Jacksonville Fishing Report for Amelia Island & Mayport
Capt. Dave Sipler
December 19, 2003
Jacksonville - Saltwater Fishing Report
THIS YEAR...A REFLECTION.
THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE LET ME KNOW THAT THESE BI-WEEKLY REPORTS HAVE HELPED THEM CATCH MORE FISH.
Reflecting...
2003 was a tough one. It started out great, though.
For me the spring of 2003 started off like any other.
Giant Reds and Sheepshead, with some big drum thrown in.
Then came summer, the Tarpon outlook was good, with a few early season monsters, like the 110 pounder caught by Howard Schare. Then from out of no where came cold ocean currents. One day, I ran around the north jetty in fog, while wearing a Jacket in July, and found the water temp a chilly 63 degrees! This was just the start of a "bad summer". In my log book the cold water stayed on the beach for no less than 6-8 weeks.
I managed a measily 5 Tarpon, in other wise the worst of conditions. Let me just say; "I hope we all don't see those conditions for another 100 years!"
The For Reelin II got a bit of a face lift also.
My pride and joy, got a new 200 Yamaha HPDI engine hung on her transom, and a new aluminum & stainless steel trailer put under her.
I finished off my arsenal of G. Loomis big fish rods, and matched them up with Accurate boss twin drag, reels. Tackle that dreams are made of.
The trophy Redfish that fill our river, beaches and inlets in the fall were on time, after the water temps moved up to normal. I had a great season putting my regulars and some new faces on the biggest fish of thier lives. But for some reason the giant Redfish ended too soon. The year before I caught them up till November 17th. In 2003, the season was over for me on October 14th. I hated to see it end. I love using big fish tackle, seeing my customers in straining battles, and posting the photos up on my "recent catches" pages on my web site. But looking back, I'm super thankful we had that short fall season, at all.
I've returned to my roots head first in 2003. I was back in my MayCraft 23 footer full time, after a 2 year run with a sponsorship boat. I learned alot about bay boats and trolling motors. The good and the bad, and the speed bay boats posess. Without them knowing I paid close attention to waht my customers said, when they fished both boats. I decided to remove my $1,200.00 T-top on my MayCraft, and make it a serious big water near-coastal charter boat. And people still love it. I may not have a trolling motor mounted on the bow anymore, but that doesn't matter. Like I said I've returned to my "roots". And found that catching big fish is still #1.
One thing that people have not taken advantage of lately, since the water temps have cooled is the Speckled Trout, float fishing.
This is another, back to my roots, exersize in fish catching. Fun and easy, I almost forgot how effective this form of angling is. I'm back at it, loving it. Full bore.
I hope 2004 is a year full of big Tarpon & Redfish.
Cause surviving the cold water of the 2003 summer, taught all of us who fish for a living a great deal.
Starting the summer of 2004, I've got some new plans. I'm going Shark fishinge! This is one fish that hardly no one pays attention too. Except for me. I've studied them. Why we hook them and loose them. And what it takes to make that CATCH! They jump, they spin, and are fast, they pull very hard too. I'm not talking about a 50 pounder either. But rather ones that are in the 100 to 300 pound class (???). They are out there, and are a blast to tangle with. No long boat rides needed. Just some patience, and the willingness to say, "I did it".
If Marlin doesn't fit your budget, and Tarpon seem to be finicky, hold on to your hat, cause you will tangle with the next best thing. So bring that CAMERA.
WINTER...WEATHER...WHAT'S THERE TO CATCH?
From the middle of November till mid March, when the weather is some times questionable these 6 species can keep you busy.
*REDFISH
*BLACK DRUM
*SHEEPSHEAD
*SPECKLED TROUT
*RINGTAILED PORGIES
*WHITING
But take a trip we made to the jetties just yesterday, for example (12/18). I went there with all the confidence of catching a variety of these fish.
But it didn't happen. But that's okay...
Because we caught BIG REDFISH the whole day.
If someone complains about that, they are insane!
The smallest 2 were just legal at 27" long.
The largest was 13 pounds at 33" long.
On a cold, brisk morning when the forecast wasn't suppose to be all that great, we had a ball.
With the correct tackle, these fish fight hard.
And with the right bait, "double hook" ups are not uncommon.
So a day of one species from that list, turns out to be a great one.
BOTTOM FISHING: around the jetties during this time of year should be a no-brainer. It's not that you don't need the skills neccessary to know the tides, the currents, places to anchor, places not to anchor.
But winter fishing the big St. Johns River jetties can be absolutely great. Anchor up, drop some bait. You will be surprised!
THE WEATHER: Now that's one thing that may have you thinking twice about the "big water". But if your aboard the For Reelin II, don't worry. I gotcha covered. A bad wind for some else is an okay wind for us.
RINGTAILED PORGIES: This panfish member of the Porgie family, in that same family as the Sheepshead, start to become very numerous as winter deepens.
The ole time way of catching them is to set up a small float rig (4-5" float), use a small weight and a panfish hook like a #4 bait holder, a Fiddler crab or small cut pieces of Shrimp. Pitch the float in to the end of the jetty rocks. As the float washes around in the lapping water up in the shallows watch for the float to twitch and go down. You'll either catch a Ringtail some up to 2 pounds or even a Sheepshead or Redfish. Ringtails can be caught by the hundreds, when you locate a school.
Good eating, and fun to catch, when the winter's water temps are at a all time low. Other ways to catch Ringtails are with a very small jig, or with a split shot pinched on your line above the hook.
WHITING: also a winter favorite. Along the beaches is a good place to Whiting fish. In a boat, live bottom areas down near Ponte Vedre beach hold alot of big "beach" Whiting. Your looking for the "big Silvers" as I refer to them as. Not the "lil brownies". Ocean Whiting will be fat, and silver as a Biscayne Bay Bonefish.
Either surf fishing or by boat, a simple double dropper rig or a single fish finder rig will work.
Fresh shrimp is a great bait. Use small pieces, and shell the shrimp. I've found that fresh "cuttlefish" a small locally caught squid, will sometimes be the best bait when the Whiting are chewin real good. It stays on the hook better than shrimp, and smells like din-din.
So just when you think there's nothing to fish for, the weather forecast looks bad, and you think it's really a gamble to go fishing. You could be wrong.
Cause if you dress right, and have a plan. There's always someplace, and some species of fish, that's an absolute blast to fish for.
Good luck, stay warm, hope to have you aboard the For Reelin II. Call and ask about my winter rates.
-Capt. Dave
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