11/10 - A older but still a great Video

I've got so many Video's on my YouTube Channel now. I guess you could say I pulled this one outa' the archives.



"It wouldn't matter to me if we stayed in prepetual winter her in Jax."

11/9 - Whoa it was windy again....

Had Steve & Karen booked for Friday...which was totally heinous and 20-25 kts out of the N.E.
So, we decided a better day would be Saturday, right?

Sat. Forecast: 10-15 ENE. "Supposedly"

Well, I told them as they got aboard the Jettywolf, "I'm cutting ya'll a break today. You won't get seasick, wet or even need sea-legs. We're going shallow fishing." 

But, then again we won't be bustin' any big Redbass, either I'm sure. I said in my head.

Maybe we'll actually catch smaller Reds, and hopefully TROUT!

So we made our way up river and into Mill Cove. Mill Cove ya say?? In a 26' deep V boat??
Yeah, but a Aluminum 26' boat. Big Diff.

We blasted into the cove and started float-rig fishing. I knew we'd be early, and I was right. There was barely a hint of current. No current = No fish in bazzaro world.

But, we did catch a small trout and a small Flounder.

As the current came.....or was it the blasting winds? I think it was the current, I moved into my shallow water spots where I've taken shelter on deep winter days (WHICH IT CERTAINLY ISN'T, YET) when the winds howling a gale, it's 35 degrees and the moon is full.

And it's always been a savior. But we picked up nothing but another micro Trout.

I was really confused, because as the tide came there was also loads of bait all around. Small minnows, mullet jumping, birds diving.

But no fish in the shallows at all.  (ie: 3' of water along shell bars)

So, I did what George Costanza on Seinfeld did, "if what your doing is wrong, then the opposite must be right?"  Sop we fished 10 feet of water. Another micro Trout. That's it.

Okay, the wind had the boat whipping around. the anchor wouldn't hold in all that M-U-D bottom. Time for a drastic change.

I went for it. We went to the power lines!  There's not only the concrete pilings in the water. There's lots of shell pads or bars to grab onto with the anchor under the power lines.

I scored first. A 16 incher. Finally a keeper Trout.

Then, Karen got one. Then Steve got one. 

As the anchor drug once again. And I just let it go. and we settled into a spot that was out away from all hard structure. 5-6 feet of water.....and we saw lots of small mullet action on the surface.

Floats went down, down and down again. Over and over all three of us pulled trout to the boat from out in the middle of no where'ville!

But we had 20 knots of wind, current going sideways to the wind direction, and were fishing on zero structure.

The Costanza rule......AGAIN??

We must have caught thirty, 14 to 14-7/8th's inch Trout!

Then, as the tide just started to seem to fall. The bite was over. But it was also 3:30pm too.

So we packed it in and headed back, so I could clean our whopping THREE legal Trout.

But Steve and Karen had fun. We did a lot of story telling out there, that's for sure. So time passed fast.

So. I can find some Trout afterall. I almost thought I lost my touch.

Now I just need to find big Trout..."and my prediction is it won't be till Thanksgiving at least till I find them in any numbers at the jetties.

And what kills me is they should have already been there and been thick by now.

Hell it's NOVEMBER. Which used to be my favorite month of the year. 

No Video or Photos today.

11/7 - Lets talk TUFF...

My first "review", I guess you could say of the SHIMANO TR-100G (click here for 1st review video) I was just speaking out loud, because I was surprised at the durability of these "do-all" reels I use for my customers.

Well, it's been awhile. And these reels have been used to death. And now, I'm back again to discuss how damn durable and tough they are.

If you know me, or have fished with me. You may know that I am a "utility" kinda guy. No glitz, No glamour. I like tough stuff, tough boats, tough rods, and tough fish, and don't mind tough fishing conditions.

I like these reels....No, I must be in love, because of how many I own. Sixteen in total..."jus' incase they stop making them. I'm covered."

11/7 - Red after Red.....

After nearly a week of heavy winds (up to 40 mph) and some rain. I really was skeptical about what to do today. But, as usual. My jetties, didn't let us down.

Started on the Northside, and caught some Croakers for bait. But the current wouldn't run over there.
We had a light NNW breeze, and of course residual swell. But we needed some good water movement.

My crew was fighting to stand up straight, and some "elevator" sickness. The good ole Up & Down stuff. Which basically put Dad (Chris) outa commision. He took some Bonine pills, but only after getting on the boat. Which had NO time to get into his system.

By the time I made a move over to the South jetty. He was D-O-N-E.

So the boys put a waylayin' on the over sized Redbass, on light tackle. Doing a few double headers. With fish up to 33" and 12 pounds. They were suckin' up cut Croaker like it was their last meal...and it would have if any were under 27 inches!!!!!

Prior to this weeks weather, the last time I was out there was on Sunday in the 20-25 knot NE winds, (the last video posted) and the water temps hovered between 72-74.

Today, "OH HOW THE WATER TEMP FELT COOLER!" at 68 degrees on my sounder.

Any day now those over sized Bull Redfish are gonna pack it in and start filtering offshore, if they aren't out there yet. The lastest I have caught 30-40 pounders "in the river" has been Nov. 11-14th. And that was years ago.

Maybe today's 28-33 inchers is "here's yer sign", that these are the size fish that usually stick with us at the jetties through out the winter. Yes, I have had customers catch 40 pounders in December. But they are a bit rarer.

The bite was on as soon as we pitched baits behind the boat today. So that means, it was going on probably before we arrived. If I had went there right off the bat, we could have caught twice as many.
I had some jumbo dead mullet, but the Croak's are the key. When I used the Mullet the little fish picked at it bad. But not the Croaker halves.

When the bite shut off it shut off hard and fast. Chris (dad) was really looking bad. So we picked up on the last few minutes of the rising tide and ran up river.

And can ya believe what was up there? Sharks!!

All the way up near ole Pirates Cove.
Yep. Welcome to bazzaro world.

Enjoy the video...

 

11/6 - REELS CLEANED MAINTAINED

 I've fixed and cleaned reels all my life for myself and friends.


DOES YOUR REELS NEED SOME TLC?
Maintenance? Serviced? Parts replaced/fixed?
Got no time? Capt Dave has 30+ years of reel experience.
Especially CASTING reels!
But, I can do spinner reels too.
Trolling reels
Bottom fishing reels


Examples:
-Shimano
-Abu Garcia
-Penn
-Spinning
-Casting
-Trolling

Cleaned and serviced: $30.00 (4 for $99.00)
Parts replacement: Parts cost + $10.00 installation (up to 4 "replaceable parts")
I order parts, install, you pay me back + $10.00

e-mail: Charter@captdaves.com
Phone: 8am-8pm (904) 642-9546

Cash. No Checks.

11/3 - It blew like hell....

Day after the "famed" Florida/Georgia football rivalry game, and largest tailgate party, and day of the "fall back" time change.

But for us, it was 20-25 kts. at the Mayport jetties. And it's been a long time since I've seen inside the rocks, (between the North & South Jetty) so rough.

Solid whitewater, folding over swells, tall as roof tops. The marine weather channel said, "8-10 foot seas  EXPECTED".

But, we got there some what dry, and before the push of the rising tide really slopped it up, bad. At one point, the end of the south jetty would go under water for about 100+ feet. Rounding the end of the south was do'able. But you'd need a "pilot boat" or better to go around the North jetty, for sure.

I had shrimp. That was it. We needed "cut-bait", badly. There's no Croakers on the shallower southside, my main cut bait at the Jetties for big Redbass, (Redfish-Red Drum etc.)

So I saw an ole friend, who's a Roe Mullet castnetter, in his little 17' Carolina Skiff, who showed up with the other 10 "larger" boats hunting the mullet. I yelled to him and asked if he could give me a few big Mullet for cut bait. He did. And just two 15" Mullet lasted us all day long.

The south Florida boys, Enrique and Dave were ready to go for anything that will bite.

I knew with this "front" pushing in (aka: full-blown Nor'easter) as the clouds came and went, and winds steady. If I could stay anchored. Because my "reef/rock anchor", kept pulling loose as the boat yanked up on the swells. That we could get some action going......

Hell, these boys were on the JETTYWOLF. We come to take a big bite!

As we lost fish, chased down "mystery fish", and sorted through small Sharks, Seabass, and Kitty Cats.
It ended up that by the time the tide turned, and the wind laid down a bit. The seas inside the rocks totally calmed right down.

And we were all alone!  Everyone left. There was maybe 5 boats out there, when we arrived just after 8am.

But as the tide got lower, we lost all current, the water got dirty, and only the Catfish would bite. So we headed back, after our day of action.

YET ANOTHER DAY FOR THE JETTYWOLF AT HER JETTIES....."PREVAILING ONCE AGAIN!" 

NOVEMBER 2nd - SMOKIN' REDBASS!

What a sought after day....the day before the Fla/Ga. football game rivalry.....

I had a customer from Ga. who would come down to fish. "If there were trout to catch". NOT!

I had a call yesterday morning at 6:30am as I backed the boat off the trailer from a guy who was hoping he could get out on 11/2 with friends.

I had Julie wanting to get friend Scott, from N. Dakota out on Friday. Because it was Scott's birthday.

Well, Julie won out. Because the absence of any Trout bites, because of all the Junk fish, still swarming in the 72-74 degree water in November has the Trout fishing FUTILE at this point.

B-U-T......the BIG REDFISH, are sure chewing! Usually, by now they start to slow down. And by the 7th-12th of the month are really winding down the big chew before heading offshore for the colder months, as the baitfish become scarcer.

Probably, NOT this year. Unless something radical happens.

And today, from start to finish it was BRUTUS T. REDBASS, galore!!!!!!!!

Of course, the 1st one is always caught on a piece of dead shrimp as we catch the "carpeting" the bottom ever present Croakers. (the only little fish I don't mind, because they are great baits, and just fun.) Plus, if little Croaks are all over. Most likely, there's a big Redbass lurking around them.

We lost count of how many Julie & Scott caught. From ONE keeper at 27" up to fish in the high twenties. Kept these anglers very, very busy. Using LT- light tackle. The lightest bottom tackle I own.

And it's so much fun watching the rods bend like a horse shoe!  I love my "light action" UGLY STIK Striper rods. They have to be my all-time favorite rods. Because I love the bend.  

Here's some Photo high-lights of the day:
                                                                                                   

We even took a "rest room" break in the middle of the day. And then came back to the excat spot and worked them over again.......Last hook up, Julie got worked over.

Lookie at the gal, lay into the rod!!!! 

10/31 - All Hallow's Eve, Getting Jiggy.

On Halloween, I had the pleasure of having Chuck aboard the Jettywolf. Yep, a "solo" angler and I.
Chuck was from Wyoming. And an avid fisherman.

To mix it up a bit, I figured we'd go super LT. and jig fish the jetties in the morning. Chuck used a jig-n-shrimp combo meal, and I used a jig and Avacado colored Matrix Shad.

First fish, I connected too was a "pup" sized Black Drum....ON THE MATRIX SHAD soft plastic.

THIS WAS THE 2ND BLACK DRUM I HAVE EVER CAUGHT ON A ARTIFICIAL IN MY LIFE!
THE LAST ONE WAS IN MILL COVE BACK TEN YEARS AGO.

It's super strange that I watch all those Louisiana Video's and TV shows, and they catch Black Drum "CONSISTENTLY" on jigs and soft plastics over there. Fish boxes full of them.

BUT WE DON'T......again. Must be one of those bazarro world things that makes the East Coast Atlantic 180 degrees from the Gulf of Mexico fishery.

Chuck and I had Black Margates, Yellowmouth Trout, some small Redfish, larger Mangrove Snappers.
Chuck hooked a "super Azz hander" and was getting spooled before whatever it was broke his line in the jetty rocks fraying the 20# leader.

Then, he caught a nice keeper Redfish, at 25 inches.

Then, as the tide faded, we tried the float-rig fishing on the falling tide with live shrimp for the ever illusive Speckled trout up in the river. NO matter where we went (as the wind blew hard) all we did was feed very expensive live shrimp to the "SCOURGE FISH" that are oh so present in our over salty so called river.......3" mangrove snappers & pinfish!!!!!!!!

Which, if the salinity was a 5PPT (parts per thousand) versus a 28PPT, I'm sure those Sea water scourge species wouldn't be as present.

So it was futile to try Float-rigging, that's for sure. The forecast for EASTWARD Trout will probably be between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. Which is WEEKS & WEEKS late.

Same reason, the Big Redbass weren't thru the roof for me in Sept-Oct. But right now are in actual Full Swing at the jetties.

And that's fine. Because I don't like fishing the river anyhow. It pains me to have to go up in the river compared the BIG rocks, this time of year.

10/29 - Time to get "Jiggy", with it.

Falling water temps. have me not only ready as ever to do some Float-Rig fishing. But, at the same time I never leave the dock without a super light....yes, "TRUE LIGHT ACTION" non-stiff, super fairy wand jiggin' rod.

I'm talking a 1/8th to 3/8th's ounce rated rod. Which was hard to find before Academy Sports came to this town. The good thing about Academy Sports (if there is one or two) is that they brought the Gulf Coast mentality to Bazzaro world, Florida. Lots of Cast-Away LIGHT rods, along with lots of affordable H&H tackle items, such as corks and jigheads.

I say Gulf Coast mentality. Because prior to Academy breaking out and heading due East to Florida.
Thier heritage has always been, Gulf Coast States.

Yeah, around here it's alot of super fast action, stiff as a board, casting rods.....GALORE! And way too many spinners!

Exactly what a TROUT angler doesn't need or really wants. Especially, if you're a Texas "wader".
Another thing people don't do much of around here. Just too much M-U-D.

I love wade fishing. And wish it was easy to do more of it. I guess extreme current, excessively high tides, and again M-U-D. Can keep ya from doing a lot of it. In Texas, imagine Mill Cove completely wade'able! That's the Texas Coast.

Maybe the reason Academy Sports has Stingray leg guards on the shelfs. Floating stringers, and short handled dip nets, and lots of waders.

Okay....I got off topic for a moment.
Back to jiggin'.

From what I gather over my 30 years of jetty fishing. Not a lot of people use a light jig and soft plastics along the BIG ROCKS.  But rather think that's exclusive to a creek somewhere.

Want to stop catching Junk fish?  Get rid of that Jig-N-Shrimp combo meal that catches it all along the BIG ROCKS. And pin on a soft plastic instead.

OPPPPPPPPS, did I just not include all the Sheepsheader's out there???
Oh, I'm sorry.

But, this is my report, and my blog. SO I WON'T BE TALKING ABOUT SHEEPSHEAD. But rather a predator fish, like Trout, Reds, Flounder. Not a grazer-fish, that is a bitch to clean and yields no meat.
"Sorry".

My favorite set up for jigging is of course as mentioned. A Super Light 3/8ths max rated rod, and a super quality low profile casting reel like a Shimano Citica or Curado. Spooled with 15# braid, to a long 15-20# Mono sacrificial leader, to a loop knot and a H&H tackle 1/4 ounce "Tout head" white jighead, with a Matrix Shad in Green Hornet or Avacado color.

1/4 ounce- H&H "tout head" White at: Academy Sports

 




















My Favorite's, The Matrix Shads from www.docksidela.com

I guess being a micro manager has my liking this combo is; Notice that the face of the Matrix Shad is FLAT. I like that.

Notice, that the H&H "tout head" jig has a FLAT back end. That means the soft plastic and jig head go together tightly. Notice the "double barbs" on the H&H jig heads. That means that the Matrix Shads are held tight to the jig heads.

Add the two together and you get cast far as hell, along with sink fast, sleek and LOADS of "wobble" from the Matrix Shads.

Also, the Matrix was designed by guys who catch more Trout than all of Jacksonville will in a year, in just a couple months. THEY know their Trout! They fish where TROUT is KING, all year long. Just not in the late fall and winter...and "Not Sheepshead."

October is almost over...."already?"

Time sure passes quickly.

And with each passing day I'm pining (to yearn, suffer longing) over cold Trout filled days like this >>>>>>>

10/27 - BIG B-I-T-E-S...C'mon and get you some.

Had a late call Saturday as I took a break, and laid around just editing my last video of the Kentucky boys, out at the jetties. (see video below this post)

It was three guys here in Jax. at a training deal. They were from South Florida, East and West coasts.

WELCOME to bazzaro world Florida, fella's!

Needing a release. They said, they wanted some action, big Reds, and a all day trip.
I easily obliged.

Early Sunday, we departed.....once I got out of the baitshop parking lot in which I got blocked into. And ended up being "late".  Yeah, usually I'm in the water and waiting on YOU. It was the other way around this morning. That'll not happen again.

I tried, not being an hour early. Didn't want to stand around in the chilly morning air at the boat ramp.
So I left a half hour later than usual from the house. By the time I got to the bait shop to just get ice. It was a weekend zoo.

Lesson learned.

Either way. It turned out to be a great day. Lots of BIG Redbass. One "keeper", which is the first keeper sized redfish I've had someone catch in a long, long time.

At least, 4-5 throwbacks. And it all started with a 25 pounder. (and all the over-size Redfish were caught by the least experienced guy on the boat. Ruben, was the Rookie. But had the best hand all day long.

Jeff, had his ass handed to him when I decided to take a live Croaker and pin it to a 14/0 circle hook and let it swim behind the boat. He used my Shimano Tranx 500 PG reel on a heavier Ugly Stik, to do close quarter battle with a Blacktip Shark, that went 75-90 pounds.

ONLY AFTER, Steve hooked up a giant "spinner" Shark while catching large Seabass. On my lightest Ugly Stik!!!  And had it on a 1/0 Matzuo sickle bend hook we used for the Reds, Croakers, Seabass, Whiting, and Yellowmouth Trout.  He got 4 complete "SPINS" out of the monster. Airborne, splashing, and twisting like a Olympic athlete, before parting the 50 pound super braid line. WHAT A SHOW!

As I said, the guys must have caught a hundred Croakers, and Seabass. No matter if we used "cutbait"
versus using shrimp to try and stay away from them.  They were ravenous. But provided endless action all day long. Between, big fish hook-ups...many were lost. Which is part of the game. Especially, if you have never fished at our Jetties before.

You will loose some huge fish. It's just that way. And we lost as many as were hooked and brought to boatside. Bent hook tips, broke leaders, straightened hooks....

The Mayport Jetties right now can be one hell of a challenge.

This ain't anything like that Lake, Pond or River, back home. That's for sure.

Here's some GoPro Hero 2 photos of the day. I normally don't use the GoPro to take photos. Just video's. But, from now on. I'm going too.

WELCOME TO MY WORLD

10/25 - 1st real day of cool'ness.....

But as has happened before. We get alittle shot of cool. And then per the forecast it's gonna be 85 again later in the week.

IT'S NOT GOOD AT ALL WHEN THE FLA/GA. GAME WEEKEND IS 88 OR 90 DEGREES!!!!!!
THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR ANYTHING. THIS TIME OF YEAR.

Either way, here's some "highlights" of some Kentucky boy's, fishing the BIG ROCKS on Friday aboard the Jettywolf.  Havin' a Goooooood Time!

Are you ready. Cus, this just is the start of Capt Dave's granite boulder season. C'mon and fish where the rocks have names, and with a guide who won't do any long boat rides. Jus' more fishin'.

 

10/23 - BE PREPARED from now on!

The Jettywolf can fish some pretty nasty places. (ie: slop-chop & roll) And many times where it's slick calm, is not where the fish are.

I don't purposely anchor in rough spots. But I do prefer to fish the inlet 99% of the time, this time of year. There is those days when it's not so called "rough". BUT, yes the boat will be going up and down.

You are responsible for your comfort. I'm responsible for finding bites.

It's now almost WINTER. With that comes coolness, non-calm-waters. Wetness, winds etc.

Come prepared!

If you are prone to any Sea-sickness. Take sea-sickness pills. And follow the directions on the box!
Which is taking them 12-24 hrs before getting on the boat, and one a few hours before getting on the boat in the morning.

This will save your day! 

Walgreens, Walmart, and many other in and out fast places will carry Bonine brand and many others.
Even if you have never been sea sick before. And are not used to a moving boat. It's highly recommended that you do something!

 







From here on out. Flip-flops are not the recommended shoe. Rain "wet gear" Jackets, comfortable shoes such as Sneakers are. On Cold morning there nothing like a HOOD. I call a hooded sweatshirt a fisherman's friend. Hats, can be forgotten. But a hood on a comfy sweatshirt is a life saver.

THE LIST:

-What ever to eat and drink in a PLASTIC BAG (no coolers please) Can's or Plastic. No Glass!
-Pre-made food items only. Don't try and prepare anything on the boat.
-Hooded Jacket
-Rain jacket, for any wetness.
-No "Gilligans Island" backpaks, duffle bags needed, or luggage. No place to store all that!
-Comfortable shoes.
-It's your decision if "shorts" are the clothing of the day.
-SEA-SICKNESS PREVENTION
-Watch what you eat/drink the day before your trip. Heavy Alcohol consumption is NOT recommended.

Even I, as your Guide/Captain, "chief bottle washer and anchor puller", follow this list. I want to be Tip-Top every day I'm out there.

From here on out till next April. Conditions on the water will change rapidly. But at the same time, the fall-winter season is too nice to not come prepared.

10/20 & 21 - High Light Reel...

These full moons this time of year. Heck any moon, this time of year is a ass-kicker. Add in a Nor'easter blowin'. And that was the last two days.

Thankgoodness!!!!!! It wasn't with a full boat of 4 plus "me". But rather just Fred from Va. and I.

Float-rigged, Jig& Shrimp fished Day One.  Bottom fished, Shrimp and Cut Croaker bait Day Two.

Here's the high light reel:







CYBER-ANGLER FORECAST REPORT, OVER VIEW HERE

10/19 - Her Birthday went well....

Yep, ya mean your boat doesn't get a birthday present each year?

What are you, just a owner?  Not a friend?

You only get back, what you give when in a life long relationship.

And when you own a Life Long boat. that's exactly what it is.

So the Jettywolf gets a bit of a make over after 7 years. There was a learning curve. Don't know why I'm passing this on to you. You probably have a glass boat, with St. Johns River camo on the bottom, and think it looks good...hahahahahahahaha.

But either way. I'll share. Because it's the kinda guy I am. And of course, I shared with my brothern over on aluminumalloyboats forum.  Where like minds hang out.

So here ya go:

10/18 - KILLER FULL MOON, but BIG fish for those who wait.

7 year old, Lil' Nick reeled in 3-Bull Reds up to 20+ pounds, helped out with a few Nurse Sharks and was "Chief Croaker Catcher", fishing with Dad-Kevin and Grandpa-Dave. Total of 4-5 Bull Reds at N. Jetty.

Departed at 11am, and it still wasn't late enough for the tide be down enough. But when it finally did.......GAME ON!








I love using light sinkers and the Light Tackle...."Bending Ugly's is what it's all about!"

OCTOBER 18th 2006

-Jettywolf's Birthday Today!
 OCTOBER 18th 2006

Unlike any of the "other" boats around here
she's a inshore, river, inlet, offshore, work,
pleasure, machine made just for ME!

Namesake:

10/16-17 - It's all about getting EAST, for me.

Did a three boat 11 person charter group yesterday. My 4 guys got hooked on the Croaker bite we started out with and that was only because the crazy Full moon tide had the falling tide smoking.
So we kinda hid out. But the two other boats caught a total of 5 Reds.

So, today I had two guys, brothers. And they were fun. And easy going for sure. Plus, the wind was damn near zero (light and variable) the two words any fisherman loves to hear about the forecast.

So I headed DUE EAST......ahhhhh, the jetty rocks. My boats namesake. After days of wind and big seas. It was good to be back.

Looking for giants in the way of 100# plus Blacktips. We caught loads of Croakers which are carpeting the bottom out there. Dead shrimp=Instant Croaker!

After filling the livewell. We drifted live Croaks over the end of the rocks. At first they were harassed by Jacks.  No big Shark bites.

But then again, it was one whacko Full moon tide out there. We didn't even depart till 10:30am, because I had a eye doctor appointment I couldn't miss. (So cut me some slack if you see typos here)
My left eye is blurry for some reason all of a sudden.

But to make a long story short. I let the pics tell the story.

It was a great day!

Small Blacktip smoked a live Croak on the surface

Big Red hook-up on the light tackle












Gotta love the "fairy wand" bend of the Ugly Stiks!

BIG 25 pound Redbass that ate a Croaker intended for a Blacktip shark, that was free-lined behind the
boat with NO weight. I guess this Redbass came off the bottom, for a snack?

 

LIGHT TACKLE, 3 ounce sinker......NOT a 20 ounce, which would be needed in the river's current.

Total 4 Redbass from 22-25 pounds, a small Blacktip, loads of Croakers, Yellowmouth Trout, Whiting and Big Seabass.

More days to come....