Monday, July 29, 2013

7/28 - Need I say more?

Had Walker and his wife Sarah aboard the Jettywolf on Sunday. As it turned out. Sarah had no fishing experience at all. She didn't know how to cast a spinning reel, didn't know how to hold the rod.....Nothing!

But, she was a quick study. And what happened?

Yep, you guessed it.
Sarah out-fished her Husband!!!!!~

We ended up with a big box of Trout, and one Flounder. Trout to 24".
Of course, I helped out. But not wanting to catch. But just showing what and how to fish each spot.
Be it using a Matrix Shad, a Kick-A-Mullet, or a float-rig and live shrimp.

I told Walker, what might happen. He said, "I'm Okay with that. Happy Wife-Happy Life." seeing they were Newlyweds and all.

And I was right, when I told him the day before that his wife may out fish him.


















































It was a fun day. Sarah also caught Jacks, hooked a few Ladyfish and caught one Bluefish and a Flounder.

 
What a day!



Get your gal out there.
Visit: www.captdaves.com for info.

Look at these crazy shrimp I had. They had blaze orange horns. Ready for Mardi Gras!!















-------------------------------------------------------------------
FROM THE MAKER OF..."THE MATRIX SHAD"
SLIDELL, LA.


Saturday, July 27, 2013

7/26 - Manatee Orgy & Arm Aching Blacktips!!

What a day...Great Kids.

Huge action!!   Left at sun-up, back by 11:30am for lunch!

1/2 day behind the Mayport Shrimp boats with the Ridgeway Crew.



CHARTER INFO??
WWW.CAPTDAVES.COM

7/25 - SOLO GATORS

Cooler morning, overcast, perfect tide, just after full moon, whackin' some fatties on  River2Sea Wide Glide, and Green Hornet Matrix Shad, and 1/4 ounce jig head.

Could hardly catch a small enough Trout, after dropping a 23 incher in the box. (Trout regs: 6 Trout, from 15-20", only one of the 6 can be over 20 inches, per person...REALLY SUCKS!!!) Released FOUR, 24 inchers, and couldn't find any under 20 inches. Only boxed 5, before the ride home.

I EAT FISH - I EAT TROUT - I WANT MORE THAN ONE MEAL! (not in Fla.)

Bite was pretty much over by 10:30am.

MANDATORY EARLY DEPARTURE!
-Low light conditions
-Cooler temps
-Lures only = no dealing with bait stealers!









LIGHT TACKLE INSHORE CHARTERS?
WWW.CAPTDAVES.COM

Friday, July 26, 2013

Many moons ago......

First hard copy Video series:




BEST FALL JETTY FISHING
WWW.CAPTDAVES.COM

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

7/24 - 1st stage: NEW WEBSITE

It's kinda funny, and I have mentioned it here before.

But I have no idea who and how many people even come here and read or surf thru my blog pages.

Not unless I hear from YOU.

You can and always have been able to "comment" via the comments window at the bottom of this blog post....."But ya have to click on the title of the post to get to the stand alone post for the date"

That's where the comment posting window is.

Yeah, I know...."an additional 3 seconds spent, for free info"

So now Google Blogger just came out with a Contact me form. So I installed it on the right side bar at the top of this page. It just emails me. Nothing else.

Check out my new website design. It's stage #1 of a revamping project I'm into.

www.captdaves.com 

The header on this blog should have been an indication.

Monday, July 22, 2013

7/20 - Super Sharkin'

It always cracks me up when I watch those Keys guys on TV and they're somewhere on the Gulf side, behind some islands, and they are shark fishing. They always seem to hang a butterflied Barracuda off the side of the boat (flats boat) and all of a sudden from out of no where comes a 300 pound Shark in just 2 feet of water!

Even once watched a show where the guy used an AFTCO "tailer" and tailed the Shark, and it went nuts and bit down on the rubber rub rail of his Hewes flats boat. Really? A shark by the tail, attached to a 3 foot long pole? Really?

Either way. That's N-O-T how it's done here.



But here's an old example:


And I wish I could be showing you todays, VIDEO.

Because I had Jason G. and 3 friends on board for a big day of N.E. Florida Sharkin' on Saturday.

I did hours of "LIVE" action video. Even had the underwater cam going.

But when I got home, fired up the computer and went to editing all of it. Something happened.
And that something wasn't good!

The files were all gumbled around. I got half way thru editing out the parts I wanted. And then my editing software shit the bed and just wouldn't do what it was supposed to.

Hours and hours I spent playing with it. And since I was up at 4am..."I just couldn't take it any more." 

I hit the sack at 8:30pm  Yeah, it was still light outside. And then the next day (yesterday) I screwed around with it even more. Till total frustration set in again.

Then, I gave up and just cleared everything out and guess I'll have to try again.

So... to make a long story short.

We instantly were hooked up on a big Blacktip 5 minutes after leaving the jetties.
And that's all she wrote. For the next few hours it was more I.G. - Instantaneous Gratification!!!!!

By 8:30-9:00 we left the shrimp boats and headed to the beach. Jason threw the castnet and we loaded up with Pogies and loaded my chum chopper and took off to the S.E. hole. (3 miles east of the ole Sea Turtle Inn) Pulled up in 56' of water and just let the SSW breeze blow us along.....

MY KINDA SLOW TROLL!

Yeah, the Jettywolf is the catz azz. The boat drifts perfectly stern to the breeze, so we just drifted perfectly due north. No gas used, no pulling Pogies too fast. Just the perfect drift.

The 5 of us working the rods, and reeling in a few more Sharks. This time they were all small ones.
Then, came the GOOD BITE.

One Pogie was eaten off the hook on one side of the boat, then we saw a streaking silver fish run to a double pogie rig on the other side of the boat, then a big boil and then a screaming run!!!!!!

Oh, man were we excited as we sent Emily our 100 pound enthusiastic lady angler from hell and back to the rod. This gal was so much fun to watch. Small like a sports car, and full of energy.

The line buzzed off the reel like a King.......but was it a King?

We gave chase and then saw it on the surface. It was a Bonita about 10 pounds. Dead and tail wrapped.

Emily was reeling the poor bastard backwards. And it died after a big run and then being reeled backwards.

She was great though, and the video was great too.

(Capt Dave's Sport Fishing daily rates:  http://www.captdaves.com/fishing/index.html )

We drifted all the way to the St. Johns River Sea Buoy, passing schools of pogies out in 50 feet of water that were blown out there with the winds and falling tide. Each time we passed the pods, we hooked up a Shark.

If sharks were Kingfish today we could have fed a third world country!!

So we picked up and ran to the exact same shrimp boat that we followed this morning. The sharks were really small behind the boat. But the ones close to the shrimper and over top the nets were BIG!

We ended the day with a 100 pounder that Rick handed off to Emily and she finished the bad boy off.

But as it turned out. I was missing footage of this battle anyhow and it was all about Emily today.
What a litl' ball of fire she was.

Again..."the girls make the day fun!"

So, I have no video or photos. Who needs photos when ya have two GoPro camera's going??

Well maybe next time.

Either way, the action is out there. Close, and no long runs at all.  But, I guess if a Kingfish was needed for sure. I supposed the reefs are the ticket.


Friday, July 19, 2013

7/19 - Not what it used to be:

I remember that when it came Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament time, I'd dread it. Because of the boat ramps, no parking, and crowds everywhere.

I even went to Maine in 2006 while the tournament was going on to order my boat from the company rep. (that was sooooo nice to be in cooler temps in July)

Although the tournament isn't no where near, two days of 1000 boats anymore (thanks to our U.S. economy, and fuel prices) I still had to be "hours" early to the boat ramp, for a 2 hour Kids Trips at 8am, just so I could park in a decent spot. Then, as the crowds cleared. I slipped the Jettywolf in the water and my folks showed up and we headed to the jetties for a little fun.

Here's my observations:





Video from Iphone5

Thursday, July 18, 2013

7/18 - More "Kids trips"

My summer time staple...the Jettywolf taking the next generation of Fisherman & Fisherwomen!

Yes, it's been a Gal summer so far. Not a whole lot going on at the Jetties. "Normal mid summer deal", but the kids caught Jacks, Blues (why are they here?) and SeaBass and Yellowmouths.

Then, we took a short ride over to see the Kingfish Tourney Grounds at Sisters Creek Boat Ramp.

WATCH IN 1080 HD, select via "settings gear icon". I did the video in Hi-Def. Might as well watch all my video's in Hi-Def..."if your connection can handle it."






By no means is GJKT week, like I remember. The boat ramp wasn't a zoo..But I'm still waiting to see.

NEXT UP:

Tomorrow another 2 hr Kids Trip
Then Saturday, a 4 person regular day...

-want to take your small children out for the morning? Check out my Kids Trip rates at:
http://www.captdaves.com/fishing/index.html reasonable and even NO deposit required for
weekday morning trips.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

INLET ?

And I thought St. Augustine inlet sucked!!!







Not a "part-timer".....a life style:
www.captdaves.com

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

PERFECT TIDE?

If you notice. When I go "solo". I wait to go on the perfect tide (and hopefully weather too). Plus, I depart EARLY!!!!!!!

Here's a heads-up for anyone interested in my $350 for 2, Early Morning Top water Trout Trips. 

Next week, I'll be departing the boat ramp in the dark (prior to 0630 hrs) making a fast but safe run to my area. And working top-water plugs and Matrix Shads for deep summer sweet-heart sized Speckled Trout.



















I'd love to do Saturday, but there could be alot going on at the ramp and river seeing the circus is in town (GJKT)

But with high tides at 8:00-9:00'ish, Sunday and Monday. (even though Monday's the full-moon) I'll still give it a go.
  

7/15 - Weather? East winds, and slow bite...

NEXT TRIP(S):

OFF BEACH, CHUMMING, DRIFTING...river/jetties has reached the "duldrum level"











WATCH IN 1080 HD!!
CLICK ON "GEAR" ON YOUTUBE SETTING ON BOTTOM OF VIDEO.
VIDEO WAS DONE IN HIGH DEF.
SO WATCH IN HIGH DEF.

"NOT SOME CRAPPY RESOLUTION, YOUTUBE SETS"

(THIS GOES FOR ALL MY VIDEO'S)

Sunday, July 14, 2013

7/14 - River tour

Had Akli aboard today. He's from Algeria, and has never ever fished before. Let alone been with a "hard core" guy like me.

It was really fun. Because everything, ever where, from live shrimp to tides was new to him. Our trip was basically a "show me kind of day".

Croakers, Yellowmouth Trout, were the catches in the river. But Akli wanted to also see the "Ocean".

So we ran all the way from the Dames Point to the end of the north jetty at one point, and when we got there, the tide was changing and the dark brown was hitting the bright green water. Tarpon were rolling around near us, even. But I don't think Akli ever saw them. I of course with the "keen" fish eyes saw 10 roll the surface as we drifted out the rocks.

We eventually anchored up. Fished Live Shrimp on a "dropper loop rig", and to my surprise started catching Speckled Trout in 33 feet of water.























Akli, also caught some small Jacks and a Ladyfish.
Which all looked like dinner fish to him. And I told him, there's some fish not worth eating.

Fun day, showing someone from very far away "my world".

Saturday, July 13, 2013

7/13 - Morning.....

Guess what I did this Saturday morning, in mid July??

Here's a clue:









































Took these "two cuties", but still a handful, to catch their first ever saltwater fish.
-Croakers 
-Yellowmouth Trout
-Seabass 

Brother, sister, and of course Dad.

One of my 2 hour Kids trips: http://www.captdaves.com/fishing/index.html

Next up:

Sunday, solo fisherman, on his maiden "learn to fish trip".
Monday, regular Don B. I'm expecting a "VIDEO DAY" coming with Don & guest.


Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament week....(aka: major morning boat ramp congestion)

Starts on the: 18th with V.I.P day
                        19th Kids Tourney
                        20th General Tournament
                        21st General Tournament
                        22nd a Redfish Tournament

Usually this tournament "shuts" me down. But, if you're looking for a simple 2 hr. KIDS TRIP or something don't hesitate to call 904-642-9546 or shoot me a message: charter@captdaves.com     

Friday, July 12, 2013

7/12 - PHOTOS MISSING?

Yes, some photos on the ole Blog here have come up missing because I'm fixing, relocating, re-naming, my many photo albums hosted by Google Picasa. Never fear. Nothing is wrong.

I have some think like 5,000 photos so I had to whittle them down, and re-arrange them. So a few got lost out of the below "postings" because of that.

Changes happening at www.captdaves.com
So, stand by.

7/11 - Again, "wife out fishes husband"

Crazy day, yesterday.....

So, without dwelling on that ....we left the dock till 11:30am.

HUGE NO-NO!
(in the summer time, in my "fishing guide" opinion. But just one of the few things they learned as begginers in the Jacksonville fishing, world.)

Oh, we had a prefect tide. If it was 6am in the morning! 
Because it was a rising tide, and high at essentially NOON.

We worked "up river".  I wasn't into fighting the daily S.E. Seabreeze, that was starting right as we departed the dock, at the jetties.

Used soft plastics on jigs, the "Matrix Shads" which are of course www.captdaves.com official soft plastic lure. Because live shrimp on the jigs lasted a NANO second after hitting the bottom because of all the litl' shitters we have now carpeting the river bottoms structure.

It was HOT, very HOT. And as the tide poured in it was a struggle in the MID-DAY, no doubt. Not what I was used too.

But as Dr. Phil says on TV, "This ain't my first rodeo, either."   So we plugged on with one healthy Trout in the box.

Next spot.....Trout and Ladyfish! 

A-C-T-I-O-N

Bring you best gal....'cus she's gonna outfish YOU.
























Tried to get some perfect finger Mullet. That's one baitfish that been NON-existent on the Jettywolf lately.  By this time of year. I get at least a dozen or so. And it makes for an easy Redbass, Trout and Flounder.

I hate those little Mud-minnows at the bait shops. I think of it all like I do when it comes to "plugging" for Trout. I'd just as soon cast a BIG plug, to Target a Bigger Trout. Because when I'm throwing lures, I want only large trout, if I can get them.

Same goes for bait fish. I'd like 4-5" Mullet......because when a Redbass or a Trout eats one, usually it's not a 15 incher!

Talked to many a fisherman, and many are also frustrated with no big schools of finger mullet around.
I go to my usual "easy to catch'em spots" and they just aren't there.

So as we fished yesterday. It suffered. Because I only caught 2 tiny two inch Mullet and a nice 14" Flounder in my castnet..."Yeah, a bonus Flattie!"  

As far as float-rig fishing, just one Trout. and by then the wind was ripping from the SE. 

When all else fails:  BOTTOM FISH.

And that's what we did. Filling the box with more Speckled Trout (that ate a 1/2 a dead shrimp in 30 feet of water) and loads of decent Yellowmouth Trout, and some Croakers.

It was H-O-T and the wind was like a blast furnace in your face. So at 5pm we headed back. And Gina and her hubby headed home with a big bag of fresh "fish fry" fillets.  Successful day.

I learned a lot, they learned a lot, about how and when to reserve your charter. 

-Craigslist is not the best place to find a fishing charter.
-Do your homework, read reports and "up to date" info.
-Go with a "full-time" guide.
-Departing late is NOT the best way to fish in the middle of summers in Florida.


NEXT UP:  Some "TWO HOUR KIDS TRIPS". Very, very popular in the summer time.

Sunday, July 7, 2013

7/5-7/6 - The Gals are H-O-T!

Did you know that the boat ramp at 6am isn't a zoo? And if I had my druthers, I'd depart at 5am. Problem there is, it's kinda hard to get live shrimp from the bait shop at the time of the morning when they don't open till 6am on weekdays.

But "weekend-holiday" traffic magically appears when we return from our adventure around noon or one.

So, that's the morale of the "inshore fishing" story; GET OUT THERE EARLY!
And over the course of the last few days. Damn has the wind blew like hell from the S.E. by 12:00.
Add a falling tide buckin', and you got yourself a 50 MPH hair cut by the time we come back to the dock, for sure.....

I had the absolute pleasure of being able to take the Morrison Family out fishing, that are "ADDICTED" to Trout. As soon as Shawn contacted me by visiting www.captdaves.com I knew these were my kind of folks!!

It was Naschica's birthday! And my gawd was she the HOT rod. This gal was like a "Trout Whisperer".

Tossing the Egret Baits, KICK-A-MULLET she was making myself and her husband Shawn look like we didn't even know what we were doing there.....






































































Then she schooled us on the float-rig later on, also. But Shawn continued to play catch-up.




























We hit the dock and a whole box of beautiful Speckled Trout. It was a very respectful day we had. And 8 year old Miles, even though he liked playing with jigs and lure, caught a few too. They had a major fish fry in store for them, while visiting Jacksonville. Can't wait to possibly have Shawn and Naschica back again, during the fall/winter or spring JETTY Trout fest.


THE LADIES ARE HOT....DON'T LEAVE YOUR GOOD LUCK CHARM AT HOME!

The next day I had Brandon & Paulina. Brandon had a choice. We could possibly face the winds and go Jetty fishing and Shark fishing. Or depart early, and head down river and look for them Trout again.
Brandon wanted to play it safe. As Paulina was our "rookie" so he wanted to stay inshore.

Well, that did it.

We weren't on the first spot 5 minutes, tossing KICK-A-MULLETS on a spot with a rising tide, before Paulina caught a GATOR Trout!  Then, she caught another. While Brandon got some "swipes" and yours truely had one "swipe" Paulina had all the action.








































The bite wasn't as hot as the morning before. But, it's summer and that's the way it can be. But Paulina put 3 nice Trout in the box easily.










































We fished around mixing in some Float-rig fishing, and casting of jigs and shrimp. Catching a Mangrove Snappers, Yellowmouth Trout, and some small Speckled Trout. All the while working for that Redfish. But by 10:30am. the wind started honking pretty good, and all I could think about is how glad I was I had Paulina up in calm waters and catching some fish. Versus, being outside or even inside the jetties as I heard it was pretty nasty from friends.

Here she is in a "one of a kind" photo......"never seen anyone with a umbrella like that on the boat before." 






As for the rest of the ""deep summer"" months. There is choices. But one thing is for sure. There's alot of miles between the inshore fishing choice and the coastal fishing choice, during this time of year.

It has nothing to do with me. It's just the way it is.

www.captdaves.com

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

IT'S TIME FOR : "Shark Week Live"










































Boys and their SHARKS...it's LOVE.
904-642-9546 - call now!

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Here comes the "Mid-Point"

The mid point of the "heat season" is around July 20th.

Then it's all down hill from there. Unless we get another year that on Halloween it's 92 degrees!!!
I sure hope not. But it does and has happened.

I suppose plans are being made for people up north sweating, to come on down here and sweat a little more. (because it's vacation time) And the kids are out of school. (Can't vacation any other time, right?)

It'll be just in time for the heat of the month. But watch out.......PARK IN THE SHADE!!!

Saturday, June 22, 2013

6/22- Really is this what it's like on summer weekends?

Was up at 4am....after reading one of the 20 weekly update emails I get from the Jacksonville Offshore Sport Fishing club. Referred to now on as the J.O.S.F.C in my reports.

They have something to do with a Kingfish tournament going on <<THIS WEEKEND!!>>

So when I read that wonderful news. I like Doctor Phil say, "This ain't my 1st Rodeo", which means I know it's gonna be a mega-zoo at the boat ramp.

I had Gary K. and his wife and daughter booked, so I mistakenly told them 630am, the day before. Not knowing a mega-zoo would be going on. (Yeah, I had one days notice, par for the course) and so it happens I was at the boat ramp at 5:10am!  Yeah, early. But I was in and docked and parked in my usual spot, just before the mayhem started.

No heading east. Forget that. So we went west......far west!

We weren't early enough. What did I just say in my last report with the video? Hope you can leave early, hope you can cast. Well, the early depart thing was my mistake, and yeah all three of them could cast a spinner.

I had these rigged up on their spinners already:









Egret Baits: Kick-A-Mullet top water lures. Because the nice thing about what I have researched is. At low light, all ya have to do is cast these as far as you possibly can. Do a 1 potato, 1 potato, and start reeling really slow. These lure swim their asses off....yeah the tail wags like crazy. And just under the surface, as the lure leaves a wake. The Trout will smash'em.

Well, we also have a full moon. Not a great thing in our favor. But I can't change that. So as we eased up on spot one. Everything looked decent.

I gave Gary and his wife the Kick-A-Mullets, and his daughter a jig and Matrix shad. Mom, dad and I would work the shallows. While daughter works the deeper water.

No sooner we get started Gary's daughter starts hooking Ladyfish one after another, then yellowmouth trout, and then small Specks. She's up 10-0 on us. But most of the ladies jump off.



























Then Gary gets a wallop. A nice sweetheart sized trout inhales his Kick-A!

 

























In between his daughter....."forgot her name, of course". Is having a ball casting and getting bit on every retrieve. Gary gets a few more swipes and then the Mrs. yells, "GOT ONE".  Her trout comes up and is another sweetheart sizer.


























Then, your's truly hooks up and mines the smallest of the bunch. But still a keeper. Gary's daughter is having a ball getting bites constantly, as we keep at it. With a few hits, but misses.

The sun's getting up already, and the tide dies. So we move on. I hit another spot, but there's no current. So we make a run a bit further.

I drop anchor and say....Last time we fished this deepwater. I had a guys wife hook-up a giant Red on the float rig.

Not 5 minutes after that. Gary's daughter has he float go down and she's on a fish this 13 year old can't begin to handle. It's a big Redbass! As she reels frantically, the she makes a dive and POP goes her 20# leader on the float-rig. The fish dove and got her in the structure.

We keep trying but that was it. Time for a restroom break. And then we're back at it again. Next spot was just a few small Trout. And then we see this:

























So we blast back towards Mayport and yep, at the boat ramp we get rained on, and after Gary and family leave.....all hell breaks loose. And it really comes down as I'm driving out of the parking lot.

They didn't score a lot of fish, and didn't even keep any. They left them for me. 3 nice fat Trout and a handful of medium yellowmouths.

But that's kinda par for the course really. The bite is early and I'm sure the full moon wasn't any help. It normally isn't, by the way.

But, yes even folks from Kansas City Missouri can catch fish on top waters and jigs and soft plastics. It's not always perfect like when you watch me do it in the video's. But the better YOU are, the easier you'll catch'em like that in the dawn of another summer day.

Friday, June 21, 2013

6/20 - Dances with Troutz....his name "Jettywolf"

Where ya at?
Whatcha Doin'?

Sitting in the A/C, wastin life?

Can ya cast?
Can ya get up and go before daylight?

If not, guess you can experience Trout Dancin' via the Jettywolf, then.

Leave early-Back early...eat Trout Lunch!
(Yes, in that order)

Thursday, June 13, 2013

6/12 - SUMMER FUN...

-all before the heat poured on. Leave early (crack O' dawn) Be back by High noon, to clean fish, and celebrate our success. (I do that with a cold PBR)






Watcha' waiting on. There's nothing to be scared of...Learn something new, see something new, do something new. www.captdaves.com

BEST, light tackle inshore trips: 2 person, more versatility.

Calm waters-Free video/photos!


Sunday, June 9, 2013

Accurate Reel Sale:

I hope this explains all...



6/9 - JIG TALK....info? Or not?

Here's a few things I never hear about.....TECH TIP #10

-discussed in a seminar type video.

Watch in full 1080 High Definition (adjust Youtube settings on Youtube screen) if your computer can handle it, and for seeing detail, use "FULL" screen.







(by the way, it took me hours and hours to make just this. And then, 3 hour load time to Youtube)

Thursday, June 6, 2013

6/6 - The talking heads, crack me the hell up!

What was that in the first week of May?

5 days straight of rain and high winds. What the hell did they call that??

-Black Creek 15 feet over normal 
-San Marco Flooded
-40 MPH Mayport winds
-5 days of solid rain

But now, Tropical storm Andrea, ewwwww...and they're going nuts on the local yokal TV news stations.  They remind me of the Coasties for some reason?




















It's not even raining at my house. Right now (1730 hrs).  The Jacksonville Offshore Sport Fishing Club even cancelled the 54th Club birthday party/meeting.

Rescheduled today's charter..." I rain-checked it" Hahahahaha  Because it was raining harder this morning than it is now, and the "STORM" is way closer!!!

6/5 - inconsistent weather, and big fish.

Yeah, everyone wants to take my J-O-B. But at least when you go to the office, and sit behind your desk. You probably have an idea of what you're in for. And I'd guess....."It's pretty damn boring, too"

So no. I won't trade with you. But then again, not all that sure if you'd want to hang with never having any consistency, either.

It's my biggest frustration. And yes. It's not everywhere. There is places that do have some kind of consistency. But that place is not N.E. Florida. If someone tells you there is. They're blowin' smoke.

Here at captdaves.com blog reports. I tell it like it is. Because, fishing this area is just that. FISHING.

Today, here comes the storm. So we decided to "postpone" today's one person TROUT ONLY charter.
Yeah, I had Chuck visiting Amelia Island with his wife. He called, and said "I want to go TROUT fishing. And yeah, I'll break off a Redfish to get to a bog Trout!" 

WOW, a man after my own heart!

That's a real rarity to have someone say that to me. So Chuck will be back. He's just in Midway, Ga. So in two hrs he can be in Mayport.

Yesterday, I had regular customer Dave Z. He loves Trout fishing too. We had a short window to fish. So we departed early and headed due WEST. It had already drizzled a bit at the boat ramp. But we got very lucky. And had a dry morning.

Spot number one:  Not much current, 3 feet of water, scattered oyster shell bottom, I threw a jig and Matrix Shad, had one Flounder hook up and lost it. Dave had a few pinfish bites. So we moved on.

Spot number two: 4 feet of water, rocky bottom, fantastic current. High-tide, just starting to ebb. Dave was on a light spinner rod and reel. A home made popping rattling cork, and 2 feet of leader to a unweighted hook and a live shrimp. 1st cast and drift......Float down! The fish pulls the drag really good. Dave is smiling big time!





















FIVE POUND SPECKLED TROUT - 1st cast on 2nd spot. It's 0730am!

We continue to fish the same spot. The Mangroves and Ladies, and Jacks have our number now. Dave get's bit on almost every shrimp.

Then, the float goes down and he gets another beautiful TROUT. Not a 5 pounder, but a nice 18 incher. (no photo....Dave wanted to waste no time, either did I)  So he got right back out there and the rest of the bites were "shit fish", Mangroves, Ladies, and Jacks again....

We moved on. THE "shitters" found us!

Spot number three:  3 feet of water atop a rocky shoreline. We had a BIG Flounder sky-rocketing small little minnows along side the boat!!!!!!!!  This Flounder looked to be 5 pounds. Coming up to the surface, swirling the water, jumping out of the water, eating 1/2 inch long minnows.

I tried dropping a jig in the spot. It was all ROCKS. Kept snagging. Dave drifted his popping cork thru, and his live shrimp would dive straight into the rocks. Snaggin.......
Oh, this was frustrating. But even a free lined live shrimp may get hung up too.

We ended up with three Ladyfish. While Seabass were eating my jig and Matrix Shad behind the boat.
Seabass??

Third spot: Float-rig fishing. One small Trout. Nothing else. Moved on.

Last spot of the day: A BIG Trout area. For me, as many 5 pounders have come from this spot as I've caught at the jetties in the winter time. So I had confidence. But the current was a bit too quick. So we stuck it out. Mangrove Snappers GALORE. This river is full of those "shitters" this time of year. Almost the reason to fish only "soft plastics, or plugs".....I know that. But most of my customers need live bait. They do best with live bait.

And Dave did!

Right as the tide slowed. He nailed another "sweetheart".







































Okay, three nice Trout in the box. No rain. We're dry. And Dave has to head back.

NOT BAD. We did okay, during the super overcast sky's. And now the wind started blowing. So we headed back. And Dave was heading back to Chicago....."with Dinner."


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

So, who up next??
Who wants to go hunt up some Big Troutz?

They're around. I'm liking it.

But, I just wish for a bit more "consistency", that's all.


STAY DRY, THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS. I BELIEVE THIS MAYBE A GOOD TREE-TRIMMER AT MY HOUSE....TROPICAL STORM ANDREA, I MEAN. 

-IF YOU DON'T WATCH  THE WEATHER.
-I DO, I LIVE BY IT.