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Jacksonville Fishing Report for Amelia Island & Mayport

Capt. Dave Sipler
January 5, 2004
Jacksonville - Saltwater Fishing Report

FISH,FISH and MORE FISH....it was an outstanding holiday season.

WHEW, WHAT A HOLIDAY SEASON!

I'm writing this report after about a 10 day run of trips. And a much needed break is welcome, but then again I'm ready to go again tomarrow!

CAUSE I LOVE IT!

I did everything from running a camera crew around filming some fishing in Jacksonville to full boat, family charters.

And all because the weather has been great here in N.E. Florida, especially on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of January.

But now that the holiday season is over, it's back to days when the rest of the world is at work. Which means, the river and inlet were I call home is mine again on the weekdays.

The boat ramps were over loaded and parking lots were over-flowing on to the streets from the 1st to the 4th of January. Mainly because of the 70 degree plus air temperatures, bluebird weather conditions; slick seas, no wind, and bright skies.

My clients and I managed gracefully to work around the crowds, catch some beautiful fish, and have a great time enjoying this big break in the winter weather.

To all that I had aboard the For Reelin II.....

Thankyou, I enjoyed fishing with you. And hope I can satisfiy your urge for a wonderful day on the water again real soo.

My customers, I like to make ole friends. And it's always a pleasure hearing from you. So if you ever have any questions, or if I can help you in any way.

Don't hesitate to call or e-mail me.

The challenge, the "float and drift" technique.

For me there's those times when even the "home of the whopper" the St. Johns River inlet jetties, are not producing what I'm expecting.

So, why not do something different??

And that's what I did on many of the trips I had from the 26th of December to the 4th of January.

We Trout fished.

I have a few instances to mention.

On the 2nd of January I took Jason Resetar and Derek Lemke, visiting Amelia Island from the Northeast.

They had just planned a 1/2 day trip. Which was okay with me, cause I knew I could put them onto a good bite of Speckled Trout. But as in most 1/2 day trips in the winter, I'm still "under the gun" time wise. I tried a spot were two days before we had some good action on Trout, but they just weren't big fish.

And we came up with only two small fish, and that was it. So off we went to the "honey hole".

Upon ariving it was instantaneous gratification!

And the Trout were big. (legal Speckled Trout in Florida have to be 15" to keep.) And these fish were 2 pounds and 18-19". Then Jason was in the meat! He slammed dunked several fish in a row, in the 3 to 4 pound catagory.

We finished up our 1/2 day with 12 to 15 Trout, with 8-fish from 2-4.25 pounds. Needless to say, when I got done cleaning these fish for them. They had some serious dinner! And Speckled Trout are some great eating fish. Again, people love the "float rigging" method of Trout fishing. It's easy and challenging all at the same time. Your always busy, fishing.

Then on the 3rd of January, I took a fella I already know. A fellow Fish-tail.net "message board user". This is where you can find me, shooting the bull with all my buddies. And Steve Hutter and his brother Mike visiting from Alabama, did the right thing, by calling me.

Steve is new to fishing the First Coast, he has a new boat, and needed a bit of guidance. So what better way of catching fish is there to start off with then Float rigging? None, that I could think of. He can take this method to where he fishes, and catch the heck out of them too.

We didn't have to travel far. We started just a 1/2 mile from the boat ramp. I showed them what we were going to do, and while doing that, I hooked a big fat Trout.

NOW THAT'S, INSTANTANEOUS GRATIFICATION!

Then Steve and Mike did it and caught fish right away. I think Steve was deffinatly impressed. We did my standard 3/4 day fishing the tides when they were right. So when the tide slowed down we went out to the inlet to see what the "parking lot of people" were doing. It was boats on top of boats. I was glad I had chose to do trout fishing instead of jetty fishing, when I saw the masses of humanity out there.

But since Steve had his first "keeper" trout now under his belt, now he needed a Sheepshead. But we didn't drop a fiddler crab over the jetty rocks, as usual. I had Steve and Mike drift the float down the rocks instead. And within 15 minutes Steve had his First Sheepshead, and on the float rig too! Which is not the norm. Then we went back to Trout fishing. We probably had 15 or so trout and the sheephead, with just one fish shy of their 2 person limit, which was 9 beautiful Speckled Trout.

Steve and Mike learned alot, and I bet had one heck of a great dinner too.

THE OUTLOOK FOR THE COMING WEEKS??

I know the weather isn't going to stay "summer-like", as it is right now, as I'm writing this report.

But that doesn't make the month of January off limits to fishing, by a long shot.

There's going to be fat Black Drum, Redfish, still some Speckled Trout, Ring-tailed Porgie, and Sheepshead fishing to be done.

Bottom fishing the Jetty rocks with Fiddler Crabs, Live Shrimp, and fresh Blue Crab pieces, will catch you any of the above species. Just remember if you can't get it FRESH, then go with LIVE.

Especially during the winter when the fish may need a bit more of inticement, due to colder water temps. Lay out the best baits money can buy!

And that brings me to the next point. I get asked a lot, "how far in adavace do we need to reserve our trip with you?" My response is, "as far in advance as you can".

Why? Cause of bait availibility and weather. At least till March. The more planning you can do the more planning I can do. Live Blue Crabs in the winter aren't as easy to come by as during the rest of the year, (being this is about the only time I use them) If we get cold weather, it shuts down the Fiddler Crab harvesting, another bait I like to have. So I like to be able to get you the best baits I can. And also having a "back-up date" incase the weather is off, is a good plan. This is just an FYI.

Thanks to all for making 2003 an outstanding year. And I know 2004 will be just as good.

Your Captain...Dave Sipler

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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