Ready? Set, Go, get your BIG Redbass....and we got 'em.
Capt. Dave Sipler
August 17, 2010
Jacksonville - Saltwater Fishing Report
Big Reds. Coming sooner than you think. And marking the beginning of the fall season.
Stereo typically, most folks think October is the month. But depending on when the BIG BITE starts. October could be the middle of the bite. "Bite as refered to as the Spawn."
Large Redfish ...(aka: Redbass for the Jacksonville cracka'.) Are not just a seasonal fish in the St. Johns River. We have them around most of the year.
But the Late Summer and into Fall spawning season is when there's plenty of them and they are really large.
Although, the two largest ever on my boat were caught in the spring. One by me, the other by a client. At 53 and 50 pounds.
Because there's a good spring bite also, (April - May) which I believe is the large reds re-entering the river from being offshore during the coldest winter months, like Feb. and March.
The most monster Reds, I've ever had clients catch was 48 in a 4 hour span. It was a just two guys, a father and son team. And the fish were all in the 20'ish pound range. Just inside the inlet's jetty rocks, along a hard bottom ledge of the channel......using dead pogies! It was a real rally of bent rods.
Circle hooks, stout leaders, heavy lead sinkers, and rods that can handle the lead and current is what's needed for this kind of fishing.
A good by-catch of big Redbass fishing is a Black Drum. Especially in the spring months. But depending on the type of year the river is having. There is also Redbass eaters out there too, especially at the inlet.
The fishing is basically "bait-n-wait" fishing on anchor. But the coolest thing about fall big Reds is that most of the time, my crew can catch the largest fish they've ever seen.
Redbass in the 40 pound range are true trophies, get about that and you're really doing something.
I'm looking for that 60+ pound fish each year. Just as a personal goal. I'd like to have someone catch one that big, and it can be done.
One year a customer told me, "Dave, there's a $100 bill in it for ya if I catch a over 35 pounder, while we're here." I didn't want to say anything, because ya' just never know what might happen. But as it turned out, the first Redbass he hooked was 38 pounds. And that only took us about an hour of standing in the pouring rain while fishing to get that fish, and for me to make an extra $100 bucks.
Not all big spawners have to be caught in the deep swift currents of trhe St. Johns River. There is times, and areas where light tackle can be used to catch true monsters. One of those 50 pounders I've had on the boat came from 15 feet of water over a rocky point.
Jigging can be very effective. Because you can mark these fish on your sounder below the boat.
A light lead head jig, 3/8ths oz to 1-1/2 oz. can be jigged off the bottom while drifting over them. With bait or a large twister tail. This has to be my favorite way of catching 30+ pound Reds. It's all about the tide and the spot, though. Inter-active, and lighter tackle is what makes this more fun. Marking them, then jig them almost vertically.
Capt Dave Sipler's Sport Fishing
904-642-9546
Daily Blog: www.jacksonvillefishingreports.blogspt.com
Jacksonville's best Inshore Fishing
Spottfishing aboard the 26' CC "Jettywolf"
"It's a good time..."
Jacksonville Fishing Forecast:
NOW...is the time to start planning your BIG RED fishing trip.
These fish will really start to kick-off around September.
Reservations are easy;
Call to check on your day. Then visit my web site and book your charter via Google check out.
Target Species:
Biggest Redfish in the river.
More Fishing Reports:
