Ahoy there Anglers,
Well, here we are in one of my favorite times of the year. Now if we could just get the winds to work with us. Loads of sheepshead, lots of flounder, the larger Virginia croakers, good sized yellow mouth trout and more black drum are all available this time of the year. Plenty to choose from although the winds have been keeping us from getting to the jetties sometimes. Like today, NOAA's Marine Forecast is for Northeast winds 25 to 30 knots, (30 knots is 35 mph) with frequent gusts to gale force, (gale force is 39 mph). Seas 6 to 9 feet. Inland waters rough. That's why I'm home today. When the bite is as good as it is right now on the species I mentioned, I hate not being able to take customers out there to get on them. Get out there when you can as they're biting like there's no tomorrow. And yes, a lot of people like to eat jacks.
On another note of interest:
I've heard so much about certain people AND a certain Charter Captain even, using treble hooks to float fish for spotted trout. THAT is strictly against the law ! The law states that "no live or natural bait is to be used with ANY multiple hook". A lot of people even tell me that particular Captain even tells people that's how to do it and has his customers use treble hooks and they're the ones who are susceptible to hefty fines if caught even though he is the one having them use them. Everyone I know catches plenty of spotted trout and other species on 2/0 Eagle Claw Kahle hooks on float rigs and we're NOT tearing up the small trout's mouths like the treble hooks do. Let's be responsible with our resources. Please don't use treble hooks with live or dead shrimp. Use single hooks when using live and natural baits so you don't tear up the trout's mouths or kill them to get the treble hooks out where they don't survive the release. I've been anchored close to and seen the small trout float off from that Captain's boat when released and wondered why he kills so many small trout and other fish while float fishing. Now I know. If you're not quite a good enough angler to catch a trout on a single hook then go to Publix and get your fish. At least there they're already dead.
IN THE NEWS:
NMFS is soliciting nominations for the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Advisory Panel (AP). Nominations for the HMS AP will be accepted to allow representation from Atlantic HMS recreational and commercial fishing interests, the conservation community, and the scientific community. Nominations must be received on or before November 20, 2008. Please see the attached notices for further details or visit the HMS homepage at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms and click on the Breaking News or the HMS Advisory Panel links.
If you do not have adobe you may download it here for free http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.
JETTIES:
I always start off with the area that's happening the best and that's the Mayport Jetties. Loads of sheepshead are biting at the rocks right now. We're having catches of 10 to 15 on a bad day and 25 to 38 on a good day. Sheepshead to 8 pounds are taking fiddler crabs and it's on right now. Black drum from 5 to 14 pounds so far are eating dead shrimp or cut blue crab on the hard-bottom spots just off the rocks in the deeper areas. Bull redfish are schooling up and man, what a fight! Tie into one of these guys and they'll change your mind about having to be offshore to catch a big fish. Flounder are on the sand right beside the rocks but getting to them when the wind is blowing is difficult. The black margates have shown up again this year and they are great to eat. Just like a sheepshead, they're a member of the porgie family and eat the same things as their relatives. Nice-sized ringtail porgies are being caught also. Small sea bass, a few croakers and some whiting are out there also although the whiting bite just hasn't been happening this year as it should be. A few sharks are left over but as the water cools they should be leaving also. The tarpon have been heading out and when the pogies or mullet are being hammered by the pelicans the tarpon fire up and feed aggressively. It's off and on but when they're feeding like that they're actually jumping out of the water at times.
RIVERS:
Big Virginia croakers and some of the largest yellow mouth trout I've seen in years are biting very good right now in the St. Johns River. Flounder just about everywhere but you have to pick the right tide for the right area to get on them good. We've had catches so far of 6 on a slow day/wrong tide to 31 on the right tide. We're catching more on 1/4 oz Sure Catch Jigs with the 3" Gulp baits in the Natural color. The reason is when you miss a flounder on a big mullet or mud minnow they usually get the bait and it'll be another hour or more before that one bites again. When you miss one with the Gulp they don't usually get the bait off the hook so you can cast out and he'll be looking to bite again. They ought to be here for another month and a half, I hope, depending on the mullet run, water temperature, etc. Black drum from 5 to 14 pounds are still biting in the river and man, do they fight. Bull redfish are in their usual spots and are real fighters but PLEASE remember to take enough time to revive and vent, if need be, these magnificent fish. AND please release them! I see too many people that catch them and then pull anchor and take off. They're not good to eat that big. They're a lot of fun but we need their babies to restock our waters. If you need fish that bad then go to Publix. Spotted trout are doing good one day and not so good the next. Mangrove snapper are still in the river also and quite a few spots around. Whiting, yellow mouth trout and drum are in the Nassau River and closer to the bridges you can catch the sheepshead around the pilings although it'll really scratch your boat up. Whiting and spotted trout are in Ft. George also.
CREEKS:
Black drum from 12" to 18" are eating live shrimp on Sure Catch Jigs in the creeks while we're searching for the reds and trout. Good eating size. The spotted trout and redfish have slowed a little in the creeks and I think it's all this wind out of the Northeast. When this straightens up look for the bite to really pick up. Redfish have been pretty aggravating here lately. I know people are catch a couple here and there but usually in October we should be catching 10 to 20 a trip. It's hardly worth it to me to fish for a couple when you can have way more action on the other species like we're having. The reason for the redfish slow bite is in September, October and November we have the highest tides of the year. That's when people like to fish for tailing redfish in the flooded grass and that happens about every other week during those months on the new moon and the full moon weeks. But, since we're having all those Noreaster blowing in and making the tides higher than normal, even on the weeks they're not supposed to be, the reds are gorging themselves on fiddler each and every day and they're just not that hungry. They gorge on the fiddlers because that's an easy target for them. They spend no energy chasing other baits when they can just ease around and suck fiddler out of the holes. Flounder in the creeks have been doing good though. Nice jacks to 8 pounds are really tearing up the surface in the ICW. Fun to catch on top waters!
MILL COVE:
Spotted trout, black drum, flounder and a few reds are biting good in the Cove. The action is better in the Cove for these guys because you don't have near as much spartina grass near the Cove as you do closer to the creek areas off the ditch. Try spinner baits, or MirrOdines. Yellow mouth trout at the Cove's entrance along with a few whiting. Nice sized jacks are fun to catch in there.
SURF:
The whiting and pompano bit has picked up a little in the surf and they're also catching black drum and a few redfish. Small bluefish are more a pain than anything else. Flounder around the Jax. Beach Pier along with sheepshead, whiting and a few pompano but most of the pompano are small.
Let's all remember to take a trash bag on board with you so you can bring it all back to the ramp!
OFFSHORE:
Captain Chad Starling of Team Buck Rogers Fishing Charters tells me the grouper have turned on lately and the snapper are biting good when you can get out there. Sea Bass are also biting good. Limits of fish can be caught within 12 miles as the water continues to cool. Further out, vermillion snapper and triggerfish are biting well in 80 feet on out! So when this wind lays down get out there and have some fun.
You can say what you want about the South but,
you never hear of anyone retiring and moving up North,,,
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
Sponsor of The Inshore Saltwater 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment