How the JETTYWOLF was built....versus:

Versus: "the other way".

The Future...

With Plans for a 175 horse power.....would make a great little stern trolling motor on my boat.
And a perfect "slow trolling kicker" for the Kingfisherman, for sure. Shut those 300 Mercs off!!!!

I could easily have a welded Kicker engine bracket put on my stern.

up to 5HP right now.

PROPANE OUTBOARDS by LEHR

see action video's "here"

Not the best way to fish.....

Who needs stinkin' bait & expensive tackle??????

1/11 - Oh, those moons & huge tides!

In a matter of one week (as per all my video proof) the inlet aka: "jetties" have gone from bustin' gator Trout, to completely invaded with small toothless sharks. I believe, they are called "Dogfish". They eat everything and are carpeting the bottom!!

Left out this morning on a semi foggy morning with Mike & Matt. Worked the float-rigs hard, and came up with one Sheepshead and a few small Speckled Trout. But at the same time, most of our shrimp were eaten off the hooks by ravenous Ring-tailed Porgies. And the seas were seriously "Nautical", where we fished.

Mike and Matt, hung in there. But, for me it was just "S.O.P." for winter jetty fishing. The forecast was for high 70's, and it was a beautiful day, as you'll see as the early fog burned off. Though the swell continued. (BECAUSE OF THE TIDE)

Working with my new camera, the DRIFT HD GHOST action cam mounted on the boat, using the wide angle lens setting. I'm still getting used to it and playing around with it.

The current and lack of bites on the float-rig & live shrimp had me scrambling to find some kind of action. The guys were "spinning reel casters" when fishing themselves. So I said, "Bring a few of your own rods and reels." Even though they were well versed with my baitcasting float rig reels and did great with them.

So we went and did some "jig-n-shrimp" pitching, on the crowded north jetty. Where Matt, feeling not so well with some sea-sickness slammed a 29" Redbass, and we caught a nice pup Black Drum also.

The bites were few and far between from "real targeted species". But the small sharks were killing us. At one point we caught them on every single cast!

We ended up leaving and finishing the day and over 12 DOZEN live shrimp in the bait well, back float-rig fishing for more little sharks and a few Bluefish and a small Trout. With the Redbass (29") a Sheepshead, and the Drum in the fish box.

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

SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED OUT THERE AT THE JETTIES!

THE NEW MOON'S 5.5' TIDE WAS NOT ONLY A KILLER, BUT THE INVASION OF THE SHARKS MAKES ANY BLUEFISH SEEM ALMOST LIKE A WELCOMED SPECIES. (EVEN THOUGH I STILL HATE THE BLUEFISH).

UNTIL SOMETHING CHANGES. MY EFFORTS WILL BE CONCENTRATED ELSEWHERE! THE "JETTYWOLF" WON'T BE FISHING THE "JETTIES".

I'LL BE MAKING A BIG ZIP CODE CHANGE. MY MOTTO IS: "NO LONG BOAT RIDES" BUT THAT'LL HAVE TO CHANGE, AS I HEAD THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, AND HEAD UP RIVER FOR MY TARGETED SPECIES.

HMMM, "ANOTHER CHAPTER UNFOLDS", IN THE QUEST FOR GATOR TROUT IN BAZZARO WORLD.

AND HOW 'BOUT THIS JANUARY WEATHER???

PERSONALLY, I'LL TAKE COLD WINDY AND SPORTY ANY DAY. THE FISH SEEM TO BITE BETTER FOR ME. THAT'S WHY I LOVE N.E. FLORIDA WINTERS.

1/9 - Finally....battery cables!!!!!

I'm a happy Cappy!   THE SPARE HONDA 225 PROJECT CONTINUES.....!

On my new Drift HD Ghost action cam. Playing with "wide angle lens selection".

Yes, it's always good to have a "SPARE MOTOR", when your "LIVING" depends on it!

1/9 - WARM BREEZE....



Jus' days ago....cold, windy, overcast, and "GATORS"
1/4/2013           7 pounder

Yep, can ya believe the crazy weather we have? My dad and are were talking, and there probably isn't that many places along the East Coast where there's such huge swings in temps and weather as this area. I'd like to know the "facts" about that. From someone at the National Weather Service. Would be an interesting converstaion......

The mercury is still rising, can you believe it. But there is a little early morning fog to deal with and there may be a coastal shower or two.

But first we have to deal with the 'inverted trough' that is just off shore. This means we still have some showers and clouds to deal with but the rain chance is only 20% . This system will begin to break down today and open the door for dry and more warm temps.

As we move toward the weekend we will see more sun and highs near 80...yes it is winter!!

The "wind" forecast:

THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY
SOUTHEAST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO
4 FEET. INLAND WATERS A MODERATE CHOP.

FRIDAY NIGHT
SOUTH WINDS 10 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 4 FEET. INLAND
WATERS A LIGHT CHOP.

SATURDAY
SOUTHEAST WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 3 FEET. INLAND
WATERS MOSTLY SMOOTH.

SATURDAY NIGHT
SOUTHEAST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 3 FEET.
INLAND WATERS A LIGHT CHOP.

SUNDAY
SOUTHEAST WINDS 10 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 3 FEET. INLAND WATERS
A LIGHT CHOP.

 

LOOK AT THOSE TEMPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

1/5 - Much Nicer Day

Long story short.

The day before was pretty nasty. And as you can see we had to leave in the dark to catch the last minutes of falling tide in the Video.

Well, I had Gabe & Donna aboard 24 hrs later and it was a much nice day. Sunny, warmer. And they were kind enough to be really early. So we too could depart in the dark and catch as much falling tide as we possibly could.

Only thing..........The fish didn't bite as well as they did in the NASTY weather the day before. GO FIGURE. It's like that alot. Those day when I would run up into Mill Cove when the tide was super high, being pushed by near gale force winds out of the North, raining as we departed, and super cold.  THAT'S WHEN THEY'D BE ON FIRE!

You go back the next day when the "NOReaster is over", and you struggle!

That's what we sort of did today. That falling tide just didn't run all that long. But that of course is when all the bites came.

Donna catching the best Trout. (of course, always bring your best Gal!!) And maybe she even caught the most too.
But the most out of not many, wasn't my usual style...

 

Gabe & Donna came to learn about the float-rig. And I tried to show them the most I could with out all that much action. But they got the picture.

Funny thing is that we didn't have a single under 15" Trout the whole day. They boxed I think, the start of 2 limits, but fell short by 4 fish. Keeping 8 up to 19-20".

After about 9am, the tide slowed and started to creep in, and that's when the water temp changed. And we started to struggle at the jetty rocks.

 

NO LACK of "green scourge" bites. The ever present eat at least half your baits Bluefish. If there's a reason to run far south on the river. The inlet Bluefish are it.

1/4 - Cold, Breezy, Low tide, LIMITS!

Yeah, I have been preaching...."as winter sets in for awhile it seems that the big bites turn into just low tide bites at the jetties."

So Doc Miller and I depart at zero dark thirty and al ready have them in the boat before sun-up. Had a few pesky bluefish, but they weren't that bad. Had a few Redbass, with one keeper. A perfect eater (in my opinion) a 19 incher.

But as you can see. Cappy "Gator Trout" Dave  gets a fattie. A nice 7 pounder!  We had such a ball. No one was around, and as far as Doc and I, these are the kind of days we live for. Last minute, cold, breezy, leave really early, get the right tide, and fill the box with a limit of beautiful winter Trout.

Plus we released a bunch.

So it was an active morning.......but as the tide rose "as usual for this time of year". The action fell off.

Fine, Fine eating. Once again.

The LAST SHRIMP even caught a fish!

1/1 & 1/2....The New Year....on to #17

 

Ya know what I don't like more than anything? It's how time flies by. I caught myself sitting on the edge of my bed yesterday putting on my socks in the morning and thinking about how fast time passes us by. And how short life really is.

There's so much I'd like to do, places I'd like to fish. And no sooner as we just blink (so it seems) it'll be summer and hot as all hell!  I'll be complaining about catching less Trout, and sweating again by 8am.

And this year will mark 17 years of charter fishing here in J-ville. And how old I'm quickly getting without doing the things I want to do.

All this went tru my mind as I put on just two socks!

Kinda heavy huh??

Well with that said, here's what YOU may have missed. I say may have missed. Because I didn't see YOU there.
The B&M bait and tackle New Years Day Bash & Fish Fry.

As usual it was great. The food was unbelievable!

There was so many people vehicles were parked up and down A1A, plus the whole parking lot. Pitty the person who went fishing at 1pm and needed ice and bait with a boat in tow!!!

 

THE FRY MASTER AT WORK, Rusty.

Parking lot jammed....and Alan's old Ford!

THE CROWD...and all the food!

 

 

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

 

 

1/2 - with Ed and Nancy

 

Had regular customer Ed B. from Michigan back on the Jettywolf along with his girlfriend Nancy. We had a rising tide right off the git-go. But on spot one it was dead low tide and just started coming in, very slowly.

 

It was a good spot to show nancy the how's and why's of Float-rigging for Trout. And of course some bluefish were present. So fish #1 was a Blue, but right off, fish #2 was a good keeper Trout via Nancy! 

 

 

And it was more than evident to me as we boxed 5 Trout on the first spot up to 21 inches, that the BITE is all about LOW tide!

 

It gets this way....especially as the water gets colder. Yes, you can pick and poke around. But the LOW tide is where it's at!

 

As the tide came in we had to work hard, really hard to pick up a few more trout, toss back a few, and get eaten alive by bait stealers.

The moral of the day was work for the bites. And keep on track.  But as the tide got higher the bites slowed. Even my go-to spot only yielded one Trout, and it was where the wind and seas were pushing into the jetty rocks. Which is usually the ticket (?)

 

So right when ya think you know what's happening......Mother nature shows you another side. But either way we had a good time. No serious "kicker fish", like picking off a Sheepshead, or even getting a Redbass on the float-rigs. No Yellowmouth Trout either.

 

But at days end Ed had a 1 gallon bag full of nice fish fry fillets, and it was much much better weather than it is in Michigan. And I hope he brings Nancy along again.

 

I always say, "bring your best gal".  You could be surprised at how good she fishes! And Nancy hung right in there!

 

(dang, my camera wasn't having a good day. The photos are not up to par)

  

12/31 - YEAR END VIDEO

-Was supposed to have Capt Kris from Dockside bait & tackle in Slidell Louisiana aboard today. REALLY was kinda upset. Because all I want is to find out the details about fishing Lake Pontchartrain from a Pro. We were "swapping fishing trips". As I always say, "when I grow up, I wanna be a Gulf Coast Angler, someday."  And now, I missed my chance. Because he couldn't make it after extensive planning, while he was here. (actually Orange Park, kinda like here......)

So I went out anyhow. 8 dozen live shrimp later, and working thru a long boring tide. The fish bit like NUTZ at the low tide. Still the iinfluence of the NEW moon, I guess.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE IN THIS VIDEO, OF HOW MY "TECH-TIP #2" CAME INTO PLAY.
(see all "tech-tip" video links, along blog right side bar)

-SOFT LIMBER ROD MANDATORY!!!!!

COUPLE THAT WITH BRAIDED LINE, SOFT AND EVEN HARD MOUTHED FISH WILL COME TO THE BOAT.

-ALSO MANDATORY ANYMORE FOR ME IS A REALLY FAST GEAR RATIO REEL!!!

12/31/2012
Today I set a personal "record". That 7 pound Sheepshead was caught by drifting my float-rig back NO-LESS than 150 feet behind the boat.

Yes, go pace off 150 feet and see what I mean! It could have actually been further. Never before I have set the hook on a Sheepshead that far away. I have done Reds & Trout. NEVER a Sheepshead before.

When you get really "into" float-rig fishing. These are the types of landmarks you'll set. Catching is one thing. Catching the way YOU want is another.

A very wise angler once said, "First there's catching fish, then there's catching big fish. After it's all said and done, then there's catching fish the WAY you want to catch fish."
as said by; Larry Dahlberg - Freshwater Fishing Halll of Famer. Host of, Hunt For Big Fish TV show. 

12/28 - FULL MOON TIDES...still!

Had to deal with the moon again, on the 28th too. Getting all my "Christmas crews" out. But today we rescheduled from back on the 26th, when it rained in the morning and was blowing a gale. So, day two of heinous FULL MOON tides!

After yesterday, I thought I'd be a "tad" smarter. I had regular, Tom O. and family aboard. And said, "let's not even depart till 10am. Maybe this will help with fishing less current".

But as we left and headed to the first spot. The tides current was still super wicked. Water moving this fast doesn't have any fish biting.

So you'd think!

But after fishing the spot, with frustration brewing like a thick black cup of coffee. Is when Jeff's float goes down! He was a bit shocked, because of all of the NON-floats going down. And when he reeled....He had himself a BIG Trout!



Not bad at all a 23 incher!

But as we continued to work the area, with the current just way too strong. We gave up and headed east. Hoping for less current and alot more fish.

But that didn't seem to be the deal.....we went to the jetties and the current was great, but there wasn't any bites! And now on the second spot. Fletcher, Jeff's son a "pro skate boarder" bangs into a rock with his float-rig, the float wobbles, and then it slams down......FISH-ON!

I guess if we can't catch "A LOT" of Trout today. We'll just catch BIG ones....Fletchers Trout is yet another healthy 23 incher!

 

We continue fishing the same spot, and absolutely ZERO is going on. So we move again, after taking a vote. Because about now, I'm at my wits-end!

 

We move, and at the next spot the guys to continue to fish hard. And mother nature just doesn't seem to care. GAWD, how I hate these ridicules tides!  As I always say, "When I grow up, I wanna be a Gulf Coast angler some day....."

 

But Jeff finds a fish willing to eat, and boats another large trout. This time a 21-1/2 incher!

 

Okay, that's 3 over 20 inches...and there's 4 of us on board. One more fish over 20 inches allowed. So if all the rest are over 20 inches, according to the unfriendly Florida Trout limit regs. If we catch another over 20" fish we have our over 20" limits for the boat, and if the 5th fish is over 20 inches it'll have to be released. Gotta love the "catch-22" screw ya over on a tough day fishing laws in Florida, huh?  And don't forget to measure.

 

But, Momma nature wasn't going to allow us the luxury of cussing the State of Florida, out. Because finally Tom, Jeff and Fletchers "host of this angling adventure" catches a TROUT!

And it too.......is a 21-1/2 incher!

 

And we never got another one, and via fishing like mad men we finally ran out of 10 dozen live shrimp!

 

So the guys struggled, but came up with 4 over 20 inch Trout. And now I know Tom probably hates these Full Moon "ludicrous" tides, as much as I do.

 

But he's ready to go out again next month. On hopefully a "normal tidal" day.

12/27 - BAD MOON

I knew it going in. I knew it when Bob called me and booked today, a few weeks ago. THE DREADED FULL MOON!
A float-rigging Trout fisherman's worst nightmare.

All because the ridicules tides (aka: current) in the St. Johns River goes from "every day ridicules", to all out "heinous" with the full moon.

It was my fault. We started at 7am and that was from pure habit. When in all reality, we never even had to depart the dock till 11am. Because it took till then, to actually get what we came for.

First spot though in the morning was good for acclimation. Bob and Sam never float-rig fished before. And Bob was all out truthful. "Dave, we don't know much about any of this, and won't claim too. So jus' show us what we need to do", Bob said. And I was fine with that. At least he was honest.

First spot, and first two minutes. The guys git bit by large Bluefish....."large for around here."   So, right off, they caught fish and got the whole float-rig fishing idea.

But the tide was troublesome. So we made our way out to the jetties. And even tried fishing "spinners" and jigs-n-Shrimp on the north jetty. Only bite, a small cold water shark. One of those "HERE'S YER SIGN" Sharks!  Telling me, if these things are in here, then that's probably about it.

Many times fish species tells the well rounded angler what the deal is:  small cold water sharks at the Jetties,  Bluefish on a Trout spot, as prime examples.

So we moved on. We tried a few other areas, catching one small Trout. And I just new as soon as the tide got low we'd get into some good fish. But the wait was agonizing for me. But for Bob and Sam. It was just fishing and good experience.

When things are going like this it's a pure, "IT'S NOT HOW YOU START, BUT HOW YOU FINISH" kind of day.

So when things got right, I made sure we were where we needed to be. And it paid off handsomely!!



 

OH YEAH......BIG TROUT were finding their way to the net and into the fish box! It started of slowly. But my crew was now in the thick of it and floats were going down nice and steady. And as the current slowed. We had to fish fast. Because when that current slowed, it went from flowing to all out STOPPED in a heart beat.

 

But Trout from 18 to 21-1/2 inches were now in the box.

Then, as the current completely died and no floats would move, we stayed at it. And Bob was surprised by this 25 incher, when his float went down and this big Trout gave him a real thrill of close quarters combat.

 

This was Bob's largest ever fish. Let alone largest Trout. Between Bob and Sam, they had I believe 8 beautiful Trout in the box. And git to see first hand how much the tide/current speed matters, when float-rig fishing. And tracking down quality Trout.

 

I like to pitch a jig when everyone is float-rig fishing. And I made a few casts inbetween netting their fish. I pitched a 1/4 ounce jig head and an Avacado Green Matrix Shad soft plastic, and thought I had caught a clump of oysters or a piece of anchor line. My jigging rod is a super-duper "fairy wand". So light of an action that a Pinfish will double it over. So now the rod was in the shape of a horse shoe as I pulled "WHATEVER" off the bottom. Then that piece of debris turned into a drag pulling, head shaking, Fish!

 

As it rose off the bottom I was astounded. It was a huge Flounder!  Sam, was eager to play net man. And as he scooped it up, he could barely pull it out of the water, without assistance.

 

Yep, I guess some BIG flatties are still out there!!!

 

It was a frustrating day, for me. But a good one, because I had such a quality and up beat crew during this Full Moon tide fishing trip. And now Bob and Sam are hooked. And they are welcome to come back again, hopefully on a day when it doesn't take till noon to start catching decent fish.

 

 

 

12/25 - Jettywolf's Christmas, weather's coming?

WEATHER GUESSERS WERE RIGHT...
NOT 12 HOURS LATER, GUSTS TO "GALE FORCE"


"SAME SHOT" - 12/26/2012 - 0845 HRS.

OH YEAH. BIG AZZ WINDS.

12/25 - NEW VIDEO TOOL'AGE

Soon I'll be working with a new all weather camera on the Jettywolf. Through much research I decided that I could use a new set up from my present Kodak Play Sports Video camera. My litl Kodak still is a great camera. But it's time to upgrade.

I just don't care for those GOPRO HERO camera's in the plastic case. Because everything is an expensive "add-on".


COMING SOOOOON!  The "DRIFT HD GHOST". This baby is awesome!!!!!

 

Under water, is still an option. As it was with my Kodak. But I never dunked it.

 

My "home grown" video's on my Youtube channel have been doing very well. I get emails, and even charter inquiries from them.

 

And with a new camera, I hope to be a bit more versatile with quick tech tips, here on the blog.

 

So, stay tuned!

 

Hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday.

 

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

 

I'll be back at it on the 27th, 28th, then I have a guest Capt Kris Robert from Dock-Side Bait & Tackle in Slidell, Louisiana coming to Orange Park for the Holiday. He'll be fishing one day aboard the Jettywolf with me. "to see how the other 1/2 lives" compared to EZ days Lake Pontchartrain Trout fishing. Then, I have Ed B. a regular coming to fish on the 2nd of January.

 

As of CHRISTMAS DAY Weather Report:

 

Mayport Florida

 

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORYS IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH LATE

WEDNESDAY NIGHT...

REST OF TODAY
SOUTHWEST WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS BECOMING SOUTHEAST
10 TO 15 KNOTS IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 2 FEET OR LESS. INLAND WATERS A
LIGHT CHOP. ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.

TONIGHT
SOUTH WINDS INCREASING TO 20 TO 25 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 3
FEET BUILDING TO 3 TO 5 FEET AFTER MIDNIGHT. INLAND WATERS CHOPPY.
ISOLATED SHOWERS.

WEDNESDAY
SOUTHWEST WINDS 25 TO 30 KNOTS WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS
TO GALE FORCE. SEAS 5 TO 7 FEET. INLAND WATERS ROUGH. SCATTERED
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE MORNING...THEN SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY IN THE AFTERNOON.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT
WEST WINDS 20 TO 25 KNOTS. SEAS 3 TO 5 FEET.
INLAND WATERS CHOPPY. SCATTERED SHOWERS IN THE EVENING.

THURSDAY
WEST WINDS 15 TO 20 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 3 FEET. INLAND
WATERS A MODERATE CHOP.

THURSDAY NIGHT
NORTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO
3 FEET. INLAND WATERS A LIGHT CHOP.

FRIDAY
NORTH WINDS 10 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 3 FEET. INLAND
WATERS A LIGHT CHOP.

FRIDAY NIGHT
EAST WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS BECOMING SOUTH 10 TO
15 KNOTS AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 2 FEET OR LESS. INLAND WATERS A LIGHT
CHOP. ISOLATED RAIN AFTER MIDNIGHT.

SATURDAY
SOUTH WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 3 FEET. INLAND
WATERS A LIGHT CHOP. SCATTERED SHOWERS IN THE MORNING...THEN
SHOWERS LIKELY IN THE AFTERNOON.

 

12/23 - WARMER...No Wind.

Had Hank H. and Chad aboard the Jettywolf today. Specializing "also" in No Long Boat Rides, we fished all within a few miles.

Hank wanted to float-rig fish, like Ole Times. Chad, had never done it. Wew started out at the Jetties, and right away young Chad was on it. Boating the first few Trout, and a pup Black Drum.

Not bad for a "newbie" to the art of float-rigging the jetties.

We also picked up a decent sized Yellowmouth Trout, care of "Capt Dave".

The action nor the tide was all that super duper, so we moved on to fish the river.

And on the last of the falling tide is where we "boxed" I believe a 2 person limit. With Chad reeling in several 20-22 inchers!

 

Again, not bad for a "newbie"! 

 

I even played the Navy's Game, today. As we left the Jetties, I pulled over to the rocks along the base. I've told Hank all about how "our" beloved Jacksonville Navy has screwed over Jacksonville fisherman by taking away miles of shoreline from us. So I went over to where I caught my first 10 pound Trout, right along the base rocks, dropped anchor, and flipped out a float behind the boat. Handed it to Hank, and the float went down with a keeper trout on it!  The "MAN" appeared out of no where...in a car up on the bank. And chirped the siren at us. Not sure if they can hear me, I yelled....."Hey asshole, let us catch this trout first!" Hank flipped a keeper in the boat, first drift of the float, 10 feet behind the boat!!!!. So there ya have it!  Of course the fish are stacked up there, along that shoreline. They always are. BUT YOU, can't fish for them.

 

 We moved on.....The BIG trout, bit right as the tide slowed.....not unusual by winter standards. So we just hung out till the tide turned and tried to catch some more. But that produced only one more Trout and a scourge Bluefish.

 

So, Chad was slowing down. Since he had to "get up so early!" Then we headed in to clean our nice catch.

 

It was a super nice day.

 

BUT, changes are a coming folks!

 

TUESDAY NIGHT

SOUTH WINDS 15 TO 20 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 3 FEET
BUILDING TO 3 TO 5 FEET AFTER MIDNIGHT. INLAND WATERS A MODERATE
CHOP. ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.

WEDNESDAY
SOUTHWEST WINDS 20 TO 25 KNOTS BECOMING WEST IN THE
AFTERNOON. SEAS 4 TO 6 FEET. INLAND WATERS ROUGH. SCATTERED
SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT
NORTHWEST WINDS 15 TO 20 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO
3 FEET. INLAND WATERS CHOPPY.

THURSDAY
NORTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 3 FEET.
INLAND WATERS A MODERATE CHOP.

12/22 - LIMITS FOR FIVE!

ABSOLUTELY NO DAY ON THE ST. JOHNS RIVER IS EVER THE SAME AS THE NEXT. With that said, everyone thinks it is, and hopes I can predict exactly what, when and how we'll catch our fish.

I can answer the WHEN & HOW:

- when you book your day
- how, 80% of the time is by "float-rig" fishing.

Last day I was out, was just a few days ago and if you read that report you may have got the notion that I hate it when the Bluefish are eating our perfect live shrimp.

Today, I had a group hosted by Moe Martin. The Swisher group, as I referred to them. I pulled into the boat ramp and didn't even put the boat in the water yet.

Reasoning, that because it was blowing 20 knots and gusting even more. And really cold. I didn't want to go through "dipping the boat", and then have them say, "FORGET THIS!". I'm always thinking ahead. For me it didn't matter either way. I could go another day, or today.

So as they arrived we had a pow-wow in the parking lot. Everyone "seemed" to be dressed right. I know I was! I actually have such great pair of Grunden foul weather pants that I had my shorts on under them, and I was perfectly fine all morning.

I was wanting the tide to fall for awhile before we went float-rig fishing. So we anchored up and bottom fished. And surprisingly enough. Even though I couldn't stay anchored very well, we boxed six Yellowmouth Trout. Okay, not great, but something.......

But one thing that really caught me by surprise was how fast the west winds blew the tide on out. So by the time I wanted to float-rig fish for Specks. Where I wanted to try it, there was no current!

 

Hmmm, I guess it was time to think fast and try another spot. And when I got to the next spot, there wasn't any current there either.

 

But we anchored up and gave it a try. And it wasn't but maybe 15 minutes, the tide started to push. The guys flipped out a few Floats with live shrimp that were plenty cold and not all that sprightly. And they both hooked up.

DOUBLE-HEADER, right off the get-go!

 

The Trout were shorts, but that was just the start of what was a GREAT day. And, only 2 Bluefish. Which was even better.

 

From here on out the Trout got larger, and we even had many "double-headers". As the tide pushed, the better and better the fish chewed.

 

Here's the happy Crew.

 

Double-headers!

 

15-19 inch Trout were filling the box.

 

Everyone was catching

This fella had no less than 3 from 20 to 23 inchers

More Double-headers

Over flowing fish basket full of limits for 5 people.

The Crew, and the pile of over 30 Trout!

W-O-W, what a day. A fantastic crew....no fishing guide out there could ask for any better of a day. That was blistering cold and blowing 20 kts plus. My crew was cold.

 

But they never ever wavered.

 

"JUST BECAUSE IT'S COLD AND WINDY. THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS MEAN, THAT IT'S GOING TO BE A FISHLESS DAY, ESPECIALLY NOT IN THE WINTER MONTHS.

 

FLOAT-RIGGING PRODUCES FISH, SO WHEN DAYS ARE LEAN, IT'S BECAUSE THEY JUST AREN'T BITING, I KNOW THAT TO BE DEAD ON TRUE, AFTER CHARTER FISHING FOR OVER 16 YEARS .

 

SO WHEN PEOPLE CALL AND ASK ME WHAT THEY'LL BE DOING. THEY REALLY NEED TO VISIT THIS FISHING REPORTS BLOG. OR THEY JUST WON'T FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE DAY WILL AND COULD BE LIKE." 

 

 

12/21 - Tech Tip: Rods & Braided Line

 

 

 

Was supposed to be out there today with a full boat (4 guys)...sure glad we aren't out there!

 

Mayport Bar Pilot Dock:

11:24 am EST
12/21/2012
Wind: W (280°), 19.0 kt
Gust: 26.0 kt

 

12/20 - The Speckled Trout Blues..........

Had Tom O. back on the Jettywolf again. He brought his dad, this time. We departed at sun up...."I like that."

 

Problem was......."red sky in the morning, mariners take warning...and that meant W-I-N-D". And the forecast was dead on.

We hit the jetties with the float-rigs and a livewell brimming with frisky shrimp. It was the last of the falling tide. The guys caught some Yellowmouth, and Specks. IN BETWEEN THE HORDES OF SCOURGE FISH.

Small Blues!

They're back!!!!!!!  And I'll always HATE them. I've hated them for decades! Because they eat our hooks, our shrimp, and compete with the Trout that we really want.

But the guys pulled some Trout species between the hordes.

 

After feeding Bluefish one shrimp after another from right behind the boat. It was time to take our Trout and move on.

It was a move that was in another zip code, a spot that's been infiltrated by army's of ravenous Pinfish. But Tom;s dad slam-dunked into a big Redbass, but as it pulled and was too much to handle, he let Tom reel it in.

 

It was a long way to go, to feed Pinfish, and get one exact 27" Redbass. But worth the smiles.

 

So then we went back to the jetties. And things got really windy out of the south. But guess what was streaking through the Jetty rocks?

 

BONITA......aka: Little Tunny!  This one ate Tom's live shrimp, and streaked straight toward the stern of the boat. It went iunder the boat, under the motor, popped up way off the bow. Around the anchor line. Then over the anchor line. And finally to the net.

 

TALK ABOUT A SPEEDSTER ON LIGHT TACKLE!

 

 

Then, a school popped up along side the boat. And come to realize, other boats were hooking them up on light tackle too.

In all my years fishing the jetties, we've never hooked up on Bonita. I've had days years ago, when we hooked up on Almaco Jacks, a AmberJacks smaller cousin.

 

Tom hooked another one, and it streaked off so fast that it bent the hook.

 

It was really starting to get windy. So we moved off and hit another spot for just one more Speckled trout. So after getting waked by ships and Pilot boats we headed in to clean up the fish.

 

It was an exciting day.

 

(remember, to view photos in larger form, CLICK on photo, to open in a seperate window)

 

12/19 - Be Glad...?.

Heading out on Thursday with a regular customer Tom O. and his dad. I'm probably, having to move Friday's charter to Saturday....."have ya seen the wind report?"  Gust to Gale Force!

Be glad, because no matter how cold it gets in J-ville, Florida we can fish. And this goes for you that charter me on those cold days too.

But at the same time, I feel a bit like it's on the wind-down. Because after the 21st, the "days" will start to get longer again. And as a angler how loves the winter fishery. That mean's it's slowly coming to an end. 

BUT THIS COULD BE HOW WE HAVE TO FIND FISH!, RIGHT NOW!



12/18 - TECH TIP

Capt Dave's Shallow water Float-rig tech tip:  #1

(This is not a public video. This video is only for fishing report blog readers)

12/16 - SOLO GATORS!

Have a dermatology appointment on Monday. So I had to go on a Sunday amongst the gawkers. But that's "weekends" for ya......Or I would have waited till Monday to go, so I could be alone'ish.

Glad I went though. GATOR SPECKS GALORE!
Released a total of 5, after getting a 24 incher right at the start.
Largest was 27" at 8 POUNDS!

Had my limit, and released the others by 10-11am. Plus 4 Yellowmouth Trout (weakfish), and had my ass handed to me while on the phone by Brutus T. Redbass. He broke me off in a nano-second down deep.

 

 

FULL BELLY?

 

 

LOOKED LIKE SUMMER BY 11:00 AM

 

 

YOU MISSED IT.

Had a call for today (Sunday) but this fishing isn't "party boating". Not for large groups.
<<<<LIGHT TACKLE...2 person MAX. is BEST, always.>>>>>


-DID YOU KNOW, YOU CAN CLICK ON ALL PHOTOS TO VIEW LARGER VERSIONS, ON EVERY REPORT?

-GO AHEAD, TRY IT...DON'T BE SCARED.

Bearded Guy, a decade ago:

THEN:



Portion of my old "educational video" from Bennet Marine Video.

3/8th's oz. "plain" jighead and fiddler crab..."don't let anyone tell ya it's a new technique".

BEFORE Braided line was even invented!!
W-O-W, how time flies.



NOW:

"replay, refresher of what you'll be fishing and how aboard the Jettywolf!"

ONONEOUTDOORS:   cLICK PHOTO FOR VIDEO