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nnection the Fishing & Boating before the first Tuesday ial printed herein may istribution without the nt of the publisher distributed monthly at and by subscription rmation please call Dionne 904 962-5996
Rates Effective 9/21/21
December 2021
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 fbmgjax@gmail com with your name and phone # to claim your certificate Prize must be claimed no later than midnite of the last day of this month to be valid If you would enjoy seeing your photo in the Fishing Connection please send in your best Fish Kissing Photo. Thanks to all who send in a Fish Kisser photo. Anyone can win, maybe soon it will be you. Send photos to fbmgjax@gmail.com.
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
Fernandina
J.O.S.F.C.
By Lee BowmanSome of the wind throughout November really beat us up North and North East winds can sometimes shut down any opportunities to leave the inlet. With the cold fronts and rains that we had the first part of the month water temperatures have dropped
As far as fishing goes black sea bass are starting to show up in decent numbers in 70-80’ of water. Small 1/0-2/0 circle hooks with some cuttlefish, squid, or bait strips seem to be doing well I have seen a few Wahoo coming in but not quite as many as I’d like but I expect to see the numbers start bumping up soon I’d also highly recommend carrying a large spinning rod with a Cobia jig of some sort. It’s not uncommon to be able to drop it down and jig a nice cobia off of a wreck
Keep up with regulations in your local area to keep yourself out of any trouble, the newest fish closures in our area are: Lesser Amberjack, handed rudderfish, and Almaco Jack closed until January 1st JOSFC has made it through our 2021 year and we have some exciting changes for 2022 Rob Vermillion will be the club president for his second term and the Board of Directors is gaining some great new additions. We do have some fishing rule changes that we voted on for the new year and they can be all be found
on our website jaxfish com Go through them really well because we have some huge changes to the fishing rules with our tournament format being one of the largest.
Our Thanksgiving potluck had a great turnout and our new hospitality directors are off to a great start!
We are still having dinner at our meetings so make sure you don’t miss it. Clubhouse doors open at about 6 and dinner starts at 7.
December 2nd- Club Meeting, Clam Chowder Cook-off
December 16th- Club meeting
Christmas Party Bring the kids IMPORTANT: Memberships expire Dec 31, 2021 so renew early before you forget. If you aren’t a member yet we would love for you to come to visit us and we can get you signed up anytime
Capt
Lee Bowman
Fernandina
By Capt Charlie FreemanFinally the end of the year is here. Let's hope 2022 doesn't follow the same path as 2020 or 2021 did But the water is cooler and that will help some fish and hurt others The finger mullet run is over and the offshore fish like the tarpon, cobia and mahi will be heading south.
But fish like Bull Redfish, Black Drum, Permit, Sea Trout, Flounder will be making a stronger showing as will the Grouper, Snapper, Sea Bass and other reef fish which will now be found closer to shore for those bottom fishing locations like HH,FA,FC, FB or other close in live bottom areas.
Surf fishing will find keeper pompano, whiting, red fish and black drum for those using fresh dead shrimp, cut bait or clams A popular rig now is using a two hook rig, some use different baits on the two hooks to see what the fish want that day. Popular places are Fort Clinch, Peters Point, American Beach and Nassau Sound
Inshore anglers will be using rigs like mud minnow on a jig slowly fished around docks and creek channels and deep holes in the ICW running from West Rock thru downtown Fernandina to Rayonier paper mills
Using a float is a good way to keep your bait from getting stuck on all the ragged bottom the fish love to hang out with
Any questions on where to fish and what rigs to use can be answered by any of the several bait shops on the island.
Speaking of bait shops, here is this month's bait shop write up
Browns Creek Fish Camp is located on Heckscher Drive AKA the North Florida Keys Browns Creek Fish Camp is well known to the Northeast Florida fishing community, given that it is the oldest continually operating bait and tackle store in Jacksonville and the only shop accessible by boat
The Kern family purchased BCFC in 1995 and John Kern had found his new niche John, his wife, Felicia and children, Glenn, Rachel and, Austin are lifelong residents of Heckscher Drive with saltwater (ok, brackish water), in their veins
BCFC went from a bar, pool table, late nights and a little bait to a family friendly waterfront facility with boat storage, full tackle, an array of live bait, snacks, beer and more. The Kern family knew the importance of superior customer service and they strived to provide the best quality bait and fishing tackle available
John passed away in 2020, leaving Rachel to complete the family legacy
Couple Rachel’s business knowhow with the collective fishing knowledge of the BCFC team: currently Paula, Matt, Melissa and Parry it’s no surprise why BCFC is the “go to” place for local fishermen Night owl? You’re in luck! BCFC has Jacksonville’s only 24/7 bait machine and a 24/7 pier. Located right on the south west side of the Browns Creek bridge it is the ideal location for avid fishermen BCFC continues to offer live bait, frozen bait, tackle, on site boat storage, snacks, drinks, apparel and ice, along with line spooling service and much more.
The fact that BCFC has thousands of loyal life long customers speaks volumes regarding their longevity and success in operating a first class business that stocks the products that work around the area
Check them out at brownscreekfishcamp.com
Creeks & Rivers
By John "Chappy" ChapmanMerry Merry Christmas everyone and let me be the first to say Happy New Year as well By now I’m sure everyone has pulled out the waterproof sox and the warm wool lined waterproof pants and are loading your coolers with the newly opened off the ridiculous 1 5 month closure only applied to us little guys
Thanks FWC!! Ok that lil rant is over with so now let’s get to the good stuff How about a detailed Christmas list for Santa or your in my case I’d have better luck with my wife? I don’t have to make believe that I’m not on the “naughty list” with her It’s just a preordained fact of life we live with and I’m sooo lucky she still gets me stuff!
So without further ado I’m going to go over some things that I absolutely have to have when I go fishing for no other reason than, it is just really really convenient. Some of these things will seam like they break the bank at first but they will last forever and you will be glad you didn’t skimp on the Chinese version
Mainly because you will still have it this time next year! The first thing that I absolutely love and it is must have is a simple instrument but it is a monumental help and gets tons of use Please this is definitely one of those things where you get what you pay for so imitations are abound but just that lesser imitations
Boga Grips! Also when you get them immediately take a minute and tie a small buoy on
them that is more than sufficient to hold them up
Test in a Pool! Ok this item is negotiable but I totally recommend a rotomolded (size that works for your situation) cooler. I own a couple of different brands and they are all great and work fine Yeti, RTIC, Magellan pick one.
They are heavy and a little bulky but they hold ice for long trips and ultimately save money in using smaller amount of ice! This next item is again has a little bit of wiggle room for the one that matches your size preference, but ultimately there are a couple of must haves and here they are
Deep and rubber coated landing net These nets are not all made the same but the rubberized ones will help (not full alleviate) you untangle your top water or any other barbed lure you are using that will absolutely get tangled in any other net. Also it has to be deep enough so that your nice trout doesn’t use the flat bottom as a spring board to jump right out of it back into the water
I’ve literally seen this happen many times Okay I’ll probably take some heat for the next one but it is a must have Here’s the deal put it on the Christmas List for 2021 and tell Santa you’ll be happy whenever he can make it happen! I’m not blowing smoke and not sponsored and don’t get a break on this item.
I said the same thing that you are going to think when you look them up and see the price but they absolutely never leave my hip, Even when buddies fish with me they stay attached when I let someone use them.
They are Van Staal Titanium 6 inch pliers Mine are well used and they are awesome beyond explanation
I could go on for days but in my humble opinion these are the three best must have fishing items to ask the FAT MAN FOR!! Merry Christmas and Happy Fishing!!
John Chapman
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
random Redfish or Black Drum This time of year
Ponte Vedra is my favorite place to target the whiting
The shell bottom is loaded with coquina and small sandfleas and the fish will hang around most of the winter. Most of the time the big whiting are cruising in the first trough closest too shore.
Pier & Surf
By Spencer BrogdenDecember 2021 will have a much different feel than last December. Last December, two weeks into the month we still had 71 degree water temps here in Northeast Florida
We were catching Redfish, Speckled Trout, Black Drum, Pompano and Whiting What a difference a year makes This year, at the time of this writing water temps are already mid 60’s and dropping
What does this mean for us?
It means lots of whiting and a
As the tide goes out they will head out towards the sandbar. So when fishing it, dead high I fish the trough and as it goes out Irish on top of the sandbar Fresh shrimp will work just fine for whiting nearly every time! I use 2/0 eagle claw circle hook on either Carolina rigs or double dropper rigs
If whiting isn’t what you want, I suggest you keep an eye on the water temps south of us Wherever there is 70 degree water, you will find the pompano and all the other surf dwellers!
On my Brokenreel23 YouTube page and Facebook page, we keep you updated throughout the week of what’s happening in the surf for our area. We also respond to all questions and comments! I hope everyone has a great Christmas and catch plenty of fish. Until next time, tight lines!
Spencer Brogden
Ponds, Lakes, and Streams
By Capt. Bert DeenerThe Altamaha system is fishable again (including Ocmulgee and Oconee tributaries). The best reports were from ponds and saltwater this week.
River gages on November 18th were:
Abbeville on the Ocmulgee – 3 1 feet and falling fast
Doctortown on the Altamaha –
6 5 feet and rising
Waycross on the Satilla – 9.6 feet and falling (58 degrees)
Atkinson on the Satilla – 11 1 feet and falling
Macclenny on the St Marys – 7 7 feet and falling
Clyo on the Savannah River –
7 4 feet and rising
Altamaha River – An angler fished the river on Thursday morning and had 5 bass (nothing big) by flinging crankbaits around wood cover Another angler fished an oxbow lake on Friday and had a slow trip, only catching 1 bass The river is getting right, so fire up your river boat.
Ocmulgee River – I got several reports this week of folks doing well for crappie in the river
Nathanael fished with his cousin and uncle on Tuesday afternoon, and they caught some fish
Nathanael caught a nice longear sunfish on a worm, and the others caught a nice bass and a couple other bluegills on crickets on the back of white Satilla Spins But, their best bite was the last hour of daylight when they got on a great crappie bite They
pitched 1/32-oz Tennessee Shad Specktacular Jigs tipped with minnows to a flooded willow bush and caught a dozen nice crappie up to a pound. The other anglers I got reports from this week fished minnows in oxbow lakes for their crappie Irvin Bracewell fished Wednesday evening and caught some perch in his favorite oxbow lake He had minnows with him when I talked with him, so I’m assuming that’s what he caught them on Savannah River – The river came up, and Tyler Finch worked hard for his fish this weekend. He ended up catching 70 fish over the two days Almost all of them were on white Satilla Spins (3/16oz) tipped with crickets He caught some crappie on minnows, also
Okefenokee Swamp – The water is still high, and the fish are spread out in the prairies The swamp is absolutely gorgeous in the fall with all the wildflowers blooming. This week the cypress trees will be their peak orange color. Plan your trip for the scenery, not necessarily the catching The latest water level (Folkston side) was 121 50 feet
9549 First Coast Hwy
Fernandina Beach, Fl. 32034
904-624-7293
otlbaitandtackle@att net
S&D Williams , Family Owned
Shrimp / Finger Mullet / Blue Crab / Squid / Sand Fleas / Fiddlers / Fishbites
a Black and Purple Chatterbait 2018
Local Ponds
Paisley caught an angler awardsized crappie on Saturday in a Berrien County Pond while fishing with her dad, Dean The 2-lb 4oz monster ate a minnow They caught a couple 13-inch bass and 3 bluegills on crawfish-colored Satilla Spins earlier in the trip, but the crappie turned on just before dark They caught 10 nice crappie during the last 15 minutes of light, including Paisley’s slab They fished the minnows about 3 feet deep over the deepest part of the pond Matt Rouse fished a pond on Tuesday and caught a good bass on a grape Culprit worm Bass have been active, especially in the afternoons. Moving baits (swimbaits, Rat-L-traps, and spinnerbaits) have fooled some, but the best numbers have been from anglers bouncing plastic worms along the bottom and around cover Crappie fishing has been great for those drifting minnows over the deepest areas of the pond or those casting artificials to deeper cover
Ocmulgee Public Fishing Area (near Hawkinsville) – An angler had a great day late last week on the area. He caught 5 bass that weighed 21 pounds, and his biggest was 5 3/4 pounds He didn’t share details about what lure(s) he was throwing Remember, bass are catch-and-release only on the area
Paradise Public Fishing Area (near Tifton) – The crappie bite was good again this week The Lake Patrick Pier has been the hot-spot, but anglers fishing the other lakes and other areas of Lake Patrick have also caught a bunch The mid-week warm-up really had them chewing Small straighttail plastics suspended under floats produced best, but minnows caught a few also The entrance and Horseshoe Lake 1 have produced some really good catfish catches (both channel and speckled cats)
Continued on Page 30
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It's December, the time of year when fishing and putting on your Grunden's almost always go hand in hand The time of year when we run wayyyy out to chase Wahoo But it is also the time of year when we celebrate the birth of Jesus by getting each other presents Weird when you think about it like that huh?
We have seen an unprecedented shortage in consumer goods this year and the news has every one
all up in arms about how it's going to wreck Christmas. To that I say no. We used to spend time together eating, baking cookies, making ornaments for the tree, making special gifts for each other, playing games, and watching Christmas classics
Weren't those some of the best Christmases you can remember?
So as we go into this month of typically spending way more then we should buying things just so you have something to wrap and put under the tree, let's take a step back and reflect. How many sets of body soap / lotions sit unused over the year(s)? How many obscure colognes or ties can one guy have? We buy stuff just to buy stuff, why?
Let's flip the script this year! Instead of boxing a random item just to have something to wrap, let's box a “memory” Take that person on an adventure instead,
like fishing! Or just spend some time together.
Quality, intentional focused time minus the phones. Get the stuff to make old fashioned Christmas cookies and do it together! Pack a few up and go meet your neighbors Go see the elderly in our community Listen to their stories And don't stop when Christmas is over Cherish them They won't be here forever
All that being said it IS fun to give and receive. How about this year we look at what we can buy from local artists, craftsman and store owners? Beekeepers, jelly makers and farmers? Take one of your friend or family members beautiful pictures and have it put on a canvas
Or paint something thoughtful on a mug The possibilities are endless, but we can all take a step back to remember the reason for the season; to celebrate the
birth of Christ who came to die for us because He loves us. All He asks is that we love Him and love each other. Let's get started showing it in ways that don't necessarily come from a store
Trina Polkey
Intracoastal St. Johns River
By Capt John Eggers
Sheepshead fishing has begun and will get hot and heavy this month of December Fiddler crabs are by far the best and should be easy to find at your local bait shops
All the bridge pilings from Nassau Sound to St. Augustin and downtown Jacksonville wi be holding them Vertical fishin the pilings with small 1/8 or 1/ oz short shank jigs tipped with fiddler will be key
Fish the leeward side of th current to make sure the ba doesnt drift off the structure fo best results Oyster beds ar another great area but wont hol as many fish.
The Mayport jetties will be o fire but can be tricky and a littl dangerous if you dont how t jetty fish The trick is to be a close to the rocks as possibl taking into consideration win current and boat traffic so tha you can fish vertical
If not and you are castin towards the rocks most likel you will spend the day retyin rigs instead of catching fish
Vertical jigging will reduce the snags dramatically. Reds will be schooling in the icw for the better part of December Trout fishing has picked up especially in the river and will remain good fishing throughout the month Flounder fishing will be open again and should be really good, especially the first half A lot of good fish are being caught in November Good luck!
Capt John Eggers
Intracoastal
By Capt. Todd Philcox
Shorter days, cooler water and hungrier fish, December will bring more cold fronts and the first minor winter freezes to NE Florida and our inshore species will take notice.
The enormous quantity of bait that offered easy meals from August to early November has diminished greatly, Redfish, Trout and Flounder must now work a bit harder for their meals, and they will rarely let a live shrimp or minnow presented on a jig escape them
Work creek bends with holes from 4 to 8-foot depths, those adjacent to oyster bars and large mud flats will be extremely productive at the bottom of the outgoing tide. Be sure to fish those days when that low outgoing tide correlates with a sunny afternoon, those will be fishing days to remember!
November fishing was quite active with lots of smaller redfish, the trout bite picked up and flounder were scattered back in the creeks
Slot size Redfish were scattered as well, most days I would find a few by keeping on the move and hitting numerous different locations, hopefully the cooler waters of December will get the larger reds schooled up a bit
Our area is blessed with an incredibly immense landscape of marshland and estuaries extending from the Intracoastal miles back into the grass
Those creeks all hold productive
areas to fish, get out at lower tides and explore Slot size Redfish will be found in shallower water throughout the winter months
Look for those oyster bars and slightly deeper holes, just be sure to know your tides so you do not end up stuck in the mud!
We see more extreme low tides over the winter months which really condense inshore fish in those creek holes and lead to some real fun fishing.
Live shrimp and mud minnows are my primary bait throughout the winter, I fish those baits on an 1/8 to a 3/8-ounce jig, depending on wind and tide conditions, most of the smaller bait stealing fish that ate through dozens of shrimp all summer and fall will now be gone
I also try to have blue crab available and will let a chunk sit on the bottom on a No-Brainer circle hook jig while I actively fish the other baits. I predominantly fish live baits, but trout will aggressively strike diving plugs and plastics fished along the Intracoastal banks and creek mouths where there is moving water at the higher tide phases Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to All!
Our Waterways
By Jim Subersea water in to the river but the later part of the month the levels returned to a normal pattern
The Mayport Community Center Construction continues and making progress. We are still on hold for the Oak Harbor dredge and the Mandarin Park dock extension and adaptive kayak launch
City Waterways CoordinatorHere we are about to send 2021 in to the history books and we are still boating, fishing and outdoor life is good We made it through the Hurricane season without a direct hit and minimal storm damage.
Last month we had a combination that is not what we would have asked for We had a moon phase causing a king tide and several days of a Northeast heavy wind event caused by a low passing to the north of us This causes some extreme high water events which caused some flooding and beach front erosion
One good thing is it gave us a good flushing of the river and tributaries and the algae cleared When we have such an event we have to be extra cautious and watch for debris in the waterway. This can be tree limbs as well as dock parts.
The water temperatures continue to make a steady decline and we are in the 70’s We have experienced some algae bloom in our waterway but this should settle and fade away This time of year the manatees continue to move out of the north Florida area but a few still linger so remain aware and keep a look out
The river salinity was higher with the northeastern blowing
New dock projects on the south bank area, Jackson Street and Post Street continue to make progress and the Southbank Dock at River Place Tower has mobilized and docks are being installed
As soon as this dock is completed they are ready to move to Jackson St to install the docks Post St is moving forward and all permits and leases are in place and the contract process is moving forward. We are still working through the process to begin construction phases for the dredging of Burt Maxwell Boat Ramp
The bids were opened and a contractor is in place so actual digging should start before the end of the year or January. 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 a new fishing platform at River Road Park in San Marco is moving through the process.
All projects have been awarded and work should be seen soon There were several complaints and photos of a land management project on Pottsburg Creek near Beach Blvd. This turned out to be a mitigation project for a new convenience store in the same water shed Sediment was draining in to the creek and after the Florida Department of Environmental Protection the City of Jacksonville Permitting Office and Jacksonville Environmental Quality Division the Permits have been denied and FDEP is working the case for compliance and mitigation of damages We
have been advised the rebuild of the El Faro Park Fishing Pier under the Dames Point will be cleared soon for replacement.
There are old pilings in Pottsburg Creek that was an old bridge at Hogan Road has been discovered and the issue is being handled by Public Works Due to the efforts between the Waterway Management Department, City of Jacksonville Environmental Quality Division, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and Florida Fish and Wildlife and Parks and Recreation Maintenance staff we have removed several derelict vessels from our waterways through our boat ramps
After moving 7 vessels we have removed a derelict PWC from Arlington River, we have 4 more to remove as soon as funding is secure and Law Enforcement investigation is complete
One vessel is a sunken sailing vessel east of the Roosevelt Blvd Bridge on the south side of the river, one in the basin near the old Moody Boat Yard at Atlantic Blvd
and the ICW, One sunken near Browns Fish Camp and one in the river in the 5000 block of Heckscher Drive. Parks and Recreation has been given approval from the Waterways Commission to move forward with the 2022 Florida Inland Navigation District Grant projects
We will be asking for a new boat ramp Construction at Riverview Park near Lem Turner and the Trout River Bridge. The design of a new Marina at the Liberty Street Basin, design to replace the boat ramp at Pottsburg Creek, design the replacement of the bulk head at Mike McCue and Oak Harbor and the design of an adaptive Kayak Launch at Thomas Creek Boat Ramp. Some of these projects may enter the comprehensive plan for actual construction funding As most of you know we are starting to see movement on the improvements and
Continued on Page 18
Offshore Deepwater
By Capt Tim AltmanWahoo Season is here and it’s time to go fishing
Yes, Wahoo fishing in December is completely controlled by winter weather pattern, but when we get nice days in December you gotta go! On the Hoodoo boat we made our first Hi-Speed Trolling trip of the season on Tuesday November 16th
It was a beautiful day just 3 days before the Full Moon We went 3 for 5 on Wahoo with Amberjacks and Kingfish mixed in as by-catch So, I bet your saying Kingfish?
Yes folks , Kingfish Big, but not huge, they were around 2528lbs and hit our hi-speed gear at 18mph
The water column marked up with bait in depths of 125-145ft We were Wahoo-less until around 2pm when I came across a huge bait ball suspended about 10ft off of the bottom It was about 45ft in height and 40 yards long and located between 2 separate bottom fishing spots.
It was then that we either caught or hooked-up with a Wahoo on every pass over that bait ball until the bait ball disappeared I’m not sure why or how it disappeared, but it could have possibly been a tidal change or current shift
The tide change at Jacksonville beach was scheduled at 6:02pm I don’t know the math or how to calculate tidal changes to a point 45 miles east pf a known tide change but if you find the formula, simplify it so I can even understand it then email it to me
at tim@saltwaterchallenge.com
and I’ll get you a free HooDoo Charters hat
Our biggest fish was around 55lbs and our smallest around 30lbs. We left the dock at Fort George Island Marina (home to the HooDoo boat) at around 5am and cruised out in the beautiful morning darkness on a slick ocean putting lines in at around 6:30am.
So, as you can deduce we fished a full 7 ½ hours before we put our first Wahoo in the boat If you want to Wahoo fish specifically Hi-Speed Wahoo fish, then you must be dedicated to it When I fun-fish (not on a charter) I leave the bottom fishing gear at home and prepare my ego to get skunked a donut or a bagel What is a skunk, donut or bagel? It’s a zero! Sure, most days you will get a Wahoo early in the day and that works to free up the Captain & Crew and gets the skunk off of the boat But there have been a few days in the 15 years of hi-speed Wahoo fishing that we have come home with nothing except a gas bill If any true Wahoo fisherman says it hasn’t happened to him/her well that would be a “fishstory”
Cobia will begin to show up in big schools on the wrecks from 17-30 miles off of the beach
If you don’t know where to look or where to find these schooling Cobia, then just look for a pack of bay boats Yes, Cobia fisherman are more secretive than Kingfisherman you won’t hear a peep until they are gone. Try the TW, AH and BR areas and just look for the
boats and join in the flotilla Use Jigs for catching these schooling Cobia and drift around the wrecks and not directly over them.
When you do hook up hang on because..
Continued on Page 19
Continued from Page 16
development of the sports complex. This will include the rebuild and improvement of Metropolitan Park Marina some fishing piers and open park space and community focused space that will connect with the rest of the downtown river front River front public access is a major part of the development. 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 so check there web site for 2021
The cost of the classes to the student will continue to be reduced to an affordable $10 00 thanks to a donation from Jacksonville Marine Charities from proceeds from the Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament The next class will be announced on the America’s Boating Club web site at wwwusps org/localusps/Jackson
The Jacksonville Sail and Power Squadron, America’s Boating Club of Northeast Florida and United States Coast Guard Auxiliary are back available for vessel safety checks
Jacksonville Marine Charities has awarded a $2,000 00 donation to assist with the cost of boating safety classes This makes the cost for the class and book to the public $10.00 per person. Classes will be at Lambs Yacht Center October 3 and November 6 8am-5pm
I continue to remind all that if you are aware of an event that will impact our waterway or if you are a member of a club or organization
impact our waterway please let us know so we can help you with promoting.
North Florida is fortunate to have a large number of organizations and individuals that invest hours and hours of volunteer time to make opportunities for our friends in need with the participation of our gracious anglers and business owners.
If you send the information to me at jsuber@coj net we will publish on the website and promote on Facebook pages The city of Jacksonville has several events around the city and Beaches that we are just not getting credit for as a community.
We want to promote our city and our beaches as a city with great waterways and beaches with tournaments, events and entertainment opportunities that are happening just not being included in the Big Picture. Last but not least, show pride in the facilities provided for your use with your tax dollars by properly disposing of your by product when you clean your fish and dispose of your trash appropriately BE SAFE! AND WASH YOUR HANDS!!
Public Participation
By John NooneyTight Lines and Screaming
Reels Fishermen! How do you really feel?
What time is it?
It’s FIND Time!
67 counties in the state of Florida FIND is an acronym for the (Florida Inland Navigation District). It’s a special state taxing district for the continued management and maintenance of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (ICW)
The FIND District consists of 12 counties along the east coast of Florida from Nassau through Miami-Dade County
Focusing on the counties in the Fishing Connection Distribution area the FIND Commissioner for Nassau County is Lyn Williams, St Johns County is Carl Blow, Volusia County is James “Buddy” Davenport, Flagler County is Randell “Randy” Stapleford, Brevard County is Jerry Sansom and rounding out the FIND Board of Commissioners from the FIND webpage is Michael O’Steen from Duval County
I reside in Duval County
At the 11/10/2021 Jacksonville Waterways Commission meeting our 2022 FIND Committee recommendations were presented by Brian Burket and then passed by the Jacksonville Waterways Commission.
Duval County’s 2022 Proposed FIND applications include just 1 construction project Riverview
Park Boat Ramp $1,210,000.00
And 5 Design Phase Projects
1. Liberty Street Marina $990,000 00
2 Pottsburg Creek, Beach Blvd Boat Ramp $660,000.00
3 Mike McCue Boat Ramp $440,000 00
4. Oak Harbor Boat Ramp $385,000 00
5. Thomas Creek Fish Camp kayak launch. Just asking the question. How does the Public in your county participate in the FIND Design making process? Tight Lines and Screaming Reels
Now is FIND Time!
John Nooney
904-434-0839
Offshore
Continued from Page 17 one of the best fighting fish in our Northeast Florida waters will be in a dogfight with you It’s not for the faint of heart and you are lucky enough to boat one, you will have some great table fare
Big Bliners & Triggerfish are still plentiful in the deeper waters. Grouper and Mutton Snapper are being caught on ledges in deeper water. When targeting grouper try using a butterflied Grunt, you might be surprised
For how and what to use to catch Wahoo, Triggerfish, Bliners, Mutton & Mangrove Snapper and Grouper, visit Strike-Zone Fishing Jacksonville and ask Mr Dave Workman Jr or his friendly staff and they will set you up with whatever you need to get the job done!
I’ll say it again and again until we get through this COVID-19
has affected our economy on every level Please support your local businesses because they are the one’s disproportionality impacted. 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 FullWahoo Mode. If you’re game for some of the most exhilarating
11/19/2021
here in NE Florida, then give us a call for your Wahoo Adventure!
Palm Valley St. Augustine
By Capt Cory SparksThe weather is cooling off but the bite is red hot! December should be great, although subtle changes in temperature should be observed if you want to catch them this month
As water temps drop, redfish will begin schooling up Also, water quality will clean up and clarity will result in sight fishing opportunities This requires stealth and a good pair of polarized glasses. Mid-day low tides are a perfect condition for you to drift flats and look for these redfish schools to be warming up in the shallow water Muddy oyster covered run outs will also be good areas The sun will warm shallow water slightly more than the surrounding water and a degree or 2 can make all the difference
Throwing shrimp, mud minnows, fiddlers, or crab knuckles on the edges of the schools and waiting for the bait to be located is ideal You can also throw artificial lures at them but don’t approach and “blowout” the school by dropping baits in the middle of them It takes some finesse and patience to work the edges and entice them to feed!
Focus on this idea when targeting trout as well Anywhere that mud or oysters can bake in the sun will warm the water around it and many times serve as a staging spot for chilly fish
Falling or incoming water over these spots are always target areas for me when fishing As for the trout bite, I love throwing artificial lures this month. The Mirrolure 17mr
is a great choice for slowly twitching and letting it sink to cover the water column.
If wind and current are too much, go to the Heavy Dine 18MR to cast further and sink faster These twitch baits are deadly around docks and deep drops with moving water
Slow twitching and then letting it fall is a great way to spend any day in Palm Valley this month. Another option is just a ¼ oz jighead with any soft plastic pinned on Fishbites Fighting Shrimp or Butt Kicker are my go-to choices but Slayer S S T has a place on my boat as well Try different ones and pay attention to how they move when dragged through the water Make note of what works and remember it for future use
Some plastics have tails that paddle and thump back and forth while others are more streamlined and have a dart action. Each has its’s place and time and it’s on you to figure that out
The best fishing advice I can offer this month is to do your shopping online You can even fish whilemdoing it, but stay out of the stores and on the water Your success rate will go through the roof Guarenteed. From my family to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
St. Augustine Crescent Beach
By Capt. Adam Morley
The Big Blow
While we were spared any hurricanes this year early November reminded us that it’s not just the tropics that can reshape our beaches and bring flooding to our coastal communities.
The Nor’easter that blew through the first weekend of November carved up and washed out sand all along northeast Florida
It also pushed through millions of dollars worth of sand once aging opening up the Penon inlet just south of Matanzas Inlet The Penon Inlet, according to the Flagler Historical Society, is likely where the slaughter of the French troops by the Spanish forces in Florida in 1565 took place, rather than at Matanzas Inlet
While I have not fished this yet, nor do I know anyone that has, it seems like a fishy spot on higher falling tides It’s a shallow channel that moves a good amount of water from the Pellicer Flats, through the mangroves, and into the sea Carrying with it, I assume, lots of smaller crustaceans that healthy estuaries like ours are known to hold.
This spot is not easily accessible so anyone that might consider tackling this adventure might want a beach cart for their surf fishing gear and be ready for a nice long walk on the beach The Penon Inlet is not likely to be open long before the heavy
equipment resume their futile attempts at holding back the ocean
In addition to the Penon inlet opening up the mouths of a few fish are opening too; the “Big Uglies” (AKA Black Drum) are on their way with plenty of smaller ones (5-8 lbs) having been reported in November, look for them around the inlets and jetties with smaller ones in holes through the area.
Use Blue Crabs, fresh shrimp, sand fleas or fiddler crabs for them. The Trout bite fired up with the cooler water temperatures The dock and bridge lights will hold the largest numbers but the majority will be smaller in size
Artificial baits or live shrimp will produce best results And someone call the warden because there’s going to be jail break and the convicts (sheepshead) will be on the run.
You can round them up around rocks and docks using fiddler crabs and live sand fleas. Until next time, tight lines
Capt Adam Morley
904.540.7245
SALTWATER 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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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
Guana Lake
By Capt Matt ChipperfieldIn just one-month nearshore waters plummeted from the mid 70’s to the low 60’s A series of Nor’Easters pushed cold air and chilly water down our coast and drastically changed local conditions
Tarpon and Kingfish have pushed back to southern waters, Redfish have left the grass flats for mud banks and nearshore gamefish are seeking the warmer backwaters of the Intracoastal waterway.
One of my favorite fisheries during the winter is sight casting to skinny water Redfish during low tides When near-shore waters reach the 65-degree range most of our local Redfish begin looking for thermal pockets of heated water.
The best place to find these warm waters is shallow creeks and tributaries of the Intracoastal During low tides exposed oysters and mud banks absorb heat and provide relief from the harsh winter weather
Large schools of Redfish gather in these backwaters and crawl their way along the shallow bottom As the winter progresses the particulate matter in the water
lessens due to lack of rain. The algae within our inshore waters also begins to die. This causes the Intracoastal to become gin clear at times, making for some excellent sight fishing conditions During the lowest of tides you can often find reds tailing, backing and pushing their way through the creeks
Small shrimp flies and un-weighted soft plastics are my favorite lures for these winter reds These skinny reds can be spooky at times so be sure to move slowly and lead them by at least 5 yards
If you’re looking for some quality table fare the Sheepshead bite is on fire right now. Slack low tide and slack high tide are both producing some excellent numbers. Find solid structure like jetty rocks, bridge pilings or concrete docks and there will most likely be a sheep or ten lingering nearby Fiddler crabs or live shrimp on 1/4 oz jig heads will always work for these toothy buggers. They have a subtle strike so be sure to keep your line tight and rod tip up
Speckled trout have also been feeding heavily with the cooler water temps They tend to stack up along structure with moving water during incoming tides, but they especially like the outgoing tides.
They take advantage of the flushing effect that the outgoing tide produces Loads of shrimp and baitfish exit the creeks and flow into channels as the tide slides out Large oyster bars, shell banks, docks, pilings and rock piles will hold feeding fish Sinking jerk baits and floating crank baits are ideal for a slow, twitchy retrieve.
Remember with cold water you need to slow your approach and match the energy of the fish Twitch baits are perfect for this slower presentation
Capt Matt Chipperfield
Chip’s Coastal Charters chipscoastalcharters@gmail.com
Cold fronts and Nor’easters, that’s the name of the game this time of year. We will be having cold fronts moving through and the days in front of these fronts can be a very productive time to hit the water
The two or three days prior to the front are the best time to get out there The pressure changes will trigger the fish to feed, and they feed heavily, whether targeting Redfish, Trout, Flounder, Snook, or even Bass
Once the front passes, sheepshead should be on your target list
The beautiful weather we normally have before a front will give you a chance to catch most of our inshore species Trout, Flounder, and Redfish will be cruising the flats during these warmer, calmer days.
At high tide, look for the fish along the grasses, over the oyster beds, and on the muddy flats
The dark mud heats up throughout the day and will make the water slightly warmer, which the fish seek out during the colder months Trout will also be stacked up in the creek mouths and on the flats
They will be schooled up so if you catch one, there will be others in the area. In low light conditions, a top-water plug is hard to beat. A Storm Chug Bug or Rapala Skitterwalk will surely draw a strike or two. As the water temps drop, your retrieve needs to slow down.
A paddletail such as a Hackney Belly Shad or an Ancient City paddler, as well as a Fishbites
Fightin Shrimp under a popping cork will also be great choices for lures throughout the day.
As the front approaches, the weather turns for the worst with lots of wind, rain, and drizzle On these days, and the couple days following, sheepshead will be on fire.
Sheepshead are a structure dwelling fish, so positioning correctly will improve your chances for a hook up The most effective way to hook a sheepshead is to vertically fish structure with a live fiddler crab, sandfleas, shrimp, mussels and crab knuckles Bridge and dock pilings, channel markers, ledges, and deep holes along mangrove lines will hold fish
Scrape the pilings to chum up the water and stimulate the bite Using a bottom sweeper jig will increase your hook up ratio, as sheep’s can be a frustrating, bait stealing target Drop the fiddler to the bottom, up against the structure
As soon as the bait hits the bottom, lift on the rod tip Sheep’s will often grab the bait on the fall If nothing is there, drop it back down The bite will be a very slight tap Set the as soon as you feel the Fishing with a medium a rod with a baitcasting reel help you feel the fish
The winter weather can tricky for a kayaker but the will remain strong through i so get out there and wet a Good luck and tight lines see ya out there.
Will Niemann
Lead Guide at St Augustine Paddle Spo 772-475-9469
Daytona Ormond Beach
By Capt. Jeff PattersonDecember in Florida you never know what the weather is going to be like. You have to play it by ear depending on the forecast and conditions and fish accordingly
Outside of the inlet off the beach we do awesome with Tripletail this time of year You’ll find them hanging around floating debris and weeds and we get them up over 20 lbs. at times.
Live shrimp and small bait fi work great and artificials wo well too We also get some real nice sheepshead on the nearsho artificial reefs in December wi some of these fish pushing 1 pounds Sand fleas, fiddler cra and small shrimp on the botto all work great.
The trick is getting a hook in th boney jaw and scoop them quic with the landing net These a two awesome fighting an delicious eating fish We al catch some sand trout out the this time of year too and the school up pretty thick at times. The inlet has a lot to offer whe conditions allow Redfish, Snoo and Tarpon are all around th jetties Live pinfish, pigfish, an mullet are good baits of choice o the bottom for Reds and Snoo while Tarpon should be targeted with little or no weight.
The Black Drum have already been biting awesome at the inlet and live shrimp has been working well Sheepshead are biting good there as well Flounder opens back up December 1 and we get some really nice fish in the intracoastal this time of year.
Bumping the bottom with soft plastics on a jig head is a simple productive way to cover some ground looking for them and of course live bait as well Mud minnows and finger mullet on a jig head is another great way to target them.
Redfish and Seatrout will be around oyster bars although seatrout is closed until January 1 Great time of year to site fish reds without even having a flats boat I do it in my bay boat all the time through February. Oyster bars and shorelines with a decent drop off are good places to start for boats that don’t draft as shallow Lots of different things going on so we’ll see what kind of winter we have coming Stay warm!
Capt Jeff Patterson
Pole Dancer Fishin’ Charters
wwwsmallboatbigfish com
