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Jacksonville Fishing Report for Amelia Island & Mayport
Capt. Dave Sipler
January 10, 2005
Jacksonville - Saltwater Fishing Report
Happy New Year, and BIG fish too all.
I certainly wish my new year started a whole lot better.
First off, I had engine problems, around Christmas. Which carried over to New Years, then mechanics going to Yamaha school for a week, afterwards........ Let me just say in so many words, "DO NOT HAVE ENGINE PROBLEMS, AROUND THE HOLIDAYS! Cause help, is hard to find.
But as far as the fishing, it's been fantastic. Do to the weather. As of January 1st the weather has been the best I can remember, this time of year. 70-80 degree days, one after another. Which makes for some great fishing opportunities.
Personally, if every "winter" was like this it would fast become my favorite time of year. It's not hot, and it's not cold.
But we don't take it for granted, cause it could change any day.
The Speckled Trout fishing goes up and down, but still is the best bet in town. In turn if you stick with the "float rig technique" you can not go wrong. Catches of Redfish, Sheepshead, Drum, Yellowmouth Trout can be had all on the traditional float rigging technique. From the river to ICW, out to the big rocks along the inlet.
We usually get into some Black Drum action about this time of year at the inlet, 10-20 pounders. But I haven't seen much signs of that lately. There's Drum out there, and I see a few caught by bottom bumpers, just not the numbers I've encountered in years past. Believe me, if they're out there to be caught, this "rock jockey" will take full advantage.
So what's up in the near future?? Well February is closed for the taking/harvesting of my good friends the Speckled Trout. Even I believe every fish deserves a break from the wrath of the Jetty Wolf, so I can easily live with 28 days without a fresh Trout fillet.
But there's still the big Yellowmouth Trout, they bite strong right through what is normally our iffy-est month of ther year. And talk about ferocious, they are so much fun, especially when they run 2-5 pounds.
By the end of February, the Sheepshead should start to gather and soon after in March they should be in full tilt! It's really Sheepshead time then folks! March and April is gang-busters for those 7-Striped Jetty Snappers. And with that comes the BIG Black Drum to 90 pounds, and Jumbo Redfish to 30 pounds at the local inlets and in the St. Johns River.
But after the the Speckled Trout closure in February, look out. March thru May can be some mighty fine Trout fishing. For bigger fish.
Enough about the future, what about right now in January.
Well, just a few days ago I hit the inlet with my radios show co-host, Ken "the Pelican" Hubbard, and we literally just "goofed" around and caught: 8-Redfish - 18" to 25", 6-beautiful Speckled Trout to 3 pounds, 8-Sheepshead 2-7pounds, and 20 Yellowmouth Trout in a 3/4 day......"just goofin off", no serious hard work intended. Float-rig fishing the jetties/inlet.
I had some other days too, where I had limits of "BIG-PHAT" Speckled Trout for 3 people (5 fish over 15", with one over 20 as a trophy, allowed), some Redfish, throw in a 6 pound Black Drum, and we were back to the dock by 11 am. Those mornings are to die for. But can be had on almost anyday, if it's "right", when fishing with a Float Freak like myself.
Yesterday, 1/05/05 we had 20-Ringtailed Porgies, 1- Sheepshead, and (33)-Redfish from 17" to 34", at the inlet. The Reds were so fired off we caught them on every cast, of a jig tipped with a whole live shrimp. It was mayhem!!!!
One thing I want to mention. I want you to be challenged, a bit. That is what makes it fun.
But at the same time I don't want my charter clients that are not "die-hard anglers" to feel over-challenged either. So that's why I'll customize your charter to suit your party. And I hope that's why you choose a private charter, like myself. From Mom to the kids, they'll all have fun. The charter business is being in the people business, as much as it is fishing. And the end result is "catching fish" and making memories with friends and family. I respect that. And that's why I love my job.
We'll soon be back into the time of year when my motto is; "SIZE DOES MATTER". Cause I love fishing for whoppers. Monster Redfish, Black Drum, and Sheepshead. Serious rod benders. On my side there's nothing like knowing that someone on the boat, or everyone on the boat will hook up a possible fish of a life time. They don't realize it when they get on in the morning, what could happen. Some folks never hooked into a fish that pulls that hard, some may not want too. But in my mind that's what I'm striving for. It's all in the tackle used, too. Matching the tackle to the fish is what I do, but then there's those times when we get a big surprise!
An example would be last April when Jim Dugan and friends fished with me. We caught a big 10 pound Sheepshead, on the right size tackle. Which was great. But then the next fish was a 90 pound Black Drum........It took all the anglers on the boat to get that fish to the boat, and then I even had to help out in the end. The fish was the size of a 200 qt. cooler!! The tackle did the job, but Jim said.........."Dave, I think we needed a heavier rod." And Jim was right, but it made for a catch of a life time for all aboard that day.
If you want to hear the latest "dock talk" go to my "radio show page" on my web site and down load my show, and give a listen. It's last Saturday's show. Always full of information, on what's been going on.
Till next tide,
Capt. Dave Sipler's Sport Fishing
"SIZE DOES MATTER"
Jacksonville, Florida
www.captdaves.com
904-642-9546
e-mail: [email protected]
"ALL ABOUT FISHING"
WNNR - AM970
Saturday's 7am-9am
with the "Jetty Wolf"
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