REDFISH, digging deep
Capt. Dave Sipler
May 12, 2011
Jacksonville - Saltwater Fishing Report
5/7 - "FIRSTS"
Had Mathew H. his brother and dad aboard today. It was a really nice day, but it was "packed". I was told there was two tournaments going on, on top of it being a nice Saturday. After some big winds and seas early this week.
We started on the last of the falling tide, float-rig fishing. Had to get the guys "in the know", for later when they'd have to know what they were doing. A few bites, but nothing serious. Then, we tried a spot during the slack tide, and bottom fished. I was hoping one of them would hit a Black Drum or Sheepshead, a few Seabass later it was time to move on as the tide changed.
The went and looked to get "pogied up". Running North of the North Jetty to find some Pogies for Redbass.
Back to the float-rigs. The tide wasn't exactly screaming, but we pushed the spot to work. Mathews rod went doubled, his reel was a buzzing. What ever just took his float down was a HOSS! He did great battling in on the light tackle. The fish came right by the boat and under water about 2 foot. I'm looking, ready with the net. Thinking this has to be a monster Redbass. When I see it and it's no Redbass. But rather a Tarpon!! And right then the fish comes unbuttoned. Mathew looks at his hook and the point of the hook is missing, broke right off.
Hell, we're fishing for Reds, Trout, Sheepshead and use a small easily carried hooks for these small live shrimp. But the steel like jaws of the Tarpon broke the hook point clean off.
FIRST OF THE YEAR, NUMBER ONE. First Tarpon hook up of 2011. And the Tarpon never jumped, either and thank goodness it didn't, or it would have been surely gone. It looked like a "crowd pleaser" , aka: a small 30-40 incher.
Then, a few Reds were caught. And can ya believe they were perfect keepers too at identical 26-1/2 inchers.
FIRST POMPANO TOO!
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Mothers Day:
My mom, HAD A BALL!
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5/9 - Liking Monday's
Had Charlie W. and son in law George aboard the Jettywolf today. After this weekend, it sure was nice to be out on a Monday. Although any more, it really doesn't matter. The boat ramp was full, for even a Monday by days end. But no one was around earlier this morning, which was nice.
Tried to really schedule our trip per the tide. Wanted to fish the rising water, but have some wiggle room this morning to get plenty of bait. Those pogies can take minutes or hours, it seems. But lucky for us. Today, it was only minutes.
I'm really happy with my new livewells, especially the one I turned into a "pogie tank". It maybe only a 14 gallon Keepalive tank. But, it holds enough pogies for me. Today, they were much larger baits than I've had swimming in it, on past trips. And it still worked good. Besides utilizing the keepalive out-flow and in-flow fittings on the tank, I also have the pump that recirculates the water hooked up to a timer. On for one minute, and off for either 1, 3, 5, or 7 minutes. Saving on pump wear and tear, and battery power. After flushing the tank good with a steady flow, the pogies happily lived swimming around with the tank re-circulating water every 3 minutes, than as we used a few. I dropped it down to recirculating every five minutes. http://www.keepalive.net/ is where the really nice tanks, tanks with aerator-ventury pumps, and livewell fitting can be found.
We anchored up along the jetty and I pitched out the big pogies on a standard bottom rig. Wanting some good pushing incoming tide, the Reds would arrive as soon as the current started. Charlie was first-up.
"ALL" these Redbass will and were over-sized.
IT'S REDBASS SEASON! LARGE BRAWNY AND FULL OF FIGHT.
YOU WANT A NO LONG BOAT RIDE, ROD BENDING CHARTER?
THIS IS IT!
So, getting a keeper wasn't really in the game plan. Although it sure would have been nice. I didn't bother bring the float-rigs. Just because it's been so damn slow lately. I was hoping to keep action going today. Rather than working every crevise of the rocks with out many bites.
Charlie was on a roll.... the next Red was a locomotive! It ran so hard and fast I almost thought it might be a Stingray. The only difference is Stingers don't buck the rod tip. But wow this was one powerful fish. And Charlie being a very experienced angler handled the fish with no problem. Playing it out, till it came to the side of the boat and gave up completely.
At 22 pounds it was the "Brutus T. Redbass" that Charlie was looking for. George had a few swing and misses. But next it was his turn. And again it was a 30 plus incher. What most of these fish will always be.
You can see, it was a slick calm light breeze day with lots of sun. But was never scourching hot at all. We started to get short on Pogies, so we tried a few Pogie pieces, and they got ate by either Bluefish or StingRays. George had a stinger hand him his butt. And it wrapped in the anchor line, sat on the bottom and then it was all hands on deck as I pulled the anchor released the ray and unravelled it from the anchor line. NEVER a dull moment at the jetties. Somethings always gonna happen, and there's always some kind of sea monster that's gonna mess with ya.
Bowed over Ugly Stik's....I love it!
Another "over slot" sized Redbass. These fish had no problems eating the large Pogies.
I chucked out a Mullet head on the bottom and who else would come along...A Nurse shark of course. But no matter what, they will give you weak arms and a pain in the back because they may not run but they sure are strong! Charlie got his arms worked out on this one.
All our Pogies were gone. So I had a real easy plan. Oh, but it was slow as all get-out. We had a few Mullet molested. But no takers. Yes, how things can change. Maybe it's because we're really not "in spring" any longer. Spring lasted about a week this year. With Tarpon rolling at the rocks, I believe we're in the summer season!
The tide started to slow. And that's when they should bite. And one did. And Charlie took care of that one.
JAX, FLORIDA, LIGHT TACKLE FISHING...ABOARD THE JETTYWOLF
NO! LONG BOAT RIDES.
THAT'S GUARANTEED!!
Jacksonville Fishing Forecast:
HOLIDAYS.
WEEKENDS.
CALL AND BOOK WELL IN ADVANCE.
Target Species:
REDS
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