Fishing Connection Online October 2020

Flounder Fishing Strategies

By Daniel Eggertsen

If you are looking for an adventurous fishing trip, flounder fishing may be the best recipe for you Catching flounder is best accomplished in deep, cool waters.

This means angling out in the cooler weather of late fall and winter months, when being out on the ocean isn't quite as pleasant as it is during the warm summer breezes. The real secret to catching them, then, is to target the right areas and work swiftly and efficiently

If you go out between September and November, you'll find flounder in their natural migration period, moving to the deeper waters and settling into the sandy bottoms of the areas around 20 and 30 miles from the shoreline

Once they've settled, winter fishing can become productive out in the deep waters Flounder tend to settle near any natural structures and around artificial reefs and wreckage, taking shelter in these surroundings

If you have the stamina to withstand the cold winds in these waters during the winter, fishing

like spearfishermen can be quite productive In fact, catching flounder in the colder months is the most productive time, since they tend to shy away from warmer waters and stick to cooler temperatures

This is why flounder fishing is scarce in the South Florida area In fact, it is only during summer months, when the waters to the south in the ocean become too warm, that flounder migrate north into the creeks and rivers, where the waters remain somewhat cooler.

Some of the best tackle for getting flounder to bite includes a seven-foot casting rod with a small bait casting reel, using 14-pound test line This is small enough to remain invisible to the flounder but large enough to support a big catch or a bite by a larger species that may grab the bait as you set off on your flounder journey

One of the best baits to use is finger mullet, usually most effective between three to four inches long If they are any smaller, they aren't big enough to stay on a hook, and larger ones are typically a bit too large for smaller flounder to catch hold If you can't find finger mullet, try mud minnows or even live shrimp (used with a jig head)

Should you be unable to find any of this live bait, use a pink or red grub tail on a jig head to best attract flounder

Jeff Altman

Chris Cockerham

224 20th St N Jacksonville Beach, Fl 32250

904-962-5996

E-Mail: fbmgjax@Gmail com

Publishers:

Rick Hale & Joe Dionne

Editor: Joe Dionne

Contributing Writers

Jeff Altman

Tim Stouder

Trina Polkey

John Nooney

Roy Mattson

Will Neimann

John Chapman

Capt Jim Suber

Spencer Brogden

Capt Tim Altman

Richard Hamilton

Chris Cockerham

Capt Bert Deener

Capt Guy Sanders

Capt Cory Sparks

Capt John Eggers

Capt Todd Philcox

Craig Van Brocklin

Capt Adam Morley

Capt Jeff Patterson

Capt Charlie Freeman

Capt Matt Chipperfield

Fishing Connection is published monthly by the Fishing & Boating Media Group Inc on or before the first Tuesday of each month

No material printed herein may be reprinted or sold for distribution without the express written consent of the publisher Thousands of copies are distributed monthly at selected retail outlets and by subscription For advertising information please call Joe Dionne 904-962-5996

Rick Hale 904-352-9776

October 2020 Fish Kisser of the Month

Congratulations to our Fish Kiss month, who looks really happy lay kiss on that fish's slimy lips W

FREE meal from Juniors Seafood for any of you that submit your ph contest and are chosen as the winner. If you are this month's winner please contact Joe Dionne at fbmgjax@gmail.com with your name and phone # to claim your certificate

Prize must be claimed no later than midnite of the last day of this month to be valid If you would enjoy seeing your photo in the Fishing Connection please send in your best Fish Kissing Photo Thanks to all who send in a Fish Kisser photo Anyone can win, maybe soon it will be you Send photos to fbmgjax@gmail.com

Rules are Simple

Your lips MUST 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 head off

Pest Control Service

Bed Bugs * Roaches * Termites * Spiders

Carpenter Ants * Scorpions * Fruit Flies

Yellow Flies * Rats/Mice * Hornets

Midges * Ants * Fleas and Ticks

Silverfish * Millipedes * Carpenter Bees

Mosquitos * Pantry Pests * Springtails

Bees * Earwigs * Flies and Gnats

904-242-BUGS

Michelle Beasley

Fishin' Fernandina

By Capt.

Charlie Freeman

October is a great month for many reasons, hurricane season should be coming to an end, temperatures will finally start to cool down and fishing will be heating up Big Redfish will be showing up in decent numbers in the deep holes of the ICW and the jetties of St Mary's Inlet

Blue Crabs should be in good supplies and using a half of a blue crab fished on the bottom will not only get you Redfish, but the Tarpon should still be around and decent Black Drum will be showing up

Fishing the flats will also improve due to the falling water temps People fishing the flats this month have also reported seeing/catching Sheepshead and Black Drum on occasion along with decent slot Redfish. Flounder and Sheepshead will be found fishing docks, and rocky shorelines like between the city port and West Rock

If you anchor, you might not want to use your prized anchor if you want to keep it Many fishermen I know use concrete blocks as anchors in that area as losing one or two of them is not a major money lost Surf fishing will be hot as the water temp will not be too cold

Whiting, Pompano, SeaTrout, Redfish, Spanish Macks and Bluefish will be around One of the new way of fishing is by just using FishBites you buy by the package

They come in many flavors including shrimp, squid and sand fleas... It stays on the hook and can be used to catch many fish on just

one strip

Offshore fishing will still find the last of the Kingfish and even a Cobia along with schools of Spanish macks and Bluefish

Bottom fishing will see the grouper and those 'non existent Redfish (according to the government anyway) and other fish like Seabass.

Using cut baits on the bottom while flat lining will set you up for all of them Inshore fishing using live shrimp fished around docks, creek mouths and deep holes will get good results Using them on float rigs will cover a large area while using them on fish finder rigs or on a jig will cover the bottom area

Take advantage of the weather and get out on the water And make sure to take your kids so they learn to love the outdoors too

Charlie Freeman

Fishin' Tidbit

Biggest record fish - So you think that wall-hanger bass you caught was big, huh? Well, it probably was for its species, but landing it was a cinch compared to landing the biggest record fish ever

On April 21, 1959, Alfred Dean caught a 2,664-pound great white shark off the coast of south Australia Amazingly, he subdued this monster the heaviest record fish ever listed by the International Game Fish Association in only 50 minutes on 130-pound line. Dean also caught great whites weighing 2,333 and 2,536 pounds.

*30

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

Redfish my grandson Zane caught on a shrimp using a popping cork under a dock

Fishin' S.E. Georgia

By Capt. Bert Deener

Altamaha River – The river was getting right before the rains. It will be blown out from the storm in the coming weeks, though. Catfishing will be your best bet with the rising river. You can also catch some panfish back in the lakes over the next few days while the water in the oxbows is still clear

Once the level gets high enough to wash over the oxbow banks, the entire lake will be as muddy as the main river

Ogeechee River – Danny Brown and Scotty Harper had a great day on the river this Saturday

They flung bruiser Satilla Spins to catch a bunch of panfish

They ended up keeping 28 panfish and a nice bass, but caught lots more than that A few of their Bluegills were pushing a pound

Satilla River – The upper river was great for panfishing until the storm’s rains Now it will be a few weeks until it’s worth going again You can catch Catfish on the rising river, but expect the bite for other species to be tough.

St. Marys River – Catfish are your best bet in the tidal portion of the river Put cut bait, shrimp, or worms on the bottom to catch a mixed bag of channels and White Catfish.

The upper river was decent for panfish until the recent rains.

Suwannee River (near Fargo) – Catfishing has been very good, with lots of Yellow Bullheads caught Josh, Alisha, Bailey, and Chubbs went to the Fargo area on Labor Day and used shrimp to fool 50 yellow Bullhead Catfish They had a blast spending quality family time on the river and making memories

Ocmulgee Public Fishing Area (near Hawkinsville) –

The Bass bite has been good, and the lines to use the boat ramp have been commensurate with the bite There were 7 boats in line Sunday morning waiting to launch and try their hand at the red-hot lake

The biggest Bass I heard of being caught this week was an 8-lb , 11-oz trophy, and it was caught on an artificial Remember Bass are catch-and-release

Local Ponds – The bite has been relatively slow in most of the ponds, but the number of reports I received was low this week I’m sure someone figured them out well, but they didn’t send me a report Plastic worms produced the Bass I heard about, while crickets accounted for most of the bream Catfishing was solid for the couple folks I talked with

Shrimp on the bottom was the way to go The water will cool down this weekend, so look for the Crappie bite to pick up some Right now fish in the deepest water in the pond early in the day to catch specks. If you can safely access a spillway at your favorite pond, that is the place to be. The high flows will attract fish by the weekend, and they should be just sitting in the plunge pool waiting to be caught Okefenokee Swamp – According to Okefenokee Adventures staff, the swamp water level is still high and the fishing on the slow side.

Bowfin fishing by casting an in-line spinner down the middle of the canal is still your best bet right now...

Continued on Page 11

Fernandina Tides

Tons of Wind and Rain

As a weekend angler with limited time to focus on fish patterns Many questions come to my mind after multiple days of rain One in particular that sticks out is where does all this freshwater push our fish The answer to that question lies right under our nose.

Find the shrimp, find the mullet and our fish will be mixed right in with them. If I’m going to attempt to get out. I will always start at the ocean and work my way up the river That usually means I'll stop at multiple locations where I've had success in the past

I don't want to waste all of my time in one certain location but I’m gonna cover that area well before I move on When you find that fine perfect balance you'll find these fish stacked up

So, where are the fish? Well, the area that's been most productive for Flounder, has been the Downtown and Blount Island area Shrimp have been what's holding most all of our inshore species.

Now with all the rain and a drop in temps, look for the run to start up. Mullet and Shrimp have been the go to live baits but you can sure bet Mullet will be the focal point over the next month or

two. Look for some big Flounder to be caught in the upcoming days.

Red fish are schooling all along our ICW Artificial has been on fire so you can target them with your favorite plastics When spotted, the idea is to throw beyond the fish and bring back into its path without spooking these fish

Make good choices with your bait presentations and don't spend too much time chasing spooky fish That said, there's a bunch of hungry fish out there Top water has been another productive tactic on our overcast days. The bulls are also running in the river so keep that in mind as well!

Again, Flounder are getting bigger! They may still be spread out but the bite is heating up. The beginning of October should be a good one Keep an eye on the docks along Mayport to Haulover creek Don’t forget to drop around the Nassau Sounds bridge if in the area

The pressure has been high but the chance to stick a big girl is improving leading up to our mullet run That thump is addicting so get out there!

Hope you all have a great weekend, be safe out there and I hope to see you on the water!

Chris Cockerham

Andrew Perrone with a solid Bull

Stephanie Starr with a nice red!

Public Participation

By John Nooney

Tight Lines and Screaming Reels. Fishermen! How do you really feel?

Acronyms-ABC

Atlantic Beach Commissioners Beach Lovers Matter.

Boat Lovers Matter- See August 2020 FC.

Anglers have a style A favorite Rod and Reel A go to bait or lure in whatever they are doing to achieve whatever

In writing a column I use one liners, an ordinance number, or acronyms to hopefully inform,

educate, entertain, and persuade anglers about legislation that will ultimately impact all of us Does Putnam County know about this?

Southwest welcome to the Southeast See Jan 2017 FC Ordinance 2013-384 Jacksonville legislation concerning the sale of the Armory and access to Hogans Creek in Duval County DIA-(Downtown Investment Authority) or DIA (Downtown Includes Anglers). See April 2020 FC.

There is now active legislation in Duval County 2020-0559 creating a new Chapt. 797 ( Local Option Vessel Registration Fee). Just asking the question. Is your County enacting similar legislation that will become effective 1/1/21?

On another potential future Beach Lovers Matter issue that will impact Beach residents will be parking at the under construction yet to

be finished Jacksonville Beach Pier

I bring it up now because there is active Downtown Jacksonville legislation 2020-0568 that is changing parking guidelines for everyone

So just asking the question Is the PPP (Parking Plan in Place) for the NEW Jacksonville Beach Pier?

Tight Lines and Screaming Reels

John Nooney

904-434-0839

Waterways by Capt. Jim Suber

City of Jacksonville Waterways

Coordinator / Dock Master

Division of Natural and Marine Resources

Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services

1410 Gator Bowl Blvd Jacksonville, Fl 32202

Office - (904) 630-0839

Cell - (904) 509-0588

Fax - (904) 355-4857

jsuber@coj net

Jaxparks com

Subermarine com

HURRICANE SEASON! As we reach the busiest part of Hurricane season, we have been able to dodge a big one but the season is still in full force and everyone really needs to stay prepared! We have had minor effects of the storms so far

The beach has had some strong wave action and some beach erosion A large amount of rip currents has been issued and every time we get these effects it changes the bottoms along the beach With some luck and positive weather patterns we will be lucky to have only some higher than normal tides and rip tide warnings. The season has been continually active with all of the names used so the fish storms have been a blessing. The water is still nice and warm, (in the upper 80’s) and the salinity levels have been really low due to all the rain

The fishing tournaments continue to show The Safe

Harbor Redfish Roundup Spots

Tournament at Jim King Park and Boat Ramp was rescheduled to September 19 due to unforeseen activity in the spring The participant numbers were lower than past years but even though the weather was threatening and not favorable, the tournament was a success and enjoyable.

The old hurricane damaged docks on the North Bank have

been removed and bulkhead replacement is in progress in front of the Times union Performing Arts The new docks and bulkhead work are scheduled to be complete in early 2021 and addition bulkhead replacement will continue

There is some incredibly positive planning for a Marina in the basin at Liberty Street

Continued on Page 19

2020 Jax BC, LLC Jax Boat Club on the water at Palm Cove Marina * 14603 Beach Blvd. * Jacksonville Beach, Fl. 32250

Fishin' S.E. Georgia - Continued from Page 4

Saltwater (GA Coast) – Capt. Greg Hildreth fished with the Bob McNally family on Friday and had a great day for Silver Kings. They went 2 for 7 while throwing artificials The inshore bite around Crooked River has improved The fish are still scattered, but you can end up with a nice mess during a trip You will catch about 4 or more throwbacks for every keeper, but it’s fun setting the hook When you see a shrimp kicking at the surface, cast to it If you can get a lure on them quickly, you can usually catch that trout this time of year I haven’t heard reports, but the Bull Redfish bite is usually in full swing by now at the St Mary's Jetties Put a hunk of cut mullet on the bottom and hold on I prefer to pitch bucktail jigs at them (electric chicken and white are usually my most productive colors) That bite should be great for the next 2 months

Capt Bert Deener

Capt. Bert Deener makes a variety of both fresh and saltwater fishing lures. Check his lures out at Bert’s Jigs and Things on Facebook. For a copy of his latest catalog, call 912-288-3022 or e-mail (bertdeener@yahoo com)

Jekyll Island Pier

Finally a break from the sticky hot pattern of summer to some more comfortable fall temperature That combined with plenty of mullet makes for a good month of fishing

Good numbers of Black Drum and Speckled Trout will arrive in the creeks and waterways but the real stars this month will be the Flounder and Bull Reds. I love fishing for Flounder this time of year not only for good numbers and size but because they are really aggressive and will bite artificial lures about as well as live bait Its always hard to out fish a live finger mullet on a jig head or carolina rig but artificial will be pretty close.

I position my boat nearly parallel to the spartina grass when fishing high water to cover the Flounders ambush zone of just on the line of grass to about 3 feet off Doing this allows you to keep your bait or lure in the strike zone the entire retrieval and also lets you cover more water

Once you catch one slow down, anchor or use the spot lock on the trolling motor to make several more casts in the area Flounder tend to school this time of year and it's a good bet there

are several more fish close I use a 3 or 4 inch paddle or curly tail white soft plastic made by fish bites on a 3/8oz jig head most of the month Spinner baits and jerk baits also work great if you cannot catch finger mullet. The Bull Reds will be stacked up in the river from the jetties and all the way to downtown

Fishing Club

by Guy Sanders

Try and fish near slack tide high or low for best results

Whole Blue Crab and or mullet chunks will be the bait of choice with 6 to 10oz weights depending on how hard the tides are running

Position your boat on the rivers channel from 30 to 40 feet. Using your bottom recorder make sure that you are positioned directly on the drop off ledge and you shouldnt have a problem catching them. Also dont forget a venting tool as these fish will need to vented Failure to do so will result in killing the fish.

If you don't know how just Youtube it there are plenty of videos showing you how C J E

By rule the first meeting in September is where we take nominations for Club positions and this past meeting was no exception An intrepid group met under pop-up tents to fulfill our by-laws. A notable slate was filled

Our last club tournaments, Bottom Fishing and Flounder (offshore and inshore respectively) had to be moved to their alternate dates due to NOAA “small craft warnings” Hopefully the string of storms in the Atlantic will not impact their execution

Fish slips (the reporting of catches by members for application against our fishing boards) are due by the second September meeting The Club boards close at 8:30pm during this meeting. At our annual banquet anglers receive their awards based upon their board entries (yes, we will have a banquet this year).

Upcoming:

We are having meetings, but we are still not able to use the club house due to city restrictions! The City of Jacksonville owns our clubhouse and limits capacity to 50%. Our meetings are being held in the parking lot at the Clubhouse as weather allows Please visit JaxFish.com or the JOSFC Facebook page for the latest meeting updates

We open the doors around 18:00hrs if you want to come early to visit, dinner is at 19:00,

and we generally try to get started with the meeting about 19:30hrs, and we will have a great raffle All of our meetings are open to the public, you do not have to be a member to attend. We are family friendly so feel free to bring the kiddos! If they are a little too young to appreciate the guest speaker, please bring them a quiet activity to do at the table with you. We hope to see you there!

Guy Sanders

Rock n Reel Bull Red

Rock n Reel Bull Red

Intracoastal St. Johns River by Capt. Todd Philcox

October is one of my favorite months to fish Jacksonville’s inshore waters The days are getting shorter, hopefully cooler and more temperate, and the opportunities to enjoy many different fishing methods and target multiple species continues Fishing action in September was quite good along the intracoastal, the quantity and size of finger mullet has grown nicely, and the mullet run will be in high gear throughout October.

Bring along a cast net to secure a good supply of mullet and fish them live either on ji with a fish finder rig flats and weed edges a or along the intracoa and creek holes on lo I’ve found the last 3 h falling tide through the of the incoming to be productive for slot redf

The Flounder action good along the i banks south of the rive action will pick up th both along the banks river, fishing docks a Live mullet or shrim ounce jig have will both be productive, but smaller fish will

continue to make away dozens of shrimp per which can get frustrating! F tides will occur from the through the 22nd, providin chance to fish up on the flats for tailing Redfish Sheepshead.

The most productive flats to be closer to ocean inlets w the tidal range is greatest, th George area and the adj intracoastal grass flats productive, as are flats clos Vilano Beach to the south

Also on tap for October i height of the run of spaw Bull Redfish, action will b from the jetties up the riv the Dames Point bridge, fis drop offs from 35-55 feet with cut crab, mullet or Ladyfish, use ample weight to hold the bottom, heavy tackle and hold on!

Get out fishing and enjoy one of our most beautiful and productive months on the water!

Capt Todd Philcox Salty Charters

(H.O.W.) Heroes on The Water

By Tim Stouder

he Water successfully applies a simple solution to a complex issue giving veterans, first responders and their families a path to a successful life through:

NO expense kayak trips: Proven to alleviate symptoms of post-traumatic stress, these repeat experiences provide rest, relaxation and rehabilitation in a peaceful, calm environment.

Camaradirie with like minded people: Discover the tribe you have been missing by visiting one of our volunteer led chapters and experience first-hand the fellowship

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

it’s what we do, how we do it, and what happens thanks to our volunteers 15

Paddle. Fish. Heal: More than a tag line

Frank Miotke 30" Red

Frank Miotke 24" Trout

"Chappy" Chapman

Looks like the doldrums of summer are slowly giving way to our two weeks of fall here in North Florida The transition is on from the hot sticky heat to the cool nights and rain and winds of October Remember that we might only have a couple of weeks of fall then back to sticky heat of August before we get a month or two of mild winter. Also remember that we will get some nice weather that we long for soon enough so no need to

get out when the weather is dangerous and out of your comfort zone

Additionally don’t forget that in case you do get into a little bit of trouble that life jacket that is stuffed under your fire extinguisher and 100 old top water lures, bait bucket, and rusty old spare too kit will do you zero good when you need it if you can’t get to it So basically, what I’m getting at is be safe as you go out this time of year As for this time of year there are plenty of opportunities to catch some of the best table fare that North Florida inshore as to offer. So what is biting this time of year? Well before we get to the best table fare, let me put out my sincere hope that if you go after the Bull Reds are plentiful in the river this time of year, please, please treat them with the utmost carefulness

Take the time to hold them

properly (not by the jaw i h boga grips) when taking hero photo Also take the afterward to get them faced the current and give them time to get revived before just launch them back into water

Too many over the year just willy nilly thrown bac only to float and die on surface Remember these are the future of our fishery Oh the distraction! My bad! Table fare for this time of year: my favorite eating flaky white meat of the Black Drum and Sheepshead

I said that my favorite to eat, not catch, my love hate relationship with fishing for Sheepshead is well documented. Also whispering, Flounder are biting and a great bite this year. I hope everyone gets out soon as the weather breaks Be careful, tight lines and gave a great time

Chappy

Thinking Outside the (Tackle) Box

By Trina Polkey

After a long hot summer these cooler mornings are a welcome change and are indicative of one of my favorite fish to chase this time of year, Reds! Bull Redfish in this area can reach lengths of 45” and can weigh over 50lbs! They come in this time of year to breed in the river and can be found from the jetties to the Dames Point Bridge and beyond Just find the drop off at the edge of the channel and anchor up in a safe spot. You may have to try a couple of spots, but they are thick right now

These copper beauties can be

caught with a very simple rig

Tie a three-way swivel to your main line, then tie about an 8inch loop to one of the rings

Push the end of the loop through the hole of an 8-12 ounce bank sinker, (sometimes bigger if the current is cranking), and put the body of the sinker through the loop so it is securely attached. Then tie about an 18 inch, 60lb test leader to the other ring with a good size circle hook on the business end 7/0

Get some good fresh local Blue Crabs, preferably alive, pop the top off, and either half or quarter the crab depending on the size Put it on your hook, drop it down and hold on! They can put up a pretty good fight

Keep your drag pretty tight, you want to get them in and released pretty quick Please be sure to educate yourself on proper holding, venting, and release techniques before you go, and have fun!

Trina Polkey

Pier n Surf

by Spencer Brogden

October is one of my favorite months to fish the surf. September was fairly decent, when it was actually calm enough to fish but October tends to put September to shame as far as surf fishing goes

By now, the annual mullet run is in full swing The northeaster's and water temp dropping trigger the mullet to start a mass exodus from the river and into the surf

The Redfish, Speckled Trout, Flounder, Tarpon and Spanish Macks will be right behind them Bring a cast net every trip to the beach and a bucket with a couple of aerators. I never put more than 15-20 mullet in my bucket at a time as they consume a ton of oxygen and can die quite fast if they are overcrowded.

I use a carolina rig, with as light a weight I can get away with and a 20-25lb 8-10 inch leader and a 2/0 wide bend hook This rig does well for the Reds, Trout and Flounder If I want to target the Spanish, I use the same rig but will use a 20-24 inch leader to let the mullet get up higher in the water column My suggestion is to go to the beach at dead low tide, look for any cuts that are holding water at low tide and mark them

Come back when the tide is incoming and fish the mullet in the cuts. This is where the mullet will hang as well as the predator fish. Other areas that produce greatly in October are the Ft. Clinch jetties, Hugenot

jetties, Nassau sound, and Vilano rocks. Be warned though, bring lots of tackle and be prepared to fish shoulder to shoulder at times if you choose this route.

If you want to target the Pompano and Whiting, I suggest Sandfleas, Crab knuckles, fresh clam, fresh shrimp and always keep a pack or two of fish bites in the tackle box I use double hook pompano rigs for these guys I always bring multiple baits because one day they prefer one over the other and I don't like not being prepared haha

Don't forget to check out our Youtube page at Brokenreel23 for weekly surf fishing reports and forecasts and our Brokenreel23 facebook page where we have daily reports of what the water and wind are doing and whats biting

Until next month, Tight Lines!

Spencer Brogden

Michelle Decker with a Bonefish caught at Hanna Park

Michelle Decker with a Hanna Park Bonefish

Our Waterways - Continued from Page 9

A conceptual plan has been developed in detail and a search for grants and funding will begin soon.

In addition to these improvements Downtown Investment Authority is researching options for other river front properties owned by the City of Jacksonville

We continue to try and keep up with the repairs and maintenance, several projects have been completed and several are in the system for purchase orders issued The pier at Mandarin Park has had some structural upgrades, Arlington Boat Ramp has been repaired, The Slow speed Zone sign going into Shad Creek was on a lean, so we re-installed to make straight.

The camera project at our boat ramps is working out great all of the cameras planned for the pilot locations and now if the contracting company can see positive use and support by the public we will work to add more locations

Be sure to check before you go at wwwUSBoatramps com or go to your app store and get your US Boat Ramps app

Again I want to continue to remind all that if you are aware of an event that will impact our waterway or if you are a member of a club or organization that is planning an event that will impact our waterway please let us know so we can help you with promoting.

If you send the information to me at jsuber@coj.net we will publish on the website and promote on Facebook pages. The city of Jacksonville has several events around the city and Beaches that we are just not getting credit for as a community

We want to promote our city and our beaches as a city with

great waterways and beaches with tournaments, events and entertainment opportunities that are happening just not being included in the Big Picture

As always allow me to remind everyone to always check your boat and yourself Use of a lookout and being aware of your surroundings are more important than ever

File a float plan with someone that will miss you first so 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 there web site The next class will be October 10

The Jacksonville Sail and Power Squadron, America’s Boating Club of Northeast Florida and United States Coast Guard Auxiliary are back available for vessel safety checks

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!

Capt Jim Suber

Let's Talk

Offshore Fishin' by Capt.

Tim Altman

September brought us lots of wind and rain, also some great offshore fishing We had a few charters for King Mackerel in September and the Kings were still on fire just off of the beach Folks, if you’ve never eaten Triggerfish, then you are missing out

Triggerfish is the true “Chicken of the Sea” We’ve had several bottom fish charters out to 21 fathoms last month and the triggerfish bite remains very good.

Along with Mutton Snapper, Grouper and Mangrove Snapper the variety of great table fare in deeper offshore waters is excellent

At HooDoo Sportfishing Charters we have a state-of-theart Precision Anchoring System made by Rhodan and expertly installed by the Tony Eden and his great staff at Boattronics of North Florida

This system allows me to put you on the fish within 10ft and it will keep you there for the duration of the charter regardless of tide, wind or current It’s a game changer. October will bring even more Sailfish to the local area and marks the official beginning of Wahoo season.

For Sailfish we will Kite-Fish live bait or troll small ballyhoo rigged with circle hooks For Wahoo we High-Speed troll for the best results At HooDoo

Sportfishing Charters we specialize in nearshore sailfish charters this time of year and when the weather permits we go deep for Wahoo So, if you’re interested in a great time targeting either of these amazing sportfish please contact us at wwwsaltwaterchallenge com or call/text 904 859 6314

I’ll say it again and again until we get through this, The COVID19 has affected our economy on every level

Please support your local business because they are the one’s disproportionality impacted

Until next month, please stay safe on the water and remember that great things happen when you take a kid fishing

Capt Tim Altman

HooDoo Sportfishing Charters

www.saltwaterchallenge.com 904.859.6314

HooDoo Charters put this young man on his first ever Kingfish!

A full box of Triggerfish during a HooDoo Charters Bottom Trip

Brian Bliss with his first ever Sailfish caught while Kite-Fishing

A great late October HooDoo High-Speed Wahoo!

St. Augustine Tides

Green Cove Springs

Fishing Forecast

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

been a good Tarpon bite These silver monsters like live bait, but the Bass fishermen do complain about the monster bite and the long fights They're tournament fishing and time is money

Richard & Judy Hamilton

We'll start off with the Shrimp These beauties will be found by Cast Netters from shallow to deep and doing very well Just remember, get your spot at the piers early, 'cause they fill up quick. So go to it!

Now with the glut of bait in the River, the bite is on Croaker are at it full bore Some very nice catches with good sized ones being caught. Just start checking the mile marker and the drops and you'll probably get your line stretched.

On the bright side of things, the Yellow Mouth Trout are active as well and they'll really like a strip of cut Croaker. There has

Red fish are on a tear They'll be dining on crab, shrimp and live bait So go to it, and you'll probably be rewarded with a fish or two So go! The roe Mullet are here and want to go in your cooler! You'll want to load up on these tasty beauties and now is the time, so go

Large Mouth will be starting to school, trying to load up on a softer food source Their mouths are like pin cushions and want a break so start lookin' and you've got a shot Also, the bars and drops in the main body of the River is a good bet, and lipless crank baits are the best bet! So have at it!

Now the up and comers are the Specks These tasty beauties will be starting to show up at the creek mouths and around the bridge pilings. Start deep and work up 'til you find them. So go to it! Well, that's it for this month. So 'til next time, keep your line wet and your lure movin'.

Richard

Fishin' Tidbit

Favorite Fish - What freshwater fish are targeted most often by U S anglers? A report from AnglerSurveycom has answers that aren’t surprising With 59 3 percent of anglers targeting it, the largemouth bass continues to be the most-sought game-fish across the country, followed by panfish (36 8 percent), smallmouth bass (25 3 percent)

Beckham Cummings age 10 landed this nice bass in his Great Grand fathers canal off Drs. Lake in Fleming Island

Kayak Fishing

St. Augustine by Will Niemann

After all the hot weather we’ve endured over the past few months, these temperatures are very welcomed October is one of the best months to catch big Bull Reds and doormat Flounder as the cool fronts trigger the bigger fish to move inshore

The area inlets and bridges will be areas to potentially catch world class fish, but can be very treacherous for kayakers The current rips, the water is deep, and boats are constantly passing by, but the rewards can be worth it all.

When fishing the bridges, anchoring can be difficult. One thing I do is place a cinder block on top of the piling, then tie to the block Tie off with a quick release knot

This is especially effective under the 312 and Vilano bridges Dropping a whole or halved blue crab on a 6/0 circle hook with a 4-8 oz weight, depending on the current, is a great method for snagging that trophy If Blue Crabs aren’t available, Fishbites Crab Strips, live or cut mullet, or cut Ladyfish are also great baits for Bulls. Fish along the pilings and channel bumpers in the deeper holes.

For the doormat flat fishes, focus on the area docks, oyster beds, and creek runouts along the ICW Look for moving water with current breaks Cast uptide and bounce your bait slowly along the bottom until a

thump is detected For this presentation, using a weedless style hook is beneficial, especially when throwing artificials

Fishbites Fight Clubs are a great choice for this A mullet or mudminnow, bounced along the bottom, on a jighead is another option if live bait is your preference

October is a month where we have a lot of bait, as well as predator fish in our waters. From Bull Reds and doormat Flounder to slob Snook and world class Tarpon, gear up for October and enjoy the sleigh rides

Good luck and tight lines I’ll see ya out there

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

Fishin' Tidbit

Will the fish I catch and release die anyway?

If fish caught with artificial lures are handled carefully, most will survive Many factors influence survival after release:

The fish was already stressed before being caught, for instance because of spawning or high water temperatures

The fish is "played" for a long time and is exhausted before release

The fish is hooked through a sensitive area such as the gills or the eye, or deeply in the throat (which is more likely when using bait).

The fish is handled roughly; for example, squeezed strongly or held out of water too long

Fishing Guana

By Capt. Matt Chipperfield

Grass Bass, Flounder and Mullet That’s what you can find in North Florida waterways this time of year Large nor’easters have kicked the mullet run into high gear as the rivers dump out massive schools of bait

Flounder are fattening up on these mullet in preparation for winter and Redfish are surging into the grass flats

Intracoastal flood tides during new and full moons are producing some of the best sight fishing in the state. Redfish are tailing hard through the grass during peak tides and have been very aggressive on the take

Small crab flies and soft plastic crawfish lures have been smashed on a regular basis during my charters

If you are planning a flood tide session be sure to keep an eye on the tide chart and wind forecast

Nor’easters, large swell and sustained onshore winds can drastically increase tidal height

Conversely, stiff offshore winds and high pressure systems can keep water out of the flats and decrease the flood tide

Understanding how atmospheric conditions can effect your flood tides is very important when choosing where to fish and when. It can be the difference between finding fish in the flood or staring at waterless grass

October in Jax is well known as Flounder Pounder time Flatties are fattest this time of year and feed relentlessly as the winter approaches With an abundance of mullet moving through our rivers and inlets all you need is a

cast net and a few knocker rigs to put some meat in your cooler Egg weights with kahle hooks or jigheads ranging from half to one and a half ounces are very effective rigs for bouncing mullet along the bottom.

You’re likely to catch Redfish and Trout as well which can make for some fun mixed bags. Just remember that the flounder “thump” is distinct and requires a delayed hookset

Let the Flounder chew on the bait and make their way into the hook A hasty hookset can often result in missed fish

I’ll see you guys next month Until then, get out there and enjoy the cooler weather!

Capt Matt Chipperfield

Surf Fishin'

By Roy Mattson

The Surf Fishing Challenge has added JR Group and Change from Blue Fish to Red Fish The Prize Money even went up so Jump on while we still have Openings .$3,500.00 in Money and Prizes.

Friday 10/23/20 Angler can sign up at 4pm till the Meeting The Meeting starts at 6pm and will cover all the Rules with 50/50 Raffles Saturday 10/24/20 at 12 noon wil open with the sponsors showing and talking about their products

Weigh in 2pm-4pm with 50/50 Raffles Awards will follow at 5pm For more Information check out the Website SURFFISHINGCHALLENGE.COM

1ST $400 00

2ND $250 00

3RD $125 00

4TH $100 00

5TH $50 00

THAT IS FOR EACH FISH REDFISH, WHITING ,POMPANO

JR ANGLERS GROUP

1ST $300 00

2ND $200 00

3RD $100 00

4TH $75 00

5TH $50 00

PRIZE MONEY IS BASED ON 100 ANGLER TOTAL ALL 1st PLACE PRIZE MONEY

INCLUDES A GIFT CARD FOR $100.00 FROM BASS PRO. SEE EVERYONE AT THE LOST LAGOON WINGS & GRILL 2004 N DIXIE

FREEWAY NEW SMYRNA ,FLA.32168

Awesome fishing inshore and around the inlet We’re getting some flood tides with really high waters and stronger currents especially closer to the inlet Redfish, Snook, Tarpon, lots of Mangrove Snapper, and even quite a few Mutton Snapper and permit have been caught at the jetties recently

Since there’s mullet everywhere right now, that’s pretty much been what I’ve been sticking with for bait I had a big school of Redfish show up on the fish finder at the inlet a few times recently producing multiple hookups, even 3 or 4 at a time! It’s pretty cool because we are getting both slot sized fish and over slot as well. If the jetties isn’t working out I’ve done well in the inlet area backwaters for a backup plan

There’s been some big Tarpon chasing huge schools of mullet inshore of the inlet that is awesome just to watch! I’ve had

quite a few trips in Ormond where I’ve had a bunch of Snook busting the surface hitting mullet and shrimp in some of the creek mouths

The beginning of the incoming tide has been very productive However it has been spotty in Ormond and the water has been very fresh from all the rain we’ve had.

A few days ago I left a good snook bite after catching 8 decent fish to go look for bigger fish and didn’t have any luck after we left the first spot.

DON’T LEAVE FISH TO FIND FISH! I kicked myself in the butt for that one Lots of slot snook are being caught at the local bridges dock lights

Capt Jeff P

Pole Dancer Fish

Capt Doug Higley from St. Pete

Kelsey Carr from Texas

Kelsey Carr from Texas

Fishing Crescent Beach

by Capt. Adam Morley

Active Fishing vs Passive Fishing

I hear it often in my line of work, someone will say “fishing is boring” or “I don’t have the patience to fish” and when I agree with them they seem confused They’re confused because I own a Bait & Tackle shop and often will speak excitedly of my latest catch

But I still agree with them because I know the type of fishing they’re talking about and it’s not my style either. Before I continue I want to be clear; I’m not knocking anyone’s preferred style of fishing Everyone has their reason for wetting a line, some do it to relax while others do it for the rush and many do it to put food on the table

But personally I do it for that one strike or “blow up” and the screaming drag as the fish takes off into a surrounding scene that, if put on canvas, would qualify as nothing short of Fine Art For me it’s the whole experience of stalking schools of redfish through the oyster and mud flats or getting the perfect drift along a grass line and working a top water lure in a way that elicits some of the most heart stopping and explosive strikes you could imagine.

That’s Active Fishing. Where you are fully engaged in the “seeking” and targeting of your

finned prize and typically are in a cast and retrieve pattern with artificial baits, you can “actively” fish live and dead baits too

Passive Fishing on the other hand takes patience and is often the style people refer to as “boring” when they think of fishing

But it can be a truly relaxing and rewarding experience Especially when used as bonding time with your kids or Grandkids Passive Fishing is where you put some bait on a hook, cast it out, set the rod in a rod holder, and maybe enjoy a cold beverage, book, or conversation with yourself or a fishing buddy. Often times passive fishermen will have several rods out to increase their chances of hooking up Once people know which style of fishing they see themselves doing it’s time to consider gear For Active Fishing you’ll want a lighter rod and reel setup so you’re able to make cast after cast without getting fatigued holding onto the rod for extended periods

Lighter rods will also help with your ability to make your lure appear more life like Passive Fishing will generally use a thicker more stout rod and different types of rigs. Depending on the location and target species different rigs may produce better results than others (see your local bait shop for tips and advice if you’re unsure of what to use) but the concept is the same; bait up, cast out, wait No matter what style of fishing you enjoy, be it inshore, offshore, active, passive, fly fishing, conventional, light spinning, relaxing, high stakes, by land or boat we’re glad you found the sport

Capt Adam Morley

904.540.7245

Fishin' Tidbit

Fastest Fish - A group at Florida’s Long Key Fishing Camp came up with a simple method for accurately measuring a fish’s swimming speed A fish is hooked. It makes a run. You measure how much line the fish took off the spool in a certain number of seconds, and you can calculate the fish’s speed. The fastest fish in these speed trials, perhaps the fastest fish in the world, was a sailfish that took out 300 feet of line in three seconds, a velocity of 68 mph. That’s zero to 60 mph in 2.6 seconds!

By Capt. Cory Sparks

October is a wonderful time to fish in Palm Valley! Think “Mullet” and “Flood Tides” this month! With all the fronts and storms 2020 has produced, the water clarity in the Valley has been poor

If this continues in October, try changing tactics to get fish to chew. I like throwing flashy, loud lures to create attraction when the water clarity limits fish seeing the presentation Chatter baits, like the Z-Man DieZel ChatterBait in Mulletron color, and various spinner baits work great in locating fish in the dirty water and putting off vibrations that draw the fish in from outside of their view of the bait

Any lures with a ton of vibration can be the ticket to hooking up in dirty water. The tried and true tactics of live bait fished around funnels, run outs, and areas of bait moving should also continue to be used. Fish are feeling these seasonal changes and are on the feed, but Palm Valley conditions and water clarity can change quickly so flashy loud baits can save the day when fish are present but live baits aren’t getting the bite

October has some great flood tides and Redfish are gorging themselves while in the grass on crabs, snails, grasshoppers, and anything else they can find When tides recede, the bite can be slow due to the fish being full after coming off the marshes

I like to target higher tide stages due to this and locate fish as they are anticipating feeding on flooded areas that are usually out of reach. When targeting “tailers” I use weighted weedless hooks such as the Owner weighted twist lock CPS hooks Any soft plastics paired with the weedless hook will work but my favorite is the Zoom Super Fluke Cover ground in flooded grass areas while scanning the water with your eyes

You are looking for the slightest break in the water surface of a tail poking out Sometimes it’s very subtle, and other times they are frolicking like toddlers learning to do head stands Approach quietly and avoid casting this set up to close to fish, on them, or having your line touch them in anyway.

This will blow the fish out Land your cast well past the fish and to the side they are moving to. Slowly retrieve the lure to within a few feet in front of the fish. As they approach, Make subtle movements to draw the strike and watch for the blow up! Baaam! Fish On! Congratulations! You're now addicted to flood tide stalking! Keep Reeling!

Capt Cory Sparks

310charters.com

716-307-7654

Top Left - Jason and Conrad with a Red off cut ladyfish

Top Right - The Garis family making memories!

Below - Jackson collected data and reported this tagged shark!

Garlic Parmesan Flounder

Receipe by Makinze Gore Makinze is the Associate Food Editor for Delish com

YIELDS: 4 SERVINGS - PREP TIME: 5 MINS - TOTAL TIME: 30 MINS

INGREDIENTS

1/4 c extra-virgin olive oil

4 fillets flounder

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1/2 c freshly grated Parmesan

1/4 c bread crumbs

4 cloves garlic, minced

Juice and zest of 1 lemon

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 425°. Drizzle 2 tablespoons oil on a large baking sheet. Season flounder with salt and pepper.

On a large plate, combine Parmesan, bread crumbs, garlic, and lemon zest. Season with salt and pepper. Dredge fish in bread crumb mixture, pressing to coat.

Place fish on prepared baking sheet and drizzle with remaining 2 tablespoons oil and lemon juice. Bake until golden and fish flakes easily with a fork, 20 minutes.

The Tournament Scene

By Craig Van Brocklin

Summer Tournaments

Wednesday Night Tournaments

Beach Blvd Ramp

1st Alec Pope & Kieran O’Brien 10 11

2nd Michael & Ralph 7 4

3rd David & Bubba 5 6

North FL King of The Beach

Biggest Kingfish

1st South Bound and Down 41 62

2nd Team Hoodz 41 54

3rd Git N Wild 41 08

4th Crooked Toe 35 3

5th Chaser 33 6

Aggregate

1st South Bound and Down 70 56

2nd Reel Warrior 60 1

3rd Team Hoodz 59

4th Ruff N It 58.9

5th Hell on Reels/Diamond Fishing 50.14

Junior Hayden WIldes, Chaser 33 6

2nd Logan Murrer, Organized Chaos 332

3rd Brody Rose, Reel Warrior 31.94

4th Brantley Furlow, Crawfish 29.8

5th Makenna Moore, Ms Bonfeld 28.64

Florida Lure Anglers

2020 Team of the year

1st Wade Hastings/Scott O’Brien

2nd Charles Dehlinger/Bob Morris

3rd Joel Fouraker/Cory Moore

4th Paul Davis/Andrew Goodman

5th Jeremy Sierra/Gary Plath

Sisters Slam Tournament

1st Bill Lancaster/Everett Barts 10.92

2nd Nathan Johnson/Matt Lewis 9.70

3rd Malcolm Griffith/Chris Peterson 9 62

4th Charles Dehlinger/Bob Morris 9 11

5th Mike Powell/Larry Powell 9 08

Upcoming Tournaments

October 3rd Netti Kayak *3rd Full of Bull *3rd King of the Hill Surf Fishing

*3rd FLA Fernandina

*4th CCA Star ends

*10th Pink up the Spots in Vilano *

17th Talbot Tidewater Kayaks

*24th Flounder pounder

November

*7th Florida Lure Anglers Vilano

*7th Bigg Sam Slam

*14th Premier Trout

*14th Veterans Appreciation in Amelia Island Spot Tourney

Biggest Kingfish

1st Place - South Bound and Down 41.62 lbs

2020 Jacksonville Premier Trout Tournament

November 14, 2020- Spotted Seatrout tournament for boats with guaranteed payouts of $1,500/$1,000/$500 3 places each for largest fish and trout aggregate prize divisions

All tournament proceeds will be donated to Heroes on the Water & the Clara White Mission Captains meeting- to be held at Strike Zone/Black Fly Outfitters Courtyard THURSDAY

November 12th 7PM (registration starts 6PM)

November 14th weigh in 4PM at The Palms Fish Camp Restaurant Boat entry $120 early sign up or $135 at Captains Meeting

The Kayak Division- will be held concurrently with $500/$300/$200 place prizes $50 early entry fee or $60 at Captains Meeting

Junior Angler Divisions- for boat & kayak as well as other awards such as smallest trout

Contact Info: premiertrout@gmail.com or (904) 887-0762

Craig Van Brocklin

North FL King of The Beach

10 Most Dangerous Fish to Eat

Article

By Mike Smith

The area of the East Coast of Florida where I live is currently being polluted by a vile blue/green algae that is killing the local fish and stinking to high heaven It has the consistency of guacamole and is caused by runoff contaminants flowing from Lake Okeechobee

This algae is not only getting the fish sick, but also the people exposed to it. This is a reoccurring problem seems to happen every year that south

Florida gets above average rainfall levels. Whatever the cause is, it is certainly not good for our fishery, our health and may result in millions of tourism dollars that will be lost if the problem is not resolved soon This pollution problem got me to thinking about the various fish that may live through the pollution in their environment and pass those pollutants onto us fish loving, seafood eating enthusiasts

Some time on the internet allowed me to come up with some of the most toxic fish that are swimming in our local area

The main contaminant in the fish mentioned below is mercury

Mercury is very poisonous to humans and accumulates in predatory fish as they prey upon other contaminated species of fish. As we eat the contaminated fish this mercury accumulates in our bodies as well. Mercury has many deleterious effects upon humans The 3 most

serious are:

• Brain damage

• Liver damage

• Kidney damage

The fish that tend to have the most mercury in their tissue are listed below These fish include:

• Kingfish (king mackerel)

• Cobia

• Sharks

• Albacore tuna

• Spanish mackerel

• Marlin

• Swordfish

• Bluefish

• Tilefish

• Amberjacks

There are still some delicious fish out there that typically do not have high mercury levels These fish include:

• Dolphin (mahi)

• Flounder

• Vermillion Snapper

• Tripletails

• Triggerfish

The fish mentioned in this article are not necessarily bad to eat in moderation Just like with most

things in life moderation is the key to health. This article was meant to be looked at as a public service notice to those of us that eat a lot of fish If you love to eat king mackerel, you still can but maybe eating it every day would be a bad idea

Another thing that should be taken into consideration is that fact that fish are typically high in selenium Selenium actually breaks down mercury in the body This is probably why eating high mercury fish in moderation typically doesn't cause too many health problems for most people.

The author of this article is the coowner of FYAO Saltwater Media Group, Inc. and the creator of fishyourassoff.com The fish your ass off website is full of simple tips to help fishermen catch more fish.

Send comments to

Joe Dionne fbmgjax@gmail com