Jacksonville Fishing Report for Amelia Island & Mayport
Capt. Dave Sipler
August 30, 2003
Jacksonville - Saltwater Fishing Report
The Gathering of T-A-R-P-O-N.
8/31/03
This week me and my clients have taken advantage of the local Tarpon gathering.
The water temp is up and even before the sun hits the water, the temp seems to be at least 75 degrees.
This week I have seen numbers of Tarpon reminiscent of the fall mullet run and the Tarpon are gorging themselves.
We anchored up and fished in current as I began to chum with a basket of pogies. Probably 50 pounds worth.
It didn't take long for the poons to show up. Not because of the chum, but because of the schools of glass minnows and mullet that where schooling in the area.
The water was alive with fish, big and small. From Spanish Mackeral, to Tarpon the feed was on.
The sight of what looked to be hundreds of Tarpon rolling and literally laying on the surface tailing, in a line, facing the current was unbelievable. If I wasn't busy running the chum chopper and laying out some whole pogies I could have maybe inticed one to a MirrOlure, they were that close to the boat. That's definately something I'll be trying on a day of R&D, in the near future.
We were only on the spot about 40 minutes when the first hook up came. The 8 foot rod bowed over and the circle hook was set. I frantically reeled in the other lines, started the engine as my crew readied for the pursuit.
The fish was a hundred pounder. Leaping latterally out of the water 3 times about 6-7' high.
To me and my clients this was a sight to be hold. We gave chase and the smooth drag(s) of the Accurate reels peeled without a single worry.
As the angler battled the fish from the bow, I was sure it was ours. Closer and closer the fish got. Tired but still obviously a bit green, I reached for the leader, barely had two fingers on it and with one huge jump the hook pulled and the fish was gone.
The morning was still young though and we had a few more hours of current. With out it and the fish will just magically disappear just as they appeared earlier.
So I ran back to the spot, re-anchored and continued to chum. We weren't there 15 minutes and we had on #2. We re-ran through the drill and were a bit relieved that this fish wasn't as big.
The Accurates did their job and wore down the fish in about 25 minutes, till it could be leadered and lip gaffed. 70 pounds even on the scale. A few quick photos and the fish took off after a short revival period.
Now twice returning to the spot the fish were still rolling about, but soon the slack tide came, and they were gone. This was a perfect time for some sandwiches and cold drinks, and get ready for the next go round.
I met up with a friend that was working some bait schools on his trolling motor about 3 miles away. He saw plenty of sharks in the bait, but no Tarpon. So I set up a drift, shut down the motor and dragged our baits through the pods of tightly packed pogies. I never saw any sharks, and right as I was about to bring in the lines for another drift, we had a shark jump on one of the rods. Then another.
Totally a different fight. Instead of a long blistering run matched with just as powerful leaps, the sharks just bull dogged near the boat. About 4 foot long and 25 pounds, they were the perfect size to be really in now in the heat of the day.
But then there's those fish that your happy to have bite, when it's 75 or even 95 degrees.
My buddy in the other boat saw the bait shower in another near by school of pogies and flipped his bait on in to them.
We were about 150 yards away, and I saw a Tarpon jump, then jump again. I said, "hey look at the free jumper, wonder if he's hooked up or not". So I called my freind on the Nextel. "are you hooked up to that fish?" I asked, he replied, "you bet, I'm on and here we go!"
Ken wasn't fishing for a total of two hours yet and he's already hooked up! But hooked up and all alone. Which is tough. He steered the boat as he battled the fish. Dragging him about a 1/4 mile offshore. We stayed out of his way as I tried to keep an eye on him.
The call came. "I have 'em on the lip gaff, Dave". So we pulled up the baits and went to take some photos. There's nothing better than a photo from the water. You in the boat with the fish. Especially when you're all alone,and the fish is a 70 pounder!
It was a great catch. And a great day all around.
So the next morning, I had a hunch. We didn't even bother going to get any chum. I just took some fresh mullet I've been saving. And sped to the spot fast.
I arrived alot earlier than the morning before, and with a whole lot more swell, coming from the S/E. Tarpon first thing in the morning, then go and catch a ten yr. old some small sharks later.
As I approached my anchor spot again, the Spanish Macks were everywhere, so were the glass minnows, the mullet and the Tarpon.
They were rolling all around us. Didn't see any laying up on the surface like the day before though, but when 5 roll next to the boat, you have a good feeling the day is gonna have some serious hookups.
I took the mullet, cut them in half and pitched them out. We sat for about an hour, just watching as the fish seemed to come close to check us out. Then it happened, first hook up. One jump about 100 feet off the transom, and the fish was off. We bearly got off the anchor.
We then re-grouped and re-baited and tried again. The rolling fish were already disappearing! They don't hang around this spot long, and it's obvious. But we hooked up again 30 minutes later and this fish was acting different. One long blazing run, no jumps except a whollering on the surface a hundred feet away and the hook pulled, again!
For some reason, just one or two of the multiple factors, that make this fishery so challenging came into play while loosing both hook ups. We then decided to go catch the youngster a few small sharks. And he did. After just two in the 15 pound class, and several ladyfish he was ready to go back and play on his boggie board in the surf. Me and his dad didn't expect him to last very long.
It looks like my favorite 2003 season Tarpon spot is the sure fire ticket to hook ups right now.
It has replaced the Mayport Jetties as far as this year looks. Last year it was the rocks. And if this years season was anything like last years season, I'd be probably talking about catching Tarpon along the inlet. But that doesn't seem to be happening. I've heard on a few coming from there, but nothing like last years action, where 7-8 hook ups a day was common.
But that's okay, it's fun learning a new spot where I'm the only boat.
And the season isn't over yet, by a long shot.
Get out there and try the "king of inshore fish" there's nothing like it.
Lures along the rocks!
99.9% of all fish caught at the Mayport Inlet are caught on bait. Most local anglers feel that you can't be successful without it.
I just had a weekday outing by myself that taught me so much I have to pass it on.
Right now our tides are high and the water is very clear. So clear I was pitching jigs pinned with Pogies to Redfish I could see, 12 feet down.
Uncommon here in N.E. Florida's inlets.
Then I decided to cast a plug to them, instead of bait. After making two casts with the jigs and bait and watching 10 fish chase the bait, in a mad rush to eat it.
A lure would be easier. Casts faster and as I drifted the rocks, made more sense. Needless to say, I caught a redfish on every cast. And they were all in the 30" to 32" catagory with my one keeper fish coming from a school I spotted swimming on top of the rocks, with Jacks below. Beautifully bronze, as if they've spent along time in the tannic waters of the river.
The fish ran for cover into the 40 foot depths along side the rocks, which made for a great battle on my bass casting tackle.
This day wasn't the first time I caught Redfish at the inlet on lures, but surely the most productive.
When you learn the patterns of the fish during the year, it's quite easy to catch large Speckled, and Redfish on lures along the ten ton granite boulders that make up the Jetties, as they are locally known.
There's a few of the Redfish Pro Tour participants, like Capt. Joe Ries that have been very succesfull at catching a livewell of heavy weight 27" Redfish along or on top of the big granite rocks, during tournaments and getting a big paycheck.
For one thing you'll have to be willing to loose some lures, before you get acclamated to the rocks. It seems they they bite as well as the fish do. And have a hunger all thier own.
From soft plastics like the D.O.A. shrimp to a 52MR MirrOlure have caught me plenty of big fish. Top water plugs even have their place along the rocks.
I caught my first lure caught Barracuda at the inlet one evening while Redfish casting with a Storm Chug Bug.
It's all about time of the season, water clarity, and are the fish there. As you master the tides and the places the fish gather to abush prey, you can easily switch from bait to lures. Find them, then challenge yourself.
The swift currents of the St. Johns River inlet is what makes it challenging, but then there's those times when the slack tide opens up all kinds of light tackle possibilities.
As an example: I was fishing a inlet to the north one spring day. And had my limit of 17" to 20" Speckled trout in the livewell. I probably caught 25 fish that morning on a MirrOlure. Then I went to the jetties to see what was going on. I anchored up on a spot that I felt through my experiences maybe holding some trout also. To my surprise I caught 3 in five casts and those 3 were bigger than most I had in my live well.
Same goes for winter time. The DOA shrimp in 1/4 oz Brown with fleck color, has proved to be better than bait. One day me and my clients were pitching jigs and shrimp along the rocks and had a blast with Yellowmouth trout in the 2-3 pound catagory, with a few Speckled Trout thrown in. Which made for a super fun charter.
The next day me and a buddy went out on the same tide and same place to see if we could locate the fish again. We pitched DOA shrimps, and not only had huge speckled trout, but we also caught bigger yellowmouth trout than the day before. With no baitstealer bites and faster action.
To this day that same place holds those fish along the granite rocks the same time every year. And from then on I'll always have a DOA shrimp ready.
I'm not saying don't take bait. Heck I take loads of bait. And have plan 'A', 'B', & 'C' covered.
It's another approach, an angling challenge, and you'll learn something new, about the tides the water the species and yourself.
I've taken this approach.
The inlet has some of the absolute best fishing for: Redfish, Flounder, Trout, Tarpon, Shark, Sheepshead, Black Drum, Croakers, and numerous other species.
I want to know every diverse way to catch those species. And become 150% profficiant at it.
And casting a lure now and then, is just one more way.
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