BUSY APRIL, lessons learned
Capt. Dave Sipler
April 19, 2012
Jacksonville - Saltwater Fishing Report

Timothy Geitner was on CNN the other day talking about how the US economy was strong enough to absorb the rising prices of fuel. So he saw no detremental effect.
Well Mr. Geitner, I'm spending alot of my time sitting at the gas station filling up my boat at $3.90 and my diesel Truck at $4.15 a gallon.
And it's really evident when I do my taxes that most of my over-all expenses to opperate is FUEL expenses.
Can ya just imagine what the ECONOMY would be like right now if gas was $2.00 a gallon!?!
And "what drives America...DIESEL FUEL" was a $1.00??????
No one would be complaining about anything.
I don't personally agree with Mr. Gietner one bit. But, we all know those politicians live on another planet anyhow.
April has been a Banner Month. And it usually is as far as "Busy Business" goes.
My problem is as usual. Is that if only these same people CAME AND FISHED HERE, DURING THE BEST SEASON!
"""""""November thru March""""""
Those are the months that are absolutely the best inshore fishing.
OH, but all those Holidays get in the way.
So, when we bottom fish for B-I-G Redfish, and our baits are eaten by ravenous Bluefish.
Or when we're at the inlet feeding beautiful live Mullet out to hopefully B-I-G Redfish, and the baits are eaten by more ravenous Bluefish.
It's all because "that's the way it is this time of year".
Well, I have become 100% sick of it. Each year the Bluefish (swimming teeth) seem to be getting worse and worse.
I won't be putting in the labor and time to get those Mullet and Pogies any longer. And certainly won't be fishing in that deep water and raging current ay longer.
I took all the sinkers above 6 ounces.....YES, 6 ounces, off the boat. I took the "man-maker" 50 Lb. anchor off the boat that's needed to hold me in the ludicris current in the river.
And no matter if I have 4 passengers or not, we will be light tackle fishing, and that includes "FLOAT-RIG" fishing, shallower more manageable areas.



I had a (4) boat, 4 person per boat charter yesterday heading out (way late) at 1:00 pm till 6pm. My guys wanted a MONSTER REDBASS. So I fished the deep channel edges with big cut Mullet, and had nothing but trouble hotting and staying on the bottom with 8 oz. plus sinkers, and when the bait was not on the botttom. Every bait was eaten by Bluefish!!!


If we had went and at least "float-rigged" and two at a time worked floats while the other two tossed Jigs, we would have fared much better. And at least had better action....F-I-S-H, any fish is better than Bluefish eating all our bait.


And 38' of water with a screaming incoming tide and 8 ounces of lead that won't touch bottom is total B.S.
(we won't be attempting that any time soon.) Instead we'll be concentrating on what you see in these photos.
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