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Jacksonville Fishing Report for Amelia Island & Mayport

Capt. Dave Sipler
June 15, 2004
Jacksonville - Saltwater Fishing Report

TARPON, REDFISH, SHARKS.....MOTHER OF ALL CREATURES

BIG AND SMALL

It was an unbelievable start to June of ’04. Usually it’s “mid” June till I start cookin’ on the Tarpon, but the full moon came on the 2nd and all hell broke loose!

(it’s real simple, full moon in June; start fishin’ for 100 pounders) Join the hundred-pounder club!

On the 3rd, the day of the full moon, or as some same; the day after we caught a 95 pounder. Then on the 9th I went solo to see if I could bag one, but had a boat move in on my chum line and of course he boated a nice “crowd pleaser”, aka: a 50-70 pound Tarpon. I was mega-pissed but he had a charter and I was alone doing R&D, so I gave him a break. Jimmy, you’re forgiven! But at least I saw on caught.

Then on the 10th of June I went to my “honey hole” and chummed up some sharks to have one Tarpon show up kind of late, as we were slowly fading in the intense heat of the day, and we lost it on the first jump. My folks understood, that’s the way it goes sometimes. “Thank Goodness for the always hungry sharks”.

On that same trip we did the run and gun behind the shrimp boats to have sharks, and I mean (especially) one “man of a Shark”, hooked up. A high flyer, a line smoker, a bring ya’ to your knees, make ya’ cry and scream shark! But it was lost at boat side after a very intense fight.

On the 11th I took the day off from the run and gunning, the shrimp boat chases, and the agony of defeat of the day before. I told my charter we’d just hang in the river and at the inlet and get some Redfish. In minutes of anchoring, we had 2- 27 inchers. An unlikely thing here in J-ville in the big water, cause our river water is filled with giant Redfish on the average. So I was very happy and so were my clients.

From the inlet we ran down river a piece and anchored up on a spot that is “SO” snaggy that I call it the, Grand Canyon. But if the current is running good enough the hang-ups are minimal. And there we boated 4 more Redfish from 12-17 pounds.

Which is really nice. Cause the stronger the current the more my big 8-foot G. Loomis Magnum Heavy rods make me proud. It was a great day. And all this within 3 miles of the boat ramp!

On the 12th, after my radio show we started the charter at 10am, as soon as I could get to the boat ramp. Everyone one was screaming, “No bait, no bait” on the grapevine, but pogies on the beach do pay attention to the tides. Or more like swimming with it. Cause it was low tide when we started, and I found wads of Pogies in 6 feet of water with Tarpon rolling and splashing freaking out the greasy lil’ baitfish. “Hmmm...I must be just lucky”. I made two casts of my small 8-foot Lee Fisher Bait Buster Net, and had more than I needed as bait and chum. The tide was fixing’ to change and I got to my parking spot, and threw the anchor. I tossed out an ice scoop of pogies into the water, churned some into an oil slick with my Braid Chum Churn, and drank a bottle of water and then we were ON!!!!!

“Hmmmm.....I must be just Lucky”. Cause we were on location 5 minutes and there leaping behind the boat was another 95-pound Tarpon!

The time is NOW.

If YOU want a shot at a trophy fish.

But plan!!!!!

I like certain tides. I like days that I think we have a chance. This isn’t a lake. The fish move. If, I wanted a Tarpon, I’d ask the guide what days does he think are best. If this can’t happen, then “this Tarpon Guide” will try 150% with what Momma Nature gives me to work with.

Heck, with all this Tarpon talk Mr. Redfish almost takes a back seat. And he shouldn’t.

Brutus T. “Redbass”, is always a favorite. Give me some freshly caught bait in the live well and I’m ready. I’ve got all my tackle sorted out now, and I’m very, very happy. It’s taken a year to do it, but now I have my arsenal of ACCURATE twin drag reels complete.

If you want to use the great “fish catching” tackle on your special day, call me. If you want to use some pot-metal, tiny drag, wimpy reels and fairy wand rods, you’ll need to go with someone else. I have a passion for exceptional equipment, just as I do for hooking you up to a huge fish of a lifetime.

ALL ABOUT FISHING, WNNR am970 -the winner- Saturdays at 7am, tune in and get the first hand info on what, where and when the bite is on.

Saturday- 6/19, Guest: Ronnie Waterman is coming into the studio with the “Jetty Wolf” to talk about Pier and Beach/surf fishing. I know not everyone has a boat, so here’s the man to call and ask questions. Call in number to show – 904-739-9109 local, 1-877-900-9667 out of town. Ronnie was the Jacksonville Beach Pier manager and is an avid surf angler. The new concrete Jax Beach pier is coming right along, so it won’t be long till we all have a local pier again. So I figured it’s time to start thinking behind the surf line again!

Till next tide,

Preparation + Opportunity = Success

Capt. Dave Sipler

www.captdaves.com 904-642-9546

More Fishing Reports:

 

Inshore fishing the St. Johns River, and estuaries around Jacksonville, Florida provides year round opportunities for Redfish, Speckled Trout, Flounder, Black Drum, and Sheepshead to name just a few. Plus, seasonal favorites such as Shark, Tripletail and Pompano. The legendary Mayport Jetties are mile long piles of huge granite boulders that protect the inlet to the St. Johns River from the Atlantic Ocean. Around these jetties is some of the best and most consistent fishing.

Contact Info:

Capt Dave Sipler's Sport Fishing
Departing from:
4870 Ocean St.
Mayport, FL 32223
Phone: 904-642-9546
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