Tournament
Tides Page 19
Tides
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 15 - Capt Jim Suber
Page 16 - Jeff Altman
Page 17 - Capt Matt Chipperfield
Page 19 - Tides
Page 20 - Capt Cory Sparks
Page 21 - Capt Adam Morley
Page 24 - Will Neimann
Page 25 - Capt Jeff Patterson
Page 27 - Craig VanBrocklin
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August 2022
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 ($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 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
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Depending who you ask, a door mat might have a different meaning this time of year. In our minds, it’s that beautiful 28 inch flounder With the warm waters here for the summer, our flat tasty friends have pushed in from off shore and are waiting to be caught
Flounder could be caught all over this time of the year, from the beach to the creeks, 4 inches of water to the deep, but when I target flounder, structure is the common denominator in the mix All of the jetties up are Fort Clinch are flounder magnates
Flounder stage themselves in areas where bait is forced to travel through making it easy to ambush Look for bottlenecks in creeks, points, eddies, or naturals water funnels and lay your bait right in the middle to wait for that thump
When it comes to bait, flounder eat a variety of things, but I’d say mud minnows are at the top of their list Finger mullet and pogies also work well depending where you’re located, always try to “match the hatch” Towards the end of the month, the mullet
run should begin and there will be endless bait to cast net
The setup I fish is super simple Braid tied to a 24’+ fluorocarbon leader with a FG knot, tied to a 1/0 owner kahle hook About ten inches above the hook, I use a #2 size split shot The reason I use split shot over an egg sinker is because I fish around structure and get hung a decent amount
If I get hung up with split shot, I could usually pull free and lose the weight without losing the leader/hook Just make sure to keep a pack of split shot in your pocket, as you may need them
Artificial-wise, we sell a ton of Berkley Gulp Swim Mullet, Fight Club grubs and Contenders in white, chartreuse and pink at Amelia Island Bait and Tackle
I suggest a red jig head to pair with the white bait, weight matched to the current you’re fishing. Obviously, fish the bottom almost like you would a bass worm Let it sink and sit for a minute, slightly raising your rod tip inching it closer to you
This will slowly swim and bounce the bait off of the bottom where our target it waiting to reach up and smash As always, feel free to come into Amelia Island Bait and Tackle or our new place, Old Town Bait and Tackle to talk more about what and where you’re fishing. Tight Lines
Nik Bremer
Shop # (904) 277-0775
Cell # (760) 212-8131
J.O.S.F.C.
By Lee BowmanThe winds blew some during our two snapper days and the thunderstorms have pummeled us almost daily since
As much as I enjoy the brief cool off period it doesn’t allow me the time to fish that I need As far as what’s going on this month the sharks have been active and feeding. I’ve had days where we struggle to get fish out of the water before they are eaten
Tarpon have been on the beach and in the pogie pods I’m using a 6500 spinning reel topped with 65lb braided line I’m using a heavy duty popping cork followed by a 4’ piece of 80lb leader finished off with an 8/0 circle hook I’m netting pogies on the beach, putting them on the hook, and sending them right back into the bait pods.
The kingfish are still on the beach and also on our reefs and wrecks offshore You should expect to keep seeing them as long as this water continues to stay warm If you want to stay busy and just bend some rods get out for some bottom fishing
I have been using cuttlefish or squid and my rigs are a double dropper loop with 1/0 circle hooks.
Need a spot to try? Check out the culverts at Floyd’s Folly 30° 10.069n 081° 09.322w
need more spots come see us at a
meeting in our NEW clubhouse
Upcoming Events: JOSFC Board Meeting
- Monday, August 1st
Meeting - August 4th-watch for social media updates. This may be our first meeting in the new clubhouse.
Meeting August 18th - watch Social media for updates this will most likely be our Past Presidents Meeting
August Club Tournaments
Inshore: Lady Angler Tournament (18 and over)
Offshore: Lady Angler Tournament (18 and over)
Find us on Facebook com/theJOSFC and check out our website to keep up with upcoming events, schedules, or any changes. www.JaxFish.com
We open the doors around 6:00 if you want to come early to visit, dinner is at 7:00, and we generally try to get started with the meeting at about 7:30, and we will have a great raffle All of our meetings are open to the public, you do not have to be a member to attend We are family friendly so feel free to bring the kiddos!
We hope to see you there!
Capt. Lee BowmanThere were some good reports this week even in the heat and rains
River guages on July 20th were:
Clyo on the Savannah River –6.6 feet and rising
Abbeville on the Ocmulgee – 7.5 feet and falling
Doctortown on the Altamaha –8 1 feet and rising
Waycross on the Satilla – 11 1 feet and rising (79 degrees)
Atkinson on the Satilla – 7 7 feet and rising
Macclenny on the St Marys – 4.5 feet and rising
Satilla River – The river has come up into the floodplain again, just like all last summer The fish are fattening up, but it’s tough to catch panfish under these conditions.
Kellen fished with his PaPa Jay Murray on Saturday for Jay’s birthday, and they only caught 1 hand-sized bluegill that inhaled a cricket They knew it would be high, but Kellen had a big time poking around on sandbars (that were still out of the water at that time.), and Jay enjoyed spending time with him on the river. A benefit bass tournament for the Brantley County Herons football team is scheduled on the Satilla for July 23rd Check out their Facebook page (Brantley County Herons Football) for details.
St Marys River – Chuck Dean and a friend fished the upper tidal area on Monday and caught 25 nice panfish They caught bluegills, redbreasts, and stumpknockers by flinging
Satilla Spins The fish were really picky that day, and the only color they could get them to bite was cracklehead crawfish, even though they tried many colors Chuck said that it felt like it was slow because they would go a good bit of time between bites then catch several when they got to a good spot
They did that all morning and ended up with a really good catch Catfishing has been good, also, with white and channel catfish eating worms or shrimp put on the bottom.
Okefenokee Swamp – If you like to catch fish, there is no better summertime bite than catching bowfin in the Okefenokee It generally takes more time to get the last one off the hook than to hook up with another one.
They’re not much for table fare, but they are a BLAST to catch! The key is to have a good lipgripping tool and a good hook remover so that you can release them with minimal handling The less time you’re around their slashing teeth, the less of YOUR blood will be in the boat.
Chuck Dean fished the east side (Folkston entrance) on Friday and caught 38 bowfin by himself His biggest 2 were 5-lb , 9-oz and 5lb , 6-oz and he caught them all on Dura-Spins, both casted and trolled. His first dozen fish were on fire tiger-chartreuse blade, but he caught the next couple dozen on the jackfish color (yellow/red/white)
Teddy Elrod took his daughter, Emma, on Saturday, and they stopped catching them and went home when they got to 30. They started casting Dura-Spins and then switched to trolling and caught them the entire couplehour trip
Emma threw fire tiger-chartreuse blade the whole time and Teddy caught them on both jackfish and black/chartreuse They had a couple big ones on but did not land them. Their biggest was about 4 pounds Kael Courson and a friend fished the east side on Tuesday morning for 3 hours
and caught 42 fish They had a couple gar, a couple pickerel (up to 20 inches), and the rest were bowfin
Their biggest bowfin was 5-lb , 14-oz They cast for their first 10 fish then trolled for the next 32. They used Dura-Spins and caught them well on crawfish, whitewhite blade, black/chartreuse –chartreuse blade, jackfish, and fire tiger-chartreuse blade The advantage of the Dura-Spin is that they are built on a flexible wire shaft, so it usually takes at least a dozen bowfin to mangle them.
Hard wire in-line spinners are usually toast after 2 bowfin (sometimes 1 bowfin) The latest water level (Folkston side) was 121 09 feet
Paradise Public Fishing Area (near Tifton) – Some bass were caught this week Josh Lynch of Nashville fished Lake Patrick from the bank on Friday and landed a 23 1/2-inch bass Lots of smaller bream were caught this
week on crickets and worms
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
Creeks & Rivers
By John ChapmanI’m going to have to start out with an apology for this month I try to hit this article with positive energy and go hard on an be enjoyable and sometimes entertaining and informative.
This weather has been unbelievable lately Normally the summer weather pattern is get out early in the AM and then off the water in the late afternoon before the Thunder Boomers show up.
Here lately on my days off not only do we get blessed with all that rain in the afternoon but there have been many unpredictable boomers in the AM as well So I’m leaning on my buddy Steve who has been fishing from land lately and having a ball.
He has worked hard finding spots from land and has done really well with multiple species I’ve chatted with him and seen pictures of his flounder, reds, and trout The one thing that really struck me was the fun he has been having with the Mangrove Snapper.
You can keep 5 and with a minimum of 10 inches they are the perfect table fare He mainly
uses fresh dead shrimp on a jig head.
This is where it gets interesting though instead of just throwing it out there and letting it sit he actually rigs it like you would a Gulp shrimp and then fishes it Throwing around structure and along a rough structured grass lines usually yields what he is looking for and he has caught them up to 19 inches
I’ve caught them in the Keys before and loved watching them off the docks when you try and catch them They seem to be so smart and see your line and hook in the keys and just laugh at your offering until you get away from the canals and marinas
I guess what I’m saying is if they can smarten' up there then they can probably smarten up here when you find them so you might want to be conservative with your favorite hole once you find them. On another note I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the new (well seems like it as long as it took) and improved Fishing Pier at the beach is open
Today I watched the live reports and fish being brought over the rail this morning for the first time in a long, long time. Folks will no doubt be out there on the end staking their claim to that part of the pier fishing for Kings and Tarpon
So get out here now and enjoy it before all the Pros get out there!! Hope everyone has a great rest of the summer and get out there and catch some fish
John Chapman904-743-3200
983 University Blvd. N
Located in the N E corne of the Town and Country Shopping Center
STORE HOURS
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Pier & Surf
By Spencer BrogdenThe long awaited reopening of the Jacksonville Beach Pier finally happened on July 20th, 2022 It was originally damaged in 2016 by Hurricane Matthew and was left partially open until late 2019 when construction began to repair it
So if you are new to pier fishing, what can you expect?
August tends to have warm water temps so to begin with fish early and fish late I apply this same logic when surf fishing this time of year as well The list is long on what can be caught off the pier
Flounder, Redfish, Speckled Trout, Black Drum, Sheephead, Spade fish, Kingfish, Tarpon and several other species
There are two rigs I use predominantly when pier fishing A float rig and a Carolina rig The float rig can catch pretty much anything that swims because there isn’t much that
doesn’t like a live shrimp With the Carolina rig I target Flounder, Black Drum and Redfish using live mullet and live shrimp
Much like the surf conditions, I prefer Northeast to East winds and try to avoid fishing in the dirty water The sharks and catfish love dirty water no matter where you are along the beach
Switching over to the surf
Things have been extremely slow but that will start to change soon The schools of mullet are starting to run the beach now and with that the trout and reds will be following them! Early in the morning the mullet tend to congregate in inches of water which makes them much easier to catch
Once you have them in the bait bucket, look for a good slough or tide pool where fish will congregate in hopes of ambushing some mullet There are also still some decent whiting around but they are few and far between in these warm waters
For weekly updates check out our YouTube channel Brokenreel23!
Until next time, tight lines
9549 First Coast Hwy Fernandina Beach, Fl. 32034 904-624-7293
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Intracoastal and St. Johns River
By Capt. John Eggers
One of the hottest months of the year temperature wise at least can make day fishing pretty uncomfortable
The early morning inshore bite, regardless of tide, almost always will be better than the midday bite. Fish , like people, get a little lazy due to the heat and would rather be in the AC
AC for fish means deeper water with current. Drop offs in 10 to 25 feet will hold fish that may still be aggressively feeding even though you cannot visually see it happening
I use my garmin sonar now more than just about any other time
I like to idle these deeper drop offs while constantly monitoring my unit looking for schools of fish
Not only do you cover a lot of water but in some cases you will stumble on new fishing spots
Its a great way to find fish without just blindly working banks that may or may not have fish on them August also brings afternoon thunderstorms which can create another
good fishing opportunity Its hard to beat a good late afternoon rain shower for fishing.
The showers will cool shallow water temps a bit and get the fish fired up Top water lures seem to work the best for reds and trout but everything from snook, flounder and even tarpon seem to feed better after these storms. Popping corks with some type of live bait will be another great choice In short, even though air temperatures are extremely uncomfortable there are plenty of opportunities to get out and catch fish Capt
Jacksonville Beach Pier
RULES
Offshore Deepwater
ByAugust Offshore
August brings us a mixed bag of nearshore fish The good news is that some Sailfish will begin to show up on the nearshore bottom areas The afternoon thunderstorms should begin to subside towards the end of the month. Kingfish will still be here and it appears so will a nice Cobia bite that has happened in July Over 50% of the Cobia we caught on our Kingfish Charters were “Shorts” or juveniles, that were not long enough to be keepers I don’t particularly remember an active July Cobia bite being this strong Just yesterday on a 6hour charter we had 20 or more under the boat that we were “live chumming” with live pogies
They were also accompanied by 2 huge Bull Sharks that ate them after we hooked up. We landed 7 of them, but only 2 were keepers. On light tackle kingfish gear you have less than a 50% chance of getting a keeper size cobia to the boat before a big shark will eat them That’s why you should always have a couple bigger spinning rods available spooled with 40-60lb Diamond Braided line and a Top-Shot of at least 6ft of 50lb Diamond Fluorocarbon with a 5/0 Circle Hook This will allow you to put enough pressure on the fish to get it to the boat in a timely manner reducing the chance of
“Bruce” the Bull Shark eating it. A new technique we used to get and keep the Cobia near the boat while drifting is using a troutstyle popper with a live pogy
The Popper rigged with a live pogy or sardine out fished the free lined live bait 3 to 1 on the HooDoo Boat
As we get later into August you will see more and more boats leaving the dock with their outriggers on These will be your Sailfish enthusiasts of which I proudly count myself as one of
I absolutely love sailfishing, specifically kite-fishing for Sailfish. Let’s be clear, as my good friend Rick Ryals will remind everyone, the sailfishing out of Jacksonville is not even remotely as good as Stuart of Fort Pierce it’s still an enormous amount of fun watching fish eat a kite bait It’s the sort of feeling you only get by sightfishing. The Hoodoo boat will look to run a select few KiteFish trips in September If you may be interested in this, contact me using the info provided at the end of this article
The Red Snapper Debacle. We are now in our 12th year of the clandestine goat rope inappropriately named the endangered Red Snapper Closure This year I ran 4 Red Snapper Charters in 2 days 3 of those charters never ventured outside of 5 miles off of the beach We limited out each trip with our biggest fish being around 19lbs and the average fish kept was around 8lbs The positive economic effect on our local community during the Red Snapper opening is huge Folks our government in general, but specifically NOAA and the South Atlantic Fisheries Management are failing us in many aspects but none more apparent than Red Snapper Everyone knows everyone, including the members of the South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council that we have a booming stock of Red Snapper here in Northeast Florida and yet they are
handcuffed by the science provided to them by the unelected bureaucrats (scientists) that provide them with the data that they are obligated to act upon Yes, the scientists that must justify their job while in cahoots with whatever government contractors that are making huge money off of the Fish Surveys. These surveys provide the data in a way to make it seem that Red Snapper is endangered While south Florida may not catch as many Red Snapper as they used to back in the 1940s, NE Florida has an abundance of Red Snapper that is now encroaching on other species. South Atlantic Red Snapper Management should be regionalized like many other fisheries, providing help where help is needed and leaving unaffected regions alone The smart, proactive Alaska Salmon Management is a model to be emulated. The question now arises is NOAA Fisheries now rendering itself ineffective by its erroneous and unimaginative policies? How can we trust them with Wahoo or Mahi regulations if they have failed so miserably with Red Snapper? Is NOAA inept or corrupt? It can only be one or the other. Should we strip NOAA of Fisheries Management? Folks that would call for serious politicians that are willing to put the needs of the people and truth in government ahead of themselves, their political party
or political culture. Folks whether you’re a republican or democrat your elected officials aren’t doing their job representing the truth or you Your federal representatives have the power to hold NOAA accountable, but it is far easier to point fingers at the opposition and spread fear & hate.
If you need assistance Kingfish Rigging and Tackle please visit Southern Kingfish Hall of Fame Fisherman Dave Workman Jr at
Continued on Page 18
Some Hoodoo Red Snapper Caught within 5 Miles of the beach
Intracoastal Rivers & Creeks
By Capt. Todd PhilcoxSummer fishing on NE Florida’s inshore water can present some challenges due to heat, storms and higher water temperatures but persistence will pay off with some nice redfish and flounder
Fishing has been decent but finding action with redfish and flounder requires covering quite a bit of water as the fish tend to be scattered.
Try to plan your fishing days, or days off, for those with a late morning low tide I’ve found the last 3 hours of the falling tide through the first hour of the incoming to be the most productive for redfish
Flounder action has been decent through July, when they are your target, fish the higher tide phases around weed edges that show a good tide rip. Flounder action should pick up this month along the docks and rocks in the St. Johns river as well
The redfish bite throughout the summer has been challenging and slot size fish have been scattered, juvenile reds showed up in force in July and readily ate shrimp
I generally prefer active casting and working shrimp, mud minnows or finger mullet on jig heads, along weed edges, flats adjacent to creek runouts and some of the steeper drop-offs along the intracoastal. Shrimp baits become more difficult to use this month and next as the
increased quantity of smaller fish will clean your hook before a decent redfish or flounder gets a shot at your shrimp, I prefer larger mud minnows or finger mullet this time of year
Throughout August another productive technique will be to fish stationary baits, mud minnows, live finger mullet or cut mullet on fish finder rigs Find banks along the Intracoastal with bait activity and let your bait sit right in the middle of that activity, patience will pay off!
The quantity of finger mullet increased greatly late in July and over the next couple months they will be the optimal size to entice slot size and larger redfish as well as good size flounder to bite, using finger mullet will also exclude the smaller species from stealing your baits so bring along a cast net
Boat traffic will continue to be heavy once the sun gets high in the sky, so, once again, get out early. Be courteous to other fisherman as well, when cruising down the Intracoastal give fisherman working the banks as much room as possible and when in creeks or shallower waters be sure to slow down to idle speed and once again give fellow fishing boats room
Get out fishing, stay cool and be safe!
Our Waterways
By Capt. Jim Suber COJ Waterways CoordinatorDock 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
wwwCOJ net
Well the summer continues and the activity has been exciting!
June and July brought some great tournaments to include The Old School Tournament out of St Augustine, The King Buster out of Mayport, The Ancient City in St Augustine and The Greater Jacksonville at Jim King Park.
We had the Greater Jacksonville Redfish Tournament and some great Jr Angler Tournaments
Fernandina will have their Kingfish Tournament and Rodeo August 6 North Florida is very fortunate to have the natural resources and not only dedicated experienced anglers but some great people willing to put the work and knowledge in to coordinating and working these tournaments
Hats off to all! The heat had some of our “experts” concerned about the algae blooms getting out of control! We have already seen outbreaks as far north as Goodby’s Creek in the St Johns
and the salinity levels continue to be somewhat fickled The temperatures leveled off and so far the outbreaks have calmed
We were seeing a dry period with rainfall at a minimum Well July went the opposite direction, and our rainfall has been more towards normal.
This has caused temperatures to be more seasonal, and the water temperatures and salinity settle to more normal! We are full speed in the manatee season so stay alert and keep a good look out.
Schools start back this month so get those fishing days in for the Jr Anglers so they can take great memories back to school!
The City of Jacksonville Continues to make improvements and several projects are seeing progress.
The Mayport Community Center Construction is complete and the JOSFC has moved back The added parking is a great relief for the center as well as the boat ramp The new docks of Mayport are being installed These docks will be for the OSEARCH vessel when in Jacksonville as well as other commercial operations and Shrimp Boats
There will also be a designated recreational vessel dock for public use So, access to the restaurants and parks of Mayport will soon be accessible for your enjoyment. The Jacksonville Beach Pier is finally complete and finally fishing has returned Anglers are experiencing a good variety of catches!
The Dredging of Bert Maxwell was delayed due to CSX refusal to open the trestle for the dredge equipment. By the date of this publication the contractor has mobilized at the Oak Harbor Dredge project and is completed The construction of the new dock on the east side of the Jacksonville Zoo, the dredging of the Kayak access at Castaway Island Preserve and the dredging of Goodby’s Creek is still working through the process and contractors should be able to mobilize soon The new fishing
platform at River Road Park is still under construction and near completion The fishing pier under the Dames Point Bridge is complete and open for use!
The derelict vessel war is still full speed ahead. We have had a slow spell getting the approvals. We have two more that have been approved by FWCC and working through city council approval and about 6 more working through the process FWCC has been working on a Vessel Turn in Program which will allow owners of vessels that have been tagged as at risk can turn in the title to FWCC and the vessel will be removed and demolished prior to it sinking!
The plan was approved by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in mid July here in Jacksonville We look forward to this program helping remove vessels prior to sinking. We have two vessels that have sunk at our city facilities, one at Exchange Island and one at the transient Dock at Jim King Park A grant to remove these vessels have been awarded to The City and removal should come soon.
Bid requests have been returned so contracts should come soon.
JSO has placed a second sailboat at Exchange Island, so we are working for a solution to this 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 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 sunglasses 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 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 2022 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!
BE SAFE! AND WASH YOUR HANDS!!
Seafood Salad Ingredients
1lb shrimp small shrimp Or cut large large in half peeled and devained
1/2lb Bay Scallops
1/2lb imitation crab meat or 1 can fresh crab
1/2c chopped onion
1/2c chopped bell peppers
1/2c chopped celery
4 hard boiled eggs chopped
1c mayonnaise (not miracle whip)
1c sour cream
1/4c relish sweet or dill
1tsp paprika (not smoked)
1tbsp dill
salt and pepper to taste
1lb pasta shells or elbow macaroni
The first thing you want to do is cook your pasta follow directions on box cook to al dente Drain and place in refrigerator to cool
In a large frying Pan melt 2 tbsp butter on medium heat then add shrimp and scallops add some Old Bay seasoning cook 2-3 minutes on each side until shrimp are pink Remove shrimp and scallops from pan place on plate and into the refrigerator to cool
In a large bowl mix mayonnaise and sour cream then add the relish, old bay, dill, onions, celery and bell peppers then mix in your seafood and boiled eggs add the pasta and fold in until thoroughly mixed. Put in the refrigerator for a few hours to chill and enjoy a cool pasta salad great for lunch or dinner
Guana Lake
By Capt Matt ChipperfieldBefore I get started on this month‘s fishing report, I’d like to take a second to talk about some new regulations going into effect this September
You have probably heard that FWC decided to change Northeast Florida‘s Redfish bag limit from two fish to one fish starting September 1st.
There has been a little controversy surrounding this change due to the fact that some of you will no longer be able to keep a two fish bag limit However, if you’ve been paying attention the last 10 to 15 years it is very obvious that the redfish population has been on a slow decline
This change is a preventative measure that FWC, local captains and conservationists have taken to ensure the future of our fishery.
Just take a look at South Florida, Mosquito Lagoon, Tampa Bay, and a number of Southern estuaries that are currently struggling to maintain fish populations Granted they do have a lot of water quality issues that we don’t have up here, however the sheer amount of pressure on our fishery is ever-growing
Every day 1200 people move to Florida, in fact there were 2.5 million saltwater licenses sold last year. At the rate that we are growing our fisheries cannot sustain increased bag limits And when you get down to it,
the reason we like to fish is not to eat, it’s for the sport. If your sole purpose in fishing is to put food on the table you’re out there for the wrong reasons
It’s a lot cheaper to go to the market and buy fish, but we buy rods, tackle,boats, kayaks and all kinds of gear because we enjoy the art and act of fishing That is why I think the change is a good one and a necessary one to keep us tight and to have a sporting experience on the water.
Now for my report. Spoiler alert: not much has changed from the last one Kingfish are still on the beach and nearshore wrecks, Tarpon are still igniting on the pogies in the surf and flounder are stacking up along our docks, rocks, inlets, and any other structure that they can find
Some locally heavy rains have got the mullet moving around in the river and it’s clear that the flounder are beginning their late summer feed. This trend should only continue as we get our full-fledged Mullet run in August and September So get out there and go get tight guys!
Capt Matt Chipperfield
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082 Tel: (904) 610-8501
chipscoastalcharters@gmail.com
hi l h
Continued from Page 13
@ Strike Zone Fishing Jacksonville and see Dave or his top-notch staff for expert advice with the widest selection for all your Kingfish needs!
GAS PRICES has affected our economy on every level So please support your local businesses because they are the one’s disproportionality impacted Take the time to go to your local store even though giving your money to Jeff Bezos (creator of Amazon) may cost less because of soaring fuel prices, in the end it hurts your local community immeasurably.
Take a kid fishing!
Until next month, please stay safe on the water and remember that great things happen when you take a kid fishing
The HooDoo Boat is in Kingfish 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!
Capt Tim Altman
HooDoo Sportfishing Charters
www.saltwaterchallenge.com
904.859.6314
The heat of the summer is in full swing Fishing first and last light typically will produce the best bites compared to hot midday stretches Afternoon trips after a thunderstorm rolls through can also really get the fish fired up and offers cooler conditions for anglers to enjoy
Following the early and late low light conditions, focus on working topwater lures along grass points and over oyster mounds on high tide stages
During low tides, find concentrations of bait and work around the same areas where you see bait cruising through
When throwing top water plugs, try using a mono leader in place of a flurocarbon leader. Monofilament sinks slower than fluorocarbon and won't dampen the lures action as much as fluoro due to the mono’s slower sink rate Use a loop knot when throwing topwaters
It will allow the lure to move more freely during your retrieve which gives the lure significantly more action while working it through the target area
Redfish, trout, and flounder will be hanging around the heavy concentrations of bait this month.
Throwing a shrimp under a popping cork up current and letting it drift through areas holding bait will locate the feeding predators I like to work the edges of the bait and have my cork pass just outside of the nervous water
On falling tides, work drop offs where bait is funneling off of shallow areas over ledges where fish can wait and ambush from
below once the bait drifts over the deeper spot. Using a circle hook under the cork makes for easy hook sets When you see the cork go under just start reeling and keep the rod tip up Your hook up ratio will stay consistent and high!
Flounder numbers have been good all summer and some bigger fish have been caught. Look for these fish to stage up in areas scattered with rocks, shells, or other bottom structure
Another good place to check is where there is water flowing over oyster bars with steeper drops around the shells. Flounder will grab the bait before completely consuming it many times This means you need to let them eat a few seconds before setting the hook
They have been feeding on shrimp pretty well through July, but a mullet or mud minnow dragged across bottom is the more preferred bait.
Any of the curly tail profile soft plastics work as well on a ¼ oz Jig head but my favorite remains the Fishbites Dirty Boxer in white or chartreuse Keep Reeling!
Capt Cory Sparks
716-307-7654
310 Charters.com
a monster!
Photo Right Center Amanda Carter landed this cruising Redfish!
Photo Bottom Right Mark Nodson from Edinburgh, Scotland with
By Capt. Adam Morley
Are you feeling hot, hot, hot?
Not everyone enjoys the mid day heat of summer
Even on the water where temperatures tend to be cooler, the mixture of sun and salt can be exhausting But like most conditions; learn to dress accordingly and you can have a comfortable and productive day of fishing while others seek shelter from the midday sun. Here are a few tips to beat the heat that I use when it gets “too hot” for others
This first tip is counterintuitive to most people; cover up with long sleeves and long pants Cover as much skin as you can with with lightweight sun clothing and sun masks (think of how people survive in the desert, they don’t strip down
They cover up) I have been using Patagonia shirts and pants for over a decade on the water and am a huge fan but there are other options out there too. Another option we have that folks in the desert don’t typically have is access to fresh water For a midday trip I like to douse myself with a hose making sure my clothes are soaked, I call it the Angler’s AC
If it’s going to be a long trip I might fill a couple half gallon jugs with fresh water to pour over myself if I start to dry out. I never use saltwater to “cool down” as it tends be more uncomfortable as it dries and has
a dehydrating effect That brings us to the next important tip, stay hydrated!
Well all know beer and fishing is a popular match, but beer is also dehydrating so if you’re looking for a productive and comfortable day of fishing save the beer for after the trip when you’re telling your fish stories Bring plenty of drinking water and/or Gatorade to stay hydrated Now that you’re prepared for the heat, let’s talk fishin’
I love me some midday top water action, I know it’s not popular, but some of my best catches recently have come when most angles are seeking shelter from the heat of the day.
I look for higher tides and moving water around thinned out marsh grass and submerged oyster bars But most importantly, I look for “life” I don’t know how to explain it, but you should “sense” activity in the area you are fishing and if you don’t then move somewhere else
You want to hear and see bait fish and “nervous water” moving through your spot, not so much hanging out in one place and leisurely jumping You want them scared and every so often you want to see a school break the surface as they “run” for their lives This is when and where I’m throwing a top water lure
Lately I’ve been throwing, and absolutely falling in love with the Kiss My Fish “Creeper” My second choice and historically favorite is the Mirro-Lure “Top Dog Jr.” But I only use top water when I have at least 18-20 inches of water If it’s a low tide I’m throwing a FishBites “Dirty Boxer” on a light jig head and getting as shallow as I can
It’s not unusual to find upper slot Red Fish with their backs clear out of the water as they gorge on small shrimp this time
of year No such thing as too shallow, just the wrong spot or wrong time If you’re interested in hearing more about summer time fishing, top water fishing, or skinny water fishing stop by Genung’s Fish Camp and pick our brains.
You could say we are very shallow minded and like it hot and wet this time of year
Adam MorleySALTWATER FISHING LICENSE
Required to take or attempt to take saltwater fish, crabs, clams, marine plants or other saltwater organisms (other than non-living seashells and lionfish with certain gear) A Florida fishing license is required to land saltwater species in Florida regardless of where they are caught (state or federal waters)
Resident Annual: $17.00
Resident Five-Year: $79.00
Non-Resident Annual: $47.00
Non-Resident 3-Day: $17.00
Non-Resident 7-Day: $30.00
FISH RULES
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All the fishing hotspots
Fish Rules App includes saltwater fishing regulations for Federal and State waters from Maine to Texas to Hawaii, and now includes freshwater for Florida fishrulesapp.com
FRESHWATER FISHING LICENSE
Required to take or attempt to take native or nonnative freshwater fish
Resident Annual: $17 00
Resident Five-Year: $79 00
Non-Resident Annual: $47 00
Non-Resident 3-Day: $17 00
Kayak Fishin' By Will
NeimannThe best bite through these hot months is early in the morning, generally
But where do you turn when the bite slows? My answer is to grab some live shrimp and target mangrove snapper Mangroves or mangoes as they are known, are an easy and fun summertime target for anglers of any age Mangroves are aggressive feeders, hard fighters, and excellent table fare
They’re my favorite fish taco fish, actually. Snapper are a great target if there are kids fishing as well A good snapper hole will be a very fast bite and keeps even the most impatient person entertained Mangroves don’t get as big as some of their cousins like the red snapper or mutton snapper, but they are just as tasty
Florida regulations state mangroves must be 10 inches minimum to keep and they have a 5 fish per angler bag limit Mangroves will hit a variety of baits as they aren’t too picky Live or dead shrimp, live or dead mullet, mud minnows, and fiddler crabs all catch these quick little suckers
They will also take Mirrolures, paddle tails, and topwaters. My preferred mangrove bait is a smaller live shrimp, smaller mullet, two to three inches, or a mudminnow. 90% of the time I use live shrimp If using shrimp, be prepared to go through them
I usually figure five dozen per angler for three and a half to four hours of fishing
You will go through every single shrimp on a normal day. You can rig for snapper several
ways A knocker rig with a circle hook, a Carolina rig with a circle hook, or a normal jighead all work
I use a Carolina rig with a 3/8 ounce weight and a 2/0 circle hook most of the time Weight will be determined by depth and current. You want the bait on the bottom or against the structure Snapper are a schooling fish, so when you find a spot holding fish, there will be a bunch
Oftentimes, you will limit out at the first stop. Look for mangroves around structure, whether it be docks, rocks, ledges, downed trees, deep holes, or just about any other piece of structure you may find including oyster beds An oyster bed with an adjacent deep pocket will have mangroves on or near the deeper side
Mangroves have a quick bite, so having a quick response to the bite is vital Timing must be right, or you will be spending all day feeding the fish. If using a circle hook, which I highly recommend, a simple lift and reel technique is the best way to get one hooked. Try to avoid the famous bass set when using circle hooks They are designed to self set in the corner of the fishes mouth
While dropping for mangroves, plenty of redfish, flounder, and black drum will be caught as well These fish all inhabit the same areas and they all eat shrimp. Mangroves are often the first to the hook though Once hooked, a large mangrove will pull drag like a redfish
A dock or rockpile holding 13 to 16 inch fish is a blast Mangroves are often overlooked as a target, but they shouldn’t be. I call them a guides fish, as they are relatively easy to catch, and taste delicious Good luck and tight lines. I’ll see ya out there.
Will NiemannLead Guide @ St Augustine Paddle Sports 772-475-9469
Daytona Ormond Beach
By Capt Jeff PattersonFishing has had its ups and downs lately for me Up in Ormond has been pretty productive early morning
There has been some nice redfish in the basin and I’ve even seen some smaller schools of maybe 5-10 fish I’ve pretty much been catching at least a flounder or two in these same areas where the reds are on the grassy shorelines.
There’s been some really nice seatrout up in the basin as well Live shrimp and finger mullet have been good baits but artificial has almost been more productive for me
Soft plastics and top water have been working great! If I’m up that way I’ll fish some docks in the ICW later in the morning and getting the same variety there along with some snook.
We lost a very nice mid 30” snook the other day that went under a dock and made it half way to the next dock staying on just long enough to come out of the water and show her face before busting the line
The inlet has been the tricky area The water has been a little dirtier over the past week with outgoing tide in the morning combined with the southwest wind pushing the river water right out and around the north jetty.
One day I will limit out on mangrove snapper in 30-40 minutes and the next day we might not catch one Live shrimp and mud minnows have been
working well for them on the bottom with some nice 1-2lb fish I’ve caught some slot redfish but most of the ones we’ve been getting are in the mid 30 inch range.
There’s been some good snook there as well. Big croakers and select shrimp are great baits
We’ve been picking you a nice flounder here and there around the jetties too There’s also been tarpon all over the inlet and off the beach
It’s been tougher to get them to bite around the inlet but have had some very productive trips off the beach We have hooked a bunch of 50-100 plus lb fish lately. Free lined croakers, pigfish, and mullet have all worked great. I’ve just been trying to get a decent ways away from the inlet and get away from other boats if possible
Today I pulled up to an area north of the inlet and saw a bunch of tarpon on the fish finder and then a bunch of rollers as well At one point you could see a school right next to the boat Pretty cool to see this time of year and definitely a blast to battle.
If you want to target some tarpon call me soon! Tight lines and keep hydrated we’re at the hottest time of year!
Mystery Weight Beau Bradshaw 2 0
Oh Snap Red Snapper
Tournament Board
By Craig VanBrocklinSummer Tournaments
Kingbuster
1st Marine Specialties 39.85
2nd Posse 3495
3rd Live Wire 33.65
4th Burnin Daylight 32 10
5th Reel Estate 32 10
6th El Jalapeno 30 90
7th Ms Sassy 30 20
8th The Live Wire 29 80
9th Scaled Back 29 75
10th Bad Company 29 40
11th Git-n-Wild 29 25
12th Trivial Pursuit 29 15
13th One Time 28 50
14th WalkThru/Overhead 28.45
15th Fishtastic 28.40
Top Lady Angler Live Wire (Jenifer) 33.65
Palms Snapper Slapper 1st Korey Horner 23 48
2nd Kris Nowicki
ACGFA Challenge
2nd Grayson Russell 16 32
3rd Logan Aprile 13 50 First Responder
Herbie Douglas 13 25
Military
Jonathon Kenny 19.75
Upcoming Tournaments
August 6th
Shallow Minded Redfish
* King of the Beach
* Fernandina Beach Rodeo
September 24th
*Anglers for a Cure (Vilano)
Bayliner, Carolina Skiff, Hurricane, Key West. Regal, Sweetwater, & Trophy center console fishing boats. We offer Mercury, Suzuki, or Yamaha Outboards
386-255-2345
