3/14 - Kids Trip

I actually went out this morning 6:30am and did some playing around with some video. But, by 8am I was frozen!

It still ain't spring yet, folks. I know some people are hurrying full blown summer to be here.

"I'M NOT". (I'm dreading the heat that I know is coming)

But I had a call for Kingfishing the other day. But then again, I've had calls for Blue Marlin fishing in February, while I was at the jetties and it was blowing 20 kts and 20 degrees!

Not many people actually do any home work. They just want, what they want.

But, March is still winter in JAX.

With that said. I'd had enough of the cold wind. So I went home. (takes me all of 5 minutes to get home) No biggy.

My couple hour Kids Trip wasn't till 1:00pm.

I ate some breakfast. Two giant pancakes and 3 over-easy eggs. And checked My Ebay page, and checked my e-mail.

So, 2 kids 8 & 14 and Dad for a few hours in the afternoon. The wind is supposed to back off and it'll be warmer. Tide was high and not moving, as we started. So we stopped by the Croaker spot and waited for the tide to start, catching just a few Croak's.

We moved on and hit a spot that was  a "level 10" spot. I always say, better have your all your "stuff" in one sock, when your float goes down. There's not a lot of room for error.

I had my butt handed to me...breaking me off in the structure. "THEY'RE HERE!!", I told John as I looked at my broken leader.

Then, he was up next. His float went down and he was ON!

It was a B-I-G Redbass!  Drag pulling, Ugly Stik bowing!

John let the kids take s a few turns. But this was a bit more than they could handle.

Without any problems (thank goodness) the Red popped up next to the boat and it was a big one!

32 incher...about 12 pounds.

We packed it in and headed back to the dock. And when I got home. I was finally warm again.

3/13 - It's still out there......

Dang it's gotta be ten years now...and many a boat.  Yes, this was one of two attempts at being a movie star!

"CLICK HERE" to see what I mean. It's okay it's just Ebay.

Oh, it's so much easier now a days.

And that's what I've been doing the last few days. Getting all my stuff ready for a big video production.
Big for me.

Will be playing with different things. So stay tuned.

More J-ville, Jettywolf, Fishing, Video to come.

3/10 - GORGEOUS DAY! (for a weekend)

I've been in this business long enough, that I have the super pleasure of having a good network of fine folks out there. And today was absolutely no exception.

I had Craig Erker, his girlfriend, and his Mom & Dad visiting from Canada. Last year, in March I took Craig's older brother and his wife who were visiting from Canada. And we had a big day at the jetties. From Sheepshead to giant Gator Trout and Redfish.

So, boy did I have to come up with something to rival Craig's brother Sheldon's charter! Plus, Craig was concerned, because the same crew went on a chater last year, also. (I was booked already) The group of four went with a competitor of mine, and didn't catch anything. NOT GOOD!

I could certainly understand Craig's concern.

First off, when I have "4 persons of ranging abilities." We're not going CASTING. Where putting the bait into a two foot circle, is the difference between success or not.

Just doesn't make sense to me.

I believe in everyone aboard having the same chance at catching the same fish. And that's accomplished by going "Float-rig fishing!"

Jettywolf rigged & ready! Standing by for customers arrival.

Of course, I wanted to quickly set the tone for the day. Catching nothing, "ain't gonna happen!!!"

 So, 10 minutes after leaving the dock. We were anchored up and dropping over for fast Croaker action. One after another. Ruby, Craig's girlfriend said she hadn't caught a fish since she was 8 years old. Well, we were putting that to bed, ASAP!

So with 20-30 Croakers, and a few Yellowmouth Trout, bending the rods. Mission accomplished! Now let's go catch some "BOX" fish.  Fish box, that is.....

We slid into a spot that I wanted to just try out, and didn't have any action. Even after re-positioning, it didn't feel right anyhow. So we picked up and left.

The next spot...."Hmmmmm, I just wasn't all that sure." Because of the tide. We had a NEW MOON tide today. So I was a bit suspect. But I told my crew, "Let's give it 5 minutes."

Well, that 5 minutes turned into the, REST OF THE DAY!

It was A-C-T-I-O-N, mania!

"DOUBLE-HEADER" BIG TROUT, BIG REDFISH!

M-O-R-E!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-How about this? Catching the same fish that "busted ya off just minutes before". Yeah, two hooks in it's mouth, and they are MY hooks. #1 Matzuo snelled turned in eye, sickle bends. W-O-W!

My crew didn't catch every fish that bit. They had bites, break-off's, and sand-bags while float-rigging with live shrimp. But the difference is....."EVERYONE, got and equal chance." And everyone had a ball. So much, that they were totally whipped by days end.

That was a hell of a 5 minutes, just to go in and check the spot, huh? We ended up staying there for hours. And left the same spot back to the dock to clean the fish. All the Reds were "over-sizers", (of which I lost count of how many they caught) except for two. They ranged from 26" to 30" roughly. And on the LIGHT tackle were a blast. With just one big Trout. 

Probably, because the Redfish were so ferocious a Trout didn't stand a chance! 




-----------------------------------------------
GET YOUR DATES BOOKED NOW. APRIL IS FILLING UP FAST AND ASK ME ABOUT PRIME TIDAL DAYS, FOR THE BEST ACTION.

AT THE DOCK WHILE CLEANING FISH. MY BIRD BUDDY "PENCIL NECK" HAS SHOWED BACK UP. HAVEN'T SEEN OR HAND FED THIS BIRD SINCE LAST SUMMER.

DOES THIS MEAN SOMETHING?   IT COULD!

IS IT SERIOUSLY, GAME-ON RIGHT NOW.

CALL ME 8AM-8PM OR EMAIL ME AT: charter@captdaves.com

IF YOU WANT TO TRY YOUR HAND AT THIS LIGHT TACKLE INSHORE SPORT FISHING.

3/7 - Chilly...But very worth it.

Had returning Keith K. aboard today with Joe and Don. Departing at 0730 hrs it was "still" a bone chilling ride in the river. My hands were so cold, I was trying my best to steer the boat and run the throttle through the pockets in my fishing jacket!

Yeah, I had gloves somewhere. But hell, fishing guides don't wear gloves. That's something those "office people" do on cold morning while driving to work with their Starbucks mocha Java in the other hand.

First spot, was a trial...and we boxed one or two out of maybe 3-4 Trout. And some scourge Bluefish.
But it was action! And I liked that on this burning cold morning in S.E. Georgia. Opps, I mean Florida.

Not studs. But targeted species. I was happy.

Next it was time to try out a 2- float spot, with three guys fishing. OH NO!

Yeah, not optimal. But if we caught just one "sweetheart" it would be worth it.

We didn't have the best current on the next spot, but as we sat there it worked out as Keith put his float right where I said there would be a big Trout.

When the float got there. D-O-W-N, it went and he was hooked up to a nice one.

At 22-1/2 inches. It was just the fish we came here for. One or maybe two is all I was asking for, so as we lost the current it was time to move on.

Frustrating, but the slack tide seemed to last for hours too long today.

So we slide into the Little Jetties and I went rogue. The Jettywolf went, outlaw. Because I was tied off short to the sign for a few minutes. And as we all know. It'll get ya 5 years in prison and a $28,000 fine via the Coasties.

At least that's what they shouted at me one time. But I told them, "ya never consulted me before you put this sign here. I've been anchoring here for 30 years!"

I'm such an hooligan, I know.

B-U-T, all I wanted off the spot was one fish. And we got it.....

A "float-rig" caught, Sheepshead.

I'm satisfied. Time to move on. All current just quit.

I went into the ICW, and again. I went rogue! I tied off to the Wonderwood bridge! The tide was barely flooding. And like a magnet to aluminum. Here comes the Coasties from the south. OF COURSE, they went under the bridge, swung around and yelled at me because I was tied off to the bridge.

AGAIN, I'm a damn OUTLAW. Either that or, a threat to national security. It's always one or the other.
The last time a cop on the streets of Jacksonville stopped me in my truck to tell me I did something wrong was 22 years ago. The last time I was told I was doing wrong on the river is almost every time I'm out trying to make a living in the city on it's waterways.

So as we moved and the tide started to roll. I went to a better spot anyhow. And then another guy, a "sheepherder", pulled in and tied off to the same spot I was at. ANOTHER OUTLAW!

Hell, doesn't the feds know these waters are full of them????  L.O.L

It wasn't the fastest action. Be we were back into trout. Lots of 14 inchers, a few 13 inchers. But we pulled some decent box fish to 17 inches out of the water.

 
























Even Don caught some. Even though his wife told him he didn't know how to fish. (so he said)

The sun was high...bright and the sky was blue. And I was still in two jacket, hood land.

A few more for the box. And it was time to head in. We were about out of bait, and the bite seemed over.

Here's the intrepid Trout chasers holding a few before they were taken out of their suits via my Havalon surgically sharp fillet blade.  The Pelicans were really a menace today. I guess the cold had them dying of hunger.

After yesterday's winds gusting to damn near 40 MPH. I wouldn't say the fishing was easy today. But a tad better than I thought it would be after winds like that less than 24 hrs before.

April is the BIG BANG month, I guess. I have a huge amount of dates pre-booked for April. And a good handful pre-booked for May already.

But don't discount March. Just look ahead, watch the weather, and the winds, and lets go. Less people around before all hell breaks loose! Especially on weekdays like today.

I jus' hope ya'll don't mind fishing with a rogue fishing outlaw. Apparently, they don't have a clue. That if you build it, I WILL TIE OFF TO IT.

They just have to catch me.
95% of the time, they don't.

Any one sell cloaking devices? How about a Hologram projector?

3/5 - Video Blog Post:

3/4 - Jettywolf's "Kaizen" Project

TECH-TIP....Just an FYI that there is such a cool product out there. And for us boaters, there's plenty of usages. I found one, right after I was done filming this.

I have other's brewing too.

Thanks for watching. And don't forget to "comment" on this blog post if you have a question. Just click on "comment" on the bottom of the post.

Kaizen foam link to FastCap's website:  http://www.fastcap.com/estore/pc/Kaizen-Foam-p13435.htm

Plus, FastCap has a lot of just cool stuff.

3/1 - It ain't spring yet!

But at the same time....."we found a lot of Trout!"

If I see you sitting there. Watch out for the under water mines.....Fish at your own risk. hahahahaha

It wasn't bone chilling cold, jus' very chilly. And I'm a "hood wear'er", so excuse my looking like I was fishing the Aleutian Islands.  I did have shorts under my slicker pants. Not something they'd do on the banks of the Bering Sea.

Had a great day with Jonathan and his dad Don. We even tried some Sheepshead fishing with clams, and come to find out the reason we didn't even have a Sheepshead bite, was because we were Sheepshead fishing on a Trout spot! And adjustment of fifty feet, add two float-rigs, then the guys were wackin' the Specks.....again.

Had over a two person limit of Specks, a few yellowmouth and a pile of "okay" to "large" Croakers in the box at the end of day. We fished the slack tide dropping dead shrimp and were into the Croak's from the 1st to the last drop....Then was boarded by the Coasties, because we were the low hanging fruit as they drove by us.  That's Marine Law Enforecemnt for ya. Guess, there was no real bad guys out there doing bad things. Just me and my "CUSTOMERS", who had to be held up for 30 minutes. Surprised they didn't get frisked.

Total Trout catch for Jonathan & Don had to be at least 25. And I was surprised. Not many bait stealers and only a Bluefish or two.

One fantastic day!

FYI:
THIS VIDEO WAS DONE IN "HI-DEF", SO IF YOU DON'T SEE IT AS A VERY CLEAR, & QUALITY VIDEO. CHANGE THE SETTING IN THE BOTTOM OF THE YOUTUBE SCREEN, TO "720", THAT'S THE HIGHEST YOUTUBE CAN SHOW A VIDEO.

2/28 - 2 hr Kids Trip today.

Yeah....jus one 4 year old. And parents of course. Really a Two Hr. Adults trip?
Oh she finally came around. After awhile, our Junior Jr. angler got into it.

 FUN either way. Caught a bunch of Croakers, a Yellowmouth Trout, a 12" all bowed up Seabass. Then, took a ride out to the Jetties. As the tide slacked at high.


Friday: Father & son, regular day. Feb. "blog readers special offer", dropped into March because of winds and rain on the 26th.

Here comes "spring"....

-Spawning Sheepshead
-Mega Black Drum
-Gator Trout

2/25 - Oh...Now we get February weather!

2/19 - Largest ever Float-Rig caught Redfish

Check it out.......Mike was such the HOT ROD!

Interesting day. Slow with no Trout, interrupted by some pure MAYHEM!
I love it.
Plus, a Sheepshead and a Flounder, and a 25" Redbass.

2/18 - VIDEO, is always better than pictures.

Had Dave & Bob aboard today, on which turned out to the most gorgeous day of the week! Dave is a "Fishing reports blog reader", and took advantage of the "February Special" that I sent out to all Blog Readers.

So it pays to be a signed up member of these fishing reports posts.....& more.

Yeah, because it's Feb. we're struggling a bit. Water temps. ate low, but working hard gets you into the action. On this day it was something like 28-30 degrees in the morning. The bait was all comatose, and as it warmed up a bit. We felt better along, with the live shrimp in the well.

2/16 - Brrrrr...but FUN!

Had Ray & his wife Lynda aboard the Jettywolf today. The forecast had changed three times since Ray called me asking about getting in on my Feb. blog readers discount, announced via the newsletter I sent out.

Say ya never got it......"well take me out of your spam file."

As a matter of fact 4 blog readers called or emailed me and got in on this months special. Which is over Feb 28th.

So with that said. We departed early this morn at 7am. The looming forecast was 20-25 kts by this afternoon. Gusts to gale force!

Dang we better get to fishin'.  So I ran straight to the jetties. Float-rigged the last of the falling tide there. And had NO LOVE at all. Nothing but mini Seabass.

So to grab more tide, we fished the Litl' Jetties. Ray got one under sizer Speck. Damn, what's up with this?

Time to pull a good fish outa my hat and fast. We made a move again and that's where Lynda shined.
Her first drift on the new spot and B-A-M......a sweetheart Trout.

  
























Then, she got two as Ray caught a Sheepshead on the float-rig......DOUBLE-HEADER!

The tide slowed so we switched over to vertical Sheepshead fishing on the same spot and also had lunch. Lynda was the hot rod, putting "HARD EARNED", Trout in the fish box. But at the same time Ray was getting bit, because as I inspected his hook, it was bent closed!

He was getting Sheepshead bites. And they were closing and bending his hook!

But now, we were on the vertical thing. And oh is this a hard to master fishery for someone brand new.
Loads of bites, especially after I moved over to my favorite under water ledge and rock pile.

There we had two more Sheepshead. Lynda scoring again!

Here she is showing Ray what happens when ya get a hook into them.

This spot is a small Sheeps spot, though. A lot of those 12-14 inchers live here, that can "pop" that fiddler crab off the hook in a nano-second!

But, Ray and lynda were a blast to have aboard. Good natured folks. Out for a fun day.

And right on time at 12:00 noon here came the blasting wind. My anchor was dragging constantly. So we stayed with it. It was Ray's turn to show us he had it in him, to feel the bite and set the hook fast enough. But after awhile we opted to head back and clean the fish we kept. When the boat snatched the anchor loose for the 4th time as we whipped  back and forth in the high winds that were bucking the flood tide.

We kept enough for lunch. And Ray & Lynda were heading over to Singletons for a fish fry after fishing, but I think after warming up first.

As I write this report at 7pm, I still have a chill in my bones I can't shake. But that's a good thang!

2/13 - what a day...

Without going into it all too deep......Wow, today sure was a struggle.

-It blew
-It rained
-Yeah, we got wet
-Yeah my sounder was acting up "again" because it gets wet (?).
-We fished our butts off.

Had three great guys from Illinois out on the Jettywolf. And our fishing success/or non-success, wasn't from a LACK of trying.

We fished for Sheepshead on rock piles, hard edges, oysters & barnacles, and then the North Jetty rocks.

Here's a little Video I did of this morning before, just before it started lightning and raining. Not long after we picked up and ran east, away from it. But it followed us.

At the Jetties we were the only boat out there......Wow, now that's a rarity!!

And we couldn't give away a fiddler crab to any fish! So we packed it in.

2/12 - AMAZING....

Can you just imagine?

No more rubber boots?

We as a race are heading some where that's for sure. Now if we just knew how to run the USA.

2/9 - New STUFF

 Sports-Vue 360HD, times (2) one on the landing net, and one on the console!!  Cool, huh?

Water-proof to 60'. 170 degree swiveling lens. Awesome remote control. ON/Record - Stop recording/Off means EZ usage via the remote worn around the wrist.

Rubberized, with viewing screen.

NEXT:

CamOne Infinity, for really dunking in the water!








Super small and light weight, with viewing screen on the back. Perfect for sticking into the water to capture fish coming to the boat, with this next item....

The iPole Stealth. I got the "standard model" that reaches out to 53" for FREE to test out.

But will be a great tool to mount the CamOne Infinity too.

If, it works good which I'm sure it will. I'll probably add the mini one, so I can carry it around with me on trips.










Wondering if I'll actually have time to fish, with all this going on aboard the Jettywolf?  Well, that's where YOU come in!

Photos are great. B-U-T, Video is so much better!

(A blog voice posting. New, yes. So turn on your sound. And hit the arrow button and listen in.) 

2/5- Change of plans....

Had "regular" Tom O. on board today. But before I even got to the boat ramp plans had changed.
At the bait shop this morning I walk in drinking my coffee and eating my BearClaw danish. And Rusty asks what I'm doing today. I said, "Float-rig fishing with one guy." He says, "with what?" I say, "shrimp of course". Rusty says, "well we were cleaned out yesterday. I might have some by 9-9:30am"

Well that isn't gonna cut it. So I ran home, dropped off the float-rig rods and grabbed the light "fairy wands" (light Ugly Stik Striper rods with Shimano Curados)  and go back to the bait shop and buy the first pint of fiddler crabs I've purchased it what seems like years!

I usually DO NOT purposely go Sheepshead fishing. And when I do, I wait till late Feb thru March and use cut clam, fishing for monster spawning female Sheeps. A couple 8-10 pounders is usually better than a bunch of 2-5 pounders in my eyes. Because I'm in charge of cleaning them 99.9% of the time.

So, today Tom and I went sheep herding. Oh it's been a long time since I "dangled a fiddler". I've pitched Fidd's and shrimp on jig heads more than ever doing the "dab down" style of sheeping.

So, at break neck speed we went about 200 yards from the boat ramp and got into what would set the precedence for the days fishing. A ton of bites. And a lot of small 12-14" Sheepshead.

As I told Tom. My number one deal for any day is A-C-T-I-O-N. So if it be nursery school Sheeps. So be it!

They were kinda small, so we kept Tom;s first one. It's not really good luck to toss back the first fish and first "legal" fish, no matter what. It's just bad mojo in my book.

So we caught a few more, and then released them. The spot was a real pain in the azz to stay on. The vortex of hell was whipping the boat back and forth. And that last time I fished this same spot must have been 10 years ago. And I remember myself and an ole buddy Joe, sat there slamming 30 Sheepshead, a lot larger than these!

But times have changed on the St. Johns in Mayport.  That's for sure. 

So after not sitting on the same spot twice, as the boat moved back and forth with each passing freighter pushing a wall of displacement water at us. I had enough. So we headed to the jetties.

On the south rocks at the tip the water was so clean and clear. I could look down in 8-10 feet and see the tops of boulders. And I remember the fishing for Sheeps being really difficult when the water gets like that. We never had a bite and never saw anyone catch a fish. So back into the river we went.

Actually looking for darker brown, real falling tide water. It wasn't hard to find. So we tried a few rock piles I know of and we caught more small "buck male" Sheepshead. And Then I nailed the largest of the day, a 6 pounder.

And after that it was more bites, lost fiddlers and some more small sheeps. But it was ACTION, and we had a good time catching them.

They gave a little tug, and after all was said and done. Adding in some Whiting I kept from yesterday's solo beach fishing trip. Tom had a bag of fish fryers.

Don't know exactly how many we caught. But it was enough, and enough kept. Because those little Sheepshead don't give up any large amount of fillet, especially after de-boning the fillet.

But, it was different and as I told Tom. "I may try this again." 

But, "I'll be dead when they pry my cold stiff hands off of my float-rig rod." 

Although I heard, "variety is the spice of life" but doesn't that just pertain to woman??? 

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

Nothing is better for the avid Sheepshead fisherman, than the JUS' GRAB IT GLOVE.

Capt Dave's valuable Sponsor.

You never see me with out mine on. You don't have a clue of what you're missing, until you have one on your side. NO MORE NASTY FISH RAGS.

(available at Academy Sports & Outdoors) 

2/4 - Trying something else...

Heading out again on Tuesday with Tom O.

Think we'll "hang" at the jetties and float-rig fish. But no matter what. I'm always doing R&D.
(research & development)

As I tell my customers, "I'm addicted to fishing too!"
It's all I do and work for.

Even if it means; "Giant Polish Flounder", "Dumpster lids", or 11" Whiting.

Subscribe to my Youtube channel and "get notified" when I upload a new fishing adventure.

"SUBSCRIBE HERE"

1/31 -TECH TIP #4 - A Review

1/29 - another direction.....

Well, I sent back my DRIFT INNOVATIONS action/waterproof camcorder. The 4 times I had it out on the boat had the LCD screen getting condensation inside it every time. I guess it wasn't really waterproof after all. And I never even had it the water...yet!

So, I have spent hours on top of hours striving to find the next waterproof wide angle lens High defination action cam-corder for aboard the boat.

I've combed the world wide web for hours. Because these camera's are all a compromise. Just like boats. Everyone and their brother "touts" the GOPRO camera's. But they do have their short comings.
Like so many pieces and parts. Cost of all that. And Audio, is a mute factor without spending lots more money.

I thought I had found the camera for me with the DRIFT HD GHOST. But like many who buy a ski boat, and then end up trying to fish from it constantly. Soon find out that all is not "spot on".

So I ordered what will be the 3rd waterproof action camera, since Christmas. I hope like hell number 3 is the charm. The rest have all been sent back.

Pictured is the Sports-Vue 360. Has many of the same attributes as the DRIFT camera. Costs less, and has a "TRUE" action cam RF remote control.  NOT all action cam remote controls are equal. And not all action cam's are waterproof, either. Some maybe "splash proof", and some are all out scuba diving cameras. This one is in between.  It supposedly goes to 60 feet deep.

The remote (pictured) is what I've been really looking for. Push a button and the camera TURNS ON and goes straight to RECORD. Push the button, and the camera stops RECORDING and turns, completely OFF!

Wow, truly an action cam!  Set the hook, hit the remote. After fish capture, or high fives. Push the button and the whole thing shuts OFF. Saving battery power!

It has all the same things my DRIFT camera had...swiveling lens, HD, rubberized coating. But has better mounts, and COSTS less than the DRIFT, or GOPRO's.

All this in striving for better BLOG education. Making video of customer days. And doing tech-tips, with maybe some actual under water footage!

My motto has always been...."I'm not a part-timer looking to make my boat payment each month. I want to offer more, and do more. This isn't just a J-O-B. But rather a life style I want to share with you the customer."

You already get reports of your day, photos of your day. And yes, I have made many video's of customers charter days before.

NOW....if I can only get people who inquire about charters, book a day, we go, but they NEVER EVER come here to do their "due deligence" before or after the fishing day.  I don't understand that. But, it's always out there (these reports) for all who wants to come see them.

So, crossed fingers!  I hope this will be the last boat camcorder I'll buy for awhile. But, if it works out I'd like to run 2 of them, and get different angles. Fish in the water, and people in the boat. So I may actually get another one of these camera's if they work out.

Just hope the manufacture/dealer realizes how much I'm wishing this search for the perfect boat video camcorder to work out.

We'll see.

You think "flatfish" are just laying around?

EVEN THOUGH THESE ARE "FLUKE" IN NY. FLOUNDER CAN'T BE MUCH DIFFERENT.
I WAS REALLY SURPRISED HOW THEY'LL CHASE AND CHASE A BAIT.

IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO WATCH YOUR QUARRY IN ACTION. BUT I CAN'T FIND FOOTAGE LIKE THIS OF SPECKLED TROUT.

1/26 & 27 - More Full Moon non-action

What do I preach?

3-4 days before the Moons, and 3-4 days afterwards!

Well, I don't pick the days. So Saturday we fished and caught only 10 Trout, and 6 keepers. But we were out there all day long. We tried bottom fishing for the Black Drum with shrimp, just like my video report (below on a previous report). But that never happened. It wasn't as windy, but it wasn't calm either. Another west wind day, and TOUGH tide.

Zim, Kevin and Tom were all good sports. But it was what it was. And it wasn't from a lack of trying on our part. To not have any Drum or bottom bites at all.

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

Sunday I did a 2 hr Kids trip with Amy & Ken from Ponte Vedra and the two kids. Again, hardly any fish catching at the high tide. As we tried drifting the south jam and anchoring just off the south jetty.
I had the kids just dropping shrimp to the bottom. But the excitment came when I lasso'ed a Spiny Puffer around the tail, and the kids never seen a fish like that before.

They were entertained by the Dolphins, Gannet birds, and Sea Turtles, and Jellyfish. Plus they goit to drive the boat in from the jetties, too. So it was a successful Kids Trip.

1/24 - Whoa - the wind kicked our butts!

1/21 - TECH-TIP #3, "the stopper knot"

When all else fails, and you're "sporting braid" on your reels, as you should. A piece of leader material, (20 pound mono) will do the trick. When making a "stopper knot" when float-rig fishing.  No pre-made, stopper knot BS needed.

Still need help?? "CLICK here"

10-4?

"Let's go fishin....."

1/20 - Exciting month?

Sooo, what been going on?  Well, I see no less than 10 people signing up to read this blog per week. SO? What ya'll waiting on? Let's go fishing!

There's absolutely nothing wrong with fishing in January here in Jax Fla.  Finally, that 80 degree weather went away, and as of Friday & Saturday the 40 MPH gusting winds I'm sure snapped us back into what and where we

should be this time of year.

Although, I felt like a "Yankee Captain." working on the boat all weekend tightening her up a bit, instead of fishing with customers. Today, was one sweet weather day, that's for sure. Not warm, and not cold.

Had two guys cancel out on me for Friday morning. I was supposed to serve up certain fish species, obviously. And my plan to hunker down and Sheepshead fish.  Because of the possible wind direction. Wasn't one of those species they wanted to catch, I was told. And the last thing you should be doing is sitting in a bar all night before you go fishing. I know Beer drinking makes me lazy as a Cat.

Yep, fishing isn't like a restaurant. There isn't any menu to order off of. If so, it's called TV fishing show fishing. Where they fished for 4 days straight wearing the same colored shirts!

Ya'll burn your wicks short over the holidays?  No one allowed to go fishing in January?

Not me. I've had Epic days in January. Like the one the two guys had last January, which had them thinking all years are exactly the same.

My customers ought to be apppreciative. That I do A LOT of solo fishing on my own, or with my buddy Doc Miller during the winter. Spending that gas money. SO I KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE......while other guides go hunting, or don't even fish unless customers are on board!

So when I say NO we aren't catching Sailfish or Tarpon right now..."head to Miami and the keys for that", like the phone call I had today.

Like I've preached for 16 year.....Florida has winter too.

Especially NE Florida. No, it's not thongs and cosmopolitan magazine photo shoots on the beach in Jan. & Feb. But then again, you only need to know ENGLISH around here. Nothing else.

This coming week has some realy good falling tides all week long. PRIOR to the full moon on next Sunday.

If I was going. I'd work on this week.

And this is how to celebrate a nice day out fishing.

1/15 - STILL TO NICE...??

The weather's too nice.

Yeah, you'd think it would be great (the weather that is) for tourism, the fish, snow-birds, and fishing. But everyone has burned their wick, as all the Holidays are over now.  Ya'll in the snow and cold......YOU MISSED IT!

The weather's supposed to "turn-back" to winter. (talked to a guy in Chicago today. Up there was 10 degrees this morning)

And here I am complaining about 78 degrees in January.....YOU BET!!!!!

IF YOU FOLLOW these daily reports you know that the Doggies....AKA: The Dogfish (small toothless sharks) were a super problem just days ago. And so was the NEW MOON. ( see last video from just days ago)

Both are now over. And we never saw a "doggie" all day long. But the fishing was still S-L-O-W for T-R-O-U-T!
Which had Doc and I, not all that happy.

It's all about EFFORT versus BIG TROUT in the box, at days end.  Today, we worked hard. And the box was lean at days end.

 

We had a few throw-back trout, one pup Red, and what ya saw at the end of the video. The 5-Trout to 22" and a 7 pound Sheepshead.