7/5 - Summers 1/2 way point

By the middle of July comes summers half way point. Am I happy to see it go?
Yes.

By the July 4th Holiday I'm ready for summer in  Jacksonville to dwindle away slowly.

I've had my fill of "deep" heat, and am ready and chomping at the bit to get back in the "Trout fishing saddle" with water temps less than  85 degrees.

But soon will be STORMS....and yes Mother Nature's cycle needs them. The first real biggy will Flush out the St. Johns River. At least that's the plan.

Today: July 5th it was raining for short bursts as small clumps of rain clouds blew in from the Ocean, at 4am-4:30am and so on.

The EAST wind kept me in the river. Versus heading out into the Ocean to shark fish behind any shrimp boat dragging that I can find.

It was a nice change as I have had day after day of shark fishing, lately.

I had 3 kids and dad.

They caught some PUMPKINS!

Plus, we lost a big one on a live shrimp at the first spot that ran one of the boys over some submerged rocks.....The first one shocked him!

We used cut Pogies. These Bull Redfish ranged from I believe 16-23 pounds.

Fished 2 spots, 4 hours. Back at noon.

   

6/30 - by Dr. Quinton White, Jacksonville University

-ABOUT OUR LOCAL SHRIMP.  

''THE LIFE CYCLE''

By Quinton White

Posted Jun 28, 2018 

One of the joys of living in northeast Florida is the ability to eat fresh Mayport shrimp. I was reminded of just how delicious they are earlier this week.

We took our Marine Science Summer Camp, which is in its eighth year, to visit Mayport and Safe Harbor Seafood. Safe Harbor processes thousands of pounds of shrimp at its plant near the mouth of the St. Johns River. It is a great educational experience to let the campers see first-hand how shrimp are processed. We also take them on our research vessel to trawl and see how fish and shrimp are caught. Most of them have no idea of how their seafood gets to their dinner table or fish sandwich. Today, the majority of seafood consumed in the United States is imported and farm raised. It is especially important for the students to see what is available locally.

We were able to bring some fresh shrimp that had been unloaded that morning at Mayport back to our little kitchen at the Marine Science Research Institute at Jacksonville University. With the help of a little Old Bay Seasoning, we boiled and then chilled the shrimp. We took this opportunity to explain a little bit about the anatomy and life history of the shrimp.

It may have been cruel to make the students stand there in front of a pile of boiled shrimp while we discussed shrimp biology. Nevertheless, it was a great teachable moment. Shrimp, you see, are remarkable, especially if you remember your high school biology with the phylum, class, order, family, genus and species method of classifying living organisms. There is a lot of debate among scientists about exactly how to classify many species, so I am using the more traditional terminology. Shrimp belong to the phylum Arthropoda, which means jointed legs, and to the Class Crustacea due to their shell exterior. Their order is Decapoda, meaning 10 legs, and Family Penaeidae, which are most of the edible shrimp.

There are three species of shrimp in Florida: white, brown and pink. They differ in life cycle and habitat with white and brown being more common locally. They live about two years and are an extremely important component of the marine food chain. Their abundance and short life cycle make them a commercially viable food source.

The young shrimp live in the St. Johns River estuarine environment where they grow and mature. Once they reach adult size, usually during the summer, local shrimpers say they put on their “traveling shoes” and move out into the ocean. Their swimmerets’ turn red as the shrimp mature. The swimmerets are the appendages along their abdomen.

The shrimp migrate offshore to mate and reproduce. Hurricanes with their tremendous rainfalls can lead to a drop in salinity, thus triggering the movement. Once the eggs hatch, they begin the long trip back into the estuary. They do this by swimming at the surface during rising tides and then hugging the bottom during the falling tides. Thus, this up and down motion slowly moves them into their nursery.

It is a tribute to the resiliency of our environment that even after years of use and abuse, the St. Johns River, and nearby estuaries, still produce enough shrimp to harvest. 

I wonder what it might be like if we hadn’t dredged and filled so much salt marsh over the last 150 years.

6/28 - two hour kids trip

HAD BRANDON ON THE BOAT ALL DAY YESTERDAY. HE WANTED A BIG PULLER. WELL WE SPENT A GOOD PORTION OF THE DAY BEHIND THE SHRIMP BOATS CATCHING SHARKS.

THEN, WENT INTO THE RIVER FOR ''NOT MUCH'', WHICH WAS JUST ABOUT 14 HRS. AFTER CATCHING GIANT TROUT, DRUM, AND MANGROVE SNAPPERS WITH THE NORTONS, THE DAY BEFORE.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY CAN MAKE HERE IN BAZZARO WORLD, FLORIDA! 

SO TODAY I DID A SECOND TRIP WITH BRANDON AND HIS WIFE AND LITTLE 3 YEAR OLD BOY.

WE WENT TO THE SHRIMP BOATS TO SEE DOLPHINS, THEN BRANDON CATCHES ANOTHER BIG BLACKTIP SHARK...SO HIS LITTLE BOY COULD SEE IT ALL GO DOWN.

THEN, WE CAME BACK AND CAUGHT CROAKERS AT THE JETTIES.

SORRY, NO SHARK PICS.....WAS A TAD BIT BUSY MAN-HANDLING A 100 POUNDER TRYING TO GET THE HOOK OUT.

DOING ANOTHER KIDS TRIP WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF AGES FRIDAY. 6/29

6/27 - St. Johns River Salinity ''CHECK'' // Non-Ethanol fuel

DAMES POINT BRIDGE:

2 HOURS BEFORE LOW TIDE JUNE 27TH, 2:30PM

10 PARTS PER THOUSAND - '''LOW'''

MAYPORT BOAT RAMP - 30 MINUTES LATER

CHECKED AT 22 PARTS PER THOUSAND





- is the non-ethanol gasoline for sale at over $3.00 a gallon REALLY non-ethanol????

are we getting what we're paying for????

I used my Ethanol tester to check from the GATE GAS STATION OFF MONUMENT ROAD, ACROSS FROM WALMART.

I'm happy to report there was zero ETHANOL in the non-ethanol pump. It was 100% real gasoline. 

The octane is labeled at: 89 

it's been $3.09 per gallon for a long time at that station.

ethanol contains less energy than non-ethanol-blended fuel. So any vehicle would have better mileage on gas without ethanol

''ETHANOL''......THE BIG LIE TOLD IN AMERICA BY THE FEDS, WHO ARE COMPULSIVE LIARS!

JUST LIKE THESE FOOLS!

6/27 - BUSY FISH CATCHING TUESDAY

Y-E-S........TUESDAY.

A GREAT DAY OF THE WEEK!

BECAUSE MOST EVERYONE ELSE IS AT WORK.

WHILE "WE" PLAY.

DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE WEEKENDER CROWDS.

STARTED OUT AT THE MAYPORT JETTIES (INLET)

FINISHED IN THE RIVER.

GOOD 'EATER' SIZED BLACK DRUM, TARGETED SPECIES. ALSO HAD TOO MANY 'RAYS', A JACK, AND A FEW SEABASS.  BUT THIS IS THE FISH WE WERE AFTER.....'DINNER FISH"

NEXT, ''GATOR'' SPECKLED TROUT!  TARGETED SPECIES! JIM'S WIFE NOT ONLY CAUGHT THIS 24 INCHER. BUT HAD A 22 INCHER TOO.

-BACK TO BACK!!!!

WHAT WE KEPT FOR A FISH FRY AT

SINGLETON'S SEAFOOD SHACK

JUST DOWN THE STREET FROM THE DOCK.

TALK ABOUT FLORIDA "FRESH FISH"

www.captdaves.com

e-mail: charter@captdaves.com

6/26 - SHARK BITES. FATHER & SON, ABOARD JETTYWOLF

www.captdaves.com - Book your charter Today!

"JETTYWOLF LIVE" June 2018

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, FISHING BEHIND LOCAL SHRIMP BOATS. A SUMMER RITUAL FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER TANGLED WITH ANYTHING THAT SWIMS AS STRONG.

ONLY 2 MILES OFFSHORE OF THE ST. JOHNS RIVER INLET.

JOSH & NICK LEARN THAT THESE DUDES CAN "PULL".

BLACKTIP SHARKS ARE A COASTAL SPECIES THAT ARE VERY PREVALENT BEHIND THE SHRIMP BOAT, AT THE INLETS AND ALONG THE BEACH.

CAPT DAVE'S SPORT FISHING TAKES THEM FOR A FUN MORNING, BEFORE GOING SPECKLED TROUT FISHING IN THE ST. JOHNS RIVER.

6/25 - "How do you wash your boat?"

http://www.captdaves.com - Book your charter Today!

"JETTYWOLF LIVE" - 6/25/2018

my YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/c/captdavessp...

-how do you wash your boat? with a all welded ''alloy plate'' aka: ALUMINUM'' boat, there's really no super maintenance, like
a plastic reinforced made boat. no bothersome staining, no scuffing. Just rinse and go!

BUT, EVERY FEW MONTHS OF HARD DAILY USE, I GET OUT THE HONDA POWER WASHER SPRAYER, AND REALLY GIVE THE WHOLE ''JETTYWOLF'' A ONCE OVER.......''industrial' style!'

Then, there's my new LITTLE GIANT Ladder Systems 10410BA Safety Step Ladder Four Step with Bar, 2 x 11-Inch. Which replaced old rotten wooden steps, I built 12 years ago. Light weight, easily moveable, and made extremely well.
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LITTLE GIANT, LADDER SYSTEMS, VIA: MY ''TOOLS OF THE TRADE'' AMAZON RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS PAGE, WHERE I HAVE LISTED EVERYTHING I USE IN MY FISHING CHARTER BUSINESS AND HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
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-want to help with product reviews and donate to my Youtube channel? https://www.paypal.me/captdaves

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Jacksonville Fishing charters, Jacksonville fishing videos, Capt Dave's Sport Fishing Charters: e-mail: charter@captdaves.com

6/20-21st......It's all goin' on!

Double-Headers of GATOR TROUT after some Sharkin' behind the shrimp boats, with the Haney's. (video coming soon...when I get a chance)

did a "cruise" sight seeing with the Kyzer family. Here they are at the Kingsley Plantation after a walk thru the Plantation grounds. We also went and saw HIGH dollar real estate and went to the inlet to see Dolphins. (there weren't any shrimp boats around!)

Jettywolf...perfect for everything under the MEGA top!  YOUR all in one inshore fishing/ Cruising / Kid friendly, real charter boat.

Serene backwaters of the Ft. George River.

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6/18 - Everything's better on MONDAY AT 7AM

5 - TOTAL, FROM 6 YEARS OLD ''UP''.

I'M NOT A PARTY BOAT, HEAD BOAT, WHATEVER YOU CALL THEM.
MY CHARTERS ARE ''LESS IS MORE'', NOT MORE THE MERRIER.

EXCEPTION WAS MADE TODAY.

HELD THEM TO RULE WHEN FLOAT-RIG FISHING. ''ONLY TWO AT A TIME.''

WHERE THEY CAUGHT TROUT, SHEEPSHEAD, BLACK DRUM. SOME KEEPERS, SOME NOT.

THEN, WE WENT TO THE JETTIES FOR A FEW MORE BLACK DRUM, WHITING, LOADS OF BLUE RUNNERS, A FEW GUITARFISH, AND OTHER RAYS. JUST FISHING SHRIMP, ON BOTTOM.

SAW PACKS OF GIANT JACKS CRUISING, SHARKS, A TURTLE, AND JELLYFISH.

DRUM, WHITING, TROUT

WHAT WE KEPT. DAD NOT IN PHOTO

6/17 - This weekend

SATURDAY'S BIG FISH - 30" REDFISH. CAUGHT BY MIKE.
HAD JACKS, A TROUT, A BIG SEABASS. RISING TIDE, AND IT BEING A SATURDAY, HAD US WORKING HARD!

SUNDAY:  ALAN AND HIS LOVELY WIFE, VISITING AMELIA ISLAND, WITH THEIR ''KEEPERS''.  2- SHEEPSHEAD, 2-TROUT AND A 19" REDFISH. RELEASE A BUNCH OF OTHER FISH.

MY ''OFFICE'' WITH A VIEW. SUNRISE AT THE SISTERS CREEK BOAT RAMP. 

RIGGED & READY. ICED UP, BAITED UP, READY TO GO!

WHEN ARE YOU GOING FISHING?

BEST CHARTER, IS ALWAYS JUST 2 PERSONS! 

(BRING THE WIFE, DAUGHTER, MOTHER, SISTER)

''NEW SUMMER RATES'': 

http://www.captdaves.com/rates/

INSHORE-JETTIES-RIVER-COASTAL FISHING - NO LONG BOAT RIDES-NO ROUGH WATERS-MORE FISHING. 6 HR. CHARTERS 

WWW.CAPTDAVES.COM

6/13 - TACKLE STORAGE SOLUTION

http://www.captdaves.com - Book your charter Today!

"JETTYWOLF HOW-TO'S & TECH TIPS"
(SALTWATER FISHING)
https://www.youtube.com/c/captdavessp... - my YOUTUBE channel has a loads of Playlists, all categorized, in topics. ABOUT JACKSONVILLE FLORIDA inshore fishing and tackle.

WOW, THAT WAS EASY. I JUST SOLVED A TACKLE STORAGE PROBLEM I'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

PLUS BEING A REAL NEAT-NICK, AND WANTING TO HAVE MY TACKLE ALL STORED AWAY AND ORGANISED ON MY BOAT.
Capt Dave's Sport Fishing Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/captdavessp...


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MY TOOLS OF THE TRADE YOUTUBE PLAYLIST:
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MY JACKSONVILLE FISHING REPORTS:
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6/12 - I'm not a part-time inshore Guide/Charter...like many.

Oh, I find it so humorous. The chat on the VHF radio in the morning when the "Pogies"....(those little slimy nasty baitfish) are hard to find and everyone is running around like mad trying to find them.

Hell I saw them right off!!!  We went straight out to the 25 Shrimp boats working outside the Jetties this morning and I saw all the Pelicans diving on the pogie schools.  I didn't need them.

I just bought and filled my freezer full of 50 pounds of huge Pogies that were in a frozen block.  All to save time, fuel and expense.

Don't need to run around for hours, to get them. I had 12 inch pogies in a zip lock bag. And since I don't "TROLL" (save hours on my engine) I use mine for shark bait, Redfish bottom baits and just pieces for cut baits.

B-U-T....we ran up to the stern of four different shrimp boats and pitched out pogies on wire leaders and heavy rods and reels and NEVER HAD A BITE!

WHOA! that's something! 
I just heard two days ago they were thick as fleas.

That's why I don't care much for Run-N-Gun shrimp boat Sharkin much anymore.

SOOOOOO, inconsistent!

I have to deal with so much inconsistency already, just doing what I do, here in Bizarro land Florida. (Florida's home of the most wacko tides!)

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

So, what I'm getting at is I fish 100% inshore-river-inlet-coastal 365, 7 days a week.

I'm not just a inshore charter when the fishing is easy or "easier" inshore.

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

So, here's today's report.

Pitchin' Jig-N-Shrimp combo meals, Float-rig fishing live shrimp. In the river.

1 - 30" 9-1/2 Pound Redfish (too big to keep)
3- small Black Drum (1 was a 16" inch keeper)
1- Sheepshead about 2 pounds
1-Giant Pinfish 14 inches long! (we kept it and filleted it!)
1-GATOR Speckled Trout at 24 inches and approx 5 pounds.
1-GATOR speckled Trout at 22 inches
4- small "pup" Redfish at 16 inches

LOST ONE TROUT THAT WAS MAYBE 7 POUNDS AT BOAT SIDE! (because the current was so damn heinous!)

And left fishing and went back to the dock as the sky darkened and cleaned the fish we kept because they were going to visit the fryers at Singletons Seafood Shack, in Mayport around the corner from the boat ramp. For my customers dinner. Missed the rain and high winds....WHEWWWW. thank goodness!

FUN DAY WITH TWO YOUNG GUYS FROM GEORGIA.

YOU CAN BE NEXT.
-MORE FISHING
-LESS BOAT RIDING
-HUNTING TROPHIES
-AS WELL AS "DINNER" (FISH FRY)
-BEST CHARTERS - 2 PERSONS
-NEW 2 PERSON RATE $350 6 HRS FOR SUMMER TIME
-CALL: 904-642-9546 8AM-8PM
-VISIT: WWW.CAPTDAVES.COM

6/10 - TAKE YOUR KIDS FISHING!

IF IT'S ONLY FOR A 2 HR KIDS FISHING TRIP, OR A 1/2 DAY TRIP.

THE BEST THING OUT THERE IS; "NO ELECTRONIC GAMES, NO SMARTPHONES, NO TV, NO SCHOOL" 





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