10/18 - Jacksonville fishing; fall high winds

I'm talking HIGH WINDS!
So bad that we couldn't stay anchored.
But we figured out what to do. And we continued catching.
Not a lot of "keepers".......but we sure had fun, CATCHING.
Which was the name of the game.

I LOVE FALL -WINTER-SPRING...#1 Jacksonville Inshore Fishing time of year.
(NOT middle of summer......sorry folks.)


RESERVE YOUR DAY NOW
-think ahead to get prime dates!!
www.captdaves.com

10/17 - While it blew....

While it blew pretty good out at the Jetties and in the river. My crew and I went back up in Mill Cove.

We fished the shallows, and because the tide seemed to take forever to flood into the "cove", I took a 26' boat with 4 of us into where most 26' boats don't belong...."Because I can".  The Jettywolf , being made of plate alloy isn't the same as all those glass boats. She floats high and light.  We started casting our rattlin' corks and jigs with live shrimp where m sounder flashed 2 feet of zero. Yeah, it was that shallow!

First off we caugh several "pup" Redfish, a few small Trout and then a decent 4 pound Black Drum. A "targeted species for sure".

A PERFECT eater size! And gave a nice tussle on the light spin tackle.  We moved around and had more pup Redfish and small Speckled Trout, as the tide slowly flooded in.

We actually mixed it up. Between live shrimp under the corks and dead shrimp. Doesn't really seem to matter much.

But then we moved on out of the super shallows and fished the so called channel under the low span of the Dames Point bridge, that goes over the cove.  We broke out the Float-rigs and used the live shrimp in 13 feet of water.

Loads of small Speckled Trout, and foot long to about 14" Sand Trout.

As you can see where we were it was windless and even hot! Totally different ball game then out at the inlet for sure. Couldn't believe the difference, when we pulled up at the boat ramp at the end of the day.

Caught lots of fish, many short. But it was fun, and comfortable for my crew. I was told, that this crew wouldn't have taken getting seasick very well.

I was left with a box of fish, so I cleaned them up and see a fish fry coming soon, next week at the Jettywolf's house.



SUNDAY:
"Small Craft Advisory"
20-25 knots, gusts to gale force is the forecast.
I have a crew of just two......So guess where we're going?
Hiding in Mill Cove!! 

10/16 - Everything off a "cork".

Started the morning off right quick with a bit of, Tug 'O War. Within 5 minutes from leaving the dock.

31 inches and a great fight on the "float rig".  As we headed toward Mill Cove to do some "shallow water fishing".  Get to Mill Cove and this was the 1st cast!

Nice Black Drum for the fish box.  But it was "Too Damn Nice" for Mill Cove in all reality. Beautiful no wind, 'blue bird day'.  Especially Mill Cove, we will always do better on days its about t rain, it's blowing 30 knots, overcast as all hell, and just this side of heinous!

But, we got dinner. A 19" Redfish, and Trout amd this 4 pound Black Drum. But that was'nt all we caught. 14" Trout, small pup Reds and plenty of bites, is what kept us busy today, up in 3 feet of water.

Saturday:  3 guys, Jig-n-shrimp (with and without Corks) at Jetties or inshore up river. Haven't made my mind up yet.   With NW winds 15 knots.

SUNDAY is definitely Mill Cove weather: 

SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT
NORTHEAST WINDS 20 TO 25 KNOTS.
OCCASIONAL GUSTS TO GALE FORCE POSSIBLE. SEAS 4 TO 6 FEET WITH
OCCASIONAL SEAS UP TO 8 FEET. INLAND WATERS VERY ROUGH.

10/15 - Slower & Windier. RIP Jetty anchor # 103

Momma Heng broke the ice with the slow and steady technique today up on the bow of the boat.

Marc, twice while "vertical" jigging with a 1-1/2 oz. Glow jig hung into metal eating sharks, that smoked his jig........Yes, the Blacktips are still around out there and will eat a jig!

Then Marc hangs something else on the jig!
The fight was different this time.

W-T-H, is that?

Marc snagged a Turtle with a Vertical jig!

Just tired and a bit pissed off, it went back no worse for the wear.

Momma Heng, does it again!  Thank goodness, because the action was quite slow.

Dad hung a whopper......a whopper 6' Nurse Shark that broke off at boat side.

And see where I was at the rocks? Well, I left my 5th anchor right there as of today. Yep, and that was my "spare".  So that's two for me in 2015 . I guess I won't be anchoring up in the deep with big current for the next 5 days.

Only anchor I have left is a small 12 pounder that won't hold me in more than 20 feet of water.

10/13 - A JETTYWOLF MOMENT; Fishing Obsessed?

-Hope passing on the "tid-bits" found in my Jettywolf Moments Video's give someone out there some help.

If it or any do. Send me a comment.

10/12 - Jacksonville fishing charters; Mayport Jetty Fall Fishing

Done with my tiny Mobius camera on it's hat clip mount.

A lot of fish action was not captured due to the limited battery power.....but, ya'll get the "jist" of what you are missing, RIGHT?

Truely, the best charter days are just two persons. I'm not a "inshore party boat". (photo represents the kind of fishing boat charter some only know of. "referred to as not all that quality and dirt cheap) 

But really would like to go quality over quantity of people I can take, "and charge for".

Days like this one ran me ragged and I only had two guys that "know" how to fish aboard.
The action was fast at times and nothing comes easy at the Mayport jetties.

From anchoring, to knowing how to hit the bottom and stay there in the river's current, with heavy sinkers. To battling BIG FISH. If you are new to it all. Be ready to be challenged!  Especially if "bottom fishing is involved".

10/11 - TIME TO MAKE A CHANGE

November thru May.

What makes it "best"? Answer; More variety of species.

By late November, for me it's all about Speckled Trout fishing. That for the last 6 months has been near futile. So, I'm tracking them daily. But throw in Keeper Redfish, Black Drum, Flounder, Sheepshead, by December.

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


THAT PARAGRAPH  ABOVE IS STRAIGHT OFF MY HOME PAGE "FORECAST".

But like anything "fishing" is not carved in stone by any means.

10/11 - will be most likely will be the day the change goes into effect.

What the hell are ya talkin' about Dave?

FLOAT FISHING & JIGGING  'VS.'  BOTTOM FISHING

Yes, the forecast says November for Trout tracking, but let me tell ya, I just get plain tired of the smoking tides and heavy lead and NON-LIGHT TACKLE FISHING!  Yeah, how can you call heavy rods, line, and large reels "light tackle"?

Time to go for "keeper fish", versus that Jumbo fish or two.

I transition, just like the seasons. It's how I stay sane.....hahahahaha.

More of this:

Yeah and this too.....

10/8 - JACKSONVILLE FLORIDA FISHING FUN

OH.......we were "TOO CLOSE" to the precious bank that was taken over by the Military.
Sensors, camera's, Floating gates, you name it just isn't good enough.

Well, we weren't moving, because we were hooked up!!!!!!!!!  Finally, after one boring morning at Trout River.

We left after this and had two more on that got off, and this:

A 12 " Yellowmouth Trout that was a glutton.  A tough day on a hard EAST breeze. Due East and Due West not good.

Some one was HUNGRY!

10/5 - THE MOST EPIC, MONDAY!

Had the Brandt's Family aboard once again. Don and his parents have been regulars of mine for 10 years at least. And over the years we've built up quite a few fishing stories.

But today, is one that was purely EPIC.  And one that in my entire 20 year career as a fishing guide in Jacksonville, has never happened before, or I have I ever witnessed. And there isn't a finer set of people who I'd rather share this with.

I threw my castnet twice, And had almost enough on the first toss. But as usual, one good throw always deserves another. I look to my left side while anchored in 18 inches of water from the bow of the Jettywolf and there they sat, literally hundreds of perfect 3 inch Mullet just milling around in a circle right next to the boat, I couldn't believe how easy this was going to be...

We filled up the bait well with perfect finger Mullet and I remember even saying, "That was easy, I only hope catching some Redfish will be as easy."  

Little did I know at that time, I was going to have the most Epic day of 2015.  Right here, right now!
Yes, right here. Because where I caught the Mullet is only 200 yards from where we were going to anchor up and fish.

I looked over at the "spot", and the birds were going completely nuts. Hundreds of gulls, screeching loudly and diving into the water 20 birds at a time. I remember saying to Bill Brandt, "that's where we're gonna fish!".

After we cast live Mullet out on the bottom with just 2 or 3 ounces of weight in the light falling tide current in what is a super hard bottom area in 20 feet of water, the birds started working the surface right behind the boat.  And off goes the first rod.  The Ugly Stik bends over and there we go, fish number one!

Don, brings in a perfect 27" keeper bronze colored Redfish. All the while around the boat fish are busting the surface, we're hooking up again and again, having big fish pull off the hooks, eat the bait off the hooks, break leaders off my rigs. I can barely make out what these fish were that are busting the surface. And then we all see it....Big Wide Tails!!

It's big Redfish coming off the bottom and feeding on the surface smashing some kind of bait, from below as the birds go nuts from above. I almost can't believe my eye's!

I've never ever sat in the river anchored up in 20-25 feet of water and seen schools of big Reds busting bait on the surface like a school of Trout, Jacks, or Bluefish.

Needless to say we fished the area all day long at anchor, catching big "pumpkin" colored  Redfish like it was shooting fish in a rain barrel. Don Brandt even said, "These aren't like other reds we've caught with you before, these fish act as if they have never eaten before." as he looses one that snatches his mullet off the hook.

They did that all day. Stole the mullet right off the hooks, bent hooks, and broke 40# leaders on bottom structure.

But, in between my crew caught more than their fair share. We estimated at least 25, from 27" to 30".
And they did it on the light tackle I brought. No heavy tackle needed, because it wasn't all that deep and the current wasn't like at the Jetties or around Mayport.

After a quick lunch we even started chasing the birds and catching the Reds on the drift. Again, something I have never experienced in my 30 plus years of fishing the St. Johns.  This might be something other people get into all the time, but I doubt it. Certainly not for this Mayport Jetty Guide.

But this wasn't anywhere near the Mayport Jetties. But rather closer to downtown. The water was so "sweet" with freshwater we even caught a nice sized Freshwater Catfish.  My hydrometer broke on me, so I had to test the salinity of the water the ole fashioned way, "I tasted it".   

Yep, my hunch was right, These fish are going completely nuts because we were fishing in water that had no salty taste at all.  The water was the color of that perfect cup of tea, and the Redfish glowed in the sun light, like Halloween Pumpkins.

We were in water that was, 'Perfect". And in all reality the way this river should be, given the fact that the State, City and Feds are out to destroy it.

After having so much fun in Mill Cove on Friday with Paul from N. Dakota using nothing but clip-on rattling corks and 1/4 oz. jigheads tipped with dead shrimp, filling the box full of puppy Black Drum and 18-19" Redfish and a few Trout in 2-3 feet of water.

Today was just icing on the cake of how great the fall fishing, can actually be.

There would have been even more. But the battery on my Smartphone went dead, between all the calls and all the photo taking.

BOOK YOUR DAY SOON....
THIS IS THE BEST JACKSONVILLE HAS TO OFFER, AND IT'S NOT THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER. 
IT'S THE BEST TIME 
THE COOL TIME 
THE FALL AND WINTER TIME!

10/2 - Jacksonville's Epic Flood Tide; "Solution"

I HATE USING 12 OUNCES FISHING THE RIVER ON THESE EPIC FALL/WINTER JACKSONVILLE HIGH TIDES.

I'M "ACTUALLY" A LIGHT TACKLE GUY......GUIDE.  SO IF THAT MEANS SMALLER FISH, AND MORE FUN, WITH LESS FRUSTRATION.

SO BE IT!

WE ENDED UP WITH A WHOLE BOX OF FISH: 
TROUT 
DRUM 
REDFISH 
WITH ZERO HEADACHES ON A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY DAY!!

IT WAS COOL, WINDY, BUT SO MUCH FUN AND VERY PRODUCTIVE.

PAUL FROM NORTH DAKOTA HAD FUN, AND HOPE TO SEE HIM AGAIN.
HE HAD A GALLON BAG FULL OF FRESH FISH FRY WHEN HE LEFT.

10/3 FALL 'COMBO" & REEL SELL OFF!

Meet me in the Garage for this sale.

It's time folks for Cappy Dave to stop being a "horder", and get rid of some...TACKLE.

-Rod & reel combo's
-Reels by the piece

I have liquidate prices in mind. But this is gonna be a "Best Offer" takes it. C'mon by and tell me your price and we'll start there.

BEST OFFERS!

NO hard luck case. But it will eventually all go on Ebay, if not cleared out soon.



Here's some photos:

COMBO's  Shimano Triton 100G's w/
BRAND NEW Shakespeare Catfish 7' rods brand new!

NEVER WET 7'MH Ugly Stik Catfish rods (Redfish rods!)

Daiwa STRIKE FORCE high speed Bait casters,
on Academy Sports Fiberglass 7' light as a feather rods

Daiwa 153 Coastal High speed Reels on 7' Med. Ugly Stik "inshore selects"
Great COMBO......2 for one price.

MORE....Brand new never seen water!!

(8) PRESTINE CONDITION Shimano Triton 100 Reels. Two with Shimano Power handles.
(sorry photos upside down)



EVERY REEL spooled with good braided line!

 
TR100G's all Ready to fish.......so lets TALK.
Put a combo in your truck for way under RETAIL, just come by and see.

more new lite tackle rods, perfect float rig trout rods, bottom combo's
PLUS A CUSTOM SHARK ROD (unlimited class)

BULL Redbass hooks BULK, cheap!

E-MAIL:  Charter@captdaves.com

8am-8pm only call: 904-642-9546

9/30 - FG or GT knot fascination or obsession??

If you pay attention here at all, you know I did a video about the strongest Mono to braid connection there is and it's called the FG or sometimes the GT knot.

Where as you're making a "chinese finger trap" with the braid around the mono.

YES, it can be done with out a "tool"......but come on we need to make this FUN, right?

You may have even watched my video on the DaiichiSeiko knot assist tool 2.0

But in the mean time, never satisfied and curious as all hell, I bought another tool to make the same exact knot. Just a bit different.

And here it is "above".  Did I bite off more than I can chew?  No not really, this video really helped as I couldn't really read the Japanese direction the Boiling Tackle Weaver 55 tool came with and for days hunted up this video and now finally successful.

The point is or the question I'm asking is, "Would any of you (my blog readers or Youtube subscribers) ever attempt to learn this knot and make the investment in these "helper tools"?

Not all that interested? Or what you do now satisfies your needs? Too confusing? Takes too much time to learn?  You're not that "deep" into fishing knowledge?

Well folks, I'M DEEP.  It's all I do. That's the reason I'm the fishing guide and your not, I guess. I see knots like this that directly apply to me and "I have to know them."  Am I cheating a bit?  Yeah sure I am. Because I love gadgets, first off. And those Japanese are so damn Gadget Proficient, I find it amazing.  

By you being here, and by watching this video or at least 5 seconds of it, satisfies me.  WHY?

Because I have opened your eyes to yet one more thing you won't get on some local forum, or radio talk show.  

You've been EXPOSED.

And also know a little more about what makes the JETTYWOLF tick..... 

9/29 - Savage Gear Hybrid Shrimp Test

Over all a really sucky day. Lure test, Full Moon, Rained for hours, No bites.......
But someone has to do it, so to let you know. Right?

I feel my GELCOAT, and I can't get up!!

Jus one mo' reason to love a great boat building material.

"Plate Alloy Marine Aluminum"




Do this in your Contender......

Beach walking

This is our second generation beach crawler. Electric/hydraulic makes it powerful and efficient.

Posted by Hard Drive Marine on Monday, September 21, 2015

Big Redfish, Downtown Jacksonville with Capt Dave

-this video gave me a "FIT"......from start to finish, MAC & iMOVIE wouldn't work or upload (?) Had to re-do entire thing over on my PC Laptop, to get it here! I played with it on and off for a WEEK! So if ya have a complaint, go ahead, just 'set me off'...and see what happens!! Best advice, watch, learn, enjoy, and appreciate the days and hours spent getting this done with all the GLITCHES!

FOR YOU!

9/24 - either WEATHER....

Today, at 5am it was wicked rain and winds....
Today, at Noon it was fish'able....no rain, just wind.

No monster fish. Just Croakers GALORE

Catfish of all sizes (river water looked like chocolate milk, and full of debris) That's when the Kitty Kats come out of the wood work!

And Whiting.

up to 17 INCHES!!!!! 

-wish we had a box full of them this size!


High tide was so high it was in the parking lot at the boat ramp when we got back.....way up in the parking lot!!!

TW "Pre-order" - Savage Gear Hard Shrimp!

N-E-W........I pre-ordered these to have them for this review/"show & tell".
This is the ICAST best in show hard lure for 2015.
Will it prove to be FUN and DURABLE??

I'll get back with ya about that.

It takes a lot to beat a D.O.A. shrimp
(This is what I'll be basing my first usage on. Better than a D.O.A.???)

9/19 - Fun day down river

9 Redbass total
5 Trout
1 Mangrove Snapper

On the most perfect sized live Mullet around. One cast of the net and that was it. It was swimming with them.

VIDEO COMING!

9/18 - What's this mean?

Yeah, not good for this Friday (Today!) as I'm so chewin on the bit to go get some Mullet and fish my azz off.

This means, BAIT FLUSH.....MULLET RUN.......TROUT????
Yeah, that's what I'm talking about!!

The first break in this weather mans You need to go folks. Get your rain gear and don't be a woose.
Let's go Fishin'.

That sweltering hot summer sun is over and now your punkin' out on me?

I'll go with or without you and then come back and show you the Video footage.

9/17 - OFFERS OR TRADES?

taking offers.....local jax pick-up........cash or trade???

***ALL TRIGGER CASTING - ALL 7 FOOT

2- BRAND NEW UGLY STIK CATFISH RODS MH ACTION

2- LIGHTLY USED UGLY STIK "inshore select" EVA split grip rods MED ACTION

6 - Tubular Fiberglass, split cork grip, "True Fiberglass bend" perfect Trout rods / float-rig fishing rods (one ounce) ALL NEW WITH GRIP WRAP ON HANDLES

ALL in perfect condition. ZERO wrong with any.

OFFERS OR TRADES??
e-mail me: Charter@captdaves.com

9/15 - EASY, Bait Casting Reel Upgrade....Ever !

REELY????
-don't throw that reel in the closet because you're tired of it. Do a simple upgrade.


FISHING CHARTER?
Book your day in advance (not hours, but rather months, weeks or days)
Go to: www.captdaves.com 

9/15 - FG KNOT ASSIST aboard the Jettywolf

BOOK YOUR TRIP TODAY......."advanced reservations"
meaning; months, weeks, or days in advance, not HOURS.
(if you care about weather or tides, or bites?)

www.captdaves.com

EBAY TACKLE DEAL of the week, A Jettywolf Moment

-TROUT
-REDS
-FLOUNDER
-JACKS
-LADYFISH
-SPANISH MACS
-YELLOWMOUTH TROUT (Weakfish)

all eat a well presented "Micro jig & Slab spoon"....and you just can't have enough, of them when fishing the river in the deeper, swifter waters, with snags and hang-ups. VERSATILITY aboard the Jettywolf, and any can do it.

It's "active fishing, with a flair". Something a bit different.  Something I strive for over starring at the rod tips bottom fishing. Like Float-rig fishing, I have developed tackle, rigs  and techniques to help my customers have fun doing it.

INSHORE VERTICAL JIGGING INFO:
Video tutorials
part 1 - https://youtu.be/gK1otO72Zu0

part 2 - https://youtu.be/BT3cuysUrEc

JETTYWOLF "OPEN EYE" SWIVELS ON EBAY:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/331590066654?var=&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

9/6 - PRE-LABOR DAY FISHING?? - A Jettywolf Moment

Getting a little tired of bottom fishing.....NEXT DAY OUT, back to Float-rig fishing  & Slab spoon jigging!

What is Float rig fishing you say?  Well, reserve your day by calling me, or emailing me
904-642-9546  or  charter@captdaves.com  and you'll find out!

Float-rig fishing, is inter-active, best done with two persons, it targets Trout, Redfish, & Flounder with live shrimp for bait. Using "VERY" light tackle, drifting shrimp over structure at a prescribed depth in our no lack of current in the river and at the inlet.

Right now, besides targeting those species. You'll also get plenty of Jacks and Ladyfish action too.

9/4 - FAUX SHEEPSHEAD; A Jettywolf Moment

WE HAD FAUX BULL REDFISH TOO!  (Nurse Sharks)

AND "REAL" FLOUNDERS!

C'MON AND GET YOU SOME.

IT'S "MULLET RUN" TIME, PLENTY OF BAIT AROUND.

WWW.CAPTDAVES.COM 

me at:  charter@captdaves.com

or call: 8am-8pm 904-642-9546
Advanced reservations, please.