February 21 Weekend Fishing Report

Capt Dave Sipler Sportfishing Charters logo

Captain Dave Sipler
904.642.9546
captdaves.com

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.

cold weather fishing in Florida
 

So what's a fisherman to do? 

Try coming up with some new rigs.  And maybe doing a "dusting and cleaning" to all your rods and reels before it's really "game time" come late March and April.

  • Bull Redfish....again!

bull redfish catch
 
  • Spawning Sheepshead,

sheepshead catch
 
  • Spawning Whiting,

whiting catch
 
  • And Big Black Drum,

large black drum catch
 
  • To name a few.

This isn't groundbreaking, by any means.  But I'll pass on a tip or two that I do.

First off, everyone should throw jig heads.  Jigs and shrimp, jigs and fiddler crabs.  It's a great presentation and less tackle the better, and plus it's a staple inshore tactic, for everything.

But, if you really fish them.  Losing jigs can get costly.  And if you do not lose jigs, then you're not fishing the right places.

I buy my hooks in 1000 boxes.  I said to myself, "I have all these hooks, but never enough jig heads."   So, I went on eBay and found where I can get something like 230, ⅜ ounce egg sinkers for super cheap.  I did the math.  It was exactly as I thought.  If you fish, you gotta’ have hooks, already.  So why not just use a ''knocker rig'', inshore.  It's no different than a jig head!  And it costs A LOT LESS! 

I thread on the ⅜ oz.  egg sinker, tie on a hook, pin on a shrimp, and I'm in business.  It catches everything the same as an expensive jig head.

And I like saving money.

Shopping eBay for good clean "used reels".  Not sure if everyone knows that if you shop smart, really know about the reel you want, inside and out.  You can get a good one with years and years of service still left in it, usually for ½ the in-store price

Even if you need to replace a $2.00 part.  That's as easy as going to (example: Shimano-fishing.com) opening up the schematic and ordering that part.  If I can't get it for at least ½ price, I don't bother with it.  "I have time, more will come."

At least half the reels in my everyday use arsenal that I don't leave the dock without, have been purchased that way.  And I like saving money.  And if I had to put a $2.00 part on them.  I still save.

Be safe, fish savvy, and see you on the water.

Capt. Dave's Sport Fishing
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