in a row with lost Kings. And a brand new fish bag, that I haven't even used yet.

Well, I have Dale H. on board Thursday and he's a healthy and strong fishing animal. So I expect to see all this turn around. I just hope he doesn't get to wore out on after joining the Hundred pounder club, first. Because we ain't gonna be quitting after just one.

6/23 - Fun in the big water

I had the Green's aboard today. Can't remember every one's name. Probably because there were 5 of them. Fran, Dan, Dan's Mom, Dan's Dad, and 9 yr. old Mariah.

We left out early, because as usual the wind and seas start kickin' in the late afternoon.

First stop, North Jetty. Time to get some "Greenies", aka: Threadfin herring. Catching them on a bait rig. And as I was doing this, I spied the shrimp boats dragging out in the "chum hole". Just north of the inlet. The word on the water is that the big bad Black tip Sharks are ferocious out there.

The word also is that our beloved "pogies-pods" are no where to be found, really. With meager sighting of their trade mark flip & splat jumps on the surface, just a memory from years past. At least anywhere near the St. Johns River inlet. So what's new?

I caught about 10 Greenies, and figured since they are 10 times the baitfish a Pogie is anyhow we had enough for a few Kingfish later on. The Greenies live so much better in my live well...(really designed for mullet)

I did troll a few Greenies at first, waiting for the Shrimp boats to slow down and pull in the nets. That's when I'd POUNCE! And no sooner I had the Greenies out behind the boat for 5 minutes. I see two shrimp nets come up. And go back down just as fast. So I sped on over.

The crew was all up on the bow, watching the Dolphins going crazy chasing the shrimp boat, when I made a cast off the side of the boat, with a dead Greenie. It no sooner sank 2 feet and it was game on as the reel spool smoked with a monster fish hooked up. I yelled to Dan, and right then it bit through the leader. I grabbed another rig and we ran up to the shrimp boat again, and I made a cast and it happened all over again. What the hell...

That shrimp boat took off fast and I re-rigged and pulled up to another one going slower. Made a cast and 2 seconds after the bait hit the water, I was yelling DAN...HERE YA GO!!!

The fish smoked line off the B-870 twin drag Accurate reel like a missile. Dan, was in shock!

45 minutes later and a bucket of sweat, Dan go the Black tip Shark to the side of the boat. It was about a 125 pounder. WELCOME TO THE HUNDRED POUNDER CLUB.

Those Bass in a Georgia pond, are a bit different than these, it takes serious muscle or technique to land one of these any time soon. The photo's don't do these 6 foot long and powerful Sharks much justice. So, since it was Dan's Dad's trip, it was time for the ole man to give a try.

So we ran up behind the shrimp boat again, I pitched a bait out, and was instantly hooked up.
It proved too much, so Dan took over again. (poor guy) And he went back to back on another bruiser. This one was about 80-90 pounds, a tad shorter than the last.

So now it was time for a King Mackerel. So we stayed right there and trolled some Greenies in the chum hole, without a sniff.

That's okay. I knew where we could go and be in much better conditions.

Once there, we had no less that 4 kingfish strikes, and three great runs, and even had one right up to the boat about 12-14 pounds, that ran off, and the line hit the gaff handle that was in my hand pointing towards the sky, how that happened was weird, and the hooks pulled.

Then, as we put more baits out it started raining, the wind picked up and it got choppy. Plus the sky over the beach was looking dark. Time to head in.

It was an action packed day, to say the least with 5 people aboard. But we managed just fine in the BIG METAL, boat. Damn can this boat handle some weight. It should with a 2.5 ton capacity.

Here's the pics from today. And I'll be doing all over again tomarrow, too.

6/18 - Stupidity at it's all time highest.

UNFORTUNATELY STUPID PEOPLE GO SURF FISHING TOO....

THEY ALL JUST DON'T OWN BOATS.

6/16 - Fishin' with Dad trip

Had Jim & Sophie on board today for a Fathers Day trip. Initially, had to weigh going early and fishing higher water, or go later in the day and possibly fish in heat and wind. I finally came up with, go earlier and deal with the high tide......so we left out at 8:30am.


It was a beautiful morning. The request was for
calm inshore waters, so I started in the ICW, pitching crabs, up along the grass line. Bait stealers were incessant. And although the water was high but falling, as we fished just outside a small Redfish highway that led up into the grass.

We never got bit by anything but bait stealers. Anything on the bottom just doesn't stand a chance in the summer. In the river it's StingRays, and Sharks, at the jetties it's StingRays and Sharks and in the shallows it's Pinfish, Mangrove Snappers and tiny Jacks, that will not leave a bait alone for two seconds.

So we switched to the float rig, and still of course got bit by Pinfish galore, but end up catching a few Jacks, a Ladyfish, a Trout, and a few Reds....and even a really small Red for a really small Sophie.

It was 1/2 day trip, so there's not much wiggle room. I gave big fish a try, then fell back to action instead. Sophie did real good running her float-rig rod, although her hands were so very tiny.



















Recieved a pic from a friend that's sort of self explainable. But, I can't help thinking what came first?

• Did the pole get in the way, first?
• Or did the pole get in the way, after the boat decided it wanted to ride up front?

6/14 - In Jacksonville??

Something you'll never see here....the Cops are still using 18' Boston Whalers, and the FWC use whatever they can get there hands on.

WOW.....From Virginia, or Maryland, I think.

Orange and Silver never looked so good.....(to me).

Pacific, 23 Super Top - w/ walk in console.

Friday the 13th....

Superstition, has nothing to do with the 13th.

But the 11th? Maybe....

I had Pete M. out with me on the 11th. It was after a week of "loosing touch" with my speckled fishes. Because I had my good ole Honda in the shop. Ya know, I've never owned an outboard that hasn't let me down. And I lost about $700 in that week to boot.

We literally scoured the river for big Trout bites, and never found any. All in the same areas that a week earlier, they were chewin' big time. Which is where it's about the limit of my venturing up river in a 6 hr. charter, also.

Well, after working the areas quick and thoroughly for 2 dink Jacks and 2 or 3 small Trout. We ended up at the jetties. I could tell that either it just wasn't going to happen this day, or they had moved.

At the inlet we barely got some greenies (threadfin herring) for bottom fishing baits. And all that ate them was two stingrays and one shark. We float-rigged the rocks, and couldn't even loose a live shrimp.

Needless to say, the funk was all over us. And I traveled approximately 24 miles back and forth on the river, for this????

So with that miserable day behind me. My next day up to bat was Friday the 13th. (Actually the 11th should have been the 13th!!)

I met Joe and his two sons on the morning of the 13th, geared up for some float-rig fishing, a bunch of live shrimp. Two Kingfish rods, rigged up. And my bait catching rod with a new rig tied on. And we head to the jetties. There hasn't been any Pogies anywhere around, as usual. So everyone is crowding the ends of the rocks jigging up Greenies to take offshore. And so was I.

But, the horn bellied Jacks were way thicker than the greenies, and are not any good for trolling baits either. And for every greenie I caught, I caught 25 horn-belly Jacks. I don't know the real name of these lil' bastards, and don't care. They were ferocius, is all I know. And after an hour of going back and forth between the south and north jetty looking for greenies. I only had 5 of them. So I gave up and took off to an area that's been giving up some Kingfish, and it's close to the inlet. So we blasted out there in the 2-4' seas and a stiff east south east wind.

I stopped before we even arrived near the spot, because time was ticking away. I pinned on a Greenie and pitched it behind the boat on a wire rig and let it go way, way out behind us. Then pinned on another, and set it a bit closer.

We hadn't had both baits in the water for five minutes when the longest line took off and the clicker on my mini 197 Accurate reel started screaming. One of the boys jumped up to the rod and started working on the fish. When it got closer to the boat it looked like a decent King. And since we discussed it earlier, would only keep one fish. The fish swam down the side of the boat and I stuck the gaff in the first King Mackerel I've had caught on my boat in probably 8 years.

It weighed in at 21 pounds.
(damn, the wrong dates on the camera even)

Yep, it's been a long time since I've went and dragged live or dead baits for Kingfish. And when I left out this morning, wasn't sure if we were gonna give it a try or go up river and float-rig fish.

We had 4 live greenies left in the livewell. So we continued.

We ended up getting a few strikes, having Kings sky rocket the baits and fly through the air behind the boat, lost an unknown fish, and had fish boil behind the boat. Then our bait was gone. So we headed back to the jetties and ran up river to do some float-rigging.

By now the wind inshore was howling almost due east. Sustained, not gusting 15 knots is what it felt like to me. And to top it off, the falling tide was about dead, so we lacked any good current. And all the boat did was blow around in the wind. The guys caught jacks, Mangrove snappers, Bluefish, and small Sea Bass. Then we called it a day and headed back to the dock.

But that one Kingfish, made our day. And with the lack of bait, and making due with what we had felt as if the superstition of Friday the 13th, didn't beat us. The fellas were all from Colorado, so the sights, smells and action of the day was new and enjoyable to them.

Next up and coming soon might be a Tarpon-Shark trip, with a side bar of Kingfish as a back up.

But until then, I have a father and daughter (8 years old) on Monday in the river.

I even got in a photo of the first King Mackerel on the BIG MEDAL boat. And if the gator Trout are hard to find... it won't be the last.

6/10 - New policies, 6/16 cancellation

Have 6/16 now open, now!
Fathers Day weekend/Monday.

(6/12 UPDATE: MONDAY'S NOW RESERVED....again.)

Yep....which forces a change in policies.
http://www.captdaves.com/Policy%20Page.html - "for the new world we live in, I have new web pages."

If you want Monday with dad, mom, brother, sister, cousin, uncle, aunt, neighbor, gandpa, grandma, boss, co-worker. CALL NOW, to reserve.






Plus, my new HOME PAGE. Has a short video on it too.
For the folks that don't know I have a charter fishing web site, (it's happened before) here's my home page: http://www.captdaves.com/

And any day now. You will be able to reserve your charter (post $100 deposit with credit card) on my web site with a very secure service.

6/9 - for ole times sake!

Recieved an e-mail asking about this video. A video I found on YOUTUBE a year ago and instantly posted here on my BLOG.

And the video that amazed me, and had me thinking clearer about what I wanted in my next boat. Barring running a river with no water. I'll never do that. But I do get intimate with rocks. BIG JETTY ROCKS.

The video that should make every boat owner say to themselves......(picture a V-8 commercial)

A 'Bonk' on the head...... "damn I shoulda bought a ALLOY boat!!"




It's just that simple! And the reason why the forum address below (my second home) is so popular after just a months since it's inception. Now, a world wide alloy boat fan's, #1 destination.

http://www.aluminumalloyboats.com/

I find it hard to believe, I wasn't 'bonked' on the head about 10 years ago. But that's the learning curve, huh?

6/8 - How-to: stopper/slip knots

One of the most important things to know when learning how to Float-rig fish is setting the stopper/Slip knot at the proper depth.






General rule: Always set bait (live shrimp) about a foot off the bottom.

Then folks ask...."how ya do that at the jetties?" Real simple! Set the bait so it travels over the jetty rocks. What ever the depth is you are anchored at and the current is heading, then shorten if you catch rock and lengthen if not deep enough, which means you're recieving not bites. A good float fisherman, especially at a place like along the jetties is always fine tuning thier depth as they fish.

Then, there's the best way to make a stopper/slip knot that sets your float at the desired depth.
Some float-rig fisherman use rubber bands, some use mono, and some use the pre-made stopper knots that you can buy that come on the lil' tube. I like these. They hold really well on super braid line. But when in a pinch, I always drop right back to a 20# mono stopper/slip knot.

Then the next question is, "how do you make (tie) a stopper knot." Well, I've been searching for about a year now for the best diagram I could find. And I just found it on a very cool products web site.

Here ya go: http://www.wigglefin.com/knots/fishing_knots.html and yeah, check out the Wigglefin Idea while your there. I'm trying a few for the heck of it too.

6/5 - Pre-occupied...

Many things I'm working on have had me very preoccupied here for about a week. Sorry for the big space and time, since the last report.

Besides all that, BIG METAL is in the shop. Has been since Monday. I had this tiny little aggravating as all hell ticking sound in the engine. I didn't give it much thought, it wasn't effecting the engines performance. But after a few trips with the ticking, I pulled out of the water one day from the boat ramp and there stood a buddy of mine, Raymond. Raymond's a huge Honda fan. And works his Honda to the bone, commercial fishing.



(I hope Honda isn't full of a lot of Hot Air, and my outboard see's me through till the Hydrogen models come out.......
HYDROGEN?)







I said, "Jump up on the boat there Raymond,
can ya hear a real slight ticking?"

"Yep, I sure can......"

And by the time the trailer was out of the water, Raymond's on the phone to another friend.

He says, "Dave I have some one that can fix ya right up, call this guy tomarrow." So I did.

Raymond's man came to my house with a friend along that's also a Honda 225 mechanic, and they listened and then looked at me and said, "It's in the lower unit."

So, off to CrewsN2 Outboards a Honda dealer and warranty center, on Arlington Expressway. I'm there Monday at 6:45 in the morning, waiting for them to open.

Since, I have been there, and seen my lower unit and gears pulled. And Sam the mechanic said it was a chip in the pinion and forward gear. He was waiting on the parts. That was Tuesday.

I know a guy who's a big time Optimist. His name is Dale. We supposedly have a trip planned on the 12th. And Dale says, "Dave, don't worry, it'll be fixed by then....I'm thinking Friday."

Dale's usually right about weather. So I hope he's right about this.
I told him, I'm a "realist" .

Update:

Picked boat up today. Lower unit all re-built via warranty.
And I'm ready for my trips this week.

Dang, Dale was right. This guys amazing!

5/29 - Little Differences...?

Had Dale H. aboard for a day of school....mixed with fish catching. Dale is a fellow aluminum boat brother (17' - G3) It may not be big heavy metal, but at least he's on the right track. I started out with a 1974 14' Aluma-Craft, myself. So right off, we think alike.

Dale always says, "Dave the weather will be perfect, don't worry." When he picks a day to go fishing with me. And he's basically right, each time. Last trip was back on April 11th. It was cool, foggy, and then the afternoon was beautiful. And we did well on big Trout then, when they were at the inlet. But that trip was "introduction to Float-rig fishing". Today was also beautiful, almost to beautiful (and I'll discuss that as I go along). And was "the finer points of Float-rig fishing" 101.

We left out good and early, prior to 7am. The plan was to casually hop from spot to spot. No high stress, no frantic fishing, just two guys out enjoying a day of hunting big Specks.

I had Tuesday still fresh in my mind. Which turned out to be almost the opposite of today.

WHY??

Tuesday, (my previous report to this one) was one of those days that I will not forget anytime soon. Cool, overcast, with storm clouds imminent almost all day. And with probably a serious barometer fluctuation...ALONG WITH SO MANY BIG TROUT (over 20"), IT WAS RIDICULES!
Today, was standard summer time kind of weather. Very warm, humid as hell, nice blue sky, no high winds, basically a Bluebird. On any given charter, the kind of weather we dream about.

Dale and I soft peddled our way around the river. Going by my gut instinct's. Which I go by 95% of the time. Because I know which spots should yield what, and when they don't we move on quickly. It's what I call the "ten minute rule"....give or take a few minutes.

Spot #2......"ah, this was nice." Dale set his depth flipped his float out behind the boat made a perfect drift and was rewarded with an over 20" Trout. A fat 22 incher to be exact, the first Trout of the morning. I.G. - instantaneous gratification! Which was nice. Because spot #1, let us down big time!!

And that's the way the day went. We had to work our tails off to find Specks under 20", for the fish box. Because I flipped my float out, and was also rewarded with an over 20" trout too.

"A bird in hand is always better than two in the bush", is an ole saying I'll always go by. Because you never know what the rest of the day could be like. So put those in the fish box, and if bigger ones come, just release them for next time.

That's the way the day went, after catching most of our fish at spot #2. We did real well there, considering it was a falling tide, really getting hot now, and my favorite tide to fish this spot is normally on the flood incoming tide. Go figure, go with the flow.

The spots that I thought won't produce, produced. And the spots I thought would, didn't.

Even though it was a really nice, hot humid day. Tuesday's weather was obviously perfect Trout weather. And I do find that when there is the slightest "bump" in the forecast, with out the day being a disaster weather wise, are great fishing days. And Tuesday's cloud cover, rain threat, and coolness was the difference between an all out waylay, and having to work a bit harder.

The day with Dale was a school day, and we caught really beautiful Trout, and released really beautiful Trout, with the emphasis on techniques and where to execute them. But the majority of the fish were caught just before the afternoon, and on the first of the falling tide.

I wanted Dale to get the BIGGEST ONE. So even though the best part of the bite was seemingly over, we continued our hunt. And while working a double whammy secret spot, I caught the largest Trout of the day a 24 inch 5 pounder. I love it and I hate it. I wanted Dale to get that fish! Just like when I caught the 10 pounder, I would have loved Dave Cohen who was with me that day to catch that fish, too. But they want me to fish....so I easily oblige.

Most of the Trout today were 17 to 24", and as hard as we tried to catch smaller fish, boxed 4 shy of our 2 person limit. We also had the "summer river variety package" too, a small Black Drum, Bluefish, Mangrove Snappers, a Toadfish, a Needlefish, Jacks, and Pinfish.

Our next scheduled trip is in June. We just may head to the jetties for a serious whopper; big Red, Tarpon or blacktip Shark or maybe even to the near-shore reefs for some butterfly jigging, in search of; Snapper, Grouper, Cuda's, King and Spanish Mackerel, what ever will eat a properly presented jig.

Back at the boat ramp, my friendly Egret showed up again. Along with many other marine foul.
But if this is the same Egret every time, it sure knows there's a softy on that Big Metal Boat. Because this bird always gets nice pieces of trout belly from me till it's completely full. And then just stands there watching me.

-----
The time is now if you'd like a nice box of fat Speckled Trout. I'd get while the getting is REAL
good. Plus I need someone to break in some new reels that should be here any day.
---------------------------------------
If you have a small group, and would like to go butterfly jigging, on a drift fishing charter on the near-shore reefs. Call for details.

5/27 - Settled waters, boat traffic over, it's Tueday!

I'll wait my turn. Because I can. I fished Friday and Sunday over the windy Memorial day holiday. Not as much as I'd liked. But we got out there, so what more could I ask for?

Dave's turn, that's what! So, even though Tuesday's weather was "iffy", I went. Leaving the dock at 0530 hrs. to go have me some fun.

This is a "classic" time of year, the end of May....as I stated in my last report, it's all about same places, same time of year. Gone from the inlet are the big Specks. Believe me I've tried to find them there. But here's the kicker..."they are all over the surf". Yep, they are running the beach but can't be caught at the jetties?? That's a real perplexing situation, I know. Structure like the Jax Beach Pier is where you can find them on certain conditions. And they'll be big fat roe laden females, too. I've always put them into groups in the summer. Half the fish, will be on the beach, and the other half are in the river. And the river half are on the move. And by the time July is here, the river half will be as far as Orange Park or Green Cove Springs. Depending on how much rain fall we get in the summer months. Because the Shrimp, and bait are that far south.

But for now, I know where they are at. And if you want to have some classic warm weather Trout mornings. It's time to get on the stick, and call me. Not next month, or in two weeks. But RIGHT NOW!

It was dark as I headed to the first spot. Nothing like watching the sunrise as your first drift of the float-rig goes behind the boat, then disappears. Yes, I had a Trout on my first drift. (I.G. - instantaneous gratification.)

I'm not gonna go into massive detail about the day, other than saying; by 11:00 am I had between 35-40 Specks, half the trout were OVER 20 inches!

1-small Redfish, 1- small black Drum, and a keeper Flounder at 15".

"How can that be?", you ask? Well, I came prepared. I had at least 15 dozen live shrimp in the well, and left the house with 6 rods. Two deep water float-rigs, two jig rods, a top water casting rod, and my light action float rod. And all day to fish, hard!

I fished a total of four spots. And on area #2 and #3 the Trout were insane. So insane that I caught one on damn near ever drift of the float. Even lost another monster Speck. That pushed my live shrimp to the surface, and then sky-rocketed on it coming out of the water. It looked to be a monster Trout in that 10 pound category again. I pulled on my fairy wand rod to get the fish out from under a dock. and it came. But lost it right behind the boat as the hook pulled. After closer inspection, the owner hook was even bent a little. "Oh, what a sight that was." In shallow water.

I even caught a spinning rod and reel on one spot, complete with a lure attached. I could have cleaned it up....but I'm not a "spinner" guy and brought it back and left it at the boat ramp for someone else to mess with.

I started counting the "over" twenty inch Trout, but figured out that I'd be doing a lot of photo's and didn't have enough fingers to hold up.

So I quit at the 4th Speck. The action was so good, and how many pictures do I need to take of the same size fish, 20" to 24 inches.

Each year around this time, I get several chances to go do this by myself. This year it's fuel prices that will limit my FUN days alone.

So I kept telling myself, "get it, while the getting is good", so even though I had my measly Speck limit, I kept hopping around trying different spots. Not to beat up the same area, like some people I know who don't find any good spots on their own. But take from others instead. I call them the "shadows". We all know a few.

It wasn't like it was the best looking morning. After sun-up it really looked as if I picked a wet day to fish. But I never got rained on a single drop. The fish gods were with me.

Back at the boat ramp, I was greeted by what I think is the same White Egret that always comes to visit, because it knows I'm a "softy". I can literally hand feed this bird small cut pieces of Trout belly, off the end of my knife.

DO NOT use your hand...it'll stab you with it's beak!

This is the most polite bird. Patient and it doesn't take much to get it so full it won't even take a hand-out after awhile. But still hangs around on my boat.

I have Dale H. on board Thursday, so we'll be going full bore. I mentioned to him that the Tarpon are at the jetties and he said, he'd love to catch one of them. But since jetty tarpon are a snipe-hunt, when you'd actually like to target them. And most are caught/hooked inadvertently.....I think we'll opt for Speck limits instead. Specks fit on my jumbo fish cleaning table a lot better.....

Get while the getting is good. Call me for your personal "Trout-Tour". NOW.

5/25 - Trout Galore...same place, same time, same channel

Been at this for quite some time. It's painful to realize these days, that I'm totally not-fit to do much else. And as a real good friend and mentor said to me one time, "Dave, as you go along you'll find you're un-trainable. And then you're stuck". These were the words of retired 35 year commercial fisherman. Which, I don't separate him from me. We're both in the same boat, doing the same kind of thing. Just doing it a bit differently.

The reason I'm saying this is because as I look through lists of photo's, it's good to see that the fish are right where they are supposed to be over another Memorial day weekend holiday, for the books.

I sift through all the photos in my computer files and see all the faces and beautiful fish caught from years past during this same time of month. And it just had me thinking, about all the people and the fish during this time of year.

Right now, can be classic Trout fishing along the banks of the St. Johns River. From lot's of small ones to some big momma's, fat with roe.

Here's a few caught during this same time of month from years past:

Although I've fished in better weather on other Memorial Day holidays. So far it's been rain and N.E. winds at 20 kts. But we caught fish either way in the same ole spots.

Today, I had a farewell trip. With Joe Eulberg, and his wife Judy and daughter Rachel.

Joe's been out with me several times. Once with Rachel. And never with Judy. But since they are moving to Ohio, from Jacksonville. It was the last salty trip. And Joe will become a Walleye Great Lakes fisherman, now.

We departed at o700 hrs. and it's so funny how the weather guessers on the 'local yokal' News refer to a 20 kt. N.E. wind..."oh, it's gonna be a little breezy, on Sunday", the weather girl said last night at 11:00. Yeah...a little breezy. Right.

So we took off down river. Eastward today was out of the question.

Even though the wind was howling, I'll take a N.E. wind and incoming tide any day over an west wind and incoming tide.

Joe, Judy and Rachel caught a whole bunch of really nice Specks, a few Bluefish and Jacks, and only one Ladyfish, and only 3 Mangrove Snappers. I don't know what is worse, a Bluefish's teeth or the Mangroves ability to shuck the meat out of a shrimp in a nano second. Either way, both are not targeted species. They just come with the territory this time of year.

Industrial area's. I love fishing them. Crusty dock pilings. I just love float-rig fishing them. It's probably, the fact that there's a target to drift to and around. And you just never know how big the Speck will be that's hiding behind them.

We really had fun fishing these areas today. And the worst thing was I could only squeeze three photos out of my camera, before the batteries died.

And as the Eulbergs left with a big bag of beautiful Speck fillets for dinner tonight, and I bid Joe good luck in Ohio. I was so glad we got to go even though the weather wasn't like last year's Memorial day holiday

Next up:

Dale Houck...."the weather man", no he's not actually a weatherman, I just refer to him as that because he always insists, "Dave, don't worry, it's gonna be nice." Just him and I, two guys out chasing "GATORS".

5/24 -Wanted and For Sale:

I'll start off with something I'm looking for an what I'm willing to do.

I'm in need of a person who is a legitimate aluminum alloy welder. Has the equipment and know how to do a simple job for me. I'll supply materials. I have a small project that I've designed, but do not own a welder and do not know how to "lay a perfect stack of dimes". Either come to my house, or willing to bring project to you within the Jacksonville area.

I'M WILLING TO: Give a one day charter for two passengers. For a few hours work. It's a value of $400+. Please contact me at: charter@captdaves.com or call (904) 642-9546 if you are this person and possess the skill level and equipment to do basically (3) perfect welds.


For Sale:
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3- Okuma Guide Select 7'6" heavy action split cork grip, Alconite guides, casting rods. 1-5 oz. capability. Brand new in March! List for: $109.00 Selling for $50 each.

2- SEEKER rods, premium quality made in California. All Black with blue threading, Composite Fiberglass/graphite rods. Very sweet action. Perfect for trolling for King Mackerel, casting, bottom fishing.

Brand new in April maybe used 3 times. Zirconia Guides, the hardest guide material used today–offers resistance to nicks, dings or wearing marks from the new super lines. The handles are EVA–a material that feels like hypalon but is made of advanced material resistant to UV damage and much lighter than cork. These new EVA handles, reel seat hoods and rings in the guides are made in lightning blue to maintain the Blue Lightning theme.

8 foot Model # BSCW-807-8, see here: http://www.tackledirect.com/inshorerods.html at $193.00, Selling for $100....that's a steal!