1/8 - Glass, I think NOT!

http://www.rocksaltboats.com/


NOT FIBERGLASS....BIG METAL...PLATE ALLOY... 34 feet of custom 1/4 inch thick plate aluminum alloy, High Speed, battle wagon sportfisher!!!

Yes, a 34' alloy plate "ALUMINUM" Boat. I get all the time, "damn that's the largest aluminum boat I've ever seen" from people when I sit at the dock. Come on out of that cave. There's a big wide open aluminum boat world out there, that's for sure. Visit my sister web site: http://www.aluminumallotboats.com/ - and you'll be amazed, that J-ville Florida is quite a sheltered little spot on the boating map.

***SEE THE DEBUT OF THE ROCKSALT 34 at, Miami International Boat show , Feb 12-16 2009

I may see ya there...

1/7 - SWAP MEET NIGHT

As you have noticed I have "stuff" for sale....or "swap". Thursday night 1/8/09, at 7pm is Swap Night at the JOSFC - Jacksonville Offshore Sport Fishing Club. 4870 Ocean Street aka: Mayport Boat ramp. The club house is that large doublewide modular building with the big porch on the front on the boat ramp grounds.

I will have for sale (or for swap):

4- Shimano Travala Butterfly jigging rods - like new
4- Shimano Tekota 300 levelwind reels - like new
1- Daiwa Butterfly jig case with jigs - new
- boxes of NEW in boxes assorted jigs; Braid, California Squid and more...
- Bags of hooks, line, 1/8th oz. banana head - jetty jigs, selections of floats, Gulp, twister tails, lure skirts....
1 - 8' Shakespeare VHF antenna, with either a Nylon clamp mount or ratchet Stainless steel
1- 12 lb. Bruce style anchor
1- PVC coated Pinfish trap-"Brand new" with marker float
1- "Air" Grease Gun used once.
1- Braid "CHUM chopper" for your boat, permanent mount or suction cup. NEVER used!!
2- SS removable "side mount" rod holders for small boat
3 - Type 1 commercial "offshore vest" Personal Floatation Devices (PFD's)
4- G. Loomis "greenwater series" Inshore 7'6" casting rods - medium action.


Let's talk....


I'm looking for:

-one piece, 8' fiberglass, foam grip, trigger reel seat, medium action rod(s)
-14 lb. Fluke style, Danforth anchor(s)
- 6 foot new "shrimp-size" cast net
-Lengths of galvanized chain
-14" Galvanized or aluminum Trailer rims
- new or slightly used coolers
- Vintage MirrOlure's....I mean 50's thru 70's
- heavy weight, SS or high carbon steel clever


HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE...bring some cashola!!

1/5 - Are they closed already??

I know my last report was about when the Specks (Trout) close during February. But the last two trips seem as if they took on a voluntary closure of their own. And even talked all their friends into it too!

Had Carl J. out on the 5th for a "learning" trip. Carl wanted to add another technique to his repituar. And what a better way of doing so, than going with me. I enjoy teaching folks about Trout & Reds on the Float-rig. Plus, he booked two days. We're going again next week also.

We had the last of a long falling tide and since the jetties have been quite slow we stayed in the river.

It wasn't long after we went through all the in's & out's of float fishing that Carl caught his first of the day....A BIG Croaker, at 15-3/4" long.



It was one fine morning.
A bit foggy, slick calm and so warm.

Seemed almost "too" perfect, to me.

Because we kept fishing and fishing and by no means did we ever get into any kind of riot.

We'd pick a Trout here and there, the larger ones 18-20 inches, a small Redbass, and a few under sized Trout. We made a move, about 150 feet and tried another hump. Carl landed a few Yellowmouths, with one being a 20 incher.




The tide went slack, so we moved on and headed for the jetties. Holy crap, it's a Monday and I couldn't believe all the boats out there.

Somethings changed. Ten years ago, on a Monday at the jetties you'd see maybe one or two other boats. What is it? Every one's so wealthy now they don't have to work, or is the unemployment rate that high?

We tried a few spots out there and never lost a live shrimp on the incoming tide to a game fish species.

Lots of people looked as if they just gave up and were sitting there for their health.

We of course were in high pursuit of a whopper Trout. But since we couldn't buy a bite from even a 12 incher. My hopes for Carl were getting slim. If the "go-to" spot is dead. Then, the confidence level isn't very high.

Is sure seems that since Friday for me, that the jetties sure has fell off. And reports I hear from friends makes me, not the Lone Ranger.

After repeated attempts to try and find Carl's big Trout, we decided to head in and worry about next weeks trip. Carl left out with a decent bag o' fillets. But nothing like what the day "felt like" it should have been.



Just goes to show you, even perfect weather days ain't always so perfect.

1/4 - Get while the gettin's good.

N.E. Florida Speckled Sea Trout harvest closes:
FEB. 1st thru FEB 28th
For 28 days, we can catch and release only.

The wrath of the JettyWolf switches from float-rig, to MirrOlure, or D.O.A. shrimp during his "R&D time" for those lonely 28 days.

So what's this mean to you as a customer?









Nothing really, other than "Mr. or Mrs. Speck" not assuming fish box temperature, or getting aquinted with Mr. Zatarain.





So why not be ahead of the curve??

RESERVE YOUR PRIVATE PERSONAL JANUARY FISHING CHARTER NOW!














-here's LOOKIN' at ya.....

bon'appetit

1/2/09 - Blast from the past.

Had Wayne S. and his grandson Drew on board today. Wayne is one of those dear old customers of mine that had fished with me for years. But schedules changed, and I haven't had him on board for at least 3-4 years, till today. And we had a great time.

Wayne goes to Lafitte La. fishing every year, and since I'd love to live and fish there, or at least do 6 months there, and six months here. "Maybe in my next life." I love hearing about the place and the fishing from someone who fishes there all the time.

But we're here, so I picked Wayne and Drew up at Sisters Creek boat ramp and since the tide was low, we hit a good low tide spot up river. The tide was fading quick. But it was okay. Wayne and Drew are very experienced fisherman. My job was easy today.

While showing them the details of the spot with the float-rig, I set the hook on the days first fat speck at 19 inches. And handed it to Drew, so I could get Wayne's rod ready.

"NOW THAT'S A GOOD SIGN ", I said.

Our current was barely flowing and both Wayne and Drew hung a few large Trout, but they shook off. Then, came a small trout or two, then the days first big one, a nice 21 incher.

Wayne's a Speck lover like me, and certainly doesn't mind catching some BIG Trout, for the box.

As soon as the bite started, it fell off fast as the current completely went slack on us. "Only if we were an hour or two earlier....." But I had no clue what the weather would be like today, since the forecast flipped and flopped from high winds to low winds for today, all week long.

So we agreed to just leave at 8am.

But that's okay. "TIME TO HEAD EAST, NOW."

A old friend at the B&M bait and tackles New Years day BASH yesterday, said to me that I certainly wouldn't be fishing where I wanted today. "Cap, it's gonna be too rough" he said.

Well, that might be, but not for my boat. We went exactly where I wanted to fish, it was rough but we didn't care.

And here's why.

We weren't "on location" for more than a few minutes and Wayne sets the hook on a 4 pound

22-1/2 inch Speck.

The fishing wasn't easy. But I always say, "If your're comfortably numb, you are probably not on top of your game, either."

I like a bit of Chinese yellow mustard in my fishing.

Next came a 5 pound Sheepshead caught by Drew, and a 21 inch Redbass.

A few small Yellowmouth Trout, and a small Speck or two.

And then Wayne caught another fat Speck, that was the same size as his last. 22-1/2 inches.

The bites sort of faded out. So we tried another spot and had another 19 incher, and a few throw backs. Then moved again, to the North Jetty, and had no takers at all.

So back to where the fish were, but by now the tide went slack and we sat there catching just small Yellowmouth trout. So we headed in.

It was a good day, with some really nice big Specks. We just could of had about 10 more to feel really, really good about the day...(at least I would have.)

The box looked pretty good with some serious eaters. We had a really good time hashing over charters from years ago too. Wayne and Drew can come fishing with me anytime! They can cast, pitch, flip and set the hook on a Trout from 100 feet away. I don't get many days like this, where all I do is take fish off the hook after netting them. So it was a pleasure. And Wayne brought along his own "fish cleaner", his name was Drew!

1/1/2009 - Fish Fest!

HEADLINES FROM CAPTDAVES-BLOGSPOT

1/1/2009 - HAPPY NEW YEAR
---------------------------------------------------------

Man, the fishing couldn't have been an easier, today.
If you missed it you just plain missed it, and will have to wait till next year.

Because the fish were already caught, cleaned and cooked by the owner's of B&M bait and tackle, along with their crew.














It's a yearly tradition that Rusty does for all his customers. And this single, terrible cook, hungry guy never misses it. It's a great way to ring in the New Year, with friends.

Here's Rusty hard at work on the fish fryer.....Grouper, Snapper, (not store bought.) Hitting the oil after meeting Mr. Zatarain.







The covered dishes folks brought ranged from wild hog, pulled pork BBQ, beans, greens and everything in between. Desserts of all kinds, too.

The parking lot soon became jammed packed. Everyone was welcome. And the boat yard was full of people, with a long table full of food.
























































Thanks to Rusty, Tracy, Patsy, and the crew at B&M, for the gracious New Years Day spread.
Maybe we'll see you there next year.

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

- Everything you need, nothin' you don't!

12/31 - New year's items for sale....

HEADLINES FROM CAPTDAVES-BLOGSPOT

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

You may have noticed the new items I have for sale on the side bar of this blog. Click on link to view details of each.

4- Shimano Tekota 300 Level wind reels: Retail for $139.00 to $159 each.

http://www.tackledirect.com/shimano-tekota-levelwind-reels.html

Great reels, Shimano quality. Good "float-rigging" or light bottom fishing reels.

I've used them maybe 3-4 times. Perfect condition. Buy all 4 for $390 or each at $100.

SAVE!!!!!!!!! $$$$

4- Shimano Trevala "casting" Butterfly jigging rods 6'6" two are Med. Heavy, and two are Medium action. Used three times. Like brand new. Super light tackle offshore butterfly jigging rods, (but can also be used for inshore bottom fishing) can handle jigs to 5 -6oz. and sinker the same. Snapper, Grouper, and AJ's don't stand a chance!

Unbelievable rods for river bottom fishing BIG Reds and Sheepshead too. The jigging "ARC" of these rods is a blast, but has the backbone to put a whoop-ass on big fish, believe me!

$75.00 each. $300 for all 4.

Retail for $100.00, everywhere!

Match up with a Tekota 300 and you'll have one great bottom rig for the river and light offshore.

http://shimano.fishing-store.us/shimano-tvc66m-trevala-jigging-casting-rod.html?productid=shimano-tvc66m-trevala-jigging-casting-rod&channelid=FROOG

-Jigging accessories, misc. jigs:

Whole box of 5 oz. Squid shaped jigs, assist hooks, Braid jigs, River2Sea, and others in a Daiwa jig case. Jig Case alone is a $50 item. Priced to sell $100.00

CALL OR E-MAIL ME

FOR INFO AND TO

COME SEE. ALL ITEMS.

-would rather not have to ship.

local purchase is best.

Keeps your costs low.

charter@captdaves.com

904-642-9546

12/29 & 30 - Jetty Trickery!!!!!

DID YOU READ THE 12/28 REPORT?
IF NOT, DO SO, FIRST. BEFORE CONTINUING TO READ THIS REPORT.....AND YOU'LL UNDERSTAND THE TITLE TO THIS REPORT.

Okay, after a day that the fish were on the "feed bag" (Sunday, 12/28) I was so confident about (Monday 12/29's) charter with Peter and Valerie. Because like a good fishing guide I scouted and researched everything that we needed to do, so Peter and Valerie could wack'em and stack'em on Monday.

SO I THOUGHT...

But Momma Nature had other plans for me.

We leave promptly and head straight for the jetties. Perfect incoming tide, I set up, get them going on the float-rig and NADA, ZERO, NOTHING.....not a single bite!!!!!!

"WHAT?? After Sunday's wackage with DOA Rob, we can't even get a bite, now??"
There was something in the breeze, the sky, something! I couldn't put a finger on it, but something felt different. It was my "Spidey Sense" trying to clue me in, I'm sure. And as I say all the time it's just a feeling I get. After all, I know my rocks! And I wasn't alone. DOA Rob came on out to the jetties too, and wasn't catching anything like we did the day before, either.

Great tide, low winds, weekday, it didn't matter. I believed it to be a Barometer thing!
So we continued working the area hard. Still nothing. So I made a move.
And that's when I picked up a rod and along with Peter and Valarie, I worked the rocks.

My dad has on saying when he does go fishing with me, which isn't very often....."If Dave ain't catchin', how am I supposed too?"

And Pop is right! I am your ringer. Hell, I know every trick and niche in the rocks we're fishing. And if I don't get bit, there's a huge problem!

Eventually, I got bit on this spot, and handed the rod over to Valarie and Peter. So they could at least get acclimated to what it feels like to have one hooked up.

And as you can see, one of the Trout was a "stud" and the other was just a good box fish.

It was time to make a big move! A zip code change was in order. By now my senses were telling me to vacate this area, and fast!

I ran up river and went to a super go-to spot.
If we can't get bit here, we can't get bit anywhere!
But it was slow going......








The tide wasn't exactly right. But we waited it out. And here came the "spidey sense" conformation. THE FRONT, that was fore casted!

The wind started blowing about 20 knots, the sky darkened to the west. But as the tide fell, we started catching fish. At first it was Trout, then a Black Drum, and then big Croakers, and then a Sheepshead. Peter and Valarie were really getting the hang of it, and the fish box started looking alot better. The wind was howling as we left out of the spot with a decent box of fish, and the westward sky said it all! I now knew exactly why the jetties had turned off, compared to yesterday. HERE CAME THE WEATHER CHANGE, that was predicted to happen. Which shut down the jetties. As the wind blew from the west, the air temp must have changed 15 degrees. It got down right COLD!

I failed to get any more photos of the day, because I didn't want to pause for one second as they were catching finally. But, I pulled it out. Just as I had on the 24th, when the same thing happened to us, when I had the two Glenn's out with me. We put some good fish in the box!

That's the thing about this season. When the weather comes blowing in, the first place to shut down seems to be the Jetties. The fish are there, I don't think they go anywhere. But the bite shuts down. And since I fished on Sunday with DOA Rob, that's the day they put on the "feed bag", before the front came through. It all was making a lot of sense!!

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

12/30

So. what to do on Tuesday the 30th?? I picked up Bob and Jim at Sisters Creek boat ramp at 8am. The tide was already flooding. "Well, let's see if they are still not biting at the jetties."

I have in the past went back the day after and the bite was back on heavy. So on an incoming tide, I didn't have much of a selection at my disposal.

SAME DEAL....we fished and fished, and had no Trout, Reds, or even Sheepshead bites as we float-rigged the rocks. So I picked up my rod, and made a few drifts. BAM!!!!!!!

Right next to the boat I hook up a 22-1/2" Trout! Then, 15 minutes go by and Bob hooks up finally. An exact duplicate Speck at 22-1/2 inches. "So they are here, just like yesterday. But the bite isn't really on..."


Then, Jim hangs a nice Flounder along the rocks. And later I catch a small Yellow
mouth Trout. And that's it! We make a move, back to our first spot, as the tide slows. We have two beautiful Trout and a Flounder, now let's try for our SLAM. We need a Redfish. The guys work and work, no one around us is catching anything. The poppin' cork's are all over the place. I look at all the boats, and laugh when I see a poppin' cork, because a shrimp fished a foot deep isn't going to cut it. Finally, Bob hooks a Red! A good keeper size at 22". WE DID IT! We got a "slam" at the jetties, and it only took 4 hours! The bite here is still obviously off, and really hasn't changed.

I'm looking for a lot more action than this. It's a blue-bird day. Not a cloud in the sky, and slick seas and no wind. But no real change in the fish attitude.

The tide slowed up and I needed a falling tide to go work the river. So as the tide changed we again...
changed Zip Codes.

I ran up river. Stopped at one spot, caught a bluefish and a small Speck. And kept moving.

Then hit the Little Jetties, and caught one 18" Speck there. Looks like each spot is going to throw us one fish. So we moved on again.

Next spot, a few small trout. And then Bob's micro- speckled trout.

I was waiting for the tide to get lower, so I could hit the spot that Peter & Valarie caught their fish on.


We made a move after a few small fish. And went there. The tide was low, but the current was really slow. We caught a few Croakers, but the Specks were absent. We worked the whole area for only a few small Trout and Mangrove snappers. And decided to call it a day and head back to clean our catch.

So there ya have it.

The jetty bite was "balls to the wall" when I was out on the 26th, and the 29th. And then, it died, because of the weather change. It was down right cold as hell this morning, compared to later in the week.

The consistent thing is that it's inconsistent! Yep, that's N.E. Florida in the winter. But, no matter what we caught some fish, everyone had a great time, learned a ton of information. And had more than enough for a healthy fish fry on New Years day.

But ya'll know me. I'm happiest when it's an all out fish fest, float's are disappearing left and right, no one has to work at it very hard.....I guess we all like it like that, huh?


















Here's a few photo's taken by friend and fellow blogger, Ron Brooks of ABOUT.COM.

12/28 - Corkin' all day long...

Met with buddy D.O.A Rob at the "clubhouse" yesterday, (the China Buffet for lunch). And we planned to go fishing together in his boat this time. I at the same time got to go do some R&D prior to this weeks charters. Rob dislikes Sunday's, as do I. But what ya gonna do? It's so nice on the water when its 80 degrees in December. So we headed out around 7:30am.

I'll keep this short and sweet because, I'm starving! Dinner's cookin'!!

But I'm compelled to always get these reports up after they happen.

This is WHY it's so important to me:

Capt. Dave,

I found your site a month ago googling and I really want to say Thank you!

My wife 2 sons and I moved here from Cleveland, OH 5 yrs ago to OP. We bought a 20' SeaFox Typhoon deck boat 90HP and have a blast catching scallops in Steinhatchee. Our sons 8 and 6(Downs Syndrome) have been disappointed with "dear old Dad" not being able to catch fish with them. 3 weeks ago you got me off the hook with them.

We went to the Jeddys for the first time. Inside North wall and brought home 2 trout and 2 sheepshead. The next weekend was bad weather and did not catch anything, but thats fishing.

We really enjoy your blogs and Thank you again.

I will always refer your charter when asked.

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

-Ron, Bethany, Hunter and Dylan

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

Redbass, A LOT OF THEM...everywhere we went! No less than 20 of them. All sizes, from 16" to 29". Lot's of slot size Redbass, everywhere.

Sheepshead, 2 or 3 up to 7 pounds....no way our target species. Just by-catch.

Speckled Trout, "our targeted species". at least 25-30. Multiple limits of keepers, some throwbacks too. We only kept ones that were "very" worthy, up to 20". No wallhangers. ROB REALLY NEEDED A SUPER SOW....but it always turned out to be a Redbass, every time he thought he had one hooked up.

Yellowmouth Trout, 2 in the right spot, wrong time.

Bluefish, 2 micro-sizers.

I almost forgot how a 17 footer bounces around like a cork, in the slop. Rob's boat is set up for him to perfectly do his solo DOA Shrimp casting. I was like a large container of ballast for him today. And had to catch myself a few times as we pitched and rolled differently than in my boat.

I did get to sit in an actual pedestal chair either on the bow deck or behind the console. I never sit anywhere while fishing in my boat. But we both "needed too" today, in a few "big swell" spots we anchored on.

12/26 - Day #2 of the year!

Day #2, is what I call December 26th. It's the second most popular fishing day in this area. The first is the day after Thanksgiving.

So, smartly Phil C. from N.C. called me about a month ago to book his trip with his two son's and his brother Mike, who lives locally. (all holiday weeks, minimum 2 weeks to 30 days advance notice please.)

I didn't have the best feeling in the world. Because just two days prior on Dec. 24th my jetties were absent of all Trout bites, let along catching anything else on the ole Float.

But, on the 24th it was nasty....sloppy and windy out yonder. And around noon after much defeat, I had to put some miles between the nasty inlet and our next spot. And I found them, and my guys Glenn Sr. & Glenn Jr. had a good time filling the fish box.

I told Phil lets do a 9am departure. So for me that meant leaving my house before 7am just to be able to get into B&M bait and tackle to get shrimp and ice, and aquire a parking spot at the Mayport boat ramp. So I sat around for 2 hours tied to the dock. No one thinks about all that....the hours that go into just getting there on holidays. But I have to do what I gotta do.

The guys came down early, and we took off. Very Slowly! The fog was thick. It would be slow going. So I gambled and headed for the BIG ROCKS.

And once I pulled up and dropped my anchor we never went anywhere else for 6 hours!

It was slick calm, no real current to speak of (day before the new moon) and we commenced to WHACKIN THEM!!!

Two rods only, was the rule. I'll do the casting. Phil & Mike and the boys just switch off rods every once in awhile.
IT WAS MAYHEM!!!

The first cast I made, showing the boys what to do, the float went down and the look on everyones face was, shock!! I.G. -instantaneous gratification , a 5 pound Sheepshead.


Then, the next drift, Yellow
mouth
and Specks from the minute they
hooked the first one till the last fish
of the day.

We were sitting in the middle of a FISH RIOT!

I was baiting, casting, coaching, netting, tying, un- hooking, taking photos for hours. It just blew me away what a difference a day can make. When there's no wind, heavy fog, and slick water.
















They were catching Trout as fast as we could get a spunky live shrimp in the water.
Big ones, small ones and everything in between. But we only kept just enough for a fish fry.

Letting the first Sheepshead go, and most of the Trout. Then, it was Phil's (dad) turn. He set the hook on a big fish. A 7+ pound Sheepshead. "We'll keep this one!"

Everyone got their fair share of rod time. And I was so glad it wasn't rough, and windy and foggy too. Because that sure would have made for all together different fishing experience for these 4 guys.

The weather gods were shining on me, for once. I'm usually pretty nervous on 4 passenger charters. "Will there be enough activity for everyone, if it's rough it will make it a big problem, etc."
Today, I was breathing a sigh of relief. And was so happy for the day we were having.


The fog would come and go, but never completely went did it go away. The river remained covered up, so I was glad I didn't have to do much traveling.

The only time I pulled anchor was to re-set it for the change of tide.

The fish box was looking pretty good. But we still needed a larger Speck and a Redbass. So it was just myself and the two boys in the back of the boat. I told them, "let me make a cast for you one at a time. I think I can get you a bigger fish right up in there....." And I pitched the float. Two seconds later the float went down, I reeled a little and handed the rod to one of them. It was a Redbass! Yep, just what I had planned on.

Damn, it's great to know exactly when, where and how to find the perfect fish sometimes. It turned out to be a perfect 25" Redbass. Just what we needed. The "Jettywolf" could smell one up in the rocks! I knew it was there.

Okay, now we need a larger Trout.

So I did the same thing. I made a cast up in the rocks, coached one of the boys, the float went down, and he caught the largest Speck of the day
a beautiful 20 incher.














It was warm, slick and beautiful.....no wonder the boat ramp parking lot looked like a Walmart on dollar day. But what made it nice was the fog. Most everyone was just motoring around slowly. You have to be nuts to go balls to the wall anywhere in that pea soup. While ships passed us by fog horns blarring, and you could only see a faint hint that they were even there.


This whole weekend is supposed to be beautiful.
And I'm sort of glad my next days out are the 29th and 30th.

Maybe I won't have to leave my house 2 hours earlier than need be. Since from my driveway to B&M bait and tackles driveway is only 4 minutes, and I'm only 5 minutes from the boat ramp, also.





It's GO-TIME, folks......
Don't ask me about this kind of action come JULY!