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Jacksonville Fishing Report for Amelia Island & Mayport

Capt. Dave Sipler
August 11, 2003
Jacksonville - Saltwater Fishing Report

Where are the BIG fish?

Right here.

Let me pose this question to you.

Where can you fish on a 3/4 day (6 hrs) in N.E. Florida right now with our whacky water temps, and have at least 10-15 fish over 15 pounds, and some over 20 pounds, with multiple hook ups at the same time?

On the For Reelin II, with Capt. Dave Sipler's Sport Fishing.........That's where!

Not to forget, a pile of fish for the fryer when you get home.

"Adaptation", is the word that comes to mind for me.

If you're not catching what you want. Try something else.

Yesterday I broke out our inlet at 8am with my clients aboard, and as I rounded our north jetty and into Lake Atlantic - (NOT! It was alil' snotty). Either way, I measured the water temp on my DYTEK temp gauge on my dash, with 65 DEGREE WATER!

Holy wool blankets Batman! "Dat be some chiwwy waters".

Brrrrrr...

As I approached our fishing grounds, it didn't get much better, it was now 67 degrees.

But I knew that was the flood tide temp, and it was gonna get warmer as the tide fell.

But still, with the overcast skies, and the cool water, and the light winds, I proceeded to put on my rain jacket, cause I was a tad chilly.

(there's no HMO's in the fishing biz, don't want to get the sniffles!)

But ADAPTATION is in order. That's why I'm, doing what I do these days.

I believe the "Size Does Matter" thing, like a religion. I take people who want to catch fish, and want some serious drag pullers, and so do I.

We had action right away. I tested the waters with only two baits out at first, and we had what I refer to as, Instant Gratification! And I love it.

It maybe Shark fishin', but no one seems to mind.

We ended the day with 20 of them on quality G. Loomis Light Action rods, and tiny hooks for the lil mouths of the Pompano & Whiting we were also targeting.

People can't believe, that a 21 pound line stripping, drag buzzing Shark can be taken on a "Brim" hook, and mono leader. But the truth is, it's very effective!

The cold water didn't bring us but one Pompano. And we saw zero Tarpon. But we also had 20 bull Whiting, which makes for 40 fillets, and some mighty good eating.

Today, right before I wrote this report, my day was already made. Yesterdays charter clients called me and wanted to re-thank me for such a great trip, and the fish dinner he had last night was excellent, he said. And told me he'll be back in a few weeks.

Now that makes me sleep good at night. Thankyou Robert.

BIG MONSTER REDFISH???

-Capt. Daves second favorite, only to a 100 pound Tarpon.

The Reports are coming in.......

It may take a while to get that trophy Redfish.

-Patience is a virtue, remember. And this week ought to be very good.

I had a fellow Giant Redfish fanatic, put in his time yesterday at the inlet.

After waiting for the bottom of the tide while Flounder fishing, with limited success, he ventured out to the BIG ROCKS of the St. Johns River Jetties.

Like I wrote in my last report, he quickly caught some tiny Croakers, and then sent them down on a leash, pinned to a big ole circle hook.

And ended up with a 40 pound REDFISH, and lost another smaller one to the hazards below the boat.

He mentioned that he saw some other fisherman catch some smaller Reds in the 27-32" range.

The smart thing to do at the jetties right now is; Fish the absolute last of the falling tide. The water's gonna be warmer. By doing this your putting all the odds in your favor.

I constantly have to teach my clients that tides are important, so just going out all hilly-nilly with no game plan isn't that smart.

Things are not yet picture perfect right now.

So "fish smart not hard".

Another report I recieved from my partner Capt. Randall is that the Trout bite while float fishing is good one day, then bad the next.

He's my resident "water monitor". He stated as he fished up and down the St. Johns that mosly the river is completely fresh. That's a surface sample, and no salt water is even registering on his Salinaty Meter.

He hunted for two whole days, and did come up with Speckled Trout to 8 pounds one day, and 4 pounds the other. But big bites were limited.

He also told me, the entire area around Blount Island, a Jacksonville port area, which sits smack in the middle of Trout catching country around here, is off limits to all fishing near it's bank.

The Coast Guard ran him off again yesterday.

All I can say is this. As of last year on Sept. 11th.

"They", (terrorists) have won, to a point. We as Americans have "lost" some freedoms.

Freedoms to fish, boat, and not be interveined with, by goverment agencies.

Is this what they were wanting? I don't know.

But that's how it feels to me.

_______________________________________________________

Either way, go do the right thing. Catch a big fish!

Till next tide,

Capt. Dave Sipler's Sport Fishing

More Fishing Reports:

 

Inshore fishing the St. Johns River, and estuaries around Jacksonville, Florida provides year round opportunities for Redfish, Speckled Trout, Flounder, Black Drum, and Sheepshead to name just a few. Plus, seasonal favorites such as Shark, Tripletail and Pompano. The legendary Mayport Jetties are mile long piles of huge granite boulders that protect the inlet to the St. Johns River from the Atlantic Ocean. Around these jetties is some of the best and most consistent fishing.

Contact Info:

Capt Dave Sipler's Sport Fishing
Departing from:
4870 Ocean St.
Mayport, FL 32223
Phone: 904-642-9546
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