6/5 - "I.G." - Instantaneous Gratification (via; BrutusT. Redbass)

Had the Wolf crew aboard the Jettywolf today. Any wolf's are good wolf's in my book. Jim and his 3 sons, with one celebrating his 16th Birthday. So....plan was to spend the falling tide catching BIG Reds. But first we needed some live wigglers. So we left the dock and headed out the Jetties, it was the last of the falling tide and I was hoping to see some Pog's where I found them on Thursday, right at the end of the south out deep.

But that would have been too easy. Well, not on a Saturday. Yes, the boat ramp was a zoo and boats were everywhere. But there was a pack along the beach near the Navy base and Hannah Park. So I soft peddled my way over there.

I saw alot of people cruising around, and that also included a shrimper running straight down the beach in shallow water. Joking, I pulled up to a few boats and said, "Is this where all the bait is?"   Because I saw lots of net tossing, and not a lot of Pogie catching.

It was after 9am by now and I can just imagine how many boats ran through the bait. Which will include the Jettywolf, also. The bait was in there, but obviously really scattered. And I wasn't about to make a longer run to find any, so I joined the search party.

All we needed was a bakers dozen, and I'd be outa here. But catching even that many proved to be pretty hard. But as in all fishing, be it cast-netting or hook and line, persistence pays off. I threw my net and got TEN Pogies. Looks like that'll have to do. So we packed up and headed back to the river.

That 10 knot SW wind sure seemed much stronger back up in the river, as the last of the falling river tide was pushed hard. And anchoring where I wanted to be wasn't working....I was dragging. But again, persistence eventually paid off, and we stuck by the hair's of my chin. One good wake, or that FWC guy wanting to tie-off to me would kick us off our anchor. Yeah, he came over to shoot the bull because he wanted to see my boat. He must have been a newbie to the area. Because if you haven't seen me on the river by now. You're not a regular. I told him, "we're hanging by a thread here.....ya can't tie off to us or that'll be it....."  

But that was just after I tossed two Pogies out on the "meat-mover" rods and reels, and we had a DOUBLE-HEADER of Redbass! So being in the meat, right here was very important to me. Yep, live wigglers like Pogies right now are like Fun Size Snickers Bar's, laying on the bottom of the river. The kids are gonna pick them up and scarf them! And we were in a Rally of Reds!











































































For some reason, I feel as if I'm missing a set of photos I took...I knew I took more than this.....Hmmm?

But you get the drift...Brutus T. Redbass was chewing. Right up till the tide backed off. So we pulled anchor and headed to the jetties, looking to Float-rig a little for some possible "keeper" sized Reds. But that didn't work out so well. I had the guys sending the float's with live shrimp down the rocks in the very limited area I could grab, the tide wasn't exactly right just yet, but was getting there. And from out of no where came a huge wind, probably 25 knots from the southwest. The water chopped up, and we had to sit it out. If the anchor slipped, we'd be blown into the jetty rocks. And that eventually happened.

The wind whipped, and as I pulled the anchor we were the only ones left at the Jetties. Everyone vacated.
The river went from slick to white water. So we headed back to the dock.

Weather....."it's like that sometimes, in the summer."  And keeper sized Reds in the river can be hard to come by, too. I say, "we can't look gift horses in the mouth."  That's why I wish there was some Trout around.

6/3 - Small river.....big Redbass!

Had Viktor S. his brother in law, Dennis, and sister in law Toni, aboard today. Dennis and Toni lived in Germany, but spoken Russian. And Viktor was the official interpreter. And it was an interesting day.

I had plans to go get some Pogies for big Redbass bait. So I took a cruise over to where they found some yesterday, kinda outside Huguenot Park near Ft. George inlet. One sweep of the area proved that there was no Pogies over there. So I crossed the bar and headed towards the south, and ran over all the Pogies you'd ever want or need in 45 foot of water, near the south rocks. It was the last of the falling tide, so I guess they're getting pushed out there. The rip was really dark on one side, and green on the other. So that says very low tide, to me.

One toss of the 8' Pogie net and it swam away full of the nasty little bait fish. I had to let 90% of them go (some got lucky) and took maybe 2 dozen and dropped them into my 14 gallon well I circulate. The bait shop had no live shrimp for some reason, so I was really glad I had a back-up plan.

Since we were in the immediate area, I ran over to the inside of the North Jetty, anchored up and sent two Pogies out on the bottom. Normally a great spot to nail a few big Reds at low tide. But as the rods bounced back and forth I knew what the deal was........BLUEFISH. And the proof was the cookie cutter shaped  bites out of the Pogie. Okay. Time to vacate this spot! Not what I was looking for, by any means.

We arrived on the next spot and of course the current was fading fast. So while I pitched lines baited with the lil' nasty's, out as deep as I could. I had Victor and Dennis drop a few light lines over the side with 2 oz. sinkers and dead shrimp......"ya never know, sometimes ya pop a Red by doing just that."

And as they tight-lined the light rods, one of the Pogie rods goes off.  No real current to speak of meant what ever this was, could and would do what ever it wanted. And that was to tangle into every other line hung over the side of the boat. And it turns out to be a 3 foot shark. But Dennis got a handful. It was not like any Pond, Lake or River fish, he may have been used too. And it sure had it's way with him.

But, now through lots of interpretation. He knew what he was in for. He was the rod man for the day. The trip was really for him, I was told.

The current finally swung us around and I re-anchored and were on a perfect lay on the anchor. Minding our own bee's wax, conversing and waiting on a big brutus Redbass. I busted out the serious big fish tackle, by now. My big Accurate twin-drags matched up to 50-80 pound class Ugly Stik Charter boat series "meat mover" rods. Dennis requested we go back to the heavy stuff. After tangling with the shark on a lighter bottom fishing rod, and mini B-197 Accurate.  

We get bit like clock work, just as the tide picked up......I can almost set my watch by it. It's all in the feel against the boat. The big rod bows over, the drag peels and we have on a stud. Dennis is all out struggling. 

















I look up and what do I see coming at us?
St. Johns River heavy metal!!!!!!!!!














And what's right next to it, as it's coming? A shrimp boat! And for some reason this shrimper thinks he can out run this ship in his boat. It's us...(not in the channel) a shrimper, and a ship staying in the channel barrelling down on us.

I'm sure the Pilot up in the wheel house of the ship was wondering what the hell this shrimper was doing.
We have Dennis hooked up and getting drug all around, his fish out on the channel side of my boat, and the shrimp boat comes with in 20 feet of the side of us, and 20 feet on the other side of the shrimp boat was the ship! I looked up into the shrimpers wheel house, gesturing to him what the hell are ya doing??? And saw him doing the international signal for "Oppppp's", which was hands up in the air and a "I guess I messed up", look on his face.

Good gawd, the river just got mighty small all of a sudden.

But I had Dennis to help, and his Redbass came popping to the surface. And I'm not sure if Viktor, Dennis or Toni realized how "iffy" a situation this was, do to the shrimp boat, turned race boat.













Dennis travelled far to catch a whopper, and it sure was exciting. His 27 pound Redbass went back in the water and swam away, for a next time. And it was time to get him on another.

 









And one more, before he said he had enough.

















In between these three Red's we lost 3 more to the under water caverns we were fishing. As Dennis tired from going toe to toe with the rods bending one after another.  The action was fast and furious. And those big Reds sure love a live wiggler on the end of a hook. Good current, frisky live baits, and the "meat mover" rods and reels. I LIKE IT!

Viktor mentioned "eating size" fish. We'll that meant only one thing. Float-rigging the rocks. But I had no live shrimp, so I headed back out to the jetties. And instead of float-rig fishing I had Dennis and Viktor "tight-line" cut Pogies on the bottom in the fast incoming tide current with the light rods and light lead. As soon as some of the stink permeated the area, Viktor was hooked up.......Fish On! But the problem was, I cannot pick fish out of a barrel for folks. Fishing charters are not seafood markets. And Viktor was hooked up to a big drag burning fish. Obviously not a keeper sized Redbass. And it eventually got him into the jetty rocks and busted off his entire leader.

I take ya fishing......I don't take ya catching. That's your deal. Unless you want me to reel them in.

Toni said she was ready to go. So Viktor said, I think it's time we head back. Toni's ready.
It was an exciting day. Hot as all get-out, but nice, and slick calm.

Next up: Saturday with another 4 person.

See ya out there.

6/2 - Slick at the rocks.

Had Paul D. and his wife Sheri aboard today, from Utah. They said ......"can ya believe this"....that when they left it was snowing! So I guess this HEAT was either a welcome or a shock. Wow, that's hard to imagine as I sit here with my A/C running incessantly.

We had a beautiful day. As ole Capt George on the Mayport Princess says, it was slick, slick, slick & hot, hot, hot. I needed it this way after Monday's blowin wind that was nothing but trouble. Started off on a really slow slack part of the tide, unfortunately. With not all that much range in the incoming tide, anyhow. So we had to play the waiting game. And while doing so caught a few Jack Cravalles, after having plenty of time to learn the in's & out's of the float rigging game.

Let me just say.....I don't know if it's just me, or what. But so many guides are scared of the bait casting reels with customers. I cringe when I see people float-rig fishing with spinning tackle, myself. I guess it's because I've always been a bait caster. But let me tell ya' Paul and Sheri were quick studies. Paul was casting and Sheri was pitchin', my low profile Shimano Citica's no problem by the time we got into the spot where I wanted to fish. Guess it's because they had the right coach.

The bite started out slow, it took forever for the clean green water to come filtering into the area. But as we sat there, things got right. But not super gang-busters. I think weakness of the tide, had alot to do with it.
As a float-rigger, you learn quick what tides work best, and how to make it work during slow tides. I don't have the pick of the days, I have the days customers, pick. So I'm always "pushing" a tide to squeak the most I can out of it.  But I had confidence they'd pull a few out of the rocks.














Ocean-run Reds, that lost their color. Check this one out, kinda looked like a really big Whiting. Not a monster, but the first one to the boat. So I was happy, and so was Paul. As they worked the spot back and forth there was a few "swing and a miss" fish, a couple "hook jumpers", and as Paul and Sheri ate thier sub sandwiches, I gave it a try and didn't connect at all......"what.....that's impossible. I'm your ringer!"  

So after a break, a few more made it to the boat. Sheri had the most, as many woman do. And right before we were out of live shrimp (because alot were dead by the time I hit the ramp in the morning) She scored the largest too.
















Don't think she needed a 32 incher up against the rocks. This one gave her all she could handle! But it's just what we needed, so they could have a late lunch/early dinner at Singletons Seafood Shack in Mayport. There isn't a fresher fish than the ones you can carry into Singletons and have blackened up, for you. And no dishes to clean. A perfect ending to a beautiful day along the jetty rocks.  

Heading out again, tomarrow and Saturday. So the adventures of the JETTYWOLF boat will continue as always. See ya out there.

5/31 - WIND...that just wouldn't back off.

Had Bill W. and his wife out on Memorial Day. Which there was twice the boats out there then on Sunday, Wonder why? At least on Sunday the S.E. blowing winds backed off a bit around 10am. Today at 10:00am the wind was at maxi-strength, and continued all day long. Not just gusts, but full bore sustained 20 knots.
(and remember if it has "east" in the name, it's "not" good, in any way.)

We departed around 8:00am. And of course, I knew my big plan was definitely OUT. So before departing the dock, I was already on to plan "W". But we headed to the jetties any how. On the way out towards the tip, we ran into a pack of Dolphins taking advantage of a school of Mullet in the middle of the river. We drifted around, watching them pick off the 10" Mullet like they were fun size Snickers bars off the surface of the water. I always tell people, Sharks get so much press of being such "bad boys" of the Ocean. When in my opinion, if I was fish swimming around, I think I'd be more worried about Dolphins, instead. They can eat, and do just about anything they want. But, I guess the big thing is....they don't eat people. So that doesn't make for good TV. 

There was no way in all hell, that we could have fished anywhere near the tips of the jetties. And heading out to go look for some Pogies just didn't seem to make sense when I had a livewell full of sprightly river crickets.
So, I did my best to try and find a fishable spot out along the rocks. But the wakes, ships, other boats and the wind and current, had my anchor slipping constantly. As I tried to back into close to the jetty rocks.

We got a little float-rig fishing accomplished. With only a few bait-stealer bites. So I decided to head on into the river, and down the ICW. It wasn't a better attempt to get away from the wind. Add in the traffic that was out in their boats, and the lack of any bites. It was time to go look back at the big rocks, again. Looked to me, like droves of people heading to Ft. George for the Memorial day party up there.

Back at the jetties....about the only place that I'd have any confidence in when it comes to getting a big fish. So as the tide got really high, we mixed float-rig fishing with some plain ole "bait-n-wait", but the wait didn't take long.

I made a pitch over to the rocks and before I could had Bill the rod I felt bump, bump. I handed Bill the rod and went for the net. And up pops a really nice Flounder.















Not bad, at all. A good eater size. On a live shrimp, on the bottom. With two lines out the back, I made another pitch to the rocks. And again it no sooner hit the bottom and the rod was about snatched out my hand. Bill grabbed the rod, and was into a serious fight.

 















It was a over-sized Redbass, that measured out to 30 inches. After the release, we got a few more bites, and lots of sinkers caught in the rocks and lost rigs. Oh, how I love float-rig fishing! When popping off one rig after another. But between the anchor slipping and us heading for the granite every few minutes, the wind, and the wakes. It made it hard to keep a float drifting down the rocks. But we caught a few, Jack Cravalle, and those ravenous Seabass. Fishing both the float and on the bottom.

Overall, the jetties saved the day once again. It was one tough day, for sure. After bidding farewell to Bill and his wife. The Sherriffs Marine division guys came walking down the dock. They came straight to me of course. Had to check out my boat. I joked with them about their little 18' Boston Whaler's, comparing it to having big plate alloy. They said, "so...could ya catch anything  in this wind today?"  I replied, "not a whole lot, but thanks to the jetties we caught a few and one big one, at least."

Now.....everyone is going back to work! And the river will be calm again this week. I'll be back out on Wednesday and Thursday. I hear Thursday mybe really interesting, as I'll have two Russians aboard out of three, that don't speak any English. What's the odds of that happening twice? Obviously, pretty good. Because, I had three Russians out many moons ago, and one out of three barely spoke, English. I told Viktor, who booked the trip. "I hope you can interpret, really good!" 

5/30 - Whack a Red in a washing machine!

Had Dean B. and his two buddies aboard today. Dean was visiting them from Minnesota. Got to the boat ramp super early figuring I'd have to secure a parking spot at the crack o' dawn, because of the Holiday weekend. I sat in the water and watched friend and after friend head on out for a day of offshore fishing. And while I was talking to one of them on the VHF radio as he and his wife broke outside the jetties, they said, "It's a washing machine out here, I think we'll bag it and try again tomarrow....."

Hmmm, it was nice and calm at the boat ramp, hidden nicely behind the slight bluff from the S.E. wind blowing, obviously. Then, another buddy comes back, then another. Then the chit-chat of the 70' Party boats, talking about how choppy and white cappin it was. Oh well, thank goodness I'm an inshore guide is all I could think. But as my boys came down to the dock, I gave them the news. "It's gonna be a bit sporty fella's. But we'll head on out there and see for ourselves." 

I went straight to where I wanted to fish. It was a culdron of white water, folding over. As I took the boat out of gear and drifted in the slop, waves would hit the side of the boat and fold on in. I constantly hear, "Geez, your boat has high sides..." as if having a safe gunnel heigth is like having herpes or something. As with many inshore boats out there today that are "shin knockers". I say to myself....."I just couldn't fish out of that, let alone do charters." Been there done that....actually. And now know better.


It was bad, but I had a suspicion that as the tide rose it would lay down some. So we went to a spot that's the perfect comfy cozy fishin' hole. Not much goes on here, but it's easy anchoring, easy fishing, easy standing, and would be great if the fish knew how comfortable of a spot it was for "US", so we could catch'em. But it doesn't work that way. Not in my world.  We weren't there long when we had two back to back hook-ups with swings and a miss. Almost caught fish. Okay, maybe I was wrong. Maybe there's a few here. But after an hour.....zip!  Till I was ready to say, "LETS GO". And that's when a float goes down, a hook is set and a drag is peeling line.

We see it, but we also saw one small turtle after another. Some one yells, "it's a a turtle!!"  Only problem with that is the small sea turtles around here, don't peel line off the spool, don't bow over a rod like that and certainly don't put up a gamefish type fight. It's a BIG Redbass! And it came to kick some ass, too.













At 29 something inches it was what we came fishing for. So the game was back on again. Re-bait and get out out there. But that was it. No other bites. So it was time to go check the washing machine one more time.

I won't get into a lot of details, because I just ate dinner, and am feeling kinda sleepy. Plus had a big day out there in the sun, and in the swells. But I can tell ya this......"If every Redbass that was hooked up, made it to the boat, the guys would have easily caught over 25 of them, easy."  But many popped the leader, bent the hook, or just plain got off the small "live shrimp hooks", I use. But then again, light tackle gets BIT!

The guys dropped two Redbass into the fish box, out of alot caught and alot lost, up to 32-1/2". But that's the nature of fishing the BIG ROCKS. And they even caught a small Speckled Trout, a handful of Jack Crevalle and Ladyfish in between the Reds.

We fished till all but two shrimp out of 10 dozen were gone. Now that's a fine day. Like that yellow mustard in the Chinese resturants, that ya dip your egg roll in. It's not hot, it's exciting. That's what the jetties were today aboard the JETTYWOLF boat. "It wasn't rough out there....it was exciting!"

5/29 - Looks like it's time to get serious!

And good for them!

http://www.cantfish.net/ 

Recreational fisherman deserve a voice.

I have not be able to get there. But it's where I'd like to be someday. But that day dream may be over.

5/24 - where Trout are not.....

Yep, I can certainly tell ya where the Trout are not!  Had one of my favorite customers Don B. aboard today with his neighbor, Billy.

Ahhhhhhhh, just two guys and a Monday with no one around. It's been too long. Plan was since the N.E. wind was supposed to blow and it did, to go way up river and fish our way back to Mayport. First stop, almost 12 miles from the dock, one way. And hit all the spring time / summer Speck spots. Hit & run, I guess you could say. 10-15 drifts of the float, max. And unless we hit the mother-load. Keep moving.

First spot, last of the incoming tide. Calm, water was like glass. Not one bite. Time to move on. Second spot, first of the falling tide. Billy drifts his float back and it disappears on his first drift.....drag pulls, rod tip bucks good. Fish runs back and forth. Alright.....it's a big Trout.
















A 24", 4 pound fat bellied sow Speck.
I'm stoked and now it's Don's turn. But no bites. I make a drift and my float goes down and it's a head thumper. I'm thinking TROUT. But it's a 2 pound Jack Cravalle, instead. And we proceed to not get another single bite. HOW DISAPPOINTING.
Water salinity a nice 20 parts per thousand, but muddy as all hell and nasty looking.

THIS IS WHAT I HAD IN MIND FOR US:  http://jacksonvillefishingreports.blogspot.com/2008/05/527-settled-waters-boat-traffic-over.html

But let's stop here for a minute. One Jack?? Not a single Ladyfish?? Not a single bait stealer bite?? So I take a tight line rig, a extra long leader, small hook, light sinker and pin on a big live shrimp. I pitch it out and bump it along the bottom in the current, keeping my line tight. Usually a recipe for a multitude of bait-stealers to snatch the bait as it bumps along the bottom in the current. I did this for two or three live shrimp and not a taker.

I believe, they refer to this as a, "HERE'S YER SIGN".

So off we head to the next spot. No bites. Next close spot. Every things really perfect. The winds starting to blow, but it's not that bad. Don and Billy are making perfect drifts. I grab a rod and make a pitch doing the opposite of what they're doing and I get a "sand bagger" bite on my float. Then, I go again. Another "sand bagger". Third times a charm, I come up with a 15-1/4" Speck. Don and Billy work the area hard for no bites. Time to move.

After a little USCG harassment, we get on the next spot, the winds blowing us good here. So we make a adjustment. A few bait stealers bites. But still not even a Ladyfish or even a Jack! Let alone a Speckled Sea Trout. I try the bottom rig one more time. No good bites.

Now the inlet is full of Ladies. Saw schools of them at slack tide yesterday inside the north Jetty. And saw one get blasted by a Cuda. That was cool. And each spot we've fished today so far would have been covered up with 6" Mangrove Snappers. But this winter's cold water put the kibosh on those bait stealing rats. And I'm having the feeling it also put the kibosh on the Trout too. I haven't heard a single thing about an all out Trout slaughter yet this year. I'm talking a 50-75 Trout day, in the river from someone I would believe, and history.

FRUSTRATION?   Indeed.

We tried a few more spots. Same deal everywhere we went. So that's my take on the Trout fishing. And that's my findings so far. As much as I loved cleaning the two we had today and slicing that big long fat fillet off Billy's fish. It brought back memories. Because it's been so long (December) since I got into the Specks and put on a super clinic. Yeah December....1/4 mile from the boat ramp. Fifty fish plus days, two anglers!
DOA Rob and myself, or Dr. Dick M. and myself.

People may not realize what that winter did at first. But I believe we're paying for it now. But, I have to remain optimistic. Because I still haven't done any midnight Trout trips after the heat of the day, yet.

Guess I should save fuel and stick to the BIG ROCKS, huh?









TUESDAY: 
NORTHEAST WINDS 15 TO 20 KNOTS. SEAS 4 TO 6 FEET. INLAND WATERS A MODERATE CHOP. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE MORNING...THEN ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AFTERNOON.

I read that forecast to my 4 passenger Tuesday charter. And after today's winds? We cancelled.

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

Got this from Don this morning;


"I logged on and read your report about our fishing trip, you, Billie and I.
Once again I would like to thank you for a good day and you should get a triple A for trying.
I never seen a guy try so hard to get us on some fish.
I know that you made Billie's day with him catching that 24", 4lb trout and I am thankful for that, maybe next time it will be my turn.

I read your report and said to myself. "Self", If Dave decides to give up the charter fishing business he could always become a writer.

It's amazing how you could write so much about nothing happening.
Very descriptive but true.

Take care of yourself and stay well. I wish you smooth sailing."

-Don B.



-What Don doesn't know is, a lot "happened" in my mind. Doing best to track those big Trout!
May 25, 2010 11:21 AM

5/23 - Best shot.

Gave it my best shot with a late notice trip on Sunday, with 4 passengers. Figured I mimic what I've been doing. So that meant a late departure, around noon. The boat ramp traffic goes in "waves". I never really realized that. First wave at crack o' dawn, then another around noon. Go figure. There was no parking spots, and there may have been if it wasn't for the single cars parked in the trailer parking spots. So I arrived early, and figured I'd hang out and wait for a early leaver to pull out and grab that parking spot. With boat in the water for over and hour, truck in a transitional spot (not a super legal spot) I waited. A fellow fishing guide came in and I went to grab his spot as he pulled out. And some guy decides he's going to stand in the parking spot as his buddy puts in the ole pontoon boat. I pull in toward the spot, and he just stands there......

I said, "you can't stand there guarding a parking spot!" He gets all mad looking and yells "we're parking that (pointing) truck here." I said, "I don't think so....."  Yep, just another wonderful day at the Mayport boat ramp.  Too much city, too many people, too small a parking lot, not enough water for everyone. That's definitely what weekends have become.

That's why myself and especially my buddy DOA Rob love winter so much...."thins out the crowds."
(Just not winter's like this past one. Normal winter's.)  

My folks finally arrive and we try last of the falling tide bottom fishing on the inside tip of the north. Yesterday, we had a stinger, a nurse shark and a 32" Redbass there. But today, the EAST breeze was blowing.
There's no EAST that's a good thing around here. The swell was present. But do-able. And we hung a dumpster-lid sized stinger.

I had 3 young Marines, and ones dad aboard. Brandon gallantly fought the stinger as it smoked drag off my mini-Accurate twin drag reel, bowing over my light bottom fishing 6'6" Intracoastal Ugly Stik. He tried, but there was no getting this "lid" to the boat after it went down and stuck to the bottom in 40 foot. I gave it a try and couldn't budge it. So I had to break it off.

So we moved on to float-rig fish for the Reds. The water was sloppy, brown, and the EAST wind was a royal pain in the butt. Couldn't stick on the spot, the swell was snatching on the anchor. But after 5 tries, I got us somewhere near where we needed to be. The tide was getting right, but not there yet. But with other boats around, I had to stake out the area. On weekends, it's others that are the problem. Not usually the fish. I have to be extra vigilant and work in some defensive maneuvers. We had to cast far to the spot and let the floats drift. We tried and tried, fishing only two lines. Hooking only Ladyfish. And they were almost enough for my crew. Can't imagine what a 32" Redbass up against the jetty rocks would have done to them.

After what seemed like a few hours trying for the Reds, without success. I saw nothing that made me want to continue on this spot that's been so good to me, since last Tuesday. I usually can't get a 3 day run out of a spot like this. The weather's never good, that long.

We moved into the river. Every place I wanted to try had either a boat on it or a line of humans standing on the bank casting. So we jumped quickly from spot to spot, that seemed somewhat fish-able. It was now high tide and the wind was due EAST and blowing a steady 15 knots.....kinda a K.O.D. situation as the moon rose in the horizon.

The last three spots didn't even produce a Jack or Ladyfish. So we ended the day, and headed back to the dock.

-looking so forward to weekdays again. It's been a hell of a weekend. The tides now all wrong for the Reds at the jetties on the float-rig. So I'm heading up river in search of the illusive Speckled Sea Trout on Monday with just two people.

-Then on Tuesday, I'm back with another 4 passenger group that just booked the trip today! Guess we'll bottom fish? I keep looking for live bait IE: Pogies, Greenies, close so not to waste time looking all day for them. And I'm finding, none.

Of course, now that I could use a well of Pogies. They're not around. 3 weeks ago, they were everywhere and I didn't need them. That's the way it always goes.    

5/22 - Back Howlin at the rocks, again.

Boy, did I have a couple stressful days between my last trip and today. I've been experiencing a squeal every once in awhile in my Honda outboard. But never effected the performance. So like the human body with a pain, motors with a noise is obviously a sign that somethings a miss and needs attention. So, with zero time and not many mechanic skills, I started hunting for the culprit. Until, I ended up thinking I found not only the source, but a possible secondary source. I missed one charter, giving it to a buddy to take. And then making a call to the best Honda man in NE Florida.....because he'll make a house call, and knows his stuff, inside and out. He's the only person in the area who could get me back in the water, fast.

But the saga didn't end there. The diagnosis was made while on the phone. So I quickly ordered the parts. Barely got them on time, and then like any job, it's the unknown that makes a simple job take hours. Even for an absolute expert. But persistence paid off. And Friday evening at 7:30pm I was ready for the water at 7:30am on Saturday....today!  My phone is ringing off the hook, so of course this is when down time happens, right?

But I was ready, even though my doctor wouldn't have liked to see what my blood pressure was the last few days. Because he would have said, "double the dosage of the BP pills!!!!"

So it's another Saturday morning at the Mayport boat ramp. The river is a mess of people. And I have 4 guys, booked by Andrew M. for he and his buddies. My plan was to get some live wigglers, either Pogies, or Greenies at the jetties. Drop to the bottom and hopefully hang on.......during the falling tide.

No Pogies close. No Greenies, at the jetties. We try float-rig fishing a bit and the tides running way too hard.
So I make a call. And get a box of Boston Mackerel delivered to the boat ramp dock, as the guys use the rest room. I head to the Little Jetties......zip! Across from the Little Jetties.....zip! So we head back to the big jetties. I set up and get where I wanted too. And we finally get into something.

First rod bend was a Stingray. Of course, it's summer now. Like a day without sun shine, what's dropping to a bait to the bottom without a garbage can lid on a hot summer day? Next fish, a 32" Redbass. Finally, it's what we were there for. Targeted species.


















The falling tide started to fade, with no other bites. So we moved on. Was it time to break back out the "LT" (light tackle) ?  It was time to get the float-rigs back in the water. I made a move, and explained that we'll just fish two rods first to "just see", and make them right. And we weren't in position 10 minutes when a float goes down. And hooked up was a nice keeper Redbass.

I think it's time to start the party!
Now, we had all 4 guys throwing floats. Thank goodness they could cast. Usually, I never fish four float rigs. Because, it can be a nightmare of tangles. But I just tried to stay outa the way.....And more reds were hooked up, lost, broke off, and landed.

We had a triple hook up at one time. But the third fish popped off. And most were keepers, while only one was too big for the box, I think.





































The guys ended the day hot, sunburnt, and with plenty of reds in the box. They were thinking, "what was up", earlier in the day. But, this is the St. Johns river and no matter what you think you know about fishing, it's all about fishing the tides and being on the right spot, when the fish are there.

So, next up for me is Sunday, again with 4 passengers. And we're not making a marathon out of it! We're leaving at noon. Then on Monday, I'm back to two guys. And that'll be a kick backed trip with a favorite regular customer that I've had aboard many times.

I hope to not have "expensive stress" like a had the last few days again, any time soon. But that's how this biz is. You'd think I'd be used to it all by now. But I'm  not.

5/18 - PERFECTLY......Red

Had Dave and Mike C. and Craig aboard the Jettywolf today.

It was P-E-R-F-E-C-T. Ya don't get days as perfect as this all the time. But, tide wise..."we had to wait it out". Wind wise...."light SW, to zero". Sun wise...."Blazing, and hardly a cloud." Angler wise....."two of these guys have done this before on the Jettywolf, and the third was a very quick study!!"  

Besides my baitwell pump crapping out and almost all the shrimp died on me and having to go back and get 9 dozen more. The day was flawless.

Over 30 Redbass, from 16 to 32 inches. Loads of perfect keepers. One Yellowmouth Trout, and one big BEAUTIFUL Pompano. Not one Ladyfish, Not one Jack Crevalle. ""Multiple 3 red"" hookups at one time, meant controlled mayhem on deck. Yeah, that's what I like!

I'll let the photos tell the rest of the story.

Ugly Stik 7'6" Striper Rods, Shimano Citica bait casting reels, Float-rigs, small hooks, light leaders, plenty of live shrimp, 26' plate alloy jetty fishing machine, low wind, perfect tide, and good anglers. Meant loads of FUN, sun burn and fish slime. Afterwards all that was needed was some blackening seasoning, melted butter, a white hot cast iron skillet, a cold beer, and look out......"it's eating time."   

5/ 16 - Mid-May:

BIG WIND with East in the direction, had put a damper on my last fishing trip. It was one of those days that no matter what I did, and where I went, Mother Nature seemed to be against us. Throw in a bit of seasickness rolling swells and ya have a tough day.  So, on Sunday, I was relieved to have a nice "cruise charter" with 5 folks. A few from England, a few from Melbourne Fla. and one from Jax. Any time I don't have to fish on a busy weekend, during the middle of the day, I'm liking it.
















Plans were to head out the jetties, run up the ocean and into Nassau Sound. Round the sound, go down the ICW to Ft. George, then south in Sisters Creek to the St. Johns, head west, round Blount Island to the Dames Point, and back to Mayport. But the wind was up a bit from the S.E. again, and it was low tide in the morning. So I figured running in Nassau Sound at low water may not be the best idea. So I had to change our route.


Angler's wanted: For a near-coastal, and offshore trolling trips. I'm looking forward to catching some Kings, and even Cuda's. And maybe even a Cobia. It's time to move away from the river on weekends. I'm all rigged up. I believe between my bag of spoons, a box of cigar minnows, a livewell with pogies or greenies. From the South East hole to the near-shore reefs, we'll  be able to have some fun away from the crowds.

It's also getting hot enough, to do some 6pm-midnight fishing on weekends. When everyone else has gone home. It's cooler and the river is ours.

5/9 - Time to think....like a King.

Besides the Cobia showing BIG TIME on the beach and tide rip earlier this week. And some King Mackerel showing up on the beach too. I usually say, "when the first Kingfish is caught off the Jax beach pier, it's GO TIME for beach fishing."

Haven't heard or read any caught off the pier yet. There may have been one caught already (?). But I saw some caught south of the Mayport jetties, with my own two eyes as I plundered into the vast parking lot that made up Saturday's boat festival. I said it before, I'll say it again, "I don't see $3.00 fuel prices slowing anyone down one bit. Except for maybe charter boats."

When Cuda's are stacked up like cord wood on the St. Johns River's tidal rip line. I think it's fair to say, you could go to a close in reef now, and have good A-C-T-I-O-N.

It seems like yesterday, that I was out still feeling cold. Yeah that's right, it was the night Nick and myself went night fishing to see how my lights worked. We had to quit, we were shivvvvvering, so bad.

So what's in the pressure cooker for the Jettywolf?

Near-coastal and reef trolling trips for Kingfish Mackeralous?













Yeah. Certainly not new, just different.
















And those 6pm to midnight Trout - float-rig fishing trips. Can' ya imagine being along the jetty rocks after dark and what might lurk about behind the boat, being drawn by a glowing green light, that's attracting all kinds of bait? Oh I can! All we need is a windless, calm evening.

Like this, right here.


















Just thinking about it has me feeling like, howling from the Jetties.