As a weekend angler with limited time to focus on fish patterns, many questions come to my mind after multiple days of rain. One in particular that sticks out is where does all this freshwater push our fish. The answer to that question lies right under our nose.
It's finally....''MY TIME''
I really do not have a ton of personal interest in summer.
Yes, I have to fish it. Not rich enough to beat the weather economically. Don’t have a second home in Maine, either.It's finally....''MY TIME''
I really do not have a ton of personal interest in summer.
Yes, I have to fish it. Not rich enough to beat the weather economically. Don’t have a second home in Maine, either.
Last week Capt. Chad said he wanted you to see a great article on Catch & Release… here it is from Salt Strong.
HOW TO PROPERLY CATCH & RELEASE FISH (WITHOUT KILLING THEM)
Each Fall Jacksonville experiences a real phenomenon. It happens between September and December. This area of Northeast Florida is where Bull Redfish conduct their annual spawn. Each year, thousands upon thousands of these fish flood the St. Johns River and surrounding creeks.
I’m not a Summer person, but I am a Die-hard!
Ran into an ol’ friend at Wally's World yesterday. We dropped our “'stifling nose itchers” and chatted for a while next to the Deli Counter.
With the exception of Tropical Storm Isaias, the past few weeks have given us some beautiful weather… and it shook up the fishing quite a bit. The bait we had disappeared and the fish we were once whacking tapered off and became a struggle.
What’s the Word on the Water?
So, what's the word on the water? Well, the red fish haven't missed a lick. They continue to be very consistent on the incoming tide. The use of cut baits such as mullet and crab are producing very well.
There are changes on the way! At its July meeting the FWC was very active. A Flounder change which I have pushed for except the closure in November. Flounder is still in the draft phase.
RIGGING: "KING MACS, AND OTHER TOOTHY FISH"
Summer time, what is it good for?
For me so far, the inshore fishing hasn't been all that great. Not compared to Fall, Winter, and Spring. Or even other past Summer's. (I can easily track it through old photos and videos).
This is July! Just finished the 40th annual Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament. The weather is hot and the off shore fishing is on fire. There are plenty of kings hitting the deck this year.
Red Snapper fishing, as we know it, is a national disaster, thanks to the regulations put in place by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) is the office appointed by NOAA to do research, make recommendations on rule implementation based on results.
I feel like every month I start out the same way, but really, time sure does seem like it is flying. I mean it is already June. Tarpon on the beach, aggravating Jacks of all sizes everywhere, bait so thick along the beaches you can actually see spinner sharks sky out of the water eating pogies.
We are finally starting to see steadier weather patterns going into the summer months and with these better conditions the fish tend to be easier to pattern. First light in the morning, I will target the big trout around docks and any concrete structures or bulk heads, especially in the river with big top water walk the dog style lures.
Well as it turns out, it's been a tough road in the St. Johns river since the passing of T.S. Arthur. I'm taking so many cooped up kids lately. And it's hard for them to get any decent action in the Mayport area and jetties with a shrimp on the bottom in a mere two hours.
May opened up with some outstanding king mackerel fishing. There was plenty of live bait around, and we were getting limits of king mackerel nearly every trip.
Black drum can be found in nearshore waters all along the Atlantic coast from the Gulf of Maine to Florida and as far south as Argentina. Atlantic coast black drum migrate inshore during the spring and to the south in the fall.
EZ BAIT FOR BIG FISH!
You can hardly go anywhere in the river and ICW in Jax right now without the 50/50 chance of catching FREE BIG FISH BAIT!
NOAA Fisheries announces the final rule for Vision Blueprint Recreational Regulatory Amendment 26 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (Regulatory Amendment 26).
Well, COVID-19 is upon us. Good grief, this thing has taken the world by storm and our hearts and thoughts go out to all the families affected by this terrible disease!
DID THEY VISIT YOU TOO?
Every year, without fail the Robin redbreasts show up poking around in all the leaves in my "Au Naturel", front yard. Then, they are gone! Heading north bound.
The Ides of March are upon us. Well, I don't even know what that really means except the year is flying by and March is here again. This year has been a particularly warm winter, even for NE Florida standards. Living on the Northside near the airport I can only remember a couple days of scraping windshields, ok maybe four or five but that is awesome for the fishing.
Florida is growing so fast and many of the people want to be on the water. There is a lot to talk about safety and rules of using our water ways and ocean. This article is about something many do not pay attention to and that is marine weather flags.
The big report this month is black sea bass.
Getting a limit of black bass almost each time we get to go offshore and the fish are good.
It's still Winter!
Yep, those 80 degree days come along in the middle of the week and just have you freaking out to get on the water. Then, Saturday comes and it's blowing a gale.
So what's a fisherman to do?
Once again, the wind has kept us off the ocean for most of the winter, so far. But when we do get out the fishing is great.
Water temps are still mid 60’s and the bottom fish respond well at that temperature.
When the wind subsides, it will be great fishing... best time of the year to “catch’em is right now through April!
TRULY THE BEST OF WHAT WE HAVE!
What do I mean by the "best we have?"
The best inshore fishing of the entire year is right now through April and I don't have to tell you what happens after that.....or do I?
It’s a great time to fish in North Florida right now.
Both inshore and offshore are as hot as it gets to bend a rod right now.
Fishing the St. Johns River
By Chris Cockerham
Cooler Weather means a Hot Bite!
Are we on our way to cooler weather? Well, we are in Florida so that's subject to change at any minute, right? The winds are picking up out of the North East and the days have become much shorter.
