March 2011
Ahoy there Anglers,
Some anglers voiced concern at the last two meetings about the wisdom of doubling the bag limit in northern Florida counties, Northwest and Northeast. FWC commissioners Bryan Yablonski, Kathy Barco, and Rodney Barreto argued convincingly today to honor FWRI scientists' recommendation for historic Red Drum rule changes. In a lively debate they convinced Dwight Stephenson and 'Aligator' Ron Bergeron to swing the vote to allow an increase in bag limit for northern Florida regions, a statewide vessel limit of 8 fish, and other changes. "Government has a tendency to keep what it gets, even if it has gotten too much," said Yablonski. "We don't want to do that." The draft rule proposed by the Commission will have a final public hearing in April. A statewide 8-fish boat limit and off-the-water possession limit changes are also part of the draft proposal. Jessica McCawley, FWC Marine Fisheries Management Administrator said "The redfish population has recovered from severe overfishing in the 1970s and 80s, and for the first time in 20 years we are suggesting a change in Red Drum regulations."
The South Region, Southeast and Southwest, would retain a one fish bag limit."With escapement levels as high as 70%, which is 30% above targeted levels, this is one area where we can give back to anglers who have sacrificed so much to keep Florida fisheries healthy," said FWC Commissioner, Kathy Barco. Since the Federal Fisheries Councils are trying to close all types of fishing all over the U.S. the Florida Fish and Wildlife are trying to "give back" to the anglers of Florida and help keep Florida "The Fishing Capitol of the World". The proposal and all information from from the meetings will be given to the Commission in April. We'll probably get to see sometime later in April, what the final outcome will be of all the meetings and the new regulations and if any changes are made, could be effective by July 1st of this year. It's a shame more anglers of Jacksonville didn't take the time to show up at these meetings and let the Commission know what their feelings and opinions were on this important subject. Anglers NEED to show that they're interested in what happens to our fisheries and the changes to our regulations.
JETTIES:
Black drum, redfish, whiting and sheepshead are the main players that are biting out at the rock these days. Black drum from 3 to 14 pounds are biting fresh dead shrimp and /or quartered up blue crab and it's been real crazy as to why they are biting the two separate baits. Cut blue crab seems to work better throughout the areas beside the South Jetty and dead shrimp is what makes them eat on the North Jetty. I think it has to do with what's plentiful naturally in those areas. I can't believe it'd be anything else that would make the difference. Along with the black drum are a few redfish. Mostly oversized reds but there has been a few slot-sized ones also. Most of the reds are right at the tips of the rocks. Nice sized whiting are in the sandier areas around the rocks now. My three guys caught some nice sized ones yesterday on the inside of the North. The sheepshead are doing real good along the rocks on either tide, outgoing and incoming. Seems when you find a little group of them you can stay right there and catch several then move along until you find another group. Big female sheepshead in the deep water, 7 to 12 pounders, have now showed up. Look for 'hard bottom' spots along the inside of the rocks out in the sand and you can find them there. The giant drum run will begin about the last week of March so please release these guys so they can spawn. We'll start looking for the flounder to show up along the outside of the South rocks in about 4 to 6 weeks. If they show up like they usually do then it'll be better than the last two years. The last two years have been really slow on the spring run as they're coming in from the offshore reefs.
RIVERS:
The main thing happening in the rivers are speckled trout, whiting and big female sheepshead. The big sheepshead were biting real good at the Little Jetty but in the last few weeks there has been loads of boats hammering them and now they've moved along to other areas. A few still left there but not near as many as there was. Look for any hard bottom structure just about anywhere in the river from the Mayport rocks to Trout River. Speckled trout/spotted sea trout are feeding a little high in the water columns now that the water temperatures have risen slightly. They've started hitting lures better and soon will crash a top water faster than they're doing now. Whiting are biting dead shrimp in the sandier areas of the St. Johns River from Mill Cove entrance to the Mayport rocks. Whiting are biting pretty good now in Nassau River and most of them are in the little trough area on the North side of the river East of the A1A bridge and right at the ocean out between the two Bird Islands. A few black drum are in the rivers but most of them will move inshore more along with the giant drum run just after the full moon in March. PLEASE RELEASE the giant drum that you catch as they are NOT good to eat that big and they can have millions of young to restock our rivers again for the years to come. The giant drum will be from 20 to 90 pounds each and you can catch a few 4 to 12 pounders mixed in with them. Those are to eatable-sized ones to keep. The giant drum will be feeding on all the hard bottom areas and also a few of the mud bars where they'll dig up blue crabs. Use suitable tackle, no small spinners/light tackle so you can vent if need be, revive thoroughly and release them. This is the time to learn how to vent a fish if you don't know how to yet because just when the end of the giant drum run the third week of April we'll have the bull redfish come back into the rivers again and you'll need to vent some of these guys also at times.
CREEKS:
A few flounder have actually showed up and this is real early for them. No big ones but a couple here and there is a nice surprise. Redfish in the creeks are feeding a little better but I'm afraid this little cool spat may keep them kinda slow a little while longer. We're catching some nice redfish and a few oversized ones in the shallows but I can't wait until the last week of March/first week of April because that's when you'll see the redfish really start hitting the banks, grass lines and chasing baits, top waters, etc. I love that time of the year. The water temperatures are warming up during that time and much more action is seen everywhere. Spotted trout are hitting lures better and better but there are still quite a few small ones around. I love the Bomber Long A's, MirrOlure's MR19, quarter oz. jig heads with the white Cocohoe Minnows with the red paddle tail, same jig head with the pink Sea Shad in the glow and same jig head with Gulp's chartreuse curly tail minnows.
MILL COVE:
Some whiting in the entrance to the Cove, redfish and spotted trout along the grass edges on the higher ends of the tides using a live shrimp, 2/0 Eagle Claw Kayle hook, 14 to 16" leader under a Cajun Thumder float. The Bombers work great along the grass edges during the higher ends of the tides also. Redfish in the shallows during the lower ends of the tides and a few black drum at the end of the huge public dock at the West end of the Cove. The flounder should show up in there soon also.
SURF:
The surf fishing reports have been really good from Ponte Vedra South to St. Augustine Beach for nice sized whiting. The whiting have now turned on at the Jacksonville Beach Pier. Joe Dionne has done wonders with the Jacksonville Beach Pier web site. Check it out here at this link: http://www.jacksonvillebeachpier.com/ for great information, fishing reports and actually see what the ocean is doing live at anytime on the web cam. If you don't have a boat be sure to take the family out to the Jax. Beach Pier for some fishing fun. Stop at Rick's Bait & Tackle at 224 N. 20th Street Jacksonville Beach on your way to the pier and Rick will tell you all you need to know about fishing the pier, what tackle will work and he sells all the bait you'll need right there.
Well, that's it for another month my friends. Please remember to take a trash bag on the boat with you to put your paper, bottles, cans in so they won't blow out of the boat when traveling from spot to spot. There are trash cans at all the ramp so please bring it back with you.
Good fishing to you all !!!
You can say what you want about the South but,
you never hear of anyone retiring and moving up North,,,
><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>
Captain Vic Tison
Co-Host of WOKV's 'Just Fishing' Radio Show, Saturdays 6:00am to 8:00am
United States Coast Guard Licensed Captain
International Game Fish Assoc. Certified Captain
Regional Director for the Florida Guides Assoc.
Member of the National Assoc. of Charterboat Operators
Member of the American Professional Captain's Association
Member of the Recreational Fishing Alliance
Member of The Inshore Saltwater Anglers Club
Member of the Florida Lures Anglers Club
Vic2Fish & Adventures, Inc.
P O Box 28208
Jax., Fl. 32226
904-699-2285
Web Site http://vic2fish.com
Neither Captain Vic nor Vic2Fish & Adventures, Inc. claims any responsibility for any injury or loss of property arising out of any party using these Fishing Reports.
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