Jacksonville Fishing Report for Amelia Island & Mayport
Capt. Dave Sipler
August 18, 2004
Jacksonville - Saltwater Fishing Report
THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE BIG
Folks it's just about that time of year again if not right around the corner from it.
Monster trophy Redfish time in the river..... the GOOD.
Hurricanes, Tropical Storms...... the BAD .
Not just teenagers. But really healthy brood stock Redbass....... the BIG.
I just got done reviewing some photos from last years, Sept. charters.
Wow was it a great month last year. The big the bold and the beautiful.
No I'm not talkin about that charter full of Texas girls I had last year, but rather the way those Reds looked in the pictures.
Last week I was at the Inshore Saltwater Anglers club, and talked tackle, tides, and currents with the members. Life in the big deep water isn't a scary place, it's exciting. But still I was asked do I ever catch "slot sized Redfish" while fishing deep along the channel edges??
My answer was....."I hope not, cause that's not what I looking for".
Life is too short to not take a load of teenagers, or the wife, out for a monster fish.
A few weeks ago on "all about Fishing" (WNNR am970 7-9am Saturdays) we also did a whole show dedicated to how, when, where, about catching trophy size Redfish.
And this weeks show (8/14) I hope to have a taxidermist on to talk about the process of "keeping that memory" fresh for a life-time.
SO NOW IS THE TIME TO GET OUT THERE AND PRACTICE UP.
Here's all what you need to know.
Find some good hard bottom and /or channel edges. Mark them in your scope and be proficient at anchoring dead on the spot, especially if you can mark big fish down on the bottom.
Have adequate tackle that can hold 4-12 oz of lead. I always use "bank sinkers". Kingfish tackle will work just fine in a pinch. I use super braid line, to reduce the drag of the line in the water being it has a smaller diameter. Thus I don't have to use as heavy of a sinker.
I use a nylon sinker slider, which is a nylon slid that goes on the line with a snap to attach the weight too. You can purchase them in BULK, (cause they don't come in bulk at bait shops) but at mine they do...... Go to: www.captdavetackle.com and I sell them in 25 packs. Believe me you'll want more than just a few. And stock up on various sinkers too. 4-12 oz have a good selection. 6-8 oz is my most popular.
You can also use a 3 way swivel. One end goes to the main line, one to your leader and the other to a loop of mono and just loop on the bank sinker. 3-way swivels are cheap, but I just prefer a sinker slider, myself.
Rigs: I tie all my own. I don't use any "store bought tourist rigs". NEVER! I have all my hundreds of rigs made and categorized in a handy bag. Leaders should range from 30# to at least 50#.
A 90# swivel, then 32 Inches of leader to a 5/0-8/0 Circle Hook. Circle hooks are best for fish that "we" have to release. But a plain shank Eagle Claw in the 7/0 size will also work.
Just make sure your hooks are strong. No fine wire hooks here.
Baits: I like cut baits, such as Pogies, Mullet, Croakers, Ladyfish, Bluefish, Pinfish, and live ones too. Fresh Blue Crabs, jumbo shrimp are good, (Conch doesn't work.....I tried it!)
Reels should probably have at least 20 pound mono, 30 pound is better, but as I said I like super braid lines in the 50-65 pound category. "Smooth drags" work best as with all fishing.
Areas that will hold these spawning reds will be of course the jetties, up in between the jetties, the outside tips, to off in the sand or mud.
In the river the channel markers show you where the channel edges are. Some edges are better than others, cause there's hard bottom down there. I believe in; H-A-R-D means F-I-S-H.
If your bottom scope can mark detail, I always look for a fuzz on the bottom. be this small fish shrimp or plankton I'm not sure, but I call it the "food chain". You can see the food chain some places on some tides and not on others. This is a good clue to a good area.
Here's some staple spots to anchor up on. Not up on the bank, but rather out in the deeper water where the current is strong.
White shell rocks
Little Jetties
Dames Point
Blount Island-marker 36 area
Entrance to Mill Cove, under the power lines.
The inlet, the big jetties
Coast Guard Station
Along the Navy Base
The entrance to Trout River
I have the same people year after year come back to catch these huge trophy fish. If all goes well it's not uncommon to catch as many as you want, or have bait left to feed them, "or have arms still strong enough to pull on them".
Always take a camera. These fish are what people from all over the country come to Florida to catch, this time of year.
Think of it this way: I read a lot and see a lot about catching big Redfish in the Indian River, Mosquito Lagoon & Banana River down south. That's all well and fine. I guess I'm prejudice. Cause you don't have to know how to sight cast, you won't spook our Redfish. A bad cast doesn't send the whole school of giant Reds running for their lives!
Here it's the Wild,Wild,West of inshore fishing in the big St. Johns. Plus the further south you go the more I think it's your just another tourist! I don't certainly treat my clients that way.
If we have to stay for another hour to get a few more fish, I do it. I'm happy to do it.
Your photos of your trophy will be on my web site for the whole world to see. Your name is in lights! And I love to "hook you up".
But......ya'll that have boats of your own right here in J-ville, and never caught a big Red. How can you pass up such a great fishery?? So what if ya have to release them?
Just like our local Tarpon compared to the Tarpon in the keys, our Tarpon don't come to dinner with bow ties on. But, I can swear I've seen a few trophy sized Sept and Oct Redfish with groupings of spots that almost resembled a tuxedo!
Give em' a try. You may get addicted.
Capt. Dave Sipler's Sport Fishing
Jacksonville-Amelia Island Florida
www.captdaves.com
904-642-9546
"ALL ABOUT FISHING"
with Capt. Dave Sipler
the Jetty Wolf
WNNR AM970 THE WINNER!
SATURDAYS 7AM-9AM
If you would like my fishing report emailed to you on a bi-weekly basis email me and I'll put you on the list. Email Capt. Dave
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