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Fishing Reports for Local Area - Location |
    
Bob Cosby (Captain_bob_cosby)
New member
Username: Captain_bob_cosby
Post Number: 27
Registered: 11-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 07, 2008 - 5:34 am: | |
Inshore/nearshore report Jacksonville area waters
The water has warmed to 70-72 degrees now and fishing has picked up.All we need is for the wind to give us a break. Lots of jacks have moved in so the blues,which are still here, finally have some competition for your expensive baits. Large ladyfish and spanish mackerel are fairly common catches, too. I'm catching smaller spanish trolling and the larger ones on live bait when targeting other species such as trout. All these fish are great fly rod fish.
[img]http://cyberangler.com/photos/med/4684.jpg[/img][img]http://cyberangler.com/photos/med/4456.jpg[/img]
Speaking of trout, I've heard of an 11 and 10 pounder being caught recently, on lures and bait, respectively, They are hitting topwater and diving lures, as well as the always reliable live shrimp. Two to four pounders are common using the sliding float rig. If you catch a big one,which is most certainly a female, consider releasing it after a photo as your contribution to future fishing generations.
[img]http://cyberangler.com/photos/med/4682.jpg[/img]
Redfish are around, though with all the tournaments and every day fishing pressure we have here in northeast Florida, it is sometimes difficult to find any. With the right bait you can usually hook a few at the jetty tips, weather permitting. Black drum are an occasional catch also, along with pompano and flounder. Keep your eyes open for triple tails, also. You just might stumble on to one hovering next to some floating object such as a crab trap float, etc.
[img]http://cyberangler.com/photos/med/4685.jpg[/img]
May is migration time for the big rays and their escorts, the cobia. Recent reports have them south of Matansas, however, several days of south winds may have pushed them further north into our area. Its always wise to have a heavy spinning rig ready to cast a bait or lure to any sighted cobia. Try not to hook the ray!
Pogies were abundant last week between St Augustine and Mayport. Hopefully, they will hang around for awhile as they are the "engine" that fuels much of our nearshore fishing.
Good fishing!
CAPT Bob Cosby |
Capt. Dave Sipler's Sport Fishing (Jettywolf)
New member
Username: Jettywolf
Post Number: 76
Registered: 7-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 - 12:18 pm: | |
Capt Dave Sipler's Sport Fishing
Jacksonville-Amelia Island Florida
www.captdaves.com
904-642-9546
26' Plate Alloy boat
1-4 passengers near coastal light tackle fishing
-----------------------------------------------
4/21 - James from the Chesapeake
Since I did my R&D yesterday, and had a nice game plan laid out for James from the Chesapeake area of Maryland, down as a solo passenger. I felt good as we left the dock at 7:30am on a what was surely to be a tranquil MONDAY MORNING....but in the first hour of fishing, I could see the plans I had mapped out needed to be used as toilet paper instead. And Monday morning just might as well be Sunday morning, I guess.
At one point, I was anchored up tight to the rocks with my "cinder block" jetty anchor. I had two boats come in ahead of me, one behind me was already there. Then came one next to me, and then another guide drops with the trolling motor and is fishing off my starboard side 40 feet away.
I'm usually a people person, gregarious, fun loving, kid friendly, joke'ster. But put all these people in boats around me, and I get claustrophobic!! I had zero "wiggle room". And what gets me is no one is catching a damn thing, I know we weren't. So we picked up and went where no one was and caught (2) beautiful Redfish back to back on our Float-rigs. One 27" fish that was a healthy 8.5 pounds, and another at 25".
I knew there were Reds on this spot. But it took a little while to find them. James also had on what we thought was a nice Trout, but lost it. I had in the back of my mind all day that I wanted to go where the Black Drum were. So we tried it a few times even, but only caught one 15" Trout and a Whiting there. Those dang puppy size Drum remind me of Tarpon. Here today by the schools, and then gone tomorrow. Sunday, I saw literally stingers full of Drum but after 2 attempts in the same area James and myself, just figured it wasn't gonna be.
We moved on as the tide started to fall and went to BIG Trout-dom. Again, PEOPLE were the problem but I worked around them. As the tide got perfect I had James working it hard, "details details" I stressed. And when push came to shove, my float went down! As I was fishing along with James. Drag pulling like a red, head thumping back and forth, was this it??
Oh, I was so excited, but also kinda upset that James wasn't on this fish. I could have handed over the rod. But if this was a big Trout I was so afraid we'd loose it on the hand off as so many are. Along the boat, now..... "is it?" " Yes, it's a big Trout!" Jame's grabbed the net and the fish certainly knew it's fate was sealed and made three attempts to pull away. Swoooosh, in the net!
Ahh, what a beauty. If I fish all day without a bite and then catch me a big fat Trout, I'm satisfied. On the Boga-Grip it turned out to be a perfect 6 pounder.
We continued to work the spot, looking for the next GATOR, but as with the whole day.
Things just weren't feeling right.
I kept telling James, this day feels weird. And I'm gonna go with my gut. Because of the wind direction, the current from the full moon, the sea breeze I know it's something, and I'm getting a vibe.
So we moved on looking for some faster action.
The next move I made was as fruitless as a dead tree. Gut said, "get the hell outa here!" So we did, and hit an area where the afternoon wind wasn't all that bad.
Here we had 4 good bites, and boated two small Reds. The low tide on this area was getting oh so perfect. But James had a taxi to catch, I had fish to clean. So we packed it in for the boat ramp.
Overall if I had to classify the day it was just one that we had to work hard for everything we got.
But most importantly, James hadn't fished since last November and got to do it in 83 degree weather, Florida sunshine, on a Big Metal boat.
Which he said he certainly wouldn't be doing back home. And he learned a lot and we had FUN.
Plus he took home with him a nice sack of fillets.
Remember, you always will get the "reel scoop" here at Capt Dave's Sport Fishing Report Blog.
www.captdaves.blogspot.com
Trip photos here:
http://www.captdaves.com/Catch3.htm |
Bob Cosby (Captain_bob_cosby)
New member
Username: Captain_bob_cosby
Post Number: 26
Registered: 11-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 31, 2008 - 5:22 pm: | |
Inshore/nearshore Report NE Florida
We caught two spanish mackerel on my last charter Saturday, so the season is progressing along.. It won't be long before the water temps approach 70 degrees. I imagine you could pick up some spanish trolling 0/0 Clark spoons on a high tide if you tried. Bluefish have saturated all area waters, and can definitely keep the rods bent when other species slow down.
<img>
Sheephead are still biting well on the rocks, pilings, day markers, and river ledges. Fiddlers, clams, and live shrimp are the ticket here.<img> Redfish and black drum can be found in similar spots. Boat traffic has been heavy on the good weather days, particularly when they fall on a weekend. Savvy anglers are buying thier fiddlers a day or two before the heavy traffic.
<img>
There are also some nice size flounder around, but they have been mainly a by-catch on my charters. Speckled trout and yellowmouth trout (weakfish) are biting fairly well when you can avoid the bluefish. The yellowmouths are usually in the deeper water. It won't be long until the topwater lures start producing with the big specs and redfish. The trout will hit best early and late on the higher tides, however , the reds will hit a topwater all day long if it makes him mad enough. If the topwaters don't work, try a lipped diving lure like the Bite-a-bait, which are made here locally. Also, try the new "Fish-bite" artificials. They seem to work as well or even better than the "Gulp" baits.
<img>
Whiting, blues, black drum, and the occasional pompano are likely catches in the surf and from the piers. You might also pick up a spanish from a pier using the knock-offs from the old sea-hawk lures. I think they're called "Gotchas". Silver would be a good choice. Throw it out, let it sink a bit, and use a whippy underhand retrieve.
Good fishing!
CAPT Bob Cosby
--
Captain Bob's Fishing Charters,Inc.
http://www.captainbobsfishingcharters.com |
Capt. Dave Sipler's Sport Fishing (Jettywolf)
New member
Username: Jettywolf
Post Number: 75
Registered: 7-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 30, 2008 - 6:05 am: | |
It's go time on Florida's First Coast
Capt. Dave Sipler
March 30, 2008
Jacksonville - Saltwater Fishing Report
3/28 & 29 - Busy, Busy, Busy!
Well will I get out all my charters, I have reserved? That's my thoughts right now. I got Friday and Saturday done, and with good success. But as usual when I have booking day after day, I'm rescheduling or cancelling at least a few due to the weather. So Sunday and Monday will be those days.
3/28 - I had regulars Don Hudson and his father-in-law Ralph out to the jetties. The forecast was south wind 5-10 knots. But it wasn't. More like 10-15 knots with mucho residual Southeast swell. We tried doing some Float-rig fishing for Trout first thing, but my gut was telling me it wasn't gonna happen for us. So we packed it up and headed in the river and did some bottom fishing. The action was slow, but did manage 2 big Whiting, a large Seabass, and a 5 pound Black Drum. We kept working the cut clam strips and shrimp combo meals wanting either more Drum, a Sheepshead or Redfish. But it never happened.
But I wasn't out of tricks. Ralph and Don are Float-riggers, so we headed back to a certain area and pitched our floats out with live shrimp and were in an absolute waylay of Yellowmouth Trout. To quote Ralph, a soft spoken man, "I'm all for action!"
And we had action. So much that I never took any photos, because I didn't have any time too.
Plus, we were being "stalked" by another fishing guide too. But that's another story.
The yellowmouths weren't huge, just normal size. There was just so many! We easily boxed out limit of 12 fish, and released just as many. Sometimes it just doesn't matter how big the fish are, it's just so much fun catching them. And Ralph and Don had a good time.
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3/29 - The Mayport boat ramp was an absolute ZOO from 0600 hrs. till whenever...we didn't stick around long enough to see the rest. There were so many boats, so many trucks, and so many people everywhere!
It looked like the opening day of boating season, up north somewhere. And gas was FREE, bait was FREE and the fish were jumping in boats! It's funny, I'm in the people business I know. But crowds make me very nervous and anxious.....I hate them! Because many times my j-o-b gets alot harder with a lot of boats around. But thank goodness most of the masses were heading offshore, so it seemed.
Right on time, Martin Combs and his mother Joan and son Bradly came down to the ramp, and we quickly left. We went float-rig fishing and caught plenty of yellowmouth Trout, but many were small, so we didn't keep them. But they were quickly getting acquainted with the ways and means of what I do. So we left that spot and headed to where I hoped to find some Speckled Trout. And Joan was the first to hook up a really nice one.
Then after that it was pretty much.......GAME ON!
More Trout, 18-20" and some small ones too. Then Sheepshead, then a Bluefish, then more Trout. Just where, and just what my GUT FEELING, told me. We sat in one spot for a long time, having a ball. And Bradly even hooked a Sea Turtle. Not all that uncommon, they like shrimp too. So we unhooked it, no worse for the wear.
As the tide slowed, we moved to the end of the
jetties and tried some quick jigging for Redfish,
but never had a bite. Then moved again and tried for some more Yellowmouth trout, but the current wasn't correct for that either. We had a really slow incoming tide this weekend, less than 4 feet. So it was the falling tide or nothing for us Float freaks.
The weather was so perfect, that the tide conditions almost didn't matter. Martin, Joan and Bradly went home with a big bag of fillets, stories to tell, and I saw myself in 14 year old Bradly. He was a fisherman! So I referred to him as a "mini-me".
It seems so long ago, when I was just like him. Ate up with catching fish. learning, casting, and everything else that comes with becoming an accomplished angler. And I'm lucky to be able to take a young man like him and remember back when I was just like him.
***See the rest of todays catch pics on my "recent catches" pages: http://www.captdaves.com/Catch8.htm
Jacksonville Fishing Forecast:
Found the Speckled trout within a short distance of all the Yellowmouth Trout anyone would want, and Sheepshead on the float-rig too.
Now some weather blew in on Sunday 3/30 and looks to be here till at least Tuesday 4/1.
I have a bug to get out to where I found those Red reef fish (Red Snappers) and try it again.
I have the 2nd, 4th, 7 th & 8th, and 11th and 12th pre-reserved, for the start of April. But there's still a few good tides, open.
Target Species:
Speckled Trout, Redfish, Drum, Pompano |
Capt. Dave Sipler's Sport Fishing (Jettywolf)
New member
Username: Jettywolf
Post Number: 74
Registered: 7-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 16, 2008 - 8:21 am: | |
Capt Dave Sipler's Sport Fishing
Jacksonville-Amelia Island Florida
www.captdaves.com
904-642-9546
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3/14 - Matthew the BIG fish Birthday boy!
WOW! What a difference a day can make. A complete 180 from yesterday's weather, huh?
Left out this morning at 7:30am with Rick and Matthew Sawyer, it was Matt's Birthday fishing trip.
So when ya have the last of the falling tide in the morning, the Sheepshead spawn going on, a live well full of river crickets (shrimp), a light wind SW wind, and over cast skies. I decided to bottom fish. Because it sure worked on Wednesday when I had Don Zagorski on board. "If it ain't broke don't fix it", RIGHT?
Well, as we sat there anchored up in the river waiting for the bite, the wind would pick up, the skies would darken, and the air temp would grow cooler. Here comes a FRONT. I could just tell, this isn't like Wednesday, and it surely isn't Thursdays weather. So we sat patiently and waited.
Remember the only reason I'll "bait-n-wait" fish, is because it's been very worth it. And now I'm second guessing myself.....rule #1, go with the gut feeling, and never second guess the gut.
I knew something had to happen, and as I was checking one of the baits I felt a tug, and handed Matt the rod. SHEEPSHEAD, and it was a big momma!
For photos: go to www.captdaves.blogspot.com
RIVER MULES!
(up to 9.5 pounds)
But the bites were far and few between, and the between were small whiting.
So we just stayed with the plan and kept waiting, changing out baits, paying attention to the current, talked on the phone, and watched Matt fight a queasy stomach. And like a real Trooper, he hung in there.
We then went and did some Float-rig fishing as the tide started to flood on the surface.
The water was choppy with the SW wind which is usually a good thing. And Rick hung the first nice Speck, but it came off at boat side.
And the little bitty Bluefish were everywhere, also know as the scourge of spring time. And were eating all the shrimp. But Rick ended up nailing a nice keeper Speckled Trout.
We kept at it, but the blues were incessant. And I went a pulled my anchor and bent the hell out of it, rendering it pretty useless. We looked around in the river, and there was no current, and now was high tide. So we headed in to clean fish.
This time of year, even on a kinda crappy weather day, there's still some whopper fish to be had.
And that's why I love the transitional times, Thanksgiving in the fall and Easter in the spring.
Those two holidays....(opps, can't forget good ole St. Patricks Day!) are my favorites.
Least favorite: July 4th, too hot, too many people around.
Jacksonville Fishing Forecast:
This week is going to be a busy one. And the forecast as of now is for not much less than 15 knots of wind ever single day.
Not exactly what I want. But we'll see what the out come is after 5 days in a row of full day trips. Challenging, will be the word.
Target Species:
Speckled Trout, Redfish, Drum, Sheepshead
Capt Dave Sipler's Sport Fishing
Jacksonville-Amelia Island Florida
www.captdaves.com
904-642-9546 |
Bob Cosby (Captain_bob_cosby)
New member
Username: Captain_bob_cosby
Post Number: 25
Registered: 11-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 12, 2008 - 8:24 am: | |
NE Florida inshore/nearshore report
March, the transition month, is here and we'll be steadily moving from our winter patterns into spring as the water warms. In fact, a customer caught a jack crevalle and a spanish mackerel a couple days ago in St. Augustine, which is a sure sign fish are moving north. There continue to be large numbers of bluefish throughout our area. Sometimes they can be a nuisance when you are targeting other species.
Sheephead are biting very well right now at area jetties and are averaging 3-4lbs with 5-6lb fish mixed in. These normally elusive fish fight hard and are excellent table fare. Fiddlers on a 1/8 oz. jighead work for me. Sometimes a redfish or black drum will eat your fiddler, too.
Redfish can be found in all their normal haunts:edges of the ICW, jetty rocks, creeks, and around dock pilings. Some larger fish may be moving up the river channels. Several redfish tournaments , including the locally famous "spot" tournament, are coming up and boats "pre-fishing" are pretty much everywhere. On one of my recent trips we caught six reds from 20 to 30lbs in 70' of water on a nearshore reef.
[img]http://www.fish-tails.net/photopost/data/500/medium/MRred.jpg[/img]
The speckled trout can be found in the creeks , ICW, and river with some fish large enough to keep. With the water temps rising try a topwater plug early and late on high water. A few weakfish are biting also, when you can find them, usually on high incoming water.
The whiting action has improved on the pier and in the surf. I caught a dozen today surf fishing and left them biting. It won't be long until pompano and schools of spanish mackerel move into our area. A couple of years ago I hooked two large black drum (in the 50lb class) while whiting fishing in the surf. That was quite a surprise!
This and next month provide opportunities to catch a giant black drum in our area. These fish are real bruisers and grow to over 100lbs. Fish deep around the jetty tips and area inlets and ICW holes with crab and clam baits. Use heavy tackle to subdue the fish quickly and release them carefully. There's not much sense in killing these large breeder fish.
Tight lines!
CAPT Bob Cosby
http://www.captainbobsfishingcharters.com |
Capt. Dave Sipler's Sport Fishing (Jettywolf)
New member
Username: Jettywolf
Post Number: 73
Registered: 7-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 - 4:26 pm: | |
-ripped from the headlines of: www.captdaves.blogspot.com
Capt Dave Sipler's Sport Fishing
The JETTYWOLF
Jacksonville, Fla.
904-642-9546
www.captdaves.com
3/10 - R&D, before big week
Monday mornings....ahhh the serenity! It's about the only day of the week where I can go anywhere, and do anything and not be waked, anchored next too, or bothered. Because any more, the weekend seem to start on Wednesday's these days.
So Nick and I went out for some "Research and Development". As I like to refer to as "by the numbers" we left out at a perfect time, hit one spot, and began the assault on fishdom. I believe I had Trout #1 on cast #1....and when it was Redbass time, I had #1 Redbass on #1 cast! I was HOT!
That 40 MPH wind on Saturday, matched up to the new moon low tide, did me such a favor. On the falling tide, with a west gale wind behind it, flushed the river like an ole Ferguson toilet. So given the first opportunity to get out there, I was more than ready to take a big bite out of my favorite place....ya know, it's a Jettywolf thang.
I'll pretty much let the photos say a thousand words...(www.captdaves.blogspot.com)
Nick and I wore out the Speckled Trout & Yellowmouth Trout. And had a whole bunch of small 14-1/2" Specks, while I was just waiting on that 7 or 8 pounder. But I never found any "Gators", just Specks to 19 inches. But, 2 weeks ago there wasn't any Specks around out here. So I was glad to get'em any size for the fish box. And the fat bellied Yellowmouth were ferocious!
Compared to our last trip to the jetties, today was very workable. The winds were light, and I had no plans of bottom fishing until low tide. And it was so nice only dropping anchor maybe 2-3 times. Once for all the trout, and the second for numerous Reds from 27" to 33". I said to Nick, "what will it take for me to put you on a Redfish , today?" , because I was ripping them and we were fishing in the exact same spot. And we figured it was the same reason that on our last trip he caught the big Reds, and I didn't!
I really wanted Nick to get a big Red, so I kept saying "I'll back off", so I'd pitch to a different area, but managed to keep on catching them! Like I said, I was hot, for some reason. But then again, I was feeling a little "wolfie".
The water temp was between 62 and 63 degrees, and I was hoping to see it warmer. But things are really starting to heat-up, anyhow. We saw small Sharks give the boat a swim by. And of course there's plenty of those Cow nosed Rays swimming the clean water.
Like many days I experience after a big weather event, if ya just let it settle you can bet the next clear day they'll be on the feed bag, big time.
After our tide was over and the bluefish took over we purposely caught some Blues for cut bait and ran up river and tried bottom fishing for a really Big Redbass, but ran out of time.
So we actually fished a normal day. Rather than our usual marathon. Which was good, Nick was feeling tired and I had things to take care of back at the Ranchero Delux. So we hit the dock and I cleaned all the fish....we had limits of Yellowmouths and Specks, one Sheepshead and one 27" Red. And we both went home with giant bags of fresh fillets.
It was one sweet day! and the fish fry will be just as good!
I'm jam-up from here on out till the 21st of the month. So lots of reports coming. I may combine days, if I'm whooped at 8:00pm. So multiple days maybe in one post. Either way, STAY TUNED!
------
12 months a year, 7 days a week, 25 years experience, 12 years as a full-time guide. And the only one with a life time boat!Toughest, beefiest, meanest.
G.loomis - Accurate twin drag reels- Shimano - Abu Garcia - Biscayne rod co. - Quality tackle you can depend on.
_________________
Capt Dave Sipler's Sport Fishing
www.captdaves.com
www.captdaves.blogspot.com - for daily reports
(904) 642-9546
-Light tackle coastal fishing the Jacksonville to Amelia Island, Florida area. |
Capt. Dave Sipler's Sport Fishing (Jettywolf)
New member
Username: Jettywolf
Post Number: 72
Registered: 7-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, February 17, 2008 - 10:59 am: | |
Capt Dave Sipler's Sport fishing
Jacksonville - Amelia Island Florida
www.captdaves.com
www.captdaves.blogspot.com
904-642-9546
------------------------------
2/16 - Better but not great, it's still Feb.
Had Don B. with his Brother-in-law Buddy, and his son Dan aboard. It was one beautiful day, and Jacksonville knew it. The boat ramp was packed in the morning. Lot's of people heading offshore.
I told the three well versed fisherman, I wanted to try a bit of "slower" fishing today. Something different. So we bottom fished the ICW for some Sheepshead, on a spot where I've caught as many as 5 just messing around. But Dan caught the only one, and Bud picked up a Yellowmouth Trout, that also frequent the spot. "They're down there somewhere...", I told the guys. But of course in the hauling butt current it was tough fishing on just the right spot.
We then went south and studied the shore. It was real low tide. All the creek mouths were empty, so the Redfish should be just off the banks. And as we approached a very likely spot, there they were up on a flat spot that dropped off to an 18' hole right up tight to the bank. What a perfect spot to anchor up and fish the deep, along the bank.
As I idled up, the Reds were waking huge V's in the water as they came off the flat and dropped into the deep hole. I slipped the anchor over the side, grabbed three bottom rigged rods and pitched into the deep. If any more come down the bank, they'll have to swim through this hole to continue down the bank. We never caught a Red! We sat there staring at the shallows waiting for more to come. But they never did. But the boats came....waked us, and it felt like trying to catch a Red off the end of the boat ramp this morning. Because of the traffic.
By then the tide was ultra-low, and there was no more current pushing. So we either just had to wait or run back towards the river to get some kind of water movement. Then the phone rang....it was a friend, out fishing with his brother, son and friend. "Dave, we've been at the jetties all morning and caught one Sheepshead and one small Trout, where are you?"
I said...."I'm south on the ICW and we've caught the exact same thing!"
So we worked our way back to the river, pulled out the float-rigs caught some Pinfish and a nice Speck that got off in hardly any current, while I contemplated the jetties myself. We end up passing my buddy, as he went into the ICW, and we headed toward the big rocks.
Remember; "IF EVERY INSTINCT YOU HAVE IS WRONG....THAN THE OPPOSITE MUST BE RIGHT."
Every year, when the Specks are closed for harvest, and the February fish bite is damn near dead, friends and I used to say; "Well, there's always the yellowmouth Trout at the jetties....A winter time Day Saver!"
But lately, they have even been hard to come by. But today seemed to be too warm and sunny for them not to be there. So we headed towards that particular rock, where I find them.
But of course, there was boats everywhere, as I pulled up and dropped my 1/2 block economy jetty anchor over the side. One boat was pitching jigs and shrimp and caught a few.
So...they're here! But are they as I like them? Like a pack of hungry Wolves?
I use my scope a lot this time of year, when looking for the tightly packed schools of yellermouths. And as we sat, I marked them in 14' under the boat. But as we pitched float's up close to the rocks, and out off the rocks. They were hard to find. Then I caught one, and found where they were.
We all caught some, not all that big, but they were FISH! And since we were fishing, it was just what I was looking for! I of course caught the largest one, and we had a throw back or two, a few get off the hook under the boat, but action insued. And as we fished, these damn Yellermouths couldn't be any harder to catch. Because we needed to re-anchor to get on them better. But couldn't because of all the boats around. Unlike some people, I attempted to give some relative space to others, not park on top of them.
We had 6 in the box now, and the Sheepshead from earlier. And were wittling down the live shrimp in the well. But Dan wasn't looking all too good. He said, "Hmmm...I'm not feeling all that great", as he took off the piles of clothes he had on, now in the heat of the bright sun. He looked sea-sick, and then hung over the side to relieve himself of that nagging feeling.
Come to find out, the warmth of all the clothes, and his car-sick abilities, the small swell at the jetties as the tide changed, sent him into a sea-sickness state. Ut-Oh.
So we packed it in and headed to the boat ramp to clean our fish.
Those yellowmouth were sort of day savers really, and I was relieved to go to the jetties. Back where the JettyWolf boat belongs and feels at home. But they were way to hard to catch for some reason. They were only on a small spot, we had to cast to get our float's drifting over that exact spot. Par for the course though. The largest one caught was 18 inches and pulled like (2)-15" Specks tied together. That's what I like about them.
Lesson learned, I should have went and just done what I usually do, instead of expierementing around in the ICW. We probably would have caught the same "one" sheepshead at the jetties, too.
Didn't take any photo's, although I should have. I'm gonna buy one of these though, before spring. I'm gonna have it attached to my windshield, so I can just snap group photo's, and even get in a photo once in awhile.
I'll be able to suck that mount onto about anywhere on my boat, leave it and just use my camera's timer or video capabilities and not have to hold it. Or sit the camera on a flat spot, as I usually do.
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Capt Dave Sipler's Sport fishing
Jacksonville - Amelia Island Florida
www.captdaves.com
www.captdaves.blogspot.com
904-642-9546 |
Capt. Dave Sipler's Sport Fishing (Jettywolf)
New member
Username: Jettywolf
Post Number: 71
Registered: 7-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, February 17, 2008 - 10:53 am: | |
Capt Dave Sipler's Sport Fishing
www.captdaves.com
www.captdaves.blogspot.com
Jacksonville - Amelia Island Florida
(Winter rates still effective till March 1st)
Call to reserve your day 904-642-9546
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2/7&8 - Winter wackiness.....
Had "regular" Kirk M. and his buddy Bill that was visiting from N. Dakota on board Thursday.
Man was it a nice morning. We left early to go fish a different zip code. I needed a scenery change, and just a day to be left alone. No Cone-heads driving over my lines, no FWC bothering me, no Coasties, and no rent-a-cops, or noise pollution.
But the story was "no bites = no fish", where we went, except for two scrawny specks. And not long after the tide finally turned so we could fish the falling. The wind started to blow, the air temp fell 20 degrees, and it clouded up. Our nice sunny day was over.
But here's an FYI.... I marked 68 degree water on one spot, at low tide. Haven't seen 68 degree water in 2 months. But it didn't matter. The front came. And our day was just practice in futility. If ya can't get bit anywhere; shallow, deep, river, or creek. What can you do?
So we went home.
Then today, on Friday. I had Jason M. on board. Just he and I, out on what promised to be as super nice winter day. By no means the same as on land, when the temp is concerned, it was chilly. But at least I was in my Aftco shorts, with just a jacket, and was perfectly comfortable all day till the late afternoon. Water temps back at the "hub" are on the rise....so why is fishing still so dang tough? I marked 60-66 degrees, from the jetties to the backwaters today. We fished the falling tide all day.
Started out at the jetties.....No more "world tours" for me. I got that out of my system, real quick, yesterday. We jigged the rocks and had a some Seabass, and a couple cold water sharks at the high water. Then, we went float-rig fishing the rocks for one small Speckled Trout.
There was 3-6" what looked like mullet everywhere, 12 feet deep. I marked knots of them stirring up the sandy bottom on my scope at 12 feet. Then they started flipping the surface.
As one fella yelled to us, "the birds sure are eating better then me!" I agreed. They had all the dinner they could catch.
So we left the jetties as the tide started to fall good and fast. Jason wanted a Redfish, I would have settled for a Drum or at least some fast Yellowmouth Trout action, to keep us busy. But they are not even there.
We ran for awhile, and went into some shallows.
Where Jason and I both caught some nice fat Specks, with no current just plenty of due East wind...which was forecasted to be a west wind.
(could they have gotten that any more WRONG?)
Then, as the baitstealers arrived, the Trout bites stopped as fast as they started. So we moved on up in the river.
My first drift at the next spot was another nice "would be fishbox" size Speck. Then a monster of a ship passed us and we drug anchor off the spot a little, and couldn't get another Trout bite.
So we went back to jigging. And then scored on a Sheepshead. And not long after the current died there too, and we swung around as the east wind pushed the incoming tide in quick on us.
So we packed it in and headed to the dock.
Not much different than I thought the day would be, really. We weren't keeping any fish. So I just wanted "action" and we had a little. But it could have been worse. Thank goodness it wasn't.
Gander Mountain Outdoor store in the new City Square shopping center off Duval Rd. up near the Airport is having a "Meet your Maker" event this weekend.
Factory tackle Reps, tackle sales, seminar speakers, various Pro Anglers...and ME. I'll be there too. Hopefully answering questions about
Trout and Float-rigging techniques, and maybe a seminar??
I'm unsure exactly what I'll be doing exactly.
But a meet and greet is cool too.....I'll be bringing loads of photos and my favorite float-rigging tackle, to help show the technique.
If you aren't out chasing the illusive fish in the river.....come on up and see us.
------------------------------------------
Capt Dave Sipler's Sport Fishing
Jacksonville - Amelia Island Florida
www.captdaves.com
www.captdaves.blogspot.com
Call to reserve your day 904-642-9546 |
Bob Cosby (Captain_bob_cosby)
New member
Username: Captain_bob_cosby
Post Number: 24
Registered: 11-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, February 04, 2008 - 6:28 pm: | |
Inshore/nearshore report NE Florida
The robins flew through last week headed north, hopefully, spring isn't too far away! Water temps are in the low 50's. Speckled trout are closed here in NE Florida this month, but can still be caught on a catch and release basis. Just be extra careful releasing them. I've had the best luck along the ICW drop-offs with live shrimp, plastics, and Gulp baits fished on 1/4 oz. jigs. Try to shake them off without touching them.
Sheephead are a good cold water fish and are also exceptional tablefare. Additiomally, ringtail porgies are congregating near the jetty tips to spawn. I like to toss 1/8 oz. jigs tipped with fiddlers or small live shrimp up close to the rocks. Just try to maintain sensory contact with your jig, ie., don't actively jig it. Just slowly raise the rod tip a few inches every now and then, or when you feel something different happening like a subtle pressure on the line. Don't jerk hard, just raise the rod. Of course, sharp hooks are a must. Often they will be hooked in the lip outside their teeth.
Whiting are congregating off the beach in 20 to 30 feet of water, or in area inlets and sounds. Surf fishing for them has been lousy since the water temps have hit the low 50's. Fresh dead peeled shrimp works best. I have experimentally caught them on small pieces of white cut Gulp baits.
Bluefish like the cold water and are in the river and coastal waters. They are fun on light tackle and will hit most anything that is moving. Keep in mind they will destroy your expensive soft baits and cut your light leaders, so rig accordingly. They will also eat cut bait fished dead on the bottom with a fish-finder rig.
Another good cold water fish is the black sea bass. Inshore they like rocky structure, and the great majority are too small to keep. The new size and bag limit for our area is 12 inches and 15 per person. Weather permitting, reefs and wrecks 5 to 15 miles offshore are the best bet for keepers. Drifting with squid or cut bait works well. You also might try jigging the bottom with plastic or Gulp baits. Light tackle makes it more fun.
<img>
Redfish are a real challenge in cold water. They are reluctant to eat and are extremely spooky in the creeks. The big breeders are offshore and may be unpredictably encountered on any of our artificial or natural reefs. Slot size fish can be caught around the jetty tips on occasion. The best results follow a few days of warming air temperatures.
Good fishing!
CAPT Bob Cosby
http://www.captainbobsfishingcharters.com |
Bob Cosby (Captain_bob_cosby)
New member
Username: Captain_bob_cosby
Post Number: 23
Registered: 11-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 - 4:59 pm: | |
Florida Fishing Report for:
Intracoastal Waterway, St Johns River and Nearshore Waters from Fernandina to Saint Augustine
Updated: January 15, 2008.
Inshore/nearshore report NE Florida waters
Despite winter conditions, there are still good fish to be caught if you were willing to brave the elements. An ideal situation for the creeks is a low incoming tide in the early afternoon which will create relatively warm water over the dark mud flats. The reds will often cruise these flats seeking comfort as well as food. Due to the algae kill-off, the water is clear and often the reds and sheephead can be sight fished.
<img>
The sheepshead bite has been steadily improving at the jetties and in the rivers. Many anglers are targeting these hard fighting, good eating fish. Fiddlers or live shrimp are the bait of choice, fished either on a jighead or with a fishfinder rig. I like the lower halves of the tide. Another fish that isn't affected by the cold is the bluefish, which is available in the surf, around the jetties, and in area inlets. Most of these fish are small, but the occasional 4 to 5lb fish is caught. They will hit most any lure, live baitfish, or cut bait. Don't forget thier teeth when rigging your terminal tackle or extracting your hooks. Some legal size sea bass are being caught at the big and little jetties, as well as black drum and ringtail porgies.
<img>
Speckled trout and yellowmouth trout are being caught in the rivers, ICW and feeder creeks, as well as area jetties and inlets. A lot of the specs are undersize, so release them carefully. The tried and true sliding float rigs are very effective, as well as the DOA "deadly combo", the Gulp baits, bucktail jigs, jig and shrimp, plastic grubs, and even shrimp imitating flies. You'll also catch a sheepshead or a red every now and then.
Rat reds and slot size fish are in the creeks and ICW. This time of year they congregate in larger schools. They bite best in the afternoons after the water has warmed up a little. Remember to slow your bait presentations down and downsize your lures and flies due to the slower metabolisms of the fish.. There are still some oversize reds with a few slots mixed in around area jetties.
The surf and piers are giving up whiting, bluefish, and the occasional black drum. Fresh dead shrimp is the best bait for the whiting and drum. Try cut or finger mullet or any cut bait for the blues.
Tight lines! Captain Bob Cosby http://www.captainbobsfishingcharters.com |
Capt. Dave Sipler's Sport Fishing (Jettywolf)
New member
Username: Jettywolf
Post Number: 70
Registered: 7-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 13, 2008 - 3:44 pm: | |
1/10 - Quick Trip....
Capt Dave Sipler's Sport Fishing
Jacksonville - Amelia Island Florida
www.captdaves.com
904-642-9546
Was sitting checking emails this morning drinkin' coffee and the phone rang, It was Ernie, "Hey Dave, let's go......" "What, now?", I replied. "Yeah, If you can......" "I was thinking about going, because today is supposed to be last great weather day...." I said to Ernie.
Ernie and I have talked over the last few months via emails. And he's a faithful blog reader.
And obviously read my last report when I said, "hell, just call me. I'll let ya know when it's a good day to go, if you're local" Of course, I meant weather wise. Because so many people even locals have no idea of what our weather is doing. But Ernie does, he's an avid fisherman! So when I said that, it sparked him to give me a call.
So at 10:30am, I finally got to meet him as we were heading out to do our best. Ernie uses the Float-rig as a LBA - "Land Based Angler" and fishes a lot up in the Ft. George area.
Now, I know that it was tougher fishing on Tuesday than it was on Sunday, even though I did have a nice big fattie on my 52M "winter ugly" MirrOlure. But, I had a friend that was out yesterday and he did well on the Redfish and had a 22 pounder on a float, even. But the trout were a tad slow. So I knew going in that it may not be a whirlwind day of floats going down.
But Ernie is a fisherman, I'm a fisherman......Key word: F-i-s-h, that's what we do. So why not go try. But reality was all too in our faces as we fished and fished, and waited and waited for the tide to turn and start to fall. And nothing!! A few bites, but damn it was DEAD!
Then all of a sudden Ernie was shocked back into the fishing world with a slam dunking, big fish. Just as we were talking about how dead it really was. The fish ran under the boat, around the bow, down the side. It was a 28" Redfish. From zero to a hero!! Ernie was up on me big time, all with one fish. As we worked the area together.
Alrighty....nice Red! And it seemed that the tide was starting to finally move too.
So we kept at it as I moved us around a bit and maneuvered us into better positions for our attack.
I my 12" bottom scope, I passed over a huge pile of what looked like Yellowmouth Trout out in deeper water. So I tried out deeper and caught, ONE! And that was it.
"If the eating machines of the inlet are not chewin', what the hell!"
But as we worked our float-rigs, we finally stuck it to a few Specks. The first one I caught on my "winter ugly" MirrOlure, but it was a small fish.
Then Ernie caught what I call a ocean size Trout. One of those solid and fat 18-19 inchers. No measuring needed. That's more like the fish I'm used to this time of year.
So, we're finally cookin'.....and boxed a few more jetty sized Trout. My favorite!
As you could see it was slick dead calm. A serious "bluebird" day. But I wouldn't blame the slow bite on that as much as maybe because just as we thought the current would run hard. It really wouldn't. My theories always are; If you don't have the proper water movement to move bait, then you don't get moving predators. But I wasn't about to give up on where a 7 and a 6 pound Trout just came from this week. Not until I gave it plenty of time.
It's funny how we're catching out there speck-less Speckled Trout. Many of the fish have no body spots, or very few.
Ernie said, "yep, I think this area is about speck-less and spot-less today" because, where were more Reds and where were more Trout?
It's a fine line we travel....We want super weather days. But super fish days aren't always super fish days. But when we have super fish and super weather days at the same time, it's a Monumental thing!!
And the ole saying is, that no one ever thinks about is "want more fish, that go fishing more often". So, I see those days. And as a reader you certainly can tell when they happen, because I'm so excited.
So we ended up moving on, to try another zip code. And that's when the pesky engine temp alarm went off again on my outboard, No biggy. It's a bad sensor, I'm sure. Because the buzzer has been going off so intermittently. So we ided and went slow from spot to spot and found that the current everywhere else was practically unfishable inside the inlet.
So we went a threw some jigs for those Black Drum. But never really had a bite.
Hmmm, I think Mother Ocean is trying to tell us something.
So we went to a spot where the tide and current ought to be right. And it was.
And we caught some Trout, but not an whoppers and 3 big Ringtailed Porgies, and finished up the rest of the shrimp in the livewell.
Today's totals were maybe 10-12 Trout, with 7 in the fish box, the 3 Ringtails and a released 28" Redfish....everything on the float, and live shrimp.
Not a killer day. But a beautiful one for sure.
And that dang sensor in the motor went off enough that I'm taking the boat on it tomorrow morning to Deonas Boat works in Yulee, to have that thing changed out. Just in time for the wind and rainy weather to come in to the area over the weekend.
Ernie and I are gonna go do it again this month. And I'm sure we'll do better. It was a good day, but could have been much better.
And BTW....that cider block anchor anchor????
I'm still using the same one and it works good.
Why the hell have I spent thousands on jetty
anchors that I cared too much about all these
years?
photos:
http://captdaves.blogspot.com/2008/01/110-quick-trip.html |
Capt. Dave Sipler's Sport Fishing (Jettywolf)
New member
Username: Jettywolf
Post Number: 69
Registered: 7-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, December 13, 2007 - 5:36 pm: | |
Capt Dave Sipler's Sport Fishing
Jacksonville to Amelia Island Florida
www.captdaves.com
reports: www.captdaves.blogspot.com
9904-642-9546
12/12 - BIG FISH, ROCK RIOT!
If you read Monday's report (12/10/07) things looked rather dim at the jetties for a float rig freak like me. Yeah, I was all upset, and could tell I was kinda pissy. But as an update to that report, I'd like to add...."I really think the moon had a lot to do with the bite." And since I'm up at 5am-6am, and usually start my fishing days early. I may have not given Monday a full chance. And got disgusted and went home too early.....actually started too early, and gave up too early, is what it was.
I live and breath the tides. Which in turn is also the current. As a float-rig fisherman. Tossing a jig or lure can have its good and bad tides. But basically, you can cast a jig or lure any ole time on any ole tide. But as a float man, I pay close attention to the details of the tide, like current speed, tide height: how low is the low tide, how high is the high? Because I'm kinda locked in to the current flow, even when jetty fishing.
So now that today was 3 days after the New moon, "I saw the tiny sliver of white on the moon tonight". It only made sense to me that when I went out early this morning, that I'd be cussing and moaning till low tide, that seemed to take forever to come. And I caught damn near zero all day n the incoming, and only got into fish, as the tide got really low.....just like I always do on a full moon too.
So I didn't even pay attention to my "own" Full & New Moon rule, these last few days!!
-Only fish the last 4 hours or so of the low tide!!
Why do I forget my own rules? I'll tell ya why.....I go too early, because I like being out there in my boat, but end up kicking myself in the pants, because at the jetties it's all about that low tide on the New & Full moons. And today the tide got really low!
So, I arrived to find a buddy sitting along the rocks after I went and jigged a spot with not a single bite, except Bluefish. I couldn't believe it. But he said he was getting some Yellowmouth trout, so I'll try that too. It was pretty much "I.G." - (Instantaneous Gratification) as I tossed my shrimp up to the jetty rocks. "Okay, things are looking up!" Then came the Speckled Trout.
And this one, too. That had not a spot on its body, just on its fins.
As the tide got lower and lower, I started catching either a Speck or a Yellowmouth on every single pitch up to the rocks!
So I tried, looking for bigger fish. And casting out deeper. BINGO.....bigger Specks out deeper.
And Yellowmouths up tight to the rocks!
By now, I had my limit of yellowmouths 15-18"and 4 Specks from 15-18". And was waiting for a bigger Speck.....and my float went down! The drag peeled, and this fish was what I was hunting for, and it came from out deeper. BIG SPECK....I could see it, so I grabbed the net. Looks to be a 5 pounder at least! BAM...it pulled off the hook right as I was reaching down to dip it up in the net! So, my largest Trout ended up being this exact 20 incher.
Okay....the Trout fishing is on fire. I have my limit. So what do I do now? Go in? NOT!
After Monday's disgusting trip. I'm catching me a lot of fish. So I continued to catch some Trout behind the boat. But things were looking kinda sweet in front of where I was anchored, now.
The rocks were all exposed, and I was learning something very valuable about the Jetty rocks where I was parked, in relation to where the fish were. I could find a distinct edge! Up in too tight, no bites, just outside a bit, a lot of bites, out deeper yet, bigger Trout. Now let's see if the proven area in front of my boat has the same thing going on??
So I jumped up on my bow deck, and made a long bomb cast, right on that same edge. SLAM DUNK!!!!!!! Wheww, my float went down instantly and I just had my name engraved on a silver platter! "That was a BIG fish!"....And it broke me off in the rocks. So I tied on another hook, and made a pitch right to the same spot with a fresh shrimp. Again....INSTANT HOOK-UP! And I'm not using my bigger fish float-rig rod and reel. A long battle gave up a nice big 31" Redbass! Then another, then another, then another.....Can ya see where I'm going with this?
I had Reds, back to back, taking a breather about every two Reds, to catch a Trout off the stern of the boat, till I had caught (15) Reds from 27" to 33". IT WAS A LIGHT-TACKLE FISH RIOT!
And a classic Full or New moon kind of bite. I've been here before and had the same thing happen. ( I had so many I tried holding up the number of fingers of how many fish, I caught)
These weren't lil pup reds either, they were all brusiers, with one that measured 27" exactly., That went in the fish box. And it never entered my mind that I had a heavier rod and reel sitting in my rod rack, that I bought just for these big mean jetty Reds.
I was using a set-up that is really addictive for Float-rig fishing. Its a G. Loomis 8'2" Greenwater rod, matched up with a Shimano Curado DSV 300, a "low profile reel" that has a 6.3:1 gear ratio but holds well over 190 yards of 50# super braid line, if the diameter is that of 14# mono. No other light weight, low profile reel holds that much line. And let me tell ya, this ain't no wimpy Bass reel. It man handles these big Reds as well or better than a Abu Garcia 6500. If I can some day afford more, there will be 4 more in my reel arsenal. I'm that impressed!
I first heard of this high line capacity saltwater/freshwater low profile Shimano reel on my favorite fishing show, Larry Dalhberg's 'Hunt For Big Fish' Where Larry and a Shimano guy where using them for Golden Dorado below a damn in Venezuela. And these fish are a combination of as Redfish, Snook, and Tarpon all rolled into one, and weigh 50-7o pounds! Of course, I fell for the shows "objective", when I had to get me no less than two of them, ASAP. And I'm glad I did. I've fished them now for 6 months without doing a damn thing to either of them....just a wipe with a clean wet rag.
The lightness of my entire Float-rig setup is so nice to fish with all day long. Now, I wish Shimano would come out with a BIG game version, of this reel, just a tad larger, larger counter-balanced handle, and even more line capacity.
As I continued catching these Reds, taking out revenge for having such a crappy day on Monday
it started to take it's toll. I was getting tired!
Can ya believe that. But really the rod was a little light for all this pulling and tugging. But the "burn" did feel good, I'll admit.
As you can see, just holding the fish up like I did in the first few photos wasn't working out as planned. And I was hurrying. But, I wanted some good Reports Blog material, for ya'll.
People ask me all the time, "If your alone, how do you get those pictures?" Never buy a Camera that doesn't come with a timer, if your a fisherman, I tell them. I set the timer and jump in front of the camera. I learned this trick off an ole friend, who always fished alone and always had plenty of self portraits.
I tried to give a "sign" after I took a picture of number 5 because there was no way to hold up 6 or 7 fingers and the fish at the same time.
I certainly hope that potential clients find all this hard work, informative (yeah, it's work doing these reports after fishing all day.) Because I certainly do not see anything nearly as thorough on any other fishing guides web sites. I've tried it all. Doing magazine articles (Jax Fisherman Magazine for 6 years), my own fishing videos (which can be found at the local Gander Mountain and on my tackle shop web page) and Saturday morning radio shows (WNNR AM 970 & WNZS/ESPN SPORTS 1460 AM) I have to say, this daily reports blog is cheapest to do, by far.
I had about a 1/2 dozen shrimp left and could have kept on going.....but after (30-40) Trout, and the (15) big Reds , I felt that enough revenge was sought, so I pitched the shrimp over the side, packed everything up, and headed back to the boat ramp. Feeling like, I never come out here without learning something new, or at least reminded of how I sometimes don't even take my own advise. Which is; "fish the right tides and save yourself a lot of frustration and time" But it was another beautiful day out there. Makes me feel good to be able to appreciate it, even though things are slow now right before Christmas.
Hey, treat yourself! Give me a call and we'll go try and get you into a fish riot of your own. |
Captain James Howard (Gofishjax)
New member
Username: Gofishjax
Post Number: 1
Registered: 12-2007
Rating: 
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, December 05, 2007 - 1:05 pm: | |
Well everything is about like it should be this time of year. The water is 64 degrees and the Trout are all bunched up in the river and the Intercoastal. There are plenty of them a lot are small but you can usually get a box of keepers. I have been averaging about 30 to 50 a trip. I use mostly soft plastics the white body and chartreuse curl tail and a quarter ounce jig. You have to work them very very slow this time of year and make sure they are bouncing on the bottom. The Red’s are on fire also a lot of small ones and some nice slot sizes mixed in. My charter on Tuesday Dec. 4th caught 18 Red’s in the 20 to 24 inch range. Needless to say they had a ball. Live Shrimp on a jig head working the oyster mounds. The weather has been great and the fishing also, you need to go. We catch fish thru the whole winter. The Flounder run was off the charts the last 6 weeks and I am still catching some and gigging them also. I have had lots of Flounder this fall from 5 to 9 pounds. I have a few trips the end of the week and I’ll let you know how they go. I know the jetties are on fire also even though I mainly fish the backwaters.
Let’s GoFish, Capt. James Howard
www.gofishjax.com (904)651-9557 |
Capt. Dave Sipler's Sport Fishing (Jettywolf)
New member
Username: Jettywolf
Post Number: 68
Registered: 7-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, November 28, 2007 - 2:49 pm: | |
11/26 - The TIME to go is NOW!
Wow, what a great time I had today. It was 80 degrees alright, and sunny and full of fish too...amongst other big things. I had about 5 dozen shrimp living in their "condo" in my boat, so this morning I topped them off with 2 more dozen and also left the ramp with 50 pounds of ice. I had a feeling I'd need it. The full moon high tide, is what I had in mind. And it was a CLASSIC WINTER BITE OF FISH, today. But what wasn't classic, was the SEAS...wrenched & stirred by Mother Nature and the gravitational pull of that big white smiley face in the sky. The moon. That was present almost all day long.
Yep, if ya have one of the
finest "rough water" boats there is; seas, and swells slamming the jetty rocks in excess of 6 foot or better ain't no thang!
If it can take so can I. And that's just what I did, because that's where the fish were at.
Not always are the fish in some comfortable lil' duck pond of water. Remember, that when the seas are stirring the predators are feeding. (see my 11/20 report for another day when the water was stirred up and the fish were going nutz!)
Confident, and safe is what I feel in my boat when in rough water. Stable at rest or at anchored, it's one fantastic fishing platform.
The incoming tide at the jetties had some spots looking like these photos, and other were flat and calm. Guess what? I tried the flat and calm and wasn't catching what I wanted. Only Whiting, and small Bluefish. I was after Speckled Trout, Redfish and a Sheepshead, on the float-rig, of course. Or maybe a jig-n-shrimp combo meal. (preferably the float-rig)
So as the tide got really high I went back to fish the S-L-O-P, and in 4 drifts of the float I had 4 big fat Yellowmouth Trout (weakfish). Hmmm...."no specks?" I thought. They gotta be in here somewhere.
Again, "this looks just too classic, for no specks to be in here with the yellers", I thought.
So I just kept at it. And after I caught my first Speck, I found just where they were...and commenced to whackin' em. It was rock and roll hoochie koo, let me tell ya!
But this is my kinda fishing! I live for this time of year. And I had the entire area to myself, which I loved. T-shirt, shorts and Croc's...in the warm sun, wackin' me some fatties at the jetties in the slop, all by myself. It don't get much better.
And the funny thing is, NOW is the time to reserve a charter, not in July. Especially is ya have a clue about fishing. It felt like June out there, but instead it was a winter day, and I was on my winter bite. I continued to catch Yellowmouths and Specks, sorting through the Specks keeping the largest, of course.
Then I made a slight move just to see what else was going on. So as you can see from the photos, I got closer and closer to the crashing waves on the jetty rocks. That's where I'll pull a Redfish from. So I set my float to the "correct" depth and made a pitch in behind those breakers.
And it didn't take long before my float went down, and with a funny kinda head shake I knew this was no Redfish. It was a Sheepshead. Although I find them a pain to clean, and they hardly have any fillet worth the effort, I'll keep this one, and let go any more I get.
Well, the next cast was up to the same spot. And I saw a huge wave approaching, so I grabbed the camera and put my rod in the rod holder and took a shot at that "comer" heading my way.
And when I looked back at my float, it was GONE. I dropped the camera on the leaning post, grabbed the rod and reeled fast and there it was.....My Redfish. As the boat pitched and rolled in the swell as it past, The fish ran me up to the bow and back to the stern. And then into the net it went. A perfect, 27 incher with the tail pinched. That last wave kicked the anchor free, so I picked up and went back to where the trout were.
I finished up the rest of my live shrimp playing with the Trout, and finished getting my Speck limit, while I was at it. I called a buddy that had a 1/2 day charter, who called me earlier. To tell him it seems to be calming down now, and the frenzy is on. He has a small boat, and I think he could bang a few real quick now....unlike earlier. So he headed my way. And was into some fish for his folks instantly.
There's nothing like going out for a little while and having a box of fish to clean, when you are by yourself. And I almost quit with a 1/2 dozen shrimp left, to go make a few casts for some Black Drum...I'm glad I didn't. I had enough to fillet back at the dock.
By the time me and my buddy left, it was quite calm. That's what I love about the jetties, sometimes.
If ya hang around long enough it's about guaranteed to be way different than when you arrived, out there.
I've heard the saying; "you have to remain rigidly flexible if you want to be successful out there 12 months a year".
That probably goes for all inlets where there's clashing of tides and current along huge amounts of structure and varying depths.
Although the jetties can really make me mad at times. You just cannot fight the "flow". I really feel sorry for the "newbies", with the 1st boat, taking the wife and small child, out there. Because it's so damn easy to get into trouble.
I really think if your a 90% of the time jetty fisherman, you've come up through the school of hard knocks. I know I have.
Here's the fruits of my labor. (aka: FUN)
Almost two one gallon bags of fillets, skinned de-boned and ready to share with mom....So I can come over for dinner. She's a way better cook than I am.
It don't get no fresher than that!
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Capt. Dave Sipler's Sport Fishing (Jettywolf)
New member
Username: Jettywolf
Post Number: 67
Registered: 7-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, November 15, 2007 - 1:56 pm: | |
11/14 - PERFECT IN EVERY WAY
Yep, compared to 4 days ago when the wind was HONKIN' 20 knots or better at times and the bite shut down to nearly nothing....here came the WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY. Some take it, some let it go by. Who do you think I am??
And man was it a day that made ya feel good to be an avid angler in North Florida. Cool, light breeze if any, slick calm waters, perfect tides, and some of the best live shrimp I've seen in awhile filled my live well to the rim.
Good company, great conversation, loads of laughs, no bait stealers, perfect water temp, and fish after fish after QUALITY fish!
Nick Watson, Drummer and leader of the band RATHKELTAIR joined me today. Being the kinda of guy that has his days off, and bangs on the pots and pans at night. I've sort of taken him under my wing, and helped him learn the ropes. And he's become a "Float Freak", like me. I'm a fan of the his band, also. He has a boat too, a 17 footer and we swap trips back and forth. Sometimes a smaller boat is just what I need to do a little R&D in, and Nick's always ready to go.
I've been absolutely DIEING to get out to the "big rocks", because it's that time of year that a short drive 2.5 miles out to the inlet and 2.5 miles back can mean a all day adventure, without a long boat ride anywhere else. Plus, the weather had the inlet looking gorgeous today. And so was the ocean, because 90% of the boats at the ramp looked to be heading offshore. They too haven't had it all that easy.
The bite is on out there also. And the weather only gives you a few days of window to take advantage this time of year. Unlike inshore fishing, I can go about anytime. But the bite on the other hand, maybe limited when a "front" pushes through.
We started off on a spot that in my mind is INFAMOUS when it comes to float-rig fishing the jetties, with a live shrimp. Year after year, this is the 'go to' spot for about all I'd ever want. And we sat there for FOUR hours having our float's first drug under by big fat Trout, then Redfish, then a few Sheepshead. Which by the way is a
"here's yer sign" tell tale that it's now the best time of the year for this inshore fisherman. When I start catching Sheepshead on the float-rig and live shrimp....My heart starts to flutter, I get so damn excited. Because that means the water temp is perfect, and it's go time for gamefishing fun.
We fished on this spot all that time and NEVER caught a single junkfish.
To put it plainly, Nick and I put on a "clinic" for all the "Sheepherder fisherman" near by dabbing over the side with fiddler
crabs as they watched us. We banged one fatty after another.
And Nick learned how important the tide was. Besides water clarity, and the water movement around the jetty rocks. Which makes this area special to a float-rigger, like me. I know when it's right...I can just feel it.
After hours past and the tide slowed, the bites dropped off and it was time to make a move. So I pulled anchor and headed to the next spot.
A very short ride to spot #2, I anchored up, grabbed my jigging rod, pinned on a live shrimp and made a cast up to the jetty rocks. My jig sank for about 4 seconds and I felt the distinct tap, tap through my Loomis 8'2" Greenwater rod, and Stren super braid line. I lifted up and there it was another healthy Redfish burning line off my low profile Shimano Curado reel. I was "first cast" lucky all day long. Then it was Nick's turn....I.G. (instantaneous gratification) for him too! We both had Reds from 25-27" long. "We're gonna be in a rally of fish here again", I said to Nick, as I netted his fish then rebaited. It was CLINIC time again. Because on almost every single cast we caught a beautiful slot sized Redfish....many times we got our timing perfect and had double headers, having both of us setting the hook at the exact same time.
Then came the first Black Drum, because I let my jig fall a bit deeper. And that's all she wrote....we wanted the Drum for the fish box. So Redfish actually became the bycatch of the day. We wanted freezer fish. We had our 1 per person per day Redfish limit hours ago. And it wasn't all that hard to entice a Black Drum to the fish box either. They were so schooled up that in a matter of an hour or so we had caught 10 or more Reds (released) and put 10 Black Drum in the fish box.
The Drum ranged from 18" to a hefty 7-8 pounds. I love 'em. I like to Blacken "black" Drum on my iron skillet outside in my summer kitchen. (actually it's my outdoor 12 month a year kitchen) I have not cooked a single meal inside the house since I lived where I do. I have a porch and deck on the back of my detached garage, where I have my double burner fish cooker, and stainless steel gas grill. As a bachelor, I can get away with doing things my way. And I cook outside.
After we boxed our 10th Drum, we pulled up anchor and went in search of more Speckled Trout. And I found them, no problem. But many were just 15 inches (the legal size limit) but Nick and I decided to go ahead and only keep larger ones. So we hit the last spot of the day and that's where we found some fatties again and topped off the second 72 qt. cooler I had in the boat.
Plus, I caught the first Black Margate of the year too, on the float-rig.
We burned about 12 dozen live shrimp between the 2 of us. And the shrimp we got from B&M bait and tackle were superb today. "Wade the shrimp man", from Nassau County must have had a banner day shrimping, as we had fishing. Because these "river crickets" were super lively and fresh besides being the perfect size. It was just a perfect day all the way around.
At the dock, we took the time to take all the fish we kept (our limits of Reds, Drum, Trout, and the two Sheepshead, Margate, and Yellowmouth Trout) out of the cooler for an end of day photo. I put Nick in front of the fish, got ready to snap the picture and thought, "if they bit like this everyday, I'd really have my work cut out for me when it came to fish cleaning".
Capt Dave Sipler's Sport Fishing
www.captdaves.com
904-642-9546 |
Capt. Dave Sipler's Sport Fishing (Jettywolf)
New member
Username: Jettywolf
Post Number: 66
Registered: 7-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, November 06, 2007 - 12:58 pm: | |
11/5 - Too Long, Too Less (Jacksonville Fl)
Well it's been some really beautiful fall weather.......and still the most popular month is JULY!
Why people want to come here and sweat in the stifling heat, I'll never know.
Now.....is the time of year to fish!
It was cool in the morning and oh so pleasant in the afternoon. I live for this time of year. I day dream about it all summer long. I'd like to be somewhere that's like this all the time.
Nick and I hit the water, with our little tiny "shcrimps". An acronym for shrimp and scrimping, combined. (they're obviously running tiny right now)
So small I was thinking....."where the hell did I put my #10 hooks??"
Float rig fishing ONLY, was our game. Looking for piles of Trout in the river, was the plan.
But there's that ole saying you can only do what the tide allows. So we tried variations on some of the same spots, just fishing out deeper rather than shallower. Outside a line of docks rather than up in them. But it produced Croakers and Yellowmouth Trout rather than our target fish...out sized Specks. And where I'd think this time of year the Trout would be stacked up, we'd catch (more like Nick) would catch one good sized fish. And that's all the spot would give up.
This certainly is'nt like "years past", in which we set our standards upon. Because what is fishing anyhow? Learning patterns, habitual traits, and following up on what you may have done days ago, that worked. Well, we'd find fish, alright but they'd be either "one or two" rather than a school, or they'd be "shorts".
And then we had to go get some more shrimp because we were running out, because of all the Mangrove Snappers that are still infesting every trout spot, rock pile, or dock piling. Right there is all the evidence I need to prove too me that the water temp just isn't cold enough down below yet. So when I read a 69-73 degree temp on my machine, it's really just a false reading. Because down below I'm sure it's warmer. Or is it that our livewell eating buddies are growing resistant to the clloer waters, compared to their southern cousins?
We fished all day long, and in my opinion not getting what I came for. Nick on the other hand was Mr. Lucky. He must have ate his Lucky Charms that morning before I met him at the bait shop. "Is that why it took him so long to get there, even though he lives 90 seconds away from B&M?"
There was times we'd drop anchor on a spot, I'd tell him "float your bait thru right there...the Trout should be 18-20 inches, no dinks" and he'd do it and catch one immediately! I'd try and come up with squatola or shorties! Then, he'd do it again. I told him,"see what a good fishing guide I am? I can tell ya everything there is to know about where they are and the size they'll be"....but I couldn't catch one myself!!!!! And this happened time and time again. And if I didn't know that I could be out here doing this all over again the next day, I would have been getting pissed.
Personally, I was keeping big Mangos and Croakers and yellowmouths so I could have something to eat, because it didn't look as if I was gonna catch any good sized Trout.....I was the small Trout guy all day, till the very end. While Nick had no trouble putting fish in the box up to 19 inchers. We didn't find any super studs, which was the days plan, and never even lucked into a Flounder or a Redfish.
I guess I did luck into a big Red on one spot. My float went down fast as it was 70 feet behind the boat, along a set of pilings. And before I could do a thing a very strong fish ran my float threw the pilings and got my line woven into ever barnacle encrusted pillar it could. I was like Larry Dalhberg on that TV show 'HUNT FOR BIG FISH'. I crouched, reared back, almost knocked Nick over, hit him in the head with my rod, and hung over the side of the boat, grunting and groaning.....doing all I could to reel, reel, reel, pull, pull, pull that ass-hander from out of the pilings. But it broke me off, before I knew what happened.
We ended up fishing all the way up to high tide in the late afternoon, being the died hards we are. Till hunger got the best of us and there was no current left. So Nick and I went to Capt. Dave's Club House, the Grand China Buffet on Mayport Rd. Where I spend a lot of lunch and dinner hours, with fellow fisherman.
Well, it's "time to go make the donuts", and clean the fish that Nick was graciously willing to split with me. And do some tidying up of the boat.
So if you're someone wanting a fishing charter, I highly recommend November 1st through June 30th. So what, if sweatshirts and hats are needed in the morning, right now. No passing out from the heat.....yep, I've had a few "Nanook's from the North" about pass-out from the summer's heat on me before. They just ain't used to it.
I'm so looking forward to what winter brings in the river and at the inlet's jetties.
-Jumbo Speckled Trout
-Jumbo Yellowmouth Trout
-Black Drum
-Redfish, on the float up in the rocks
-and NO bait stealers!
LET'S GO!
REPORTS DAILY UPDATED REPORTS AT:
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Charter info:
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Call: 904-642-9546 |
Capt. Dave Sipler's Sport Fishing (Jettywolf)
New member
Username: Jettywolf
Post Number: 65
Registered: 7-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, November 02, 2007 - 3:04 pm: | |
Nov. 1st - Enough is enough wind!
Had Kathy and Rick with me today only after calling them real early and saying, "Can we go on Saturday or Sunday? " Kathy said, "Can't go then, we're heading out of town then".
So as I pulled the "Metal Monster"out of it's lair, here came the rain. Oh no!! Can this get any worse? I thought, it was 6am.
Yes, it can. Kathy and Rick are from San Diego, California and are yearly regulars of mine.....SAN DIEGO.......They left forest fires, and a 5.6 Earth Quake back home. Now they're here in Florida, and we have Tropical Storm NOEL!!
I was wishing for weather like we had last year when Kathy and Rick came November 9 & 10th. It was a lot cooler and very nice. Besides we hit what I figured was the EXODUS, in the creeks. Exodus of shrimp and foll | |
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