Inshore/nearshore report Jacksonville area waters
Capt. Bob Cosby
May 26, 2008
Jacksonville - Saltwater Fishing Report
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The one dominant characteristic of fishing this May has been the consistently strong wind. Come to think of it, last May was windy also. Just ask the professional golfers who had to play in it at the TPC! Despite the windy challenges, however, the fishing has been pretty good.
The flounder are leaving their winter haunts offshore and are stacking up along the jetty rocks, dock pilings, and in the creeks. Try a finger mullet or pogie to target the larger doormats. Speaking of pogies, they have arrived along the beach from St. Augustine to Jacksonville. I've heard reports of tarpon feeding in the pods, but have not personally heard of any being caught yet.
Big jacks are also in the area, probably shadowing the bait pods as they move up the coast. Sometimes they daisy-chain in large circular schools within a mile of the beach. If you are itching for a fight, try throwing a live bait or lure near one of these beasts. Lots of spanish mackerel are along the coast, too, and are suckers for a trolled 00 Clark spoon or cast silver Gotcha lure. They will eat up a minnow fly, too. The first kingfish has been caught off the Jacksonville Beach pier. Ladyfish, bluefish, and smaller jacks are frequent catches inshore.
Big speckled trout are being caught near Mill Cove and Blount Island. Float-rigged live shrimp, lipped diving plugs, and topwater plugs all produce. Redfish at the jetty tips are suckers for pogies, mullet, or greenies pinned on a jighead. There are still a few sheephead around.
Yesterday's charter caught some strange things. Besides the spanish, sheephead, bluefish, ladyfish, etc., they caught an octopus, a 20-lb bat ray, and three small barracuda! Lots of small to medium sized manta rays are frolicking/mating right off the beach in the muddy water. There have to be some cobia mixed in with them.
Tight lines!
Captain Bob
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