2/24 - One L-O-N-G day.

Started the day off  really getting a clue that if Mayport ever gets a giant Nuclear Aircraft Carrier. I'm really in trouble! The public has a short memory. So, I'll fill you fisherman in.

I left B&M bait and tackle. I pulled out onto A1A north, and the Navy traffic was so thick that 30 minutes later I hadn't even got to the light at A1A  & Wonderwood rd. When I did get to the light I sat through 5 green lights because I couldn't cross Wonderwood. The traffic on the otherside was NOT moving. And the cross traffic coming down off the Wonderwood bridge, heading to Mayport rd to go into the bases Main Gate was about at a dead stop.

I called my customer Joan and told her, "Be aware, your adventure is just starting!" She said, that traffic was at a stand still at Mayport rd. and the turn at A1A north. On the otherside of B&M.

It was around, 6:30am.

I finally arrived at the Mayport Boat Ramp at 7:30am. The "commercial gate, gate 5" to the back of the base moved one vehicle length every couple minutes.

THIS IS WHAT IT WAS LIKE  MANY MORNINGS WHEN WE HAD A CARRIER IN MAYPORT. For all of you that don't go to Mayport on a weekday.

This area cannot handle the traffic of a nuclear carrier and support personel, or whatever the hell was going on today! The entire length of A1A north from at least Wonderwood rd. to "gate 5", would actually need two more lanes! Two more lanes built atop the marsh?

I'm not holding my breath! Other's have said to me, "They'll make the Navy their own road." Really?
I don't think so. The city doesn't care about Mayport.

What I'd have to do is "just MOVE."  There's no way for me to conduct my business and sit in over an hours worth of traffic each morning, to go a couple miles.  I just won't do that.

I dropped the boat in the water. And Joan and her 10 year old son showed up about 30 minutes later.
We were now over an hour behind schedule.

We got out in the river, and there wasn't a ripple of current. The tide was slack and was eventually going to start rising.......someday. I need current, not with just everyone. But especially with kids.
It just makes fishing easier.

The boy got seasick at the jetties. So we ran back up into the river.  Then, back to the jetties. We were catching nothing but stingrays and small seabass. The boy didn't even want to reel in any of our bites. He was d-o-n-e!

We finally got on a spot in deep water, that was calm and all he wanted to do is go back. So, after a few hours, our day was done. Some kids, just aren't going to be fisherman. Patience, especially in the month of February is mandatory. And we all know most 10 year olds and under don't have patience.

So I dropped my crew off back at the dock. And went back out myself. The target species was Black Drum, with or without a crew. I was already wore out from moving around, pulling anchor sp many times, and dealing with trying to catch something,  or sit anchored where there's no chance of any bites with a 10 year old whining.

The jetties were sloppy on the outside, and only calm about 3/4's the way inside. And by now there was some rising tide.

And even I had to use patience, and move around as the tide moved, till I found them. While salvaging the day. The  difference is with me it doesn't have to be calm.  The Jettywolf was designed to anchor in the roughest water. And I don't mind anchoring in it.

She loves the slop.

Here's the video (it's long...get your sea-legs on)



Looking forward to when the big, big Black Drum show up. I'll put down the float-rigs when the super studs show up at the jetties. My largest ever weighed in at 90 pounds. (the two pics below)

If you have "the salt" in ya' to patiently fish for a really big Black Drum, like the ones above ya better get on the phone right now and give me a call, and book the right day.

I prefer certain "tides" for these fish and it's jetty fishing only. And it should start sometime late March thru April. It's not "party boat fishing", because not everyone on board is going to get a chance at a monster. So bring one friend, and either one of you may battle one of these.

If not, I'll be on the hunt for the Speckled Trout.

2/22 - Cabin Fever in Florida?

Wheww...just finished a 3 day run. Starting on Saturday the 19th at 10:30am. Then finishing up on Monday the 21st at 3pm. 

And it of course had to be warm and sunny too boot. Floridians with cabin fever? Yep, the river was a parking lot.

It's funny, because I actually enjoy cold days with some wind because no one will be around. And especially weekdays....Monday thru Thursday's.

Coupled with a crowded river, sunny days, and warm temps, we had the FULL MOON. Which was going to do no one any favors.

To quote Jerry, one of the four Sailor's I picked up off of the number 5 ship right after it pulled into Mayport; "I thought the St. Johns River was going to be this slow, lazy, water, with easy fishing." 



Well, Jerry and the crew got to see the river at it's finest. Current galore, boats on every single spot, and because of the full moon. Not many bites!

This continued all the way through Monday afternoon. But by Monday I gave up on the bottom fishing for Sheepshead and Drum and we went float-rig fishing.We caught a few Trout, and I mean "A FEW".  By Monday afternoon the wind was honking. So we gave some fiddler crabs a try here and there. But my GUT was telling me, it was all wrong.

I want to thank my crew members the last three days for having patience and perseverance.  Believe me, it's not usually this tough.

Next up: Thursday with a Mom and a ten year old, then Sunday. And then a few 4 passenger trips in March pre-booked.

No...ya won't see me out next Saturday during the El Cheapo Sheepshead Tournament. I just switched a charter from that Saturday the 26th to the Sunday afterwards.

There's no way to conduct a charter with all that going on at the boat ramp and jetties. I may go down and help slicing those armor clad critters up, for the fish fry.

2/17 - Winter casualty

Really....It's bad folks!

"If you fished offshore from North Carolina to the Florida Keys this past week and caught any black sea bass, you were fortunate. But don't plan on doing it again. The South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council (SAFMC) has done it again - this time closing, effective February 12, the black sea bass season until June 1 of this year. This applies to Federal waters from 3 to 200 miles offshore."

Read the rest here: http://saltfishing.about.com/b/2011/02/14/black-sea-bass-season-closes-in-the-south-atlantic.htm

I only wish we caught them this size. So maybe with all this "management" we'll catch them this size.
(this guys hawkin his lures, of course. But if you want Seabass this size.....GO NORTH!

2/15 - Couldn't stand it any longer.....

After this weekend, I just couldn't stand it any longer. "I had to go run a float-rig behind the boat, and catch a TROUT!"

So, I grabbed fellow Float-Freak, Doc Miller and we took off around 8:30am. Today was the first day of some actual  T-I-D-E! Then, by Friday LOOK OUT. The full moon really kicks in.

Although the forecast was heinous by the afternoon with 20 knot ENE winds. Doc was up for it and so was I. We tried a creek at first. Just to prove to ourselves that "we ain't creek fisherman." Actually it was a creek that buddy DOA Rob frequents and has loads of Trout catches from his Hobie Kayak. But for some reason I can go in there and never get a single bite on a live shrimp....go figure. I don't stay where I'm not welcome very long. So after we tried one more spot before we hit the river. Again, not a sniff.

So we hit the "HUB"...already covered up with at least six boats. Believe it or not, there was room for us. Two float-riggers amongst six Sheepsheaders.  Yep, we were no threat to cleaning out the last of the snaggle-tooths. We wanted to catch a Trout. And I caught one decent Yellowmouth Trout. And that was it.

It's so funny, that in the last ten times to the HUB, when I do catch a yellowmouth it's ONE yellowmouth and that's it. Not two, just one! So today was no different, and much acceptable. Although unbelieveable!

So we worked our way up river. Since the lift on yellowmouth at 4 per person to 100 pounds per person! Yeah...a bit rediculas, but I'll take it. The fish have been quite illusive. They need to be. Because once I find the nest, they're gonna take a beatin'. So we hit a Yellowmouth Trout spot.

Instead we caught 3 Specks. Not whoppers, but a few could have been keepers. And even lost a few hook-ups.

Eventually the tide died, so it was time to head on. The wind now was gusting, it was really cold and the white caps in the river were made for the Jettywolf.  She loves the S-L-O-P!


We hit a bunch of pilings that any other month of the year are a Sheepshead, Flounder, Trout, and Redbass magnet. So we tried it. Possibly a few stolen baits by the Sheeps, and then we caught a few Specks. The wind was whipping so bad the spot was almost impossible to anchor on, let alone fish. But heck we boated a few more.  We moved on to the last spot.

There wasn't allot of Trout, but they sure were nice fatties. We caught three total on the last spot of the day, I got two - 18 inchers and Doc banged a nice 20 incher.

Here's the ones worth photographing:

Yes, it's been awhile. Yes, we couldn't keep any till 3/1. Yes, it was a crappy windy day to attempt a Trout "R&D Day" but I was almost afraid I had lost it.

Ya know, lost the where and how to catch some fattie Troutz. And that tell-tale throb, throb on the end of my long Trout rod. I love that feeling.

Can't wait till March 1st!!

While the rest of us, go broke...

While the rest of us go broke, shoving our pay checks into our fuel tanks to just get to work each day.
Unveiled at the MIAMI BOAT SHOW this year is the largest, horse power outboard motor ever developed.







557 Horse power!

-wouldn't be surprised to see the goverment put these fuel suckers on the back of Navy and Coastie boats!

Tranquility...No blizzards, only "sea-foam".

WANT THE SAME?
"Click here"

2/11- Sheepshead 1st timers

Had  Ed Blue and sons Seth & Conner aboard today. It was cold and a bit breezy again. And the sun came out as we finished up. So back at the dock it was sunny and warm!  I don't care how cold it is, I just like to see bright sun. Just makes ya feel better inside.

Ed had a big day back on November 27th with 3 of his buddies out at the jetties. They caught the hell out of them "during the best month of the year".  Link to Ed's last report -  11/27/2010

And before that with the boys, they float fished for Reds and Trout and even hooked a late summer Tarpon that day along the Jetty rocks.

Now it's February. A whole different note. Time to slow it down and Sheepshead fish. Didn't go to the Jetties today because of the breeze. So we never caught any Black Drum. First time Sheepsheadin' can be a challenge, for sure.  But give it a month or two more. I like the spring bite, myself. During the spawn.















Last April, was a big Sheepshead month for me, with several successful trips at the jetties. I'm sure it'll be like that again. The fish are so bunched up now, and so are the boats. We were alone for about 2 hrs. Then, here they came.... No wiggle room in a 26' boat. I'd like100 feet around me to fish, not 5 feet!!!!

It would be nice to be able to fish an area, with no intruders. Believe me,  it's not an attitude. It's  Heredity: "the passing of traits to offspring" (from its parent or ancestors).  My Grandfather wouldn't surf fish if he saw another human on the beach north of south of his chosen spot. But that was also back in 1950. I guess I'm like him since his name was Dave too.

I just need to hold my breath till it's time to get back on the float-rigs again. Huh?

Here's a short video from today I did:

2/9 - The illusive jetty Drum

Had Mike M. aboard today. Mike is a regular customer, and took advantage of the offer  I made way back months ago.  Single person, weekday only, and get 2 for 1, with up front deposits. (expires March 31st)

So we headed out and I had visions of Black Drum dancing in my head. 24 to 26 inchers, at least.....

Lots of  surveying going on at the Little Jetties, and even today there was some big boat that looked like it was "core sampling" the bottom behind the Little Jetties. Ya' know, they are supposedly taking all those rocks out of there and making that the ICW/River channel.

Today was one tough day. Mike and I worked way to hard for what we caught. I told Mike, the funny thing is you can't catch a fish without getting bit first. And actually getting "bit" was the problem. From the rocks along Whiteshell to the end of the jetties. We worked it all. In pursuit of the same Black Drum I've been wackin and stackin. (IE: 2/5 - 1/30 etc.)

The only thing I could see was that the incoming tide was just 3.2 feet, and the falling tide in the afternoon was a 3.5 foot, according to my tide planner book.  And the trend goes right thru this weekend also. Anything less than 4 feet or better is a really weak tide. And is most noticable at the jetties.

Or it just might be that, Mike's second "weekday trip" later on, will have to be much better.
"HARD EARNED...." was the motto of the day. Here's a video clip:

2/6 - Cooper's Birthday

Had the McGee family aboard today....well, come to find out only part of this huge family. To include just the youngest members still at home. Dad Mark, Mom  Tammy. Cooper  turning nine today. Along with sister Tara.

I knew that just because it was Super Bowl Sunday didn't mean that the river would be empty. Which Tammy reminded me of on the phone the day before. I hadn't a clue. If it's a "ball" related sport I couldn't care less. Except for Golf. I enjoy that. Because it's Man versus Nature.

We got a early start. Because it was a "weekend". I was a bit hyped-up after yesterday's solo Black Drum catch. And the weather today, couldn't be any worse. Actually it was allot better. No 20 kt winds, fog, or rain. But it was overcast 99% of the day.

Don't know what the deal was. But there wasn't any current. And that was a problem, all day long.  When I have Jr. anglers aboard. I want to keep things as absolutely simple as possible. I want flowing current preferably behind the boat. Rods in the rod holders, and bait sitting out behind the boat. Get a bite? Pick up rod and feel, then set hook.

Didn't get much of that! Out of a 6 hours, I had about an hour and a half of it all day. And to prove my point. That was the ONLY time we caught a fish.  I don't care what other people do, or how well the kids can sling a bobber in the local pond. But current, behind the boat,  rods in the rod holders is how I like it when little busy hands, are on board.

With the lack of current, having to cast allot, a majorly bird-nested reel, and no bites. In the exact area where I caught 6 Black Drum yesterday, had me pulling my hair out.

And if I pick up the "man-maker" 22 pound anchor with the 25 pounds of chain more than let's say 5 times in one day. Right there, it's a "HERE'S YER SIGN", kind of day.

No sooner did I move and get into some steady current when 1/2 of Jacksonville arrived on the 1/8th mile strip of the river I call the "hub".  While small jigs, and a fiddler pitched up along the submerged rocks was catching some Sheepshead. It's nothing my two kids onboard could do.  So once in some  current, the first bait down caught the first Sheeps, for our Birthday boy.

But the "master plan?" To get a large Drum. Hopefully in the 10 pound category. And hopefully more than just one. Cooper had a time reeling in the 3-4 pound Sheepshead. And I wanted him to really get some angling experience, with a good large fish.

I could see, our planned 1/2 day charter just wasn't going to make that happen. We sat on a decent spot till the little current we had stopped with only the one Sheepshead in the box. Yeah, we had a few dinky Seabass and even a Toadfish. And again, "what are toadfish?" They're your tattle-tale fish that says, "I'm on the bottom of the food chain...go fish somewhere else!" So after a restroom break, I tried more clam baits on a spot or two hoping for just one more Sheepshead, as we eat a few sandwiches.

Clams. My experience has told me that clams, although a messy and delicate bait, that they are great Sheepshead baits, for the kids. The fish just suck them up! No feeling a bite. When the rod tip bobs, pick up the rod, feel the Sheeps move off, and set the hook. Usually, the fish will swallow the hook, they suck the Clam in so fast.  But you need a spot where the current is steady, and the fish are willing. We obviously had neither!

I was fed up. Our 1/2 day was here and gone and had just one Sheepshead in the box. Many guides I'm sure would have said, "Oh well....guess that's it?" and head to the dock. Collected the days pay check and went home to watch the Superbowl.

But, look at Cooper's face. How can ya say, "that's it,  to a kid like that?" We were all nine years old at one time. So, I made a run away from the 40 boats that were stacked up at the HUB since our arrival. Which is just too much pressure, too much noise, and too many fiddler crabs in the water.

We headed to the Jetties. 

It was SLICK DEAD CALM out at the inlet. I anchored up and instantly had good flowing current behind the boat. There was another boat a good distance away catching Drum atop the rocks. So, this was our redemption spot, I hoped.

The anchor line came tight, I baited up with my usual Drum bait of just dead shrimp and lobbed out to lines off the stern. We had CURRENT!! Running behind the boat!!

Oh my goodness, we may have a good chance at catching "targeted species".

One of the rods bobbed. I picked it up and felt the sand-bagging bite of a Black Drum. Set the hook and headed the rod to Cooper. It was a good battle for him. 

Most people not in the "know" think Drum are like a Redbass. They hit and run, bending the rod over and pulling the drag from the reel spool. Not usually. The bite is light. And they'll just hang on the hook. It's the difference between being a "grazer" type fish and a all out "predator" type fish. Drum, and especially Sheepshead are "grazers".

Cooper lead the fish to the net and we finally had a targeted species in the boat!

But not long after the current completely died, and the boat swung right out of the zone. The fish were biting. And now they weren't. So I tried to reposition, but that didn't work. I was willing to do whatever, except for loosing a $150 worth of anchor, chain and rode. I could easily see, that if we wanted current again where we sat, we'd have to sit out here till at least 5 or 6pm....but it was only 2:30.

Everyone was getting tired, especially Tara. Who was snug as a bug in a rug, up on the bow in her blanket.

All the last ditch efforts were made, while Dad Mark got a bite and it was a StingRay. Holy Moses, I haven't seen one of them since late October. Oh, the voodoo of the river is chasing us. So with our hard earned fish, we headed back to the dock.

A tough day is nothing but amplified for me, when I have Jr. Anglers aboard. I know they need constant action, and like adults want big fish. And I work as hard as I can trying to put together a  plan with the limited angling skills.

I was hoping for a nice 1/2 day like last Sunday with the "two Hubers". But it surely was different. And we even had a 4.0' tide both ways today.

Another four passenger trip coming up again, on Friday.
(crossed fingers)

2/5 - Solo Drummin'

I go solo. And guess what happens...?

Every Black Drum is at or over 24".

(limit: One per your limit of five, can be over 24 inches)

So that means I go home with my one Drum.

It's happened allot when Trout fishing too. Mainly in the spring. Where all the Trout are 20 inches plus. And out of your five that you can keep. Only one can be over 20 inches.

So I guess...

-If you want to catch more fish
-If you want to catch big fish
-If you want to catch smaller fish

You have to just go fishing more often.

Yep, that's what I do.

Fog - Wind - Drizzling Rain - Zero sun today was "Chamber of Commerce for sure." Hahahahah.....NOT!

But it can be that way in the winter. It's pay back for those beautiful windless, warm, and sunburn winter days.

Why not on the Redbass Tourney circuit?

Been exploring these particular boats for a few months now. And since long ago when I posted a video of a Alloy boat running a Idaho river full of rocks and Beaver dams. I actually received more requests to show that footage. Everyone loved it.

So I figured I'd post this particular "could be serious" inshore fishing boat. The engine is a Merc 200HP powerhead, hooked up to a jet.

Let's see...who could really get to all the SKINNY WATER REDS, during a NE Florida Redbass tournament?



If I could have it all, you may not just see the "Jettywolf" at the jetties, but the "Mudwolf" flying thru the creeks, to sight cast those oh so "wiley" Redbass.

Wonder how this thang would handle oysterbeds?  Do you get ticketed for running over marsh grass by the Florida water-nazi's?

Gotta love ALLOY.

FINALLY....Video of Jan 28th with "BOAT CAM"

THE "BOAT-CAM"...IN ACTION.

This is what YOU can be doing this winter. This video is a great example of what still can be had on a breezy cold winter day in Jax. Fla.

C'C'mon down! Get some snow relief.

NO ONE ELSE will provide you with the information I do, to select your personal fishing guide. NO ONE!!!!


Enjoy, all my hours of editing labor:

1/30 - Jr. Angler day.

It was a beautiful morning. Not a breath of wind. We decided last night to get a good early start. And I'm glad we did!!!!!

The boat ramp parking lot by 7:25am as we pulled away from the dock started to look like a Wally World parking lot on Black Friday. (and it was way worse when we got back at noon.)

Either way, hit the water this morning with two Huber's.....Sr. & 6 year old Junior. It was fine when we first got there on the spot. And personally, we were never "coneheaded".  But I sure felt sorry for some guys in a small green Jon-boat.













It was if there was only one one place to fish the river. I call it the "HUB". And the "hub" was lined with boats.
Our first fish was a pup "sandwich sized" Black Drum.

And Huber thought that this one was a "whopper". But he ended up reeling in allot larger fish, with help from Dad.

Sheepshead, roe-laden females up to 7 pounds.





















































The really monster spawner Sheeps are on their way. Because just in this area, each trip the Sheeps are getting larger. We weren't doing anything all that fancy. Just fresh dead shrimp on the bottom.

Huber wanted to make a move (It's a kid thing...) so I made a move over to a good spring time, pogie bait, Redbass spot. But in hopes of a really big Drum, for him. But he caught Seabass, instead. Then, it was time to go. Our 1/2 day quite successful trip came to an end. "It was time to go make the Donuts".  I mean, clean all the fish.

With Sheeps this size it didn't take many to go home with a big bag full of prime jumbo fillets.

Don't let the chill of winter in Jax stop you from thinking about booking a trip with a few friends. This can be prime time for good fish such as Sheepshead, Drum, and even Trout. Easily, "stocking up" on some good fish. Just think ahead, that's all!

-Reserve 2 weeks in advance
-Have more than just one day available
-Dress appropriately

There's NO comparison between right now and the middle of July in the river and at the inlet. But of  course, when it's blazing hot, is when everyone thinks it's inshore Fishing Time. I'm here to tell you. That's wrong.



VIDEO TIP:

1/27 - YOUR RIVER!

More fights....and more e-mail notices I get. 
It never ends. Battles from all fronts to protect OUR way and quality of life.




Protect Your River - Stop the Pipeline











Today, we are launching the Cleaner GP awareness campaign to encourage Georgia-Pacific (GP) to abandon its plans to build a pipeline to the St. Johns River and to pursue alternative solutions to its wastewater pollution problems. As part of the CleanerGP.com campaign, we are asking our members and the public to sign a petition to Governor Rick Scott asking him to require further toxicity testing of Georgia-Pacific’s wastewater and to require GP to find an acceptable alternative that will protect the health of our river. You can access the online petition at:  http://www.cleanergp.com/

(please visit link and sign petition, it takes 2 minutes to help save our river from further decline!!)


The Georgia-Pacific paper mill in Palatka has been discharging its wastewater into Rice Creek, a tributary of the St. Johns, since 1947. Unable to meet water quality standards in Rice Creek, Georgia-Pacific (GP) has been proposing a pipeline for over a decade to divert its wastewater into the heart of the St. Johns River. Recently, GP announced that they are ready to begin construction of the pipeline.








Building a pipeline is not a solution to a pollution problem and would be a major setback to the ongoing efforts to restore the health of our river. This will only add additional pollutants to a river that is already sick. We believe that viable alternatives exist that would allow GP to meet water quality standards in Rice Creek, keep jobs in Putnam County , and help protect the St. Johns River.

In fact, St. Johns RIVERKEEPER recently hired a team of engineers and water-quality experts to analyze the GP study that was used to justify the pipeline. The preliminary findings of the analysis indicate that viable alternatives exist and important questions about the pipeline remain unanswered. The final results of our technical review will be released soon.

We are also pleased to announce that Peter Thliveros (aka Peter "T"), one of bass fishing's elite professional anglers, is participating in the campaign with us. As someone who grew up on the river and makes his living fishing, he has real concerns about the health of the St. Johns and the potential impacts from the pipeline. You can read more about Peter and the campaign at:  http://www.cleanergp.com./

(please visit link and sign petition, it takes 2 minutes to help save our river from further decline!!)

Get informed and get involved by contacting Governor Scott. Together, we can stop the pipeline and find a reasonable solution - one that protects our river and everyone downstream (YOU & ME, OUR FISHING!) of the mill who has a stake in this important issue.

For the River,
Your St. Johns Riverkeeper

1/26 - Just sick of it all......

I'm on the Coastal Conservation Associations (CCA) mailing list. And it seems like each week I get another shocking e-mail.

Shocking because I read the e-mails and all it sounds like is LIFE as we know it, is nothing but one ridicules fight after another. When it comes to the "sport" of fishing. Yeah I said SPORT, for fun, non-commercial. You know, taking the family out, spending hard earned bucks on Fuel, Bait, Tackle, Boats, Trailers, Trucks, Maintenance, do I need to go on?

All the while supporting business'  like; your local boat dealer, mechanic, Habib, that owns the zippy mart that sells BP fuel. The bait shop, the company that delivers the ice, the bait company, the tackle distributor, do I need to go on?

All this really pisses me off after watching that speach from the President last night on the tube. Which was just a pep rally, it seemed to me. While we get slammed constantly, because what ever management of the fisheries that's out there just isn't good enough. SO LETS SHUT THE DOORS! Is  what they always want to do. On old science. I'll spare you the dirty details of each email I recieve from the CCA.

You may not have heard about the battles over Red Snapper and Grouper off our coast. It's a soap opera of back and forth with the supposed "rule makers and their science."

But, we're talking peoples livelihoods, here.

Just like the oil spill took work and food straight out of the mouths of many. This fight is the same. But the Fisherman themselves are the BP? And the blame is on the fisherman, for fishing under the limits and rules.

I play by the rules. But as the joke goes, "Us fisherman have to carry a damn lawyer with us each time we drop our boats in the water, these days."

Yeah, these recreational "weekender" fisherman are supposedly depleting the resource, while fishing with the present rules. But the rule makers are never happy. It's a "shut them down" attitude. But at the same time our goverment wants us to spend the dough every weekend. Ya know...to keep Americans working!

Here's a few of the headlines from each CCA email notice I have recieved,  just this week alone!

Federal fisheries managers are set to close another popular recreational fishery in the South Atlantic in the latest example of how chronic lapses in science and data-collection are wreaking havoc on the recreational angling sector. Less than two months after narrowly avoiding a massive closure of all bottom fishing in the South Atlantic to recover red snapper, federal managers have announced that black sea bass are set to become off-limits from February to June due to circumstances that sounds frustratingly familiar to anglers.

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

Public hearings and scoping meetings will be held on four separate amendments regarding fisheries management measures proposed for several federally managed species within the South Atlantic region.


Dolphin, Cobia, and Wahoo anglers should be very concerned.

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

1/24- MONDAY...and you missed it.

I told ya it was going to be nice on Monday. Monday was the only day this week that was supposed to be fishable.
(referencing: This post from the 22nd.)

This time of year, you have to go when it's right! That's, when I go. (what happened to all you retiree's that asked me about my 2 for 1 winter  fishing deal?) You missed it, and will continue too, I guess.

A real box filling trip for sure. No crowds, just an east sustained 10 knots (bad direction) and an incoming tide. I'd usually call it a "KOD" - kiss of death, day. But I was determined to really fill up on winter fillets. And played it real simple.

Talk about simple:

• 2 miles from the boat ramp.
• Fresh Dead Shrimp.
• 4 hours total.
• one "fairy wand of a rod".
• K.I.S.S winter fishing.

Enjoy my super novice production. I'll get better. I'm just getting all the parts an pieces together for solo videoing. And am moving over to Adobe Premier Editing software....."the good stuff."

My YOUTUBE Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/BLM26CC
-come on by and be "MY FRIEND" hahahahahahah.....

1/22 - Economy block, Jetty Anchor

Had a request by a fellow alloy boat brother up in Washigton, on my favorite hang-out site, Aluminumalloyboats.com.

He was interested in how I rig my economy concrete block anchors, to hold a 26 foot boat in the tidal current.

So....I made him a video.

I believe (because they are so cheap) I've had a request from blog readers to also post the "how-to".

So here it is. BUT, there is definate technique to get it to hold,come loose or at least break when time to move.

I only use these in the deep winter/spring months. Come May, they go back in the shop till next winter.

THE BLOCK ANCHOR:

1/22 - Monday(s)...not a problem

There's an ole saying I use all the time;
"there's nothin' like a Monday morning at 7am!"

per National Weather Service, out to 20 nautical miles:
- MONDAY: LIGHT AND VARIABLE WINDS BECOMING NORTHEAST 5 KNOTS IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 2 TO 3 FEET. INLAND WATERS SMOOTH.

"there's two words that are my favorite during the fall, winter and spring months....Light & Variable. Ask any fisherman worth their salt, they know that too."

So much interest and no takers....Gawd dang ya'll are missing it! Is it just this Town? Or what?

Ends March: 2 for 1 charters. One person, weekday only, no Holidays. Get two 6 hr days for the price of one day. (rates page: www.fish-jacksonville-fishing.com ) Reserve with $200 deposit, $100 for each day, in advance. $75 cash balance after each trip.

Monday: 1/24/2011, would be one of those days!!!!
-retired
-work a 4 day week
-just sick & tired
-flexible schedule
-want to learn something
-want 'one on one', personal fishing instruction

-all good reasons to take advantage of this. I'm not going to even bother with this, next winter. Because no matter how affordable I make a weekday trip, everyone e-mails me asking about it, and then doesn't follow through.

Another ole saying....

"Ya wanna catch more fish? Then, you have to fish more often!

Is this your problem?

NOT MINE...I'll post my day instead I guess.

1/21 - Steppin it up a notch

Yeah, I got the BUG. I need to step it up a notch or two. Now that I'm getting more familiar with my Kodak Playsports video camera.

I just bought myself this suction cup mount with tether. to mount my Playsports camera too.

I'll be able to use my remote control, to take video with out touching the camera, and have this mount sucked on to the top of the Honda outboard.

Because we're always fishing in current off the back of the boat, it's hard to get the front of folks as they are battling a fish.

My Camera mount that I have now is on the side of my windshield. An on Wednesday's charter it wasn't really in the right spot to cover any action, and still leave me free to net fish.

So I hope this will help me take better video footage of what's going on.

The fun for me isn't about the fishing.....well it is, but I like to do other things. Like while my crew is using my special bottom rigs I developed. I like to toss out a heavy jig down deep. While they're using my standard bottom rods,  I like to take an absolute "Fairy Wand" of a rod and hook up with something that "looks" as if it's huge, by the bend in a really, light action rod.

Besides having a great time taking photos of what's going on. Having the video camera is something new and exciting aboard the Jettywolf. And I hope you folks out there that have signed up for these report pages, who are on the fence about what I do out there, or really have no idea what it's all about have found some of the super novice video footage I've posted here very informational, at least.

No other guide/charter service I know of is going through the extent I am to provide YOU with as much information as I do. Let alone having every single charter day documented.  AGAIN, I do it for the person interested in booking a trip. And for the person that booked the trip to enjoy afterwards. And for past customers to see what I'm presently doing, when thinking about going out again.

We're on the path to moving from Google Blogger (here on this page) to heading the blog over to WordPress, the more professional blog pages, I've been discussing lately. And with the change over forth coming, I will be implementing other changes to my "Daily Fishing Report Pages".

Don't be shocked or run away. We're doing all this to make it better. And for way more control over the information on these pages. The future could be a "test" of who really wants to be a daily/weekly or monthly reader.  Because like a monthly magazine, we're dabbling with the idea of a "subscription".
But that's still a ways away at this point. 

I have not recieved much, if any feedback on if any readers like the video's. But then again, ya'll don't comment on any reports either. Lurking in the shadows is what many are comfortable with, I guess.

I only hear from the same people.......but then again get 10-20 new sign-ups to read these pages "PER DAY!"

So I know ya'll are out there. If there's something that's on your mind. E-mail me:
charter@captdaves.com

1/19 - Challenging But F-U-N day......

Had Erica J. and her cousin Curtis aboard today. Originally, we were supposed to go on Monday. But rescheduled because of the nasty weather all day on Monday. Rain, wind and just plain damp all day, wasn't what any of us were looking for. Erica had off all week, which was great. So we decided on today.
I knew going into it, that the Full Moon could be a butt-kicker.

And since we got started at the last hour or so of the rising tide. I was hoping for a quick Black Drum bite at the high water. Because one week it seems to be high falling tide, then the next week it seems like a low tide bite. These fish in the cool winter water seem to do the opposite, right after you think you have them all figured out.

So the challenges for me this time of year are numerous. People call and as we talk I always feel as if they want me to guarantee what will happen on their day. And honestly, I play it all by my "G-U-'T". There is no rules. And there is no guarantees. All I know is that we will catch fish. We just have to find them, FIRST. And being that TIDES are the number one thing that dictate when, where and how, we'll catch them. Tides are my first concern. Wind direction and speed is the next during the winter months.

Erica was easy to work with. She understood fishing. And it was Custis' first time....a genuine "green horn". But that's okay. That's why I'm here. I'll teach you and help you from start to finish. So it seemed as we sat and sat and sat anchored up, getting not as much as a sniff of our baits, that it was gonna be a day we had to wait on the tide to get to where it makes the Drum happy, not us.

But as I told Erica and Curtis, "The way I look at it is, we're here, and we'll die trying." I may be the most impatient fisherman you'll ever meet. WHY? Because as we fish I have all the days I've fished out there flying through my head. The current, the tides, the wind directions, the seasons. I remember them all. And when I see a "condition", I can easily remember a day that was exactly like this day. And I'll figure it out.

Fishing for me any more isn't a activity. It's a function, a puzzle, that I work on figuring out, for you. Dispite your skill level, or your own personal experiences. This is my puzzle. Without the challenge of each day. It would be a job that's just too easy......."ya know, like the fishing in Louisiana probably is? "

A long time client of mine taught me a great saying. But it's also the dead on truth. "it's not how you start, it's how you finish."

And since he said that one day in December and proved his point with a 45 pound Redbass. I'll never forget it.

I had to change up locales today to get on the Drumat all. The usual area just wasn't doing it for us. But a change in location a mere 75 feet, made the difference and I went from a zero to a hero, right away.

















The fish today were smaller than the past few weeks. But actually a whole lot better eater size, in my opinion. The perfect eaters in my book are from 15-20 inchers approx. I call'em "sandwich fish", because they are easy to clean, versus a 12 pounder. And the fillets are just so much nicer. And fit on a big soft roll allot better after blackening! Yeah, allot about fishing to me is the "eating".

Fish....the other white meat! I could eat seafood 7 days a week. I just need someone that's a better cook than I am to make my seafood more apealling. That's my only problem...
.
The morning started out over-cast and looking like more rain could happen. But we watched the dark clouds veer off to the south as we sat under sunny skies, warm temps and slick calm seas.

Here's the day in video:

12/13 - BAIT TIPS: "and more"

Here's a tip from fellow blogger Ron Brooks of About.com. This will work great for me....if I can catch some T-routz. And since I'm on my BIG JIG kick, now.

By Ron Brooks, About.com Guide since 1998

Trout Bellies

On trips where I catch a limit or two of seatrout, and I bring fish home to eat, I always take particular care when cleaning the trout.

As I fillet off each side of the fish, I make sure I leave the belly of the fish intact. That white strip of belly meat runs from the pectoral fins back along the underside of the fish. It is pure white; but, it is also pure gold!

I save these belly strips and cut them to shape them into a nice jig or bucktail trailer.

The salt toughens them and allows me to keep them unrefrigerated for an extended period of time. This trailer bait is cheap and it works to add just enough smell to a jig or bucktail to entice a strike from an otherwise wary fish.

(Jettywolf FYI.....I always keep a one pound box of that coarse Kosher salt in the house for stuff just like this. Just never thought about all them Trout bellies I feed to the Pelicans......DOH!!!)

Here's a funny video I found. .....and that "LAZY  GUIDE" better get to work.


How to post comments to posts, video below:

1/12 - Another special via Pure Fishing

Fishermans Factory Oulet is having another sale.




Save $$ via increments

http://www.ffo-tackle.com/Promo/Promo.cfm

Only till the 18th of January.


Great deals on great tackle. Shop and save 30%, 40%, 50% or more fishing tackle for walleye, bass and more. Official outlet store for big brand names like Berkley, Abu Garcia, Fenwick Fishing, Spider, Mitchell, Johnson and Red Wolf.


Just an FYI, from the Jettywolf.

1/12 -Naturally frozen bait, during a chill.

If the live shrimp at the bait shop are not already in a "cold water coma." They sure will be by the time you put them in a livewell, and go to use them.

BRRRRRRRRRRR.....is it chilly out there this morning.

The reason I'm saying this is because I'd love to try some Trout fishing on Thursday.
I wanted to try a few spots that I haven't been in a while. Actually, a few "creek" spots.

It isn't as easy to "warm up" a livewell full of expensive live shrimp as it is to cool them off on a hot summer day. In the summer, a frozen water bottle will keep the livewell water cool. But what can you do to keep the water warm in the deep winter?

I'll give you a few thoughts I've had.

I have alloy boat brothern up in Washington that use the pee stream water out of the outboard motor going into a basin at the stern of the boat as a hand wash. A warm water hand wash. All they did is connect the outlet to a hose and run it up to the stern of the boat and into a little aluminum sink. So as they're fishing, with the motor running. Customers can wash fish slime off their hands with warmer water.

I thought that was a pretty slick trick.

But, I'm not worried about my hands, I'm worried about my livewell full of cold induced coma live shrimp. So, I let me outboard run. And then fill-up a small pail of water and dump it in my livewell.

The only problem is, it doesn't feel all that much warmer than the water I'm floating in. Maybe it is a bit warmer. Or maybe I just need to run my outboard longer.

This time of year a long run is from the dock to the end of the jetties. A whopping 2.5 miles. Not all that long for the engine to heat up that much, as 50 degree water is running through it, and metered by the thermostats.

Another idea is a small heater.

I know a fellow aluminum boater out of Mayport, that uses a small heater similar to this.

And at the same time, this could be pointed toward the livewell.

 Just needing to just keep the shrimp from laying over and playing dead is the whole reason for looking into such a thing. Because I'm sure it's not good for them to go from comfortably warm to cold river water with a hook in their head.

Damn, it's expensive caring for live shrimp. The cheapest of the heaters like the one pictured is about $55 bucks, and then the disposable tanks are another $9.00 bucks. They'll last 5 hrs.

Last winter was the "mother of all bad winters" in Jacksonville. And when I did locate some Trout, we used dead shrimp on a float-rig. They ate it, but at the same time they never pulled the float down, either.
That day the water temp up in Fort George on my RayMarine C-120 Sounder was 42 degrees.  DOA Rob and I, were anchored up in 10 foot of water. So ya know it wasn't like it was warmer on the bottom.

Many times if you have a quality sounder with a temp gauge. It can benefit you to check your temp reading, and adjust it. If you can. A water hose pouring over the transducer, and a pool thermometer is all you need to double check if your temp sensor is anywhere in the ball park.

I know many machines I've had read wrong. And at one time when I was always hunting King Mackerel offshore. I actually purchased a seperate temp gauge for my dash. It was a $150 item, but it was calibratable to +/-  a 1/2 of a degree. I had two sounders with temp gauges, plus this designated temp gauge. So I had multiples of the information I wanted. And back then, was well worth the money.  Especially in the spring when hunting King Mac water temps as early as April 1 as close to the beach, as I could find them.

I suppose I'll keep trying with the pee stream water out of the motor. It's sort of "free".  Now there's an invention I haven't seen on those boats like the 34 Everglades at the Miami Boat Show. A thermostatically controlled heated and cooled livewell. Instead you'll find heated seats, with adjustable lumbar support, and a drink holder every twelve inches, and a electric up and down windshield. Ya know...for the real "tough" crowd.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's this weekend:

SATURDAY - NORTHWEST WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 3 FEET.
INLAND WATERS MOSTLY SMOOTH.
Saturday...Mostly clear. Highs in the lower 60s. Lows in the lower 40s.


SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY - WEST WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS. SEAS 2
FEET OR LESS. INLAND WATERS MOSTLY SMOOTH.  Sunday...Partly cloudy. Highs in the lower 60s. Lows in the mid 40s.

70's by Tuesday?


Who wants to go?

One person, weekday only, 2 for 1, is still in effect.

1/11 - Snelling a Jig trailer, a follow-up

Been messing around. During the rain and wind the last few days.
If you missed the last video, scroll down. Then come back here. Because this is a "follow-up".
Yeah, when you know the versatile "snell" connection. Allot can be done. Guys have been snelling wire leaders and treble hooks for light Kingfish rigs for along time, now.

Here's a creation I made out of a big jig.
(the jigs alone have been catching Drum & Reds along the jetties)

1/10 - Snelling a hook w/ Capt Dave

The hook model was cut off, because the Youtube screen doesn't completely fit on here. GO FIGURE, Google owns Youtube, and still can't get it right!

My prefered hook, "turned in eye" VMC - bait  holder #9292 4/0 
VMC is the only hooks in larger sizes that has turned in eyes and is a bait holder 

Here's the link to the VMC catalog:    
http://www.vmchooks.com/consumers/