Ya know, the more the Trout are chewin', the happier I am. The more the Trout fishing is like it is in Lake Pontchartrain Louisiana, the happier I am.
And right now, the more Trout I get slapping this around......the happier, I AM!
RIVER2SEA "Wide-Glide"
120SS
Subsurface Glide-bait
The best BIG Trout plug I have ever used!
Morning, afternoon, evening, it just doesn't seem to matter,
they love this lure.
"if it eats mullet...it'll eat the wide-glide!"
Went out again "solo" today......for some reason no one wants to go Trophy Trout fishing.
Just shows what a awesome "destination" we are here. Jacksonville Florida? "where's that?" No claim to fame, here......
The flooding tide waters were way cooler than they should be. I marked 78-79 degrees surface temp. During the rising tide. Been hearing about the cooler water in the Ocean. And as usual I guess it's another round of it, that happens here every single summer!
I was a bit frustrated though. As the tide rose, I was getting big Trout wackin' the hell out of my "wide-glide" and missing it. I'm not talking an occational fish, but every single one! Maybe it had to do with the cooler water?
Because as soon as the tide turned (later in the day) it was a whole different story.
On one spot, I lost at least 3 big fat Specks. How the hell do they get off a pair of brand new Owner trebles? But that's Speck fishing with lures, I guess......
Another spot, the "wide-glide" got hit every single cast! And that was just as the tide started to push eastward. I was hooking up left and right. And they weren't DINKERS!
All big fatty Specks!
A "BOX" FULL.....plus 10 - healthy Yellowmouths on jigs and Matrix Shads, and a ton of Ladyfish,
even a few Bluefish (?)
Tropical storms, lots of rain = a great BIG Trout summer.
Can't wait for Fall & Winter!
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I received an e-mail from a reader. Who for some reason couldn't do a comment here for this post. Asking "where do you get one of these lures?"
Well 1st of all, I have seen them at damn near "cost" on Ebay. ALWAYS check Ebay first for everything. Ebay's a world market, and if you searched RIVER2SEA Wide-Glide, you'll find many. I use only the 120SS model.
A good 75% of all my tackle comes from Ebay.
2nd, you'll have to "learn how" to use this. It isn't your average plastic tube filled with BB's. I've experimented alot, with the actions the lure can produce. It is a "glide" bait....not a walk-the dawg, lure.
I said, this weeks "TIDES" would be perfect for early morning Trout fishing. And they are.
I hope I don't get asked, "When is the fishing really good in Jacksonville?" After a day of winds, rain, or cold, in the future. Because I'll then send you the last 4 video's I made!
My Newsletters were sent. Post after post, has been made here. Posts to my Facebook. Endless reports all over the web.
I don't know what else I could do.
Well, yeah I do....."I would have to 'shoe-horn 8 people' on my boat at $20 bucks a head, plus change the state fish limits, drag a trawl part of the day, and go 20 miles offshore because they think somehow it's better out there....." to make many of the calls I get, happy.
It's "Capt Dave Sipler's Sport Fishing", and I do light tackle inshore/near-coastal charters. NOT-JUST-ANOTHER-LONG-BOAT-RIDE.
SINCE WE HAVE ACADEMY SPORTS AND OUTDOORS AROUND HERE, NOW LOCALLY. IT'S WHERE THE SHELVES ARE FULL OF JUS' GRAB IT GLOVES. CHECK OUT CAPT DAVE'S LONGEST SPONSOR. JOHN C. AND HIS ""JGIG"" ON THIS ENTERTAINING SHOW.
Since I've been using the "smaller" wide-glide, I have caught so many Trout on this. I'd thought I'd pass this on from Larry Dahlberg the wide-glides designer. And made by River2Sea. They've been smacking this even in the day time. Yesterday, it really could have out fished the Catch2000's, (I consistantly hooked up when I made a cast) I had my customers using. I just don't have enough of them (as of right now) or I would have had them working the wide-glide.
WOW, I can't believe it's already the 15th of August. Things sure have went from gang-busters to dead slow around here. I hope it's because everyone "burned their wick" in July? Now we're back to plain ole J-ville.
Every single Presidential Election Year, is like this for me.
WHY, does this make people not want to go fishing? That's what I want know. What's the liers on those TV ads every 10 minutes, got to do with fishing? I pay zero attention to any of it. I strive for a stress free life. But that's damn hard to have in the fishing business, every four years. Things better pick up soon!
And with that being said.......the Trout are on FIRE!
We had a GREAT DAY today. Had Dustin, Jay, and Dreu aboard. We talked about the big Trout bite going on and I told them, it's LURES ONLY. No need for bait, and if you even use shrimp. The bait stealers will eat you out of house and home, so I'm not even taking bait!
The guys were all in! Then, I said, "how 'bout departing at 5:45am?" The guys were all in for that too!
So at dark, thirty this morning we pulled away from the dock. I had MirrOlure Catch 2000's tied to their spinning rods.
I told them, I'm really not a night time kinda person, but I sure can get up early like this to catch'em.
Dead calm, and oh so serene. So, after dropping the anchor very quietly. I gave them some instructions about the lures and the spot we were fishing. I brought my plugging rod along too. And I knew the Trout were all around us, because on my first cast I set the hook on a nice fish, but it got off at boatside, as so many do.
For the next three hours or more. The guys worked on their retrieve of the MirrOlure. I told them, it's a "twitch-twitch, pause". But that's always easier said then done. I believe, I had the spinning reels loaded to much with 20 pound braided line. I am not a spinning reel user, so I'm not familiar with exactly the best line load on my new Okuma 30 high speed Trio's. But for the first two hours, the line was coming off the reels in "clumps". So I ended up with a pocket full of expensive braided line, and constant re-rigging. What a headache! After awhile, and a few Ladyfish. The reels were working better, and the guys started putting big Trout to the boat.
Every fish was a healthy Trout, around 18-20 inches! As even I have experienced man, many times before. The Trout tear off the hooks at boat side or just get away as you're fighting them. We had plenty of that! But, it's all part of the game us Trout fisherman play. These fish shake and jump, and can get off, easily.
Throw in a few Trout pushing 5 pounds and things started looking alot better. The cooler was filling!!! And boy does my many many hours of R&D pay off. We sat on the same spot, and had Trout surrounding us. And NONE of them were small "dinks". Like I said, "These are all healthy large fish."
I tried jigs and soft plastics, again. Thought, with so many Trout around us, at least one would hit a jig. This is the second time I've tried jigs, on the spot. And they just don't want a jig. They want surface or subsurface plugs, period!
When, the tide started to ebb, it was pretty much over. And being it was now 10:00am we went and tried our hand at pitching jigs.
The NEW MOON falling tide was strong. And we struggled to get anything more than a few Ladyfish. But I tried several spots. But the bite was really off.
In the heat of the summer, I have found that these fish really like the cooler mornings at high tide. So by Noon, we headed back to clean our fish.
The grand total was 12 Trout from 18 to 24 inches. I was so busy, and busy making casts myself. I didn't take all that many pictures.
But, you get the idea..."of what you are missing out on."
Had Phil and his 82 year old dad Elliott on board today. They float-rigged with live shrimp, and caught some schoolie Trout. It was a falling tide all day long. Have had better luck on the rising tide. But this was a re-schedule from last Sunday. When it was blowing, raining and lightning from 4am till about 9am. So all that put the kybosh on last Sunday.
Elliott had a great time, he said. He hasn't been fishing since 2009. I personally haven't used bait in a few weeks. And they had a problem with needlefish eating the live shrimp in the shallows. "Isn't there always some fish out there that's always a pain in the butt?"
The bite wasn't hot, but there was a some action. We even trolled jigs and soft plastics around for a little while. And casted around a long dock and caught some shorts.
We took a little while and caught some Croakers, to use as big Trout bait. But had no action on them.
A few ladyfish, about 15 Trout and we headed in to clean the fish. It was a nice day, and then finally got hot around 1:00pm.
-works here too, if you can catch the "right size" Croaker.
And that's another mission of mine. I have the place, now I just have to weed thru them, and get a dozen of small size Croaks.
While surfing the world wide web, I came across super cheapy Chum bags, at Wally World.(LINK TO CHEAP CHUM BAGS)
Five for $2.96. So I dropped by Walmart and low and behold they had them!
So, now the plan is to drop this to underneath the boat, filled with some soft Boston Mackerel, or Ladyfish fillets and see if them Croaks won't come and hang under my boat as I catch them on Fishbites or piece of dead shrimp. Heck ya have to chum up everything in the Keys and south Florida. So, might as well try it to catch small Croaks.
The largest Trout of the entire summer, are being caught...and No one want to go. So as I say, "I'll go with ya or without ya'".
It's funny though. I get emails saying; "I want to catch as many fish as possible."
Really.....?? As if "I" want to go out and catch no fish all day?
I make video's, edit the video's, publishing the video's. After a 12 hour day fishing, doing research and development for "customers", then that night.
I put in another 4 hrs editing, and publishing the video's here.
And the kicker is, I have to tell possible customers, who in which all the work was for. To sign up for my reports, to see what I'm doing.
I guess people are so used to old or no reports on charter service websites.
These reports, video's, photos, are for customers who fished with me, and possible customers, period. If local fisherman sign up, read and enjoy. Consider it, "gravy on your weekend fishing buscuit!"
Since the full moon. Jig fishing is producing alot of short Trout. That's jigs and soft plastics. Today, I had at least 25 shorts on the jig. Action, oh yeah! But a boat load of keepers. Not on the jig. But, lately I have not float-rig fished. And I'm sure if I did, I could get some larger fish.
Had two monster Trout L-O-S-T again, on live Croakers. I really think, the Croakers are too large. A 3" Croaker would be best. The 4-6" plus Croakers are just too large to get a proper down the throat hookset. A drag smoking Gator Trout that I saw, readied the net for, got off a 7/0 Owner hook, today. And another on a Eagle Claw Lazer Sharp Kahle 5/0 shiner hook.
Give me a Treble.....any day!
But, after loosing the second big Trout. I caught a thick 24 incher on my Wide Glide subsurface lure. I have to say, this is the absolute best subsurface/topwater plug I have ever thrown. It's different. That's the key!
I think I'll send these pics to Larry Dahlberg and let him know what a winner he designed.
I caught two Flounder on a jig and soft plastic. Both "box worthy". That I didn't photograph.
I trolled...Yeah that's something I don't do much of. But experimented with. Against the tide, I was able to go slow enough. And found the perfect bank to troll along. Right in sight of a major road. So when I hooked up with this 26" Redbass on the troll. I had every trucker honking at me. It was a great light tackle battle, when I had out 150 feet of line.
Of course, before the Redbass I had numerous Ladyfish. They loved the Glass-minnow colored Matrix shad, with a white jighead!
Not long after catching the Redbass. I had to seek shelter and fast!
I tucked under a bridge and tied off. Because I was stuck between storms to the West and to the East. That contained lightning. I chilled out for awhile, and took pictures of the storms.
It sort of cleared up. So I headed back to the dock. I did another.....9 hour, R&D day.
.....it started out as an experiment. Right now the river has some large Mullet around. But damn if I could catch any in my castnet. And as I watch and entertain myself reading Louisiana Sportsman Magazine, and watch Louisiana Trout fishing shows. I saw that the Louisiana CCA - "Coastal Conservation Association"STAR tournament, which is a tournament covers many species over the course of a few months. The current Speckled Trout leading fish, 8.3lbs. was caught on a live Croaker. So with large baits hard to come by for me in the St. Johns River here in Jax. I figured, Croakers sure are plentiful right now.
Plus, instead of chasing bait around with a castnet. Why not just fish for Croakers! I do it when I need baits for big Redbass. Many a monster Red has come from a frisky live Croaker. Making noise "croakin" in distress sitting on the bottom.
And like I always say....."Callin' them in for a free meal that they'll suck down like a fun sized Snickers bar on Halloween!"
Well, same goes for Gator Trout!
This short video I decided, needed a little more. So I added some favorite photos. And photos of today's R&D catch. I had around 20 Trout total. Lost two BIG Trout at boatside, had a run on one rod that ripped the bait off the hook. Had a bunch of "shorts" on a jighead and a Matrix Shad soft plastic, iced down 5 keepers, and of course had a 24, 26, and 28 inch Trout. And only had three Ladyfish bites all day. And caught at least 25 Croakers and kept 10 of the smallest for bait.
BUT, it all came at a price. With the full moon, and the afternoon due East sea breeze blowing 15 knots against a falling tide. What a royal pain in the ass that was!
I was leaving the dock at 5:15am. And got back to the dock at 4:30pm. Many times when I ran into a slump, I almost packed it in. Then, the wind blew really hard and fishing was really tough. And I about gave up, again. I was hot, sweaty, had "casting and anchor pulling shoulder" acting up, and I was tired.
Intead of thinking about all that and the cold PBR, comfy lazyboy and cold air conditioning waiting at home, I stratigised instead. And continued the GATOR hunt.
And I'm glad I did.
But then again.....I was looking for my next 10 pounder.
Well...this is what I like to do. And since it's the start of a new month and everyone has to re-group from July. I'm getting sometime to do some R&D. (that's research and development) Because I'm addicted to fishing too!
When other guides go hunting, I go fishing. When other guides go on a "family" vacation. I go fishing, on vacation.
Yeah, I'm ate up with it. Be it 100 degrees or 20 degrees. I live to catch these fish every way I can. And love experimenting. Since the per person limit is just 6, hard earned Trout (sometimes.) It pays to play around a bit, and try other baits, or techniques.
So all who think I only "float-rig fish".......Well, this is the 3rd video, that proves otherwise.
You can bet, I've done my homework. When it gets time for someone to pull a date off their calendar and book a date.
And when I find my "favorites" piled up in an area. You can bet I'll be there, knowing every bump in the bottom.
( I do now after three video's, and fishing all tide ranges)
As I said in my last video. You have to go when they're chewin. Be it 100 degrees or 20 degrees. And today that meant "sun-rise". And ya have to fish, with your ducks in a row!
Had John & Terrie S. aboard the Jettywolf, today. I've know John and Terrie for a long time. They were members of the Jacksonville Offshore Sport Fishing Club, years ago. Own a boat and everything. But the boat was under the weather and John told me he just wanted to get his kids out, for some shark fishing before they went back to school.
I told him, no problem. Let's try Thursday. His kids are boat savvy, and know about fishing.
Hating to do much wasting time, so I just take a bag of Boston Mackerel with me as cut bait. And we'll "run & gun" behind the shrimp boats. To start out. And go with the flow.....
The first shrimp boat we got behind, didn't have much going on. So we ran to the south. The next boat was pulling it's nets. "That's what we want!", so we pull right in behind and instantly we get little Lucas hooked up on a shark.
We were right next to the CAPT. TREY, the fella running the boat asks if we want some chum.
He says,"I wanna see those kids catch sharks!". I yelled up to him that "I'd appreciate enough for fresh baits at least, and would appreciate it."
The CAPT TREY drops anchor and the fella running the boat says, "I'll get ya some chum in a bag. And do you all want some shrimp??"
Wow, John and Terrie and I were surprised how nice this guy is. After we released a small shark, I pull over to the anchored shrimp boat. And the same guy asked if the kids wanted to jump up and check out the deck and the shrimp?
While holding on to the side of the shrimp boat
"Heck yeah!!" Lucas and Loren (7 & 10 years old) jump up on my bow deck and then climb over the side of the shrimp boat with Mom and Dad watching. They come back with starfish, ribbonfish and a live baby stone crab.
Then, he drops us a bag of chum. Then, the whole crew stands on the side of the shrimp boat and they hand us a big bag of fresh caught monster shrimp. John goes to give him a $20 bill and they say, "No man, we just want ya to have it, you owe us nothing..."
Wow, again! What a nice person this guy was. That's when I asked him if he was CAPT TREY? He said no, I just work here and run the boat.
They were going to clean-up and shut down and go to sleep, he said. They caught all the shrimp they needed all night long, he said.
So, off we went and fished the area, behind a few more boats, and with our nice juicy bag of shrimp boat by-catch we chummed. Many times having all the sharks the kids would ever want sometimes right behind the Jettywolf.
The kids and Mom, Terrie reeled in no less that 10-15, before the breeze dropped and the heat poured on fast and hard.
The kids were looking tired. So we headed in, from what was a great day of Sharkin'.
And of course many thanks to the Captain of the CAPT TREY shrimp boat for his generosity.
Yeah, the heat is only for DIE-HARDS. Just like when it's 22 degrees in Feb at 7am and the Trout are chewin', ya better be ready if ya want to catch them.
There's alot about fishing that's for real die hards, and 110 in the shade is one of them. But those fried Trout sandwiches, and cold PBR's after a good day make it all worth it for me.
Here's a L-O-N-G video of my R&D day. And finished the day as both camera batteries went dead, with 4 Yellowmouth Trout.
NEVER took any bait. Jus' soft plastics and jigheads. From first to last cast!
Yeah, can believe it. The float-freak left his float-rig rods at home.
Enjoy....and crack open a cool one. Your gonna need it.
It's not often that a spinner reel, a spinning rod and a 3/8ths ounce jig head with a Dockside bait & tackle MATRIX shad, in my mind, will out fish a N.E. Florida Float-rig and live "local" shrimp.
But it did, and it can, when you're prepared. "And experimenting."
Remember this ole saying;
"SUCCESS IS WHEN PREPARATIONS MEETS OPPORTUNITY"
I had Jim T. and his daughter Mackenzie aboard the Jettywolf today. At first, Jim wanted to go hit the shrimp boats in search of Blacktip Sharks. But then called me back and said, "Instead, let's go after Trout. I have some relatives who want some fish fillets."
I was sort of glad Jim changed his mind. Because the forecast for 10-15 SE winds probably meant a day of bobbing in the heavy duty swells, running from shrimp boat to shrimp boat. And what happens when there's no sharks to catch?????
That's when my most hateful thing happens. Playing switch up, and floundering for something else to do, after wasting hours and hours...My foresight spidey-sense was kicking in before I even left the house this morning. Feeling the stiff breeze. I was gonna switch our trip to river fishing anyhow, even before I listened to Jim's phone message.
So, at the boat ramp I was shocked as I sat there getting ready I looked up in the parking lot and here comes Jim and Mackenzie, 30 minutes EARLY!!!!!!
That's a change. Most people show up barely on time, and most are always late. (something I've never understood for the past 16 years!)
To make a long story short, we fished our way down river and caught some Trout on a Float-rig, then alot of ladyfish. Then, we tried a new spot, where Jim got his butt kicked and lost a really big fish, seemed like a Redbass.
Then, on the next spot I had my crew fishing a float-rig still. I grabbed my brand new jig rod and tossed a Dockside bait & tackle Matrix shad on a jig head out behind the boat and hooked a big Trout. Turned out to be 4 pounds.
I made another cast and instantly was hooked up again. I handed the rod to Mackenzie, she fought the fish to the boat, I saw it, I went to net it and it was a 6 pounder! But it jumped at boat side and came off the jighead. Mackenzie didn't know that jig hooked Specks act like little Tarpon. Jumping and shaking and rattling their gills......and hooks go flying.
Okay, we'll get more. I had them both grab the two spinner rods, rigged with 3/8ths ounce jigs and Avocado Matrix shads. And then it was game on!
All but a few of 25 Trout were caught on the jigs and Matrix Shad soft plastics. To a die hard float-freak, (like me) this was just insane.
My crew easily started putting all keeper Trout in the fish box, making a 3 person limit of 18, on this spot and one more.
It was crazy. But GREAT. Trout like crazy on soft plastics. I almost though I was in another state....Louisiana! No need for the shrimp in the livewell??????????????
We came back and I cleaned the fish, feed my bird buddies. And Jim even said, "Dave you have the rest of the Trout." So I cleaned 5 for me, and just finished them after a deep fry and PBR party, on my back porch. Man, they were good!
Zaterains country fish fry mix, Freshly filleted Specks, a deep fryer, and a 12 pak of cold beer. After a great day of catching.
Moral of the story: I always keep a jig rod handy. And during charters try to get in a few casts. Well, today it set a precedence. And continued the rest of the trip.
Had John, his two sons Caleb & Noah from Virginia, aboard today. We just hit a bunch of spots in the river. And caught Speckled Trout, Yellowmouth Trout, Croakers, and a few Ladyfish. Drifting float-rigs and throwing jigs and shrimp.
It was the usual summer Saturday. Hot with people everwhere. (I keep day dreaming about cold winter weekdays about this time of year.....)
The only pics I took were of the little summer Sheepshead the guys caught along a rocky bank. Then, after that the Pinfish showed up and ate every bait. It's funny how in two casts of jigs and shrimp, these Sheepshead came back to back.
NEXT UP:
Monday, gonna try behind the shrimp boats for Sharks with two people.
FUELUP:
Filled the Jettywolf up again at the Exxon at Girvin rd and Atlantic Blvd. Tested the unleaded regular, as I always do and it's NOT10% ETHANOL, but rather 5%. I'm a stats kinda guy. I have the "want to know."
Ya' know, when I started in this business back in 1996. I had many a rod built by a man named John Ogden. He lived in Mayport, behind the Elementary school. He wasn't a young hot shot, but rather a well seasoned fisherman and had to be back then, close to 80 years old.
He built alot of simple and well crafted bottom rods for people, including me. I had him also build some inshore (jetty) fishing rods of various lengths. And one set, (4 is a set) was very thin and veryparabolic solid glass blanks with a new at that time, set of guides, which were complete graphite molded eyes. No metal at all. A guide molded from graphite, with a ceramic insert. Which gave the "heavier than nomal" rod blank no added weight. A handful of these guides were like a handful of feathers. Which he said would really be a great addition to these massively durable thin solid glass rod blanks.
I fished these rods for awhile and for some reason went to all Shakespeare Ugly Stiks. Probably because I could get the same rod feel, durability, at a affordable price. And buy "sets" at a time....ya know, I.G. - instantaneous gratification?
Things were cooking along for me as usual. And in those days Jacksonville seemed to have more fishing seminars going on. It seemed like every month there was some event somewhere that someone was hosting. And I attended many of them, and even did my fair share of doing the seminars. Also back then, everyone and their brother was coming up with a new free fishing magazine. To make a long story short, I met a guy who worked for one of these new magazines, who knew a guy who was a rep for G. Loomis rods in Florida. He put me in contact with him, and the rep added me in as a Pro-staffer for G. Loomis rods.
Wow, high class Loomis rods.....where the catalog was like reading a book and it was as thick as one too! Purpose designed fishing rods. Rods for Salmon, Halibut, Kingfish, Bass, Sail fishing. You name it, G. Loomis made a rod to catch it. Purposely designed. My decision to go ahead with Loomis rods was also influenced by a really good friend that had many of them and he loved them.
Like the J. Peterman catalog that Elaine Benes wrote for on the TV show "Seinfeld". Each rod series came with stories of the angling adventure through distant lands you will experience, with these high modulas graphite, cutting edge, hand crafted fishing tools. In this bible of all fishing rods .
Eight years, I used nothing but G. Loomis rods. And through those 8 years I never had so many rods snapped in half by customers! It took me eight years to find out that my customers didn't care one bit that the rod they were using was cutting edge technology and cost MSRP $250!!!! And yes, when they broke them, they would have to pay for the replacement fee, which was $60-80.00, back then.
Believe it or not, I had a guy break a rod at the jetties because he thought he would move a 10 ton granite boulder with the rod. When in reality, he had a Toadfish hooked up that back itself into a hole.
Thing changed a bit for G. Loomis. Even while I was still getting my rods from them. Gary Loomis sold out to Shimano. But they kept G. Loomis in the same place doing the same thing. The big book like catalog disappeared. No more rods for every single fish on the planet. And then, Shimano bought up PowerPro line.
I believe they call that "corporate packman?" Making deals, no one can pass up.
So now I get NO special deals, NO 60% off retail with free shipping. And I order my rods, or scan the yokal local stores, just like everyone else. Because I sold all my G. Loomis rods and went back to Shakespeare Ugly Stiks.
And the most expensive Ugly Stik I've ever owned was maybe $60.00. And have had a customer only break one in 4 years. Because he walked the rod from the stern of the boat, to the bow of the boat just off the deck and ran the tip straight into my bow deck, bulkhead! That one was a Ugly Stik "inshore select" spinning rod. And it seemed many were breaking when they first came out with this new rod. And it shouldn't have broke anyhow. But it was replaced FREE OF CHARGE, no questions asked.
I now can afford to have many Ugly Stiks.......about 48! I can now have spares sets, just sitting there. In case.
One thing that I'll always remember in that G. Loomis catalog was a message from the founder, Gary Loomis. It went something like this.....
"I can build a rod, that no one will break. But then again, no one will ever want to fish with it."
Well, the man did know a thing or two about building rods, and the materials. Had top people working for him, too.
I'm not taking anything away from him. He is still a millionaire. And I'm not. So I respect that.
But, like the title of this blog post says, "HOW DO THEY DO IT?"
SHAKESPEARE, I mean.
Well, it's a long story of how the Ugly Stik came to be. Many, many years ago.
They're affordable, they're durable, and they don't break (very often) and they make people like me very, very happy at the end of each charter and solo day fishing.
My newest aquisition is two 6'6" Ugly Stik Lites. Casting rods of course. Medium action. Tossing jigs will be their job mostly. And as I walked around looking at rods, I saw some pretty fancy rods. Green rods, orange rods, water-camo color rods, some with tiny eyes on them, and some that cost.......$250.00!
I compared a name brand IM-8 Graphite rod with cork grips that was also 6'6". I looked at the eyes, the action, the weight, the reel seat. And the price tag. I held it right next to the Ugly Stik Lite that was also 6'6". The Ugly stik had better eyes, and more of them, nicer cork grips, and of course it "weighed" a bit more, but not much. I compared the action, the way the eyes were wrapped, etc.
I grabbed two of the Ugly Stik Lites, put the other rod away, and walked out of the store with two rods for not much more then what the other one rod cost.
And I know for a fact that this rod is tough!
Yeah, I know all about actions, weight of a rod, and materials rods can be made with. And some people just hate the solid glass tip on an Ugly Stik. They look at them as kid rods, or too heavy for serious angling. That's all well and good. I guess to them, I'm not angling....?
I've heard and seen it all. So, I watch people. Observation is big in the world of fishing, and a habit for me when in tackle stores. There's people who are casual fisherman, and they pass right on by the rack of Ugly Stiks. And there's stores in this town, that just won't carry many of them. Because the profit margins just aren't enough. And Ugly Stiks aren't "high class" enough.
The story you just read is the reason why I love them.
And for entertainment purposes, I often read the customer reviews on Bass Pro Shops website, and Cabelas too. There's no doubt I'm not alone in my feelings. Just type in Shakespeare Ugly Stik in the search window on Bass Pro Shops or Cabelas, pick a rod, and read the pages of customer reviews on these sites.
Had a nice family out on yet another 2 hour kids trip today. Dan P. and his family from Georgia visiting J-ville, and staying at OceanONE, at the beach.
The morning trip for the kids was perfect, as it was thier first time saltwater fishing and on a boat. We departed at 9am, due to I wanted a falling tide. But even at 9am, the tide was super slow. And after hitting 2-3 spots, we finally got the targeted species, while just fishing shrimp on the bottom. Yellowmouth Trout. The kids also reeled in Puffers and, Seabass. The Puffers put on a good show for the kids, inflating and spewing water all over them. Mom, took loads of photos.
We finished the trip, with me showing them the Mega Yachts, hitched up along Atlantic Marine. They don't have that kida stuff up in Stone Mountain, Georgia!
I had plans to go "Trout Tracking" afterwards. And had a baitwell full of live shrimp. Putting the blazing sun, hot temps, and summer tide to the test. Actually, to test myself!
"Could I find a limit of Speckled Trout today?"
The EAST winds we've had obviously salted up the local Mayport water. Salinaty was a 28-30 PPT. Which is HIGH saline. For a falling tide.
The chit-chat is that down-town, and Arlington area is Yellowmouth Trout, through the roof. But as I talked to Bill, from Arlington Bait and Tackle at the dock as he was getting water for his shrimp tanks earlier this morning. He said, he's heard of more Yellowmouth Trout coming from east of the Dames Point. We both agreed, chasing hear-say reports in the middle of the summer is a huge waste of time.
So after dropping off Dan and family around noon. I took off to go make my own findings. My own report.
My first spot was near the White Shell rocks. I started by casting a soft plastic of a 3/8ths ounce jig, and was having the tail ripped off, over and over again.
I finally found out what was hitting, when I caught one. A 6" Mangrove Snapper!
Yep, on a few choice spots........THEY'RE BACK!!!
Oh boy. If Pinfish aren't bad enough around here. These mini-Mangrove Snappers, are really a pain in the ass! I dared to try a float-rig and a live shrimp. And yep, you couldn't get by the Mangroves, as they would eat the shrimp right out of the head shell.
So, I picked up and made a move. (mental note: Rocks = mini-Mangroves)
I didn't go far, and I didn't head WEST. Because this was WESTWARD>>>>>>
Mid-day, Mid-summer, Trout....where might you be??
Not around rocks? In deeper water?? Where tons of bait is??
So my next stop on a new spot, first fish was a Ladyfish. Which actually in the summer is a GOOD sign. Where ever Ladyfish and Jacks are, is certainly going to also be Trout water. Next bite, a Jack. As I pitched my float-rig and live shrimp out into deeper water away from the structure.
Then, as I sat anchored up on this particular spot, it began to turn into a FISH FEST. The type of fish I'm hunting down.
Of course the FIRST ONE, was an almost 20 incher....and then, they got smaller.
But, "I FOUND YOU MISTER TROUT!"
I caught a Trout, or a Ladyfish for the next two hours on every pitch and drift of my trusty Float-rig. Burning through my baitwell of spunky local live shrimp!
Problem was......99.99% of the Trout were 14 inch skinny Males. And I fished furioiusly, keeping the bite going and even catching a few Yellowmouth Trout to get my (measily) limit of SIX Trout 15" and better.
But that's to be expected this time of year. Grunting, thin Male Trout out numbering the larger roe ladened females.
I had a ball, breaking in a New 7'6" Ugly Stik to be used for nothing but float-rig fishing. I finally got my 6 Speckled Trout, and three Yellowmouths. The current had faded, the current changed directions, so it was time to head home.
Total, I weeded through at least 30 to 40 Speckled Trout to get my limit of keepers, along with several ladyfish. And while doing so, hooked up something huge that just handed me my azz on a platter...."but broke my Ladyfish scuffed up leader." Probably, by the way it huged the bottom a over-sized Redbass.
I got home, and had a huge fish fry, along with a few too many 12 ounce PBR's. Now that's the way it's supposed to be, during the, MID-SUMMER SLIDE.
From here on out, we're getting closer to that fall fishing season. Day by Day.
-King Mackerel are closer in towards the beach now. (good reports from all the usual hot spots)
-Supposedly, the big Sharks are behind the Shrimp boats. (time to join the 100 pounder club?)
Had a customer I have not had on board in 6 years. Chad S. and he brought his 14 year old nephew. Plan was since the river fishing has been so hit and miss. We'd head offshore. Yeah, first stop was to be somewhere around Montgomery's Reef. From the end of the jetties, 10.8 miles.
We broke the jetties early. Looked for Pogies off the north. And as we saw ZERO, I said hell with this let's go.
And the further we went, the less I could actually get on plane!!
It was "SLOP" city! (as we watched the 70' Party boats pass us, heaving in the seas.)
Yes, it was windy about 10-15 kts. which isn't all that much wind, but out of the SE with the "5 second intervals" between the 4 foot back to back waves would have had me doing a fast idle, for the next 10 miles? Heck NO.
So, hell with this....
I turned around and we fought our way back in the jetties, as it was a sloppy mess too. By this time, Chad and Dakota his 14 year old nephew were soaked. I was kinda pissed, by this point. Plans shot, to hell. All I had was cuttlefish for bait. And wanted absolute nothing to do with this nasty boat bobbing around, waking, waves at that inlet, either.
Rough wateris worth it when you know, you have a chance at catching good fish. (IE: January at the Jetties) Be it inshore or offshore. This was gonna be neither.
We found out really fast that not even a Croaker would eat a Cuttlefish snack. So I ended up getting some dead shrimp and we finished the day with a good handful of Whiting & Yellowmouth Trout, caught bottom fishing. Which turned into a decent bag of fish fry fillets. And the day ended with getting rained on.
I think it's baitwell of live shrimp and float-rigging inshore for me, with bottom fishing or tossing jigs as a back up no matter what, or no matter how many people on my boat. Cause I'm kinda tired of having to be jack of all trades, master of none, during long hot summer's.
NEXT UP:
Before the Greater Jax Kingfish Tournament mess.....starting next week on Tuesday thru Saturday. I'm able to sneak in a 2 hour kids trip on Monday, with two boys and dad.
FOR THE KIDS ONLY TRIPS, still just $200 for 2 hours, max. 4 person (kids or adults)
Had Mike M. a regular customer and his brother-in-law Jeremy aboard. Their wives bought them a Father's day trip. So we went out today.
REALLLLLLLY, wished I had my Fish finder/GPS/Chart plotter display iunit back from repairs, because we would have headed out and did some "LT" bottom fishing on some near-shore ledges. But, I wasn't getting it till later in the day via Fedex.
So, instead we headed to Nassua Sound. Yep, 3rd trip flying by the seat of my pants up there, running the bars, but at least it's all sand. So all that could happen is taking more paint off the lower unit, and certainly a sand bar won't hurt the Jettywolf!
We ran the ocean up to the sound, but first stopped and tried to catch some Pogies that were off the North Jetty out deep.
A bit futile, so we left them and went looking up off Amelia Island. That was almost futile too.
Did find some, but they were so scattered. Found some nice chunky Threadfins on the rip line up there. And I actually caught some in my cast net, as they are usually too fast to catch.
We tossed out some cut shrimp for baits and caught some Whiting, while waiting on the tide to get the pogies corraled.
And then, it was so easy! In 6 foot of water, versus 46' of water catching Pogies is a dream!
We chummed and fished a new slew up there that runs from inside the sound to the south. But the action was really slow.
Wanting TARPON as usual, settling for some sharks. But it just wasn't happening. We caught a few small Bonnetheads, but that wasn't the target.
Made a few moves and finally got some line pullers. Bonnetheads of various sizes.
The action was good for about 30 minutes.
And FINALLY, we caught something in 3 trips up there that wasn't a Bonnetthead shark, but rather a Mini-Blacktip.
The action slowed to zero. So we went and fished the S. Amelia rocks. By now the ocean was kinda kicking up, but it wasn't even close to the south Jetty in January. So I anchored up outside the rocks and we gave it a try. I told the guys that in the spring time, I've had Black Drum and just about everything else here. So, being 100 degrees and windy. We just gave it a few minutes. The small bait stealers as usual in N.E. Florida were rabid. And Mike and Jeremy caught small Spadefish and a small Mangrove Snapper, on pieces of dead shrimp.
NO BIG FISH PRESENT.....seemed to be the theme of the day!
I picked up my Shimano Trevalla rod, with the Shimano TranX reel on it, with a Shimano Waxwing jig tied on and said, "I bet if there's a Jack around here, it'll eat this in a minute"
I made a long bombing cast up to the end of the rocks and whammm-O. A Jack jumped on the jig. And a bunch were following.
A blind squirrel, finds an acorn every once in awhile, huh? This was the first FISH I've caught on a Waxwing jig and have thrown it in the river and jetties for 6 months!!
Guess, I won't be making any Shimano Waxwing Youtube videos for Shimano any time soon huh?
I made another cast, and I caught a second Jack. Then, the Ladyfish were following it as I made more casts. I guess the Waxwing is another fisherman catcher?
I saw reds & Trout caught on them....but that was in Louisiana, not J-ville, Fla.
Example:
I'll keep trying..."for a Trout!"
Guess, I'll try it offshore some day and maybe I can do better with it.
Thank goodness for the I.C.W.
Because it would have been one wet and wild ride back via the Ocean in the 15-20 knot, SE seabreeze. Usually I don't stay out this long, but it was a tough ass day, and I worked very hard to get something, that never wanted to really get going, to start. And it took a long time to do it.
