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Jacksonville Fishing Report for Amelia Island & Mayport
Capt. Dave Sipler
December 9, 2004
Jacksonville - Saltwater Fishing Report
It’s winter, but you’d never know it
To start, let me just say……” WE’VE BEEN TEARIN’ THEM UP!” And “them” is the Speckled Trout. Wow, what a great season it’s been so far.
Again, the weather has been phenomenal. I’m writing this on Dec. 8th and it’s 80 degrees outside.
I’m a flip-flop wearer. And no-shoes required.
Although this could change, I believe the great “winter” weather we’ve been having is just making up for the terrible Hurricane season we Floridians had to endure.
I know for the rest of the country, disasters are easily forgotten. But I know we won’t forget about them for a long while.
So come see us. We appreciate our visitors. I know, I do. You are the core of my charter clients.
Not tooting my horn or anything, but in the month of November till now I’m sure the For Reelin II has seen close to 1000 Trout come over the gunnels. Trout fishing is addictive for me. And it has been a perfect fit to my theory, “fish for what’s hot, and leave what’s not alone.”
The Redfish around the inlet and river have all been small, at least for me, while Trout fishing.
“Puppers” is what I call them. Not even making the 18” minimum size limit here in Florida.
Like I said in last months fishing report I went from catching huge ones in the 20-30 pound range straight into catching the Trout, but at the same time the inlet seems to be sort of void of large Redfish right now. But that’s okay, cause we have so much else to fish for. And that’ll soon change too.
We’ve been catching our share of Flounder, Yellowmouth Trout (Weakfish), Sheepshead, Mangrove Snappers, and Ring-tailed Porgies. And talk about a shocker, while having Californian Dave Herring on the boat the last week in November, he even hooked and jumped a small Tarpon. The water temp was 66-68 that day, which isn’t totally out of their range, but we certainly didn’t expect it, especially where we were anchored. Trout one drift of the float rig, then Tarpon the next. That’s what the Big St. Johns River is all about. Ya’ just never know what you’ll hook into.
Let me mention some trips, I’ve had. Normally a ½ day is kind of a short day, in my mind. When going for Tarpon or even trophy class Redfish, I prefer at least a ¾ day trip (6 hrs). But this time of year, a ½ day can be all it takes.
Mike O’ Callahan from NY and I fished together Nov. 21st. And since it was just he and I, I also pitched and reeled along with him. We absolutely smoked the Trout. It was fish from the start too fish at the end. Totaling in the 40 Trout range in a mere 4 hours.
Then there was the Donnell family. Mike Donnell called me after a long three year absence from the last time he was aboard the For Reelin II. “Mike it was too long, huh??”
His daughter Courtney was the “HOT ROD” on the boat that day. Most of the gals are. She was quiet and reserved as she put both of the largest Trout in the boat, a firm 3 and a beautiful 6 pounder. And she did it where 99% of the local anglers would never think of Speckled Trout fishing, and that’s at the Jetties, (aka: the St. Johns River Inlet). Why people don’t think about Trout out there is beyond me. I guess most folks just don’t know the habits of a trout very well.
But I do!
The Out Look
As our winter season progresses, we can expect Black Drum, larger Redfish, and Sheepshead to make a full fish box along with those tasty Speckled Trout.
I will continue to Float-rig fish, and mix in some bottom fishing along the inlets rocks if given the time.
I know the city of Jacksonville is soon to be in the national spot-light, with the Super-bowl coming to our town. If you are one of those people, that will be here for the game and want to fish also, please think ahead.
“They”, are telling me that I ought to be jam’n with business that whole time. “They”, being the folks within the city, and the planning committees. I‘m not holding my breath by any means, I’ll be ready that’s for sure, but it’s a wait and see kind of thing.
As with most January’s and February’s it’ll have to do with the weather and temperature, I’m sure.
I celebrated my sixth month…… “whoppee”……. of “All About Fishing” on WNNR am970 December 5th. It’s going along just great. I know 6 months isn’t a big deal but it sort of is for me.
I can tell you honestly, I have never looked forward to getting up at 5am on a Saturday anymore than I do now, to do the radio show. It’s just so much fun. You the listeners make it fun, and that’s for dialing those radios into am970 at 7am in the morning on a Saturday.
Fishing ain’t always pretty, and neither are we. “It’s fishing with an edge.” Where Information, Education & Entertainment is all what we’re about.
And Thanks to my sponsors: Salty Dawg Marine, Sea Tow, The Truck Store, Quality Craft Cleaners, and Arlington Bait & Tackle.
And a big thanks to Ken Hubbard, “the Pelican-American” for being there for me, as the co-host with the most! (he keeps me straight)
Till next tide,
CAPT DAVE “the Jetty Wolf”
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