5/13 -Mother's Day Fishing Trip

Only if the weather is good, do I take my Mom out on Mother's Day. Yeah, she goes once a year. But not every year.

We've had great days, and not so great days. She's caught 35 pound Redbass, and she's caught a box full of Flounder, and one year it was just a bunch of Ladyfish. That still think are her favorites. Last year, the jetties were nice and calm and she caught one 5 pound Jack Cravelle, a Ladyfish, and a 27" Redbass. And she was done and ready for lunch, after that.

This year, it was over-cast and windy. I knew that going in. But I didn't say much about the weather because I just wanted to get her out there. Dad comes along too....."he's camera man."

Yesterday, I made sure she'd want to be on the boat for awhile. So I went and had two  Publix sub's made and had plenty of refreshments in the cooler.

I went out earlier, and fished for about an hour or so before picking her and dad up at the boat ramp. I wanted to try a project I have been working on. Using essentially a large 9" rubber worm as a over-sized "jerk bait". The difference though is in how it's rigged, and it has a flapping tail.

So I went right across from the boat ramp, because I couldn't go far. And started tossing this 9" bait along the bank and some submerged rock. The wind was a problem, coming from the east. But I did do just what I wanted. Which was to catch the attention of something with this lure.

It WORKED perfectly as I felt a thump, thump, and then a hang...I pulled back and right away I could tell this wasn't a Trout or Redfish. And then netted this nice 4 pound Flounder. I took this picture, so you could see the "jerk-bait", against the fish.

Then, Mom calls and they are at the dock. So I went over and picked them up. Showed Mom what I had caught and she wanted to "show it off" for me.

We then headed as far away as we could from the E.S.E. winds, because "it was gonna get worse, no doubt as the day went on".

So we went for a decent ride down river. It was the last few hours of the falling tide. Spot #1 should have produced some nice trout, but it didn't, just a small 13 incher. Spot #2 which back when we had rains, storms, tropical depressions produced the most 5  pound Trout I've ever caught......"but we couldn't loose a shrimp, this morning". 

Yes, it's almost a good thing. Mom and Dad got to see what I have to go through to get quality bites this time of year, and how the "winds of change", can screw everything up!

By spot #3, the wind was honking pretty damn good. We fished a shallow rock pile. Letting the float-rig be carried along with the tide and passing the rocks. That's when Mom's float started going down......but it was hard to keep the slack in the line from making a big belly, so when you get bit, ya better reel like crazy to tighten up!

After a few adjustments and bait stealers, Mom finally started getting bit by quality Trout.

It was quite weird, not a single Ladyfish..."mom's favorite" at any spot we tried. Yeah, they aren't "box-fish", but at the same time, if you're catching Ladies, you're at least in "trout water".

The wind started to howl....gusting 20 kts at least. The boat would whip one way, while the current was going the opposite. Which was mighty frustrating, as we knew the Trout were back there behind the boat.

I attempted to try two more spots. But it was just getting a bit fultile at this point. So we headed back and I cleaned up the fish, fed my bird buddies, and was home by 1pm.

I'm glad we went no matter what the forecast was. So Mom could see that it's not always easy out there on the water. And by the time the tide had turned in Mayport, I'm sure glad we didn't attempt going to the inlet. The wind against the tide just in the river was making it pretty nasty.

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IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT A CHARTER AROUND MEMORIAL DAY. RIGHT NOW IS THE TIME TO CALL AND RESERVE. DO NOT WAIT TILL THE LAST SECOND.

Matzuo, Snelling a turned down eye for float-rig live shrimp fishing

Book you day aboard the Jettywolf:

5/7 & 5/8 - Trout'n in the river.

Boy, the last two days have been fantastic. #1 because it's a MONDAY & TUESDAY!  #2 because no one is around, perfect weather, and #3 great crew(s) each day.

Yep, it's that time of year again. Start very early, fish hard as you can. Finish up around 12noon - 1pm. Because the sun's high and the heat is starting....And better yet. Fish on the start of the week, rather than weekends if you can.

Had Cory N. and his girlfriend and dad on Monday. Fantastic people, so fun to be with. And interesting folks too. Cory and his girlfriend work at the Jax Zoo. They work with Elephants and big Cats. Wow, now that's like doing charter fishing for a living. I bet  no day is ever exactly the same. Cory's dad was in town, and it was a good idea to do a adventure on the river.

I decided that with rising full moon tides. I'd play it safe and do what I do best. So we went float-rig fishing. No matter your skill in fishing. Everyone can catch, and have a good time. Float-rigging..."with my help & coaching" is an equal opportunity fishing system here in N.E. Florida.

Primarily, it targets Trout, "Speckled Sea Trout".

They caught a box full. Had a few small ones, a youngster Flounder and Sheepshead, a few Ladyfish and Jacks too.
The action was steady, and everyone was really enjoying the day. Positive people, with great attitudes. Look forward to having them aboard the JETTYWOLF again, some day.

5/8 - With Bruce and Sue

I had Bruce aboard the JETTYWOLF once before. During a full moon, wicked tidal day in October. His company was entertaining some other guys and four of them and I hit the river. And the big St. Johns was really showing it's ugly head that day. The CURRENT was ludicris!!!!!  I couldn't even hardly anchor up.

So, Bruce had booked today many many weeks ago. And what is this week?  The week of the full moon. BUT, there's a HUGE difference between now and and October. Tide's aren't as strong this time of year. So...Bruce and his wife Sue were all safe, with this date.

Same deal. I planned on showing Bruce and Sue the best way to get bit. So we went float-rig fishing for some fine Speckled Trout.  Now, Sue told me when Bruce went to visit the latrine at the boat ramp before we took off. That she wasn't all super thrilled with fishing. But, she goes anyhow. She's afraid of Alligators. And doesn't touch fish!

I told her she'd be just fine. And that many times the gals outfish the men. She said, "I'm familar with that."

Our first spot as like yesterday was a decent clip from the boat ramp. But, we had the absolute last trickle of falling tide upon arriving. I showed both of them what to do and how the "float-rig" works.

They fished and fished. Okay, this prime spot is a D-U-D. Which is hard to believe, because it's a top spot. And we just had a 5 pounder last week come from here. Oh well...I got plenty of spots!

Literally, just across the river is a spot that has been very good to me if we catch the tide just right. I anchored up and on the first drift of a float, can't remember if it was Bruce of Sue. But a big fattie Trout was easily landed. Then, another, and another. The bite was on! But the tide was slowing fast. Oh, how we needed to get on them and hard.

Not needing to not waste any time I took two fast pictures of the first few and got back to it.

As the tide slowed so did the bites. But Sue was now on her game like no tomarrow. She was "pitchin & flippin" like Bill Dance or Roland Martin. Seemingly, doing all she could to catch more or get bit more than Bruce...!

AND SHE DID!

I decided to stay in this area and beat it up as hard as we could. So I spun the boat around and even tied off to a piling close by to hold our position.

And Sue caught a few more Trout even. Yes, she now has more than Bruce.

We went and hot a few more places as the tide flooded, but for some reason we got a few bites but couldn't get back on the Trout again.

I went to nothing but usually productive areas, and even a spot we caught fish yesterday.

That's when Sue sitting up on the bow says..."I see lightning bolts!"

The boat was facing stern west in the rising tide. Bruce and I looked and saw nothing but puffy clouds to the west. Come to find out, Sue was looking EAST!

Yep, there was huge coal black clouds to the S.E. So I picked up and headed back towards the boat ramp. We still had some fishing time left, but as we got closer and closer, so did the weather. Sue was fine not continuing to fish in the rain, lightning or winds associated with the "summer squal".  I could just tell from her demeaner.

So we called it a day. I cleaned a box of fish and bid yet another great crew farewell till next time. Bruce I knew was a great guy to fish with, but now I know that Sue has a streak of competive fishing in her, and that was fine by me!  She did great.

The clouds were coming and black with rain. the timing couldn't have been more perfect, because as I put the boat on the trailer it started to rain. And as I drove home, I got a "Free" boat wash-off.

Two weekday trips, that were really fun!

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IF YOU ARE EVEN CONSIDERING ANY KIND OF CHARTER TRIP IN OR AROUND MEMORIAL DAY WEEK. YOU SHOULD BE CALLING AND RESERVING  THAT TRIP WITH A DEPOSIT, RIGHT NOW!

charter pricing subject to change in and around major holidays
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Boat ramp follies

US...


Other places in the world......"crowds???"

Jacks, lost? But not forgotten

Lately, I've been reminiscing. Because of all the bait we have in the river and outside the jetties.
I've be looking in my photo albums and seeing a change. The photos that caught my attention right away were of memorable light tackle catches of Jack Cravelle's, by customers in the spring time.

-Serious light-tackle catch along heavy structure.

And it got me thinking. Especially after the last few Jetty trips. Where Pogies are the bait of choice. Because they're so numerous.

-Your average Jetty Jack

It seems like years ago, you could always count on catching a handful of decent sized Jacks by simply pitching live pogies up to the jetty rocks.

And sometimes you didn't even have to do that. Drifting along the rocks with some heavy Gator spoons, just cast to the pockets along the rocks, let the spoon sink a second and burn it back to the boat. You'd catch either a Bluefish, Spanish Mackerel, or Jack Crevalle. The Jacks were always the favorites, though. 

Those tight schools of Pogies out there would have marauding packs of big Jacks streaking through them. These fish would be big. I'd go from Pogie pod to Pogie pod, looking for the Jacks, and rip a large top water through the bait. The hook ups were intense, the boating of these Jacks were an angling challenge. Jack Crevalle in the 20-30 pound range, were not uncommon.

While float-rig fishing in April and May, back when we all could fish along the Navy base. The last of the falling tide, a float-rig with a live shrimp would mean hook-ups on Jacks from a few pounds to 10 pounds. And when they'd ball up the bait fish on the point of the carrier basin, my favorite thing to do was to rip a plug through them and have an instant hook-up, minutes from leaving the dock. 

One day, along the Navy Base rocks I was hand feeding the Jacks. I had a bucket of real small dead pogies. And as they came down the bank in a pack. I threw out a handful of the dead baits. And before you knew it. I had the school along side the boat and I was dropping the small dead pogies off the side of the boat feeding individual Jacks that would swirl the surface.

My customers loved hooking up on big Jacks, especially way down the river. They'd be drifting their float-rig behind the boat thinking "Trout". When they'd hook up a large Jack that had me pulling the anchor and following it.

One especially memorable day was when I had three Australian crew members off a yacht that was being worked on at Atlantic Marine. We went float-rig fishing and caught Speckled Trout and Black Drum. Then, as the yacht's Captain used the last of the shrimp in the baitwell, he hooked a giant river Jack. I ended up pulling the anchor and giving chase as he yelled, "It's spooling me, Mate!!".  He caught the fish and it was 20 pounds. Afterwards, he said, "now that's like fishing at home in Australia!"

As of right now, we've only caught a few tiny Jacks. And this time last year, was about the same. Sure, many of my favorite places are off limits. Because fishing there means we're a threat to National Security. So far, I've failed to see any of the big Jacks that make memories, like years ago.

I'll keep looking.  Jack, old friend. You're not forgotten.

5/5 - Weekends.....

Wow, you could have sworn that the Mayport Boat ramp was the headquarters for a giant tournament this morning. It was so busy, it was rediculas. And again, as I headed home. There was trucks and trailers parked almost to Safe Harbor Seafood, and even on the side streets.

In all my years, I have never seen vehicles parked that far down the road. I guess you could park that far away and then call who ever's in the boat, and they could come pick you up a mile away at the docks at Sea Harbor Seafood??

Had Dallas and his mom and dad, and his 9 year old son. Original plans were to go offshore, get away from the crowds after getting some pogies and then a basket full of pogies as chum. But the best plans in the world don't always match up to Mother Natures plans.

The Pogies were everywhere. And very difficult to catch. BTW, did anyone else pay attention and see the SIZE of that moon around 5:30 this morning? It was low and the size of NY city!  All I could think about was the tide. When the tide turns and heads out those jetties, Oh it's gonna be a screamer.

I really wanted 50 pounds of pogies. We looked and looked, and finally I got about 10 monsters. They were way too big. But, time was a wasting....I wanted not only some live, but a basket for chumming too.

So we headed over to the Jetties and anchored up. I pinned on the monster Pogies on a 1/2 oz. jig-head and had my crew cast them out and let the pogie swim and drift around the jetty rocks. Where I really wanted to be, had WAY too much current.

They could cast the big pogies on my new heavier spinning rods I git for the purpose. But barely. I thought "spinner's" were America's reel?  I know I don't need one or even like them. And after awhile I had to give a few casting tips, before one went into the drink at 4 days old.

We finally got on top of the rocks where I wanted to sit in the first place, and Pop's had someone on running up current with his pogie. Then he got stuck in the rocks. One thing about taking a jig and tossing it around "OUR" structure. I can guarantee, 99.99% of America has never done anything like this before. So getting hung up was the routine. But it's also where the Redbass are.

But, I was thinking, used to be....this is all you had to do to get your butt handed to you by big Jacks! They are gone, but not forgotten. Yes, over the last few years, we've lost our big Summer Jack Crevalle's. Years ago in April and May. We've caught and or lost big Jacks from the beach, jetties, all the way to the mouth of Trout River.

 









-average Jetty Jack

I have the photo proof of catching 5 pounders along the Navy base on Float-rigs in May. Casting nothing but Gator Spoons along the rocks as we drifted out the jetties. Casting live pogies and having a ball catching them from 5-10 pounds off the north rocks. Wonder what happened?

Each year, I've said to myself "it's just a bit early for them." Till, July arrives and I see a few. But still, nothing like years ago. Usually, by Mother's day. They're just about everywhere and of all sizes.

Back to today. My crew finally pulled a 26" Redbass out of the rocks with a 11" Pogie. Just like last week. The difference from last Saturday was we had numerous bites. From what I gathered is Dallas' Dad was the only one who got bit, twice. Eater size too. Which like last week, seems uncommon. But a good thing.

The current was playing hell with us atop the south jetty. Spinning the boat in circles. So I dislodged my anchor and we headed back to the pogie pods, in search of shallower bait.

Easy, finally. I pulled up and made a few throws and put some monster Pogies in the baitwell and filled a fish basket with small ones. There was zero wind, and I need some to make a drift. So I ran out till I hit some breeze on the water's surface about 2 miles out.

I took two big pogies, put them on a balloon rig and sent them out about 6' deep. Filled the "chum chopper", and started one hell of a slick behind the boat. We had enough breeze to have us drifting right along as if we were slow trolling. Yep, the way I rigged the big Pogies on the balloons, is nothing more than having a boat in a slow troll with down-riggers.  Except way stealthier, and the baits are right in the chum slick!  An awesome concept, that has yet to POP! And I mean POP, with a Kingfish, Cuda, or Cobia on the line. Granted, it catches sharks.

BUT WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A SINGLE SHARK IN THE SLICK! Which to me is a Bill Engval..."here's yer sign!" That something was majorly awry.

Drifting at least a mile or more, seeing people driving around looking for Cobia, and slow trolling pogies in and around the bait schools. You'd think we could have gotten a Shark for a our Jr. Angler aboard, at least.

So, we headed back to the rocks pitched out cut pogies on jig heads laid them on the bottom looking for a small shark for the boy. And had nothing bbut tiiny fish eat the pogies.

After that we headed in. Wow, what a day!

Next up:

Monday:  East 10-15 kts. and I'm heading back down river because of it. Float-rig fishing and maybe some live mullet fishing.
Tuesday: Same thing.....south 5-10 kts.

5/3 - Early try at Reef Chum fishing......

Solo, of course. But had to try. Got the "chum-chopper" so went and used it. After loading up on lil' stinkers. 1st spot 5 miles out of the jetties. 2nd spot, almost 5 more miles. It was rough as a dang C-O-B! Not for the faint of "stomach". Pogies Galore, small ones. Not much happening at either spot. Came in towards the beach 40' of water, while on the cell-phone, what do I see swim right behind me? At least a 50 pound Cobia. I fed it a few dead pogies to keep it near me, then tossed it my 8-1/2" Dalhberg 'Wide-Glide'. I came over thinking BIG Mullet and sucked it up. Drag smoking on my Shimano Curado 300EJ, "Oh yeah baby!" Then the hook pulled. ^%^@%^#*&^%&*^%$@!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That was it. Heard of a bunch of Cobia caught. Seemed like bottom fishing boats had the best luck with Cobs swimming up to the boat. Same as last year. When I'm DONE and OVER IT, here one comes. I'll try again, later.

4/30 - Aussie style....chumming made EZ

Us with custom alloy plate boats...for the layman "aluminum welded boats".


You have to look no further than Australia for innovative ideas. Since they are the KINGS of alloy plate boat building.

Being a moderator and founding member of Aluminumalloyboats.com we have many active members who not only have alloy plate boats, but we have designers and builders too.

So when I saw fishing boats built down under with the most ingenious chum chopper built right into the boat. I had to have one!

EVEN ON A BIG SPORTFISH BOAT!



But, I was no stranger to an "Aussie Burley Bucket". I had one on my old fiberglass 23' MayCraft center console for 10 years.

See it....bolted to stern?

I found one that Aussie big game angler Dennis Braid brought here from his home land. He called it the chum-mate. And to tell ya how long ago that was, my first chum mate was bought at E&B Marine for a mere $60.00.


E&B Marine was bought out and I believe WEST Marine was the buyer. So yeah, I'm dating myself here a little.

The Chum mate was a plastic bucket, 24" long and flat on the back, with holes drilled in the sides and bottom. With it came a PVC pipe, with a SS chopping blades on the bottom. That was the chopper part.

All the while I had this Chum-mate lag bolted to my MayCraft's flat transom. I'd see absolute crazy chumming devices coming out on the scene.

Oh how I'd laugh.....Electra-Mates bolted to a metal meat grinder?? And you plug it in and use your batteries to run the Electra-Mate to turn the meat grinder, while it sat perched atop a cutting board bolted to a pole holder down-rigger mount? Are ya kidding me? Lazy Americans, is all I can say.


Those giant tubes with a pump handle you hang over the side of the boat. How cumbersome...


Expensive as all hell, burlap bags filled with fish meal pellets, soaked with oils? That last an hour or so?

Those nasty boxes of chum, and the chum bags that hang over the side afterwards you have to store yet aother piece of trash in the boat??

C'mon folks. There's an easier way.

Here in N.E. Florida most everyone fishes with Pogies, aka: Menhaden. Yankees call them BUNKA'.

Oily by nature and easy to catch in shallow water, and okay as baits (although they don't live all that long) Compared to chasing the "speedy Mullet", they're a dream. Toss a net and watch the net swim away, full.

If ya need more toss the net again and you'll have all the chum you need, if you have a Chum-Chopper like an Aussie Angler.

Here's a picture of mine. I had it welded right into the platform on the stern of my boat.

I know there's all kinds of styles of chumming. Some people make a kid and have him earn his keep and sit there dropping cut pieces over the side all day long. Whatever...

But, there's absolutely no doubt that the Australians have it all over the Americans when it comes to the K.I.S.S rule.

Here's a YOUTUBE Video of mine in action, right after I had it welded into the boat. Just out sea-trialing it at the Mayport Jetties.

LINKS: http://youtu.be/0BQ6G1phmb0
             http://youtu.be/o_IxKOkSH2k

Oh...I watch those TV shows with the Key's dudes in those 40 foot Yellowfin center consoles and 5 300 Mercs across the stern and see them chumming with a cutting board in a rod holder, cutting baits and making a huge mess. In thier 300K boat.

You mean to tell me $300K doesn't buy you a better way to chum fish?????

For more information, search "BURLEY BUCKET" on Google, select "images" and you'll be amazed at what you'll see from Down Under.

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FORECAST: MAY-JUNE 2012


INSHORE FISHING:

The St. Johns River from the inlet to the Arlington area of the south-side. Hunting Redfish, Speckled Trout, Flounder, Black Drum. All "very light tackle" fishing, either bottom fishing with Mullet or Pogey's, or Float-rig fishing with live shrimp. Other seasonal species we just can't avoid are Jack Crevalle, Ladyfish, and some Bluefish. "They like to eat good food too"

My specialty is Float-rig fishing. My customers love it and so do I. You are in charge of your destiny. You are drifting a slip float rig with the current/tide, over structure. The float is set at a depth via a stopper knot on the line. Low profile Shimano Citica bait casting reels are used because it's the best reel for the job, and has a high speed retrieve, to quickly pick up any slack line when your float disappears under water. Which means FISH ON!

4/27/2012 Dave with twin 5 pounders.

Bait is live shrimp. Soft action rods are used for not pulling the hook on the soft mouthed Speckled Trout, which along with others, is the "targeted species". Small hooks, light leaders, and bottom structure, are fished. Just like my winter charters. Can make this challenging, for all.

We also utilize light spinning tackle and popping corks and live shrimp, when fishing structure in shallow water. Making a bit of noise to attract fish to the live shrimp.

"Hollywood California Dave"
with a nice 4 pounder.

Bob "traveller" Johnson with a Poppin' Cork Redbass

My Dad, with his largest ever Trout on float-rig.

Any bottom fishing this time of year means we need fresh live Mullet or Pogey's, that I'll catch in my castnet, while we're out. This targets, larger Redfish. And the occasional large Jack Cravalle. Time must be spent catching these baits "fresh" for it all to come together. And again, TIDES means everything. Unlike fishing a lake, or pond. Your day can be based on what the tide's doing, that day.

Jetty Redbass on Live Pogie bottom fishing.

SUMMER REEF FISHING/CHUM TRIP:

First thing, we need a good amount of chum. So that means getting some live pogey's. Not only for the baitwell, but for the "chum chopper". Which is what I'll use to make an enticing slick behind the boat once we reach our reef location. Usually from 6-12 miles offshore. We can also "jig-up" some live Cigar Minnows, Herring, and Sardines, when offshore. Either setting up a drift, or anchoring. We'll watch for participants in the chum line, and set out baits. King Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel, Cobia, Shark, Barracuda, Bonita, can be the targeted species.





These trips start early and finish before any summer squals come our way. And are usually booked starting in June, and can be done "per the weather" throughout the summer months.



****If you're looking for a charter within three days. Don't e-mail. Just Call! So I can plan and get you reserved.

4/27 & 4/28 - Weak tides.....inshore.

Had Art B. and his buddy Dave aboard the Jettywolf on Friday. Decided to head up river again. But stopping along the way as to catch the last of the falling tide.

Spot one, an utter bait stealer FEST!  But, Dave hooks into a big fish. It runs toward the bank, as all BIG Trout will do. I call'em "sidewinders". They always do that, when they have shoulders. I had Dave reeling his hand off as the fish tried to duck for the nearest cover. And it worked..."When in doubt, or when a fish is running for it.....JUST R-E-E-L!!!!!"

And Dave banged a beautiful FIVE pounder!

We stayed on the spot a little while longer and the pinfish and crap were insane. So we moved off and headed up river again.

Next spot, another last of the falling tide spot. And "Your's Truly" timed it perfectly. The guys flipped their floats out behind the boat and Dave's float goes down on his 1st or 2nd drift. He comes tight and pulls back and here we go again. The light "fairy wand" Ugly Stik Striper rod was a buckin'. The fish works again sideways. I reach out with the net, the fish comes out of the net. I thought it was a goner. But the hook holds and there we go. Another FIVE pounder.

Okay, lets stay here awhile......well, Dave hits another fish. I nice 18 inch Trout. Here at this spot the bait stealing scourge fish weren't as bad.

Did you know when I went to Louisiana in February. I stopped by to see Chris at Dockside Bait & Tackle in Slidell. We chit chatted awhile and I asked him "do ya'll have millions of bait stealing pinfish in Lake Pontchartrain?" Chris looked at me funny. Only knowing what a Pinfish actual was because he spent 5 years in Jacksonville years ago, and fishing the river while he was here. He said, "No, no Pinfish at all. One time we got bait and there was some Pinfish in the bait delivery. I saved them and someone took them and used them as baitfish. I told him again......"You guys sure are lucky!"

With that said, we finally moved off and headed to the next spot as the falling tide was really slowing. Trying two more spots with nothing to show for it. We went to a Mullet spot and stalked the illusive and fast finger Mullet on a drift and scored a dozen or so. So I headed AGAIN, to the same spot where weeks ago myself and Bob "Traveller" Johnson pounded the monster 40 pound Reds on serious light tackle, with live Mullet. The tide was so weak it took forever for us to get some moving water. And when we did, we never had a "sniff" on our nice live Mullet. Now that's the 4th time I've fished the Clay Hamblen spot, where supposedly those big reds always bite. NOW, I know. They DON'T.

So we bagged that idea after having lunch and went back and float-rigged some more. Only to get a few small Yellowmouths, and small Specks, and a small Flounder. So we headed back with Dave's 3 nice Trout and the yellowmouths.

But Art & Dave sure got a crash course in the trials a errors of Float-rig fishing. I told them, "I'm gonna show you guys one technique that you can carry with you and can learn more about, and it always catches fish. Size of fish, not guaranteed. But it always catches them if they're behind your boat".  And they were excited and yes, they learned a ton.

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4/28 - Saturday:

Had Brett and Danny aboard. And it was really something else!  The boat ramp in the morning and afternoon was a "carnival". I have no idea what makes one weekend so popular and another not so popular. But I have to tell ya..."I don't think a weekend like that, is good for any body!"

We headed west and in search of more five pound Trout. But NO DICE today. The bait stealers made spot #1 totally unfishable with live shrimp. Spot two, Brett boated a real nice 18 inch Trout. And I was expecting to see more to follow. But, that was it.

Bazzaro river was showing it's funky-ass head once again. So we made our way to the jetties. Boat, boats, boats everywhere. Ski boats, Miami Vice boats, Tugs, barges, jet ski's, were everywhere. If I was a fish I would have headed to the bottom and waited it out till Monday to come out of my cave.

And I think that's what alot of fish did.

We tried float-rig fishing and caught some Ladyfish, which are fun. But after the 10th one, it's time to move on. So, I went over to the northside and got some super turbo sized Pogies. They were WAY too big. But I grew up hearing from my mother, "Beggers can't be choosers". So I dropped about 14 in the livewell, after catching 214 in my net!

I figure, 14 gallon livewell, and a gallon of water per 1/2 pound, Pogie is even pushing it.

We ended up doing some pitching of the pogies up to the north rocks with NADA...then drifted the iside of the jetty pitching the pogies......again. Nada!

Okay, over to the south tip. The tide was pushing in finally. So I anchored up. And we pitched Pogies on 1/2 ounce jigs up to the tip of the south jetty and Nada! But as we sat there, I had 3 on. But the dang Pogies were way too big. Each Red that smacked the pogie probably couldn't get to the nose hook and just ripped the pogie off the hook. Danny had a shark that we saw swim by the boat attack his pogie, but same deal, no hook-up.

Then Brett, the concement "I'm a rookie, Dave". Brett hooks up! I pitched out his Pogie for him on a TOO light spinning rod, and now he's in full battle with a "keeper sized" red that ate a 1/2 pound pogie!

Who'd would have thunk it?

A nice 25 incher we dropped in the fish box.

All the while, Danny who was the serious as a heart attack angler, and even myself struggled along.

We sat through the agitation cycle of the incoming tide atop the south jetty rock tip. Then, the spin cycle, and then finally my anchor pulled it's release wires free. And we started to float off.....

I then went and tried the inside of the north jetty again. And then moved to the outside of the north, and then even hit the sand looking for some Whiting, and we caught two small ones and a Bluefish.

And then we headed in, with Brett's Red and trout and two whiting and a bluefish in the box.

Brett emailed me saying it sure was a fun day. And I replied, "Thanks for your patience. Better catching days are out there."

The tides were very weak now that I look in my tide planner book, with a serious positive low tide.

But still, I believe it's time to "THINK OFFSHORE."

For a mere $100 more, to cover fuel costs. It's definately time to go get some pogies and load a basket full and the livewell, and head to the reefs.

Maybe chum up a few kingfish, a Cobia, and some Cuda's. It's the reason I had the chum chopper built into my boat.

So today I spent the whole morning getting some stouter spinning rods to go with my large spinning reels, Bought a "bait pen" for holding bait while we catch'em offshore and while we fish.

I cleaned up the insulted fish bag. And pulled out all my wire kingfish rigs.

What I did is modified my rates for offshore trips. Instead of just a flat rate. It's per 2,3,or 4 passengers, like my inshore trips. Just add $100 for more fuel, for any trip that's outside the jetties. Be it shark fishing, or heading to a reef to chum fish. I hope that makes it more simplified.

BTW....The cuda's are at the jetties already too.
We had one come check us out when were were outside the north rocks.

That's a here's yer sign!

Weather & Winds permitting. Offshore is what I am planning to do from here on out on these nice days.

4/26 - Spring cleaning.....clearence

It's that time of year again. You can make out as I make some room.

I'm not going to talk $$ here. But if ya email me or call me. We can talk prices on what's listed.

To start....

BISCAYNE RODS (custom rods KC Glass blanks, built in S. Florida)

I have (2) 8' Tarpon/Shark/Bottom fishing rods. Unique, because they were designed by ME.
They have Fugi HD "trigger" reel seats. ( I like my finger on a trigger) loaded with Fugi Guides, and EVA foam grips, with aluminum gimbles. Tubular Fiberglass. Yes, they have action and they bend nicely. Heavy action. Used one season and in perfect condition. Retro White glass blank with Blue and yellow wraps, and all guides "underwrapped". 1st class build via Biscayne! 20-50 pound class rods, can handle up to 6 oz.  SOLD

YOUTUBE VIDEO OF RODS IN ACTION WITH CUSTOMERS:
"CLICK HERE"

It's IMPOSSIBLE to find a fiberglass 8' trigger reel seat, EVA foamed gripped casting rod made in the masses these days.

Companies will not ship them, and will not make them!! Yeah, Loomis makes a few or used too. But they're cork handled and way too stiff.

I also have (5) 8' of the same blank and design, without gimbles. For Inshore fishing. Built for Heavy Duty Float-rig fishing. Action is Parabolic meaning they bend nicely and have a soft moderate action. Loaded with Fugi guides and Fugi tripper reel seat with Trigger. Rubber butt cap for easy fishing inshore. 15-20 pound class rod, can handle 2 ounces perfectly. Same retro white blanks with blue and yellow wraps and underwraps. EVA foam grips. TWO of the rods have never seen WATER!!!!!  ONLY 2 LEFT

I also have (4) Ugly Stik "custom" Shark/Tarpon/Bottom fishing rods, LIKE BRAND NEW. Shakespeare "slick butts" with gimble, and S.S. No -Foul guides. 7 foot and rated 50-80 pound and can easily handle 8-10 ounces. Perfect Shark rods....(which was my intent, but didn't happen.)  Open for offers!

Now. This is special in many ways.

I have (4) ACCURATE TWIN DRAG REELS  Model # B-197. Lever-drag. They are the smallest that Accurate fishing products makes. But are the most bullet proof reels you'll ever hold in your hands. They are machined aluminum, big game reels that pack a super punch. 30 plus pounds of drag pressure on a screaming fish. Be it Shark, Redbass, Striper, Tarpon  **SOLD**SOLD**

Only thing is, "they have my name on them". Engraved on them. You'll remember me forever. Because these are heirloom style reels. If I had kids, I couldn't offer them for sale.  

You cant even see, the engraved name in the pics.
And at the same time.......the reels are physically smaller than a Garcia Ambassador 6500!


LET'S CHAT. 904-642-9546 (8am-8pm)

No Tax, No shipping just pick up with cash......Can do credit card with a added small "Percentage"

charter@captdaves.com

One of the heavy Tarpon Biscayne rods and B-197 Accurates in action in photo below. My largest ever Redbass at 53 pounds caught on a 12" Live Croaker at the south jetty, right after Tropical Storm Faye. Taken on an Accurate reel!

4/25 - It's that time!

It's time, for my Dad's Pogey Poem:



POGEY HEAVEN

Around the end of the rocks we raced

Back to the beach, warm air in our face

In the distance we saw the birds fly

We scanned the surface, with a keen eye

There they are! First one, then many

Other boats are coming, get the net ready!

There in front of us! So throw it straight

A good cast, yielded a bounty of bait

We turned the boat slowly to the open sea

Happy the pogeys were where we wanted them to be

-Don Sipler

4/24 - CHALLENGE in the W-I-N-D

Tuesday:  "supposedly" 10-15 knot winds from the N.W. REALLY?  WHERE WAS THAT? A Wally-World parking lot in Gainesvillle? More like 15-25 knot gusts.

And it was unseasonally cold. So cold that at the boat ramp I donned not only a sweatshirt, but put my rain jacket on over it.

As usual, the weather report really didn't seem to match the actual "on the water conditions", today. But, being an adventurer, I figured we'd go see what was up.

Had Bob and Ralph aboard the JETTYWOLF, and they didn't have time to re-schedule. Our trip was already re-scheduled from Monday till Tuesday.

Monday was really BAD. With definite GUSTS to 30 MPH.  So, really....."how bad could Tuesday be?"

Leaving the dock was so bad, running down the river wasn't so bad. But at the first anchor-up, the wind showed it's ugly head!

My regular anchor didn't hold and two minutes into our fishing day, the anchor tripped and we went sailing down the bank backwards.

As the comedian Bill Engval would say......."HERE'S YER SIGN!" 

I ran back up, re-anchored way far away from the actual spot, got the anchor into some harder bottom and deployed mass amounts of scope, and we held. Bob flipped his float-rig behind the boat and on his first drift landed a box'able Yellowmouth Trout!  Wow, that already superseded my initial expectations!

-JUST AN FYI:  ANY WIND 15KTS OR BETTER BE IT DUE EAST OR DUE WEST LIKE TODAY, BLOWS "STRAIGHT DOWN THE PIKE" IN THE RIVER. BECAUSE MOST OF THE RIVER I FISH IS GOING FROM WEST TO EAST / EAST TO WEST.

Through the day Bob and Ralph remained un-daunted. These guys were "anglers".

I forgot my whole boat pak, which included my tide book and camera. So I didn't get to take any photos.

We and myself included lost several decent to large Trout. It seemed that they just slipped off the hook after several reel turns. And these fish would have enhanced the fish box very well. Because many of the "specks" were small. We had one small Flounder, along with Trout, some mini-Jacks and a few Ladyfish.

But those larger Trout were the ones we really wanted. In all, there was about 10-12 Trout caught, but only 4-5 good keepers laned on ice. Which is about 10 more than I thought we might have caught, as conditions were very challenging.

I tossed a big 6" Rapala (subsurface) X-Rap Subwalker all day. And didn't have a single "swipe" at it. But from the looks of it "walkin' the dawg"  just under the surface. This will be a B-I-G Trout lure, when the conditions are right.

The combination of my Shimano 300EG Curado, and a 7'6" Okuma Guide Select "swim-bait" rod, really casts these large heavy lures a country mile, even in the wind.


Bob and Ralph departed with a decent bag o' fillets at the end of the day. And I really enjoyed these guys. They are my kind of fisherman. Die-Hards, it seemed to me. Hope they can be aboard the JETTYWOLF again someday when the conditions are better. Because they may really clean-up!

As for the rest of the week..........

The winds aren't gonna subside any time soon as per the National Weather Service reports. Any wind 15 knots, has me mighty leery.  So, Wednesday's charter with two local guys has been postponed till possibly Friday or Monday.

I'm taking my Truck to get a front end alignment, instead of fishing. Because I just bought new tires last week and wanna keep them that way!

4/23 WIND IS HOWLING!!!!!!!

So when the wind is a howling I go "surfin the world wide web".

Finally!!!
"spinning reels are weak and in my opinion, and really suck!"

Conventional reels are just that, CONVENTIONAL, and stronger in the long run.

With a levelwind and a lever drag?  Holy sheat!

So check this out......Mix the two together and what do ya get? 

A Japanese Mutant Reel.

In use......Jiggin'. (actually, hooked up to a monster)

Reel by Jig Master, Japan

(hey at least this gets ya out of your bubble, for a second huh? Welcome to Cappy Dave's World.)

4/22 - Newest addition to Trackin' arsenal

...why cast a lure, for small fish? ( I have a 7" 4 oz. subsurface Dahlberg Wide-glide from River2Sea) So yeah this ones large, but not really big.

Newest "large lure" for my Trout Trackin' adventures.

When it comes to "Lures & Trout". It's okay with me, not to get bit, as long as when the bite comes, it's from a big fish.

Caught a Trout on my 5" 2 oz. Dahlberg Wide-glide the other day and it was the largest Trout of the day at 21".