Fishing Connection Online February 2021

Intracoastal St. Johns River

Capt. Todd Philcox

SaltyChartersJax com

904-403-8575

Winter fishing on NE Florida’s inshore waters offers a great opportunity for continuous action with a variety of species including Redfish, Flounder, Trout, Black Drum, and Sheepshead.

Recent weeks have seen many days with 20-40 fish counts including numerous Redfish up to 27 inches, Flounder from 12-18 inches, Spotted Seatrout and Yellowmouth Trout from 12-18 inches and a random Black Drum or Sheepshead

I expect this type of action to continue throughout February as our winter months are my favorite time to fish, as long as weather conditions allow for some degree of comfort

I primarily fish light tackle, a 7 ft. medium-light rod with a 2500 class reel spooled with 10 lb test braided line, and a 20 lb test fluorocarbon leader working live shrimp and mud minnows on a 1/8 to a 3/8-ounce jig, depending on wind and tide conditions I offer this information

because, while I have another 4 size setup with progressively heavier tackle, I fish this lighter setup 8590% of the time with consistent success and enjoyment for my clients

My expectations are to land Redfish in the 15-30 inch range on this gear, though I have had clients land 25-30 lb Reds on this lighter setup

The area I fish predominately, the Intracoastal waterway between Butler Blvd and the St. Johns river, offers a great variety of conditions, shallow mudflats, oyster beds, winding creeks with significant depth changes, and the Intracoastal banks and grass lines

All of these areas will be productive at different times and under different conditions, the hard part is figuring out when to target each area

I find the most success during our colder months fishing shallower waters farther back in the creeks and those deeper creek holes as the tide drops.

There are no charts for most of our creeks, so the only way to learn them is to get out around the low tides and explore, slowly!

Redfish success will be had during the last half of the outgoing tide deep into the creeks, looking for slightly deeper holes and oyster bars where the tides are draining off larger mudflats and the water will be slightly warmer

Flounder will also be scattered in those creek holes with 6-10’ of water along with some Black Drum and Sheepshead taking shrimp baits as well

Focus on Trout on the higher incoming and outgoing tides, some action will be found along weed edges and creek runouts along the Intracoastal, but greater quantities of Trout will be in slightly deeper water along the banks, docks or rocks in 6 to 12 feet of water where a good current is running

Live shrimp and mud minnows will continue to be my primary bait in February, fishing those baits

Continued on Page 6

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Editor: Joe Dionne

Contributing Writers

Jeff Altman

Trina Polkey

Lee Bowman

John Nooney

Roy Mattson

Will Neimann

John Chapman

Capt Jim Suber

Spencer Brogden

Capt Tim Altman

Richard Hamilton

Capt Bert Deener

Capt Cory Sparks

Capt John Eggers

Capt Todd Philcox

Craig Van Brocklin

Capt Adam Morley

Capt Jeff Patterson

Capt Charlie Freeman

Capt Matt Chipperfield

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February 2021

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Well, it's February so it's going to be cold And we're all dealing with this covid lifestyle. But being in a boat, on the beach, or on a pier means you are socially distancing so that's a bright side of fishing.

Let's start with offshore fishing

It can actually be very good if the weather behaves so you can get offshore. Schools of Sailfish, Wahoo, Mahi and Tuna will be found for those who want to make the trip to the gulf stream Just realize it's a long run but when you hit it right, the results can be outstanding Back in 2000 I ran a friend's 43 Tiara out and we got a lot of action including a 109lb Wahoo.

Closer in you will find rare Sailfish around reefs and artificial bottoms along with Flounder, big Sheepshead, and Black Bass Grouper season is closed and those pesky Red snappers you will catch also must be released. Make sure you check the new laws on the use of circle hooks per the FWC new rules Cut bait will work as a solid bait.

At the St Mary's Inlet, the Sheepshead will be your best bet, bring plenty of fiddler crabs with you. Black drum, sea trout, and whiting will be common and schools of Bluefish and Spanish Mackerel will show up on occasion.

Surf fishing can be slow as all the Pompano has headed south but Whiting will still be found Fresh cut shrimp, clams, and using FishBites are good baits. Use double hook rigs and enough weight to hold the bottom

Inshore fishermen will be after Seatrout, Red Bass, Black Bass, Flounder, Sheepshead, and Whiting. Fishing 'slow' will be the main way due to the water temps Jig with either live shrimp or mud minnow will produce as will free-lining or using a float with them Deepwater structures, be it oyster beds, docks or creek run-outs will produce once you locate them.

All these fish will also be found in deep holes around the two wood mills The water goes from 4' down to 30' in about a 10-foot distance. Hopefully, you have one of the new high end electric trolling motors that can keep you in one spot Anchoring due to the amount of structure there. You can anchor but there's a good chance you will not get it back I take two high-tech concrete blocks to use as an anchor. Losing them isn't expensive Lure fishermen will catch their fair share of fish and this is where the low and slow really comes into play Usually late in the day on a low tide is what they like as the fish will move closer to the shallows as the water warms up.

If you are new to the area, by all means, contact one of the many great fishing guides located on the island. They will put you on the fish, provide all the bait and tackle needed, and answer any questions you may have. And if they worked hard and gave you a great trip, remember to tip them well

Capt. Charlie Freeman

Arlington Marina has been recognized as a Clean Marina by the Florida DEP and The Clean Boating Partnership

Whiting caught in a deep hole Downtown Fernandina in the ICW

Fishin' S.E. Georgia

Capt. Bert Deener

The few reports that came in this week were mixed Early in the week, not many trips resulted in good catches in the cold But, by late in the week, several folks had good trips We have another front and winds forcasted just in time for the weekend

Most rivers are still in their wintertime high and cold stage. Some areas are still flooded out into the floodplain, but other stretches are back within the banks. I will let you know when I hear good reports from rivers, but let it suffice to say that your time in the winter will usually be best spent on lakes, ponds, and saltwater

In general, crappie fishing and catfishing for white catfish in the lower portions of our rivers are your best options in the winter You can usually find crappie in slack water areas of the main river or in oxbow lakes

During warm spells, specks will pull up to shoreline cover, but you will catch them best when it’s cold by drifting or trolling the open-water areas with curlytailed grubs (Assassin 2-inch Curly Shads and Keitech 2-inch swimbaits are my favorites) or live minnows.

Bass fishing in rivers can be decent during warming trends if you know where they lurk in the winter (oxbows are usually good places to start searching)

You can try the rivers if you would like, but they are not easy systems to fish in the winter I

will get back to specific river reports when they get right in the spring, but I will focus attention on the prime flat water bites for the next couple of months

Local Ponds – Chad Lee fished an Alma area pond last Thursday and set the hook a bunch Even in the cold, he fooled a dozen bass in the 1 to 2-pound range by slowly working Senkos Todd Kennedy roped the bass in a Brunswick area pond while fishing from his kayak on Wednesday He used NED heads and pumpkin Z-Man Big TRD worms and caught 50 bass, with 30 of them in the 2 to 4-pound range

Okefenokee Swamp – The cold and high water have the swamp tough to fish right now, but the warm-up next week should at least have them looking to feed some Your best bet if headed to the swamp is to pitch sallies (under a small balsa float) for flier or troll in-line spinners for bowfin during a warming trend. The latest water level was 120.9 feet.

Laura Walker State Park – Staff have completed repairs to the drain structure and the lake filled enough that it is now open to motorboats and business as usual. Check park rules if you do not know them, as all rules and regulations still apply.

Saltwater (GA Coast) – A couple of Brunswick anglers fished the Brunswick area on Sunday and found a school of trout. They found a color of old-school curly-tail jig that they would hit, but they only had ONE of them. Not surprisingly, they went to get it off each time they got hung. They ended up catching 16 trout, with 11 of them keepers A few anglers fishing Wednesday in the Brunswick area used live shrimp to catch a couple of limits of trout, and a few were around 20 inches On Thursday a Waycross angler fished the Brunswick area and landed 34 trout and a keeper flounder

The key to his catch was to fish 6 to 10 feet deep with a 1/32-oz (no – that was not a typographical error!) Capt Bert’s Jighead with a Gamakatsu hook and a 3-inch Keitech swimbait

He fished it on a very light rod and 10-lb braid with an 8-lb fluoro leader and would just reel into them and load the rod when he felt a “tick” The best color was golden shad (lots of gold flake), but he also caught several on bluechartreuse and sight flash (white-silver flake). The water temperature was 49 degrees at the start of the trip. He offered larger lures, but only had one taker. All the other fish were on the 1/32-oz. jighead...

Continued on Page 9

Todd Kennedy of Brunswick fished an area pond on Wednesday and roped this one and about 49 more on NED heads and pumpkin Z-Man Big TRD worms. He said that the bite was crazy

Fernandina Beach - February 2021

Tides Courtesy of FreeTideTables.com

Continued from Front Page on an 1/8 to a 3/8-ounce jig using a slow bouncing retrieve Slow down your presentation in cooler water no matter what bait or artificial you are working and don’t be reluctant to just let a bait sit when you have it in a productive zone I will also bring along some blue crab on most trips and let a chunk sit on a circle hook while working the other baits.

Have a plan based on tide and wind conditions, fish your spots thoroughly, but if you don’t find fish in 15 to 20 minutes, move on until you locate a good bite When you get the chance to fish a warm afternoon with a low tide jump on that opportunity as it very well may turn out to be your best fishing day of the year! Wishing you good luck and great days on the water, call me if I can help get you out fishing and into the action!

Capt Todd Philcox

Public Participation

John Nooney

Fishermen! How do you really feel?

It’s (FIND) Time.

The 2021 Duval County FIND list is out and the question is How are your FIND dollars in your county benefiting the anglers in accessing the Waterways? The allocation of FIND dollars happens every year So speak up

FIND is an acronym for the Florida Inland Navigation District

A special taxing district and Duval County is a tax-paying

member FIND was created by the Florida Legislature in 1927 for the continued management and maintenance of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway

WAP - Waterways Assistance Program is a grant program within FIND that was modified by section 374 976 Florida Statutes and is administered under the provisions of Chapter 66B-2 Florida Administrative Counties

In Duval County, the Chair again for the FIND subcommittee of the Jacksonville Waterways Commission is JWC member Jill Haskell She is the leader in identifying WAP projects

At this writing, a legislative number has yet to be assigned to the legislation that still needs to be approved by the legislative and executive branch of Jacksonville

Previous Fishing Connection columns that highlighted FIND Projects and Information are Jan. 2017; Sept 2018; Jan 2019; Jan 2020; March 2020; and Jan. 2021 Fishing Connection I reside in Duval County and these are the 2021 Florida Inland Navigation District Proposed Applications

1 Goodby's Creek Dredge District 5&6 $825,000 00

00

2 Castaway Island Preserve Dredge, District 13, $880,000

3 Riverview Park Boat Ramp, District 8, $990,000 00

4 Exchange Club Island Park Development District 1 $385,000 00

5. Reed Island Park Development District 2 $825,000.00

Capt. Bert Deener - Continued

from Page 4

He caught about 20 keepers and kept 10 of them Winds may be a little high on Saturday for wide-open areas, but it should be fishable in protected waters over the weekend For guide trip information, call Capt Greg Hildreth at (912) 617-1980 or check out his website (georgiacharterfishing com)

Check with the Jekyll Island Fishing Center (912-635-3556) for the latest on the Jekyll Island Pier or St Simons Bait & Tackle (912-6341888) for the latest on the St Simons Pier

St. John’s River (Astor, Florida) / Crescent Lake- Jamie Hodge had another couple of great days this Wednesday and Thursday on the St. Johns river around Astor This week it was a little too windy to effectively present spider-rigged minnows, so he used curly-tailed grubs to catch the crappie He had a couple of full fish boxes, with several over 2 pounds each day. He’s finding the bigger females in the main river right now The warm-up next week should push the first big wave of fish shallow to spawn it unfolds as forecasted It’s a good time to head to the big river for big specks! For the latest fishing information or to reserve a room or cabin in Astor, you can call Kerry at South Moon Fish Camp (386-749-2383). On Crescent Lake, you can contact Bull Creek Fish Camp at (386) 437-1991 for the latest information

The full Moon is January 28th To monitor all the Georgia river levels, visit the USGS website (www.weather.gov/jax/). For the latest marine forecast, check out www.srh.noaa.gov/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). For a 20% discount on some really comfortable fishing shoes (the Miami style is my favorite style of Skuze Shoes), use the CAPTBERT20 discount code at checkout on their website skuzeshoes com

Morgan Metals & Designs Inc.

Dan Morgan, Owner 6541 Powers Avenue #11

Photos from The Past

Schooling Reds will be the most targeted species on my charter trips this time of year Coldwater will bunch them up in groups from 5 to 30 fish or more.

Look for these schools in the ICW where the creek mouths dump out and that have large shallow flats nearby. They tend to push out of the creeks and stage near or on the warming flats and wait for the tide to switch before moving back into the creeks

I like to set up on these areas earlier than I think the fish will arrive as not to spook them when they are staged As the fish pour out they are usually in pairs or small groups and tend to be more aggressive and less spooky making them easier to catch

As they multiply and have more eyes looking out they can become so spooky that they are un-catchable at which time I will move onto the next group.

The trick is having several schools that you can fish by following the tide as it falls. By starting closer to the inlets and

working your way back down the river and waterways will give you the time to hit several schools before the tide turns

If Reds are not your thing Sheepshead, Black Drum, Speckled, and Yellowmouth trout will still be around

When I have young kids onboard they sometimes don't have the patience for the Reds and have to have constant action which makes the Yellowmouth Trout a great choice.

The incoming tide in 15-20 feet on most shell bars and drop-offs in the river will hold lots of Trout.

Using 1 or 2 oz weights on a dropper rig with live or fresh dead shrimp will provide plenty of action for them

Capt John Eggers

February is here and we are gearing up for the El Cheapo Sheepshead Tournament It is one of the biggest tournaments in Florida and we can use as many hands as possible so we are still looking for volunteers Sponsorship opportunities are also still available and we would love to have you or your company team up with us The tournament will be on March 6th, 2021 So figure out early where you plan to get fiddlers, crabs, clams, or whatever else is your go-to for bait

We had some great meetings in January and now are looking forward to this month. Some of our club members have been getting out on the good weather days we have had over the last couple of months. We regularly have club members looking for crew to get offshore with them and club members get an email blast when someone is looking to fill a spot

Upcoming Events

February 4th: Annual Club Chili Cook-Off and you don’t want to miss it. Bring a crockpot of chili and be ready to eat well.

February 6th: Sheepshead Tune-Up Club tournament JOSFC Club members only If you would like to participate come get a membership The backup weather date will be Feb. 20th.

This tournament will be inshore and offshore

February 18th:

Captain Vic Tyson had to reschedule from his set date last month so he is planning to give us an inshore seminar at the clubhouse His seminars are always full of great information.

Find us on Facebook and check out our website to keep up with upcoming events, schedules, or any changes www.JaxFish.com

Our meetings are on the first and third Thursday of each month

Due to Covid guidelines, we are currently meeting outdoors Dress for the weather We are open to the public so we would love to have you at a meeting even if you are not a member

Capt Lee Bowman

Ray Steinmeyer holding a nice Red caught out of a big school

Our Waterways - Capt. Jim Suber

Continued from Page 19

The Safe Harbor Redfish Roundup will go back to the spring on May 15 and Jacksonville Marine Charities will take the management and facilitation of the Tournament with the proceeds going to supporting the Safe Harbor boys home and Maritime Academy

I continue to remind you that if you are aware of an event that will impact our waterway or if you are a member of a club or organization that is planning an event that will 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 it on the website and promote it 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

As always allow me to remind everyone to always check your boat and yourself Use of a lookout and being aware of your surroundings is always a priority 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 so check their website 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 America’s Boating Club website at www.usps.org/localusps/Jackson. The Jacksonville Sail and Power Squadron, America’s Boating Club of Northeast Florida, and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary are back available for vessel safety checks

With the New Year, everyone needs to have their vessel re-inspected Last but not least, show pride in the facilities provided for your use with your tax dollars by properly disposing of your by-product when you clean your fish and dispose of your trash appropriately! BE SAFE! AND WASH YOUR HANDS!!

Capt Jim Suber

(H.O.W.)

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Family focused events: Heroes on the Water is one of the few veterans’ charities that includes family members in our programs

Paddle. Fish. Heal: More than a tag line – it’s what we do, how we do it, and what happens thanks to our volunteers 15

Winter is still in full effect and the cold doesn’t seem to be letting up this year The good news is we still have some pretty decent fishing options and the fish will bite here all year round even when it is a little chilly out We are fortunate enough to have two species that will bite no matter the temperature It might just take a little more moving around to find them

Trout will and continue to be schooled up around your creek mouths, deep holes, and deeper docks with flowing water. Live

shrimp freelined, jig heads with plastics, and diving hard plugs will continue to work

Yes, you will have to sort through several undersized schoolies to get your table fare but it can be done with a little bit of patience and perseverance

One of my favorites this time of year is the Redfish and they can be quite a challenge this time of year but they also make for a great hunt

The cold sometimes slows their metabolism down and therefore they don’t eat as often (so I’m told, never happens to me) but when they do get hooked, they will give a heck of a fight and if you can boat them then you're rewarded with a phenomenal iridescent blue tail

Some of the most beautiful fish I’ve ever seen are caught in the wintertime and I have no idea if the colors of the tail are a result of the cold water or the fight it is irrelevant and provides for an awesome sight

So how do you catch these guys in the winter to experience this? Well, numerous ways work the

same as the summer but there are some neat ways that seem to work better in the winter for me

First of all, depending on artificial or real bait the tactics may differ slightly

A nice slot Redfish will just about always hit a lively shrimp, mud minnows, or finger mullet in a creek at a deep spot coming off a turn or bend in the creek. Try it Then there is the other way Your favorite plastic and go hunting.

Most of the time here in Northeast Florida we get a break from the stained dark waters of St Johns and some of that gives way to much clearer water

Tone your lure colors down to a white or clear with fleck or speck in it Something flavored is always a nice touch as well Then ease along the creeks and edges of the flats on the incoming tide and look for the telltale V they make as they cruise through.

Remember to throw 5 to 6 feet ahead of the V, the last thing you want is to hit them in the head with your lure. Most of the time

you don’t even have to move it and they will swim right up and suck it up

Sometimes on really cold days, they may not be moving and then you just put that same lure on the bottom and dead stick it in those holes

Funny how they will smell it and get it if you have to patience to leave it long enough. At high tide, in the winter another tactic that seems to work pretty well is a spinnerbait.

Your favorite spinnerbait dressed up with a gulp swimming mullet thrown into the grass and then slowly brought out of the grass, letting it sink just outside the grass line then continuing to reel it in.

Most of the time when it clears that grass after a pause letting it sink a little is when they strike Get out on the water and try these tactics out They will work and you can enjoy fishing all year around.

Thinking Outside the (Tackle) Box

Trina

The world’s largest Sheepshead tournament, the El Cheapo, is steadily creeping upon us and as of this writing, fiddlers have been few and far between. Is that a reason to skip the tournament? Heck no!

There are other options available for those who are willing to adapt and overcome whatever conditions we are faced with come game day, which is March 6th this year

One of Captain Kirk Waltz’s favorite baits is tiny shrimp Considering he held 1st place in 2017 with an 11 34lb fish until the last few minutes of the tournament he must be doing something right!

He likes them about the size of the end of his pinky finger and alive He also recommends freshly shucked clams or oysters brined in saltwater with kosher salt to toughen them up a bit so they stay on the hook a little longer.

Now do not laugh at this one I have joked about using earthworms for bait, but as it turns out there are some people that do

You can also use red or tube worms I have not actually tried this myself, but it makes sense There are little worms that live among the different things that grow on pilings and in the sand

What fish in its right mind isn’t attracted to a worm? I’m not sure I want to admit this, but I have

put spaghetti in my chum bag and dropped it down to the bottom just to see In theory, the noodles would work their way out and look like worms Well, we caught some fine “Italian” sea bass with mouths full of spaghetti!

Don’t ever be afraid to think outside the box and try something unorthodox You never know what might work!

Trina Polkey

Polkey

Captain Kirk 11.34 lb Sheepshead

Spencer Brogden

As we enter February, we closed our January with cold water temps but a decent whiting bite This should continue for February and only get better as the month goes on.

The fish have been biting on the last couple of hours of the outgoing tide I’ve been using a Carolina rig with a 20-inch leader, 1/0 circle hooks, and fresh dead shrimp

Remember when using circle hooks, don’t set the hook! Keep in mind with the cooler water temps, the fish tend to be more sluggish so give the fish a little time to actually eat the bait

If you reel too soon, you will only be reeling up an empty hook The Sheephead will also be hanging around the inlets You can try Nassau sound, Huguenot near the jetties, Vilano pier and rocks, and St Augustine Pier

Fiddler crabs, spider crabs, and sandfleas (Photo To The Right) will tend to be your best bait! I use a Carolina rig for them as well, with an egg sinker, 10-inch leader, and a 3/0 owner ssw hook

When Sheephead fishing I never set the hook, I simply lift up when I feel the fish on the line. For more tips and advice check out our YouTube page Brokenreel23, we just put up another interview with Larry the Fishman Finch on how to hook your baits properly for pompano fishing Until next month, tight lines!

Spencer Brogden

Our Waterways

Capt. Jim Suber

Coordinator

The Jacksonville Waterways Commission is working on several issues and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission via the State Legislature will be considering several issues and state laws that may affect you as a waterfront property owner or waterway user

Stay informed and let your representative and local Council Members aware of your concerns or approval

Speed Zones, Fish limits, anchoring zones, and funding for waterfront improvements are on the table The City of Jacksonville has several new public dock opportunities are planned and the downtown waterfront is at the top of the development world.

The access to our waterways all around the county is full speed and your input is always a good thing!

I had the opportunity to take some time to check out one of our cities outdoor gems! The area has been newly labeled 7 Creeks Recreation Area. This area is a joint project of the City of Jacksonville, National Park Services, and Florida Park Service.

historical value The 5,600-acre contiguous conservation area includes Betz-Tiger Point Preserve, Bogey Creek Preserve, Pescatello Island, Jim Wingate Preserve, Cedar Point Preserve, and Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park and by water is just around the bend from Half Moon Island Park and Boat Ramp. But as always let me remind you all to go and enjoy with respect and always take home all that you bring! Learn more at 7CreeksJax.org.

improve our boating access locations all over the city. A contract for the dredging project for Oak Harbor Basin has been awarded and work should be full speed this month.

We have a failure of the ramp at the Pottsburg / Beach Blvd Boat Ramp We have our contractors and engineers still evaluating the damage and working on the direction for the correct solution For the time being the ramp will stay usable for hand launch only. The installation of the new adaptive kayak launch for Mandarin Park has had a slight delay but should begin this month as well as an extension of the docks at the boat ramp

Winter is here! We have seen some colder days and the activities on the waterways have been slow! BUT don’t expect this to last long!

Soon we will see a lot of public access improvements and additions

The positive momentum 2020 brought on our waterways is prime to continue into the spring and summer so now is the time to get your boat and equipment up to standards and ensure your safety equipment is fresh!

The Jacksonville Sail and Power Squadron, America’s Boating Club, and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is primed up and ready to get vessel safety inspections to all that ask, and the boating safety classes will be scheduled as the need demands Check the websites for scheduled dates.

The area is the northeast part of the county and is reached by New Berlin Road and Cedar Creek. It includes 7 creeks and 7 Parks and Preserves. The area is named for the 7 creeks that surround it, Bogey Creek, Clapboard Creek, Cedar Point Creek, Edwards Creek, and Fitzpatrick Creek , Horseshoe Creek, and Pumpkin Hill Creek Although the area gives top-rated opportunities for nature trails, horseback riding, biking, and diverse nature trails it gives access for boating, kayaking, paddleboards, and fishing.

There are numerous access points to the Timucuan Preserve waterway system that is fertile fishing grounds to include boat ramps, kayak launches, and fishing piers

All you need is you and your imagination, limitations, or desires. The area not only has ecological value but is rich in

The salinity in the waterway continues to fluctuate but is showing a closer trend to stability at around 20-25 PPT at Mayport The water temperatures continue to drop and are hovering in the mid to high 50’s and the fronts continue to work through

The plans and activity of the downtown waterfront continue to show progress. The new bulkhead project at the Times Union Performing Arts Center continues to make progress and the installation of the new docks has had some delay in the manufacturing but we hope to start seeing them in the next month of so! We continue to

We have new dock projects on the south bank area Jackson Street and Post Street working through permits and contracts so we should soon see construction We will soon begin construction phases for the dredging of Burt Maxwell Boat Ramp, 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

Not to mention the continued progress of the re-build of the Jacksonville Beach Pier! Boating activities and fishing tournaments are still slow but will soon start kicking up! So I strongly ask all who fish or support fishing to participate in the tournaments that support our local clubs and charities.

The Jacksonville Offshore Fishing Club will have the 2021 El Cheapo Sheepshead tournament on March 6th with the Captain's meeting on March 5th

Continued on Page 15

Edwards Creek at Betz- Tiger Point Preserve

7 Creeks Recreation Preserve

Offshore Fishin' Capt. Tim Altman

January brought us some great offshore action. In deeper waters Cobia, Mutton Snapper, Triggerfish, and Wahoo were plentiful.

Target Cobia in depths of 100ft or greater using deep water Jigs tipped with squid or Cuttlefish

For Mutton Snapper use long light leaders and larger chunked dead bait Coax the Triggerfish bite by using a standard dropper rig with Cuttlefish, cut Squid, or strips of the artificial bait Fishbites E-Z Squid

Hi-Speeding for Wahoo is by far the most popular way to target them, but using "old school" methods of a “Select” size Ballyhoo skirted with an Islander lure or a Sea Witch in your favorite color is extremely effective too.

Closer inshore in shallower water the good news is that the larger Black Seabass have shown up in good numbers within 18 miles of the beach

Additionally, Sheepshead has been abundant on the nearshore wrecks and structure Targeting Black Seabass is pretty simple, any dead or small live bait on a standard dropper rig will work If they are there then they're going to bite

Seabass is one of the most aggressive fish I've ever fished for Offshore Sheepshead is another case completely. Most folks target them with Blue Crab portions, Clams, and Fiddlers I had a few charters in January on the HooDoo boat that yielded lots of table fare for my clients Triggerfish & Cobia were the staple of each of my charters as

the clients wanted to bottom fish We highspeed Wahoo fished between bottom spots and on the way in. Each of those days we were fortunate enough to pick up a nice Wahoo Our best day in January was 48 Triggerfish, 10 Beeliners, 3 Kingfish, 1 Mahi, and a 53lb Wahoo.

year's winner will receive a 2021 Yellowfin 21ft Bay Boat package valued at over $85,000!

The El Cheapo Sheepshead Tournament. This year's tournament will take place on Saturday, March 6th JOSFC President Robert Vermillion says due to COVID19 issues this year's Captain's meeting will be virtual (online) and onsite registration & Captain's Bucket pickups will be at the JOSFC Clubhouse on Friday, March 5th beginning at 5:30 pm For more details on everything El Cheapo, visit their website @ www.elcheapojax.com

At HooDoo Sportfishing Charters we specialize in Wahoo charters this time of year! So, if you’re interested in a great time targeting Wahoo, please contact us at HooDoo Sportfishing @ wwwsaltwaterchallenge com or call/text 904 859 6314

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 ones disproportionality impacted Capt. Tim Altman

February Fishing Forecast:

More of the same as in January with the exception of the Wahoo bite should turn to the hottest bite of the season.

The Mutton Snapper and Triggerfish bite will remain strong in the deeper waters Keeper Seabass should populate the nearshore wrecks and structures within 20 miles of the beach. Don’t forget to begin your pre-fishing for offshore Sheepshead to be ready for the El Cheapo!!

Upcoming notable events:

The Northeast Florida Wahoo Shootout This premier Wahoo Tournament is not only the largest Wahoo Tournament in the world, but it is also the standard-bearer for Wahoo tournaments worldwide Paul and Lauren Dozier have done a fantastic job with this event and it gets bigger and better every year This

St. Augustine - February 2021

Green Cove Springs

Fishing Forecast

by Richard and Judy Hamilton R&J Tackle Green Cove Springs

Well, Specks should be rockin' all over with the lakes, creeks, and deeper pilings in the river, working methods used drifting to locate them and then pound the heck out of them. Also, start looking in the edge of the pads and brush piles so these beauties can deposit their eggs. Minnows are also a good bet, or perhaps a minnow and a jig combo. Both work really well Drifting and slow trolling usually have multiple rods at varying depths until they locate the magic depth and then they adjust accordingly

Lure choices are jigs, roadrunners, tube bodies, minnow imitations are good choices The color and the size of the head depends on depth monitoring to achieve and speed of movement

With all this information, you should give it a try

Next up are the Warmouth These fighting beauties love the pads and really like worms. You can catch them on any size, but they seem not to resist a nice worm under a small float in the pads.

If you don't get a bite after a couple of minutes, move it to another pad or a different side of the pad Start towards the outer edges and work back as far as you can But a can of worms, split shot, and a number six or four hook, and you ready to go at it, so go!

Now on to Largemouth Bass These wonderful fish will be bedding in the south parts, i e , Lake George, and connecting springs, and if the weather is right, perhaps up towards Palatka by the end of the month

Look for light-colored areas in the

shallow and canals Also, drop-offs and points will be great for these pre-spawners, wanting to eat a bunch for the upcoming event

Also, creek mouths, bridges, and deep down pilings and cover are also areas to look at and using either shiners or lures Bedding fish like to protect their area, so tubing creature bait, lizards, and worms should entice them enough to obtain a bite Remember the big females on the outer areas and all you need to do is tease them with some good-looking lures.

Remember your need to try, if you are so inclined, but by all means, try. And remember Shiners always work!

Saltwater species should be starting to show up again in the areas when we had the massive rainfall and cooler temps, they went up north for saltier conditions but they should be showing up by the end of this month

Well, that's it 'til next time Keep your line wet and your lure movin'!

Richard & Judy Hamilton

904-284-5081

Monday - Friday 6-6 Sat. 5 am - 6 pm

Sun. 5 am - 5 pm

Richard

Andrew with a Fattie

Specks for Dinner

Is anybody else as tired of the cold weather as I am? This has definitely been the coldest year we’ve had in the last few years.

Luckily, so far, we haven’t had any fish kills though Kayaking in this cold weather can be treacherous due to the extra clothes, high winds, and of course, the cold water Hypothermia will set in quickly if you get wet

Having an extra set of dry clothes with you could save your life this time of year I keep two extra sets with me, one in my dry bag onboard the yak, and one in my truck I have needed them both in the past, and I was very glad I was prepared

With that said, the cold water and weather can provide some awesome fishing, from catching convicts on the bridges and docks, to sight fishing Redfish in crystal clear water on the flats. The rods will stay bent in February

As is common this time of year, fiddler crabs are hard to come by, unless you dig your own There are many other options for sheepshead if fiddlers are unavailable

Sand fleas, clams, oysters, barnacles, shrimp, mud crabs, and mussels are all good options I like to tip my sand fleas with a small piece of Fishbites Sand Flea strip and my shrimp with Fishbites Shrimp Strips.

This does 2 things:

One, it helps secure the bait on the hook, and Two, the fish can’t get the Fishbites off the hook

So once they take the bait off the hook, they come back for more and take the Fishbites, greatly increasing your hookup ratio

The water has been very clear for our area, giving us great opportunities to sight fish reds Keep in mind, if you see them, they can likely see you Silent and stealthy is the way to go. Back your leader down to 10 or 15 lb fluorocarbon and throw a suspending bait such as an Unfair Rip N Slash or Mirrolure MR17, or a Hackney Jr Belly or a Fishbites Fight Club Brawler rigged weightless and weedless Long, precise casts are also important to keep from spooking the fish

Look for fish along the grasses at high tide and in the deeper pockets at low They will want to stay on a dark, muddy bottom if possible, as that will provide them with a little extra warmth

February is a chilly, but fun month to fish

Dress appropriately, be safe, and fish on Good luck and tight lines. I’ll see ya out there.

Will Niemann

Lead Guide at St Augustine Paddle Sports 772-475-9469

Capt. Matt Chipperfield

We’ve had some mild winters over the last decade, but the winter of 2020-2021 is not one of them Cold fronts and frigid weather continue to push down our coastline as local water temperatures plummet Although “fish still gotta eat” the bite can be slow during times of extreme cold. Usually, productive fishing spots can be desolate resulting in some tough days on the water But, don’t let this discourage you. Below I will break down some methods of keeping your rod bent during the frigid winter

You’ve probably read my reports outlining the backwater belly crawl and Redfish behavior The Intracoastal and its tidal creeks become refuges for heat-seeking redfish during the winter They like to get extremely shallow during low tides as they chase shrimp and minnows down the mudbanks and oyster bars

Look for a sunny day with moderate winds and a low tide between 10 am-2 pm. High sun and shallow, clear water will allow you to stalk these prowling reds through narrow creeks and expansive mudflats.

Be cautious though, these fish can be spooky Skinny water conducts sound more than deep water so stay quiet Add to that gin clear water and you’ll need to watch your shadows and keep your movements stealthy

If you can avoid letting the fish know you’re close by the next step is to present your lure or fly

Lightly weighted soft plastics and whispy shrimp flies are my

go-to presentations for shallow water sight fishing

Lead the fish and allow them to find your lure or fly on their own Exaggerated twitches and pops will often result in denials and skeptical fish

A second tactic for targeting winter fish is moving slower than usual Fish become lethargic and as a result, their metabolism and energy levels drop. So, slow down with them.

If you’re fishing artificial lures for trout throw in some long pauses and deliberately slow your rhythm. This gives lazy fish some time to catch up and commit to your lure

Twitch baits, crankbaits, and high vibration plastics are perfect presentations for this tactic Soaking live or cut baits is another good method of slowing down and enticing cold fish to eat Live shrimp under a cork and mud minnows on jig-heads will keep even the pickiest predators busy. Good luck and stay warm my friends!

Capt

Matt Chipperfield

Chip’s Coastal Charters chipscoastalcharters@gmail.com

Rules of the Challenge / Surf Fishing Tournament from the Beaches March 19 - 21

Bluefish, Pompano, and Whiting will be the Prize Fish.

Whiting Min. size 12" For Tournament !

Pompano 1st. $400.00 2nd. $250.00 3rd. $100.00 4th. $75.00

Blue Fish 1st. $400.00 2nd. $250.00 3rd. $100.00 4th. $75.00

Whiting 1st $400 00 2nd $250 00 3rd $100 00 4th $75 00

Jr Anglers 1st $300 00 2nd $200 00 3rd $100 00 4th Prize

Lady's 1st $200 00 2nd $150 00 3rd $75 00 4th Prize

Prize money based on 100 anglers across the board

1st Place is Based on Money and Gift Card to Make Dollar Value For complete details and to Sign up go to www.surffishingchallenge.com

Swap Meet for Fishermen and Gear

The Halifax Sport Fishing Club will be hosting the 1st Annual Swap Meet and Fishing Show on Saturday, February 6, 2021 The meet will begin at 9:00 am and run until 3:30 pm at the HSFC clubhouse The clubhouse is located at 3431 S Ridgewood Ave , Port Orange

This event is open to club members and the public New and used fishing, diving, boating equipment, and nautical-related items will be offered for sale by various vendors and private individuals

A vendor table is only $25 per table and can be obtained by contacting Scott Ibison the program director at programs@hsfc com

Fishing Inshore Volusia County

Capt.

Jeff Patterson

Great time of year to target Sheepshead Inlet jetties, area bridges, docks, and rock piles are great places to try. The more structure the better in my opinion. Sand fleas are now my bait of choice and of course fiddler crabs and small shrimp work too.

If you can get ahold of some bottom sweeper jigs they work awesome, and if not I also like to use a fishfinder rig with a 1/0 octopus hook There has been a bunch of Pompano off the beach and around the inlet and we’ve even been getting them when targeting Sheepshead

Both awesome eating fish! There’s actually been a bunch of Permit around the jetties which seems to be getting more common as we didn’t use to get them near as much

There hasn’t been as many this winter but we have picked up a decent amount of Tripletail over

the last few weeks and talk abo an awesome eating and ver strong fighting fish! We get a l of nice fish in the 8 to 12 range.

In the Intracoastal the bite ha been a bit slower for me whic may have to do with m spending more time around th inlet recently. We’ve still picke up some nice redfish and I see to be doing best with live mu minnows fishing around th mangroves on a higher tide

We have also picked up som snook in these same areas W have been catching some Se Trout in Daytona around dock and oyster bars on live shrim and have found some pretty b schools of weakfish as well

If you happen to get one, there probably more around Januar and February are typically th coolest temps of the ye especially when we get a stron North wind. Bundle up and sta warm! Tight lines!

Capt. Jeff Patterson

Pole Dancer Fishing Charter wwwSmallBoatBigFish com 386-451-4992

Fishing Crescent Beach

Capt. Adam Morley

Howdy y’all! Capt. Adam Morley at the helm of another southern Matanzas River fishing report and prediction It’s been chilly and probably still will be by the time you read this

The combination of wind and cold definitely slows the roll of most fair-weather anglers and the reports we get tend to come from the diehard folks who are serious about putting fish in the cooler.

But if you’re one of the ones that’s serious about putting fish in the cooler or just don’t mind the cutting wind and bonechilling conditions, you should be fishing.

The trout bite overall has been consistent under the dock lights and back in the creeks on falling tides While live shrimp is popular for them I’d artificials like a Yo-Zuri C Minnow or soft plastic curl is more effective in prod bragging numbers - when correctly

Flounder reports have be mixed bag; the best reports stories seem to have been f (Ba-dum-tish) while targeting them are hit and and finding mostly smaller fish.

If you’re going to target flounder keep in mind that the new flounder regulations go into effect next month, March 1, 2021

But the most solid bite over the last month and the one that will likely continue through February

is the “Sheeps-Red” bite in and around the Matanzas Inlet While there are plenty of rat-reds (just under size reds in the “sweet 16” length range) back in the creeks and down in the holes that will keep the kids entertained for hours, the bigger slot reds are starting to school up around the rocks in the inlet and so are the bigger sheepshead. So it’s not u up on a live fiddler crab bottom with

If that’s no also find ni schools b mud/oyster

They’ll be m schools you and you’ll invest som them, but in beats stalkin for reds in s tackle

That about to month planning a area you can report on t

App (or on or just give (904) 907-57

Good luck a

Capt A

Winter is definitely here and it shows in the Valley. Water clarity has been pretty good, but the theme this month is SLOW, SLOW, and SLOWER

There is plenty of fish feeding in Palm Valley but the bite is so soft and subtle, many times taking your hand off the reel to check your phone is how you will get the bite

This is how the trout have fed on soft plastics lately Not a sniff if it's moving, but if it lays still on the bottom, they will pick it up! If you think that artificial is working too slow, your wrong slow it up even more!

Let that jerk bait sink and that swimbait rest! With the water temps in the low 50's, the fish don't want to move at all to feed. Slow down your lures and watch the success rates go up!

On low tides, Redfish will continue to be schooled up on the banks and also thick in your creek holes These schooling fish are spooky and you have to approach and present your offering in a very quiet, stealthy manner

Mud minnows will be the bait of choice and if you can't reach the schools with a jig, cast a heavier

Knocker rig or Carolina rig (to get more distance)

Cast well ahead of the fish and sit and wait They will swim through and eventually pick up the bait I like landing presentations on the bank then dragging them quietly off the mud, into the water.

This helps to avoid spooking the fish and puts you in perfect range for the slow feed, grazing habits of these cold fish I also use this technique with artificial lures

Black Drum and Sheepshead will remain feeding on shell bars and deep holes If you can get ahold of fiddler crabs, they will be deadly and even land a Redfish or two in the mix

If fiddlers are not available, Fishbites or shrimp will work When you feel cold and slowmoving, so are the fish Adjust your offerings accordingly and stay persistent Those fish will eventually fold to the pressure and bite in the cold! Keep Reeling!

Capt Cory Sparks

310charters.com

716-307-7654

TOP LEFT - Dave and Steve left the Redfish biting!

TOP RIGHT - Nick Krause with a beautiful 27" Palm Valley pig!

BELOW - Rod and Mike putting the smack down on some big reds!

"Hook it n Cook It"

Jeff Altman

Creamy Lemon Dill Shrimp

INGREDIENTS:

1 pound fresh large shrimp peeled and deveined 9-ounce package spinach and cheese tortellini (Buitoni)

1 medium onion sliced

1 lb sliced fresh yellow and zucchini squash

2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

1 tsp basil

2 tablespoons olive oil

Fresh parmesan

Salt and pepper to taste

Lemon dill sauce

1 cup half-and-half

3/4 cup mayonnaise

One large lemon juiced and zest

2 tablespoons Dillweed

Cook the spinach and cheese tortellini according to package approximately 7 Minutes cook time Then set aside This will give you time to get everything else cooking

Make your lemon dill sauce first, in a medium-sized bowl add halfand-half mayonnaise the juice and zest from the lemon and the dill stir together and set aside

Preheat a large skillet add 2 tablespoons olive oil zucchini and onions to pan cook and stir till vegetables start to soften Time to add the shrimp, Italian seasoning and basil cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until shrimp are nice and pink. Now it's time to add the lemon dill sauce mix thoroughly then add the tortellini stir lightly to blend.

Tournament Scene

Craig Van Brocklin

Winter Tournaments

Florida Lure Anglers (2 Redfish)

1st - Bill Lancaster / Everett Barts 13.01

2nd - Carl Hayes / Michael Hays 12.77

3rd - Wade Hastings / Scott O’Brien 12.55

4th - Matt Lewis / Nathan Johnson 12.11

5th - Chad Duncan / Jeremy MacDonald 12.10

6th - Bob Morris / Charles Dehlinger 12.07

Garber Wahoo Classic

1st - John Witner / RULU 145 88

2nd - Ryan Worthington / CELLFISH 145 58

3rd - Marc Padgett / FINIKKI 131 13

4th - Joey Craven / RIGHT HOOK 125 00

5th - Chris Stephens / BEER MONEY 123 49

6th - Don Frattle / FRATT HOUSE 119 48

7th - Kent Thomas / BOW DOWN 95 49

8th - Frank Vining / WALK THRU 93 16

9th - Randakk Duncan / MR MOW IT ALL 80 08

10th - Marshall Adkinson / MISS BONFIELD IV 71 42

Upcoming Tournaments

February

6th - FLA Sisters Creek * Power-Pole Fl Go Live East Coast

March

6th - FLA Sisters Creek * El Cheapo Sheepshead

13th - Power-Pole Pro Open

20th - Surf Fishing Challenge New Smyrna Beach

April 10th - FLA Steinhatchee

Team RULU

145.88

Matt Lewis

Support those who support us. Find the businesses listed below in this Fishing Connection and show your support

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OLDEST CITY BAIT & TACKLE

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