Feb. Jacksonville Fishing Outlook
Capt. Dave Sipler
February 7, 2011
Jacksonville - Saltwater Fishing Report
February a tough month in Jacksonville, so it seems these days. Because I can remember days in Feb not all that long ago, we had to beat the Speckled trout off the hooks while looking to catch and keep Yellowmouth Trout. (weakfish)
Specks are closed for harvest during February. And I've learned to get used to that, as a die hard Trout lover.
And since last winter, the epic winter of 2010 the Trout bite just doesn't seem the same. I'm sure we'll see and or feel the lasting effects of the 2010 winter for awhile.
If not with delicate species such as Speckled trout and Yellowmouths. But heck, "who's caught a big Mangrove Snapper, lately?"
Or more aptly stated, "who caught any monster Black Margates and Mangrove Snapper inshore that past fall?"
When one species is on the recovery list. there's other's that step up and fill that slot. I've seen it with "spots" this past fall. With no Mangroves around, we sure did catch allot of lowely "spots" that past year.
And then there's Black Drum. Good Gawd, there's been a great bite of Drum since last November, for me at least.
And here it is in Feb or 2011 and we're still catching them. I can't even remember the last "legal" keeper size Redbass I caught. But that's Okay with me. Because the Drum are there and they are chewin. And I like keeping more than one measily fish a day.
I EAT FISH...AND LIKE IT, mutiple days a week!
From up in the river to at the inlet. Where the heck are they all coming from?
OPPPS...better not say much or the ECO-NAZI's will have the Feds and this "push over" of a state called Florida. Banning the take of all Black Drum!
Either way, it's winter and that also means people going nutzo over Sheepshead. I've bever been a fan. I like a really big one say 9-12 pounds. Kinda reminds me of the Red Snapper I hardly ever get to catch.(and now couldn't even keep one, even if I caught one!)
Those little 2-3 pounders to me aren't really worth cleaning. Different strokes I guess. There's always someone out there that loves to clean those over-sized Pinfish.
And it's all in good practice for the Jacksonville Offshore Sport Fishing Clubs, EL CHEAPO SHEEPSHEAD TOURNAMENT on Feb 26th.
YES, a Sheepshead tourney.....in it's 10th year!!
The one and the only, out of Mayport Florida.
(your truely is a sponsor, wink, wink)
If you were really pre-fishing for the tournament, then you'd only be worried about a single fish "over" ten pounds. Because that's what it takes to even "sniff" a 1st thru 3rd Trophy.
The first year, I fished it. Because it had maybe 50 boats. My Charter customer and myself weighed in a hard earned 9.3 or 9.8 pound Sheeps, I can't remember which. And we came in way down in 8th or 9th place.
With over 300 participants (not boats) this tourney is angler based, not boat based. The field of NE Florida fiddler dippers is intense and cunning.
Let's go fishin'
VISIT ME AT: www.captdaves.com - since 1996, 7 days a week, 12 months a year.
Jacksonville Fishing Forecast:
Speckled Trout REOPENS March 1st...it's usually raining or blowing 20 knots that day.
But I'll be back on the Speckley's if there's a good spring bite.
DRUM....monsters come thru here in March and April.
March and April, Sheepshead spawn. NOW we're talking the big ones. 10 pounders!
I hope this "wet" winter is a change for the good. It sure has rained allot lately.
We call it rain, I guess the nothern folk call it Snow.
Still in my AFTCO "bluewater" shorts, here in J-ville! C'mon down and fish with me aboard the Jettywolf.
Target Species:
Drum, Sheeps.
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