More Filter's, Funnel's, Ethanol & WATER.

8/24 - Pre-Irene, ""Trout Hunt""

Doing alittle R&D, and going to one of my favorite areas, where I don't get waked, see a single other boat. No Navy, No Coasties, No Tugs, No Ships, No Helicopters, No Jetski's, just peace and quiet all day long in a prestine area. I can take you there too..."Fall is best."


"Jing" screen shot of area fished:

As it turns out, Irene was a total "DUD" for us here, and just another storm that did us no good at all. I'm looking for BIG RAIN, to flush Trout my way. Maybe next time.

8/23 - Here she comes.....

Here comes Irene.

MARINE FORECAST:

SEAS WILL BEGIN TO INCREASE ON WEDNESDAY AS SWELLS START
TO ARRIVE FROM HURRICANE IRENE. WNA WAVE MODEL INCREASES SEAS TO
NEAR 20 FEET OFFSHORE THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY AS IRENE MOVES BY TO
THE EAST. EASTERLY WINDS WILL INCREASE WEDNESDAY NIGHT AS PRESSURE
GRADIENT STARTS TIGHTENING. TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS WILL BEGIN BY
THURSDAY NIGHT...WITH HURRICANE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE OVER OFFSHORE
ZONES FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT.

I remember when we used to get storms. I also remember when people booked their trips months in advance too. I guess I'm getting old.

Today, Tuesday the 23rd, is the last day that would be decent if you were to go fishing this week. Because from here on out till Irene passes the winds are going to build.

I suppose we'll get allot of rain, and high winds as the storm passes by us(?) So what's that mean for fishing?

Usually, it's a good thing. But it all depends of how much rain. Because if the central part of the state goes dry, them no water goes into the St. Johns River, rain water I mean. But if it does and it's allot, you can expect that some of the bait, shrimp and fish that are stuffed up river will start to come "MY" way, as in toward the coastline.

I'd love to see lots of rain, over central Florida. Then, I'd love to see salinaty levels plummet in the river. During August of 2009. Customer Kirk M. and I found that perfect water after a mid-August passing storm.


And we caught over 100 Speckled Trout in one day! Along with Reds, Sheepshead and Flounder. We did the day in two parts.

Using 12 dozen shrimp in the morning, then coming back to the boat ramp off loading our fish, then Kirk running back to the bait shop, getting 13 dozen more, and then we ran straight back and caught even more. "IT WAS INSANE!"

I don't have many times that makes me feel as if I'm fishing in Lake Pontchatrain, Louisiana. But out of the maybe a few times a year. This was one of them. The Trout were stacked up in water that measured 6 parts per thousand of salinaty, versus the normal high 20's or low 30's, that's keeping summer trout away from the upper parts of the river all summer long.

Yes, Lake Pontachatrain is usually less than 6 parts per thousand of saltwater. And is why the place is a Trout Mecca!

But for us. It's a rare opportunity to actually fish in almost fresh water, which again.....The Trout Love!

Screen-shot of area fished this day two years ago after a big storm with loads of rain:  Salinaty 6Parts Per Thousand, meant Trout Bonanza!!!

So...what the morale of this story?

The morale is, you may want to get with me, talk dates and tides and book your charter!!

8/20 - Sharkin'

Oh how I have to be a "jack of all trades" in the summer. One day I'm in the river with a boat load of kids, and then with a  regular customer hunting the ever illusive giant Redbass on a full moon tide. Then, not having set foot in the Ocean in 10 days, I'm out chum fishing for instant shark action.

Had three guys out on Saturday, and that's what they wanted "Sharks and Tarpon". Well, the Tarpon should be reserved for the next trip to the Florida Keys. But, I thought the sharks would be do-able. Hell, I caught them last time and the water temp in the ocean was a balmy 76 degrees. So, you'd think the moons would be aligned with Venus, since the water's back to 82 degrees.

Well, if you thought that YOU'RE WRONG.  It's bazzaro world!

The swells were close out of the SE. And first I had to locate was at least 30 pounds of Pogies. I accomplished that out in 38 feet of water.  Hmmmm....What ever happened to Pogies up behind the surf?? Remember when they used to be always south and behind the surf? I do. But so far this year the actual shallowest I've caught a Pogie was at least 20+feet.

Again, Bazzaro world??

You're only as good as your last movie in Hollywood, and for fishing guides the fishing is only as good as the last place ya caught them.  So I headed to the SE Hole, slam-bamming our way against the tight seas. Pulled up to exactly where we caught a half dozen sharks, and did it without any pogies to even churn in my chum chopper.

After at least an hour and several scoops of pogies into the chum chopper. Not a single sniff of LIFE, not a fin, not a look, nothing but a school of small little jacks of some kind following the stern of my boat eating all that came out of my chum chopper.

I spied on the way to go get some pogies for chum, at least 5 shrimp boats. Not a one was dragging. They all were sitting on anchor. Well, this isn't the Gulf of Mexico where jus the shear presences of a shrimp boat seems to draw pelagics. So I gave them no mind.

Without a bite, we packed it up and headed north to the chum hole. Same deal. Chum like crazy, and not even the ghost of summer's past, showed up to play. Then, I spotted one out of the 5 shrimp boats was actually dragging, a boat much closer to the beach off Ft. George then normal. So as I was about to give up and go soak dead pogies on the bottom in the river I ran over to it.

No chum needed, we instaly had a double header of 4 footers. And as long as we were behind this boat in some fashion, with baits floating, the guys sweated and sweated and sweated and caught a dozen of the exact same shark species, basically the same size. Not one Blacktip, nothing except these smaller unknown, I'd have to take a wild guess, Atlantic Sharp nose sharks??

All we know, is they are lightning fast and can bolt from one direction to another turning in less length then their own. And they ranged maybe from 20-40+ pounds. Not the 150 pounders of years past. The ones I remember taking damn near all the line off my twin drag Accurate reels, have not been caught yet this year. And, probably won't be behind the shrimp boats. Because if they do show up, I'll be on to something else by then.

I was constantly busy, either re-rigging or just plain running the boat so I didn't get any photos. But my crew did and took lots of video. They said they'd send me some, so I could post it here.

I'm really ready for that "something else" by the time late summer gets here. And I'm probably conceding to the fact that my motto, "no long boat rides" is gonna have to be only a winter time motto. So I'll be heading north for all light tackle Trout, Redfish etc. trips, for awhile.

It's not a new area that I want to explore, just a different one. And maybe well worth it.

8/21 - We have it soooo good!

The Jettywolf would be the "stay inside wolfie" if this was our inlet.
Never realized Boynton inlet, Florida was like this...or is that really just a "land gap"?

We have it good, I guess.

Jus a reminder, for Sharkin'

I GOT IT!
And it's always FRESH.

8/18 - "do you remember, when?"

I do, because I keep log book entries......"jus like entries about catches."  Because my whole world seems to revolve around gas prices.

I remember it....."I was back to being so happy, it was unbelieveable!"  It was December of 2008, and I actually survived yet another catatastrophy, the $4.00 plus a gallon fuel of  spring of  '08. Where I actually saw $4.20 in J-ville. I was about to loose it all.

But, it had to be only because Bush #2 opened up the Federal Gas reserves, which sent prices "back to when I was in my hay day, in Jacksonville".



Survival of the fittest. Just like the fish that swim in the water.

8/15 - Full Moon Rising...

Had Don M. and his buddy aboard the Jettywolf, for a day of river fishing. We fished deep for big Redbass, mixed with fishing shrimp on the bottom, looking for some good eaters. But the Seabass wore us out. Many were "just short" of legal. They seem to have taken the place of the Mangrove Snappers "we used to have", before the winter of 2010, that either killed all of them or sent them packin'.

The full moon loomed in the sky all morning, creating some screaming currents. Here's Don with a 13 pound Redbass first thing in the morning. The breeze kept us cooler, but the wind in the camera wasn't a good thing. So I added some up beat tempo music.

It was one seriously tough day of fishing. Although the three of us worked hard for either big fish, or some good "eaters", for take home.

But no fear, here's some footage of fishing in the screaming flood tide:



The full moon tides will get increasingly strong as we approach fall. Seeming to "peak out" in October, during the harvest moon.

8/10 - Hangin' in the river

Picked up the Baker clan today at Sisters Creek boat ramp.  I had Curtis, the father and 3 kids. It's been awhile since I had three kids on board. And yep, I'll admit.

They worked me hard.

We started out with just barely enough rising tide to hit a spot that may produce a big Redbass. It would be a great way to start the day.

And it was. It didn't take all that long soaking a half of a 12" Mullet on the bottom, before we GOT BIT.

The battle insued......

With a helping hand from Dad an 11 year old will have his hands full.

Not hardly able to hold the fish, with wore out arms I got a "white belly" shot, after it hit the deck.

The 23 pound Redbass, was a true trophy. And a great fish to have been caught and we weren't away from the dock for an hour, yet.

I LIKE STARTING THINGS OFF LIKE THIS!!!

Once the tide turned and the boat started swinging, I had to make casts out toward the channel edge. No more big Redbass bites, but one taker of a half Mullet was this 14" river bottom, Black Seabass.

As the tide started to fall it was time for the kids to get on the rods all by themselves.

So we hit a few spots, while they all fished just dead shrimp on the bottom catching Croakers, Whiting, Yellowmouth Trout.
They kept me so busy baiting them up, that I didn't take any more photos. We ran through over two pounds of shrimp, as they started from absolute scratch. I had to teach them how to work the reel, how to feel the bottom, and how to set the hook.


An education it was....and we were done and back at the dock by 12:35. I don't know who was more wore out, me or them.


-------------------------------------------------------------
ALWAYS CALL, (8am-8pm) to consult me about the best days, tides etc.
It's always good to have wiggle room. And reserve well in advance.

8/9 - Sharkin'

Since my last report, I've done a  2 hr. Kids Trip, where we go out to the Shrimp boats and see all the Dolphins, and then stop and fish the jetties for a little while. I had Mom, Grandpa and two youngsters aboard.

The tide had switched as I dropped them off, and it was just 10am, so I hit the lil jetties and caught 4 Reds on the rising tide.
No big ones, but up to 15 pounds. None were small enough to keep last Thursday.

I went all weekend with "tire kicker" calls and people who thought I was a party boat, and would depart at 10am. I find all that kinda funny......

Today, I had John K. and his son aboard. His son Hayden wanted to try shark fishing. We departed right at 7am and headed out to the chum hole and behind some shrimp boats. I told John on the phone, we're working with cool water temps right now. Rather than a 83 degree ocean temp, it's been 76 on the beach.

The good thing in our favor was that I was too the boat ramp extra early. And I saw Mullet jumping right off the end of the dock this morning. So I quickly grabbed my net and easily caught at least 30 large mullet for bait.

No having to chase around looking for Pogies.

So with the chum hole shrimp boats not producing, we headed to the S.E. Hole, and fished 50 feet plus. Just drifting behind a few shrimpers, with live mullet out on corks.

We weren't there long and two takers right off the bat.  The neat thing about using the live mullet is the blow up you get when the sharks strike.

We ended up with a 1/2 dozen sharks eating the live Mullet. Mostly smaller Blacktips, they asked fore sharks and I delivered.
I just can't fish for sizes, though. We gotta take what we get.

 
A few did super streaking runs, and a few did some jumps, which was really cool.

I think the largest was a 50 pounder. And while out there we did see Tarpon rolling, and a giant Manta Ray paid us a visit, swiming around the back of the boat. Small Bonita schools were busting glass minnows on the surface. And as we drifted, there's no lack of schools of unknown bait all over the bottom.

The wind eventually started blowing hard off the beach chopping up the water, and our shark bite shut off, even though I had a great chum slick out behind the boat. Utilizing my "CHUM CHOPPER" built into my stern platform of the boat, I chopped up a bunch of old bait from the freezer. And it worked, because 5 minutes after chumming we caught the largest Blacktip of the day.


Since they shut down on us. We ran back to the river and anchored up at the Lil' Jetties and tried for a "FALLING TIDE" Redbass out in 35 feet of water. And only came up with TOO MANY Bluefish bites, and one stingray.

All which is a "Here's yer sign" that NO reds were around on a falling tide at this spot. Nothing ventured nothing gained?
Yeah, but they bite on this spot on a rising tide. But we didn't have that luxury at the end of our day.

8/2 - HOT day, BIG "RB's"

Had Danielle and crew from NY city passing through Jax, and doing some fishing. Beautiful morning, but the fishing for targeted species was s-l-o-w. As we skipped from spot to spot on the rising tide. Fishing just shrimp on the bottom, while putting a big bait out behind the boat, for a larger fish.

Whiting, Stingrays, Croakers, Pinfish, Pigfish, Crab, Sharks, were caught. But I was wanting BIG, or a real good eater. One spot we couldn't keep a shrimp on the bottom for two seconds because of the bait stealers. So we left.

Danielle said, "I'll need to use a rest room....soon".  Guess the bucket wouldn't do today. So we went by a public boat ramp and the girls used the restroom and we headed back out. Since Danielle planned her trip well in advance, I was able to plan ahead. I had a plan laid out for the day, so let's see if the last spot, would work out for us. 

The rising tide was screaming. Cool, green water was ripping under the boat. Fresh Blue Crab, Cut fresh Mullet and Croaker, with 8 ounces of sinker. Put the rod in the holders, sit back in the heat and wait.......and the wait didn't last long at all.

The first rod bent over like a horse shoe, and that's all she wrote.......

F-I-S-H  O-N!!!!!!!! 

From 15 to 30+ pounds, it was a great way to end our day. It was truely a steam bath. But so much FUN. I just don't get enough girls out there. I have to say, they're always a good time.


Here's the Video:

8/1- Reviewing the Mr. Funnel

Here ya go. My continuation of the quest to have good clean and less ethanol fuel in my boat. Huge investments keep me wanting to keep up with all my equipment.

7/31 - For sale....now on craigslist

The tackle on the right side bar for sale, is now on craigs list:

Last chance....reduced $$

http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/spo/2523306978.html

7/28 - Passing it on........

Fisherman's Factory Outlet
www.ffo-tackle.com

Special Offer at:

WWW.FFO-TACKLE.COM -  "clearing house for ......"

.....and many more brands.


Stock Up and Save on purchases over $40 @ Fisherman's Factory Outlet.

From now until 8/09/2011, you can save an additional 20% off our already discount prices when you purchase more than $40 in tackle.

To receive your additional 20% off, you need to place an order from www.ffo-tackle.com that is over $40 and enter jy2011 in the promotional code box during checkout.

This offer is for a limited time and cannot be used in combination with any other offer. FFO is not responsible for any disruptions in internet access that might inhibit a shopper's ability to order.

Sorry, we are unable to include the "Hard To Find Items" in this promotion.


This Offer Expires On August 9, 2011.

The fish don't care what you paid!

This is where I get all my braided line in bulk at a discount over all other stores.

Ethanol Test Update!!!!!

Yes, an ETHANOL TEST UPDATE.

Don't we all want to run "less" Ethanol through our outboards?
Especially, ya'll that don't run the boat but every few weeks.

I want M-O-R-E genuine gas, and L-E-S-S Ethanol that gives terrible fuel milage and bad performance. 10% or less, who cares. It's not good.



MORE tests to come.

7/25 - Back In Jax

Had Steve Williams and family that were on vacation in Jax. Steve was back, because he used to live here. And wanted a day of "sharkin" with his wife Jana and the boys.

It was day number three in a row for me. After the Greater Jax Kingfish tournament week, that I try and avoid charter fishing during. Just don't want the hassles of being out there while all that is going on.

So of course three days quickly piled up. Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Saturday I had Tim and his nephew Quint. We fished the river at first heading straight down towards the Dames Point bridge in hopes of Trout, Drum, Croakers and maybe a few over sized Redbass.

Well, the very "non-flowing" tide was a pain because we didn't have much current. And as we tried everything from bottom fishing to float-rig fishing the guys just got ate alive by bait-stealers, along the structure. It was un-real. And at the same time we could barely get even a Croaker bite. I tried cut Croaker for large Reds and they sat untouched on the bottom.

Not good!! And just 5 days earlier I had big Trout and Reds on the same spot on my "solo" trip down there.

So we worked around the area, still nothing and ended up at the Lil Jetties, where the current was better, but only caught Seabass, a Whiting and a yellowmouth Trout, and one Nurse shark.....Yeah, the saltwater intrusion has pushed the Nurses up to the lil Jetties now. That was the first Nurse at the Lil Jetties in my 28 years of fishing there.

We then ended up at the big Jetties, where I caught a netfull of big Mullet and couldn't even give one away on the bottom along the rocks.

On Sunday, I took three guys who were working here in Jax. Up to Nassua Sound area for a bit of chum fishing. Targeted species was of course Tarpon. Since out of most of the Tarpon catches I've made with customers, they've mostly come from up in the slews between the bars at Nassua Sound. Being all sand, it's easy anchoring, shallow and when we do hook one up, there's no other boats in our way.

But again, no current and not much going on. The guys did hook up with a small Blacktip right off the bat, and a stingray before the tide gave out. Which forced us to go make some open water drifts as I worked my chum chopper and a bag of 30 pounds of Pogies. Numerous drifts had us hook up one really big shark, but it jumped throwing a giant splash of water and then it was gone.

On the rising tide it was a futile operation back in between the bars. Big dead Mullet out on the bottom, as I chummed with Pogies in my chopper brought schools of Ladyfish in that ate all our chum as Bluefish ate all our Mullet on the bottom.

The skies started to darken to the south of us, so we high-tailed back through the ocean and in the jetties and back to the boat ramp before any high winds or down pours. Which did cut loose as I got home, 5 minutes from the boat ramp.

So, Steve, Jana and the kids from Dallas were wanting a shark trip huh?????  Well, I went north the day before, so I guess I'll go south today on Monday.

"If whatever your doing is wrong, the the opposite must be correct, huh?"

I worked really hard on our way to Nassau Sound on Sunday to get enough Pogies for chum while finding them out in 40 feet of water. And it did us no good at all.

There was no way I was gonna do that again on Monday. And from the looks of it, I wouldn't have too.

The shrimp boats were out in force. The chum hole, the S.E. Hole, all had shrimpers working the areas. So I went to the S.E. Hole, and the first boat we got behind instantly hooked us up on a double-header of smaller sharp-nosed Sharks.

After the morning "some what" coolness wore off, and the shrimp boats all anchored up. Everyone had a chance on a Shark while boating 9 of them.

So we headed back to the jetties and anchored up along the rocks to burn a few dead shrimp on the bottom. Catching a few Whiting, and yellowmouth Trout.

And I knew something was up as we were out behind the shrimp boats, because the Coasties buzzed "AND WAKED US", and every other boat out there. They were on "terrorist watch", I assumed.

Come to find out, a AirCraft Carrier popped up from the horizon, and every goverment pay check was out there in the ocean and river, on patrol.

Turned out to be a great day of catching, drag burning, packed with lots of action. Which only took 3 days to find.

But, I'm still wanting to switch and get in that river and fill that fish box full of Drum, Trout and big Croakers. Because nothing says success like the smell of a fish fry for me.

And remember, I have a Havalon "surgical scapel" Fillet knife now (http://www.havalon.com/) So filleting fish for me, is sooooo easy and enjoyable. 

Best trip and most affordable, for light tackle river fishing aboard the Jettywolf, is two persons.
http://www.fish-jacksonville-fishing.com/

7/25 - NEW REEF

There will be a new reef deployed off Ponte Vedra beach on Wednesday (weather permitting) an enhancement to Floyd's Folly.

Here's the info:

http://www.tisiri.org/concrete-artificial-reef-deployed-ponte-verdra/

7/22 - Ethanol Testing

REALLY, what % of Ethanol is in the gas you buy on the street?

"LESS THAN 10%" is what the pump says.

Well, like many. I'm of a curious nature. And wanted to know myself, from the gas stations I use, for my truck and my Honda 225 outboard.

You can find loads of useful tests and info on Youtube. But again, I'm a do it yourself'er.

I'm using a tester distributed by Honda Marine, for $9.00. In my opinion, a cheap investment to spend, to jus' know.

Every Marine mechanic is all over "Ethanol Problems". Well, I use my boat all the time, every two days put new fuel in the tank. Been using StarTron ethanol treatment (??needed??)

And now, I know the facts of the percentage of ethanol, in the fuel I buy. Sooo, I shouldn't have any problems right?

Honda Marine engines can run and are built to run on 10% or less ethanol.



Here's another helper. You don't know if your gas is "dirty or wet", either.
Before it hits your fuel filters, be a RACOR or the ones in under your cowling.
You can get rid of it!


Check out this from "ShipShape TV":

7/18 - More Monday R&D

Don't know what's wrong. But you folks that call for Mondays don't know what your missing.
But this isn't "party boat" kind of fishing. Rather light tackle sport fishing.

7/18 - REEFS, inshore?

Artificial reefs built inside 3 miles???
Wow, now there's a wacky idea. (sarcasm)

An idea I have always wondered, "Why not?"

Sure there's secret double whammy places that'll hold fish inside 3 miles. But they are usually tiny little spots.

Wouldn't you like to make a short run just out off the beach and fish an area that is large, that would possibly hold some bait schools, schools of Spanish Macs, or even a Snapper??

I know I would. Seeing that a long ride 20 miles offshore anymore isn't my "forte". And many of my clients are not interested in that.
Being that I like to specialize in NO-LONG-BOAT-RIDES. Close in artificial reef placements would be great!

E-mail   Dana Morton at  -  dmorton@coj.net - or Call his office at 904-255-7213 and let him know that you would like to see some Artificial Reefs built  within the 3 mile State waters off Jacksonville. 

When asked about this he said there didn't appear to be any interest in doing any reefs near shore as he hadn’t been contacted about it at all.  (I believe he just hasn't asked the right people!!)

Let him know we really would love to see some close-in reefs.   Remember you can still catch Red Snapper and keep 2,  Twenty inches or larger,  within state waters!
        
Pass this info on to everyone that fishes even if they are not members of the JOSFC.  It just plain makes sense, More reefs = more fish!   Don't assume someone else will do it, get off your chair and send the E-mail or make that call!

I certainly did.

Tell him your reasons for thinking it's a good idea. 

7/13 - Replay?

Was pleased to have Robert L. and his son Jason aboard the Jettywolf, today. Especially, since he was the man I was talking to on the phone while making the video on Monday, while doing some solo R&D.

He's a new J-ville resident and has a wonderful home on the river, which I pass by very frequently. Also has a nice boat hanging from the docks lift. He wanted to just go out and get some "heads-up" on some fishing techniques. Which is one of those things that every fishing guide will tell you is a good idea, when you move to a new area.

I also sent him the video I made. So after picking them up at Sister Creek. I told him and Jason, "let's go see if we can replay the day I had, on Monday."  

So we blasted down river.

The differences between Monday and today were that we would actually have a breeze today. And the tide would be  a bit stronger, being that we were a few days closer to the full moon on Friday.

Nothing fancy, is what this fishing is.  Have "pounds" of dead shrimp, catch a ton of Croakers. Save the smallest ones for live or cut bait. Get along some rocks. And let the falling tide work it's magic.

But we had to wait for the falling tide. So in the mean time we just plain, fished. Catching everything that schools up in the deep water of the river, from Seabass to Croakers. All the while looking for that first Black Drum.

It's JULY. And nothing is fall off the stump, easy. And I told Robert and Jason that. There's a whole lot of difference between "deep, deep" summer and let's say.....December, for example.

But that action on jus' bending a rod was steady, as long as we had the last of the rising tide. Then of course as the current slows, so does the bites.

Eventually, we made it over to the "rock line" that I like to fish. The tide was ebbing and it was time to put some groceries in the cooler. And we did.

Pup Black Drum. The targeted species! Goal is to get on the bite and get as many as we could.
Today, they were a bit smaller than on Monday.
They were right behind the boat.

But, detecting that bite of a Drum, versus the ever present Croakers is a challenge, for most.
I can tell easily. As they don't "pop, pop" the bait, but rather "sand bag" the bait.  And it's not like I expect everyone on board to know everything. THAT'S WHY I'M THERE. THAT'S WHY THEY HIRE ME. I'm going to help you.  There's a ton of fish that bite and they all bite different according to the situation.

At the jetties this past winter, we had an epic Black Drum bite. And once everyone on board learned to feel that sand bagging, hang on the bait kinda bite. They never forgot it.  Drum are not fearsome predators, with huge mouths and speedy shaped bodies. So as the swim along the bottom, hunting by "smell" and "taste", when they eat a bait with their rubbery lips. They give you a bit of what I call...."hang-time".  That's the sand bag feeling you get on your rod tip. Just weight!  You can even lift the rod tip ever so slightly against the weight, and they will pull and ask for more. After doing that twice, I CLEAN THEIR CLOCK!

I laid out a rod with a half a Croaker on it with a circle hook and left it in the rod holder. Just for a big Redbass. But we never had the rod double over. Which, was amazing. We should have had a few big Reds come by and suck up that bait.

Instead, we caught a few MICRO Reds. Smaller than I'd ever call "pups". I mean, the size of small Croakers. 

The tide was a bit stronger than on Monday. And at one point we got slammed by a very inconsiderate ship pilot. That flew by us and generated a wake so large that it pulled 50 feet of water off the bank!! Knocking us off anchor, muddying up the water and generally causing severe havoc.  "Gotta love the St. Johns!"

After awhile, the Drum seemed harder to catch. The bites fell off, as we kept at it. They're all along this area. And I know I'll come back in this area some day soon, and absolutely way-lay them. My goal is a fish box of 10-15. Since, for me getting "keeper sized" Redbass seems futile. And I'd just as soon have  my 5-Drum, for the table.

I'm gonna keep a close eye on this area, and even poke around a bit more, as summer wears on.

The only real problem is, that fishing around here for these Drum is a tackle eating situation. Hooks, leaders, entire rigs, sinkers are so easily lost. The bottom is VELCRO!
And you have to be ever vigilant that the next "bump" on your rod tip is between a rock and a hard place.

There's absolutely NO way I can bring 4 people, (add in some kids) and fish the way we did today. I'd have to own a very well stocked tackle shop! 

Robert and Jason learned allot, caught fish and felt the deep summer's intense heat. By the time the tide just started to slow a bit. They were "cooked" and ready to kick their feet up in the A/C with a cold drink.

It was a fun day. Just wished the big Reds would have bit. (next time!!)

7/11 - Great R&D (research and development)

Isn't it funny, how fisherman can call standing in the heat all day F-U-N???

R&D, some multi-tasking, alittle more sweating, but on a Monday.....PRICELESS!

7/10 - Almost half way point.

SUMMER...it can be a love/hate relationship.

I love those super wet years, but am not all that fond of these drought years.

I say, "bring on the storms, I love 'em".

Did you know there's shrimp so far up the Nassua River right now they're hunkered down in the cypress swamps?

Heck, if that's not a "here's yer sign" for the need of a huge storm or serious regular rain fall, what is???????

Good thing is, the shrimp in the River in downtown Jax are huge. And they're killing them.

The fish are also down that way. The direct opposite way on the river than I depart from.

I live 5 minutes from the Mayport Boat ramp. And I'm not trailering my boat down the traffic choked streets to use another ramp closer to down town. I will if the price was right, though.

But, I ain't holding my breath for that.

So I can go about as far as the Dames Point Bridge if need be via boat.

This is the usual standard practice for me, and the way things roll in the river during the DEEP summer anyhow.

The bait and fish couldn't be in my own back yard, not unless we had some serious storms.
AND WHAT ARE THEY????

Were outa the swing in climate that brings us "WET" summers, anymore.

But when we did have them. I was knee deep in my favorite fishing. Float-rigging for Speckled Trout, and Jacks and such.

Hell, there's not hardly a Jack in all of the river near Mayport, is there??

I can say honestly I've had 3 caught all year on my boat, and only two Ladyfish. Which is totally NUTZ!

So the morale of this story is, "Go down river!" That's what the Jettywolf has done and we've caught some and at the same time struggled.

But, Erica's 46 pound Redbass, made one trip perfectly worth it all, and she lost another and had a 35 pounder also. Then, there's was Ed's 21 Pounder, and Seth's 9 pound Black Drum which was sweet.

The problem this summer so far is, NUMBERS. We get tossed some bones....hell, I don't even pick the days, the tides, or anything.

So right there I have my hands tied a bit, already. Those rising tides have been brutal on me.

If I was planning on fishing. I'd let the Captain pick my day for me.

But the word "planning" isn't in most peoples vocabulary during their visit to J-ville.

I just had a call for 6 passengers offshore for tomarrow...Now I don't do 6 and I don't do way offshore anyhow. But calling at 2pm on a Sunday for a Monday morning at 7am is a bit like NO planning at all.

Personally, I don't live that way, and never will. I'm a survivor, a planner, and think ahead 10 moves at a time. So you'd think I'd be a Chess Player, huh?

Not really. Jus' like a plan during the summer months.

Because ya have to be "rigidily flexible", ready to have plan A-B-C.

I plan so much I'm gonna do some Monday morning R&D myself tomarrow. All in prep for next week and the week after, as the Greater Jax Kingfish Tournament takes up 4 days with tournaments this year rather than just 3 days.

Ya' have the Jr. Angler, then the Redfish, and then the General Tournament this year. That's 4 days.

If a cop tells me where and how to park at the Mayport Boat ramp again this year, I'm gonna freak! They have Cops at the Mayport Boat ramp telling people what to do, as if no one's ever been there on a Memorial Day at 7am!! Which is no different than any Tournament day.
As if they're doing us a huge favor.

Pleaze?????