3/24 - W-O-W - D-A-Y!

Now today, is a beautiful day! Light winds, warm, and sunny......And in the middle of the week!  Why can't I ever get someone who wants to fish on a day like today? (I say that every year)

That's why you'll see on my home page: http://www.captdaves.com/ a note at the bottom "learn how to fish multiple days for $500."

This is for the local self-made man or woman, or the retired individual. The weekend worker who has weekdays off. Who can benefit by booking multiple days. Weekdays!

A floating schedule is best. So we can fish days like today, this spring.

Guess I'll head out myself.....I need to add some fish to the fridge.

-----------------------
update:

I went and NO fish for the fridge either. Spent 99% of my time at the jetties. There was no incoming tide push at all. Worked hard to see if the trout are out there yet.......ZIP.

That's what bothers me most about fishing these days on a very personal level. Catching fish, and having no dinner afterwards!

Lost a Red and caught a Red on the float rig at the N. Jetty.

Both were too big of course....damn when are they gonna change THAT???????????? Then pitched on the bottom and wasted time and caught 8 Whiting too small to keep really, and came home. How the first Red came unbuttoned at the side of the boat I don't know. But I guess it was barely hooked. I almost never loose a fish once hooked when fishing the ole float-rig.

Water temp was 60-62 on the last of the falling tide. But back to a solid 58 on the incoming tide. Saw pogies flippin on the surface at high tide. Then marked them coming down the jetties on the bottom, later.

There's big bull Reds on the beach now, out in the 30-35 foot mark according to my Whiting fisherman sources. That's the usual deal. Coming back from after the harsh winter from the offshore wintering grounds, these big bull Reds usually show on the beach hard bottom areas first and near the bait, if any. By April, if the pogie pods are out there, they be in and around the pods of bait right behind the surf. And filtering into the river.

Ye Ole Days, Big Red Technique:
-Troll King Mackerel #3.5 Drone spoons on heavy trolling sinkers just up off the bottom along the beach and around the outsides of the jetties on a flood tide, when ya see scattered pogies around. The spoons just off the bottom mimic a wounded baitfish IE: Pogie fluttering along. Don't go fast. big Reds are lazy feeders.
-Told to me by a guy who's now 94 years old. Mr. John Beckman...aka: "Ole Beckman".  He said, "back in the day that's all ya had to do when the big Reds were out wondering the sand.

By April and May it's the second round of BIG Reds in the river and at the jetties. Usually coincides with the crappy lil' Bluefish also arriving. But that means FREE BAIT! Catch the Blues and chop them basterds in half and send them down to the bottom. Brutus T. Redbass will eat them up. Kinda like bait on demand, because the lil blue basterds will be everywhere you want to catch a Trout, by April/May usually.

With each full moon, things happen this time of year. And all without YOU even realizing it. Flooding tides up to 5 plus feet magically wash species inshore. Along with changing currents in the Atlantic. This is what changes our local water temp quickly, once it gets going. Not just a sunny day here and there.

Think on the broad scale. OCEAN-CURRENTS-LENGTH OF DAYS. I know it's hard, when we live in our little bubble. But the marine ecology is way too vast for us to figure it all out.

Except. Unless you're a researcher working for the Atlantic Marine Fisheries and you've come to the conclusion N.E. Florida has no substainable Red Snapper, and Yellowmouth Trout are so overly harvested by weekenders.

Yeah right.....I look at it as. You can research your ass off all you want. But you can't be sure of anything out there. Has anyone ever thought that cities crowded with people who don't even fish, cars, ships, power plants and the rest may have something to do with why a fish species is dwindling?? It's called water quality.

But it's easier to blame fisherman, about fish populations. And take away your right to fish.

I'm not a gun fanatic. But sort of understand as I get older now, why the NRA is such a big deal too so many. "The right to bear arms." Yeah I get it.....it's in the constutution. But fishing doesn't kill innocent people. I believe, we should have "the right to fish and feed ourselves, healthier food."

Damn, I love a fresh crispy fried Speckled Trout.....or a big piece of broiled Red Snapper!

Additional Entertainment value:

Day dreaming from back when I was a surf fishing nut. But was catching Whiting 99% of the time.......

-Nick from Breakawaytackle USA (long distance casting tackle) had this article on his web site. And since I'm totally amazed by all Gulf of Mexico fishing....yep, that Gulf is a inshore fisherman's dream. Can ya just imagine doing this with your surf fishing rod off our jetties, here?
Check it out:  http://breakawayusa.com/pdf/spoonr.pdf

And just more FYI from the Gulf sands:

-We want to celebrate the amazing casting that Will Nash and Carlos Osuna achieved using Breakaway rods at the Shore Fishing & Casting Club (SFCCI) 
-March 12th 2010 event. Will Nash cast the longest cast ever in the USA with a cast of 858.12 feet! Carlos Osuna came in second with 806 feet! These are amazing distances and we are very proud to have them on our Breakaway Pro Team.  http://www.breakawayusa.com/

-and I thought I was doing something at 400 feet after years of video tape watching and practicing.

3/22 - "what can ya do?"

Had Tim S. and his son Mitchell aboard Monday. Tim was gonna fish with me last year. But the weather did not preclude that. So, we tried it again, today.

The weather forecast wasn't all that aweful, on Sunday. But then again, the weather guessers weren't fishing the St. Johns.

At 8am the boat ramp was vacant. I LIKED THAT!  And that's what Tim had planned for. Monday mornings.... "There just isn't any day of the week that's as wonderful, in this town."

The river was slick calm, the skies were dark, with complete cloud cover and it was cold as all hell!!!!!!!!!!!
(comparatively speaking to the first day of spring on Saturday)

Tim And Mitchell may have needed a few more "layers" on. But were ready for a full day of fishing none the less. I was of course, back into full fleece fishing attire. I believe, I'll log in the date when I can put it all up for good, IE: the Grudens wind stopper fleece pants and jacket(s) for this year, so I can do comparisons next year.

WE WERE FISHING A WEATHER FRONT...A WHOPPER OF A FRONT TOO!
Because, the first spot we went too, went without a single Trout/Redfish bite, I let "slide". Maybe it was just the weak tide? But after fishing no less than 5 more spots, with hardly a bite. Something beyond my control was going on, and it wasn't a good thing.
















With three passengers aboard I usually do not fish, or even try too. I'm too busy helping. But when I have two passengers aboard, "I'm your ringer."  And every so often, I'll pick up a rod and make some drifts. Just to survey what's going on. And usually when on the first spot of the day while showing everyone what to do, I'll hook-up. Not today.

No matter what I did, or where we went. We just couldn't get bit. Eventually, we did have three 14 inch Specks, and one 14" yellowmouth Trout. And of course no matter what kind of day it is, the bait-snatching Pinfish are chewing.

I even marked 59.9 degree balmy water temps.

At the jetties, we tried a spot I've been wanting to fish on the incoming high tide. It was a bit sloppy, with a swell coming in from the S.E. But no big deal. And not one take down of the float. Then, for a few minutes we tried bottom fishing on the incoming tide. And had "cold water" Sharks and that was it. I told Tim and Mitchell, that those lil' toothless sharks are a HERE'S YER SIGN, fish. If they're chewin. It's usually not a good thing. I just know that, from experience.

Mitchell was feeling a bit queezy, out on the big water. So we ran all the way back to the ICW.  Because by now the wind was HOWLING. Yep, here's the 15-20 knot SW winds that was predicted!

My dad, who's not a fisherman. But has fished a decent amount as a kid and with me over the years, has a saying everytime we're out. "If you're not catching, how am I supposed too?"

Pop is analytical kinda guy. And he's right. I know the spots, I know what to look for, I'm the experienced one. And today, I couldn't get bit, either.

That's why I like smaller group charters. Because I get the chance to make a few passes through an area. Because if I catch'em, I know they are there.

The skies stayed dark. We could see passing lines of clouds. And I even got a call from a buddy in Texas, who always tells me what weather's heading our way. Because they get it first. And he had snow yesterday north of Dallas. And we did feel a few rain drops.

By the time I got home, I had the mother of all headaches. A sinus headache? Or a "frustration in Jacksonville headache?" And the sun was finally peaking out, too.

But what can ya do?

I like Tim and Mitchell. And since today was cold, windy and fish-less. I told Tim, I want him to call me this summer when it's hot as all hell, a direct opposite day. And I want to take Mitchell out for some running and gunning shrimp boat style. And get the boy on a hundred pound Blacktip shark. I want him to experience the direct opposite of today's bazarro world on the St. Johns river. Where inconsistancy rules.

Let's hope we have, hot as hell, and sharks behind the shrimp boats in the chum hole this summer. I've seen years when that's alot to ask for too.

As I sit here doing this report I'm being blinded by the bright sun, with cloudless sky coming in my office window. A bit breezy, but don't think this weather would have given me the headache of the century. But rather SUN BURN.

I'll take sunburn, anyday!

3/20 - SPRING CROWDS

Had Keith R. and two co-workers aboard today. Of course the forecast was for gorgeous weather. And light winds. The boat ramp parking lot has not seen this amount of traffic since last fall. I being the boy scout I am, picked up 9 dozen live shrimp and a basket of ice for the coolers last night. There's was no way I was going to the bait shop at 7am this morning. For a 8am departure time.

First spot, as I was showing the guys the how-to's of float-rigging. I of course get bit 20 feet off the back of the boat.......I.G. - "instantaneous gratification." Yep, again on the same spot, in the last two trips. A nice 18 inch Speckled Trout.

Then, for some reason it took way too long for another fish to be caught. Large concentration of stacked up fish that are 18-20 inches? Still hard to find within the confines of  a quick boat ride.  But it didn't seem that way last Tuesday.

The guys eventually picked off two more Trout. And that's where it ended. I had no idea of the sight I would see as we pulled anchor and headed eastward.

The Jetties looked like a parking lot. And of course all the places I'd normally fish had at least two boats on them a piece. We butted in on the south jetty but the tide was super weak. The "popping cork drifters" in 25 feet of water were out there. And I saw no one catching or doing a thing, near us. Because of no current.

I tried to get in another spot, but couldn't. It was if the spacing of boats was predetermined. So I pulled up and we kept looking. One thing I'm not good with is people in other boats. I can't fish that way. Maybe it's the float-rigger in me. I need wiggle room....and 100 feet behind my boat wide open. It's heridity. My grandpa was the same way and he was just a surf caster. If he walked on the beach and could see another human. He wouldn't fish there. Back to the station wagon, and off to some where else.

I wish he could have been on the boat with me today. Because if he acted like that back in 1953. I can't imagine what he'd say about today's river.

I looked at two more areas and said hell with this. We stopped in one spot and the guys caught a few dink yellowmouths, with one keeper. Hit another spot afterwards with no bites. Then moved back to where we caught the Trout in the morning. Thinking it maybe a bit less traveled. Oh it was travelled.....












We fished and fished and got one more Trout that was 19 inches caught by Keith. And then soon after the flood gates opened and here came boat after boat.  Every 10 minutes someone drove by us.

I had fun with the guys and enjoyed having Keith on board again. Last year, when he fished aboard the Jettywolf, it was with a much better bite. Less looking around, and more variety of species.

I didn't bother trying to do any bottom fishing. Just stayed on the float-rig all day.

Next up is Monday:

Hmmmmm....... MONDAY
SOUTHWEST WINDS 15 TO 20 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 3 FEET.
INLAND WATERS A MODERATE CHOP.

3/18 - Third attempt.

Had aboard today Mike H. and his dad Gary which are regulars, I always enjoy having aboard. And today they brought a "newbie". John, the fella that's marrying Mike's sister. (do I see a new yearly crew member in the making?)

I say yearly. But sometimes I take Mike and crew twice a year. Mike lives in Wisc. And travels back to the First Coast with family to see his folks. The funny thing about today's trip was that it was the 3rd attempt, in 2 years!

We've had sort of a bad streak of weather between us. I believe one time he had planned to go fishing aboard the Jettywolf, it was 40 knot winds. Then another it was raining with 25 knot winds....so ya get the drift.

Been taking Mike and his dad for years, now. So Mike and I converse. And he's the "MODEL" customer when it comes to reserving a day to fish. He sends me an email months in advance. We pick the day, he books his trip. We chit chat prior.  And he's raring to go, when he arrives in Jax.

So all was set. 8:00am on the 18th. We depart. I have loads of frisky "free range" live shrimp, and the float-rig rods ready. The sky is dark in the morning, by no means is it warm and Florida like...."it was probably as cold in Appleton Wisc.??"

TROUT.  I'm thinking, let's whack some limits. First spot. As I'm going over the how's and why's basically for Johns benefit, the float goes down. And there we go......I.G. -instantaneous gratification! I hand the rod over to Mike. And we have the first decent "boxer". 2 minutes into our day.

















Mike, Gary, and John, start fishing and catch another decent boxer. But it's kinda slow going. Then, from out of no where we could see a long slick of fuel, come pouring around the boat and envelopes the entire area we were fishing. Yes, FUEL. The bites instantly, S-T-O-P!

Ya wanna talk embarrassment?  Holy smokes! Yeah, this is all we needed! We couldn't see where it was actually coming from. Maybe a ship pumped it's bilges? Don't know, but I was a hair away from calling the coasties. But my number one concern was to catch fish.  So we made a move.

I just attended a river fishing seminar last night, after fishing all day. And not to fault the speaker, maybe some live in a different world.  But it was said, that the river is, "so clean". That maybe, comparitively. But we have construction along it's banks continuosly, ship yards, a Navy base, and plenty of foreign ships going in and out. I'll tell ya. This wasn't the first time I have seen something like this.

The sun never really shined on us. And obviously a "front" was coming through. It was freezin cold out in the middle of the river. So the majority of the day I tried to fish comfortable waters.

We tried a bit of bottom fishing. Nothing happened, so we went back to float-rigging. Catching, Specks and a Yellowmouth Trout. But it was a slow bite. And what fish we found, were caught. But it certainly wasn't a "rally" of fish, by no means. It was the weather, I'm sure.

















Now the forecast for this weekend is gonna be warmer, sunnier, and "spring like"??  Saturday is the first day of spring. And the bright spot is that it's gonna feel like it, thank goodness. I'm sure I can speak for all my charter customers since late December......"IT'S ABOUT TIME!".

April is starting to book up. And this maybe the month  we've all been waiting for, here in N.E. Florida.
But do not come down to the boat un-prepared. Today, I was in two fleece jackets, and fleece pants all day long. The water temp was up at 57 degrees. We didn't hit the Jetties, because of the wind and cold.

And out of the fish we caught only one Trout was a throw back. Which is a good sign.

3/16 - It's so!

Headed out today with D.O.A. Rob H. aboard the Jettywolf.  The TV weather guessers said..."If you're gonna be outside, Tuesday is your day!"  Yeah, it was nice.......NICE AND COLD!

Damn, I almost figured I could keep all the fleece in my truck this morning. But not really. Rob, even had to run back to his house and get his long johns on this morning, and grab a heavier jacket. That was okay. The New Moon tide was still flooding in, and we weren't in any big hurry. "We can fish till 6pm and it'll still be sunny, now.

The live shrimp today at the bait shop came in two flavors. West Coast and Free Range. I opted for the free range shrimp and man they were super fine. Big, sassy and ready to go.....go, get eaten!

I decided on trying a spot neither of us have been too in a while. And as it turned out. It was time for us to put on a whackin' & stackin hats!  It was I.G. heaven......"when's the last time you read me saying INSTANTANEOUS GRATIFICATION?"



















































Trout, lots of Trout and all keepers (boxers) except for one 14 incher. Rob has his sneaky creek that he fishes and refers to it as his "wonderland". And this spot is mine. Only difference is, mine has been so on and off, for so long. I almost forgot about it. But the area was turned on today, that's for sure.

The day wore colder as we fished. And that 10 knots out of the North/Northeast forecasted. WASN'T. As the day got closer to noon, the windy it got and that meant even colder. For the last few hours of the day I was wearing a fisherman's best friend.....The hood on my Grundens Fishermans Jacket!

































After boxing our limit of ten Speckled Trout up to 4 pounds. We moved on, and ran back to the "hub", and worked around the lil' jetties for no bites at all. I brought four, heavy duty meat mover Ugly Stik rods, and wanted to bottom fish the river or jetties at low tide. But the wind and the bone chilling temp. had us thinking....."let's just go back and just catch more TROUT, for fun."  So we beat a path back to the original spot, the tide was dead low. No current at all. But that's okay, we sat through it and I still caught another 16 inch Trout. Then, as the tide turned and started to flood again, I adjusted and got back into another limit of Trout.....still only one short 14" Trout all day. Wow, that was unbeliveable.

















It's been a long wait, for these fish. I was in Speck fishing heaven! Trout from 16 to 22 inches, throw in a few more 20 inchers, and I almost felt as if I was in some kind of Trout fishing dream land, compared to the last few months, on the St. Johns River. We tried for some Redbass on a "almost gimme spot"  in the ICW. But no gimme's today.  But we did get a few Sheephead bites, with several 'swing and misses' on hooking them on the float-rig. So variety wasn't the spice of life today. All we caught was TROUT!















That "throb-throb" of a head shaking speck on the good ole Ugly Stik 7'6" float-rig rods sure felt great! Rob, is one of the few people I know who enjoys just reeling fat Specks to the boat, like I do. No need for waiting around for that long knock down drag out battle of a monster fish, just lots of bites, reeling in fish, high fives, and do it all over again. Easy cleaning, with no bones, and great fried crispy. That's what makes those Trout so enjoyable to us, 12 months a year.












I'm so ate up with Trout fishing. I'd sell my house and move far away, just to get closer to even better Trout fishing, in a heart beat! Alot of people just don't understand that, but I call it passion. For some people it's Grouper to Marlin. Other's it's just Redfish and only Redfish. For Rob and I, it's BIG SPECKS.

















SAY IT ISN'T SO!

OH YES......IT'S SO!

Next up: Thursday with the Hurt Group and possibly Saturday with the Roberts Group.

3/12 - Monthly installment of WHY ALLOY?

Your monthly installment of  "alloy'ness".
The good the bad and the ugly, of course......


Pacific boat...same as mine. Photo from the Pacific Northwest. Real Rock/Log Country. Driver missed the first rock/log in the water, and even the second rock/log in the water, but not the third rock/log in the water.

I'm not sure I wanna see what the transom of a glass boat would have looked like.

And we have P-L-E-N-T-Y of rocks around here too, for being the state of FLORIDA!


Brand new 300 HP Suzuki. But the boat.....??  Not a scratch, crack or dent. Just the need to bolt on another 20K engine. Thank goodness for Alloy. (I heard this was the third outboard on this boat since 2001) Obviously gets rode hard and put up wet and bloody.

3/9 - Calm with the King Crew

Headed out today at 8am with overcast skies and dead calm conditions with Chris, his 11 year old son Austin, and Chris' dad, Dave. Packed a livewell with lots and lots of live shrimp. Since they aren't very spunky and aren't living all that long on a hook. I figured I better bring plenty since I probably have "new" to the float-rigging folks aboard today. And it's absolutely essential to keep a lively shrimp on the hook at all times. And we may go through alot doing what I had planned.......and that was to float-rig, as many spots as I could.

The first spot proved to be the best spot, the higher water was just perfect. As I did my 15 minute crash course on "this is how ya do it." Boxing 3 keepers. With some throw back Specks and yellowmouths. Chris was into the action at first, despite his dad and son's floats a mere 5-6 feet away from his on each drift.





















Taking from what reports I have recieved from Sunday, the trip yesterday with DOA Rob, and today. Each day has been a bit less active. Yesterday we only had 3 keeper Trout. But twice as many bites as today. And Rob said yesterday was half the bites he had on Sunday. 
















Fished no less than 5 spots all in conjunction with good current, only one was a bad choice really. Because we got hardly a drift. The weak incoming was very evident at the jetties, where we ended up at the end of the day. The green water trying to push in, we sat completely backwards as the boat laid with the wind and the current went the opposite way. In search for a rogue Redbass patrolling the rocks.

It sure was nice and calm, though. Having just one less thing to worry about made for an easier day for me, that's for sure. I love "light and variable".

The King's were great folks to have aboard. And I know I probably bored them with stories of what I have caught on each spot. But, my mind is like a filing cabinet. I pull up to an area that I've fished for so long and the history files of each spot, just comes out. I can't help it. But do have the photos to prove it. Winter of 2010 won't be forgotten for a long, long time.

Eleven days till the first day of SPRING.
Five days away from Day Light Savings time.

3/7 & 3/8 - Bottom Blues & Trout for a change.

Sunday, did some R&D. Tried out my new anchor I've been waiting on for 5 weeks..... "getting one of these is not an easy task." 

But I have a 12 pounder and wanted an 18 pounder for my long heavy chain I use for anchoring deep along hard bottom.

And I wanted to try out some new rods I got for "big fish meat movers."
50-80# class serious non-sport fishing rods. Just get'em to the boat, rods. I'll most likey use for those jetty Black-tip and Bull Shark attacks, where it's just all out war. Big Reds, Drum and of course stopping the summer time 200 pound alien hover craft stingrays. No playing around sized, Ugly Stiks.

Fished two good areas on the falling, and two good areas on the incoming. With just Jumbo dead shrimp and a piece of Fishbites for added smell. And the couple of bites I did have were just Whiting. Yep, from 28-63 feet of water in the river and all I had was two Whiting......thank goodness it was just R&D.


Was booked today, Monday. But since B&M didn't have live shrimp yesterday, and wasn't exactly sure when they'd be in the livewells at the shop. We decided to move today's trip till Tuesday.


So I though I was going "lure fishing" with DOA Rob today, instead. And another good R&D for Tuesday's trip. I was prepared mentally to not have my beloved river crickets and float-rig in hand. But when we arrived at the bait shop, the shrimp were on their way....and way....and way. But they arrived at 8:30am so we got some.


DOA Rob has been doing great, on DOA shrimp of course in the creeks, the creeks where I can't get to. But yesterday as I sat doing my R&D bottom fishing for anything BIG, he worked a few areas and found some Trout to 4 pounds. And when I said, "ya need to take me on Monday." He said. "Okay, are ya prepared?"  I replied, "Heck yeah. I have me some Shiney Hiney's, the new Edura Shrimp and some new Browns Flappin Devils to try!"

http://brownlures.com/news/new-flappin-devil/

http://shop.acadianafishing.com/Shiney-Hiney-Endura-0range-Eye-Shrimp-Shiney-Hiney-Endura-0range-Eye.htm;jsessionid=EB93DC67C67FAF4C1A6CA9C2704AB27E.qscstrfrnt03?productId=208

http://shop.acadianafishing.com/Shiney-Hiney-Orange-Eye-Hook-Body-6-Per-Pack-Shiney-Hiney-Orange-Eye-Hooks.htm?productId=206

Yeah, but in the back of my mind I knew a sprightly live cricket would be the ticket for me. It's not a fish fest out there yet by no means. Might as well "GET" fish in the box, first. And since we had shrimp now. I was in heaven. I had my float-rig in my hands and even had a boat/trolling motor operator.

First stop, Rob caught a beautiful Trout, a 20 incher. On the DOA shrimp of course. And I worked a Brown's Flappin' Devil on a 3/8ths oz. jig at first....till I got it hung in the bottom and lost it.



















Rob's buddy Mike was out there too. He caught Trout on a MirrOlure 52MR. And to me that means... "spring is on it's way". Because I'm a MirrOlure chucker too, since I'm usually fishing deeper waters. And it's been for years and years my #1 Big Trout in Spring lure. So much that years past I'd whack the hell out Trout and yellowmouths up to 7 pounds on them, at the jetties.

I put on a live shrimp and as "trolling motor Rob" worked the area back and forth. I sat in the back of the boat just floatin' my shrimp around. Then, I started catching. Putting two in the box to 18 inches. Loosing a few and catching throw backs, also.





















Mike was moving all around and he even caught some pup reds on a popping cork and mud minnow. All the while in the river....Not in some 2 foot deep creek. But Mike was all disgruntled. I yelled to him, "You're not up in some shallow creek Mike, your in the river. Be happy your catching something......."

We moved on to the next spot. Rob had 3 keepers here yesterday from his total of 20 plus Trout. We continued catching but they were all small specks, and small yellowmouths.

Only had the 3 keepers in the fish box. But between those 3 fat Trout ( Rob gave me his one fish) and my 2 Whiting from my "bottom only experiment" yesterday. I sure had enough to make the kitchen smell the way it used to smell after a fishing trip.....LIKE A FISH FRY!

Yep, just got done with 2 big fried Speck sandwiches doused in Zaterains, on a toated bun with a slab of cheeze. Too good!



Our day sort of ended on a bad note. Rob's outboard on the way to the third spot conked out on us. Sounded like a fuel problem. It would start, run rough. Then, it wouldn't start at all. So I called for a towand Mike from SeaTow Mayport ran and got us. Till Rob's motor is fixed, he'll just go back to the Hobie Yak.


Next up: Tuesday 3/9 with three generations of the King Family.

3/4 -The difference a year can make.

I've been going back and reading my own reports.....Because it's so damn cold outside. And that wind lately, whoa! what a killer., huh? So I'm day dreaming of day gone by.

I ran across this day; http://jacksonvillefishingreports.blogspot.com/2009/02/224-just-4-more-days.html
in Feb last year.

Just a few days before the re-opening of Specks. I remember it clearly. The three guys that I had aboard were a real hoot. And we all sure had fun! Even though the catch and release of Speck after Speck, on the float-rigs was a bit painful for me. The shallow water area we were in was FISHY! Water temp I said was 55. Yep, that's the norm for deep February...problem today, is that 50 and below is not the NORM for January 1st!! Like it was in the beggining of 2010.

While scanning my old reports, I read that last year there was some Trout at the jetties too. I've basically given up on Float-rig fishing the "big stones" for any Specks, right now. But then again, it's hard to keep a spunky shrimp on a hook, worthy of attracting a bite. The live shrimp seem lively in the bait well, but as soon as you hook them and toss them into the chilliness. They're done!

I came up with a theory.....although a simple one. "When the shrimp stay alive on the hook and are "sprightly", is when the Trout will eat them. Along the granite Highway."

Last year, on March 12th I was out chasing these!

Till then, I have made a few minor adjustments in the boat, and in my tackle room. We're gonna be some bottom bumping river rovers, on my boat. Yeah, it maybe nothing but a mind-set really, with a tweak here and there. But as long as I feel committed. I'm okay with that. I'm so not the "consummate" bottom fisherman, that yes, I have to prep myself.

The less than a month old, Jax Trout Trackers forum has 28 members already. But of course the reports and activity is quite sparce. We'll see if that'll change. And who's a giver, and who's just a lurker in the shadows. It's all what YOU make of it.

3/3 No sale....went on Ebay

Have had 1/2 price reels, lures and multitudes of tackle here for sale or best offer, via the link on the side bar. And no action. People would rather pay full retail I guess, at local tackle shops. Not me. Not in this world.

So I'm putting the items on Ebay, now.

NEW in box, Okuma Alumina 200 Low Pro high capacity/high speed reel-
http://cgi.ebay.com/Okuma-Alumina-baitcasting-reel_W0QQitemZ330410268349QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item4cedfc96bd

NEW in box - Shimano Tekota 500 levelwinds coventional reel (I have two left) -
http://cgi.ebay.com/Shimano-Tekota-500_W0QQitemZ330410265904QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item4cedfc8d30

Not yet on Ebay:
NEW- Matching 7'  one piece, EVA grips/ Fugi reelseats & guides, Ugly Stik Tiger Lites "Customs" rods also availible (2) at $60 each, retail $90. ADD SHIMANO TEKOTA'S ABOVE FOR A SUPER OUTFIT FOR KINGFISH TO GIANT REDS!

NEW - Custom built 8' one piece fiberglass, EVA grips, Fugi Guides and reelseats, "Retro blue on white blank"  heavy duty designed, medium/pure parabolic action designed Float-rigging rods by Biscayne custom rods (2) at: $100 each ADD OKUMA REEL ABOVE FOR A SUPER OUTFIT!

Tagged Redfish.....from 2/20

Finally, heard back from the tagging program guy. About the tagged Red we caught on Feb 20th. After making a second call this morning. He said he was under the weather...the address on the tag was Miami, but the guy said he was in New Orleans. Hmmmm??

On Sept. 25th 2009, it was tagged at the Little Jetties in the St. Johns River. Guess where we caught it?
At the little Jetties in the St. Johns River. The fish was reported to have "lots of spots". The fish had 35. It was reported that the fish was 31 inches. I measured the fish and it was 31 inches.














I've always heard Redfish don't go far. Well, this one didn't. So in the balmy 53 degree water that day. Where were the rest of the river reds? It was tagged basically in the height of the big Red, fishing time of year. By ......"the Redfish Guru", who only fishes for reds in the fall.

Maybe, since my love is good size Trout. I'll tag some whenever they start biting again. And we'll see where they go, huh? Any one who's a Jax Trout Tracker member, that catches that same Trout wins a _________. (I don't know yet) Now that's an idea.

Wonder if there's a Trout tagging program, we'll see.

2/28 - Chit-Chat

Weather forecast is still holding for Monday Feb. 1st. heading out on "the hunt", with my buddy Nick of the band Rathkeltair, who I haven't seen in awhile. "He needs a laid back day of fishing..."

MONDAY - NORTHWEST WINDS 10 KNOTS BECOMING EAST 5 TO 10 KNOTS BY AFTERNOON. SEAS 2 FEET OR LESS. INLAND WATERS MOSTLY SMOOTH.
The high tide in morning is going to be like 6 foot! So toss in that challenge. But I don't care.

Was at the Northside Gander Mountain on Saturday: http://www.gandermountain.com/email/022210/landing022210.shtml
I called it their Spring Fling. But they called it their First Cast. Supposedly having sales over the weekend. Which I think was discounts on certain tackle items or gift certificates if you purchased brand X.

I was invited along with a few other guys I knew, to give 30 minute seminars. But when I got there at 10:45am for a noon seminar, the parking lot was pretty empty. And by noon, not much was really going on.

Rick Ryals, was to do a Dolphin fishing seminar prior to me. But I didn't see any thing going on over at his table. As I checked out all the Shakespeare Ugly Stik rods that I haven't seen before. Then, came my turn. So I got back over to my table, where I had some rack cards laying out, and a few guys and I were talking. Jax Trout Tracker Forum member, Sam was there. And we were chatting. When a fella said he was wanting to hear about float-rigging...."ahhhh, someone interested?"

So,  I grabbed my tackle and started to show the guys about the how's and why's. When a few more people showed up. Pretty much the smallest crowd I have ever had a at seminar, maybe 10 guys. But there wasn't many people in the whole store! So I did what I could. This is my second year heading up to Gander Mountain for an event.  And I guess you could say, it's the economy (the present day catch all excuse) but the last time I saw monster crowds there, was when they had their actual Grand Opening. Since, then it maybe just pure survival, who knows? I'm sure Rick was expecting at least a small crowd. And I don't know what the other guys eventually did. Maybe they "seminared", maybe they didn't. There was more of "us" then shoppers.

The one fella that said he was there to hear me talk about the float-rig said, "thanks, I learned alot. I never knew all that." A sincerly appreciative guy. I told him, I'm the guy in that big aluminum boat. You'll see me out there. Since he said he fishes around the Lil' Jetties sometimes.

I was about 5 seconds away from purchasing a few of the new model Ugly Stiks with my 10% off coupon (tax saver) I had from Gander Mountain, when I saw the real sale on Shakespeare was on the 28th, instead. Like I need another hole in my head, really? But for Shark fishing the new "white charter boat series rods in 6'6" sure looked like they'd really do the job.

They look industructable! And matched up to my twin drag model 870 Accurate reels (http://www.accuratefishing.com/) would surely put the whoopass on the largest shrimp boat follower, this summer. But I already have custom built shark rods...."hey, variety is the spice of life, right?"  

I planned on making it over to the El Cheapo Sheepshead tournament at the Mayport Boat ramp. But had errands to run, after Gander Mountain. So I never made it there. I'm curious to see what percentage of fish were caught this year compared to other non-freezin' cold years.

My focus is Monday. When Speckled Trout re-opens. Because usually the first week of March is kinda crappy weather. And it's hard getting to them, during years when they are actually chewing. I remember one March 1st thru 5th, when it rained and blew the whole first week. And the Trout were stacked up at the Nassua Sound bridge like "cord wood", the week prior. It was just killing me. But in 30 mph winds and rain wasn't even worth the try. Now, this year it'll be just finding a decent amount, and some over 15 inches, will be challenging.

Almost any other year, they'd be at the jetties!  And all I'd need would be the right tide. The general rule of thumb is, closer to the inlets in winter and spring. And a gradual distance away from the inlets in spring and by deep summer they're further up river. Following food.....

Expect extreme tides most of this week. With "flood" waters in the middle of the day.
Hey....at least I'll be able to make it into some areas I usually can't get into. But that doesn't mean there will be fish there. We'll see, huh?

-----------
To sign petition to fight closure of all bottom fishing offshore beyond 95 foot for the next 35 years. Go here and follow link to sign petition:
http://petition.deep-blue-sea.org/
-----------
NOT one word back from the National Marine Fisheries Service about the call I made in to see what the story was on the tagged Redfish that Zach Farrington caught. It's been a week so far. All I got was a message, "leave your name and number and the tag number and we'll get back to you." You can bet I will stay on top of this.
--------

2/25 - Fisheries management to "OUR" river.....

MONDAY, MARCH 1ST - NORTH WINDS 10 KNOTS IN THE MORNING BECOMING LIGHTAND VARIABLE. SEAS 2 FEET OR LESS. INLAND WATERS SMOOTH.













Guess where I'll be?


MARCH is St. Johns River Month.....yes, we have a month devoted to "OUR" river.

-Finally, Mayor John Peyton (Mayor Delany would never have dragged his feet...I really liked him) is issuing a proclamation declaring March to be “St. Johns River Month”, and the Jacksonville City Council is moving forward with a similar resolution. There are a variety of exciting upcoming programs and events during the month of March to celebrate and learn about the St. Johns.

One great idea is to book yourself a private personalized Light Tackle fishing charter or River cruise: http://www.captdaves.com/Cruises.htm aboard Capt Dave's Jettywolf boat, and have a good time exploring "OUR" river. 


IT'S NOT "MANAGEMENT" ANYMORE, IT'S JUST "CLOSE THAT FISHING".
-remember your government is lobbied too...as if you didn't know that. And there's people out there that don't want you to fish. They want it all stopped.

Coastal Conservation Association

6919 Portwest, Suite 100, Houston, TX 77024
Email: twvenker@joincca.org Website: www.joincca.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 24, 2010 CONTACT: Ted Venker, 1-800-201-FISH


--------------------
Coalition seeks to avoid fisheries management “train wreck”

Overwhelmed agency incapable of properly implementing law



Passage of the 2006 Magnuson-Stevens Act, the overarching law that manages America’s marine fisheries, revealed crippling deficiencies within the agency charged with implementing the law. Recently, a coalition of marine angling and industry groups launched an effort to improve the National Marine Fisheries Service’s efforts to manage the nation’s marine resources and the 13 million saltwater anglers who depend on healthy fisheries.

“We have the most conservation-oriented law we have ever had governing our marine resources, and the agency does not have the data, assessments, science or, frankly, the attitude, to adequately implement it,” said Chester Brewer, chairman of CCA’s National Government Relations Committee. “The result is that the agency has been reduced to managing fisheries by closure which was not the intent of the law when it was passed by Congress.”

In addition to requiring an end to all overfishing by 2011, the Magnuson-Stevens Act requires that the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) have a determination on the overfished status of every species under management, and have annual catch limits and accountability measures in place for them by a time certain as well.

“For far too many species, there is not any science at all to do that and to develop it will take one to three years for every single species,” said Brewer. “With its startling lack of data, there is no way NMFS can catch up on decades of work and the agency will be crushed by its lack of science. The entire federal management system will be forced to ignore real conservation and management issues, and simply manage by closure. The coalition is seeking a way to fulfill the conservation tenets of the law without driving the entire process into a train wreck.”

Current efforts to revise the Magnuson-Stevens Act, including the so-called “flexibility” legislation (H.R.1584 and S.1171) do not address the shortcomings of NMFS that are negatively impacting anglers and, in fact, jeopardize a number of the true conservation gains in the Act.

“H.R.1584 and S.1171 do not provide for better data-gathering or prevent the imposition of in-season closures when NMFS believes there is a danger of overfishing, nor do they improve recreational data and the way it is used. It just delays rebuilding,” said Brewer. “That is not where the problem lies.”

Among other administrative and appropriations requests, the coalition is urging the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to convene a blue ribbon panel to identify the long-term data, statistical, research and funding needs of the regional fishery science centers. The outcomes of this panel will help to inform the appropriation needs related to recreational fishing data and statistics for NMFS and coastal state fishery agencies.

“There is a great deal of frustration among recreational anglers, much of it attributable to an agency that doesn't have the ability to properly manage us,” said Pat Murray, president of CCA. “The shortcomings of NMFS have to be fixed, either administratively or by Congress. Recreational anglers deserve both a meaningful law, and an agency capably of implementing it.”
 
 
JOIN CCA....."I AM"

2/20 - Basically what I thought...

Had Dave and his son Zach aboard on Saturday. We took off to the Jetties and it was trhe last of the falling tide. So we fished Jigs and Shrimp for awhile.

Dead shrimp....although very fresh. Because the bait shop didn't have any live shrimp availible. The west coast shrimp were either hard to catch or it just wasn't enough to make the trip worth going over there to get them.

But the dead works on a jig. Not really the tide I wanted for where we were fishing. But each of us got bit.
Barely. The shrimp was bit and we all had a "hanger-on-er" type bite. Pretty bad when I'm having to analyze the bites. Probably by the looks of it, very half hearted Sheepshead. And not easy for someone to get or even feel. Heck, it's saltwater fishing...the fish are supposed to slam dunk us right? Not now, they ain't!

So we moved eventually and I had plans on soaking the shrimp on the bottom and putting in our time. So as the tide slowed we moved and sat inside the rocks. Vertically fished, but the tide was pouring in on the bottom, and out on the top.......usual scenerio many times. And zero was happening, so after a few more moves I was fed up with that. A short ride up into the river was in order.

I want lines behind the boat, and sinkers holding along aknown fish hiway, if not a rest stop. No fuss, just laying out baits, and keeping some smell going. So to the lil jetties areas we went.

Perfect anchor position, incoming tide rippin'....had to go to 6 ounces of lead to hold bottom. Which tells me right there that chances for the "targeted species" Black Drum maybe slim to none. I've never caught a black Drum in screaming tide. But, it was a good spot. So good that people were stacked in front of me, on top of my anchor line.  And it was one noisey boat too that parked in front of me. I guess I'm just used to the "purrrr" of the Honda, huh? It was a loud merc with a "jet drive" on a aluminum Sea Ark boat. If I had that boat, that'll skip over a foot of water I certainly wouldn't be sitting in a 4 knot incoming tide in the river. But rather up in BFE creek somewhere, getting in on the solar panel effect of the low tide and super high sun shiney day. Where I hear "all" the fish in all of Jacksonville are.

Well to make a long report shorter, we sat there soaking baits with out a bump. So I made a move into the ICW and tried another spot where I've caught winter sheeps, drum, and yellowmouths. No bites again, but PLENTY of cruiser traffic and wakes. Since it was cabin fever release weather. Time to blow the cobwebs out of the 38' SeaRays.

I had confidence in my lil Jetties spot, so the tide slowed and we jumped back into the spot. Everyone was gone by now. So as the precession rounded the rock island, and the currents there went all whacky. We caught 2 - 6" Seabass.....wow, something with scales and gills!!

And then came a really good bite. Zach grabbed the rod, let it munch a second and then the fish moved off.
Big bow in the Shakespeare Tiger lite and drag peeling on the low pro Shimano Cruxis. It took awhile on the light tackle, plus toss in alot of carefulness not to loose this fish and up popped a nice Redfish.

















It had 35 spots, was 31 inches, weighed in at 10 pounds and had a TAG in it. I cut the tag off and it said, NMFS - National Marine Fisheries Service Miami, Florida, and had a tag number and a 1-800 number to call.

Seriously nice fish. Tagged because of all the spots? Hmmm, I wonder. At this time I have a call into the NMFS tagging program this morning. Had to leave a message and the tag number. I guess I'll know what the scoop is when they call me back. It'll be interesting.

Our day was about done. But we stayed a bit longer and even tried another spot. And never lost a shrimp as the falling tide started.

Tough, tough fishing for sure. It was great weather. That was the upside. But like I told my neighbor when I got home;  "I'don't care if it was nasty, cold and windy if we'd be catching fish or at least getting bit."

The truth is, "ya have to get bit, to catch the fish." and I couldn't care less what the weather's like.
I'll update on the tagged Redfish, when I get it.

Never saw water temp over 53 degrees.
B&M had live shrimp again, Sunday at 8am.

2/19 - Monthly dose of pure metal

NEW ZEALAND BUILDS SOME OF THE FINEST "ALLOY" BOATS IN THE WORLD. AND I BET IF THIS WAS SITTING AT THE MAYPORT BOAT RAMP, AND I WAS IN IT. I WOULDN'T HEAR THE STUPID ALUMINUM BOAT COMMENTS FROM SOME OF THE STUPID PEOPLE.

THIS WAS A 2005 BUILT "TENDER" FOR A MEGA YACHT.
(KIWI WAHOO ANYONE?)

2/17 - What you don't read much this time of year.

NATIONAL DATA BUOY CENTER

                     

if I had a hankerin' to go fishing...guess what day I'd choose?


FRIDAY

NORTHWEST WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS. SEAS 2 FEET OR LESS.
INLAND WATERS A LIGHT CHOP.

FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT (booked Saturday)
LIGHT AND VARIABLE WINDS. SEAS 1 FOOT. INLAND WATERS SMOOTH.

SUNDAY
LIGHT AND VARIABLE WINDS...BECOMING SOUTHEAST 10 KNOTS
LATE IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 1 FOOT. INLAND WATERS MOSTLY SMOOTH.
ISOLATED SHOWERS.

-the words LIGHT & VARIABLE, are two of my favorites in the English language. Especially, in winter.

2/13 - Took the long road North

Before my good customer Kirk, who was just out with me on the 3rd goes back to Lima, Peru. We headed out again today. Today was actually our pre-planned day. The one I had wrote down in my book. But yesterday it looked really dim. Rain on and off, cold and just plain nasty. But we spoke at 7pm last night and decided, "why not go? It's not like we haven't fished in some of the worst weather imaginable before, over the years."  

Kirk's up for about anything. He's like I am. A day on the boat with rod in hand is better than about any day, doing anything else.

Plus, I had a plan. Or more like a destination in mind. You could almost say it was "chasing a report", sort of.  But, there's one thing I don't do. Chase someone elses reports, or chase a bite, that's supposed to be.
Because more often than not, it doesn't work out. But I did head due north, only because I haven't been to this particular locale in a long time. And with a 15-20 knot NW wind blowing, I just didn't want to fish the same ole places, today. I wanted to go some where a bit different. I get so bored fishing the same ole areas, county, and even the state. If you know me well, you know I would love to be fishing some place new at least 6 months out of the year.

Hawaii? That would be NEW! "Can I just tie off to your stern?"
















It was at least a 30 mile round trip. But we headed to an area where the bite of Trout and Reds are a sure thing if you're in a kayak........"Yeah, like I'm in a yak alright!" Could I get any further away from a Yak in my boat?  But, being one to believe that ya have to be ridgidly flexible here in N.E. Florida especially in the deep winter. I'll try about anything. At least we'll be way more comfortable than if we were yak fishing.

The tide was mega high and stayed that way for a long while. Made for easy getting into the creek we headed too. But crappy for fishing. We waited out the tide and let it fall out of the submerged grass as we sat anchored up in a 25 foot hole, with live shrimp on jig heads soaking on the bottom, in hopes of catching anything. It was burn your hands cold, the sun was blanketed with clouds and the wind was blowin'.

Not a sniff on the shrimp in the hole. So the tide finally fell out of the grass and we moved around, searching.
We fished cuts in the creek, behind sand bars. Working float-rigs, popping corks in shallows, jigs and plastics. ZERO.......
















Then, like a button was pushed. The clouds went away and the sun started to shine. At least it makes us feel a bit better. So we worked our way out of the creek and stopped along a straight stretch lined with oyster beds on each side. The current was weak as all hell, but we float-rigged it. Kirk and I both had something take our floats down, very half heartedly. The water temp was a balmy 48 degrees again as we sat in the 6 feet of water. With no consistant action, we moved on to another area at the mouth of the creek. Float fishing again, we drifted our rigs past a sand bar, and I got a take down and a missing shrimp. Kirk hit the same spot and came back with his hook mashed down. Hmm, looks like Mr. Sheepshead is in there. Nothing can smash a hook like a 7 striped jetty snapper. The tide died so we moved on out of the creek and over towards the Nassua sound bridge, on the way back.

Kirk caught 2 small Trout at the bridge spot, on the float-rig and shrimp. I don't really want to say LIVE shrimp, because they seemed dead. Lasting about 30 seconds on the hook before becoming very dead. It's been that way since the switch to the Gulf Coast Shrimp, and the extreme cold.
















And I even had a tug on a jig and saltwater assassin chicken on a chain, plastic shad. That's pretty pitiful when ya get excited when a fish yanks on the tail of your plastic bait! We could easily see which way this day was going. And then, I had that feeling.......just like I don't like chasing a report. I was starting to get that feeling of second guessing myself.
Which I hate. We should have just hung at the jetties, or worked some of the same places we fished last time.
Because this bite was gone. Maybe jigging at the jetties would have been alot more exciting?
No sense worry about it now, huh?

We tried along the ICW one more time and didn't have any current except the wind howling and blowing the boat around so we headed back to the dock.

Next time I'm out I'm gonna stick to my usual areas. At least the ride isn't as long and cold. That's one word I can't wait to be out of my vocabulary. I can't bring myself to sit and fish a fiddler crab for a Sheepshead, either. But we saw 3 guys in a small boat doing just that on the channel marker poles in the ICW. Guess they were scouting up them pole dancers, for the El Cheapo Sheepshead tourney at the end of the month.

2/12 - Mixin' it up a bit...

I've added a few things to the ole blog lately. Ya know, along the right side bar space. Which by the way seems endless. I remember when I had maybe two items along the side of these pages....

First is the new forum. Jax. Trout Trackers. A forum for the fisherman who wants to learn more about Jax Trout fishing, share reports with others, post questions, answer questions. And have a general chat with other local, Trout Trackers.

I put together JAX TROUT TRACKERS for YOU. Of course I'm on it, but it's for you my blog readers, clients, friends and those people I didn't even know were blog readers till we bumped into eachother at the Sisters Creek and Mayport boat ramps, one day. "Ya'll know who you are." And if you like catching Trout and chasing those GATORS. It's for you.

Redfish have been done to death, catching a big ole Red in the river here, isn't all that difficult. But trackin' down those Giant Gator Trout..."now that's something that's easily a life long endeavour."  (took me over 20 years to catch my 1st, 10 pounder...)

I'm refering to each "member" as a, Team Member. Because you never know what may come out of all of this. You could simply meet new people. Networking is a powerful tool!

Secondly, I added a blog article that was written by a customer of mine who also has a Google Blog, just like this one. And his name is Dave, too. There's a link to his blog article he wrote with some really nice photos about the day he and two of his friends went with me. A stereo-typical late fall day, for me. A summer vacation for him. The article is kinda cool (pun) because it's about our day, through his eyes.  That's why I want you to read it.

Check out these two new items. Because nothing around here stays the same long. I'm always changing things up, shaking things up, and moving things around, per the seasons.

And, I appreciate each and every one of you coming by for a visit. There's lots to read out there on the world wide web, today. From hype to scientific fact, when it comes to fishing. But my approach is simple. Tell it the way I see it, and if you fish enough.....you don't have to tell the perverbial "fish stories", because each day is a story on it's own.

But one thing is true, in 37 days it'll be the "First Day of Spring". And even though some varmit didn't see his shadow, here in Florida I'm not sure we go by all that "woodchuck" superstition, anyways.

Warmer, nicer days are coming. And I'm right there with ya, chomping at the bit waiting on it!

Think MARCH, and think about booking your trip early.
There is many reasons for doing so. To have me thinking about your day for a good while, is one of the benefits. I love a good plan.

2/6 - WIND?.....Grossly Wicked

There's two wind directions I really dispise in this area. And that's due West and due East. Kick that up to a sustained 20-25 knots. And ya have yourself one wickedly heinous day, on the water.

Had my usual and leisurely breakfast at the RiteSpot with Dad this morning at 7:00am. Where we discussed our possible trip to Louisiana at the end of the month. I've been trying to make it there for about two years now. So we're thinking after Mardi Gras, and before the end of the month. Just a scouting trip, not a fishing trip. I want to go there many more times, too. So this maybe just the start, if I get there the first time.  Because I'm wanting to make a move there. At least seasonally, if nothing else. I have many contacts there. And everyone says, "C'mon on over Dave and see us."  But realistically, I can only do that during the dead-ness of February.

They catch truck loads of Trout there, all summer long. WITHOUT HAVING TO JUMP THROUGH HOOPS. Like I have too here. In the heat of the summer. Here, it's Oranges. And There it's Apples. There is no comparisons.

So after my breakfast with pops. I headed home. The gusts were bending the tops of the 70 foot tall Oak trees in my neighborhood. So I figured today was a real wash, as forecasted. A good time to check routes, and places we'd be heading too, via Google Maps.

Then the phone rang......

It was Jason S. and he wanted to take his young son Jase out for a little fishing. Jase was 7 years old. I told him "sure, but it's gonna be windy!"  Jason wanted to just try 3 hours, and a noon departure. I knew it was gusting bad. But until I got to the Mayport boat ramp. I didn't really know how bad. I told Jason, I wasn't doing anything on Sunday, if he wanted to try then, instead. But Sunday was out. So I backed the boat down the ramp, they hopped aboard and we headed down river. The ferry boat was still making its runs across the river so.....That reminded me of a motto I used to tell my buddy Capt Randall on days he said it was too windy to be out. "If the ferry stops crossing the river, I guess it's too windy for me to be out there fishing with customers."   It's not like you can give up any trips in this town, these days. Because of a little gale force gusting winds, huh? This is a new day and age we live in.

I tried to get a photo of the river here, as we came towards the "cauldron of hell" where the river and ICW cross. The spray was flyin' and the river was a 2' washboard, as I headed into it.

HIDING, was the name of the game no doubt about it! But where? The tide was attempting to rise against the 25 kt sustained west wind. This wasn't a "touring" trip. Jason said it had to be catch a fish trip.
No pressure there, huh?

First, second, and third spots I tried, my anchor wouldn't even hold the boat! I have an anchor on back-order, since my last big Danforth was "pretzel'ized" at the north jetty. So I don't even have any thing on board that'll hold us in this kind of wind. So my forth attempt was, beach the boat. And toss the anchor up in the marsh grass. So I pulled the bow up on a shell bank that dropped off, so the stern was still floating, and I threw the grapnel anchor up in the grass.

No fancy fishing here. Cast out two live shrimp on egg sinkers, stick'em in the rod holders and wait! That's all we could do.

Time passes

Time passes

Time passes

Holy crap, not even a bait stealer touching a shrimp back in a creek on a shell bottom? And ya' know how fast a 7 year old gets bored if nothing is going on? .......about 10 minutes!

That's why I like taking kids in the fall when there's lots of Croakers around. Except, there wasn't many Croakers this year, that's for sure. There's wasn't much of anything this year. And there wasn't a fish anywhere around us, on this spot either. Which is par for the course......I don't know why I'm ever surprised.

So we moved on. And now that the tide was pouring in, so I hit a spot that's strictly been a fast current incoming tide spot. Plus, it was out of the wind, and I could tie off to a piling. So we could actually stay put, for a while.

First bait out and it hits the bottom.......FISH ON!















Jase reels in a fish that he thought was too big for him. A "pup" Black Drum. It was funny because Jason asked what we might catch here. And I said pup Black Drum and pup Redfish. And then the other rod went off......

And what was next? A pup Redfish.
We fished for a little while longer till the current slacked off on the spot and so did the bites. So we headed back to the boat ramp. Through the "cauldron of hell" and when we got back my two crew members were soaking wet. The spray of water from the blowing wind was hitting the windshield, soaking all the rods and reels and both of them, too.

I was very surprised to see a "mosquito fleet" of 17' flats boats running up and down the ICW today. I guess, because it was "Saturday", people just go fishing anyhow.

The forecast for Sunday is so much better......"maybe"
SUNDAY - NORTH WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 4 FEET. INLAND WATERS
A MODERATE CHOP.

I may try some R&D on Monday myself.......because, "I CAN".
MONDAY- NORTHEAST WINDS 10 KNOTS. SEAS 3 TO 4 FEET. INLAND WATERS A LIGHT CHOP.


So, we made the day. But it was certainly a 3 hour challenge, for a 7 years olds fish.