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Jacksonville Fishing Report for Amelia Island & Mayport
Capt. Dave Sipler
November 19, 2004
Jacksonville - Saltwater Fishing Report
FLOAT FREAK?
Okay, here it goes.....it’s that time again.
Since the last of October we’ve had at least three Nor’easters, and with that comes the cooler water. I guess you can say it’s blown down from up north, some place where us Floridians don’t care to think about. I’ll endure the northerly blows as long as we have the kind of weather we are experiencing right now, and that’s warm and beautiful.
The spawning Redfish are sort of over. Not that you won’t catch an outsized Red here and there, but as of today the river water temp is a brisk 67 degrees. And if you follow my trends you know that I’m about sick of big Reds (believe it or not) and have geared up for Speckled Trout fishing, I’m an all out FLOAT FREAK.
What the hell’s a FLOAT FREAK, you say?
It’s me.
Cause that’s how I catch them waskily Speckled Troutz! I use the “float rig technique”.
Mention Speckled Trout fishing to a fisherman around these parts and most people would ask, “you’re using a float rig to catch’em aren’t ya?”
Well I’m a bit biased, there is other ways to catch them, but not many are as effective as the “float rig”.
To the sweet water fisherman out there, it would be called “bobber fishing”, I guess?
But actually it’s a pole float, shaped like a long cigar. I like them 9” and it slides up and down on your line and your able to set the depth of your bait, with the use of a stopper knot on your line.. It includes a “trout weight” which is nothing more than a torpedo shaped sinker with an eye on each end. One end is tied to your line and the other has a 24-30” leader tied to the other, then the hook. As far as bait, a live shrimp is probably the most popular.
Since we fish in a lot of current in and around the big St. Johns River, there’s absolutely no better way of ‘presenting’ a live shrimp to the fish be it a Trout, Redfish or others. The float is dropped over the side after the correct depth is set, and is drifted back to the fish holding structure or over Speckled Trout holding bottom. Which could be docks, rocks, oyster bars, concrete, or simply shell covered bottom areas, that are hard.
I gave up the trolling motor headache years ago when I dropped out of fishing aboard my bay style boats. They were great, the boats I mean, but the trolling motors and those batteries were a pain in the crack! I ended up working my trolling motors till they broke. Fast current, large swells, in the white water around the ends of our jetties. So without a trolling motor what’s the best way of “covering a lot of ground?“ The use of the trusty float rig, and the rivers tidal currents!
So the moral of this story is, you don’t need no fancy boat, or a tournament rigged inshore skiff to be a great Trout fisherman. The best Trout fishermen I know don’t use trolling motors or a fancy boat for that means.
I’m happy as a clam, in my 23’ MayCraft, that has no trolling motor. And I have always loved float rig fishing. I can show you how anyone can catch a box of Trout. Cause the basics is all you need, and you bring home some beautiful St. Johns River Trout fillets.
Since November 1st, the amount of Speckled Trout that has come aboard my FOR REELIN II is kind of a merit badge to the simplicity of a once traditional way of Trout fishing. Believe me, I’m high tech. I love my Accurate “twin drag” reels and graphite rods, but that doesn’t mean that the KISS system doesn’t apply no longer.
My Trout fishing tackle consists of a 7’ medium light action G. Loomis - popping rod, a Abu Garcia 6500 C-3 series reel, spooled with 20-30 pound Power Pro, super braid line, and 20-25 pound mono leader, a Lindy lil’ Joe 9” pole float, 1oz or 1-1/2oz trout lead, finished off with a #6 Eagle Claw wide bend or #8 VMC hook.
And lots of “native” and lively St Johns River Shrimp!
I’m excited because I went straight from catching big Redfish from 16-35 pounds in October, right into an all out assault on the Trout populations of the St. Johns River. It’s “going off” and so far it’s already a banner year for float freaks like me.
Yesterday Nov 18th – 25-30 Speckled Trout,
5 Yellowmouth Trout (weakfish)
5 Mangrove Snappers, 1 Redfish, 1 Flounder, and
1 Sheepshead, in a ½ day trip.
Today, November 19th – 25 Speckled Trout, and they were much bigger!
3 complete limits of Trout (5 fish over 15”, many were 17-20” fish) with one 3 pounder
1 Sheepshead, and 7 Yellowmouth Trout (weakfish) in a ½ day trip.
All while float rig fishing. No one got frustrated, no one felt like it was too hard to do.
It was just plain fun.
And over this weekend I have 2 more half days, that I’m so looking forward too.
Let me tell ya, it’s all about eating good in the neighborhood, too!
Fried Trout is fantastic. Trout Almondine is also good for you gourmets out there.
You’ll also catch plenty of other fish, and when you tangle with a big Redfish on the light float rig tackle, you’ll know you’ve done something special.
Remember, I have a special on holiday Gift Certificates, just mention “All About Fishing” (Saturdays 7am-9am on am970 WNNR) my radio show and get 15% off.
See my recent catches and hear last weeks radio show recorded on my web site at: www.captdaves.com
Till next tide,
Capt. Dave “the Jetty Wolf” I mean, "Float Freak"
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