Jacksonville Fishing Report for Amelia Island & Mayport
Capt. Dave Sipler
September 23, 2003
Jacksonville - Saltwater Fishing Report
JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU'VE CAUGHT IT ALL...
If you read my reports on a weekly basis, you've probably figured out that I like huge fish.
Years and years ago, me and my dad would go fishing in a small boat and spend the day doing the father and son thing. We'd fish in Chico-pit bay, White shell, and Mill Cove. Dropping the boat in the water behind the house at Fulton road. These areas were close and accessable.
But eventually we'd end up at the jetties, 9 out of 10 trips.
Dad loves the jetties, and so did I. But in a 14 footer I always seemed to have more respect for the big water out there, then he did.
We'd be back in Chico-pit bay, casting to tailing Redfish, or floating corks along the grass. The bugs were terrible, it was too quiet, the water was shallow and murky, and dad would always say, "come on, lets get outa here. Lets go to the jetties."
For some reason, I was thinking the same thing.
In the spring time we'd have a ball. Back then our favorite activity would be casting Gator Spoons to the Spanish Macs, Bluefish, and Jacks that travel the rocks all the way to Navy base and beyond.
We'd drift the incoming tide from the tip of the south jetty casting up tight to the rocks, having an absolute ball catching fish for miles!
No one seems to do that anymore. Now trolling seems to be the only way for most folks, in preparation for the Kingfish season where those trolling techniques seem to need a honeing.
Anchoring that small boat seemed to be easier back then compared to today. We'd use bricks, for the rocks and a small grapnel hook for the sand. I guess it 's a weight thing. The bigger the boat, the better ground tackle you need.
Dad and I would always hang into something our tackle couldn't handle. I remember buying him for Christmas a heavy Penn Spinning rod, and reel cause he'd always hook some sea monster. A memorable catch was a 10 pound Sheepshead off the south jetty, then we moved over to the north jetty and on my first drop down to the bottom I hooked a 12 pound Sheepshead. 22 pounds of Jetty Snapper in about 15 minutes! And on bass fishing tackle too. I was the "man" that day.
I suppose we loved the jetties for the challenge it gave, and always with a sense of the unknown. There was always a fish that we couldn't hardly get to the boat, the other boats and ships to watch and of course those huge boulders that always came into play one way or another.
I hate to even think about it, but one day in a big ocean swell we went up to the south tip of the rocks to retieve a spoon that was casted a bit too far, and ended up hanging off of the green moss on a big boulder. (it wasn't me who cast it up there.) So we went to retrieve it and a swell picked up the lil aluminum boat, and placed us right on top of the jetty. Motor and all was out of the water.
We were high and dry!
I plucked the spoon from it's perch, screamed at dad, aa he stood up, put one leg out on a rock, pushed us off as the swell returned and backed us off into the water again. Just as slick as "Cool Hand Luke", we were back into the water, and I had to do a underwear check!
Needless to say, I had Rock-a-phobia for a while after that.
The other day, I took a great group of guys that were in town for a convention. They were hot to go, and actually were at the dock 20 minutes before they were suppose to be. An uncommon sight for conventioneers.
We left out to fish the last of the falling tide at the jetties. I had Mullet in the 3 pound class to use as cut bait. This would save us some time, cause I didn't want to waste valuble river current while chasing pogies.
I cut the mullet into steaks and sent it down on my big fish rods and reels. We were after monster Redfish, and maybe a Tarpon.
The first bite came quickly. The 8 foot magnum heavy G. Loomis rod doubled over, and my Accurate twin drag boss lever drag reel was set at a strike drag of 5 pounds. But that was just the start.
The fish took off, blazing out seaward past the red bouy. I increased the drag pressure to 10 pounds, then 20 pounds but it didn't matter. The 50 pound Berkley Whiplash Spectra braided line peeled off the spool as if there was no end to this fishes stamina. Half the line was gone on the spool, when I was preparing to let the anchor go, and play chase. Right then the fish was gone!
As my angler reeled 1/2 the line back on to the spool as his hands shaked. "what was that Captain Dave". I said, "we'll see when you get the end of the line back." After a look at the leader it was apparent that it was most likely a shark. The end of the leader was shreaded just a few inches from where the hook used to be. The force of the run even broke my sinker off.
This is not what we came here for, I told my anglers. We want a "managable fish". Even a Tarpon is managable. But our malicous first strike of the day, wasn't our last. We had too many fish like this hooked up during the falling tide. One after another "ate our lunch". Throw in some Nurse Sharks, which easily came boat side and there you had it. A day full of hooking fish so big, we needed a harness, a 50W International, and a cable leaders.
Some times it's just that way. The Sharks are so big that you certainly don't want to fall over board.....bleeding!
I have a friend that is a commercial shark fisherman. Two weeks ago he wasn't but a few miles offshore of Georgia's coast. He had sharks that were up to 1000 pounds! Many of them were 200-400 pounds. Hammerheads, Bulls, Lemons, Blacktips, Spinners, Finetooths, Sandbars and Tigers. And when he gutted them, what did they have in their bellies? -REDFISH remains! You don't even realize their arrival, but this all coinsides with the Mullet migration, as waves of baitfish round the jetty rocks, without you even knowing.
Normal rods and reels can't catch these fish. It's a specialized game of will on both ends.
Not many of our catch and release Redfish make it back to the bottom this time of year. So keep that in mind. This day while trying to 'not' hook any more sharks, we only caught 3 Redfish.
So, it's quite simple. If your not catching the nice big Redfish out there at the inlet, it's not because you're using the wrong bait, or not fishing in the correct area. It's because they are being pursued, by giants.
Right when I thought I had it all, the right weight tackle, the stout leaders, the best hooks, the finest of reel drags. There's always a fish out at the Mayport jetties that will make you feel as if you'er minnow fishin'.
I'm going after one of these monster sharks. Just because they are there.
I've located the use of the correct tackle, and have the crew that's willing to put in the time. If we get one to the boat that's at least 200 hundred pounds, I will be happy. What I'll do with it when it's boatside I don't know yet. (PHOTOS ARE #1)
But as my buddy who catches them all the time says; "No one gives them the respect they demand, Marlin are out of your reach, so why not?"
The time is now to try it. And after hearing words like that, all I can say is......"I've come along way from fishin' with dad in the 14 footer."
"I'm your Huckleberry Mr. Shark, lets get it on".
when..."SIZE MATTERS"
Call Capt. Dave Sipler's Sport Fishing
Jacksonville, Florida
904-642-9546
WWW.CAPTDAVES.COM - for charter info and recent catch photos. Plus my on-line tackle shop w/ fishing videos and Approved Capt. Dave Jigs.
More Fishing Reports:
