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Fernandina to Saint Augustine & St. Johns River
Capt. Bob Cosby
August 19, 2007
Jacksonville - Saltwater Fishing Report
Inshore/nearshore report for Jacksonville area waters
We're now in the depths of summer and the ocean temperatures are pushing 86-87 degrees. The creeks are heating up to 90 degrees plus, so fish them early and late when the predators are not too lethargic and more likely to take a bait. Hopefully, the full fledged hurricanes will leave us alone, but we could use some kind of weather such as a northeaster to shake things up a bit.
I had a surprise during a charter last Saturday morning while fishing a shallow creek off the ICW north of FT George Inlet. My customers were catching rat reds next to an oyster bar, and I threw a small finger mullet on a 1/8 oz jig off the stern and put the 10 lb spinning rig in a rod holder. I heard the drag scream and a huge splash behind me. I turned in time to see a tarpon in the 60-80lb class greyhounding towards the creek mouth and ICW.
I yanked up the trolling motor and creek anchor, fired up the engine and gave chase sending Bryce to the bow with the rod. The tarpon headed north against the current. I kept the boat as close to the fish as possible to avoid being cut off by the numerous jet skis and other Saturday boat traffic running helter skelter up and down the ICW. It reminded me of what Boca Grande might be like. This fish put on quite an aerial display jumping 12 to 14 times during the next one and a half hours as he led us a full two miles north. Finally, it ended as I feared it must, with the line parting at the leader.I had prepared my customers for the probable end result, and they seemed happy with the whole unlikely adventure. We were never able to get a picture with the slow focusing digital camera.
The tarpon fishing in the ocean has been hit or miss due to a lack of pogies on the beach and shrimp boats working the coast. If you can find either one, your chances of success improve. Recently, there has been a pretty fair bite of kingfish on the beach near St. Augustine. Some schools of spanish mackerel are moving along the beach feeding on glass minnows, and can be caught with small spoons or jigs.
Flounder have been biting fairly well along the jetties and at ambush points in the ICW and its feeder creeks. Ladyfish and jacks are plentiful and always willing to bend a rod. Recently, mangrove snapper and black drum have been biting in the river near submerged rocks. Speckled trout are hitting on the incoming tides. A top water lure fished early or late in the day is always worth a try.
Some early arriving bull redfish can be found far up-river along the channel edges at the turn of the tide. Slot fish and rat reds are in the ICW and its creeks and at the jetty tips. Tight lines!
CAPT Bob Cosby
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Captain Bob's Fishing Charters,Inc.
http://www.captainbobsfishingcharters.com
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