9/6 - Really B-I-G?

I'm booked Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Thursday, so far.

And not all that sure what my crew will consist of, right now.

But, I'm just putting this out there. 

With a falling tide mid morning this week. I was thinking, who wants to target REALLY big Shark with me.

As in "Hundreds" of pounds. I have a hunch. We'll be fishing Tarpon country at the same time. And maybe and possibly some Whiting and other fish,  for the fish box while we wait on the big one.

-Lemons

-Bulls

There's even been some talk about a large Tiger lurking around Jax Beach Pier (?)  So ya never know.

We won't be using sissy ass Pogy's for bait. I can tell ya that.

No long rough boat rides. I'm talking "near-shore/inshore" fishing.

Hey, just when you think you're not up to it or you're not mean enough....."I'm being kind"

READ THIS:  """""CLICK HERE"""""""


What a great story!  Notice the major typos, though??  "pin reels, with big cylinders". 
I think the author (NICHOLAS FOURIEZOS) meant "Penn Reels, with large spools!"

It's an adventure.
Not a "grocery shopping trip".
All Sharks caught will be released. That's why we still fish, while the BIG baits soak.
Ya may hook a Tarpon.

I'm going "solo" and will have to make a video of myself. If no one wants to go for the GUSTO.
Yeah, you'll get your own VIDEO proof, no matter what. Care of my 4 cameras, editing, and posting to my Youtube channel



www.captdaves.com- your Jax full-time fishing guide since 1996.

Here's a "blast from the past" This little lady, Nanette S. screamed bloody murder when she hooked this Spinner that weighed in at 120 pounds. After doing a few 10 pound Jack Crevalles, with her friend Donna, aboard my old boat the FOR REELIN II. And it was her Birthday also!

There's Tarpon all around those jetty rocks too!

9/3 - Big Game + Light Tackle = FUN!

Had Grady from N.C. aboard on Tuesday. After all the Holiday and weekend boaters, had us all alone and having a ball, running & gunning behind the Shrimp boats for instant action.

As it turns out, this is the closest and best BIG TUG action happening, right now. It's all about FUN and getting some serious pullers hooked up.

From Blacktips to Spinner Sharks that put on one hell of a show. All with no long boat ride!
Which I love. Because I like getting into "I.G." - instantaneous gratification no matter if it's a Trout on a top water plug (lure) or slinging big baits behind the Shrimp boats.

We also tried drifting Pogies that we caught on the beach in 12' of water, in the SouthEast Hole area in 55' of water. One on a down-rigger, and one flat lined. Looking for a big Bonita, or King Mackerel. But the only bite we had was a small Blacktip shark on the surface Pogy. I was very surprised, because we had a perfect, silent drift going with the decent SW breeze, pushing the boat bow first and stern to the wind. (the Jettywolf drifts so nicely)

So, with nothing going on in the S.E. Hole, we ran back to the North Jetty and pitched live Pogies up to the end of the rocks. On a 3/8th's ounce jig we had a giant Spinner Shark hooked up on the little jig hook and it lasted 3 jump and spins before snapping the 40 pound mono shock leader I was using on the spinning tackle.

Then we had a decent Jack eat a Pogy and give Grady a nice boat side tug. Then, we ended the day and slowly peddled our way back to the dock as the afternoon heat poured on.

Lots of good, funny, and exciting stuff happened on today's trip with Grady. Way too many things to list.

But, I can tell you. NEVER IS ANY DAY THE SAME OUT THERE.

That's what makes it fun and exciting in my book. And I can't say that I have ever taken anyone out Shrimp boat runnin' & gunnin' that didn't have a good time.

All the Sharks we hooked today were released, to fight again. Sometimes I can get the 14/0 circle hooks out, and sometimes I can't. But I am prepared with all the tools, if so. I have two ARC dehookers. One 6' pole version and a 24" version. I prefer to release all of these Sharks for another day. And I prefer (if I can) to humanly de-hook them.

Come join me aboard the Jettywolf, visit: www.captdaves.com

I do all I can to not be a boat ride. But rather be fishing as fast as possible!

9/2 - from 1st to last cast......HOLD-ON!!

Had Bill and his son Luke aboard the Jettywolf today. My yesterday charter cancelled on me. Which has me now going with a Holiday week, 1/2 up front NON-returnable deposit. Because, ya just can't do business this way in this town, where you live from Holiday to Holiday.

So today we headed out as the sun came up and "Yes", there were shrimp boats right outside the inlet.

1st cast of a float, attached to a 200# mono leader "crimped" then to a "crimped" on 14/0 circle hook.
I cast it behind the shrimp boat over the nets, right where the Flippers are piled up, and it was.....
GAME ON.

I couldn't believe it. The float went down instantly. Then the shark came right at us. It was a monster Spinner shark. It went air born two maybe three times corkscrewing 5 feet out of the water! Right behind the boat, then again, and then the next time I thought it was coming in the bpoat as it corkscrewed right behind my boats swim platform! All three of us couldn't do a thing. And we all thought it was coming in the boat. I had my hand on the throttle, but I was stunned, along with my crew.

Then it spun one more time and busted the leader clean.

THIS WAS ALL WITHIN THE FIRST 2 MINUTES OF US FISHING!

We had more instantaneous hook ups. Drag smokers, and one caught us up in the shrimp net. Then, another young Luke fought for over 30 minutes and then I took over. And it tried to whoop even me.

It was the largest Blacktip of the whole summer. 6-7' long and when I tried to use the dehooker pole and release it it just ate through the 200 pound mono leader and took off.

The action was unbelievable and non stop.

The action and size of these Blacktips was so good we went back to the jetties and sat for a little while before heading in. My crew was done.

Get to do it all over again on Tuesday. When ya'll are back at work finally. With just one guy.
The river was a zoo. And on the way back to the ramp only two idiots tried to run us over.

If they only realized they will get the "shit end of that stick" when they hit 1/4" alloy plate against fiberglass.....I know. Because I've seen it.

Finally...last day of August

Trout friends, at least Big Gators vanished. At least where I can go to find them. No "topwater" bites at all. Maybe a few swipe and misses from some small fish. But as usual here in Bazzarro world. I didn't get any hook ups on my new all black and chartreuse tail Kick-A-Mullet, and neither did Todd. And new resident to J-ville from the mid west. He said, "it's better than shoveling snow!" 

So after a "sun-up" cast fest on several spots. It was a HERE'S YER SIGN that the Trout vacated the area.

And since Todd's never seen the inlet. I ran all the way back from where we went to go somewhere to hook the brother up! The action at the N. Jetty seemed stereo-typical of what it's like in the summer out there. (can't wait till WINTER!!!!!!)

Caught only a few fish to use as baits, set the out for the "man in the brown suit" and had no heavy Sharkin' tackle with me. This was a complete after-thought!

Fishing Jacksonville, you have to remain Rigidly Flexible. Especially this time of year...

did you know?

 

-JOIN MY G+ COMMUNITY

<<<<<LINK>>>>>

Did you know...

Louisiana Fish Fry mix or Zaterains Fish Fry Mix. Moist pile of Speckled trout fillets, in a one gallon bag, both shook together. The mix dry straight out of the box. Let sit in the refrigergator for a day. Then, let free to swim in Peanut or Canola oil, in a large black cast iron skillet with  a inch or more of oil. Fried to floating freely at 375 degrees, and crispy on the edges. (that's how I do it)

Is enough to have your tongue come outa your mouth and slap the back of your neck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Add a very cold "ICE CHILLED" 16 ounce can or bottle of your favorite malted brewed type beverage, or even better yet, some Strongbow Hard Cider, some cole slaw, or potato salad, and you won't make it to the sit down. You'll be eating right where ya stand.

Maybe have a separate burner going with boiling water and some gynormous 12-14 count Mayport Shrimp dropped in it head and all.....It'll be pick-peel-eat heaven!

All this can be care of Jacksonville's Best Inshore Fishing www.captdaves.com.

Book your trip today. Best rates around...go ahead and check! 

8/25 - Full Blown Nor'Easter

Hmmm, on the tails of yesterday's Video Report. Today's incoming rain and  wind could only be one thing. A full blown Nor'easter.

I was up early. And when the morning rain came down. I was buckets, making noise on my roof before the sun ever came up. But like most Florida rain, it didn't last all that long.

I talked to Bruce. Who I had coming up from Ponte Vedre for just a 2 hour Kids Trip. And we decided to go, but not depart at 8am, but rather 9:30am. And by then the rain was over.

GUESS THOSE "GOING EXTINCT" RED SNAPPER GOT A WEATHER PARDON FROM A THREE DAY OPEN SEASON ON THEIR HEADS TO JUST TWO DAYS, BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER TODAY.

I can't believe for a whopping $300 for two people, I never had a single request although I had it all over my Google+ page, that I was willing and able to plug in a few reefs into the Raymarine GPS and go get us a few. I even had a plan...go get some small "falling tide" Croakers at sun-up, in the livewell, then head out the jetties to a piece of hard bottom.

Tell me who else was ready to use live 4" Croakers for live Snapper bait???
I'd bet they'd be a damn near "shoe in", to the Snapper Club!
They maybe so thick you don't even need a live Croaker? I don't know.

But today, if you were so ate up with catching one Red Snapper per person and went offshore with that forecast, you were nuts.

Well, the parking lot at the boat ramp was damn near vacant at 9am when I pulled in. So. There wasn't any crazy's, because I may have owned the largest trailer that was at the boat ramp parking lot.

If it's blowin, if it's raining. Well that's when I have something booked, of course.

But all worked out.

Here's my crew at the jetties..."yes it was nasty, yes the water was busting over the rocks, and yes it wasn't where we caught our Croakers for the kids"

KAWABUNGA DUDE

8/24 - TIME TO THINK "FALL" RESERVATIONS:

Wow. As I sit here posting this video from last night, it's 5am on Sunday morning. I have a Kids Trip at 8am, the rain is absolutely BLASTING the roof of my house. And the forecast is for 15-20 knot winds after 11am, with Lake Wind Advisories later in the day for inland areas.

Yeah baby, FALL is on it's way.
The transition. The changes in weather.

So, I did a Video report about it. Enjoy......

8/22 - YES IT DOES!

www.captdaves.com - "Customer approved"

AND CAPT DAVE APPROVED TOO:

http://www.egretbaits.com

8/19 - Monday Solo Fishing:

Well, another Monday and, "YOU MISSED IT."

I always say, "there's nothing like a Monday morning at 7am." Because no one is around. No boats waking, no boat ramp traffic jam..... just quiet.

Everyone thinks Friday's are part of the week, and that maybe. But at the same time. It's like a weekend. Monday's are a real weekday. If it's the day, I pick. Then maybe you ought to think about it too, huh?

At www.captdaves.com I fish, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. NO CONSTRICTIONS. So no matter what day you decide to go. I'm your full-time Jacksonville fishing guide, doing this for the past 17 years.

Monday-8/19/2013 

8/16 - The greatest GoPro video of all time!!

-and they even had one on the stern. Would have liked to see that one looking forward.

8/13 - Summer Sharkin'

posted by:
www.captdaves.com







Useful info: We have both swimming out local waters. Blacktips & Spinners, which many times get confused with eachother. The ones caught in above video I believe were Atlantic Sharpnose.

8/12 - My Trout friends became illusive....

Lot's of small "buck" male Trout. Out of all of them. Three keepers that's all. Plus a "top water" Redbass. And a visit from "the man".

"Remember, when the government shows up, it's because they want to help you"
YEAH RIGHT!










Inshore/Light Tackle Jacksonville Fishing, Florida
www.captdaves.com
Since 1996

8/11 - Boat Ramp parking lots on a weekend?

Yeah I've done this, at the boat ramp when single cars park in Truck and Trailer spots. I have to admit. But I did leave a few things out compared to this photo.

There's always next time to adhere to the protocol. (here's yer sign)

8/11 - Awesome N.Z. Alloy "one off" boat

Thought I'd share this, because in the world of customs this is damn sweet!
(Although photos are not of completely finished boat IE: Decking, Paint job etc.)
Check out that killer custom built alloy trailer....AMF in New Zealand is know for those custom trailers!

Photo Gallery LINK of the Handy Billy

8/8 - You're still missing it......

Why?????











Jacksonville fishing charters:
Since 1996
www.captdaves.com

8/5 - Any die hards still around??

Calling all "diehard Angling charter customers", get up early, be back before the super heat, storms, rain.

2-3 persons max. for serious lure fishing.






WWW.CAPTDAVES.COM - "Dave knows BIG Troutz"

I can introduce YOU.

Jacksonvile's best fishing charters

8/4 - Athletes deserving a work out: (more pics added)

Had Mark M. and his Nephew and his nephews buddy aboard today.

When Mark booked this trip. He told me his Nephew and his buddy are Baseball pitchers. And if pitchers are 6'3"to 6'5" long and slender. Then these dudes were Baseball pitchers!!

So I told Mark when he booked the day. "Let's not go up in the river. But let's treat these guys to some knock down drag out fights."

So we took off thru the jetties at 0630 hrs and headed straight for three shrimp boats trawling the chum hole area.

First pitch of a half a 12" Mullet, and we were hooked up!  A big Spinner Shark, flew thru the air and made some good drag screaming runs. But chewed right thru the 200 pound mono leader.

The rest of the hook-ups were very difficult and if we did hook up the sharks were small. NOT what I wanted for these slender athletes. I wanted them to hook up big Blacktips and get a true ass handing!

So we tried and tried...from drifting baits to even trolling 14" plugs that resembled Spanish Mackerel, we kept following the shrimp boats. But not much action.

I finally had enough. I said if they aren't here they're probably at the jetties. So we blasted in and anchored up at the North jetty.

We cast out dead Croakers and soaked them on the bottom.....NOTHING!

A boat next to use hooked up and lost a Tarpon. "Hmmmm...so there is something around here?"

The dead bait wasn't working at all. So we pulled out the bottom rods and dead shrimp and they guys caught some big Croakers. I took the sinkers off the 200# Mono and 14/0 Circle hook rigs and  freelined the live Croaks out behind the boat. One got bit as I reeled it  to check it. Then, the next bites were "BACK TO BACK".

DOUBLE-HEADER...there's a Baseball term that also fits Fishing. We hooked up two Big Blacktips at the same time.

Now, I started to see these "bass fisherman" start to sweat!

The fight was exaggerated as they had to try and keep the Blacktips apart. And from going around a near by boats anchor line.

The guys did great and this is the whole reason I brought them out here versus trout fishing up in the river.

Athletes vs. Athletes!

Full time 365 charters, Jacksonville Fishing since 1996
www.captdaves.com

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.

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

Many moons ago......

First hard copy Video series:




BEST FALL JETTY FISHING
WWW.CAPTDAVES.COM

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.

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.

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

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.