Our Waterways
By Capt. Jim Suber City of Jacksonville Waterways Coordinator
Dock Master
Division of Natural Marine resources
Department of Parks, Recreation & Community Services
1410 Gator Bowl Blvd
Jacksonville, Florida 32202
(904)630-0839 Office
(904)509-0588 Cell
Jsuber@coj net
wwwJaxparks com
wwwCOJ Net
Spring is here! Our North Florida Waterways are open for business and the fun is at full speed! The water temps over the last month off shore and inshore has increased, daylight saving time is here and the days are full of fishing and boating
opportunities
The fishing tournaments are starting and competition is active!
Jacksonville has hosted the Power Pole Pro series and the Extreme Redfish Tournament at Jim King Park and Boat Ramp
The weather gave the Power Pole a little challenge but with a one day delay all went well
We had the opportunity to partner with Palms Fish Camp Restaurant to host the Wounded Hero’s of America, Florida Chapter Fishing Tournament
Thanks to Larry Sparkman and his group we enjoyed eleven wounded heroes fishing and fellowship
We had Military heroes, Law Enforcement Heroes and Fire Fighter Heroes catch redfish, drum, trout, sheepshead, blues, and croakers The drum weighed in at 51 pounds!
Special thanks to Wounded Heroes of America coordinators, sponsors, Palms Fish Camp Restaurant Management and staff, volunteers, Jacksonville Marine Charities and most of all our Wounded Heroes that served our country and community with such honor, YOUR fishing was OUR Honor!
The 2022 El Cheepo Sheepshead Tournament is in the books and an overall success for the Jacksonville Offshore Fishing Club.
Jacksonville Marine Charities is ready to host the Redfish Roundup Spots Tournament to benefit Safe Harbor Boys Home May 14 at Jim King Park and Boat Ramp And the Northeast
Florida Wahoo Shootout was a great success! The City of Jacksonville Continues to make improvements and several project are seeing progress The Mayport Community Center Construction continues and making progress
The City and the Contractor had a walk through and the completion date is close As some of you may have seen
Continued on Page 15
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This Month's Column Writers
Page 4 - Nik Bremer
Page 5 - Lee Bowman
Page 6 - Capt Bert Deener
Page 7 - John "Chappy" Chapman
Page 8 - Spencer Brogden
Page 11 - Capt John Eggers
Page 13 - Capt Tim Altman
Page 14 - Capt Todd Philcox
Page 16 - Jeff Altman
Page 17 - Capt Matt Chipperfield
Page 20 - Capt Cory Sparks
Page 21 - Drew Florez
Page 24 - Will Neimann
Page 25 - Capt Jeff Patterson
The views, opinions and positions expressed in articles submitted by monthly and or periodic contributors to the Fishing Connection Publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the Fishing Connection. The main objective of The Fishing Connection Publication is to provide you as a fishing enthusiast with the best information and knowledge from the top anglers in N E Fla and ask you to please support the paying sponsors and column contributors who make this monthly publication possible
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April 2022
Congratulations to our Fish Kisser of the month, who looks really happy laying a big kiss on that fish's slimy lips We have a Free Annual FISHING CONNECTION subscription (12 issues) mailed each month to your home or office ($24 00 Value) for any of you that submit your photo to the contest and are chosen as the winner If you are this month's winner please contact Joe Dionne at fbmgjax@gmail com with your name and phone # to claim your certificate Prize must be claimed no later than midnite of the last day of this month to be valid If you would enjoy seeing your photo in the Fishing Connection please send in your best Fish Kissing Photo. Thanks to all who send in a Fish Kisser photo. Anyone can win, maybe soon it will be you. Send photos to fbmgjax@gmail.com.
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The weather is starting to shape up and water temperatures are rising
The Nassau County Black Drum Tourney is well underway and going great! With Amelia Island Bait and Tackle and Atlantic Seafood as the weigh-in stations this year, we have already seen some nice fish and still have until the 23rd to have fish on the scale
Much like the rest of the live bait this year, blue crabs have been hard to find AIBT sells out within minutes of getting our allocation of crabs, so if you have the option to buy them, do so
AIBT gets them in 3 or 4 times a week on island, and Lofton Seafood in Yulee does as well If you are lucky enough to snag a dozen or so, place a thin layer of ice on the bottom of your cooler and line it with 4-5 sheets of newspaper on top to prevent direct contact Load your frisky bait on top and keep the lid cracked to assure good oxygen
The cool environment will mellow out your bait and make it easier to get onto the hook. Part of the tournament or not, dinosaur black drum are awesome to catch and pull like a Mack truck
The last of the outgoing tide and the majority of the incoming is when these fish are found Beachside Jetty, behind the tower and in the mouth of the Nassau River, are popular spots to locate "Big Ugly"
Get that blue crab chum block in the water, sink that tasty crab morsel to the bottom, and put on your patience cap because it may take some time for that first bite. But when it's on, it's on Enjoy the ride
It's also that time for Pompano to start showing up The early cold fronts disrupted our shot at them on
the way south, but we'll have another shot at them as we do every spring. The bite was solid down in Jupiter late last month, so let's hope they continue fired up by the time they make it up here The low down on the Pomp’s next issue And as always, if you're ever in need of an up-to-date report, advice, or even a job, come see us at
Nik BremerJ.O.S.F.C.
By Lee BowmanI'm going to start by saying The 2022 JOSFC El Cheapo Sheepshead Tournament was an absolute blast
Our Tournament Director Bill Pollackov did a great job and put on this exciting tournament This was his first year running the tournament and speaking with him afterward he has even bigger and better ideas for next year
Thank you Bill and thank you to all the volunteers and especially to our sponsors that helped to make this tournament possible
Spring is here and some of us are thrilled that the time has changed giving us longer afternoons to fish after work, school, or whatever we are doing throughout the day
Large Black Sea Bass have been coming in over the last month but that may start to wane off as the water temperature starts to creep up I'd recommend some new tactics this season, if you aren't already throwing Slow Pitch Jigs (spj) they can produce some amazing results
Sea bass and other bottom species can get extremely aggressive when they see the action of these jigs and it will allow you to try something different
Water temperature is warming fast and if it's between 68-72° you should be on the hunt for manta rays and cobia on the beach. Once the tournament settled down the sheepshead fishing got hot again but my focus has been more on the black drum and the sea bass offshore You need to carry a little variety of rods and gear right now and be prepared because you never know what you'll come across
Congratulations to the winners of the 2022 El Cheapo Sheepshead Tournament..
General Meghan Traylor
Lady Angler
Brodee Taylor
Kayak Division
Kenneth Manton
Junior Angler Division-
1.Matt Finn
2 Darren Drigger
3 Tucker Kimbrill
Kids T-Shirt Design
Levi Fox
Upcoming Events
April 7th- Knot Tieing and Cast Net Throwing
April 21st: Temporary Meetings at the Fort Caroline Club
4131 Ferber Road
April Club Tournament
Offshore- Unlimited Tournament
Inshore- Shrimp Only
IMPORTANT
Club meetings will temporarily be at the Fort Caroline Club check social media for updates
We are transitioning over the next couple of months to our new clubhouse across the street from the Mayport Boat Ramp at the new community center
Find us on Facebook and check out our website to keep up with upcoming events, schedules, or any changes wwwJaxFish com
We are open to the public so we would love to have you at a meeting even if you are not a member
Capt Lee Bowman
This has been one of the worst weather weeks all winter with the cold, rain, and wind Ponds and the Okefenokee have been the best bites. The rivers are rising again, and the bites will likely be tough in flowing water this week
River gages on March 16th were:
Clyo on the Savannah River – 8.9 feet and rising
Abbeville on the Ocmulgee – 8 7 feet and rising
Doctortown on the Altamaha – 9 0 feet and rising
Waycross on the Satilla – 8 1 feet and rising (62 degrees)
Atkinson on the Satilla – 7 4 feet and rising
Macclenny on the St Marys – 14 3 feet and falling
St Marys River - Even in the cold and wind this weekend, folks still caught panfish on the St Marys River during the Shady Bream Tournament It was moved to Sunday instead of Saturday due to bad weather First place was earned by Emma and Dale with 8 73 pounds Daniel and Jimmy came in second with 8.51 pounds. Mark and Brittany rounded out the top 3 with 8 02 pounds Big fish honors went to Daniel and Jimmy with a 0 81pounder The next tournament is scheduled for Saturday, April 16th out of the Kings Ferry ramp Check out the Shady Bream Tournament trail on Facebook for more information
Okefenokee Swamp - The water came up some with the recent rains, but the fish still bit Mary Mead and Ellie Deener fished with me on Wednesday afternoon while they were down on spring break We
fished the east side and caught 54 fliers up to 9 inches Color didn’t seem to matter Mary caught her first flier ever and most of the first half-dozen fish on a yellow sally. During the middle of the 3-hour trip, Ellie had the hot hand with orange, while I caught the most at the end of the trip with pink. The latest water level (Folkston side) was 121 16 feet
Local Ponds - Even in ponds I had very few reports this week Makaylen Robertson had the biggest crappie of the week that I heard about She landed a slab from a Waycross pond by pitching a white jig Cooper and Jackson Winn fished Monday afternoon with their Great Aunt Kathy Tatum and their parents at an Alma area pond They fooled 18 bream with red wigglers fished under corks and 2 bass with junebug Christie Craws (Texas-rigged) Their biggest bass was in the 5 pound range. Chad Lee fished even with the poor weather this week, and his biggest bass was a fat 6-pounder that he fooled with a white spinnerbait on Wednesday.
Lake Miccosukee, Florida - Shane and Joshua Barber fished the lake last Tuesday before the bad weather and had a fun day bass fishing They landed a dozen bass up to 2 pounds, and their best lures were Trick Worms, flukes (pink color), and small buzzbaits
Capt. Bert Deener makes a variety of both fresh and saltwater fishing lures Check his lures out at Bert’s Jigs and Things on Facebook
For a copy of his latest catalog, call him at 912-288-3022 or e-mail him (bertdeener@yahoo.com).
Capt Bert Deener
Makaylen Robertson caught this slab crappie on a white jig from a Waycross area pond
Creeks & Rivers
By John "Chappy" ChapmanTime is flying by these days
Tried to go to the Players with my dad this year and wow the weather was so bad that it almost didn’t even happen.
We couldn’t even sneak a little bit of fishing in between trying to see the golf because the rain was relentless.
Hey when you get lemons then make lemonade That’s where I’m going this month I’m a sucker for watching hole 17 almost nonstop during the tournament because it humbles the pro players and makes them look human.
Anyway I digress, what I mean is that while watching them drop ball after ball into the pond day after day I couldn’t help but notice the water rapidly rising in the pond
So when the weather forced the tournament to Monday, Mom, Dad and I got a chance to go and watch in person I went straight to 17 to watch them struggle in person Right as I was standing on the hill behind the tee a Cormorant came up and gulped down what I can imagine was about a 2lb Bass Laughter erupted around us when a small little girl said loudly to her mom “Did you see that Duck eat that fish Momma?” It was funny but inspired me
Finally getting to the point of the matter The weather has been crazy hit or mainly miss. Some folks have been able to get out in it in catch some nice fish but those folks are the ones that do it for a living Day in and day out on the water makes it possible to sneak into a back creek with no wind on a 35 mph windy day but for us folks with non-fishing related jobs and weekend warriors those creeks are hard to find I find myself on the
way to work down Hecksher looking at the ditches and in the back channels for leeward sides to be able to get out of this wind
I’ve noticed many fishable spots from land that look rather humble but I know they hold fish. Either way it would take some planning and more time than I have to go and get the boat or pull it to work etc
It got me thinking again about the that pond at 17th hole rising during the 40 year floods we had last week and I thought about the retention pond down the street from my house
Well desperate times and weather breed desperate fishing tactics. Turns out that with the glorious time change it gives me just enough light when I come of home from work to get a couple of cast in. Well long story short this is a small open (no trees) retention pond and I went 4 for 4 with a super spook junior top water Bass up to almost 3lbs were caught
Where they came from or how they ended up there is a mystery for another day but they are there I would venture to say if they are in my humble barren ditch more than a real pond ecosystem the ones in your neighborhoods are full of them as well
I was using a medium action rod with 10lb power pro and a 20lb fluorocarbon leeder Imagine a Walmart ultralight rig with 4lb test and the neighborhood kids out there? Instant fun and not to mention reaping the rewards of taking a kid fishing
Hope everyone is having better luck with their days off and syncing up with some nice weather than I am
Looking forward to a nice day with just 20 knot winds to go fishing
Chappy
904-743-3200
983 University Blvd. N
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Pier & Surf
By Spencer BrogdenIf pompano are what you are after, then April is your month to load up At the time of this writing, the water temperatures are running 65-70 from Jacksonville beach down to Flagler
The pompano fishing will only get better as the month of April continues My favorite baits to target them with is fresh clam, live sandfleas and fishbites clam flavored.
I usually bring all 3 baits because some days they only want one of the three I use the normal double dropper rig, 2/0 circle hook and a Sinker Guy Sputnik
I also use a variety of floats and beads near the hook My favorite color float is the orange and pink, and my favorite bead color tends to be the salmon colored beads
Speaking of beads, the Sinker Guy now carries a wide assortment of glass beads that resemble coquina clams, which are a staple of pompano and whiting!
I suggest you check him out to see the multiple colors he has and how to put them on the hook Once you have your bait and rigs set up the next step is to find clean water and a nice runout / sandbar to fish
Pompano will hang in both these areas as they search for sandfleas and coquina clam the way, if the water is di pompano bite struggles g Remember the limits, person and they have to inches to the fork of th While targeting pompan can expect to catch w redfish and black drum so bad alternative!
Another fish that wi showing up in the surf speckled trout, but we discuss that more in Ma always tight lines and for w updates check out our YouTube brokenreel23!
Spencer Brogden
Simpson’s Creek Redfish caught while kayak fishing
Jack and Troy Rhodes
9549 First Coast Hwy nandina Beach, Fl. 32034 904-624-7293
lbaitandtackle@att net Williams Family Owned
d Fishing Lures and Related Items Call or Text Mike at (904) 424-7071
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Intracoastal and St. Johns River
By Capt John EggersThe windy rainy cold conditions of March finally start to wind down bringing warmer and more stable weather to North Florida.
With that being said fishing action will definitely pick up The Reds will still be schooling in the shallows and creeks but will be more active due to an influx of bait moving in from the ocean.
Small blue crabs and fiddler crabs will be active making them a great bait to use for not only the reds but for the Sheepshead that are still around Sheepshead will be around most jetties, rock piles and docks for about another month If catching 20 to 80lb fish is something you like to do the giant black drum make a migration through and be found in most fall bull red areas
The Mayport Jetties will be loaded with them as well as alot of the river drop offs where we typically target bull reds in the fall. Circle hooks and half or whole blue crabs are the preferred bait for catching them Speckled Trout will be plentiful chasing minnows around shell bank points in the river including the Intracoastal Bluefish and Spanish Mackerel will be stacked up at the jetties and can be easily caught on Gotcha Plugs and Clark Spoons
And finally the Flounder bite starts to pick up Mud minnows will be the best bait if you cannot catch finger mullet but 34 inch Fishbite curly or paddle tail plastics on a 3/8oz jig head will be a close second
Capt John Eggers
904-591-1611
Wondering about pricing? Need to know something before you book? Reach out to contact Captain John today and he will be glad to answer any questions you have
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Offshore Deepwater
By Capt. Tim AltmanCobia action will increase daily as the beach water temp rises If you’re a beach goer you will notice the increase of small boats running up and down the beach
If they have a tower, most likely there will be one or two people in it searching for the huge Rays that migrate northward These rays will have Cobia schooling with them along their migration northward. The Cobia will be like a flight of fighter jets in trail and under the Ray
The object for the Cobia Fisherman/women is to cast on that school of Cobia and try to get one to eat their Cobia Jig or bait This is a delicate dance, because if they rush up on the Ray, it will spook it and it will dive deep taking the Cobia with it.
Use a 4-6ft shot of Diamond Fishing Products 30-50lb Flurocarbon to complete a stealthy set up and give yourself the best chance of landing a big one Beach fishing for Cobia is a sight fishery, it is difficult and exhilarating all at the same time.
A sure sign that the Cobia have arrived is the number of boats at the boat ramp strapping 10ft step ladders to the front of their boat Yes 10ft Step ladders! Why? Because it works and it doesn’t cost a fortune
The Ultimate Cobia Championship (UCC022) is the premier Cobia Tournament in North Florida It’s a charity tournament that benefit’s the Henry’s Heroes foundation founded by Navy Veteran Rebecca Kruck and her husband Dan
Rebecca and I served together while deployed in 2004 and she is now a High School English teacher
What is Henry’s Heroes? The 501c3 charity was named after Henry Robert Kruck.
Henry was born July 1, 2013 and was diagnosed with a rare
chromosome disorder called 1p36 Deletion Despite his challenges, he loved life and exploring the world around him
He gained his angel wings on February 25, 2017, and his parents, Dan and Rebecca Kruck, organized this nonprofit as his legacy (henrysheroesjax org)
They have worked with many experts across the fields of education, medicine, therapy and playground design to create a space that truly eliminates the barriers to creative play Through a publicprivate partnership with the City of Jacksonville's Parks and Recreation Department, they are working to create spaces that are inclusive for ALL children, regardless of their ability!
So fish the Ultimate Cobia Championship (UCC022) even if you don’t know how to Cobia Fish It’s a good time and it’s a great cause! Register online @ cobiachampionship com
Dolphin (Mahi Mahi..not Flipper) will most likely start showing up any day now Target them along the current rips and temperature breaks in depths of 120ft out to 2000ft Look for weed lines, troll as close to them as you possibly can Use small ballyhoo skirted with seawitches or small stubby lures
My personal favorite is a splitbilled chin-weighted naked ballyhoo. You’ll probably have to Google it, but if rigged swimming correctly I believe it’s the deadliest bait for Mahi you can fish with.
The Jacksonville Bluewater Club will be putting on it’s annual Mahi Smash Tournament on April 30th
It’s open to the public and is great fun with a 100% payout of prize money For more information and online registration go to jaxbluewaterclub.com
If you need assistance with Cobia rigging & Jigs or Mahi set ups go to Strike Zone Fishing Jacksonville and see Mr Dave Workman Jr or his top notch staff for expert advice with the widest selection for all your fishing needs!
I’ll say it again and again until we get through this COVID-19 has affected our economy on every level. Please support your local businesses because they are the one’s disproportionality impacted Until next month, please stay safe on the water and remember that great things happen when you take a kid fishing
Capt Tim Altman
The HooDoo Boat is in Full-Cobia & Mahi Mode If you’re game for some of the most exhilarating fishing here in NE Florida, then give us a call for your Fishing Adventure!
Intracoastal Rivers & Creeks
By Capt. Todd Philcox
April is a great month to enjoy fishing in NE Florida, warm and generally dry days will assuredly bring us warmer water temperatures, an increased bait supply and more predators arriving in our waters to devour that bait
Quantities of mullet and other baitfish began growing in early March, while I will predominantly fish with shrimp or mud minnows, I always bring along a cast net and secure some finger mullet when available I’ll fish live finger mullet on a 3/8-ounce jig working some of the steeper drops along the edge of the intracoastal, this method will produce some big redfish, 25-35” fish on light tackle
In shallower water up on the flats I will fish a live finger mullet on a Carolina rig with a 4/0 circle hook. I let that rig sit while I actively fish live shrimp on a ¼ ounce jig head Cut blue crab is always a good option as well fished on the same circle hook rig
Expect to start seeing schools of Jack Crevalle mixed with ladyfish and bluefish cruising in areas closer to the St Johns River initially, then making their way up and down the intracoastal waterway.
They are all a ball to catch on light tackle and they will attack most baits and artificial lures, popping plugs are a great way to enjoy this action If the bluefish
are thick put a wire leader on to avoid losing tackle to their razorsharp teeth
Fish will be on the move this month, which means fisherman must remain on the move as well Larger, slot and above redfish will be scattered, and flounder will continue to be mixed in on the mud flats and in creek holes.
Fish higher tides along the grass edges and lower tides along the steeper drops of the intracoastal banks, creek holes should continue to produce as well around low tide Plan your trip and areas to target around the tides and don’t linger too long if you are not catching fish, pick up and move along to your next spot.
I’ll use ¼ ounce jigs with live shrimp or mud minnows, Berkley Gulp swimming mullet or shrimp are also very effective
Don’t be surprised if a pompano takes your shrimp bait also, quite a few are taken along the banks of intracoastal waters as water temperatures reach 70 degrees
Give me a call if I can help you get out and have a great time on the water!
Capt.
Todd Philcox
Capt. Suber - Continued from Front Page
with the new Community Center a new Pavilion has been built on the water front.
Jacksonville Marine Charities
Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament, Redfish Roundup Spots Tournament, Jacksonville Redfish Tournament and The Jacksonville Offshore Fishing Club ( El Cheepo Sheepshead Tournament) have partnered up to place new cleaning stations at the pavilion
There will be an 8 ft table, a 4 ft table and a 4 ft ADA height table for a total of 16 feet of fish cleaning surface We will be installing one of the old tables at another boat ramp because one table was stolen so we are negotiating a replacement
We will be celebrating our City of Jacksonville's Bicentennial! This will be an all day celebration on the waterfront in downtown Jacksonville with fun waterfront events, a Parade of Boats, concerts and of course FIREWORKS!
The Metropolitan Park Marina is always open and available for coming to Daily’s Place or VyStar Veterans Arena so why not come by boat? Every day is a good day to come downtown by boat and visit our new docks or catch a lunch or dinner!
We have several new opportunities to enjoy our downtown and Southbank businesses We have completed the Jackson St Dock so boaters can enjoy the Riverside Avenue area. Soon we will see the Post St. Docks installed giving boater’s access to 5 points and River and Post
The Mandarin Park dock extension and adaptive kayak launch has made progress and completion is getting closer The adaptive kayak launch is complete and ready for use and the boat ramp dock extension is getting close to completion
We are still working through the process to begin construction phases for the dredging of Burt Maxwell Boat Ramp
A contractor has been awarded and work should start soon. Oak Harbor Dredge is still going to happen soon I have been promised!!
The construction of the new dock on the east side of the Jacksonville Zoo, the dredging of the Kayak access at Castaway Island Preserve is still working through the process and contractors should be able to mobilize soon
All of these projects are on a schedule but the schedule is more within seasons The new fishing platform at River Road Park is still under construction and near completion. There was a small delay to correct an engineering issue but we should soon see the platform going in The fishing pier under the Dames Point Bridge has been cleared to replace and the contractor should start soon.
The engineering called for a hollow core deck that is no longer available so an amended engineering review for solid concrete deck use
The derelict vessel war is still full speed ahead We have had a slow spell getting the approvals.
We have 6 that have been approved by FWCC and working through city council approval and two more we are waiting on FWCC to approve
We have two that have sunk at our city facilities, one at Exchange Island and one at the transient Dock at Jim King Park.
On the east end of the Back River behind Blount Island we have a sand bar developing it is on the Ramoth Drive side of the river
A Waterways Commission sub committee met with government agencies to determine a cause and solution. As most know this is the original St. Johns River prior to the development of Fulton Cut
Look for meeting notices if you are interested and if you boat in the area use caution because it will bring you to an abrupt stop and damage lower units and cause injury.
The City has received an
engineering recommendation and quote to mark the shoal for safety The Jacksonville Marine Association has changed their name as well as adding opportunities Boaters can now become members of the North Florida Marine Association! Check out more details at www.boatjax.com.
The dealers are starting to get some boats in to sell but due to logistics of the facilities and lack of boats to sale to you they have made the difficult decision to cancel the spring in water boat show at Metropolitan park
But Be looking for a fall show somewhere in the north Florida area
Please use caution and a look out when you are on or off plane in your boat, debris items are just under the surface and seeing them can be difficult Day time always use good polarized sun glasses and at night slow down and double your caution and lookout
As always allow me to remind everyone to always check your boat and yourself Use of a lookout and being aware of your surroundings are always a priority Invest in a QUALITY EPERB, File a float plan with someone that will miss you first so if things don’t go as planned, the search for you can be narrowed and recovery can be quicker
Take a safe boating course and do your part to activate our
The Jacksonville Sail and Power Squadron, America’s Boating Club, continuously offers America’s Safe Boating Course at Lamb’s Yacht Center and classes have resumed monthly so check there web site for 2022
The cost of the classes to the student will continue to be reduced to an affordable $10.00 thanks to a donation from Jacksonville Marine Charities from proceeds from the Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament
The next class will be announced on the America’s Boating Club web site at usps org/localusps/Jackson JSPS has also started the 2022 vessel inspections so you can contact an inspector at the same web site or reach out to me and I will assist getting you with an examiner.
Last but not least, show pride in the facilities provided for your use with your tax dollars by properly disposing of your by product when you clean your fish and dispose of your trash appropriately!
BE SAFE! AND WASH YOUR HANDS!!
Capt Jim SuberHook It & Cook It
By Jeff Altman
Seafood lasagna
This is a great recipe you just have to put a lot of love into it Just like any lasagna this recipe has a lot of prep time but the end result will be a happy family
Ingredients
1 1/2 lb shrimp peeled and deveined
1 lb scallops ( I used sea scallops and cut them into pieces)
1 lb fish fillets (i used flounder) or you can use 1 lb crab meat
One box lasagna noodles I used about half a box
8 oz portobello mushroom sliced
One large onion chopped
One and a half cups chop spinach ( press water out)
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
2 cups grated Parmesan cheese
4 cups mozzarella cheese
1 lb ricotta cheese
3 eggs
3 tbsp Italian seasoning
2 tbsp fresh minced garlic
2 cups half and half
Salt and pepper to taste
Cook half a box of lasagna noodles according to directions then set aside Next in a large bowl mix ricotta cheese, eggs Italian seasoning and spinach. In a pan melt butter then add flour stir in 2 cups half-and-half when thicken add 2 cups grated Parmesan cheese Next sautee portobello mushroom and onions and we are ready to build the lasagna
In a large lasagna pan put a light layer of parmesan and half-and-half mixture then put lasagna noodles Put a layer of scallops and shrimp portobello mushrooms and onions now a layer of the ricotta cheese mixture then some mozzarella cheese then repeat process for second layer on the third layer use your fish fillets then add the last 2 cups of mozzarella cheese bake at 375 for approximately one hour. Put aluminum foil over top the first 45 minutes of cook time to prevent burning
Guana Lake
By Capt. Matt ChipperfieldWater temperatures are prime, the weather is beautiful and the fish are chewing Inshore: the the trout are feeding hard for their spawn, redfish are still getting skinny in the shallows and flounder are beginning to stack up along oyster bars and rock piles
Nearshore the drum-zilla are schooling up in the river mouths and cobia are beginning to migrate their way up the beach This is a great time to get outside and chase some fish The sluggish winter northeasters are being replaced by ripe southern
winds pushing warm air into our region
The spring blitz is underway and the First Coast is alive!
Once again Guana will be high this year FWC has decided to fill the lagoon up early due to excessive grass growth on the north end. The northernmost section of Guana is a watershed that collects rain from south Ponte
VedraThis swamp contains freshwater species of grass like coon tail that grow from the bottom up Over the last several years this grass has grown so thick that the waterway is getting choked out and the grassy islands are too thick
To rectify the problem FWC lowered the water level and then pumped saltwater through the dam to fill it back up. This will increase the salinity in the north end and curb the grass growth.
It will also make more shallow standing water that the winter waterfowl prefer So don’t expect the usual shallow conditions this spring
wave of the cobia migration for our region They have been sitting south of Jacksonville for several weeks and will begin pushing into our waters as the temperature rises
This seasonal fishery is easily one of the most unique and exciting ways to target cobia. These fish will ride under, on top of and behind massive manta rays as they languidly swim through the surf just off our beaches
When the sun is up and the conditions are calm look for the rays, typically you can spot their massive black backs under the surface or see their wing tips crest the surface Quietly pull alongside the ray and pitch large jigs, soft plastics and live crabs around the ray
You may be surprised when a huge brown cobia darts from underneath the ray and inhales your jig
Finally, slime ball season is upon us Big breeder-sized black drum are stacking up along the inlets and prowling the mud
congregate in our waters every year as they migrate up the coast for their spawn.
They can be located along the rocks using a fish finder or sighted in the flats pushing water as they plow forward. Chunk bait, scented soft plastics and scent gels applied to lures can be used to target these big uglies
They have two large sets of nostrils on either side of their head so they tend to prefer a bait with some stank on it
If you are fishing these monsters along the river mouths be sure to bring the heavy tackle and big leads, you’re gonna need it
Capt Jeff Patterson
