Spring wind week, same as last year
Capt. Dave Sipler
March 19, 2008
Jacksonville - Saltwater Fishing Report
3/18 - Dejavu...ditto....seeing double, it's spring winds
Since Saturday I've been booked everyday. And each day is worse than the next....
Yep, it was all the same today. S.E. 20+ knots, and when it's that strong there's not much difference from East to South East winds. Dingy, cloudy, and cool on the water from start to finish......but the finish is always a thrill running trimmed down, haulin butt in the rough chopped up river back to the boat ramp. In big metal, it's always fun. At least it is for me.
Had Robby and Steve on the boat today from Rome, Georgia. And they wanted a BIG FISH, or as many as we could catch. But I just had to go to the jetties after yesterday's high winds and see what it looked like. So we anchored up in the soup sandwich and float rigged a little. Steve caught a Trout, and a Bluefish right off the bat. (never got a photo....it was too rough)
It doesn't look all that bad, but the swell was tight and the water was all stirred up.
After working two areas, with no more bites we went back down river and stopped by a buddy who was Sheepsherding.
Sheepshead fishing with his folks, he said he had a bunch. I'm not a rock dabber, so we moved on, after a anchor try. The swell was against the wind and so was the current, and as I tried to anchor I could see this would be a nightmare.
We float fished a really good spring time spot for Trout, but as most over cast nasty low pressure days, we never even had a trout bite. This was a run about 5 miles from the boat ramp, and the only place we could seek relief from the SE wind. So as the guys drifted their floats down the bank I pitched out a shrimp on a bottom rod and was immediately hit by a good sized Croaker on a shrimp. This same place I've caught Black Drum, and Sheepshead while bottom fishing, besides some of the largest Trout I've ever caught on a float-rig. So we all grabbed bottom rods and even baited up with strips of clam.
We put a some good sized and spunky Croakers in the fish box. But never had the first Sheepshead or Drum bite. I moved around the area, and then moved around the area some more.
But as soon as the Croaker bites came they were gone and we never caught any more of the big ones.
An exercise in FUTILITY is what the last three charters have been for me in this wind. It's been blowing so hard.
Half the places I want to fish, I can't. And the other places I can't even get anchored up on. Float fishing for Trout is out of the question, and if I'm going to the bottom, I'd really like some Big Drum or Reds.
Robby and Steve really wanted a big fish. And there was no lack of trying going on today. These guys were fisherman! And were sticking to the plan.
So with that said; Tomorrow's forecast is for 20-30 knots of south wind, Small Craft Caution - so I called Wednesday's customers and re-scheduled for 2 weeks from now.
This is how well I keep records?
Last Year, during this EXACT same week I was booked from the 16th through 22nd. And there was huge wind every single day, starting on the 17th it was gale force, then had to make adjustments and the wind continued to be stiff from the EAST every day then on Friday the March 22nd of 2006, it finally laid down. And we caught the first Jack Crevalle of the season. At 5 pounds, and right after I'm looking to get that first Pompano.
This Friday the wind is supposed to finally lay down too! How 'bout that?
Jacksonville Fishing Forecast:
Trout, Reds, Drum, monster Sheepshead, Big Yellowmouth Trout. If only I could get to them.
Scratch that....even if I could they probably aren't biting in this weather.
But when the weather's fishable. The inlet fishing is great!
I'm looking forward to catching the season's first Pompano very soon. The waves of "P-fish" will hang around the inlet for a little while as they head north with the warm waters.
65 degree plus is what it is now, 68 plus is probably going to mean Pompano. Plus I keep my eyes peeled on the water for the Tripletail. Another seasonal traveler.
The hard south winds, may help them out.
Target Species:
Speckled Trout, Redfish, Drum, Pompano
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