Tides Pages 4,10,17,23
Tournaments Page 23 Waterways Page 15 Kayak Page 18
Distribution Volusia
Brevard
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December 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 ($28 00 Value) for any of you that submit your photo to the contest and are chosen as the winner If you are this month's winner please contact Joe Dionne at FishingConnection@aol com with your name and phone # to claim your certificate Prize must be claimed no later than midnite of the last day of this month to be valid If you would enjoy seeing your photo in the Fishing Connection please send in your best Fish Kissing Photo. Thanks to all who send in a Fish Kisser photo. Anyone can win, maybe soon it will be you Send photos to FishingConnection@aol.com
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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
With that cold snap at the end of November, water temps are now into the 60’s and that trout bite is fired up If I’m lucky enough to get out on the water at first light with a high tide, I’m walking the dog with Yo-Zuri Top Knock or Rapala Skitterwalk
Keep in mind, trout are looking for action They like quick movements and wait for the ideal time to strike Long strides on each side of walking the dog are very effective with brief pauses in between.
I’ve also found that if they blow up on the bait and you don’t get a hook up, keep up with the same pattern as they follow and strike again
I like working these baits only at
first light, super overcast or at sunset over oyster bars and along grass lines There are great oyster beds behind Crane Island and grass flats southwest of the Shave Bridge. Mind your tide as it gets very shallow at some spots
After that top water bite, I’ll work the middle water column with a Mirrolure MR17 twitch bait Trout will hit these with a reactionary strike even if they are not feeding which is great. Steady retrieve with a twitch, twitch pause
That slight pause will get them sooner or later. Cast up current and work it with the current
Remember, trout are looking up current and are much more likely to target your bait if they could see it coming towards them instead of it swimming over their backs
Years ago, when that was brought to my attention, I started catching a lot more fish after I switched up the way I thought Fish these twitch baits and Contenders over oyster beds, along grass lines and structure to pinpoint these trout
At low did, look for those depressions on the creek floors where they’ll camp out until the tide starts coming back in Drop by
the shop and I could point out some spots on the map for you as well as direct you to the right bait for the occasion
Until then, Tight Lines my friends
Nik Bremer
Amelia Island Bait & Tackle
It’s that time of the year when we still have to pick and choose our days.
These NE winds don’t seem to want to let up when we do get that chance be sure to take ad vantage of it With the water temperatures dropping you’ll notice the Seabass starting to move in the closer reefs
With grouper season closing in January be sure to get out there for that last bite, That is something you don’t want to miss out on
We do have some great inshore fishing for the day’s you can’t make it offshore The cold weather tends to push the fish into the creeks, rivers and residential canals.
The red fish and trout are still chewing, I always seem to do
better using live shrimp mullet and crab
We are always looking for guests and speakers, so if you have anything you would like to talk to the club about that is fishing or boat-related sent us an email or Facebook message.
JOSFC Upcoming Events: JOSFC Board Meeting
December Monday 5th Meeting:
December 1st- Surprise speaker Meeting:
December 15th Annual
Christmas party
December club tournaments: No tournaments are scheduled for December
You can find us on Facebook and check out our website to keep up with upcoming events, and schedule, or if anything changes.
www.JaxFish.com
our meetings are on the first and third Thursday of each month
We are open to the public so we would love to have you at a meeting even if you are not a member
I hope everyones holiday is Joyful and everyone who's traveling be safe! Until next time Tight lines
Mariana Suzette
November 17, 2022
Fishing Report
By Capt. Bert DeenerThe storm brought the rivers up some, but they are still fishable We have had incessantly high winds on the coast, and that is forecasted to continue this weekend Ponds and lakes have provided the most consistent fishing this week, but saltwater was good mid-week
River guages on November 17th were:
Clyo on the Savannah River – 4 1 feet and rising
Sunday Blake Edwards and a friend fished the lower Ocmulgee on Saturday and caught bass, bowfin, and a big pickerel Their first bass of the day was their biggest – a 4-lb , 3-oz long, skinny fish They caught a total of 11 bass
almost all on junebug Keitech Mad Wag worms. They had a 20inch pickerel nail a sexy shad River Rat Spinnerbait, and several bowfin up to 6-lb , 12-oz ate a fire tigerchartreuse blade Dura-Spin. The green color of the water is gone, but the water is still very fishable Getting around is a lot easier now than it was a couple of weeks ago.
keeper trout in a few hours on one short trip this weekend and then caught several slot redfish on another trip from the bank He went again Tuesday evening from a dock and caught a bunch of nice trout He’s been using the 1/8-oz Zombie Heads (with Gamakatsu sickleshaped hook) and Assassin albino ghost Sea Shads and Keitech swimbaits for his fish Capt Greg Hildreth ((912) 617-1980, georgiacharterfishing com) had two great charters mid-week when the winds died He caught lots of trout both Tuesday and Wednesday on live shrimp under Harper Super Striker Floats Capt Tim Cutting (fishthegeorgiacoast com) had some great trips this week, also. He said that slot redfish are everywhere –probably the best crop of smaller fish he’s ever seen. He caught them on both artificials (Keitech swimbaits, DOA shrimp, and Berkley Power Swimmers) and live shrimp under Harper Super Striker Floats He had lots of trout mixed in, also His biggest trout was a 22inch gator that inhaled a DOA shrimp bounced along the bottom in 10 feet of water About half of his
trout were legal length this week, and he said that chartreuse tails on his plastics were the key for the trout Sheepshead fishing should be great this weekend if you can get to your favorite hard cover in the forecasted stiff winds For the latest fishing information or live shrimp in the Brunswick area, check with J&P Bait and Tackle on Hwy 303 (912-282-9705)
Capt. Bert Deener
To monitor all the Georgia river levels, visit the USGS website (waterdata.usgs.gov/ga/nwis/rt). For the latest marine forecast, check out wwwweathergov/jax/
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)
Chad Lee of Alma caught this 5pound bass from an Alma-area pond on Friday while flinging a black-blue flake Senko.
Abbeville on the Ocmulgee
3.5 feet and falling
Doctortown on the Altamaha – 3 7 feet and rising
Waycross on the Satilla – 7 4 feet and falling
Atkinson on the Satilla – 6 6 feet and rising
Macclenny on the St Marys – 3 4 feet and falling
Altamaha/Ocmulgee Rivers – The rivers rose some after the rains from Tropical Storm Nicole and the front a few days before the storm, but they are both still fishable A Fitzgerald angler and a friend fished on Saturday on the lower Ocmulgee and caught 53 bass up to 6 pounds. Worms were the ticket, and the best color seemed to lean toward junebug more than green pumpkin, but they caught them on both. On Sunday, they fished a little upstream of where they fished Saturday and caught 42 bass that day. Again, Texas-rigged worms (mostly green pumpkin and junebug) were tops They didn’t have any bass over 5 pounds on
Okefenokee Swamp – A Waycross angler fished the west side on Tuesday morning in the cloudy weather before the front and caught some fliers, pickerel, and bowfin He pitched pink sallies under a float for the first hour and caught 10 fliers up to 8 inches He fished a few more hours and caught 9 bowfin and 2 chain pickerel on Dura-Spins The biggest jackfish was 21 inches and biggest bowfin was 5 pounds The best colors were jackfish (the biggest pickerel ate that one), black/chartreuse, and crawfish Fishing reports have been slow on the east side. The latest water level (Folkston side) was 120 80 feet
Local Ponds – Blake Edwards and a friend trolled a pond for crappie for just a couple of hours Saturday evening and did really well They pulled 2-inch Keitech swimbaits at 0 8 to 0 9 miles per hour on 1/32 and 1/16-oz Zombie Heads and caught 38 crappie – most from 11 to 12 inches Their best color head was chartreuse with a red zombie eye and their body color that worked best was chartreuse shad. They also caught fish on sight flash, chartreuse back pearl, electric shad, sexy shad, and morning dawn Chad Lee fished this weekend, and his highlight was a 5-pound bass that inhaled a black-blue flake Senko
Saltwater (GA Coast) – The stiff winds hampered fishing again this past weekend, but Jay Turner beat the winds by fishing from a dock in the Savannah area He had 8 nice
Creeks & Rivers
By John ChapmanAs I write this month, I am reminded of the season by my Christmas coffee cup The season of eating, I mean gathering with family and friends and joy for all.
For us in North Florida we also get a December gift from FWC, flounder season reopens. I know it’s a messed-up gift but hey what can I say I like Flounder and it’s been a long month and a half It is cold out now and we are knee deep in our LONG HARD Florida winter
The trout are hot right now and they are excited to jump on plastics as the plentiful summer fall runs of mullet and baitfish disappear. Still plenty of shrimp around but the trout still like the challenge of jumping on a bait fish looking plastic.
Jig head with a plastic is a pretty simple way to hit the trout this time of year Almost any dock with a little bit of running water around it will do They are also deep in the creeks around the bends in the creek where the water depth changes from shallow to deep
It’s also a sure thing if you find the oyster beds at low tide and you can remember where they are at high tide and expertly bring your plastic over the top of that sunken oyster bed and drop it right off the edge of that oyster bed
When you find them remember where they are and what the temps and tides are and apply it to future trips They tend to be creatures of habit and once they are found you can revisit them at
the same place and time on future trips
Redfish can also be caught in the winter and at these air and water temps. They do seem a little more lethargic in the winter and sometimes they must be talked into biting.
Depending on the high or low pressure, water temps, etc they can be difficult to wrangle I’ve been in situations before where you can see them, throw to them without spooking them and they still won’t eat
The key to catching them for me in these cold temps is to catch them patrolling the flats or creeks after a midday low tide. They tend to go up on those shallow flats that have the ability to soak up the sun at low tide and warm the shallow water when the tide rolls over it Funny thing is they are so lethargic to the point of having crustacean like creatures on them when caught in the mud sometimes in the winter but at the same time when they finally do decide to bite they have a beautiful iridescent blue tail and fight like crazy all the way to the boat.
These tips might provide a little bit of insight to catching some of these fish in the cold-water environment and aren’t guaranteed to work, but I can without any hesitation guarantee that you won’t catch anything sitting on the couch
The other thing is you don’t have to get up with the sun in the winter to catch fish, its almost better to wait til the sun is high and the flats are warmer Good luck and Merry Christmas to all!!
John "Chappy" Chapman904-743-3200
983 University Blvd. N
Located in the N E corne of the Town and Country Shopping Center
STORE HOURS
Wednesday 7am - 6pm
Thursday 7am - 6pm
Friday 7am - 6pm
Saturday 6am - 6pm
Sunday 7am - 5pm
Closed Mon. n Tues.
Mud Minnows
Live Shrimp
Fresh Dead Shrimp
Cigar Minnows
Spanish Sardines
Boston Mackerel
Clams
* Finger Mullet
* Fiddlers
* Blue Crabs
* Live Shiners
* Live Minnows
* Live Crickets
Wide selection of Artificials
* NON -ETHANOL FUEL
* WET & DRY STORAGE
* TRANSIENT SLIPS AVAILABLE
* COMPLIMENTARY WIFI
* BOAT PARTS & ACCESSORIES
* 30 TON TRAVEL LIFT
* HULL CLEANING & BOTTOM PAINTING
Arlington Marina has been recognized as a Clean Marina by the Florida DEP and The Clean Boating Partnership
Pier & Surf
By Spencer BrogdenI hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving and a great month of fishing last month Unfortunately fishing in the month of December tends to slow down drastically in Northeast Florida.
As water temperatures drop to the middle to low 60’s the pompano head further south and many of the other mainstays that have been in our area the last couple of months thin out as well
The redfish, speckled trout and black drum that were plentiful in October and November will usually become few and far between However, all is not lost These cooler waters mean big whiting and usually lots of them!
At the time of this writing, some really nice sized whiting just started showing up My favorite bait for these is fresh river shrimp Whiting have small
mouths so break the shrimp into smaller pieces
I like using both double dropper rigs and Carolina rigs when targeting whiting Some days one rig out performs the other so I always try both to see which one is hotter Deep sloughs and runouts is where you will typically find an abundance of nice sized fish.
I keep whiting 12 inches and up as a personal preference As we have mentioned before, when the water cools off we also soak our shrimp in Diet Pepsi
Many people doubted this method last year but after trying it their opinions changed! I learned this as a kid fishing the old Jacksonville beach pier and having been using it ever since If you don’t want to target whiting, you can hit the new Jax Beach pier and try your hand at some Sheepshead.
Fiddler crabs and sandfleas are my favorite baits to use for them on the pier Be aware if you have never fished for them to have PLENTY of patience I use a Carolina rig with an 8-10 inch leader and an owner J hook
If you have any more questions or comments about fishing in December, you can visit our YouTube page Brokenreel23 and drop us a line! Until next month, tight lines!
Spencer Brogden
Traveling to Florida for Christmas
I tend to do a lot of traveling every Christmas being that my children are out of school, and my family is in many different parts of the U S I live in the northern U S and I'm used to experiencing brutal winters where the thermometer doesn't even reach freezing levels
One of the best things I've ever done was marry a woman whose family lives in Miami, Florida where it's warm all year around
Traveling to Miami during Christmas is a lot of fun although it's unusual at the same time In December the temperature in southern Florida is still between 70 and 80 degrees every day and you can where shorts and short sleeve shirts pretty much every day You may need a light sweater if you plan on driving further north in Florida but it's still nothing too drastic
During my time down there I get to do things that I'm never able to do when I'm back home Instead of bundling up and drinking hot cocoa by the fireplace I'm instead choosing which pair of swim trunks I want to bring to the beach with me Miami has a great night life as well When you go to places like South Beach they have clubs that rival NY and
you'll experience lots of trendy bars and trendier people from all parts of the globe. Other things I can do while on holiday in Miami is fire up the grill and enjoy some burgers and chicken while outside on the patio Trying to do that where I live will only lead to me having frostbite Miami is a great place to be during Christmas but I said it's weird as well In my mind I'm expecting it to snow around Christmas and possibly looking forward to a white Christmas. People still decorate there homes and are full of the spirit but there are far fewer evergreen trees outside and the whole thing just feels very different for me
Despite the weirdness however I still feel as though traveling to Miami during Christmas is a great place to spend the holiday While you're there you can catch a basketball or football game or just lounge on the patio outside. If you're looking to escape the cold and have a unique holiday experience then you should consider going down to Florida and seeing what the holiday in the sunshine state is all about
Intracoastal & St. Johns River
By Capt. John EggersTime is flying by its already December and the days are getting shorter and shorter. This month can be one of the best of the year as we get deeper into the colder part of the fishing season
Unlike January and February which are typically windy with cold fronts, December in Florida tends to be warmer with usually less cold fronts making fishing better
Reds are schooled up from the feeder creeks to the ICW and St John's river They are feeding aggressively on both live bait and artificials fattening up for the cold water temps ahead. Water clarity gets better and for the sight fisherman this is imperative Reds will be cruising the shallow banks, sometimes back out, and feeding on shrimp and small minnows
With clear water and less wind they can be easier to site fish this time of year At high tide you can find groups of reds up in the spartina grass on the mud flats. Target the grass that has open pockets and that is spread out over the flats
Trout are schooling at high tide on
points and creek mouths as well as some winter flounder In the river and ICW yellowmouth trout will be grouped up on deep drop offs and deep shell bars with some of the fish weighing over 2 pounds Look for big numbers of keeper sheepshead on most of the deep rock structures in the river like the white shell jetties
Dock pilings and just about every bridge structure that have 10 to 20 feet of water will be housing these fish At high water sheepshead will be feeding around oyster bars in the creeks and mud flats The mayport jetties will be another hot target area all winter but getting the bigger fish to the boat can be a problem because of the sharks
I will move immediately after the first fish gets sharked up because they wont stop eating every fish hooked until you move Good luck tight lines
Capt John Eggers
Offshore Deepwater
By Capt. Tim AltmanWinter Wahoo & Blackfin
Blackfin Tuna are getting thick in depths 170ft and deeper
Blackfin Tuna is an awesome fish to catch and if you bleed them quickly, very good table fare for we Floridians
Remember to bleed them quickly by either ripping out their gills or making a 3”-4”slice right behind their gill plate
To keep from getting blood all over your boat of fish box, you can tail rope and drag it through the water or place it in your livewell with your livewell on You will hear lots of local folks that Blackfin Tuna is inedible, but I will submit that if prepared correctly Blackfin is great when prepared to your particular tastes
For my wife Judy and I we especially like this recipe we got from Suwannee Rose website (suwanneerose com) a few years ago.
Barbecue-Seared Blackfin Tuna
Ingredients
1-pound blackfin tuna steaks, 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil, Barbecue Rub, 1 tablespoon coconut sugar or brown sugar, 2 teaspoons chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon onion powder, 1/4 teaspoon cumin, 1/4 teaspoon coriander, pinch of cayenne
Avocado Sauce
1 avocado, 1 big handful cilantro, 1 green onion, chopped, 1 jalapeno, chopped (optional) juice of 1 lime, 1/4 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
Serve With
1 mango, thinly sliced cilantro
sliced green onions
Instructions
Combine all ingredients for the Barbecue Rub in a shallow dish
Blend the Avocado Sauce
Add the avocado, cilantro, green onion, jalapeño, lime, and salt to the jar of a blender Blend 30 seconds at a time, scraping down the sides with a spatula
Continue this until it's very smooth Transfer to a serving dish
Sear the Tuna
Heat the oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat
Dip the steaks in the barbecue rub, coating all surfaces. Sear the tuna 2-4 minutes on each side for medium-rare, depending on the thickness of the steaks. Transfer to a serving platter
Serve each steak with a dollop of avocado sauce, sliced mango, cilantro, and green onions.
Wahoo are biting in depths of 120-170ft. Remember to play “connect the dots” with all of your bottom fishing marks. If you are NOT high-speeding and pulling lures & bait, remember to drop a cedar plug or small Ballyhoo way-way back for Blackfin If you are HiSpeeding, look for that 70 degree water in depths of 110ft or greater. If you see a weedline, fish it Wahoo is some of the best fish to eat. Lots of my
friends eat it raw with some Poke sauce Here is a great recipe for Stuffed Wahoo I got from a member of my Facebook Group “Wahoo Junkies”:
Stuffed Wahoo
Onions, mushroom, ham, thyme and olive oil. Cheese if you like, I use pepper jack Sauté everything together in pan except the wahoo Cut wahoo filet into 6-10oz sizes, cut in half like a hamburger bun
Stuff sauté mix in the middle of portions If baking, let sauté mix cool first If searing, sauté mix can be stuffed warm There are 2 ways to cook. 1. Bake at 325 degrees, 10-15 minutes in bake pan. A glass pan will cook faster & get a better desired texture.
2 Seared two minutes on medium heat on each side in sauté pan If you want to add some heat, add a topping of
sriracha or you can mix sriracha with mayonnaise for less heat before putting it on top
If you need assistance Wahoo Rigging and Tackle please visit Dave Workman Jr @ Strike Zone Fishing Jacksonville and see Dave or his top-notch staff for expert advice with the widest selection for all your Wahoo needs!
GAS PRICES are starting to rise again and impacts out economy on every level. So please support your local businesses because they are the ones most 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
Continued on Page 21
Hoodoo Charters Blackfin with client Sebastian Waters!Intracoastal Rivers & Creeks
By Capt. Todd PhilcoxShorter 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, especially when that low outgoing tide coincides with a sunny afternoon.
November fishing was quite active with lots of smaller redfish, the trout bite picked up and flounder were quite active 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 and St Johns River miles back into the grass. These 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 don’t end up stuck in the mud!
We see more extreme low tides over the winter months which really condenses inshore fish into those creek holes and leads 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, work those baits more slowly as the water temps cool and let them sit in productive areas.
I also try to have blue crab available and will let a chunk sit on the bottom on a circle hook while I actively fish the other baits. Merry Christmas and a Wonderful New Year to All!
Our Waterways
By Capt. Jim Suber COJ Waterways Coordinator
Dock Master
Division of Natural Marine Resources
Department of Parks
Recreation and Community Services
1410 Gator Bowl Blvd.
Jacksonville, Fl. 32202
Office (904) 630-0839
Cell (904)509-0588
Jsuber@coj.net
wwwJaxParks com
Our Fall has continued to give us surprises! On the heels of Hurricane Ian our waterways have been interesting to say the least with a rare November Hurricane Nicole
Although she made land fall in the southern half of the state she started out as a extremely large low and grew keeping the same wind field So, with an Atlantic side landfall the wind direction created a strong Northeast wind in North Florida which slows the out flow of the St. Johns River
Considering the river has not returned to normal tides from Hurricane Ian, A Northeastern blow weeks prior to Nicole, a full moon King Tide and the route of Nicole across the state and passing to our west we have experienced another tide event in the St Johns River and tributaries
This has caused the waterway to overflow the banks and caused property flood damage Although we started the 2022 hurricane season extremely slow it made up for it at the end! The good news is we can look at the 2022 season as history to learn from!
The City of Jacksonville Continues to make improvements and several projects are seeing progress With the back-to-back Hurricane effects our damage list has grown The new docks of Mayport continue to make
progress 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 We have storm damage on the Mayport Boat Ramp docks
The repair process is a little more complicated due to including the FEMA and insurance process The Jacksonville Beach Pier continues to be the place to fish with various species making it on the deck The city has named a vender to operate the pier, so improvements and changes are soon to be seen with access to bait, Ice, tackle and refreshments to soon hit the scene! Nicole caused some minor damage to the deck, but the pier was designed to do exactly as it did The deck sections can break away and helps the structure ride the pressure.
The construction of the new dock on the east side of the Jacksonville Zoo is in progress and floating dock sections are being installed The dredging of the Kayak access at Castaway Island Preserve has been given approval to proceed and the dredging of Goodby’s Creek will soon get approval
The new fishing platform at River Road Park is complete and anglers will be directed to the platform and off the bulkhead The North Bank docks are complete along with the bulkhead and sea wall The upland park construction from Hogan to Pearl St. in front of the Times Union Performing Arts Center is still under development so access to the floating docks in that area is still restricted
We have additional damage at Reddi Point, Jim King Park Kayak Dock, Metro Park Marina, Lonnie Wurn, Blue Cypress dock, The multi-use trail road at Huguenot Park Palms Fish Camp and a large amount of debris is in the waterfront parks and our waterways
All users should practice caution and when on the waterways use a lookout Floating debris in the waterway can be large and dangerous for a few months We will continue to get debris and high water from south of Duval County!
The derelict vessel war is still full speed ahead
The new budget by FWCC is in place and we are starting to see FWCC work the cases to get us approval to remove. They have completed the investigation and requested removal assistance for the vessel south of the Atlantic Blvd Bridge and working to complete the process for the sunken sailboat northwest of the Beach Blvd channel on the ICW
The abandoned vessel at Arlington Boat Ramp is waiting of the staff of FWCC approve the removal By this writing this issue may be resolved Hurricane Nicole was not user friendly to some of our sailboats We had one catch fire during the middle of the storm The live aboard owner had left the vessel for safety during the storm. The vessel was well insured and was removed 3 days after the storm!
A second sailboat was pushed aground in the Ortega River and another one was pushed on to Exchange Island We had a sportfish in the Ortega River break loose from its mooring and bounced between a couple of residential docks causing property damage. This has happened before so it is being worked as an at-risk vessel and if a solution is not completed by the owner the vessel will be removed by the FWCC process. The Jacksonville Waterways Commission have announced a committee to address the Offshore, Near shore, and in shore reef concepts. The City of Jacksonville own the permits for the offshore reefs and two reefs in the St Johns River
The Idea of a near shore reef with in the 3-mile limit as well as Deep water Fish Aggregating Devices
(FAD’s) will be studied Grant opportunities have been identified and are being explored.
If you are interested and have ideas stay in tune and make your ideas known 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 The shoal became an Island during our low tides in August, so it is obvious the dynamics causing the shoal is continuing Blount Island Marine Corp Base is working a dredge operation and the spoil pipe is crossing the back river to Clapboard Creek so use caution Please use caution and a look out anytime you are underway especially when up on plane in your boat, debris items are just under the surface and seeing them can be difficult Day time always use good, polarized sunglasses and at night slow down and double your caution and lookout
The Jacksonville Waterways Commission have formed a committee to address this issue and discussions continue with The Army Corp of Engineers
Continued on Page 22
Creamy Tuscan Salmon
Another fishing year has come to an end 2022 is in the books I hope everyone had an eventful year and caught plenty of fish Whether you are an offshore,inshore, lake or river fisherman we are all one big family We are the fishing community
We are the stewards of our waters So let's make it a point to do everything we can to pass on this great sport to our grandkids, nieces and nephews Take a kid fishing it could change their life
If you are interested in helping grow our sport get involved with the Jacksonville Offshore Fishing Club Jaxfish.com meetings on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month.
I want to thank everyone for following my recipes every month and for the great feedback we have received I certainly hope everyone has enjoyed them I wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year see everyone in 2023!
Here is this month's recipe creamy Tuscan salmon You can always substitute the salmon for your favorite catch
Ingredients:
4 fillets Salmon or your favorite fish
2cups heavy cream
1/2 cup chicken or vegetable broth
2tbsp olive oil
1 small onion chopped
5 cloves minced garlic
1tsp garlic powder
1tsp Italian seasoning
1tbsp fresh parsley
1/2cup Parmesan cheese
2cups fresh chopped spinach
1/2cup sun-dried tomato
salt and pepper to taste
In a large frying Pan add olive oil on medium heat Salt and pepper you're fillets and cook skin side down 5-7 minutes till skin is crispy flip and cook 3-4 minutes more Remove fillets from the pan and set aside Add minced garlic and onions cook 2-3 minutes stir in broth and cream,Italian seasoning,garlic powder and Parmesan cheese cook several minutes to thicken then add sun-dried tomato and spinach put your fish fillets in sauce and get ready for a great dinner
Guana Lake
By Capt. Matt ChipperfieldWell, it finally happened Florida fought the good fight, but winter finally crept its way into the sunshine state Local water temperatures have bottomed out and it is officially cold outside So, I just have one question for you: how slow can you go?
If the answer was slow you’re on the right track, but I need you to work sloooooower As our inshore temperatures reach their coldest points local sport fish experience a
Twitch baits are ideal for this scenario Mirrodines, X-raps and slow-sinking/ diving crank baits are ideal for teasing lazy winter time predators. Almost all of these hard plastic lures utilize rattle traps and high vibration acoustics that can “awaken” even the most sluggish trout or redfish
Loooong pauses between twitching and reeling are vital to a successful presentation A laid up winter time fish is much more likely to attack a slow, wounded bait than one zipping past its face This is especially true for winter time trout fishing in Guana. Allow the lure to rest on the bottom with only occasional twitching The big girls want an easy meal and constantly pulling the lure out of the strike zone will leave you empty handed
If you’d rather sight cast to backing redfish instead of blind cast for trout
I’ve got you covered The water will start to clear up real nice this month as temperatures drop and the algae in our intracoastal begins to die off ill l l i h
Palm Valley St Augustine
By Capt. Cory SparksIt’s time to bundle up and go bend a rod! December is a great month to fish the cleaner water in Palm Valley
As water temperatures drop, algae start to die off in our water and the clarity improves to some of our best sight fishing opportunities of the year Trolling through creeks and using a good pair of polarized glasses is a fun way to sight fish for redfish and trout
Approaching covered oyster mounds and shallow flats while scanning for fish that are lying in wait is a blast this month When water temps drop and clarity improves, being stealthy is a must or you will blow out the fish and spook them before you get your shots. Redfish will feed on shrimp, mud minnows, or even fiddlers Get bait well in front of them and quietly present to the fish in natural directions
Trout will want to strike and chase more so target them with something like a Mirrolure mr17 or a paddle tail and jig head combo A shrimp under a popping cork will also be a fool proof way to catch a few speckled fish! When trying to locate trout, cover different depths in the water column until you find the preferred depth
Once you got them dialed in, try different lures or colors to see what works best. It's amazing how a subtle difference in two baits (such as color, size, sink rate etc ) can make such a difference in catch ratio
Sheepshead and Black Drum have made a strong showing to end November and this bite should continue to stay strong through the winter These two fish are some of the best fighting table fare that get overlooked as unintended targets when people are chasing the inshore slam species (trout, redfish, flounder) Cover moving water that flows over oyster mounds or structures in creeks and main ICW banks
Throwing up current with a live shrimp or fiddler crab on jig heads and letting the tide move you through the strike zone is my preferred presentation.
I also love tipping these two baits with a small piece of Fishbites EZ strips It adds smell and color and is deadly for catching these two targets These fish bite very softly so a sensitive rod tip and enough weight to barely hold bottom is important
You want your bait to move with the current but also be heavy enough that you can feel every shell and hang up This fine line of bumping along bottom will give you the contact you need to know when you're hung up vs your rod tip loading up with a feeding fish on the other end
Spread some joy this month and take someone fishing! Merry Christmas from my family to yours! Keep Reeling!
Capt Cory Sparks
310charters.com
Above Photo Steve Ralys with a beautiful Redfish.Strong north winds, cold temperatures, and hungry fish That’s what December in northeast Florida is all about Forget the turkey, ham, and presents and focus on the bite
During the colder, winter months, those crab crunching convicts move into our inshore waters in huge numbers to spawn
Although sheepshead can be targeted year round, the prime time is now through the end of February They are found on structure, mainly jetties, rock piles, bridges, docks, and pier pilings. They mainly eat crustaceans
Fiddler crabs, shrimp, sand fleas, and crab knuckles are the most common baits used. Sheepshead can be a frustrating target, as their bite can be virtually undetectable A sweeper jig or Carolina rig are the most commonly used rigs Lately, a PB & J sweeper jig from Saint Augustine Paddle Sports has been my go to setup Drop the bait right against the structure you’re fishing Once it hits the bottom, begin yoyoing it slowly If you feel a tiny tap or resistance it’s likely a sheepshead
The best time to target them is directly after a cold front, the worse the conditions the better the bite When other fish shut down, sheepshead turn on.
Another winter target is sea trout. The nice days in between cold fronts will be great for hitting the flats and bending the rod Both trout and redfish will
be cruising them
Trout are a fun, early morning, top water target. They are aggressive feeders and when located, it can be a fish every cast Trout will crush a Storm Chug Bug or a Rapala Skitterwalk in low light conditions when worked around grasses and oyster beds Paddletail baits, such as a Hackney Jr Belly or an Ancient City Outdoors Hawg, are also extremely deadly on the flats
A Fishbites Fightin Shrimp under a popping cork is another great way to target them Substituting a live shrimp for the Fishbites shrimp is an option if live bait is preferred.
Trout will eat a variety of lures and baits and are very responsive to them Bucktail jigs are also a good choice. Swingin Buck jigs have proven over the last year to be trout killers as well. Trout will normally be on a transition with moving water.
Casting up tide and working the bait back towards you is the best way to fish them They are a schooling fish, so catch 1, catch 2 Using these techniques and lures will also nab redfish and flounder in the area creeks and flats
The area creeks will be good in the deeper pockets using live shrimp or mud minnows Fishing low tide is normally most productive for the creeks. The bite In December is normally good throughout the month if you’re willing to very targets and strategies.
Sheepshead, trout, redfish, and flounder are all thick in the area and hungry Plan your trips and targets around the weather and have successful trips all month Good luck and tight lines. I’ll see ya out there
Lead Guide
@ St Augustine Paddle Sports 772-475-9469
Daytona Ormond Beach
By Capt. Jeff PattersonFirst off be very careful driving down the intracoastal for the next few weeks or more with hurricane debris, dock parts, and sadly trash from runoff after these last two hurricanes
I have seen a couple big sections of docks in the channel and crab traps that were moved in the middle of the channel after Hurricane Nicole
There’s been a bunch of good action going on lately and I’ve pretty much been fishing ormond in the basin and intracoastal as well as the inlet.
With a busy hurricane season it’s been tricky but there’s still a lot going on Both slot and over slot redfish have been around the inlet. Chunk baits and whole or half of a blue crab are good for those big ones and live finger mullet for slot sized fish
There’s been a good snook bite going on and I like a select shrimp or live pinfish but a finger mullet will do the trick too Near the tide changes have been hot especially beginning of outgoing
There’s been big schools of finger mullet all over the place lately and been seeing some awesome feeding frenzies For example today I fished the inlet first and planned on heading to a couple bridges to target drum
On the way I see fish busting schools of mullet up against some mangroves and since I had an 8 year old boy on the boat I figured that action would be a a blast! Literally every single cast for over an hour bait was in the water for seconds before getting inhaled
We caught jacks, big blues, snook, and seatrout free lining mullet and then pretty much left them biting I haven’t been down there recently but I’ve talked to some people
seeing a bunch tarpon around the New Smyrna bridges and some days seen some awesome action with them going crazy on some mullet
Ormond has been really consistent in the basin and the intracoastal too. Redfish, snook, and tarpon up to the 40-50lb range have been hanging out in the basin
Salinity in those areas has still slowly been getting higher as we didn’t get near as much rain from the last hurricane. Bridges up in Daytona and Ormond have been holding snook and a bunch of black drum! Sometimes dead shrimp works better than live for those scavengers
We should have some of this same action going on through the rest of the year with so we’ll see how it goes!
I’m offering a $75 discount to all charters booked by December 31 for any future date! Merry Christmas and happy new year!
Pole Dancer Fishin’ Charters
Bottom Right
Had an awesome trip with Dalton Brinker, 8 this was his first snook!
Top Right
My dad Jeff Patterson with a really good sized stone crab
Above
52lb wahoo we caught aboard Callahan Hoods Reel Rowdy
December is here and we have finally got to feel some cold weather.
Personally, I’ll take this weather any day over those grueling summer temps However, I may be bias since I grew up on the Outer Banks in much cooler weather It also gives me a sense of nostalgia being back in those cold temperatures catching killer game fish all winter long! But, enough about me let’s get to the good stuff!
November fishing was great when we weren’t being hit by hurricanes. The following weeks after the storms provided plenty of black drum, sheepshead, reds, and even upper slot snook!
December should not disappoint either The trout bite has already been picking up We have been catching a handful of them using paddle tails and other soft plastics in the current Pitch them out and let them go down
current, slowly jig them and you should get a strike
You can also use live shrimp free lined or under a popping cork. Flounder season opens back up as well this month. Try casting into drop-off areas, drag the bottom with a paddle tail on a 1/4oz jig or heavier
You can also use a live mullet or shrimp Casting parallel to ledges is often most productive because the lure is kept in the strike zone throughout the entire retrieve Flounder often gather on the deep side of the ledge, waiting for bait to be swept off the shallow flats. The redfish bite should pick up as well.
This time of the year it’s great to get back in the creeks and work the flats There will be plenty of active schooling reds throughout these areas Throwing topwater lures and paddle tails should do the trick Live shrimp or mullet on a jig head work great as well
If you don’t have a boat, try the bridges and inlets There have been plenty of reds, sheepshead and black drum on the bottom. I’ve had great numbers reported over the last few weeks!
Feel free to stop by Genungs Fish Camp and pick our brains if you have any other questions about what’s biting Now, go on out there and enjoy this beautiful weather We’ll catch you later
Until next month, please stay safe on the water and remember that great things happen when you take a kid fishing.
The HooDoo Boats are in WAHOO 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!
Ca t Ti Alt a
Continued from Page 15 and a source of the sand is being explored. As always allow me to continue to remind everyone to always check your boat and yourself
Use of a lookout and being aware of your surroundings are always a priority Invest in a QUALITY EPERB, file a float plan with someone that will miss you first so if things don’t go as planned, the search for you can be narrowed and recovery can be quicker Take a safe boating course and do your part to activate our waterways!
The Jacksonville Sail and Power Squadron, America’s Boating Club, continuously offers America’s Safe Boating Course at Lamb’s Yacht Center and classes have resumed monthly Check their web site for classes through 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 wwwusps 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 by-products when you clean your fish and dispose of your trash appropriately!
BE SAFE! AND WASH YOUR HANDS!!
Capt Jim Suber
Tournament Board
By Craig VanBrocklinFall Tournaments
FLA – 1 Redfish, 2 Trout (weight)
1st Chad Duncan/Jeremy MacDonald 10.46
2nd Alex Buchanan/Scott O’Brien
9 97
3rd Wade Hastings 9 03
4th Phil Zeller/Scott Koons 8 68
5th Gary Hall/Tyler Crawford 8 33
6th Lynneia Holladay/Steve
Yurkevicius 8 33
7th Matt Lewis/Nathan Johnson
8 12
8th Judy Sturgeon/Terry Sturgeon
7.40
9th Christina Turbeville/Dave Turbeville 7 63
10th Alec Pope/Justin Flowe 7 21
Big WT – Whiting Ounces
1st Brian Hooie 17 06
2nd Mike Baldwin 10 63
3rd Bill Grawe 9 5
Ladies Taylor Chenoweth 5 125
Netti Kayak Challenge – (length)
Slam Champion Craig Van Brocklin
53 25
Flounder
1st Craig Van Brocklin 23 5
2nd Tyler Snell 21 25
3rd Fisher Goodale 20
4th Jeff Altman 19 5
5th Jesse Laspeyre 15.25
Redfish
1st Michael Fitzwater 49
2nd Shane Davis 46
3rd Travis Goodale 45 75
4th Kenneth Manton 45 5
5th Clark Krazit 42 25
Trout
1st Sandy Stark 25 5
2nd Josh Bell 21
3rd Jeff Altman 19.5
4th Blake Beltz 18 5
5th Raulyn Tan 17 5
Lady Angler Raven Sauvageau 38
Junior Angler Kaydence Fowler
26 25
Black Drum Arnold Aton 21 25
Pink Lure Kenneth Manton 25 5
Redfish Spots Romel Darby 6
Pink Bra Dustin Grigg
Pink Up the Spots – Redfish (weight)
1st Logan Russom
5 5
2nd Rick Mackey
4 9
3rd Lindsey Myers
3 8
4th Sydney Crews
3.5
5th Kason De Grande
3 2
1st Flounder Owen Wine
1 45
JOSFC Annual Awards
Sportsman of the Year – Jake Ogin
Inshore Captain of the year
1st Jake Ogin
2nd Craig Van Brocklin
3rd Jeff Altman
Offshore Captain of the Year
1st Jack Ogin
2nd Darren Willingham
3rd Rob Vermillion
Inshore Angler of the Year
1st Craig Van Brocklin
2nd Jeff Altman
3rd Randy Hand
Offshore Fish Boards
Light Tackle - Greg Wallace
Lady Angler - Marianna Suzette
Mens Open - Jack Ogin
Unlimited - Kevin Bridges
Bluewater - Darrin WIllingham
Upcoming Tournaments
December
* 3rd FLA
* AIGA Redfish Fernandina
* 10th Eggnog Open Steinhatchee
* 11th Don Combs Wahoo Roundup begins
January
* 7th FLA
* 21st Pro Redfish
February
* 4th FLA
* 11th PowerPole East Coast Go Live
* 25th KA Redfish
Photo Top Right Chad Duncan and Jeremy MacDonald FLA November winners
