Jacksonville Fishing Report for Amelia Island & Mayport
Capt. Dave Sipler
May 24, 2004
Jacksonville - Saltwater Fishing Report
GET READY TO..........PULL AND REEL
Summer is a very exciting time of year, because the BIG fish like Tarpon and of course, Mr. Shark the Rodney Dangerfields of the fish world, (no one gives them the respect they demand.) They’re gearing up to bring you to your knees! Rodney has always been a favorite of mine, and he gets plenty of respect while making my drag scream!
I’m excited because of my NEW radio show starting on June 5th on WNNR am970 –The Winner. It’s “ALL ABOUT FISHING”, on Saturdays at 7AM with me, the “Jetty Wolf”. This is a not a new world for me as I have been a guest on other radio shows. But the big difference is that this is my show! There won’t be any hunting talk, any bird watching discussions, just edgy seat of your pants fishing with an attitude. Dave with an attitude? I’m not sorry either. Maybe people who love to catch little fish don’t have an attitude, I don’t know.
I’ve learned over the years that BIG fish can’t be caught on whimpy tackle, unless the thousand factors that are involved are all aliened. Boat traffic, water hazards, current, and just plain “mean fish”, need to be pursued with the right tackle. As the old saying goes, “don’t show up to a gun fight with a butter knife.” With this is mind I have searched the Earth for the best rods and reels to do the job I’m asking for. G. Loomis rods and Accurate-twin drag reels, are not on just every charter boat in Jacksonville, the best comes with a premium cost. As a matter of fact, I don’t think they are on any charter boat in Jacksonville, but mine! They do the job flawlessly, that’s why I have them. And you’ll be glad that’s all I’ll fish with too, when it’s “trophy time”. Remember, success is when preparation meets opportunity.
One Hundred pound fish are a scary thing when you can’t control them. Loosing the fish is the end result, especially at the big St. Johns jetties. Just ask anyone who’s hooked a 100 plus pound Spinner Shark, on what’s left of a 31” Redfish after it was mauled on the way to the boat! Flying through the air after they feel the sting of the 15/0 circle hook, a Spinner resembles a Blue Marlin out in the deep blue, except the 10-foot leaps in the air include a triple ganor, and quadruple twist reminiscent of a Greg Luganus, Olympic dive. You think I’m kidding you?
I’m not!
Tarpon are also on the wish list. I say “wish list”, because they don’t always stay hooked. Their steel plated mouth seemingly was designed to thwart hook sets. Not to mention their aerial leaps and monster power. Tarpon, a world class game fish sought after from Kenya to Costa Rica can also be caught right here in Jacksonville, Florida.
Picture this, you can be in the same group of anglers that have caught, hooked, and battled a fish that has a following amongst some of the worlds best anglers. Like Marlin, catching a Tarpon is an event that you will not ever forget.
Last year, Howard Schare caught the biggest Tarpon at Nassau Sound. It was a weighed and photographed, certifiable 110 pounder, which will be hard to beat. The battle lasted about 50 minutes. And Howard came back with some friends a few weeks later and one of his buddies caught a 70 pounder in the same location along with Black Tip Sharks.
Redfish, they are my “staple fish” all year, are not to be over shadowed by the monsters that they swim with in the summer. They run big too, from 10 to 50 pounds. The average inlet fish will go 30 inches and 10-12 pounds. But the nice thing is that these fish can come in numbers.
It’s that time of year to reserve your fishing trips early. I recommend when you’re booking those airline reservations and hotels, reserve you’re fishing trips at that time too. If you plan ahead, I have plans for you. The only part of summer I don’t like is, weekends are “outa control” on the water in the river and the inlet. Weekdays are best. Holidays are just one of those things that we’ll gave to put up with. I want to be at a certain spot at a certain tide. This is important to our success. If I can’t get there and anchor up on weekends, I’ll have to go to plan “B”.
So............get ready to pull and reel! Get a good night sleep, come prepared to do the work, and be patient. You pick the day; I just work with the numerous factors that Mother Nature throws at us. I’m more than confident with my locations, tackle, and that BIG fish attitude. Get yours by visiting www.captdaves.com and reserving your trip by calling 904-642-9546 or 904-591-8883.
THE DETAILS...
-Your trip photos on my web sites “recent catches pages”
-Tackle, Ice, Licenses, Cooler, Bait, Photos, USCG Safety Inspected
-Big fish, Light Tackle Angler Incentives (ask about them)
-1-3 anglers per boat/ No split trips or crowded boats.
-Standard day, 6 hrs fishing the “right tide”. ½ days available
-Group outings arranged
-Not a booking agent, you’ll always talk to “the Captain”.
-Multiple day(s) reserved discount
-Member of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce
-Member of the Jacksonville Convention and Visitors Bureau
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