6/9 - Second time around, is a charm!

Had Jason L. aboard today. Last year, we went out on June 8th. Jason, his young boy Preston, and I. Jason told me, "I've NEVER caught a dang Redfish before!"  So, of course we tried. But couldn't get any decent Redbass baits other than a few crabs. We looked for Pogies, and looked for Mullet. But were wasting too much tide. So we ended up doing allot of fishing for just Preston, catching small fish for him to reel on.

Well. today it was Jason, his boy Preston, and his little girl Piper. I had plans to put the end to that, "never caught a Redfish, thang."

We headed straight for the jetties. It was rolling pretty good inside the rocks on the falling tide.

Remember how we used to get nothing but hard west winds this time of the year? And after a month or so, the wind would blow out all the water, and cold water from out deep would come in on the beach making the water 68 degrees?  DON'T think we have to worry about that, during this stage of the climate change process. Because now each day seems to be nothing but EAST winds. Making the inside of the jetties on a falling tide un-fishable. Unless you can keep your stomach down while fishing the 4 foot rollers!!!

I got really lucky, never even had to pull out the cast net, a boat just outside the rocks just made a toss on the pogies, had a bunch and he nicely gave me all I could use. Thanks Fella's!!

We no sooner got some fresh live baits and headed back in the jetties. I tried to get the kids on the Whiting, but the swell bucked by the wind was a "HERE'S YER SIGN" that not much was gonna happen. Especially after trying three spots, with ZERO small fish success!!  So hell with this. The kids will just have to watch dad reel in some big ones, instead.

So I picked up on the last of the falling tide and headed for a hard bottom area in the river. I'm now fishing four rods.....two with live pogies, and two with shrimp for the kids to catch anything that'll bite. And that's when Jason broke his REDFISH spell.

This Red kicked butt! It was a true heavy weight. Larger than Jason's daughter! So large I was running out of boat to get them all in the frame.
This fish was 35 pounds and maybe larger, because I ran out of "scale".

"The Jason Non-Redfish catching spell" is NOW broken.  And broken in the best way. Because this is the largest RB of the year, now. Liela Wadley's 27 pounder, from two weeks ago, has now been over taken. 

BUT THAT'S NOT ALL!

A ship passes by....the kids are rambunctious, and a pogie rod doubles over again!

HERE WE GO!

Another, that goes 35 pounds PLUS!
Right before the falling tide starts to slack.
Which gave us time after releasing the fish to head back to the dock and have Piper go back to the hotel via a Mommy pick-up.
Which leaves us with Preston. Who didn't want to stay on the boat, either. Which reminds me........

Summer Info: Right now, is the start of when almost every single trip I make can or will have a less than ten year old on board.  Just so everyone knows. It can be very hot, and especially the summer time fishing, needs major patience by ""all"" involved. Kids, may not make the day, even though you think they can.  My 15+ years of experience has shown, ten and over do okay. Ten and under? That's up for grabs. 

So after the mom pick-up of Piper, and the convincing from Dad that Preston was staying on the boat no matter what, we headed back to the fishing grounds. And started on our second half of the day. Fishing the rising tide.

Soon as the current came, the wind and the boat were laying together. We were back into BIG Redbass.

Preston thought he could handle one of these, but look at dad flexing a rather heavy duty rod, connected to a $450 twin-drag ACCURATE reel, with 10 pounds of strike drag. No, if anything. Dad needs to keep his hands on this tackle!!

The Reds were smaller now, literally half the size of the first two we caught.

The last one was the smallest of the day. Sure a "keeper sizer" would have been great. But finding a small one is harder than finding a BIG one. So, I tell everyone to refer their concerns to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, in Tallahassee, Florida. For me, it's all about time of year. Winter, is when we get allot of "keeper" size fish, in the river. Fishing isn't like going to Walmart.

I was VERY happy, that now on Jason's second year aboard the Jettywolf, that we put that non-Redfish catching spell, to rest. AND IN A REALLY BIG WAY!
It's all about the bait, time of year, and weather. But right now, the bait is back to being plentiful. The Redbass seem to be chewing.
But, add in some hard winds, and that can make catching them allot tougher, ON ME.

I'm happy with this week so far. We'll see what this weekend brings. I have 4 passengers on Saturday, and there's a Kingfish tournament going on and some kind of inshore tournament too. So here we go......Zoo time!

WEEKDAYS, if you can book'em. I'd would do'em. From here on out.

And please reserve in advance, at least a week, preferably more. Calls the ""night"" before just mean your trip could be much more expensive.

6/7 - Brutus T. kinda day!

Had Terry Mealer his son and his son in-law aboard the Jettywolf today. They were all visiting from Tennessee.

Catching pogies this morning was pretty easy, but there's always a hitch or a hiccup. Today, the pogies were enormous. Three times the size of the ones I had been catching. "Can there be a too big of a pogie?" Just depends on the size of your livewell, that's all.

I'm not gonna do my usual "FISHIN' STORIES" about today's charter. I'm gonna let the photos tell the story......

FIRST "REDBASS" AT THE JETTIES.

HEADED UP RIVER, THE JETTIES SEEMED D-E-A-D. POLE-BENDING THE OLE UGLY STIKS GOOD, AS THE TIDE FLOWED.

ALWAYS THE "KEY", NICE GOOD CURRENT.

NO SECRET LOCATION HERE....
JUS' GOOD WATER FLOW.

SO FAR THE REDS RANGE FROM 10#'s TO 12#'s.

EAGLE CLAW 7/0 CIRCLE HOOKS, AND A ROD HOLDER, MAKE GREAT HOOKSETS.
ALWAYS IN THE CORNER OF THE MOUTH.

NOT A SINGLE "KEEPER" FISH, BUT LOADS OF FUN. BUT A FEW "KEEPERS" WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE.

GETTING IN BETWEEN A DOUBLE-HEADER, OF "SLAM DUNK" PROPORTIONS!

SOMETHING THE JETTYWOLF DOES REAL WELL, HAS PLENTY OF DANCING ROOM, FOR MULTIPLE HOOK-UPS!

NO TRIP HAZZARDS, JUST A LARGE FLAT DECK. JUST TAKE YOUR SIDE, AND HOPE YOUR ARMS HOLD OUT.

THEY'RE PUSHING 14 AND UP POUNDS NOW!


HERE WE GO...THE MONEY SHOT!
14 & 15 POUNDS. BUT I'M STILL HOPING FOR LARGER, "BRUTUS T. REDBASS."

FOR YA'LL THAT DON'T KNOW THAT THE ST. JOHNS IS ALL ABOUT SHIPPING TRAFFIC....WELL, HERE IT IS! THIS PASSED LESS THAN A 100 YARDS OF US.

HERES "LARGER"...OVER 20 POUNDS AND SHOWED IT WAS AN ATHELETE! THIS REDBASS WAS LIKE HURCULES, AND KICKED BUTT ON LIGHT TACKLE.

LOOK AT THE NEXT REDBASS TYLER CAUGHT! IT WAS DE-FORMED. HAD SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT'S SPINE.
THE FISH FOUGHT FUNNY, AND THEN GAVE UP. I FELT SORRY FOR THIS GUY, BUT THEN AGAIN, THESE FISH ARE TOUGH, AND IT SWAM AWAY HEALTHY.

A SURVIVER, IT COULDN'T MOVE IT'S TAIL MUCH AT ALL.

SHORTER AND COMPACTED.....
STILL NOT A KEEPER. NOT LIKE I WOULD EVER KEEP FISH THIS TOUGH.

ONE MORE....AS THE TIDE SCREAMED AND IT BEGAN TO BE HARD TO KEEP 6 OUNCES. ON THE BOTTOM.

No keeper fish, but allot of fun memories and photos. Add in a few sore arms on the light tackle. We packed it in as the clouds darkened a bit and before the super sea breeze started blowing.

Perfection!  Get the right set of circumstances, and this is what June is all about.

6/5 - And there they go...

Remember me saying that this year must be the "year of the pogie"?

But as a Jacksonville Angler, I had the feeling that it wouldn't be a guarantee, that each day would be as easy as it has been, "turn the north jetty and throw the net". Because that's where they've been, and how easy it was to get my dozen and a half needed for each day. I guess the saying that sums it all up is, "this ain't my first rodeo."

Had Paul G. two teenagers, and his neighbor aboard today. We got started at the very last of the falling tide. Searched and searched the northside looking for my measily needed 18 pogies. There was none!

Went back dropped the 55 pounds of anchor and chain to the bottom on the inside of the jetties. There was barely any current, so we'd just bide our time and let the tide change, catching a few mini-Croakers, which I kept in the livewell. Some Whiting and of course, and for the closest to the rocks, little Seabass.

For the two young guys, this was their first time. First time out in Lake Atlantic, or close to it, on a boat.  Then, I pulled anchor and went and hunted again.......still no live baits for Redbass fishing. Back to the rocks again....same deal all over. This time we sat in a vortex of current going one way, then switching and going the other. All wrong. Time to get outa here!

This time, it was the search for Mullet. Another bait I haven't even pressed into service. Because I haven't had too. But they too, were damn near LONG GONE......

Not to change the story here, but to give relavence....Friday myself and friend went down river in search of Trout. I knew going in it would be a snipe hunt, because the word on the water hasn't been promising. So we began Trout fishing near the Dames Point area, worked our way on the rising tide to damn near Trout River. Hitting all the places, that I've always caught them. I had one trout hook-up and lost the fish behind the boat. Other than that, we never lost a bait. Never had even a bite. The water down that way is about as grimey as it can get.  B-U-T......the bait???????  It's everywhere!!!!!!! Mullet of every size. Pogies large and small. But then again. Not a Jack, a Ladyfish catch, not even a Pinfish!!!!

But boy there's allot of bait down that way!!!

We ended up leaving. That area of the river has nothing to offer me, other than knowing that's where all the bait is.
Back at the jetties we float-rigged up Two Flounder along the jetty rocks, then put away the not so trusty float-rigs and bottom fished for 20 Whiting and Two Sheepshead on live shrimp. So Friday, we saved the day but sure used some fuel.

So back to today...

We went to the southside of the south jetty. ONE school of Mullet came down the rocks as I pushed them into the jetty with the boat and pitched the net. Had about 10 Mullet, now.

An itch I have to scratch is the beach Kingfish.....someday I'll catch some. So we blew out to the S.E. Hole to pitch out a few Mullet and make a nice long drift. The water out there looks like Sailfish water. Dark blue and clear as a bell. Glass minnow schools everywhere. There was hardly a puff of wind, the water was slick glass calm, so making that long drift was out of the question. So I had to do the "bump in gear, bump outa gear" slow troll to keep those big Mullet from swimming circles around the boat.

Patience with my crew wasn't all that long, and after maybe an hour they were either laying on the deck, or bored. But this ""is"" slow bump and roll, live baiting.....(memo: I really want to scratch that itch STILL, guess I'll try another day.) So I ran all the way back to the jetties, up river and stopped at the little Jetties.

WE STILL HAD CURRENT. The tide was still rising and even though the weekender traffic was too thick for my liking, I anchored up perfectly where I needed to be.

I told the two boys, "THIS IS IT. TIDES DON'T GIVE US A SECOND CHANCE!" So out went a big mullet, and one of the mini-Croakers I'd saved. The current wasn't too bad, 5-6 oz leads held the baits good along the brake, I call "Cut-Off Ledge" behind where we were anchored.

The structure brings in the fish, and the structure can also be your enemy.

It didn't take long......

First rod doubles over and my twin drag Accurate reels were smokin'. 10 pounds of drag or more, and these Monster Redbass don't even slow down. They were big Reds, because the rod tips were bucking and thumping, and the fish would turn. Turn right into the structure down below and POP, goes the leader. Well...that was it.

Re-rigged, re-baited and not long after there goes another rod. Doubled over and bucking. Big Redbass #2, claims another victim. POP, goes the leader.

Re-rig, re-bait, and Pauls neighbor hooks up off the bow on a lighter rod. POP, victim #3 claims his "fish-gone" certificate.

Three in a row, three fish educating fisherman, in the ways of the river in the summer heat!  

The flooding tide quit. The boat swung, so we headed in.

All I can say is........what a day.

I hope to have an easier time catching free and live bait on my next trip, and next trip, and my next trip.

And next up for me is Tuesday.

The best & sharpest

SICK OF DULL FILLET KNIVES?

YEAH, SO WAS I. WET STONES, DRY STONES, MIRACLE SHARPENERS....I HAVE ALLOT MORE TO DO THEN SIT AND SHARPEN KNIFE BLADES AFTER A LONG CHARTER DAY.

PERSONALLY, I'LL LET THE SAME PEOPLE WHO MAKE THE SCALPELS FOR DOCTORS. SHARPEN MY FILLET BLADES.

HERE'S A WAY TO GET ONE WITH FREE SHIPPING TO YOUR DOOR.
http://myemail.constantcontact.com/New-Havalon-Baracuta-Knife-Available.html?soid=1102445124774&aid=_pLmlxnuQVU

CONSIDER THIS, A HEADS UP FOR THE SERIOUS ANGLER/HUNTER. WHO TAKE PRIDE IN A "JOB WELL DONE", AT THE END OF THE DAY.

NEED MORE PROOF....CHECK THIS OUT

6/2 - Inshore Summer Dayz......

Well, we already hooked and lost the years first Tarpon.
It was a perfect "crowd pleaser" at under 40 inches. (Similar to this one)


Light Tackle Float-rig fishing, with live shrimp hooks allot of Tarpon, during the summer months.

Unfortunately, it wasn't the targeted fish. So the small wire hook, broke in half at the side of the boat.

We were actually fishing for "REDS". Reddrum, Redfish, Redbass, whatever ya call them. They are the summer targeted fish, along the Mayport Jetty rocks, of the St. Johns River inlet.

18 miles due west of down-town Jacksonville, Florida.

So far this year, it is the year of the POGIE! They are everywhere. Some years they are not. But it can be a curse too. SO MUCH FOOD FOR THE TAKING.

With not only Pogies, aka: Menhaden all over the inlet. There's plenty of small "rain minnows" aka: Glass Minnows, and schools of every size Mullet imaginable, along with Threadfin Herring, swimming around the giant granite boulders, that make up the Mayport Jetties.

But the standard exersize is head over to the "pods" of Pogies each morning, cast the net, and watch it swim away with 500 Pogies in it.

BTW, There should be Jacks around. But as of right now, we've caught TWO....where are they, is what I'm wondering? Fish this size, around structure, on light tackle can be pure adrenaline angling! I love'em this size, for their pure terror!


I dump out most of the Pogies netted, needing only two dozen maybe for a afternoon of fishing the tide, and sending down Pogies on the bottom along the edges of the massive granite jetty boulders.

Be it either "bottom bait" or used on a 3/8ths to 1/2 ounce leadheaded jig cast up into the rocks.

The larger live baits will get more attention then a live shrimp by the Redfish that patrol the hot spots along the rocks, on a ebb or rising tide. Shrimp invite the small "baitstealers" to bite. And the jetties has NO lack of them.

The fisheries people say we have no Seabass, but then again every rocks, ledge, anchor, dock, and piece of oyster clump, on the bottom probably has 20 juvenile Seabass on it. Up and down this stretch of the St. Johns river. And they are eating machines....some will eat a big Pogie, or Mullet. Because that's one fish with eyes bigger than it's stomach. Jus' like baby Grouper! No difference.

The Reds along the jetty rocks are pretty much all to big to keep. Most are in the 30 inch catagory, and larger. So if you want a keeper, KEEP CATCHING. It's a numbers game.

NOW...is the time to think 4th of July! Book all Holidays at least 30 days ahead of time. Don't be like the calls I had over Memorial day weekend at 8pm, wanting a trip at 7am the next day. First come, first reserved.

6/1 - Holiday weather, today.

The Marine NOAA forecast kept saying (Memorial Day) Monday NE 10-15 knots. Well, thank goodness that was wrong. But I believe with today's winds that it's finally here. Could barely "cut my dirt" in my backyard for all the dust flying around.

6/1 - NORTH WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS BECOMING NORTHEAST 10 TO 15 KNOTS IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 2 TO 3 FEET. INLAND WATERS A LIGHT CHOP. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE MORNING...THEN ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AFTERNOON.

If these gust are just 15 knots, then I'd hate to see 20 knot gusts!

Okay, right N-O-W, is when folks ought to start thinking ahead to the 4th of July Holiday. And it's funny not a single person that's a "registered reports blog reader" responded to the June discount, either. It was in the last newsletter I sent, and only for those folks.

Still looking to leave those jetties behind, and head out to catch a King, Cobia, Cuda, or Blacktip. Pre-scheduled is June 7th with 3 guys and hope to do it then.

Remember: 30 days advcanced reservations for all major Hoildays and a week is good for all weekdays and weekends.







Here's a reminder of why I love fishing the jetties in the fall & winter more than any place else.
Guiding: Nick Watson from Jacksonville's own, Celtic Rock Band, "Rathkeltair" on November 14th 2009:

It's not against the law to reserve your dates now for around Thankgiving.

5/31 - Early morning GHOST town:

Wow, everyone must have "partied like it was 1999" on Sunday. Because the boat ramp was a Ghost town at 7am this morning.
I liked that! As I told my customer Ken W. "There were more people out here on Mother's Day!"

Having a vacant boat ramp and river doesn't bother me one bit. More room for me. I had two adults and two teenage boys today, as we headed out towards the jetties. AGAIN, thank goodness the marine forecast was wrong. Originally, I had my doubts. The N.E. winds 10-15 or better, wasn't part of the equation. Although there was plenty of close swell in the ocean. Being out there early had us NOT finding any Pogies for Redbass bait, at first. Low level sun, and some clouds had spotting the dark spots in the water mighty tough. So, instead of bouncing around I went and anchored up till the sun came up a little better. And gave us a chance to watch the Pelicans, to see if they could find them for us.

In the mean time, the guys caught a few Whiting and a true "scalloped" Hammerhead Shark. It was just a baby, 20" long. But still a cool catch.  It didn't take long, for the tide to start to ebb, and when it did I pulled anchor and headed over the jetty rocks and spotted several pods of Pogies. Made a few casts with the net and got the bait we needed, for our Redbass fishing.

The boat bounced around like it was in a washing machine......"and I guess it's still rough out there right now. Because as I write this report it's 7am on Tuesday and my phone is ringing with people bumped off, offshore charter trips already!"

I went on the inside of the rocks and tried to get this party started ASAP. I had rigged a few 3/8ths oz. jigheads. I pinned a Pogie on and made some casts up into the shallow rocks at the tip of the jetty. I had to cast, the boys couldn't pitch the light baits on a Shimano Citica baitcaster. And after a few survey pitches, I got bit. And handed it to one of the boys. PARTY STARTED!
It was a 27-1/2" (over sized) Redbass. But a good catch....with a litl' help for Cappy Dave.


I got Ken into the casting also, since he's a baitcasting Bass Fisherman. But we only had the one taker, as we power drifted the jetty.

We went an anchored up where I was yesterday. In hopes of the Whiting chewing like they did on Sunday.

So with two Pogies out the stern, and two rods out with the boys fishing with shrimp. We were ready for whatever.

Some decent sized Whiting were coming over the rails, when a Pogie rod doubled over.

And we had another "RB" hooked up.
I was down to "TWO" anglers, and had TWO on the bow seasick.

This next RB was larger......

It was 32" and a good catch for our teen-age angler.

Then, from out of now where, the boat swung and we weren't laying along the rocks any longer. "We were caught up in the vortex of hell....." 
I kept live baits on and out behind the boat, butthe further away from the rocks meant, alien hover-craft hook-ups. AKA: Stingrays!!
Ken, got slam dunked by one that had his way with him, the entire battle was under the boat and around the outboard. But as an experienced angler he held his own and eventually got the garbage can lid sized Stinger up to the boat. Then, another one. A massive one took our Jr. Anglers line and dumped the spool. No stopping this one, so I had to bust it off before I'd loose $50 worth of 30# Braided line!

Yep, ya gotta love summer time at the jetties! You can ALWAYS count on the Stingers to ruin allot of tackle. As the tide/current straighted out, we got back in line along the rocks finally. And boxed a few more Whiting, and hooked up another Pogie eating Redbass. That was a KEEPER at 26-1/2".

It wasn't long after, that Ken's son-in-law said, "Let's Go." He had a case of the hee-bee-gee-bee's, and was just down for the count. So we kinda made it an early day. And headed back to clean our catch.

They guys ended up with a dozen or so Whiting and one Redbass for frying pan. As we left the breeze seemed to start swinging around towards the NE a little bit. And if it did, I can bet today is again a washing machine out there.

It's summer. But it's summer in Jax. Which doesn't always mean slick calm waters, at the jetties or off the beach or offshore. So, always be prepared for the water to be moving, either up or down, or side ways. When we're out there. It's your responsibility to come prepared.

5/29 - Holiday's almost over...

I still after 15 years find it really incredible that people do not plan. Since Thursday, I recieved call after call for Sunday and Monday.
And yesterday was really the bomb......no less than 25 calls for either Sunday or Monday. Sometimes, twice by the same people!

Let me just say this, as I've said before.......30 days minimum for all Holidays please! Two weeks is what I like for any charter day. But the world has really changed. Back when I got started in this, Cell Phones weren't even all that popular. But of course I soon needed one, and my first was a present from my dad for my birthday. I used to book days from 3 to 6 months in advance at times. Now, I'm lucky if I get 6 days. It's a gimme-gimme, world now. And if I had 14 boats and 14 captains I could trust, I could possibly be driving a new Ford truck. But I don't. I'm one guy with 40 rods and reels, and only one boat!

Today, I had John K. his son John-John, and Kenny aboard. Great Guys!!! Fun to be with. We started the day as I usually do, scanning the water for the "FLIP & SPLAT" of a Pogie, outside the north rocks. We chansed them around a bit, right at the tip of the north. But the real schools were about a 1/4 mile over towards Ft. George Inlet. One toss of the net and it swam away.

Back to the rocks. Anchored up and it wasn't long before John was hooked up.

A pretty 32 incher in the net. One down, more to go? Not really.....John-john hooked into something absolutely monsterous. But it turned out to be a Dumpster lid sized StingRay that sucked itself to the bottom after John-john already broke a big sweat. I had to bust it off.
These guys are like me. The big reds are okay. But I like to E-A-T! and I love a fried fish sandwich. So we made a move. Not far at all, but it's where we stayed the entire rest of the day. WHY, once ya find fish, don't lkeave fish to find fish else where.

And we found them. THE NEST OF WHITING, willing and able to find their way into our fish box! And I ain't talking just small "dink" Whiting either. We had "bulls", the size of keeper Speckled Trout! Filling the box with close to 50, which equates into 100 fillets. Prime eating fillets, when tossed in Zaterains Country Fish fry mix and peanut oil.















COOLER FULL OF PRIME FRIED FISH SANDWICHES!

Using four, yes four pounds, of shrimp. They were chewing really good. As the guys waylayed the Whiting, I kept pitrching a Pogie out, and even though the rocks adjacent us didn't seem to be holding any Reds, I eventually hooked one and as it took line off the reel I handed it to John-john. It was a 26-1/2 inch keeper.

We never left this Whiting hot spot. Until the tide slowed and we started to swing on the anchor line.

It was a great day. I always like people who are like me. And I love a big fish-fry. And I love Whiting, too. So we fished the entire tide. So we packed it in and headed back to the dock.

Monday: 4 passengers, and then this Holiday is OVER.

Now, do ya think I can get people thinking ahead for around 4th of July?  I know of one group, the Tanner clan. Greg Tanner will book his day early. Because I've been taking him and his kids for years. He knows the deal....

Thanks John. It was a good time, today. Hope to see ya'll again.

5/27 - Back in the river...& a Reel review.

Had Chris W. and his wife Leila, for a day of river/inlet fishing. Departing at 7am we headed to the jetties. Yep, the swell was still lingering from yesterday's hard SE winds. Pogies? Couldn't get any easier. I find it so funny, because I can easily remember years when a livewell of Pogies for bait was a luxury. Because if you had the money and time to spend hours looking for them, you might of ended your search finally all the way past Ponte Vedre beach.

Now, all we have to do is turn the north jetty, and there they are. Oh, how each year is a spin of the "wheel of fortune".

We started anchored inside the north rocks as the swell picked us up and down. My usual one Black Drum per day spot, now that it's summer. But instead of using shrimp we dropped over live Pogies. The falling tide had just started pushing.

It was not super uncomfortable, I knew we wouldn't be here all that long. Eventually, the cloud of queasiness hung over Chris' head. So we picked up and headed down river toward the Little Jetties area.

The tide there was just starting, so we tried Pogies. But after I caught a yellowmouth Trout on a dead shrimp. We switched over to all Shrimp. Sitting along the channel edge, fish number one was the lowly Toadfish. Then came one Seabass after another. As I hoped for more Yellowmouths, maybe Croakers, or even a Drum.

Those rule making fisheries people who have closed Seabass in NE Florida should come with me. The St. Johns River is carpeted with juvenile Seabass, and during this time of year there's probably 1000 small Seabass for ever single jetty rock out at the inlet.
I find them a nuisance, many times.

We did catch a few Whiting. But that was it. Only a few. I wanted to NOT run around, I wanted to keep lines wet. So we stayed put. And it finally worked, with one of my standard river rods bowing over as it sat in the rod holder. Something sucked up a live Pogie, and was haulin' butt......ripping line off the spool!

It was a long hard battle in the strong current on the light tackle.

A multi-spotted monster was now in the boat!
Weighing in at 27 pounds!

We tried for another, and the the small fish stopped completely biting. And right as the current slowed my crew was ready to pack it in.
We "may" have had another chance at a monster Redbass, as the tide slacked. But, we ended on a high note. And I was finally home for dinner time, too. Later, the skies darkened, and the breeze picked up as I cleaned the boat up after the last two days. So it was a good thing to not linger to late today.

I'm keeping a close eye on the winds for Sunday & Monday. With a full boat each day.




REEL REVIEW:

Shimano TRN100G - I've had these reels since this past winter. I wanted to match up my Ugly Stik white catfish series rods with a really tough (hopefully) reel that I could use as a utility bottom fishing reel. I've had similar Shimano's before, such as the "charter specials" that are lever drag, levelwinds. But those were just a bit too involved for basic bottom fishing. I already have "twin drag ACCURATES" that are lever drag reels. And nothing made can compare to them. So, I got a 6 pack of the Shimano TRN 100G's for everyday use.

These reels come in two sizes. the 100's and 200's.
For my purposes, there's no need for a 200. They already hold so much 30# braided line it's ridicules.



Here's the stats:
Power Pro,  braided Line Capacity (# Test/Yards) 40/410,50/405,65/390.......and I'm using 30#

Max Drag is 14 pounds which has proved itself more than adequate.


The gear ratio is 4.3:1, which is slow. Especially when you're used too 6.2:1 Shimano Curado 300's.
But my customers need power, not speed.


 So now it's been almost 6 months, and these reels have been used and abused. And I can say, "THESE ARE SOME SERIOUS WORK HORSES." Kinda like a Abu Garcia 6500 Ambassador, which used to be the fishing reel equivalent of a Timex watch. The TRN100's are a tad larger. But when it comes to the DRAG, not many reels beat the Shimano's. And being a GRAPHITE reel, you don't get the corrosion problems you get with an Ambassador, either. (been there, done that, didn't get the T-shirt!!)

I actually chose these reels because they were graphite. Because of their daily use, the last thing I wanted was corrosion issues.


I can tell you that I'm still very happy with their performance. And if any of you really know me. I will buy, use and get rid of tackle in a heart beat, if it's not working out for me. I buy sometimes just to try it out. Some make the grade, most don't.

These reels have worked through all those winter Drum, and now monster Redbass. But at the same time, they are also my Kingfish, Cobia and small Shark reels this summer. I gave up a long time ago on having designated special Kingfish rods and reels, because Kings don't really put up all that much of a battle to start off with. Certainly, not compared to a really big Redbass on a falling tide in the river. BUT...you do want the smoothest drag you can get when it comes to small hooks and live bait, when King Mackerel fishing.

Yesterday's battle, against the 26 pound Redbass had me thinking about these reels as I cleaned them after the charter. I wiped them off with a damp towel, inspected them and said to myself. "These were a great investment, for my charters." They're not fancy, they're not super high speed, or Gold anodized aluminum. But I sure have got my money's worth out of them in the last 6 months. And without a hitch, either.  And to me, that makes the Shimano TRN100's a good durable reel, I'd recommend and buy again.

Best Prices, with FAST free shipping, and you can also earn REBATE POINTS, in case you're wondering:  http://www.edgeangling.com/Shimano-TR-TRN100G.html

I may even get a couple more, for a few more Ugly Stiks I have.


Tight Lines.

5/26 - First real "Chum & Drift trip"

Yep, first genuine chum and drift trip, "it was so dang rough, it's about all we could do." So I'm glad I came prepared. Had regular clients Jeff and his dad Harry aboard. They've done just about everything with me, before. Trout fished, float-rigged the rocks, bottom fished the river. Light tackle fished the shallows. But because of the jetties being so slow the last few trips, I had to change gears.  Jeff and Harry were up to it.

Come to find out the seas would be 4 feet back to back, with small craft exersize caution. Well, my 26 foot craft just slow peddled around in it, as the spray from the wind drenched us at times as we moved from area to area.

POGIES? Good gawd, this is definately the year of the Pogie. We no sooner broke out the jetties and turned north and there was an 1/2 acre right on the north side of the jetties. One toss of my 8 foot bait buster net and it went swimming away, full. Some go into the livewell and some into my chum chopper.

But first, it was time to try a few shrimp boats. Two were out a ways....probably to stay away from all the Pogie schools. We dropped in behind the smaller boat and it didn't look good. The water was clear, there was a few Dolphins, and we saw no Blacktips. I looked at the man in the back of the shrimp boat as I cast a few lines baited with a bunch of dead Pogies over the nets and he just shrugged in return. When the sharks were thick as fleas, I've had who ever was standing at the back of the shrimp boat, usually point straight over the transom.

We tried a few more times. There was nothing on the shrimp boats. So we made our way back towards the Pogie pods. All I hear is "POGIE PODS...that's where the Cobia are!" Well, there was thousands of pods of bait everywhere ya looked. As the wind blew the water into white caps. Personally,  I've never seen a Cobia on a Pogie pod. Just Cuda's. I've seen Cuda's circling them as if to keep them in line, like Kindergarteners walking to the cafeteria for lunch.  We looked and saw so many Pogie Pods and saw not a single fish swimming around them, at least not on the surface.

My plans were to just drift with live ones out behind the boat and use the chum chopper to keep a slick out as we drifted. That's why I had my chopper built into my boat. No need for endless slow trolling, this summer.

We worked the chum hole area, making mile long drifts only to have a Pogie chomped by small Bluefish. Our slick never even drew a single shark, let alone a Cobia, a Spanish Mackerel, or a King Mackeral. As we were hoping.

We made a zip code change and ran south against the 4 foot folding seas, heading for the SE hole area. Again, the Pogie pods were everywhere. The seas had me stop short of the genuine depth of the SE Hole. We saw plenty of Turtles, and small Rays along the way.

Again, we started a drift and started a good slick behind the boat. Drifting straight back to the south Jetty. The seas really had us alone. We saw maybe 4 boats all day long, and not many out where we were.

Harry had a rod bow over and had a fish on. It jumped and I caught a glipse of it. It was long and silvery. He got a good run out of it, but it somehow broke the mono top shot I had tied between the braid and the wire kingfish rig. We drifted a bit more and then Jeff's rod bowed over and he was hooked up with something decent. As he reeled it in we could barely see it. It was shaped like a Cobia, with a wide tail. Then I saw it's head.....I yelled "It's a damn Bluefish!!" No one wanted to believe me. Or was I seeing things. No, maybe it's a small Cobia. But I didn't  see the Cobia's distinctive white line on it's side.

No, it is a Bluefish!!!


















HOLY SMOKES...this one is a "Oil Tanker".
It was huge. We're not used to seeing Nantucket sized Bluefish around here. Years and years ago, there would be monster blues show up at the end of the jetties. But that's been a thing of the past. My Mom on her Mother's Day Trip years ago caught a Nine pounder while trolling for Kingfish offshore. But this one was even larger.

We put it on the Boga-Grip scale and it was 12 pounds. I couldn't believe it was so skinny looking with all this bait out here. But then again, look at the recent bite on it's tail. Probably a Dolphin. Can't figure any fish out here would tangle with this dude, let alone be able to catch it.

It's head and jaws were huge.






















We continued our drift. And as we discussed Harry's hook-up, it too was obviously a monster Bluefish. It's not like we see Blues this large everyday. So while hoping for a Mackerel or a Cobia. To see a Bluefish crash the surface way behind the boat, then loose it. Has one pondering, "what was that?"

The next hook-up was a small Blacktip Shark. That ate Harry's Pogie. It was a stocky little dude around 10 pounds.

We came up on the south rip, and inside the dark water it was nastier as all hell. Didn't want to drift through that. So we picked up and headed back north again. We had a few small bluefish chomped baits. But it was very apparent, "It was not in the cards to chum up anything decent like a Cobia today, at least not with my Cobia luck. I usually do just that, "luck into them." Either while trolling for Kingfish, or as the last one I caught. Sitting frustrated eating crackers, drinking a bottle of water when two swim up to the side of the boat.

Back to the jetties we slowly go. The north side of the rocks were out of the wind. But there wasn't a stitch of current. I like me lots of current. Without it, I believe nothing bites. So after a short break anchored up in smooth water, it was time to go back and fish up inside the river.

Hell, I had to do something...I was scraping and scratching for anything! So, even though I wanted nothing to do with river or jetty fishing today. Here we are now, anchored up at the little jetties!!

I talked to a friend, that was anchored up and he said he'd had one break off and that was it. So we anchored away from him and dropped out two Pogies. Sliding on the anchor, between the wind and the haulin butt current of the rising tide. Harry hooked up!
And then it was gone. "Oh, that ledge down there, takes no prisoners!"  Yep, we slid back just far enough on the anchor, that we were no fishing "CUT-OFF LEDGE", at the Little Jetties. I've lost so many big  Reds to that ledge of lime rock down there, it's unbelievable.

Next, it was Jeff's turn. His rod thumped several times and now the fish is off and running.

















Between the current and wind blown water, the fish handed Jeff a silver platter, whoopin' on him really good.














After a lengthy battle he got the big Red to the boat on relative light tackle, in adverse conditions.

It was a nice 16 pound Redbass and had a hook and someone elses leader hanging out of it's mouth. Probably someone else, sitting on "cut off ledge".

We tried for another. But it was getting late, the wind was relentless and Harry and Jeff had their fill. Boy, it was an adventerous day. And the rest of the Holoiday weekend isn't going to be very windless, that's for sure.


 FRIDAY - SOUTH WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS BECOMING SOUTHEAST IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 2 TO 4 FEET. INLAND WATERS A LIGHT CHOP. ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.

SATURDAY - SOUTH WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS BECOMING SOUTHEAST IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 2 TO 3 FEET. INLAND WATERS A LIGHT CHOP. ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE MORNING.

SUNDAY - EAST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 4 FEET. INLAND WATERS A LIGHT CHOP.
NOT GOOD!

MONDAY - NORTHEAST WINDS 15 KNOTS. SEAS 3 TO 5 FEET. INLAND WATERS A MODERATE CHOP.
NOT GOOD!

I'll be out with a full boat, and kids on Sunday and Monday......OMG!

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