 |
Jacksonville Fishing Report for Amelia Island & Mayport
Capt. Dave Sipler
May 12, 2005
Jacksonville - Saltwater Fishing Report
IT’S BEEN A WACKY SPRING SEASON
Well we started the month of May off with some threatening weather. But it didn’t pan out. Instead, me and my radio show co-host Pelican went out and had a "riot in the river".
We sat on one spot for 5 hrs hooking Speckled Trout after Speckled Trout!
Not dinkers either. We kept our 10 fish limit, and each one was 2-1/2 to 3 pounds a piece.
But, this is no month of May I have ever seen. As of this writing the weather has down right SUCKED. From rain to high winds, and cold air temps, this month has been a reel disappointment. Today , we cancelled because of a gale force wind warning. And now I look at the weather and it has been down graded to just a Small Craft Warning, with 20-25 kt winds.
Either way, we should expect the weather to some time straighten out. It should be, 70 degrees in the morning, then hot with a high of 85+ in the afternoon. But not this May, so far.
I don’t know if this has effected some of the species of fish this year, but it sure seems to have. The big Redfish should be in the river, but no one is really catching many.
The Spanish Mackerel and Bluefish have shown up finally. Which is a sign spring is here.
The problem I’m having is that every time I go out on a charter we have to wear jackets!
Cause it’s cool if not down right too cold for this Florida boy.
The water temp hovers in and out of 70 degrees. Which is a good thing, for now.
If we never see water near 80, we won’t have much of a Tarpon season either. By mid June, is when I start seeing the silver beasts cruising along the inlet rocks. But we’ll just have to see.
The bait is here. Last week me and Pelican saw huge schools of mullet at the inlet, the likes of what looked like the fall run. Although there were no predators in those schools other than huge Yellowmouth Trout eating them from below. We threw top water plugs in to the schools to see if there was some big Bluefish attacking them, and we never had the first swipe.
But, we did find some big Blues outside the Navy Base in the river, where the bait wasn’t as concentrated. We said to each other, "Dang, I guess those big Bluefish don’t have any instant messaging."
Since we seem to be in perpetual spring time, with no hints of a hot summer around the corner. I have maintained a steady routine of catching lots of Speckled Trout, some Redfish, Pompano, Sheepshead, Yellowmouth Trout and Flounder. In the river and around the inlet.
I should be bottom fishing for the big spring time Redfish to 30+ pounds along the deep swift areas of the river, with cut Bluefish, Ladyfish, Pogies and Mullet. So my heavy tackle hasn’t come off the rod racks as of yet, except to give it a try here and there with no luck..
The Flounder are getting thicker. Pelican caught two really nice ones last week with out even targeting them. He had a 3.5 and a 6 pounder along the jetty rocks. Look for them along the inlet, and rocks and docks in the Mayport area. Cause they are coming in from offshore. We know this because the offshore bottom fisherman, sure are getting their share on the near-shore reefs while looking for Snapper and Grouper.
The beach reports have picked up. Surf fishing has been very good. Pompano, Beach Whiting, Black Drum, Redfish, Spanish Mackerel, Bluefish are being caught off the new Jax Beach Pier. Don't forget about the Father's day Pier tournament June 17-19, contact the Jax Beach Pier.
I’ve heard of no real Kingfish reports coming from offshore. It’s about that time too.
But I guess everything is going to bust loose when those Pogies show up thick on area beaches enough to be easily caught in a cast net. There is Pogies here though. I’ve seen them scattered along the jetties, in the river and down river as far as Blount Island. But not in any masses worth chasing them.
Despite the cooler air temps and living in what seems the month of March... since March,
with a lot of rain and high winds, the fishing is excellent if you understand the way to go about catching during these odd-ball weather patterns. My log books from years ago have meant nothing. I stopped referencing back to them last month, cause it just didn’t add up. I too am learning to go with the flow, during each charter.
One thing I’m having a ball with, and so are my customers. Is the excellent Trout fishing.
I know I maybe repeating myself during each of these reports. But when things are tough and we still catch 30-40 great fish on a ½ or 3/4 day. No ones complaining! The fishing is fun, and the eating is top notch. Everyone is in command of their own fishing destiny. They are holding the rod, they are setting the hook, they are fighting the fish, it’s all on them. I’m in charge of teaching you how, and putting the boat where it needs to be. Unlike bottom fishing for the big Redfish in the river, where I normally bait up, cast out the lines, and manage the rods as the bait soak on a 7/0 circle hook. Until the rod doubles over, and the fish is on.
It’s a different kind of fishing, then bottom fishing. But all I can say is that I’m damn good at it and my clients really enjoy it, too. It’s working well for me, during this wacky spring season we’re having. So being versatile and trying other tactics works. It’s when your one dimensional, and hard nosed is when you start having trouble catching fish when things are not like the way they should be. BE VERSATILE, AND READY FOR ANYTHING.
Till next tide, fish often and fish hard!
Capt. Dave - "Jetty Wolf"
Your host for "All About Fishing"
on Jacksonville’s ESPN 1460am
Saturdays 8-10am
www.captdaves.com - listen 24 hrs a day to last weeks show.
If you would like me to email you my fishing report each month just email me at: [email protected]
More Fishing Reports:
|
|
|
|
