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Jacksonville Fishing Report for Amelia Island & Mayport

Capt. Dave Sipler
March 22, 2004
Jacksonville - Saltwater Fishing Report

THE SWEET SMELL OF SPRING

As I sit here behind my desk typing this, I’m a bit shocked. The wind is about gale force, and the air temp. has to be a high of 45 degrees this morning. What a huge difference from the last week. I just finished up several days of charters that had me logging down in my book, “Perfect Day #3, #4, #5…. “

Well, let me tell you about what has been happening since my last report.

In the past several days, I’ve sat in water temps that were truly spring like. I marked 62.5-degree water, at the Inlet on an incoming tide at 8am. This was great. Schools of small Rays were swimming up and down the jetty rocks in gin clear water. The little Green Sea Turtles, are back. Popping their heads up around the boat, then scooting back down deep. On the 20th, two Right Whales were at the inlet, along with this years first seen school of baitfish being attacked from the air as well as from below, on top of the North Jetty. Then the whales, “breached”. Coming out of the water with ¾ ‘s of their body, and making a huge splash, that was a sight right out of an Alaskan tourism video. Wow! The St. Johns River Inlet, where the tannic waters meet the green Atlantic, is a great place to be.

The fishing has been just short of near perfect. (Really perfect for me is giant Redfish, Tarpon and Sharks). But I certainly won’t scoff at the fact that my last three charters caught over 68 beautiful trout at the inlet also. And we only did it for a few hours in the morning. The first day the tide was right I had Brandon Esenther, and his father Cort, aboard. The morning tides and weather couldn’t be more perfect for floating a live shrimp. And it didn’t take long to put a dozen fat 2-4 pound Speckled Trout in the box, along with a Sheepshead, and Black Drum.

Then the next morning, I had Nathan Leslie, his girlfriend Katey and her brother Isaac out there doing some float fishing also. They kept me very busy, while landing 32 Speckled and Yellowmouth Trout, in the 2 pound range. And some Sheepshead on the float rig too. Then, Nathan had a hankering for a ten pounder he said. So we pulled up and ran a ½ mile, dropped down to the bottom and he was granted his wish, a 10-pound Black Drum, and a 7-pound Sheepshead, all in a matter of 5 minutes. Which brings me to what’s been happening “on the bottom”.

If you haven’t heard yet, the Sheepshead are spawning. This means that they throw caution to the current and can be caught out and away from the structure. This time of year you don’t have to be fishing for them amongst the jetty rocks to catch a monster. Fishing just the edges can produce some really heavy weight fish. Hard bottom areas of the river, and even the soft mud and clay bottoms outside the jetties will have fish on them, along with Black Drum.

Speaking of the Drum. They really showed up this past weekend at the inlet. I’ve been waiting for them, cause it seems like they should have been out there biting, sooner. Heavy bank sinkers, stout rods and heavy line are a good idea. You never know when a tap,tap, on the rod tip could turn into a behemoth Black Drum. When these fish get up to 50 pounds and larger, doesn’t mean their bite gets any heavier.

Variety is the spice of spring. Migrations of different species are what make this time of year, and my bi-weekly fishing reports interesting. We’ve even caught some really nice sized Whiting in the river this past week. And soon it’ll be all about, “SIZE DOES MATTER”, cause not only will we be targeting the big Black Drum and Sheepshead, but also the Redfish. I’m not talking about 27 inchers, but rather 27 pounders!

By the weekend of April 17th, we should have Spanish Mackerel and Bluefish at the inlet. This is a major “sign”, which I pay attention to. We’ll be hunting some Spanish macks with spin tackle and Got-Cha plugs on the high tide. Casting and drifting the rip lines, then as the current flows eastward anchoring up for some deep water denizens.

So if your wanting some serious variety, this is the time to get out get out on the water.

*Speckled Trout

*Yellow mouth Trout

*Black Drum

*Sheepshead

*Whiting

*Redfish

*Spanish Mackerel

*Bluefish

*Jack Crevalles

*Pompano

Will be the “targeted” species for the next few weeks.

I had a discussion with my charter the other day, about “Anglers”. They said, “Dave, I don’t know if you could call us all anglers, yet”. I said, “of course you are.” “When you’re fishing with me, I refer to you guys as anglers, cause we are targeting certain species of fish a certain way. That’s the difference between an angler and a fisherman to me.” I told them, “a fisherman fishes for whatever. An angler targets and catches a species, that makes you guys anglers in my book”.

I don’t know if that made any difference to them or not, but it’s the respect I have for my clients. They are here, on the For Reelin II. They choose a private charter over a party boat, cause they knew the difference between the two. They choose to fish with the best tackle, on a well-rigged, comfortable boat, with a serious Capt/Guide. That also is all about having fun, while learning and doing some thing new. Thanks to all my anglers in the last few weeks. We both had a great time, and still the best is yet to come!

June: Tarpon & Shark fishing!

"Let The Big Games Begin…"

Keep those lines tight and drags set in the fish catching position,

Capt. Dave Sipler’s Sport Fishing

Multiple boat large group charters arranged

www.captdaves.com 904-642-9546

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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