Inshore/nearshore report Jacksonville area waters
Capt. Bob Cosby
July 29, 2010
Jacksonville - Saltwater Fishing Report
Summer is in full swing with heat indexes often above 100 degrees. Paradoxically, the water temperature along the coast has been quite cool due to some kind of thermocline/inversion. No tar balls have arrived here yet, and our ocean and beaches are beautiful. The big kingfish tournament is over. The kings have been keeping an on again off again schedule recently. Pogies are plentiful right now.
Most of my fishing has been in the ocean and river because the creeks get so hot. Redfish and trout are available inshore; catching them there is just an early/late endeavor. Sheepshead are scattered and not really a summer fish. Flounder are around, just not in great numbers. You might encounter schools of jacks and ladyfish just about anywhere in the river. Some schools of monster jacks are moving along the coast, usually in the vicinity of an inlet of some sort.
My "go to" large fish recently have been sharks and reds. The shrimp boats have been dragging consistently, and have been covered up with large black tip and spinner sharks, and a few tarpon. These sharks jump and spin and test the endurance of both fisherman and tackle, quite often defeating both. It's the rare fisherman who fights one to the boat without handing off the rod to a friend or relative for a breather!
There are still some black drum around the jetty tips. Adolescent reds are ranging up and down the jetties, and will inhale smaller pogies fished on the bottom or on jigs. Be careful landing and releasing the reds, as large sharks and barracuda sometimes smash them boat side. Bull reds are exploring the river in anticipation of the fall spawning season. Tarpon are here, too, and can put on quite a show crashing mullet schools along the jetties or pogies behind the breakers. They are one of my favorite fish to target.
Fish and boat safely!
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