9/22 - Last Day of Summer

Well...say good bye to summer of 2010. But in Jax you'd never know it. At least my lack of sun screened face knows it. "Do I have wind burn, or is it sun burn?"

Had Scott Z. and his son Zach, on board today. As it turned out I had James & Robin C. booked for today for the a long, long time. Then, yesterday I got a call that James hurt his back and couldn't hardly walk. "Hey, been there done that, at least once a month myself."  So James and Robin had to cancel. And while being the "even-steven" that I am. Scott called me a few hours later and took their spot. Now that's what I like. No messing around. Scott said, "we'll take it." And booked his trip immediately.

Since last Friday, and then again on Sunday, I had Jon & Chris M. on both days. And I've probably not had a more challenging two days in years!  And Sunday was a real wash, in the sustained 20 knot winds. That never quit. 

So, today plans had to change. No fancy fishing what so ever. The plan today was; keep baits in the water and catch fish no matter if they are big or small or in between. And that's just what I did.

First spot along the "lil' Jetties" during the smokin' incoming tide as the East wind helped with the push.  Drop down some boat ramp caught finger Mullet on my heavier rods and see if there's actually any big Redbass around.

N-O-P-E! Not one sniff. 

It's so funny, or actually sad. I've caught more big Reds at the lil jetties this year in the 9990 degree heat of July, than I have in the last few weeks......AND IT'S NOW LATE SEPTEMBER!!!!!!  (supposedly the hot time of year for big Reds...so I've heard??)

Yeah....welcome to bizarro world, Cappy Dave. (One might say)

So, Scott, Zach and myself took off and hit the Carlucci Boat ramp real quick to see if I could cast net a few more perfect sized Mullet.

Nope, no Mullet to be seen.

The writing was on the wall. My plan was now going to hit implamentation stage; Park it, and Fish it.

So we ran up river a ways. Grabbed the medium light rods matched up with the Shimano Cruxis low-pro reels and a bottom rig. Open the dead shrimp bucket and go to town, and just plain catch some damn fish! I was sick and tired of bait-n-wait fishin', targeting obvious species that are not gonna bite.
And these below are what us three set the hooks on all day:

- Croakers








-Spots








-Sand Trout







-Yellowmouth Trout/Weakfish







-Piggy Perch, Pigfish








-Bluefish







-Spadefish











-Jack Crevalle








-Whiting








-SeaBass








The three of us caught while using; dead shrimp, pilchards, mud-minnows, and small mullet, on the bottom. Having fun shootin the bull, telling stories, and as Scott said, "Spending the day with his son, bending a rod." And Scott and Zach were USDA GRADE Fisherman all the way!!!

We did take some time out to try for big Reds again. It took hours and hours for the tide to turn hard enough so the boat wouldn't just lay in the wind. And when something finally did take a big bait on the bottom (Live Croaker) it turned out to not be a big Redbass, but a 82 degree river water favorite.....a 50 pound Stingray.
We kept trying for a little while more. But the Croaks and other snatchers just kept shaking the rod tips. So we all went back to dropping dead shrimp down on the bottom for a few more bites till we packed it up and headed back to the dock with what we had in the cooler.

Didn't take any photos. I'll save that for when the big fish, ""or Trout"", start biting again......someday.

But, we had a cooler full. And enough for a real good fish fry.

Next up: Friday with one angler, and Sunday with two anglers.

Will the EAST winds stop blowing........"Doesn't look like it. The funk still continues...."

 **REST OF TODAY
EAST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. SEAS 3 TO 5 FEET. INLAND WATERS A MODERATE CHOP. ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.

**TONIGHT AND FRIDAY
EAST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. SEAS 3 TO 5 FEET. INLAND WATERS A MODERATE CHOP. ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.

**FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY
EAST TO SOUTHEAST WINDS 10 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 4 FEET. INLAND WATERS A LIGHT CHOP. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS.

So we'll just do what we did today. And that's NO running around. And keeping lines in the water for as long as possible.
It's called, K-I-S-S fishin'.

9/20 - Whewwwww.....

The last few trips.....wow, what a tough few days. Don't know if it was the hurricane passing way offshore or what. But, no matter what we did. It had it's challenges.

One thing I can tell you as a possible customer. Follow my lead. You see me working hard. You have to do the same thing. If the fish are chewing the bottom of the boat, yeah you can lay back if ya want. But when they aren't. And you want the best possible chance. Then ya better step up to the plate 100% of every minute we're out there.

This isn't my first year doing this. Or as Dr. Phil says, "this ain't my first rodeo."  I'm a great observer of the human condition. And when things aren't going as people would like many times. I see folks get less motivated. I can understand that. I don't expect people to be as die hard as I am. But......

Catching fish isn't a "right". It's a privilage. A challenge. And a skill. I provide the best boat, tackle, bait, I can, and know how, for YOUR abilities.

My theory has always been, never quit. And I'll die trying......or until I get really, really hungry. Because I don't eat, I hardly drink, I forget to use sun screen, I get fried, and my arms ache from heaving the anchor for the 15th time. All in pursuit of fish, big or small. 

Water temps are still 83 degrees in the river. This is again, a time of year I start tracking every drop in degrees. I mark it in my log books and even though not one year seems to ever be the same. I look back in old log books to see the differences.

Shorter days, cooling water temps, seasonal migrations and tide changes, Trout tracking, `and fluctuating fuel prices, are just a few of the items I keep a very close eye on.

For example. Last year on Oct. 30th and it was 90 degrees. And I predicted a warm winter. Oh, I couldn't have been any further from the truth!!!!

So meterology, is like fishing!   

9/16 - I'm on the fence........

CCA FLORIDA

GRASSROOTS ALERT!

Public Hearings on FWC Redfish Management Proposals

Volunteers Needed to Attend Hearings and Support CCA

CCA FLORIDA DOES NOT SUPPORT ANY OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES FOR FLORIDA’S REDFISH MANAGEMENT PROGRAM WHICH HAS BEEN A HUGE SUCCESS UNDER THE CURRENT SET OF REGULATIONS.

IT DOES NOT NEED ANY CHANGES!



CCA Florida recommends that the Commission continue current regulations of one fish bag limit, 18 – 27 inch slot, open year round season, no commercial take to continue one of Florida’s most successful and valuable management plans. CCA Florida does not support the FWC staff recommendation to create north and south management zones and to increase north zones to 2 fish bag limit.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is proposing a bag limit change for North Florida redfish to two fish per person and create four management areas which would be the same as those used for Spotted Sea Trout.

-Dividing the state into 4 regions in order to increase the bag limit to two fish in the North regions places the redfish management plan at risk.

-Dividing redfish into two regions on the west coast and two regions on the east coast is not based on any biological information. Genetic and tagging information shows that redfish move and mix along both coasts. The west coast is one stock of fish and the east coast is one stock of fish. SW Florida may be dependent on movement of fish from the Big Bend and Panhandle areas to maintain population levels.

-Increasing the bag limit on redfish will have a significant impact on take. Those anglers who catch and keep one legal redfish normally catch more legal size fish on the same trip. Therefore an increase to 2 fish will double the take of redfish. The FWC must investigate the impact of increasing effort and such doubling of increase in take on the management plan escapement goals before proposing any changes.

-Creating and dividing redfish into regions causes the Northern regions to have higher escapement rates; however, in the southern areas escapement rates decline. The NE region has a 74 percent escapement rate? It is simply not a believable number and is probably a result of sample size and data deficiencies caused by the regional division.

-In all regions, except NE, the redfish escapement rates are continuing to decline and fishing effort on redfish continues to increase in all areas of the state.


The Commission is interested in providing more opportunities and more fish for recreational anglers. We encourage and support the Commission in that regard; however; we urge them to look at spotted sea trout instead of redfish. Spotted sea trout are currently closed in February in the NW region and November and December in all other regions. A new stock assessment will be completed in December 2010. The anticipated increases in abundance could allow for the elimination of some or all of the closed months. Opening those closed months provides increased opportunities for anglers and allows more sea trout to be taken.

Public Hearing Locations

All hearings are from 6pm – 8pm

Monday, Sept. 20 - Brevard Agricultural Center
3695 Lake Drive Southeast Branch  Cocoa 10599



Tuesday, Nov. 23 - Jacksonville Public Library
Deerwood Park Blvd  Jacksonville




Date – TBA Date - TBA
FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute City Hall Council Chambers
100 Eighth Ave. SE 123 NW Highway 19
Karen A. Steidinger Auditorium Crystal River
St. Petersburg



If you are unable to attend please send your email comments which can be very simple to: marine@myfwc.com


Florida’s redfish program does not need any changes. CCA Florida does not support any increases in bag limits.


For more information contact – Ted Forsgren CCA Florida at (850)224-3474 or email tforsgren@ccaflorida.org

9/14 - Goings on:

The Hook the Future Foundation will be hosting the inaugural Full of Bull Redfish Tournament on October 2 at Morningstar Marina at Mayport. Attached is a press release and a registration flyer.


Please help us get the word out and make this next event in the Hook the Future Tournament Series a huge success.

(Catch-Measure-Photograph-Release, Tournament format using provided Circle Hooks.  $50 per Angler. 1st-3rd big prizes)

Feel free to forward this e-mail in its entirety to anyone else you know who may be interested.

Flyers will also be available at most local bait & tackle shops and marine supply stores beginning this weekend.

Thanks,

Frank Joura

http://www.takeakidfishing.org/


Same date Oct 2nd:  I'm booked for the Underground Utilities Contractors Assoc. "fun" Tournament. Which I've had charters for several times. It's a fun tournament with a almost anything goes species line up. And a good BBQ afterwards held at Sisiters Creek Boat Ramp. 



Off I-95 in Daytona:
THE SPORTSMAN'S EXPO: OCT 23RD & 24TH, CLICK LINK FOR INFO:   http://thesportsmansexpo.com/

8/13 - Been awhile....

For years I've been doing these reports. And since the last one it's been a day shy of two weeks since the last report. Doesn't seem to matter much. Some prespective customers or inquiries, think I fish in freshwater....."It's probably because they don't click on these fishing reports."  Go figure?

The reason for no reports lately has been because of Honda Marine. My Honda outboard, an obviously lemon, has let me down again for the third time in just 3 years and ten months of ownership.  I thought Honda was better than that. And for a grand total of over $1200 dollars worth of repairs and parts, in just the last three months!!  So since the 2nd of the month, I've been out of commission. I'll spare you all the gory details. But as of 6pm on the 10th. I was back in business.  And had this past Saturday and Sunday booked. But lost $1,200 due to being down, through the past Labor Day weekend.

So I had a few trips this weekend. The fishing was a bit challenging with the wacky tides of the last two days of the new moon. But we worked our way around the river hunting up some action.

Reds, Jacks, Ladyfish, baby Groupers, Croaker, yellowmouths were the catches in the  still 83 degree water.

OOPS.....rockin boat?

It was plenty HOT on Saturday. Then on Sunday it was quite pleasant because we had a breeze. But it doesn't matter, I'm so looking forward to Winter. 

8/30 - No Sweat Day #2

Today, was the second day of "no sweatin" fishing, for me. Are we looking at a cool down? It sure felt nice, compared to those long hot days in July.

Had Don and Dave aboard the Jettywolf. Yeah, it was breezy straight out of the East. The sky was a deep red color as the sun came up, so I stayed away from the Jetties. And even though I initially had plans to head up to Nassua Souind. I decided not to gamble on it. The sound is just so wide open. And the last place I'd want to be on an East wind at 15 knots. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt, before.

I had allot of live shrimp, but still needed some baitfish for my second livewell. So before we got too serious, I stopped by a dock to get some live finger mullet. I tied off and Don and Dave yelled, "Is this what ya want??"

As I stood loading the castnet up, on the bow. Down the side of the boat swam a giant school of perfect sized Mullet! But of course I didn't have the net ready yet. "Damn! See, that's how it works. Ya always see them when you're not ready yet", I told Don and Dave.

But we got really lucky. Just as I had the net out of it's bag and ready, Don and Dave said, "Here they come again!"  Another big school swam right down the side of the boat. I threw the net and we had all we needed.

I figured we'd try a creek spot with our perfect finger Mullet. Nothing! So we moved down the creek. The next spot I had the guys Float-rig fish. And as usual, while I was showing them what to do a huge fish came up to the surface in the shallow water and busted on the float. Paying no attention to the live shrimp attached.
Looked like a big Red. So, I was hopeful. As Don and Dave sent live shrimp down a shell bank. I pitched live mullet. They each caught a "pupper" Redbass, and I caught 3 "pupper" Reds on the mullet. Okay, this isn't nothing but the nursery. So we left.

The tide was flooding in good by now. And after Float-rigging a few more spots with no dcecent bites. I made a change.

It was time to slow this all down, and soak some Shrimp and Mullet. I could see, that today with the East wind and rising tide that this was gonna turn into a "marathon charter" day. If it was a bone chilling cold winter day , I'd be refering to this as a K.O.D. kinda day. (Kiss of death)  But, as we fished the wind seemed to back off and it was really nice. It may have been just the location we were at. A bend in the river that seems to be a spot where the wind was blocked.

As the flood tide started to slow we picked off some decent fish, although the bites were slow. It was what we came for. Don got the first Redbass a perfect 27 incher. That was heading into the fish box after a photo.
















Then Dave hitched into a Redbass that I thought might have been a monster Flounder. Because it swam to the boat, didn't do a whole bunch of drag screaming long runs, and then hung along side ther boat. Just out of sight. Or at least I was wishing it was a monster Flounder.....but it was a larger Redbass than Don's at 29 inches.

We switched back and forth between live shrimp and the finger Mullet. Maybe the shrimp would catch a nice Black Drum. But instead the guys got bit by Seabass, and Bankbass, whatever else that was small. Then, Don got a good bite. I was on the phone with a buddy who lives out in Texas. He reeled it up to the boat and that's when I saw it was a BIG Trout! Ohhhhhh, I didn't want Don to loose this fish. I know how easy a big Trout can come off the hook with the slightest slack line. I held my phone and netted the Trout. Bid farewell to my Texas buddy. And admired Don's bottom caught Trout.

















It wasn't a bust'em up kind of day, by now means. But Don wanted to have his photo here on my blog, he said. So we accomplished that as you can see. So we ended up with 7 Redbass to 29", a small little Jack, a few Ladyfish, some bottom baitstealers and a 21 inch Speckled Trout. I'm sure it could have been alot worse, if we went all the way to Nassua Sound and sat rough swells coming in from the ocean and caught nothing but dinky fish.

I have a 4 passenger Friday charter of guys that I've had out numerous times years ago. I hope to hit the sound then, and have constant action with them. The last time they fished Nassua Sound with me it was late March and we had numerous Sheepshead, Whiting and Black Drum to 40 pounds in 6 feet of water during the spawning season up there.

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

Interesting Mullet fishing articles:

http://www.floridasportsman.com/gear/G_0207_Weedless/

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiWkGCmMytxxOS-yVadRXfUJ53be0idAfs3AvkvtGIMzR3Fg0B3myJdzlI4yeSCwuo-0flh0gO6V-QwS_ITZqnUYfUQpR6VbAypJUxOzHjTuJn_OJlO4wYs9oH5jwO0PL0e8equFBNbhk/s1600/TheMullet.png

8/28 - alittle ME time.

Figured I'd join the "weekend" crowd, so I actually went out on a Saturday, by my lonesome.

I missed my chance on Friday because I got caught up in trailer and truck maintenance. And afterwards it was to late to go.

The weather wasn't all that bad. It sure was dark and gloomy. And cooler....!!! I never broke a sweat, it almost felt like FALL.  (C'C'mon winter.....)

I took 4 dozen live shrimp. And had a plan to fish just one area of the river, with shrimp, and maybe a jig with a soft plastic on it. The tide was rising. I really liked that. So I made my way up river and fished one 1/2 mile stretch. The jig just wasn't working. So as usual I went to my ole stand-by, the Float-rig. I didn't care what I caught. But as I moved down the bank, each small spot I anchored on had been Flounder country in the past. Usually in the spring though.

I was on my second anchor drop, and I pitched out a live shrimp over an area covered in nasty oysters. Set only inches deep on my rig, with a 24" leader. I was keeping my shrimp shallow to avoid any bait-stealer bites. That's when I saw a big swirl and then a splash, and my float went down. I thought it was a Redbass by the commotion it made. But as the spot dictated, it was a aggressive Flounder, that came up to the top to attack my live shrimp.






















Not a stud.....but worthy of my dinner plate. So I kept trying to catch another. Had a few more bites, but they certainly were not Flounder. So I moved on, trying a 100% spring time Flounder spot. Which on an incoming tide in May, I will not drive past. But it was dead, after a thorough going over.

The weather report certainly didn't keep the Saturday crowds down. No matter where I was, I had boats driving around me. Lurkers staring, and everywhere worth an anchor drop, had a boat on it.

That's a weekend for ya'.

I headed back east, and into the ICW. I decided to fish a spot that's really shallow, near the mouth of a creek. It has some interesting topography just outside the mouth. A very long sand/mud bar. That's 4 feet under at most high tides, and out of the water at low. It was max high tide, when I arrived. There was hardly any current. On my second cast, of the float rig set very shallow, once again. The live shrimp got sucked up off the surface in the shallow water by a 18" Trout.




 
 
I also had rigged up, a snap on float attached to a leader and a hook. A stealth rig. I always keep plenty of these weighted snap-on foam floats on the boat. They work great for everything from casting a shrimp to a Tripletail on the rip line, to pitching a shrimp up on a shallow oyster bed. So I used this float to cast a live shrimp up to the same spot, and the Trout busted the shrimp soon as it hit the surface.

 
I pulled only two keepers out of the spot, while catching about 15. Most were small male Trout. Then, the Ladyfish showed up. But I was happy. I was catching, and for me everything is more fun on a float. Watching the shrimp being popped right off the top of the water, was exciting.

I didn't press my luck to far. I could see some rain falling just south of me. My livewell was almost empty, so I headed back to clean my fish for dinner.

Weather?? I didn't feel the heavy East winds were that fore-casted. I even ran towards the jetties for a look see on the way back to the boat ramp.

I'm heading out with two guys on Monday or Tuesday, and wanted to try Nassau Sound. Hope there isn't any big wind. Because that's one place that it's not good  for anyone, if the wind's blowing 15 kts out of the east.

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

Had these photo's in my camera of a excessively HOT, slick as glass day last week, with Brandon and Lauren from Houston, Texas. Where we struggled all day to give away a live shrimp on the float-rigs. But ended up catching a few small Reds, a Trout and a Flounder with a few Pilchards on a bottom rig.  Which I caught, from castnetting at the dock.

8/26 - Change a comin', by way of wind

SATURDAY-NORTHEAST WINDS 15 TO 20 KNOTS. SEAS 3 TO 5 FEET.
INLAND WATERS A MODERATE CHOP. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS.

SATURDAY NIGHT-NORTHEAST WINDS 20 KNOTS. SEAS 5 TO 7 FEET.
INLAND WATERS CHOPPY. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS.

SUNDAY-NORTHEAST WINDS 20 KNOTS. SEAS 5 TO 7 FEET. INLAND WATERS CHOPPY. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS.

SUNDAY NIGHT-NORTHEAST WINDS 15 TO 20 KNOTS. SEAS 5 TO 7 FEET. INLAND WATERS CHOPPY. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS.

MONDAY-NORTHEAST WINDS 15 TO 20 KNOTS. SEAS 5 TO 7 FEET. INLAND WATERS A MODERATE CHOP. ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.

Alrighty......we're getting into that time of year that'll hopefully flush the summer doldrums away.

Now, is the the time of year to plan. You read the word "plan" allot here, I know.

What we really need is a bunch of endless rain, so to flush the river out in conjunction with a massive tide.
I'd love to see "tea water" at the boat ramp in Mayport that's for sure. Remember T.S. Faye??? Yeah, like that.














This was caught two days after T.S. Faye in Sept of 2008, on top of the S. Jetty on a 12" live Croaker while DOA Rob and I were fishing. You've seen it before, and you'll see it again I'm sure. Because it was my heaviest Redbass ever. (53#'s) The massive freshwater flush kicked things off nicely.

















Last year there was T.S. then Hurricane Bill. Effecting N.E. Florida around the 21st and 22nd of August. Afterwards, I had my good buddy Kirk M. the "kirk-n-ator" aboard the Jettywolf for two days, on the 23rd, and then on the 26th. Our second day turned out to be "legendary" when it comes to St. Johns River Speckled Trout fishing.















Kirk and I scored no less than 100.....yes, one hundred Specks that day, along with Reds, Flounder, Jacks, Ladies, Sheepshead, and yellowmouth Trout.  Because of the rains and winds, the Trout were bottle necked up in one area. We ended up doing two trips, one in the morning, running out of live shrimp, and then another after noon, again running out of shrimp. LIKE SANDS THROUGH THE HOURS GLASS, THESE ARE THE DAYS THE JETTYWOLF LIVES FOR!


















I guess the point I'm making is, RAIN - WIND - STORMS, aren't such a bad thing this time of year. I once had a member of the Hurricane Hunter aircraft crew aboard my boat. And he told me, "think of them this way Dave. Florida needs them, they rejuvenate the land and the water. The bad thing is, no one wants one in their back yard, of course."

Yeah, kinda like Navy bases and Aircraft carriers, is what came to my mind.

So let's keep a eye on the storms this year. And don't forget, they can only make the fishing (Trout fishing) better. I'm up for that!

8/24 - Nice photo

Here's a nice running photo of myself and the Roush crew taken by my buddy Val B. He's a photographer and took several shots of us running in from the jetties this morning, while passing the Mayport Boat Ramp. He's usually down there taking photos of our bird buddies.

I guess I'll chase the Nassau Sound reports. And plain just give up on the river for now. I hear there's at least Jacks and Ladies up there. While even Jacks in the river are a hard find.

Redbass and Trout are a far cry from having to Whiting fish at Nassau. Not part of my usual repertoire. But, toss in a few Pompano, Bonnetheads, Bluefish and the like and I guess we could make a good day up there......But it's, 18 miles one way from the dock!! 

Today it was a bit sloppy at the Jetties, but we tried it anyhow. Using live Pinfish and Pilchards for bait on the bottom and free-lined behind the boat in hopes of one of the many many small "crowd pleaser sized" Tarpon rolling atop the end of the jetties to come by and eat my offering.


Gotta love the Alloy....Silver is where it's at for me. And always will be.

-Another ALLOY educational post, from the big metal boat guy

This is boat is an AMF built boat from New Zealand. As I feel with many of the boats built by AMF, I'm in AWE!!!!!  So consider this yet another educational post here on JacksonvilleFishingReports.blogspot. Because American's just don't get it. If they did, you'd see alloy boat builders here in Florida.

For some reason there's allot of builders in Louisiana, because of the need for heavy duty work boats. That's the reason. But in La. those some ideals have transfered into the fishing world too. With such builders as Gaudet's, Scully's, Hankos, and many, many more.

Check out the LINES on this boat. If shiney alloy doesn't make your heart beat a little faster, then you just don't get it. But for someone like me. My heart skips a beat when I see lines in alloy like this. Because behind it is a life time boat, that's tough, tough, tough. And unique along with total customer customization availible. Without having to make boat parts boat twice, as in making molds. Then, building the actual boat, out of fiberglass.   

New Zealand is a place that is on my bucket list. I don't see it happening. But before I go, scattered accross the sea. I'd love to spend a lot of time, there. Not just a week on a vacation.

Here ya go:

8/17 - Ready, Set, Go. Get your BIG Redbass....and we got 'em.

Big Reds. Coming sooner than you think. And marking the beginning of the fall season. HURRRAY!!!!!



















Stereo typically, most folks think October is the month. But depending on when the BIG BITE starts. October could be the middle of the bite. "Bite as refered to as:  the Spawn."















Large Redfish ...(aka: Redbass for the Jacksonville cracka'.) Are not just a seasonal fish in the St. Johns River. We have them around most of the year.

But the Late Summer and into Fall spawning season is when there's plenty of them and they are really large.
















Although, the two largest ever on my boat were caught in the spring. One by me, the other by a client. At 53 and 50 pounds.

Because there's a good spring bite also, (April - May) which I believe is the large reds re-entering the river from being offshore during the coldest winter months, like Feb. and March.

The most monster Reds, I've ever had clients catch was 48 in a 4 hour span. It was a just two guys, a father and son team. And the fish were all in the 20'ish pound range. Just inside the inlet's jetty rocks, along a hard bottom ledge of the channel......using dead pogies! It was a real rally of bent rods.

Circle hooks, stout leaders, heavy lead sinkers, and rods that can handle the lead and current is what's needed for this kind of fishing.

A good by-catch of big Redbass fishing is a Black Drum. Especially in the spring months. But depending on the type of year the river is having. There is also Redbass eaters out there too, especially at the inlet.

The fishing is basically "bait-n-wait" fishing on anchor. But the coolest thing about fall big Reds is that most of the time, my crew can catch the largest fish they've ever seen. Redbass in the 40 pound range are true trophies, get one like that and you're really doing something. I'm looking for that 60+ pound fish each year. Just as a personal goal. I'd like to have someone catch one that big, and it can be done.

Not all big spawners have to be caught in the deep swift currents of trhe St. Johns River. There is times, and areas where light tackle can be used to catch true monsters. One of those 50 pounders I've had on the boat came from 15 feet of water over a rocky point.

Jigging can be very effective. Because you can mark these fish on your sounder below the boat.














A light lead head jig, 3/8ths oz to 1-1/2 oz. can be jigged off the bottom while drifting over them. With bait or a large twister tail. This has to be my favorite way of catching a 30+ pound Red. It's all about the tide and the spot, though. Inter-active, and lighter tackle is what makes this more fun. Marking them, then jig them almost vertically.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The use of a some what stout rod works for the jigging. And a high tide, just starting to slack can be thew ticket. You can do it, just off the jetty rocks. And in the river. The idea is to keep the jig about as vertical as you can. Bouncing it off the bottom. Make noise. It matters. Sometimes, when I'm sitting in current using even a  bank sinker I'll lift the lead off the bottom and drop it. Making a thud on the hard bottom I'm fishing. You'll be surprised how many times the bite comes right after a few "thuds". 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Come fall, also comes really "free" bait. Lots of Mullet and lil' Croakers. Blue crabs works great, but can be the ultimate pain. Expensive to buy, and if you "pop their lid" they wash out fast and the little fish feast on the meat, and hollow a piece of crab out in a NY minute!  I found out that if you are truely looking for that "can eat a football" sized Redbass. All you have to do with a Blue crab is pop off a few legs, and poke a few holes in the top of it, pin on a circle hook and drop it down. I've caught plenty of these bull Redbass on a whole crab. Just give the fish plenty of time to eat the bait.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
There's an ole saying, I tell about every single customer when we're doing this.
 
"There's no better fisherman, than a rod holder and a circle hook."   LEAVE it alone, and just let the rod bow over. Then pick it up and start getting throbbed by Mr. Brutus.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
One year a customer told me, "Dave, there's a $100 bill in it for ya if I catch a over 35 pounder, while we're here." I didn't want to say anything, because ya' just never know what might happen. But as it turned out, the first Redbass he hooked was 38 pounds. And that only took us about an hour of standing in the pouring rain while fishing to get that fish, and for me to make an extra $100 bucks.





 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
There's NO long boat rides, when the spawners start to do their thang. I've went a mile, and that was a long way even, to catch us some big'un's. It's "sportfishing", we can't keep these fish. So if you are a meat fisherman, this isn't the trip for you.   

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOW...is the time to start planning your BIG RED fishing trip.

These fish will really start to kick-off around September.
Reservations are easy;  Call me to check on your day. Then, visit my web site's reservation page, follow the directions and book your charter via Google check out. It can't get easier.




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
These are "keeper sized" Rebass......see the difference? This is NOT what I'm talking about. We can try for these after you've earned your BIG "RB" badge.

ROD SALE: Almost a give-away program!

GOT TOO MANY..... SAVE $$$ starting at $25.00 each

In "lots":  ALL RODS "CASTING" VERSIONS...(I don't do spinners)

LIKE NEW, Lightly used by profesional. I can't call them BRAND New, because some have seen water. But there's nothing wrong with any of them.

(4) - Shakespeare "TIGER LITE"  UGLY STIKS, 6'9" trigger grip CASTING rods. Tan colored TIGER blank, with EVA & CORK handle. Fugi reel seat, fugi guides. Shakespeare 7 year warrenty. Med. Heavy, Can handle 1-6 oz. GREAT Jetty/casting rod. Can easily handle BIG Reds, Drum. ALL FOUR - 125.00 .....................Take 2 FOR $50.......that's un-real!!!!

Retail: 60.00 These are not some beat up POS rod. Near perfect is what I'd call them. S-A-V-E $$$$$$

(casting version)

(5) - Shakespeare Ugly Stik Intra-Coastals "boat-rod" straight handle 6'6" Gimble butt, EVA foam handles. Fugi Reelseat and guides. Medium Heavy action Black Blank blue/gold guide thread. One heck of a strong rod. Bottom fishing economically! 1-6 oz rod.....giant Reds, Shark, Drum, watch these with strong reel and your ready for anything......all 5 FOR 125.00.............$50 FOR 2

Retail: $40 each

Need outfitting??? E-mail me!

NOOOOO REELS........these are RODS ONLY.

(2) - super like NEW, used once. 7' Shakespeare Ugly Stiks newest addition the ""INSHORE SELECT"",  $80 for both. Medium action 10-15# line, 1/8 to 5/8 casting rods, trigger grip, exposed blank. Jig fishing, lure casting. I'd put these rods up against any high dollar rod that will snap in half on a big fish, I know believe me ! Super sweet action, and EVA "split grips" the newest rage in sensitive rods. Carrot stick, G. loomis, St. Croix????? Ya gotta be kidding me, these inshore selects will out do you any day. Beautiful black blank, red, gold threading. RETAIL: $50 each.......get these and save................ $80 FOR BOTH. Shakespeare's best of the best.

I don't even know if they've ever seen water or not. Pristine!



No tax, and the best warrenty in the biz.



VISIT: http://www.shakespeare-fishing.com/ - for more info on these items..."do your home work."

Take all listed here: $300 cash, pick-up.

Pick-up in Jacksonville just west of beaches. Cash.

Serious inquiries please, who need tackle and want to save $$.
 
inquire at:  charter@captdaves.com

8/11 & 8/12 - From wicked to wacky

T-I-D-E-S....."are the most important factor in all saltwater fishing." Especially, in N.E. Florida and in the St. Johns River.


THE WICKED:

With that said, I had Sean S. with his young cousins Sara and Jake out on Wednesday. The kids caught some fish, mostly small Croakers, Spots, and Whiting. The incoming tide was RIPPING! The tide height from low to high tide was 6.1 feet, with a nasty S.E. sea breeze kickin' all day long. Pushing even more water into the river.

I worked hard in the river, trying multiple spots while keeping baits in the water as much as possible. We did try for a big Red, had one hooked up. But it got off my 11/0 circle hook somehow.

We went to the jetties and looked over the rocks to where I really wanted to go. But there was no way, I was heading there with the kids. It was a soup sandwich, with plenty of white water.

I knew if I could get where I wanted we'd get some action. Because I also had a charter with some kids on Thursday also. Watching the forecast, it changed about 4 times. South 10-15....SE 10-15.....West 10-15, it's funny how the marine forecast is always radically different than the Walmart on the westside forecast.


THE WACKY:

So on Thursday morning when I departed with Dad, Ed. And sons Conner & Seth. I was sooooo wanting to see what my side of the jetty rocks would look like. The tide was rising at 7am, and the ends of the rocks were a soup sandwich. But fish'able on the Jettywolf, no problem. Actually, it was just as I like it. Nasty enough that most folks won't toss an anchor next to me. Shin-knocker boats, no need to apply! So we headed to the beach and made a look for some Pogies. They were there....somewhere. Pelicans were diving. But the Pog's were scattered. It was okay, I had a livewell full of shrimp, and a bucket of fresh dead from yesterday.

Back to the rocks we went. It was S-W-E-L-L, I thought. But Ed was not feeling the love. But Conner and Seth didn't care. We pitched dead shrimp on the bottom and caught Croakers and Whiting. Like I. G. - Instantaneous Gratification. The boys reeled in fish, after fish. While Ed cleared his stomach of it's contents, and layed on the cooler in the bow of the boat.  After boating some Whiting, that were just fillet'able, we headed into the river and that's where all bites stopped. Ed had some color back in his face as I pulled the anchor and I told him, "'ya know the JETTYWOLF is telling me, she wants to go back to her namesake....The Jetties." 

So I made a bee-line back to the same area we left. It was much calmer as the tide rose and it was time to bust out the ole Float-rig rods, and live shrimp  Ed, never fished, and was there just because he was the Dad. Because me and the boys took up the cock-pit, playing combat fishing. I'd cast their floats out hand them the rods and they'd make the drifts.

Not long after Conner's float went down with a good fish.


















A 22 inch Redbass....the first "keeper" in a week of fishing. So into the box it went and not long afterwards Conner was hooked up again with a serious drag burner. But it got off.
Then he was on again, and the fish broke off his hook. I know there's so much to look at, and amaze at. But I had to tell these guys each time their float went down. "What would ya'll do without me?", I asked.

Things slowed, Ed was some what attentive. But obviously still not feeling the love of my Jetty spot. So we moved 100 feet.

Seth finally connected with a Ladyfish, after Conner caught a Jack.
















It was getting really nice out there by now. And that's when we started to see lots of Tarpon rolling behind us. I told the guys my jetty Tarpon stories. And that's when they started day dreaming. Talking up how they'd love to catch a 140 pounder. So big that we'd chase it and need a fuel tanker to come out and re-fuel the Jettywolf back up. How they'd love to hook on right before we were to head in. And end up being out there till dark fighting it. It was trash talking Michigan style, obviously.

I told them the truth though. I told them, "ya may need a 'Depends' undergarment." And most Tarpon hooked spend most of the first few minutes in the air. And most Tarpon on the float-rig break the light leader, or bend the small kahle hook we're using. But the day dreaming stories still rolled......

Then, Seth had his float go down, and in a nano-second a Tarpon was flying across the back of the boat. It somersaulted, did a double twist, and was OFF, that quick. It all happened so fast that Seth just didn't know what hit him. Cause if ya blinked you missed it.  But the poon's were all over the place.

Things were winding down. And I made another cast for one of the boys. My rod slipped out of my hand and hit the drink! It sat there just under the water for a second so I made a mad grab for it. It was a super stretch for this fat boy. But what I lack in stealth, I have in, tenacity. My arm stretch out like it was made out of rubber. But the problem is, my large girth followed.......and over the side I went!

( I said this part of the story was, Wacky.)

I caught the rod & reel before sinking. And handed it back to the boys in the boat, as I hung over the side yelling......."I GOT IT......I CAUGHT MY ROD!!"

Then, I swung around and climbed my girth back into the boat. Loosing my "Jus Grab It glove", and my new line cutters. But, that didn't matter. My 7'6" Float-rig rod and my Shimano (old style) Citica 200 DSV bait casting reel, were saved.

"Man, that water is salty",  is all I had to say as I toweled off and tried to shake the water out of my shoes and shorts. A perfect ending to a wacky day to say the least.

Ed, was never really with us, he was down for the count even when I was in the water, I think. It didn't matter. I was happy to actually fish where I wanted to be on the smoking incoming tide, finally.  We had fish in the box, Seth hooked his Tarpon, and I saved my tackle after throwing it over the side........somehow???

Back at the dock, I actually cleaned some fish for take home. These hard to fish tides won't be over with till about Monday. So if ya want to fish.......CALL NOW, book ahead, plan ahead. Think Sept & October, cuz that's when I start really howling from the big rocks.









Whewwww, I need a day off, after today.

8/9 - Casualty of the moon.

Had Jerry and Todd aboard today. Two fun guys. We left the dock at 7am, and I had Big Reds in store for us right off.

The tide: Rising, high at 8:30'ish, and around 5 foot over low, with an East breeze blowing in the river. Made for challenging RB fishing. I used some cut Boston Mac's and had to use 10 ounces of lead to hit the bottom at our first spot. The bite was dead slow. But we waited it out, and eventually the current slowed just a bit.

We had two rod bowing, smokin' runs from big Reds. First fish was hooked up, but somehow came off my Mustad 11/0 EZ baiter long shanked circle hook. The second fish, ripped line off the spool like no ones business and turned around something (ledges on the bottom) and popped the leader just above the hook. HOLY CRAP, Batman.....what the hell???? is what I was thinking.

It's not like this is my first rodeo during tides like this on this spot. But I'm still amazed. After that, we sat and sat without another take down. So off to some other kind of fishing, I figured.

We ran a good ways to a great float-rig fishing spot. Actually a rising tide spot that's my holy grail of spots.
The current was blasting. So we gave it a little while with out much than a bait stealer bite or two. My gawd, this tides is gonna kill me, cause it just gets worse this week. And I have two more charters with kids aboard, and could be demanding adults.

Plus, the wind kept building and building. We tried another spot or two and it sucked. Boat whipped one way, the floats went another or not at all. So we just went to catch any fish. So on the way back towards Mayport I stopped at a spot that I've mentioned that I have been "willing" a Black Drum of keeper proportions to enter the fish box. The tide was so high, with the breeze pushing, but we did have some falling water. Not the situation for the spot, but a few bait stealers did make it to the boat.

Back to deep fishing for big Reds. The wind was now blowing 15 knots or better, the tide was smokin', and there we sat fishing a hard bottom spot, hoping to get slammed again. When here came a big black cloud, and some rain. We pulled anchor and moved to see if there was gonna be big wind with it. But the whole deal passed just east of us. Todd had a long ride back to West Palm, so we headed in.

First casualty, of this weeks new moon tides. And add on to it, some wind and passing dark clouds.
I gave it my all. And even tried to get them a Trout or two, at least. But Momma Nature was against me all the way.

Next up:

Weds. 2- kids, 2 adults
Thursday 2 kids, one adult.

Last week hardly any current, this week too much.