April 2023
Volume 21 Issue 256
Fish Kisser
Page 3
Bookum Berry with his 1st. Fish ever caught in Florida
Freshwater Page 6
Pier n Surf Page 8
Offshore Pages 5 13 Recipe
Page 16
Tides
Pages 24 25 26 27
Tournaments
Page 23
Nassau * Duval * Clay * St. Johns * Flagler * Volusia * Brevard Joe Dionne FishingConnection@aol com904-962-5996
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April 2023
Fish Kisser of the Month
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 ($28 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 FishingConnection@aol 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 FishingConnection@aol.com
Rules are Simple
Your lips MUST CLEARLY touch the fish's mouth The person in the photo must be clothed but clothing on the fish is optional Remember, all submissions are considered against future entries too, so if you haven't seen your photo yet, you're still in the contest
Disclaimer
We are not responsible if the fish you're kissing bites your dang face off
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 of this month to get that big ugly weighed in
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 Loften Seafood in Yulee does as well.
Part of the tournament or not, dinosaur black drum are awesome to catch and pull like a Mac truck Last of the outgoing tide and most of the incoming is when these fish are typically found Beachside Jetty, behind
the tower and in the mouth of the Nassau River, are popular spots to locate your target 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 These fish school up super thick at times, so it’s not uncommon to double or triple hook up. Did someone say Pompano? That’s right, they showed up last month and we have already seen some good numbers Both Amelia Island and Old Town Bait and Tackle have had a few 3 5 LB+ fish which were caught from Huguenot to Fort Clinch
Just like the black drum, pompano love blue crab, but instead of using the whole crab, use just a knuckle with a 2/0 circle hook. Send that out on a high/low rig past the second breaker to you’re your shot at schooling Pomps. More focus on Pompano next month If you’re ever in need of an up-todate report, advice, or even a job, come see us at Amelia Island Bait & Tackle Tight Lines!
Nik Bremer
Shop # (904) 277-0775
Cell # (760) 212-8131
1925 S. 14th St. Fernandina Beach, FL
Happy APRIL! This Warm weather and time change is Wonderful you know what that means, MORE FISHING TIME!
I'm going to start by saying The 2023 JOSFC El Cheapo Sheepshead Tournament was an absolute blast
Our Tournament Director Bill Pollackov did an Amazing job and put on this exciting tournament 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!
A Big thank you to Stacey Schwab for keeping Bill on his toes at all times, You Both did a Wonderful Job putting this tournament on!
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 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 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
Upcoming Events:
April 6th & 20th With guest Dinner, Speaker, and raffle that you sure don't want to miss
April 22, Sailfish party
Captain Roger Walker is proud to present the 64th "2738" Sailfish Pot Party, American Legion Post Location Is at 1127 Atlantic Blvd, Atlantic Beach Fl, 32233
April Club Tournament
Offshore- Unlimited Tournament
Inshore- Shrimp Only
Info About the Sailfish Party: The Sailfish Pot Party is NOT a JOSFC event, and the winner does not have to be a member or associated with the Club. The 2738 Sailfish Pot Party is a tradition started in 1959 by a bunch of local fishermen when they got together ( A party ) and all put some money in an old ( Clean ) chamber pot. Ergo the name “The Sailfish Pot Party”.The first person to catch a Sailfish after their party would win the Pot, but he then had to put on the party the next year So,The tradition continues! The person putting on the party will give a hand signal at the Pot Party this year, and the first person to send in a photo of themself giving that hand signal with a Sailfish wins the pot He then must put on the party next April This is a stand-alone event for ALL fishermen in the greater Jacksonville / St Augustine area Note I use the word “Fishermen” as the party is strictly a Stag event. No dancing ladies or strippers, just lots of Beer and language we don’t use around the Ladies
Continued on Page 24
March 23, 2023 Fishing Report
The weekend cold front kept a lot of anglers home this weekend, but the weather has improved as the week has progressed and the number of trips increased, as well Even in the cold, several folks reported good catches this weekend
River gages on March 23rd were:
Clyo on the Savannah River –7.4 feet and cresting
Abbeville on the Ocmulgee – 9.1 feet and falling
Doctortown on the Altamaha
10 2 feet and steady
Daniel and Tamara earned second place with 8 17 pounds, and third place with 6 82 pounds was Bo and Clay Check out Shady Bream Tournaments on Facebook if you are interested in more information
Suwannee River (GA) –Anglers reported catching some bullhead catfish this week even though the river was a little high. The reports I received were about a dozen keeper fish per trip. The flier and warmouth bites should heat up with the water temperatures this week
Okefenokee Swamp – Brentz and Alex McGhin fished the east side on Friday and pitched crickets on a Zombie Eye Jighead for 15 keeper warmouth and 15 throwbacks Alex pitched sallies with a bream buster and caught several nice fliers.
Waycross on the Satilla
11 3 feet and cresting
Atkinson on the Satilla – 10 1 feet and rising
Macclenny on the St Marys – 4 3 feet and falling
Fargo on the Suwannee – 7 0 feet and falling
Satilla River – The river has flooded back out into the floodplain this week, and most bites slowed back down. Catfish on the lower river are about all that are worth chasing this weekend
St. Marys River – Saturday’s (3/18) Shady Bream Tournament
Trail event was a wet one, but anglers still caught fish Dale and Emma Anderson won the event with 8.99 pounds (10 fish limit) and had big fish (0.96 pounds), as well. Crappie helped them cash the first-place check.
Jeff and Jason (8 years old) from Villa Rica fished with a friend on the east side on Sunday afternoon and had a blast They caught 41 fish total, and most were bowfin
They trolled Dura-Spins for their bowfin (they didn’t catch any pickerel), and the best colors were black / chartreuse, chartreuse blade, fire tigerchartreuse blade, and jackfish
Jason’s biggest bowfin was a 10-lb., 1-oz. monster, and Jeff had a big ol’ 8-lb., 1-oz. bowfin. They had several 5 to 7pounders mixed in throughout the afternoon
They also pitched yellow sallies for a half-dozen fliers up to 8 inches for the last 15 minutes of the day But, their catch of the day was a 3-pound largemouth bass that Jason caught while casting to a cut between the prairie and the canal The surprise fish put up a great fight, and they released it..
Continued on Page 24
Creeks & Rivers
By John ChapmanPart Two: THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY
Ok so I left last month’s story off at the point of seeing the fish ambush our football sized Bonita right at the boat. The captain of the boat was reeling as fast as he could and my buddy with the high dollar polarized sunglasses yell ’ed at the last second “MARLIN”
The captain of the boat that was on the reel had just leedered the Bonita and had actually lifted it out of the water at the boat saving it from the “shark” and when my buddy correctly identified the fish as a Marlin, he slung the Bonita over his head and put it back in the water
Free lined the reel and let the Bonita swim freely under the boat
He was immediately either sucked up by the fast-approaching Marlin or lit off his afterburner because the reel started stripping off line at a breakneck speed
Carefully, the captain let it go until we all three looked at each other in a surreal moment and said, “well click it in gear and see what happens ” As soon as the reel was engaged it started screaming and the draft was pulled out at rocket speed Immediately, we started backing the boat down to try and catch up and keep the reel from being spooled, of all the line. It was at this moment because of watching too many fishing shows I realized we might be in for a long fight, so I looked at my watch and 0733 in the morning. I will never forget that For the sake of brevity, I am going to have to skip a few hours here and there
A few hours into the fight locked into the fishing belt, the captain tells us he has to have a smoke
We had been giving him water and helping him stay hydrated etc the whole time so far but we refused to
hold or light a cigarette for him
I told him if he had to have a cig then I would take over on the rod, but he wasn’t going to get it back
Finally, about 10:35 or so in the morning, a little over three hours into the fight we had not seen the Marlin again and I took over the rod from him Four more hours went by, and my buddies gave me water and Gatorade, but I never gave up control of the rod I was locked in with a fighting belt and putting on pressure the whole time. Our 6/0 Penn Senator was so hot it had to be sprayed with water more times than I can count
Finally, about 4:30 PM, 9 hours into the fight we made some ground, the Marlin was spotted coming up and we were getting him close He was a beam of the boat, and you could see his head on the port side of the boat and his tail on the starboard side of the boat still at a depth of probably 30 feet Guam waters are extremely clear
We were all amazed at his size and we were at that time debating how the hell we were going to boat this massive fish Turns out that he was still a little shy and didn’t want to come to the boat. He ran again and we chased behind with the boat again The same story for hours and hours making ground reeling him in, then he would run again and again 6:30 PM and I have a system of locking in my Teva sandals under the gunnels (sidewalls of the boat) and just pumping up and down trying to get him to get close
No such luck, get him close and then it was like he would hear the purring of the engine and then dive deep again. Now it’s 730 Pm and getting dark, it seems like we are making some progress, we see how huge he is, and our adrenaline takes over again and again then our hopes are dashed again with a long run back into the deep
We had seen boats go by going out fishing and returning all day long and now it's rapidly
Continued on Page 9
904-743-3200
983 University Blvd. N
Located in the N.E.corne of the Town and Country Shopping Center
STORE HOURS
Wednesday 7am - 6pm
Thursday 7am - 6pm
Friday 7am - 6pm
Saturday 6am - 6pm
Sunday 7am - 5pm
Closed Mon. n Tues.
Mud Minnows
Live Shrimp
Fresh Dead Shrimp
Cigar Minnows
Spanish Sardines
Boston Mackerel
Clams
* Finger Mullet
* Fiddlers
* Blue Crabs
* Live Shiners
* Live Minnows
* Live Crickets
Wide selection of Artificials
* NON -ETHANOL FUEL
* WET & DRY STORAGE
* TRANSIENT SLIPS AVAILABLE
* COMPLIMENTARY WIFI
* BOAT PARTS & ACCESSORIES
* 30 TON TRAVEL LIFT
* HULL CLEANING & BOTTOM PAINTING
Arlington Marina has been recognized as a Clean Marina by the Florida DEP and The Clean Boating Partnership
Pier & Surf
By Spencer BrogdenNormally in the month of April I would tell you off the start of the pompano run However, warmer water temps in March sent the pompano north much sooner
We started catching pompano consistently the second week into March along with scattered speckled trout, redfish, black drum and Spanish mackerel The good news though is all of these fish will still be here this month along with whiting still April in northeast Florida historically has been a good month for big pompano and a steady dose of the above mentioned species. When surf fishing in April I carry four main baits Live shrimp, sandfleas, blue crab knuckles and fresh clam
The reason why I always do this is because one day the fish are only hitting sandfleas and the very next day might only eat clam. Once you figure out which bait they are hitting better,
switch all your rigs over to that bait!
What you are targeting determines where you should cast your line as well For pompano and whiting the sandbars and run-outs tend to be the areas to throw
If you want speckled trout, throwing right behind the breakers (waves breaking on the shore) is the area I throw The redfish tend to hang in the same areas as the trout The black drum tend to feed in the runouts much like the whiting
With the rising water temperatures, water clarity will either make your trip a great day or a day filled with sharks, catfish, and stingrays Dirty water is usually brought on by south winds The clean water is usually brought on by northeast/east winds 10 miles an hour or less
Light west winds will also achieve clean water If you have no choice but to fish on a south wind, remember the north sides of inlets typically have cleaner water
Check out our YouTube page and Facebook page (Brokenreel23) where there are usually daily water reports and fish reports up and down northeast Florida You can also ask questions you may have! Until next month, tight lines!
Spencer Brogden
Continued from Page 7
getting dark Our cell phones don’t work being so close to the Northern part of the island basically underneath a huge mountain
Same thing for our radio on the boat, no communication with shore all day long So, back to the fight, making ground wondering how he is still hooked for going on 12 5 hours on a small lure and a 6ft leeder of 150# fluorocarbon Every inch gained was a huge morale booster and pumped me full of energy until, shortly after 8pm now completely dark I’m making ground on the fish and he is coming to the port rear corner, flashlights now out to keep from hitting our line on the outboard and that’s when things got really scary for the crew He was running towards the motor, and I yelled to my buddy who was driving go right go right and as he goosed the gas, it simultaneously spooked the fish At the perfect time the momentum of the Marlin running and the boat surging my Teva sandals let go, I was now out of the boat headfirst in the dark heading down to more darkness My rod was hooked on me via the fighting belt, and we were heading to the deep. It took me a second to realize that I was headfirst and going almost straight down It was at that point that a calm came over me and I reverted back to my helo egress training (when they teach us how to calmly get out of the helo if we crash in the water) and I reached out grabbed my fishing rod and ran my hand down to the clicker and clicked it over the free spool
When I did this, I immediately started floating back up to the surface This is also when I realized I was in the same water, in the dark where we had caught a 14 ft hammerhead the previous week I am not ashamed to say when I hit the surface and it hit me, I was screaming like a girl for them to pick me up in the boat!! The expertly backed the boat down to me, dropped the ladder and reached out to grab my hand All the while my buddy, a fellow rescue swimmer laughing at me and telling me to quit screaming like a girl!! As I reached the swim ladder, and they reached out to grab my hand and help me back in the boat I didn’t give them my hand right away I told them emphatically that when I give this to you it is to only hold it until I get strapped into the boat Only then did I reach up to their hand, and hand off the rod Incredulously they couldn’t believe I still had the rod after that whole ordeal I got back in the boat and when I was safely secured and literally tied in the boat, I engaged the reel to see if the Marlin was still on the line.
Unbelievably, he was still hooked, and the fight was on again After my dark swim in shark infested waters, I was even more determined to bring him in and I probably put some more mustered into it. I neglected to mention a very important part of the story but at about 4pm I
reached my capacity for patience and unbeknownst to the rest of the crew I had tightened down the drag on the reel to capacity After this episode there was nothing more to do but use my newfound adrenaline and put the heat on this fish Making progress, until about 930 PM that telltale whip of the tip of the pole when we all knew what had just happened We reeled in and finally after 14 hours the 150# fluorocarbon finally chaffed through, and we lost by far the biggest fish I’ve ever had on hook and line to this day Just a couple footnotes at the end
The captain of this story was a Parachute Rigger 1st class in the Navy on Guam, I have since lost touch with him His name is Roderick Sanderson The other guy in the story is a lifelong friend who was a fellow Rescue Swimmer in the Navy who now resides in Pensacola, Florida and runs his 270TE World Cat around the Gulf outa Pensacola for fun His name is Dustin Martinson
I talked to Dustin after part one and he corrected me and said the boat was 24ft Everglades not 26ft. Last but not least I wanted to add a fun fact that the lure we were using was a 6ft long 150# flouro leader with a small, skirted jet head, that I had made for the trip for the first time the night before. They never, ever questioned my rigs again!!
John Chapman
Intracoastal & St. Johns River
By Capt. John Eggers
The 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 icw Blue fish 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 3-4 inch Fishbite curly or paddle tail plastics on a 3/8oz jig head will be a close second.
Capt. John Eggers
Offshore Deepwater
By Capt. Tim AltmanCobia Fever
Mid-April is the traditional beginning of the Northeast Florida Cobia run that happens just off of our beaches
If you’re unfamiliar with the Cobia run that happens along our coastline, it usually coincides the northward migration of huge Manta Rays These big rays will migrate in water 15-55ft deep. Swimming along with these Rays are schools of Cobia.
When I say swimming along, that are swimming along with the Ray as if they were a formation of fighter planes. The Rays are easily spotted from deck of a normal offshore boat, what you will see is many skiffs, bay boats and even some offshore boats with 10ft ladders strapped down on the bow to increase height and visibilityshift engineering to mimic a tower or an upper station like on the larger center consoles and sportfishing boats These folks are dedicated and motivated to sight-fish Cobia
Sight fishing Cobia is a “crack of noon” thing, meaning that most beach Cobia fisherman & women are only the water from about 10:30am to 3pm They want clear skies to reduce the shadows that clouds make on the water easily mistaken for a fish or just plain makes it hard to spot them in the shadows. They also want the sun high in the sky, beaming directly down increasing depth visibility and mitigating the glare that blinds them when the sun approaches the horizons Light wind makes
it even easier to spot the Rays from longer distances
One of the best beach Cobia Fisherman in our area is Tyler Smith, Capt of the local boat College Fund Tyler over twenty years of Cobia Fishing believes in having the proper bait and bait presentation
His bait of choice is Cobia Jigs (Bucktail type jigs), but he also brings live bait and rigged whole squid. He explains that if you have a big Cobia directly above a ray, it is easier to target that big fish only and get it to come off of the ray with a good cast and presentation by working the jig correctly.
He also believes that size of the jig hook is essential to a proper hook up He says that if he gets a refusal on the jig from the Cobia, he always has a live bait ready to cast His live baits are rigged with 6ft of 50# fluorocarbon and a ¼ ounce egg sinker
The egg sinker is there to give him better control of his cast for a more precise placement during the presentation to a big fish. Third choice for him is a rigged whole squid.
Northeast Florida Beach Cobia fishing the Rays has been around since the early 1970s Capt Roger Walker ran charters out of Mayport for a lot of years He told me the story of his first encounter with beach Cobia and how he met one of his best friends in May of 1973 He recalls that day as he was out with a couple fishing buddies trying to catch an early season Kingfish when he noticed a boat fighting a fish up on the bow way off in the distance
As he continued to fish while he watched this boat doing circles and taking a really long time to get the fish in the boat. He watched this go on and on until couldn’t stand it anymore. , they’re all over them”
Continued on Page 17
Intracoastal Rivers & Creeks
By Capt. Todd PhilcoxApril 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.
The winds of March and the last of our strong cold fronts are hopefully history. Quantities of mullet and other baitfish will begin to grow, 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 or minnows on a ¼ ounce jig head Cut blue crab is always a good option as well fished on the same circle hook rig
Schools of Jack Crevalle mixed with ladyfish and bluefish showed up in March and will continue to grow, they are most active in areas closer to the St. Johns River initially, then they make 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
Redfish will continue to transition this month from winter patterns, shallower waters deep in the marsh, to spring and summer trends cruising the weed lines at higher tides and the deeper drops off the Intracoastal banks at lower tides
Larger, slot and above redfish will be scattered, and flounder will continue to be mixed in on the mud flats 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!
Our Waterways
By Capt. Jim SuberCOJ Waterways Coordinator
Dock Master
Division of Natural Marine Resources
Department of Parks
Recreation and Community Services
1410 Gator Bowl Blvd
Jacksonville, Fl. 32202
Office (904) 630-0839
Cell (904)509-0588
Jsuber@coj.net
wwwJaxParks com
www.COJ.net
Greetings, I think we have seen the last of the cool weather and the fishing seems to be kicking in around Northeast Florida.
We have had a couple of redfish tournaments and the ElCheepo Tournament All of these events were very successful We will now be seeing fishing events on a regular basis The City of Jacksonville Continues to make improvements and several projects are seeing progress Access to the Mayport area by boat and space for the commercial industry is getting near.
The new docks of Mayport continue to make progress and the deck is getting installed The repair process continues to be a challenge due to the FEMA and insurance process
The wood docks at Metro Park is being re-built for boater use and Metro Park Marina will be closed mid April for a total removal, dredge and re-build We have several FIND grants moving along. Riverview Park new boat ramp is near mobilization, Liberty Street Marina design and permits,
Pottsburg Creek/ Beach Blvd design and permits to rebuild, Mike McCue Boat Ramp Bulk Head replacement design is near completion, Thomas Creek Fish Camp Adaptive Kayak launch is in design and permits, Reed Island Park development is in bid review
The City of Jacksonville is submitting grant requests to the Florida Inland Navigation District for design of dredge needs in the downtown area, the design of extending the floating dock system at Jim King Park and Boat Ramp, St Johns Boat Ramp Boardwalk and the replacement of the Oak Harbor Bulkhead.
The Florida Yacht Club is building a rock retaining wall around their marina The project is a part of an overall rebuild of the marina and upland facilities
The debris in the river is still an issue but improvements are being noticed There is still debris along some of the river bank so that will hit the water on our higher tides A St Johns River Clean up event was held and the volunteers made great progress.
The derelict vessel war is still full speed ahead. FWCC Officers are working the cases to get us approval to remove but the paperwork process is in slow motion FWCC is working to complete the process for the sunken sailboat northwest of the Beach Blvd channel on the ICW We have derelicts working in the 5900 block of Heckscher Drive, on the Trout River and one back in Cedar River. We have derelict vessels at Lions Club and Half Moon Ramps.
The Jacksonville Sail and Power Squadron, America’s Boating Club of Northeast Florida is again hosting the BLESSING OF THE FLEET Palm Sunday April 2 at 2pm The Blessing will be at the Lone Sailor on the South Bank Try to take a couple
New retaining wall/fish haven at Florida Yacht Club
of hours to participate it may come in handy!
The Chairman of the Waterways Commission has named a committee to explore a slow speed zone at the Cesery Bridge as well as all lower level bridges in the county
The committee held a noticed meeting and approved a zone at the Cesery Bridge and the full commission as of this writing is scheduled to vote on the
recommendation
The full council will get an ordinance for approval then the request will go to FWCC for approval. I want to continue to remind all, 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 solution to this concern is being worked on
Continued on Page 22
Spicy Seafood Pasta
INGREDIENTS
1 tbsp olive oil
1 5 lbs seafood mix (I used a mix of shrimp, calamari, and scallops)
2 tbsp ghee or butter (can sub olive oil or vegan butter)
1/2 medium yellow onion, finely diced
3–4 cloves of garlic, minced
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (leave out if you don’t want it spicy)
1 5 tbsp tomato paste
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 (14 oz) can whole peeled tomatoes*
2–4 tbsp reserved pasta water
1/2 lb (8 oz) spaghetti (gluten free if needed)
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 tbsp fresh parsley, roughly chopped
Squeeze of fresh lemon juice
Optional: parmesan cheese (regular or dairy free) for serving
INSTRUCTIONS
In a large bowl, crush the tomatoes and their juices from the can using clean hands
Set aside
Heat a large skillet over medium heat Add 1 tbsp olive oil once hot, then stir in the seafood (make sure your seafood is drained of any liquid). Cook until just cooked through, about 3-5 minutes Add more oil to the pan if needed, and be careful not to overcook
Set seafood aside; if your seafood produced a lot of watery liquid in the pan, then pour the entire contents of the pan over a mesh strainer to drain (otherwise your sauce will lose a lot of flavor)
Return the pan to medium heat and add the butter Stir in the onion and cook until soft, about 8 minutes
Stir in the garlic until fragrant, about 30 seconds Then stir in the tomato paste and red pepper flakes Cook for 2 minutes Meanwhile, start to boil your water for the pasta
Pour the white wine into the pan and cook for 5 minutes to cook off alcohol Stir in the crushed tomatoes and their juices and season with salt and pepper Allow to gently simmer for 10 minutes
While sauce is simmering, cook pasta to al dente, and reserve 1/4 cup of the pasta water just before straining
Turn off the heat on the sauce, taste and adjust seasonings as needed, then stir in the seafood S u S
The ducks are migrating back north, pollen has coated the ground yellow and alligators are starting to get frisky. Spring has arrived. This is easily one of my favorite times of the year to be a fisherman in North Florida.
I tend to target two species this time of year almost exclusively:
Cobia and Gator trout
The Cobia migration is one of the most unique fisheries you will ever experience Just outside the surf manta rays are beginning their long push north along the east coast of the United States They are following the slowly warming water as temperatures creep upward.
These massive creatures are cool enough to see on their own, gliding through the water like slow moving airplanes However, when you see one loaded down with a handful of Cobia it will make your hands shake Cobia swim into the beach from offshore wrecks to draft on and around these large rays as they migrate northward The Cobia
like to use them as cover, occasionally leaving the mantas to ambush baitfish, crabs, shrimp and just about anything else they can fit their mouth around. Because the rays tend to swim high in the water column the Cobia are often clearly visible beneath the surface
This makes for one of the best sight fishing opportunities available for nearshore anglers
Brightly colored jigs, large soft plastic lures, big bucktails and live pogies are preferred baits for teasing Cobia off the rays One thing to remember is just because you don’t see Cobia on the ray doesn’t mean they aren’t there. They often hide beneath the ray or cruise just behind where they are less visible Be sure to cast around the ray even if you don’t see the fish Just don’t hook the ray, that’s poor form and causes the ray to sound quickly and spook off to deeper water Heavy leaders, line and tackle is needed to stop these brown bombers If you attempt to use rigs that are too light you will pay for it with lost fish and spooled reels. 56000 series spinning reels with 78 foot medium heavy rods will cast your one and two ounce jigs just fine If you’d prefer to stay inshore, large spawning Gator Trout can be found throughout our inland waters this time of year The days are becoming longer and as a result trout will begin to start their spawning cycles
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Continued from Page 13
Captain Roger Walker is also the winner of the 2022 Men’s Sailfish Pot is the only 3 Time Winner
He will tell you that it’s because he is good, but some will say it’s because he so old that he has just outlasted everyone else Mark your calendars for a GREAT party for this year.
THE 64TH ANNUAL “2738” MEN’S SAILFISH POT PARTY IS SET FOR SATURDAY, THE 22ND OF APRIL AT THE AMERICAN LEGION LOCATED AT 1127 ATLANTIC BLVD, ATLANTIC BEACH, FL 32233 Where can you purchase all of your Cobia tackle and rigging? Strike Zone Fishing Jacksonville is where! Strike Zone owner
Dave Workman Jr has the largest selection of Shimano Reels in Northeast Florida and has a huge selection of Cobia specific tackle and rigging Ask for Archie or Dalton to get expert advice on all your fishing needs Until next month remember that great things happen when you take a kid fishing!
HooDoo Charters Cobia, Dolphin, Bottom Fishing and Nearshore Trips are in full Swing. For more information or to book a trip use the contact info below
Capt Tim Altman
HooDoo Sportfishing Charters
Call: 904.859.6314
Email:tim@saltwaterchallenge.com
Visit: www.hoodoocharters.com
consistent pattern
Target shell bars and shelly bottom to locate slot fish. Shrimp, mud minnows or artificial lures are all in play this month.
Palm Valley St. Augustine
By Capt. Cory SparksSpring is in the air and changes are happening in Palm Valley! April comes with a big predator list
In addition to the usual targeted species, bluefish, jacks, ladyfish, and Spanish mackerel, start becoming consistent catches in our waters Most of these fish are a blast to catch on artificial when you locate big numbers of them
Gotcha plugs, small spoons and spinners as well as paddle tails all will draw strikes when cast to schools of these fish Don’t pass the opportunity for a bent rod and a smile just because you aren’t trying to catch these critters These species are cooperative and plentiful as well as unique in their individual fights
. Jacks are one of the hardest fighting fish in the ocean while ladyfish give you an acrobatic show
This is the perfect time of year to get a kid, or a newbie hooked on these easy to catch species. As the weather becomes more stable and our cold fronts start to wind down, look for the redfish to get back to a
Jig heads bounced with the current over scattered shell bottom is a sure bet to hook up If the shell bottom is too thick and your offering is stuck more than it is moving, throw a popping cork over the structure to suspend the bait over the target area
This isalso a great time of year to tip your live or dead shrimp with a piece of Fishbites EZ strips Crab and shrimp flavors produce best for me in Palm Valley and I throw a variety of colors
Try testing out the preference choice by throwing plain shrimp alone vs tipped shrimp Don’t stick with one choice the whole time on a spot. Most days the shrimp tipped with the EZ strips outperforms the shrimp alone Get out there and see what your results are.
There are some big breeder black drum in the deep holes and troughs on the ICW. Using a heavier rod and a 6000 or bigger size reel while soaking blue crab chunks will get one of these big uglies hooked up.
When targeting these fish, use tackle that can beat them quickly. You don’t want a lo drawn-out fight that is hard these spawners They need to released healthy to replenish stock of fish and keep fishery thriving Safe handlin them for quick pictures quick releases are extrem important
If you can fish at first or last
light, throw your favorite topwater plugs for big trout this month. Using a “walk the dog” action works best and taking the conditions into consideration will help the success rate. If the water is calm, try using a softer pitch lure If there is some surface noise or ripples, use a louder, higher pitch lure that draws more attention over the
noise of the water. If you can’t “walk the dog”, then straight retrieve a chug type lure
Experimenting with different plugs is part of the fun and will make you a better angler in the long run!
Keep Reeling!
Capt Cory Sparks310charters.com
James Simmons with his personal best redfish! Samara with her very first fish! KayakFishin'
By Will NeimannWell, we made it through another brutal Florida winter, and now can enjoy a few weeks of awesome weather before it gets too hot
With the warming temperatures comes warming water Our Florida Fish prefer warmer water, and April is a must with the perfect water temps Big trout, redfish, flounder, larger than normal bluefish, and Spanish mackerel, along with some pompano, and snook will be bending the rods this month April is a fun month to hit the water, and of course, the best way is in a kayak
Our area oyster flats will be full of life Redfish will be cruising the grass lines at high tide and the oyster beds at low They will be a fun early morning top water target Throwing a Rapala Skitterwalk or Storm Chug Bug will pick up a few Trout and snook will also be active during the first bit of light Unless it’s cloudy or foggy, top water is most effective during the first two hours of dawn or last two hours of dusk During cloudy or foggy days, the bite will continue until the sun comes out Low light is key to top water There are exceptions, and the big bluefish that will be here through April are one These are 20 pound plus bluefish and they will hit a top water anytime of the day.
If you see water blowing up with feeding fish, it’s likely these monster blues Throwing a top water at them is an exciting way to get them to eat Upgrade your leader though, as they will pop 20 and 30 pound leader quick.
Flounder will be in the deeper runouts and cuts at low tide and right along the grasses at high. They
are a tougher top water target, but will hit a top water from time to time.
The most effective way to pick up a flounder is by bouncing a Fishbites Fight Club Dirty Boxer on ¼ ounce jig head along the bottom. This technique will catch everything that swims in Florida It’s effective on the flats, in the creeks, and under the bridges.
The big gator trout will also be in the area this month It’s guaranteed that personal bests will be caught in April These big ones are mostly big females coming into spawn To ensure the survival of these fish, I recommend releasing any trout over 20 inches, as those are the breeding stock
A quick picture and a safe release will mean a lot to future generations of anglers These fish will be found throughout the area, on the flats, and the creeks, under the bridges, and in the inlets. The transition with flowing water is what I look for when targeting trout
A paddle tail swimbait was suspending twitch bait on my go to big trout lures Especially a Hackney Jr Belly or an Unfair RipN-Slash. Trout are normally in the upper water column but will feed off the bottom as well
There are also still big black drum around. They will be found under the bridges, in the deep holes in the creeks, and in the inlets They are best targeted using blue crab, live or halved, but will eat a variety of crustaceans including shrimp
They are bottom feeders so having a bait on the bottom is generally the best way to get them Use heavy tackle as some of these black drum can get close to 100 pounds
You don’t want to miss out on the great fishing April brings Good luck and tight lines I’ll see ya out there
Daytona Ormond Beach
By Capt. Jeff PattersonWe are ahead of schedule this year with above average water temps and I’ve noticed several things happening sooner than normal.
It seems like fish of all species have been breeding sooner than they normally do One thing that really caught my attention is how many stone crabs were already bearing eggs in early March Normally we don’t start seeing crabs with eggs until midlate April We’ll see how this Spring goes with fishing
The inlet has been very productive for sheepshead fishing and I’ve been doing awesome just using smaller shrimp on a fish finder rig I’ve even had fiddler crabs a couple trips but barely used any because they were chewing shrimp so well We have caught a bunch of very nice 2-5lb fish and several trips with 5-10 keeper size fish
Luckily the small bluefish moved out from the inlet You pretty much couldn’t get through them some days because they were so thick. There has been some 2-3 lb blues here and there that at least put up a decent fight and a good reason to make some smoked fish dip
There has been some big 1530lb black drum in the river and at the inlet that will probably start making there way North up the coast Last year I was fortunate enough to find a big school outside of the inlet a couple times that made for an absolute blast where we could
see the fish on the surface at times and they would eat anything you threw at them.
Redfish seem to be showing up more at the inlet already with some 30 to 40”+ fish being caught I’ve mainly been catching them on finger mullet, but they will eat chunk baits and half or even a live blue crab works great too Tarpon just started showing up around the inlet recently and I’ve already marked big schools of fish on the fish finder.
We should be getting into some great tarpon fishing coming into spring I always like targeting them with a free lined mullet, pinfish, or croaker depending on what you can get ahold of
Although I haven’t fished the Intracoastal as much recently, when I have, it’s been producing redfish, seatrout, snook, and flounder Lots of bait started showing up over the last couple weeks or more and I’ve been doing well fishing areas where I’ve been seeing more bait. Fishing mangrove shorelines in Port Orange and Ponce Inlet have been productive
There’s also been a bunch of jacks around docks and mangrove areas all of a sudden too There should be lots of really good fishing in April so we’ll see how it goes Tight lines!
St Augustine Crescent Beach
By Adam MorleyFishing is an exciting and thrilling sport that attracts millions of people around the world
Whether you're a professional angler or a hobbyist, capturing the moment of catching a fish can be an excellent way to preserve the memory of your fishing trip
However, you may have heard; no one wants to see your dead fish pictures (especially on your dating app profile) But when done right, a good fish picture can truly impress viewers and add to your bragging rights In this article, we will discuss some tips on how to take GREAT fish
pics that will lure viewers into your fish story
The first thing to consider when taking a fish pic is lighting Good lighting is essential for any photo, and fish pics are no exception.
Try to take pictures during the early morning or late afternoon when the light is soft and warm (this is often times when the bite is hot anyway) But catching fish during the middle of the day when the sun is high and harsh is common too.
In these cases be conscious of shadows on the anglers face and their fish (hats, fishing poles, Ttops and other things can cast distracting shadows on what should be the pictures focal point; the fish and angler’s face)
The angle of your photo is another crucial aspect to consider Avoid taking photos from above the angler and their fish
Instead, try to capture the image from the side or from a slightly lower angle to showcase the size and beauty of the fish
The background of your photo can make or break the image
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Suber - Continued from Page 15
Please use caution and a look out anytime you are underway especially when up on plane in your boat, debris items are just under the surface and seeing them can be difficult
Day time always use good, polarized sunglasses and at night slow down and double your caution and lookout
The Jacksonville Waterways Commission continues to have a committee to address this issue and discussions continue with The Army Corp of Engineers and a source of the sand is being explored
As always allow me to continue 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 waterways! 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 Check their web site for classes through 2023 The cost of the classes to the student
will continue to be reduced to an affordable rate thanks to a donation from Jacksonville Marine Charities from proceeds from the Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament.
The next class and all future classes will be announced on the America’s Boating Club web site at usps org/localusps/Jackson
JSPS continue to do 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 byproducts when you clean your fish and dispose of your trash appropriately!
Happy New Year!
BE SAFE! AND WASH YOUR HANDS!!
Capt Jim Suber Morley - Continued from Page 21
A cluttered or distracting background can take away from the beauty of the fish and the angler.
Try to choose a clean, simple background that will not detract from the focal point of the photo Also, try to incorporate some of the natural surroundings, such as
the water or the sky, to add depth and interest to the image When it comes to holding the fish for the picture it's essential to handle the fish with care (we’re not cavemen anymore, we’re sportsmen and women)
So avoid holding the fish by the gills or the eyes as this can cause damage to the fish Instead, cradle the fish gently and support it with both hands (be careful not to cover/block the fish with your hands/fingers or extend the fish too far away from your body) Also, avoid squeezing the fish too tightly as this can cause harm or death to the fish. Remember, the fish is the star of the photo, and it's important to treat it with respect and care even if you plan to eat it.
Displaying dead fish on the bow or in a cooler may be a common practice, but it's not as impressive or attractive as a single fish in a high quality, well thought out photo.
In conclusion, taking quality artistic photos of anglers and their fish is an opportunity to capture and enhance the moment. So remember; with proper lighting, angles, backgrounds, and fish handling techniques, you can capture stunning images that will preserve the memory of your fishing trip for years to come. I’ve provided two example pictures of the same fish and same location on Page 21 (the fish was caught by Chuck, not me, in a Flagler Sportfishing Club Tournament).
The “Bad” example shows a cluttered/busy background, my hands covering a lot of the fish, elbows extended, and no smile just as a few examples.
The “Better” example (and it’s still not great) is closer up, has a cleaner background, fingers tucked, bent elbows, and a smile. The best photo would’ve been from the boat or shoreline while the fish was alive with the water as the background Hope this helps and I look forward to seeing some better fish pictures in the future
Tournament Board
By Craig VanBrocklin. Spring Tournaments
FLA – 2 Redfish
1. Alex Buchanan/ Scott Obrien 9.81 lbs
2 Paul Gallup Jr/Paul Gallup Sr 8 75 lbs
3 Matt Lewis/Nathan Johnson 8 68
KA Redfish
1st Matt Davis/Danny Menew 13 54
2nd Damien Schorzanos/Nick Carter 13 1
3rd Alec Pope/Kieran O’Brian 12 59
Junior Angler
Brantley Davis 5.14
Florida Redfish Series Jax
Boat (2 Redfish weight)
1st Team Carl Black Orlando/Fishbites
12 81
2nd Spot Tail Special 12 39
3rd Aqua-Traction 12 36
4th River & Coast Property Group 11 88
5th Davis 11 36
6th Vasi & Associates 11 34
Big Redfish - K&G Construction 7.16
Kayak (2 Redfish length)
1st Matt Lanier 48 5
2nd Andrew Imes 46 25
3rd Davis Dodson 43 5
4th Travis Goodale 42 75
5th David Naumann
6th Chris Crego 42 25
El Cheapo Sheepshead
1st Ashley Rehberg 10.20
2nd Curtis Varnes 9 80
3rd Darrell Thomas 9 43
4th Josh Gruber 9 14
5th Alton Robey 9 13
6th Greg Foxworth 8 78
7th Ryan Amaturo 8 71
8th Dj Sohm 8 69
9th Ryan Kethmam 8 64
10th Chris Winfree 8 46
11th Matt McClees 8.45
12th Tripp Snelson 8.40 13th Jeremy Alvarez 8 19
14th Shawn Taylor 7 85 15th Troy Mancuso 7 80
Ladies 1st El-Cheapo
Brantley Davis
1st Jr KA Redfish
Upcoming Tournaments
April 1st FLA
* Florida Surfcasters
* Inshore Extreme Kayak Challenge
* Bigg Sam Slam Series
* 15th Hadassaah’s Hope Vilano boat/kayak
* 22nd Elite Redfish
* 23rd Elite Redfish Kayak
* 29th Jax Premier Trout boat/kayak
May
FLA
* Florida Redfish Series St Aug
* 20th FLA Championship
* Redfish Roundup Spots
* 27th CCA Star begins
Continued from Page 6 after a quick photo They camped on a platform Monday night, and Jason caught 8 bullhead catfish by putting shrimp on the bottom before he went to bed Thomas Powell and Nick Seyler fished the east side on Sunday afternoon and caught 10 bowfin and 3 pickerel They caught them by casting jackfish and fire tiger Dura-Spins. The latest water level (Folkston side) was 120.67 feet.
Local Ponds – Chad Lee fished in an Alma area pond on Saturday and had a great trip for crappie and bluegills He had 10 big bluegills and 20 nice crappie by pitching and bouncing a black/chartreuse Assassin Tiny Shad on a 1/16-oz chartreuse Zombie Eye Jighead A Blackshear angler fished a local pond on Wednesday evening after work and caught 5 bass that totaled 15 pounds. He flung junebug-colored stick worms to fish spawning in the shallows His biggest was a 4-pounder
St. John’s River (Astor, Florida) / Crescent Lake- Neil Jones and friends fished Crescent Lake on Wednesday and Thursday this week and had a blast
They pitched black / chartreuse and blue / white /chartreuse plastics rigged on Zombie Eye Jigheads for their fish. Wednesday they landed had 30 keepers from 1 to 7pm and Thursday they managed 29 keepers They had a bunch over a pound For the latest fishing information or to reserve a room or cabin in Astor, you can call Kerry at South Moon Fish Camp (386-749-2383) On Crescent Lake, you can contact Bull Creek Fish Camp at (386) 4371991 for the latest information.
Saltwater (GA Coast) –
Capt. Tim Cutting had a great
trip Friday BEFORE the strong cold front
They caught 2 limits of redfish, 2 fat trout, and 20 nice sheepshead They caught the sheepshead on fiddlers and jigheads, the reds on shrimp, and the trout on paddletail grubs on Zombie Eye Jigheads. After Friday, the cold fronts, winds, and big tides (muddy water) put an end to that good bite.
I heard of several poor trips (some were complete water hauls) and didn’t hear of any really good ones over the weekend or this week Your best bet this weekend is whiting on the bottom, but marine forecasts are iffy at the time of writing this (forecasted high winds Friday night)
As always, check the marine forecast before heading to big water this weekend. For the latest fishing information or live shrimp in the Brunswick area, check with J&P Bait and Tackle on Hwy 303 (912-282-9705)
Capt Bert Deener
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 912-2883022 or e-mail bertdeener@yahoo.com
Continued from Page 5
This is a great event to go to as you get a Steak that you cook over some outside grills, ALL the Oysters ( Either Raw or Steamed ) that you can eat, tons of Chicken Wings, ( A couple of different flavors ) Salad and Baked Potato There is all the free beer you can imbibe along with some soft drinks & water
The Party ends with a Gigantic Raffle, usually with a nice new 4-stroke Outboard to end it as the Grand Prize!
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. Be sure to check out the results from The El Cheapo on Page 23 Until Next Time Tight Lines!
Mariana Suzette YachnowitzContinued from Page 17
Smaller males and larger females will gather in big schools as they begin the ritual of reproduction
Females produce eggs in two elongated sacks within their bellies This causes them to become swollen and rotund, making them much heavier due to their new found girth. They also feed voraciously to sustain the calories required to spawn. This means you tend to see much larger trout than usual and much more aggressive trout than usual
And if there’s anything we like its fat, aggressive fish Please remember these are our spawners, practice catch and release when possible and always put back the 20+ inch fish, they are vital for he survival of our fishery
Twitch baits are my go-to lure for trout almost year round The style and profile you use will largely depend on what the fish are doing and how deep your water is.
If you are fishing shallow, stagnant water with very little tidal movement suspending and floating twitch baits are extremely effective However, if you are fishing deeper or faster moving water along structure or banks you’ll need to throw something heavier or something that gets down into the water column
Lipped jerk baits and sinking plugs will be most effective in these conditions. They dive downward and are much heavier, allowing them to maintain a proper wounded presentation in current driven water. With either scenario be sure to throw in some prolonged pauses in your twitch-twitch retrieve
This allows larger, lazier females to catch up to the lure and eat a stationary bait as opposed to chasing down and working harder for their meal
Capt Matt Chipperfield
Chip’s Coastal Charters
chipscoastalcharters@gmail.com
