12/16 - After the big winds of yesterday....

I just had to go see what was up. A bit of R&D ya may say. Asked friend Dr. Dick if he wanted to go, because he said something about NOT ever catching a Black Drum before. But we also wanted to Trout fish, too. And had alot to do, because Doc had to be back at the boat ramp and heading home by 1:15pm.

Well, our "live shrimp" were in a coma, from the cold temps. And with the SW wind blowin', it took a while to get the mojo going. Anchoring was a real pain. I would rather have used my block anchor and dropped it in the jetty rocks. But a SW is the direct opposite, of the normal NE winds of winter.

It took a bit of patience, but we got into them, no problem. DRUM, and small seabastards...Opps, and one Toadfish is all. No Reds.

And we never did go Trout fishing, and our "some what" live shrimp, never completely came back to life, either.

















It sure feels funny doing allot of bottom fishing in this cold weather, rather than Trout fishing. But what the heck, it's fun and the fish are fat and willing to eat your dead shrimp. It's that EZ.

















I slam dunked actually three but these two were the keepers.

Then, the Doc got his turn. We were really Light Tackling it.  I was using a Shakespeare Ugly Stik Striper med. light rod. With a now 'Vintage" Shimano bass fishing Calyx 100 reel I got that was "new in the box" off Ebay last week. And Dick was using a light weight Shimano Calcutta rod, and small Calcutta reel. We were lucky and were able to fish with 2-3 ounce leads.

Oh yeah, it was quite chilly out there. But a double header of 8-10 pound "rubber-lips" can cure that quick.

Dick's holding mine and his. We hooked up on that "sand-bagger" bite both at the same time.

We soon decided to stick it out right where we were, and not go lookin' for Trout...maybe when we have more time some other day.

Gawd dang. I love winter fish fests. Very much worth braving the chill. But the chill ain't no thang, if you're in good foul weather clothes.

We caught at least 12 before having to head in. And Dick needed fish for family coming, I kept two smaller ones. I like sandwich size fish..."fillets".

Next up: Adam M. on Friday.

12/13 - Your monthly dose of ALLOY.

I've been asked by customers before, "Dave, if you won the lottery you'd probably have one of them big Sport fish boats, huh?" 

My reply usually is, "Ya have to buy a ticket to play the lottery first, fishing is about all the gambling I can take."

I know I'd never even want some big sport fish boat like a Bertram, or a Viking. I look at them and think, "No Versatility and I'm supposed to keep that damn thing shiny?"

But I just got wind of a big boat I would love to own, if the wallet ever afforded it. Like the grandest hotels have, I like a ball room!

I gotta have room, it's my biggest pet peeve when I look at most boat. And room where it counts.

And if I won the lotto, you'd be able to book your "suite" on this for a multiple day trip...but certainly not here in J-ville, though. I'm sure I could find a better place to call my stomping grounds.

THE ANTI-SPORTFISH BOAT....no stark blinding clorox white, sea-foam green, or fighting lady yellow here.

I'd fore go the diamond plate deck, and go for a non-skid painted deck in light colored tan or grey. But any young ladies wanna dance?














Can ya grab me a beer? I need to flip the lobster tails on the grill.

Everyone gets to drop a line and gets a stern spot.














From Sheepshead to grander Marlin, I believe the Senator has it covered.

Then call me a politician.

12/11 - It's not how you start, it's how you finish!

Had Sandra and Shawn aboard  the Jettywolf today. Shawn is in from San Diego, visiting mom before he heads over to Iraq for a year. So the boy deserves some serious fishing time! And that's what I wanted him to have.

We didn't depart till 11am. It was all about the tide, during a Noreaster. High tide around 12-1:00PM made for a tough call. So I figured we'd Trout fish on the last of the rising tide.  I didn't like it, but it was the plan.


We hit a spot and gave the floats and live shrimp a whirl. The current was too fast....I knew it would be. But we'd just have to see what would happen. And not much happened at all. A buddy was anchored near us, and all he caught was one Bluefish. As we caught nothing. Giving it a genuine shot, and enough time for the current to get near anything a trout feeds in would take too long. So after an hour or so, we split. And headed for the big rocks.

As we headed eastward, the frothier the river water got. And by the time we were at the tip of the Jetties Sandra's eye's were getting wide. The big swells were making surfing size waves at the tip of the North Jetty, and Sandra says, "were not going over there are we?" I said, "No, but it's always worth a look out here at the end ."

She was a little timid about anchoring up in the slop-chop. So I backed off and moved to the inside of the jetties and away from the end of the rocks. 

Pitching my concrete block anchor over the side, we stuck into the rocks perfectly. The only problem was the tide was not falling just yet.

I told Sandra and Shawn, that this boat was built with nothing more than these Jetties in mind. And over the last 4 years we've sat in some seriously nasty slop, and we caught them all alone. Because no one else would anchor in what we were anchored in. People can "poo-poo" welded 1/4" plate aluminum all they want, I don't care. But it works for me, anyone who fishes aboard it, soon comes to realize how sweet  it is.

So we sat, waiting on the falling tide. The wind was blowing, the water was all chopped up and the current was about non-existent.

 










Then, as the tide just started to make it's way east, Sandra sticks a nice Sheepie. And I'm thinking were gonna be in the meat now.
















But other than a few small seabastards, the current started moving and we kept going with heavier sinkers. It all just felt wrong. But the current was driving down the chop. Sandra was happy and saw the choppy water, was no biggy. So I drug up my block anchor in one piece and made a 100 foot move. To where I originally wanted to anchor, but didn't.

And that was all she wrote.....

The sloppiness of the water was calming down, and with many times when the tide changes, the wind dropped. We were kicking Black Drum butt, and momma was happy her boy was bending an Ugly Stik, as she was too.

I even caught one and shared a "double-header" with Shawn.

Our "token" Redbass, at 29 inches and full of fight.

The action was HOT! And we kept 4 drum total out of ten. two smaller ones and two at 8-10 pounds, plus the Sheepshead. Which was more than enough. We probably could have filled every cooler on the boat, but that's a waste.

The low sun peered out,from behind the clouds, the river slicked out completely and it was nearing time to head in so I had light to clean fish by.





















Then, Shawn caught the last Drum. And it had the worst case of "bends" I have ever seen. It's intestines blew out a foot! I don't know why Black Drum do this. But I guess it's something to do with them living on the bottom and deep most of their lives. Never seen a creek Drum do this though. But at the Jetties, they get "butt-blow-out" all the time.

I guess, it's a Black Drum thing.

So, we headed in on slick calm waters.

  
As I put the boat on the trailer, I looked west and saw this wonderful deep fall sunset, the perfect ending to a perfect day.

And even thought it was a slow start.....it's all about how you finish.
Remember that Sandra..."cause I got ya covered."

12/8 - It wasn't cold.....It was HOT!

Had Dave C. aboard once again, (the man that let me catch a 10 pound Speckled Trout while he was aboard the Jettywolf back on April 28th of 2008.)  So Dave and I are tight. He brought his buddy Eric, this time.

We didn't leave at 10am because of the air temperature. We left out at 10am, because of the tide. It just so happened to be allot warmer by 10am, that's all. 

So the Jettywolf boat headed due east, with two containers full of mega-jumbo dead shrimp, and 6 dozen live shrimp in case we wanted to float-rig fish for some Speckled Trout later in the day.

I'm so pleased with myself. Because I invented what I believe for my purposes, to be the greatest bottom fishing rig since the invention of the swivel! And man does it work fantastic. Which I proudly showed the guys as we slowly peddled our way the 2.5 miles out to the big rocks.

The tide was still coming in, as we were a bit early for the falling. But like age and death, it will come. And it sure did take it's sweet-ass time, too. The bite was deathly slow at first. Not like it has been lately. And the small 4" Seabass were on the feedbag. Dave hates pecker fish, as do I. But you got to take the good with the bad, as with all fishing. So we sat burning bait like cord wood, pissin and moaning about them litl peckers.

Then Eric, slams the hook to a good one.

As usual, a over slot sized Redbass.
I told the guys they've been coming in either real small like 16 inchers, or over slot sized fish in the 28-30 plus inch size. There really isn't many keepers, from what comes aboard my boat. But that didn't really matter, they weren't keeping but a few fish overall. And I'll keep one fish for my momma, to cook up for her and pops.

Then, Eric does it again.

A perfect Black Drum. Now that'll be a keeper fish. And then, he does it again...


































Another fine keeper Drum. Which puts us at almost all the fish we'll be keeping today. While Dave is wondering...."What the hell am I doing wrong."  As the small pecker Seabass continue to pester him. Even as the tide starts to swing.

But that's okay. Everyone gets a chance. And as Dave said, "It's not how you start, it's how you finish." And he couldn't be more right. (remember that.....and keep reading)

 
WHAT'S THIS? Dave is hooked up with a monster of a fish. Smoking line, pulling drag, dumping the reel spool! Oh My Gawd. I believe you sometimes have to watch out for what you wish for. Dave's on this fish for a long time. Torquing the low profile Shimano Cruxis, and horseshoe bending the trusty Ugly Stik Catfish series rod.


As  you can see from this "point of view" photo. Dave's holding on, watching the dumping spool.

It's not a summer Stingray. It's not a spring time shark.
Could it be a massive spring run size Black Drum. Or the plug on the bottom of the river inside the jetties that'll let all the water out?

Dave's starting to hold the rod one handed, and shake out his left gripping arm, is he wearing the fish out or is the fish wearing him out?

We're all standing by, watching for color in the water.
This is taking awhile. But then again, this is LIGHT TACKLE FISHING AT IT'S FINEST.





















It turns out to be a 30 pound Boga Grip smashing Giant Bull Redbass, that I have to pull out the 100 pound scale from my console for. After a few attempts at getting a good grip on such a monster, the fish weighs in at 45 POUNDS.

Just when ya may think most of the Redbass this size have headed offshore for the winter season...They haven't.  This one is a larger Red then we caught during the so called "season", back in October.

Remember, "sometimes ya have to watch out for what you wish for...."  Which is actually what you were wishing for. It's a conundrum.

This Red fought so hard it pulled the anchor out of the jetty rocks half way through the battle. So we were free drifting out into the channel, which may have actually been a better thing for Dave.

So we ran back to the rocks and re-anchored. And commenced to catchin'.


Eric, sticks it to a fish and it gets off. And then says, "I'll get em again" and then sets the hook on this nice Sheepshead on his next drop. I wonder if he wasn't right. And this Sheepie came back for more?

Either way, that's the third one we're gonna keep and call it,  "all we need."

Oh, I forgot to mention all the 16 inch Reds that were not celebrities enough to get their photo taken. But we had a pile of them in between all these fish. Remember they only come in two sizes...too big or too small.

But that's okay...I'll take Drum any day over a Sheepie myself.

Dave's got his confidence back. And the use of his left rod gripping arm. So he's set for another tangle with a brute or two.


The next fish has some kid of funny thing sticking out of it.

 It had a fish tag in it's back. The fish had something like 21 spots. And this is my second tagged fish we've caught this year. I know who tags these fish, and he always does it to fish with loads of spots. The last tagged fish we caught at the Little Jetties had like 30 spots.

So I'll call the number in and see where it was tagged and when. The last tagged fish we caught was tagged right in the same spot we caught it, nine months earlier. Which proves they don't travel very far. Redbass are home-bodies. They have a turf and usually stick around in the same area.

The same will probably be with this fish. I'll report back when get the data.

But, another whopper sizer for Dave.Who still lacks a Black Drum. But I do have to say. The Drum bite wasn't the same today as it has been as you can read and see in previous reports. But that's okay. We're still having great days out at the inlet.

I had the 6 dozen live shrimp in the well. And was thinking about heading off to go do some float-rig fishing for Trout. But then there's the oldest saying in the book, "Don't go looking for fish, when you're into fish already." And I wanted Dave to catch a black Drum still. So we stayed at it.

So Dave slam dunks another one, is it a drum?

It's a Drum alright. Just not a Black Drum....but rather another Red Drum, aka: Redbass. Afterwards the current got really strong, the anchor kept slipping, so we packed it in and headed for the dock.

Another successful "cool weather", slick calm weekday at the inlet aboard the Jettywolf boat. With a great pair of anglers. Tight lines, bent rods and lots of laughs.

It just doesn't get much better in N.E. Florida, light tackle near-coastal fishing.

Hurry up and book your day.
It's cost no more to fish the best.....     

12/4 - WHAT CAN I SAY.....

What can I say.....the fishing has been pure insane! I recieved an email today asking how the fishing was. And I replied, "just go to my fishing reports page and see the proof, of how crazy great it is."

As usual. I meet the 4 guys at 7am and we headed to the jetties (inlet). Booked by Ken H. he wanted the guys he was taking to have a good day. In the back of my mind. I knew it would be a great day! Being Saturday the boats that hunkered in at the jetties was 10 times what it was yesterday.

But that's a weekend for ya. Having tro deal with people who anchor right next to ya, and give you no wiggle room. Yes it's really inconsiderate, but that inlet on weekends is the home of the inconsiderates. I call weekends, "the Me, Me, Me, days, hell with YOU."

Again, we weren't on anchor 15 minutes and here comes the fish. My economy anchor: my rigged up concrete cinder block.  It held us so good today that I was amazed. And it never even broke when I pulled it up. I actually got it back 100% intact. What a great Jetty anchor idea that is.

Here comes the fish.....From Trout to Reds, Drum, giant Seabass, and even a spot and piggy perch or two.

BLACK DRUM.....they were thick and we released so many, but kept only a few as eaters, today.

Yep, even a nice Speckled Trout off the bottom in 36' of water on a piece of dead shrimp. The fish are on FIRE!

One BEAUTIFUL Redbass. They came again in two sizes; BIG & SMALL, no slot size fish at all.

You can easily see "who" was in contention as the "Hot Rod".
But he had contenders on his heels.

These Black Drum are so sweet. The guys caught them all sizes. From small to large. But ones just like this are perfect eaters. Grill, Blacken, Fry.....it just doesn't matter with such a versatile fish.





















This one here is about  10 pounds and just above "perfect eater" in my book. We let most of them go. If we want bites like this to continue.

Here's Ken the fella that booked the charter. If Ken wants to catch more fish, then he should have not brought such good fisherman with him.  But that's a great lookin' Drum, Ken!


















Many of the large Redbass today were seriously "spotty" ones. Also known as "beauty marks".

Right when you think the 30 plus inchers fight hard. Here comes a big "spawner" size Redfish that whooped up one heck of a light tackle, deep water battle. This one weighed in at 25 pounds...on a small 1/0 Eagle Claw 042 wide bend hook, that due to angler skill wasn't even bent when I pulled it out of the fishes lip. Big fish on light tackle is something that the Mayport Jetty Rocks, specializes in. That's why the Jettywolf boat loves to be there. And my regular customers have grown acustom too.

















Again today, as soon as the current wouldn't let us fish 3 oz. sinkers at the jetties any longer. That's my cue to say thanks and move on down the river for a treat.....I.G. - instantaneous gratification, Speckled Trout fishing to finish off the day. The guys took turns on just two rods, and easily boxed a 1/2 dozen nice fat Trout. And then it was time to head back to the dock.

Everything is chewin' there is no doubt. Big fish to small fish. Super grillers to super fryers!

If you haven't booked your Holiday trip aboard the plate alloy Jettywolf yet....I'd get to steppin'.

Thanks Ken and crew, I had a ball too!