Fishing Connection Online September 2020

Page 1

Can You Tell the Difference? Permit OR Florida Pompano

Two extremely popular fish that new anglers have a hard time telling one from the other, but all three have different regulations and all three are great for supper

We are going to you some great ways to do so The first fish we are going to look at is the Permit First let us look at the State regulations for the Permit

PERMIT

Slot Limit:

Not less than 11” or more than 22” fork length; may possess 1 over 22” included in the per person bag limit

Daily Bag Limit: 2 per harvester

Appearance:

*Gray, dark or iridescent blue black, shading to silver sides

*Fish from dark waters have a golden tint on belly

*Dorsal fin begins over anal fin

*Dorsal, anal, and caudal fins long and sloped back.

*Forehead sharply rises to a hump then sloped back.

*Caudal fin has a narrow fork

*Small permit has teeth on their tongue.

Size: Common to 50 pounds

POMPANO

Appearance:

*Dark greenish-gray on ba shading to silver sides

Season: Open year-round

Gear: State waters: Hook a Line only, Federal waters Ho and line and spearing

Minimum Size Limit:

11” fork length

Daily Bag Limit: 6 per harvester

Season: Open year-round

Gear: Hook and line, cast n and beach or haul seine

* Yellowish coloration on bell

*Fish found in dark waters ha a yellow on throat, pelvic f and anal fin

*Dorsal fin begins in front anal fin

*Dorsal, anal, and caudal f are short and upright

Habitat

Inshore and nearshore waters, especially along sandy beaches, oyster bars and over seagrass beds, often in turbid water. Found in water as deep as 130 feet

Behavior: Spawn offshore March to September. Feeds on mollusks

and crustaceans, especially sand fleas. Local movements are influenced by the tide, and seasonal movements are influenced by temperature.

Additional Information

State Record: 8 lb. 4 oz, caught near Port St. Joe

September 2020 Volume XIX Issue 09 www.FishingConnectionUSA.com Serving Nassau * Duval * Clay * St. Johns * Flagler * Volusia * Brevard Counties The main objective of The Fishing Connection Publication is to provide you as a fishing enthusiast with the best information and knowledge from the top anglers in N E Fla and ask you to please support the paying sponsors and column contributors who make this monthly publication possible The views, opinions and positions expressed in articles submitted by monthly contributors to the Fishing Connection do not necessarily reflect the views of the Fishing Connection
Rick Hale

A Publication of

The Fishing & Boating Media Group Inc.

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

September 2020 Fish Kisser of the Month

Congratulations to our Fish Kisser of the month, who looks really happy laying a big kiss on that fish's slimy lips We have a FREE meal from Juniors Seafood & Grill for any of you that submit your photo to the contest and are chosen as the winner. If you are this month's winner please contact Joe Dionne at fbmgjax@gmail.com with your name and phone # to claim your certificate

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

Rules are Simple

Your lips MUST touch the fishes 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

--------------------------------------------
2
Skyler Fertel

Fishing Fernandina

September means summer is 'officially' over but is also the busiest month for hurricanes But we can hope for the best concerning the storms and fishing. After all, some of the best fishing takes place just before a storm hits

This month's Bait and Tackle shop write up is on the Amelia Island Bait and Tackle located at 1925 South 14th Street, Phone 904 - 277- 0775 and website is charterfishingAmelia com

Now a big change on the 'Island' is, Amelia Island Bait and Tackle has been sold to Chris and Lisa Bremer Long time owners, Jimmy and Sally Johnson sold it a few months ago . The store has been fixed up inside and Chris and Lisa will be a great addition to the area.

One great idea they will be adding is 'drive thru bait pickup'. You can order the night before with a time your going to arrive, prepay online and just drive thru, they will add the bait to you bait well or bait bucket and off you go No need to even get out of the truck Fishing wise, there will be plenty of good fishing going on this month Water temp should still be up which means tarpon will still be on the beach and at the tip of the jetties along with cuda and kingfish on the near by reefs for those who like to fish close to the beach..

Inshore the whiting, black drums, flounder and sheepshead will remain good Beach fishing will, as always, depend on water temp and how clean it is

Fishing at Ft Cli good catch of September on fresh

I get calls often fishermen can lea area The easiest, learn is to hire on great local guides more. Yes it's 'e you will learn mor you will in 50 trip My daughter got u my Father's Day g till August we got Our guide (who a his name, so will not mention it was Danny Flynn) took us out and explained what and when we would catch We started by running to the beach at Cumberland Island, two throws of the cast net and we were loaded with bait We saw tarpon all around so anchored up, casted out 4 lines with live bait and he put out a lot of chum.

We caught a couple of small sharks, a small hammerhead (no, not a bonnet shark) and jumped one nice tarpon. He said we were going to move as the tide was right for bull redfish.

A 5 min ride, we anchored up, caught 6 bull reds in less than 35 mins, then it was time to move for big tarpon We hooked 2 big tarpon, both ran straight to the jetties and broke us off But it was a blast The guide busted his butt the entire trip and it's one we'll never forget. Don't sit at home, get yourself and family out fishing.

Capt. Charlie

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

*NON -ETHANOL FUEL *WET & DRY STORAGE *TRANSIENT SLIPS AVAILABLE *COMPLIMENTARY WIFI *BOAT PARTS & ACCESSORIES
TON TRAVEL LIFT
CLEANING & BOTTOM PAINTING
*30
*HULL
3
Capt. Charlie and his favorite daughter Kimberly after a double hook up

Fishin' S.E. Georgia

Altamaha River -The river has jumped back up and muddied some, but you should still be able to find some clearer water in the backs of the oxbow lakes A group of anglers caught a good mess of bluegills from shoreline cover in the back of an oxbow in the Jesup area on Saturday They were pitching crickets Catfishing has been consistent in the rising and falling river Put shrimp or worms on the bottom for channels, cut bait for blue cats, and live bait for flatheads. You can also run limb lines with good success right now for whiskerfish. The river level was 5.4 feet and falling (84 degrees) at the Baxley gage, and 6 7 feet and rising (86 degrees) at the Doctortown gage on August 20th

Satilla River - The river rose again after recent rains and is falling back out to where you can expect to drag a boat over shallow areas for the weekend Floating is your best bet right now, and you should start picking up panfish again if we don’t get rain between now and the weekend Unfortunately, it has rained about the whole time I have been writing the report on Thursday night The river level on August 20th at the Waycross gage was 6 2 feet and falling (81 degrees) The Atkinson gage was 5.8 feet and falling.

St. Marys River – The river has started falling this week but has a long way to go before it’s back

in good, fishable shape Expect the tidal area to be the most fishable portion, and catfish would be your main target Put shrimp, worms, or livers on the bottom for your best chance at success. The river level at the MacClenny gage on August 20th was 10.6 feet and falling after cresting at just shy of 14.5 feet earlier in the week. St. John’s River / Crescent Lake- A couple of Waycross anglers fished the Jacksonville area on Sunday and caught some nice bass They ended up with 8 bass up to 3 1/2 pounds Their main presentation was punching plastics through dense vegetation, but they also caught a couple decent fish on topwaters For the latest fishing information or to reserve a room or cabin in Astor, you can call Kerry at South Moon Fish Camp (386749-2383) On Crescent Lake, you can contact Bull Creek Fish Camp at (386) 437-1991 for the latest information

Local Ponds - Chad Lee caught a few small bass on his fly rod over the weekend from Alma area ponds His best day was Monday during his lunch break, when he fished a swamp crawler worm (baby bass hue) He ended up with 6 bass up to 3 pounds and had 3 others get off That worm was the ticket in the Camden County pond The catfish bite has been good for both bullheads and channel cats Shrimp and worms have worked best for the folks I’ve talked with. During the dog-days, fish early and late in the day for the best bass and bream fishing and at night for catfish.

Ocmulgee Public Fishing Area near Hawkinsville - The reports slowed some this week from the torrid pace of the last few weeks. I did not hear of any 10’s being caught, and the biggest bass I heard of was only a 4 1/2-pounder. But, I’m sure bigger fish were caught and I just did not hear about them. This area is your best shot at a trophy bass, but remember it is catch-and-release for the bass Take a quick photo and release them, as it doesn’t take long out of the water to be lethal in this heat

Okefenokee Swamp -According to Okefenokee Adventures staff, the swamp 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

Business Hours Mon 7AM - 1PM Tue. n Wed - Closed Thurs - Sun 7AM - 5PM 4
5
Fernandina Tides

It's almost dove season and in the last couple of days I’ve seen several great looking sunflower fields. I'm torn between a little bird hunting and fishing For some reason I just can’t get into the hunting mode with all the heat I think it’s mainly due to the changes I’ve seen on the water Even though we’ve had a hot summer, everything seems to be in line for the great fall bite

With that said, I've only had a few opportunities to get out but I've made sure to beat those evening thunderstorms On our last trip, we noticed several enormous schools of mullet along the bank Jack's and lady fish were busting on these schools nearly everywhere we turned. This morning, we started off with top water in an effort to target trout. Most of the fish just wouldn’t commit.

Trying to change it up tactics, we switched to subsurface baits for a more subtle approach There we found a few trout but nothing to get excited about Next, we decide to net a few mullet and start grinding structure for flounder

What I didn’t find at either of our normal locations was a consistent bite Noting in the back of our minds, earlier that morning we noticed that the

water was dirty That was a huge sign that we should have paid closer attention to

As we moved along, Sawpit gave way to a few decent flounder but nothing to be impressed about Targeting the creek mouths and oyster beds along the ICW near Ft George gave way to a few fish but still nothing to peak our interest As the boat traffic picked up we tucked ourselves into some of the back creeks with similar results. About mid morning, Ryan and I decided to look for cleaner water. We caught several chips and as we moved further South our biggest fish came from the Mayport area near the cleaner ocean water

The closer to the mouth of the ocean, the bigger the flounder we found We covered a bunch of water and stayed focused on funnels and heavy structure The results, fishing clean water with finger mullet on a 1/4 ounce white jig head seemed to be the key

The moral of the story is this If the fish aren’t biting in spots where you absolutely know they should be, don't be scared to move. If a certain area doesn’t feel right in your gut, then there's a good possibility you're on to something. Now that doesn’t mean leave an area where the tides are not right yet. It just means finding a location where all things come together

Tide, bait movement, clean water and current If you have all of these items, many times your chances are much greater The bite was slow, so our presentation was slow as well Pay attention to what’s happening and follow suit, everything else will come together

May you all have a safe trip out on the water Hope you all have a great weekend!

NEW HOURS M-W-TH 6am - 6pm FRI 6am - 7pm SAT 6am - 6pm SUN 6am - 5pm Closed Tuesday 6
Chris Cockerham Chris Cockerham Ryan Hall
7

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

was at 35 inches and it is growing daily The salinity levels have been around 17-27

PPT and in the St Johns River at San Marco area is 3 PPT.

We are seeing Algae blooms forming south of Duval County in the St Johns River and area specifically a significant patch in Doctors Inlet The fishing tournaments have all experienced great success this year and it is showing the fishing and boating in North Florida continue to making a major economical impact!

All of the tournaments that were able to work out a safe and logical way to proceed did a great job and all of the tournaments were well received as positive by the fishing community The Safe Harbor Redfish Roundup is scheduled for September 19 at Jim King Park and Boat Ramp. The City of Jacksonville continues to work with several projects.

We have installed new floating docks in front of Friendship Park and we have completed the inspection and the docks are ready for the public

More cameras have been activated One camera showing the transient dock at Jim King, a camera at Joe Carlucci and one of the two cameras at Lions Club, two cameras at Half Moon Boat Ramp and two cameras at Mike McCue Ramp have been installed and on line.

We are scheduled to have cameras at Metro Marina (1), Mandarin Park (2), Wayne B Stevens (2), and County Dock (1) and a second camera at Lions Club installed on the 31st of August and should be on line within the week of this publication

After these installations we will keep moving on the rest of the ramps as well a plan to have surf cameras at Hanna Park and a camera for the St Johns entrance at Huguenot Park. Be sure to check before you go at www.USBoatramps.com.

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.

Heat - Rain – Heat - Repeat!

This is the pattern we are in so these acts of nature effects our waterways. The water is still nice and warm, in the upper 80’s and the fishing and boating continues to take full advantage of the weather

The mid day and afternoon storms have been quite stout and when the storms pop up they just hang around As of this writing we are looking at two hurricanes hitting the north Gulf Coast This is a phenomenal activity that has rarely occurred Hope all works out for those communities.

Our local rainfall has been above normal. It was reported in the Waterways Commission 30 inches of rainfall for the year is a normal number this time of year

As of that meeting Jacksonville

We will be signing and marking areas for the public as well as the River Taxi The notice to proceed for new docks on the Northbank, in front of the old Landing Property, which will be an open park for the time being, was issued and work to remove the old docks while the new ones are being manufactured were delayed due to procedural issues but the notice has been given and a small delay to discuss the design of the new docks has been resolved and work should be seen soon.

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 camera project at our boat ramps is working out great and more cameras at more boat ramps are going in at a solid pace

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

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!

Jim King Fishing Pier Capt. Jim Suber

The NPS is an agency of the US Dept of the Interior that manages and maintains several hundred National Parks, Monuments, Historical Sites, and other designated properties of the FEDERAL Government.

On Aug. 4, 2020 President Donald J Trump signed the Great American Outdoors Act

Public Participation by John

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

NPS-National Park Service

The National Park Service was created by an Act of Congress following President Woodrow Wilson’s signing of the Organic Act in 1916 which was designed to Preserve and Protect Parks for the enjoyment of future generations ”

The Great American Outdoors Act invests approximately 20 Billion dollars over 5 years into restoring our National Parks and Public Lands Fishermen!

Rodman Reservoir?

See Nov 2018 FC, Feb 2017 FC

Looky here! Just asking the question

In your county what part of the Great Americans Outdoors Act will restore or eliminate your favorite fishing spot?

In Duval County prior to the 8/11/2020 full meeting of the Jacksonville City Council 2019555 was withdrawn.

The legislation would have appropriated $1,725,000 to reimburse the State and FEDERAL Governments for Grants awarded in 1981 that were used to create Metropolitan Park in Downtown Jacksonville Fishermen!

Did this include Metropolitan Park Marina? Just Asking

Tight Lines and Screaming Reels NPS-FEDERAL John Nooney

904-434-0839

Vendo5@Yahoo.

The
Sound On Site Sales, Service and Installation of Marine Audio Products of Quality & Value Custom Installation * Fiberglass Fabrication * Insured * Lifetime Warranty on Installation Specializing in Marine grade products from Clarion, Sony, Kenwood, Kicker, Bazooka, JL Audio, WetSounds, Pioneer and many others www AquaAcoustics com 904-716-1627
Clear
9
Mayport Tides 10

Continued from Page 20

First Place Winners in each division won a BUNCH of prizes, but none bigger than Lifetime Florida Sportsman Gold License each received. In addition to their prizes, 2nd & 3rd places in each division along with the Sailfish Award Winner won Lifetime Florida Saltwater Fishing Licenses. This was a great thing for our kids and it could not have happened without the support of Mr. Tim Beasley of TB Landmark and a host of other generous sponsors!

September brings Hurricanes and Sailfish to the local area On the Saltwater Challenge we specialize in nearshore sailfish charters this time of year So if you’re interested in a great time targeting one of the most exciting fish you’ll ever hook, contact us at HooDoo Sportfishing @ wwwsaltwaterchallenge com

I’ll say it again and again until we get through this The COVID-19 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

Captain Tim Altman

HooDoo Sportfishing Charters

www.saltwaterchallenge.com

Morgan Metals & Designs Inc. Dan Morgan, Owner 6541 Powers Avenue #11 Jacksonville, FL. 32211 904.731.3334 Office 904.731.3337 Fax Specializing in Custom Aluminum and Stainless Components, Towers, Arches, T-Tops, Railings and More
Connor Henly won the “1st Kingfish Prize” Connor caught his first ever kingfish in this year’s tournament!

DISCLAIMER:

Some Regulations may have changed and we suggest you ALWAYS check the FWC Website for current updates The Fishing Connection is not responsible for any incorrections on this page

The mullet run usually star in September which kicks off th bite leading into fall Summ patterns of deep water jiggin will start to change as th schools of finger mullet wi travel the edges of the grass an flats as well as up and down th feeder creeks.

Fish are typically m aggressive and those who throwing lures this is a g month for it Top water bite be on pretty much all day w you are around the bait Twi baits and soft plastic 4inch baits in mullet pattern will a be a great choice

I love to fish the incoming high targeting bank lines w creek mouths or horseshoe f that have submerged spar grass mixed with oysters Th areas will hold those slot over sized reds as they wai ambush the mullet

Flounder and trout will aggressively feeding up close the spartina grass pretty much and down the icw areas and Johns river. Big jacks will pinning the bait on sea walls jetty areas as well as blue and lady fish.

Black drum will be moving in along with the bull reds in the river so target 30 to 40 feet of water on the channel.

September also starts off our flood tide season for tailing reds in the grass For all the fly fisherman this will be one of the best months since the fish will have the least amount of pressure on them and tend to bite better

All in all this will be a great time to catch several different

Fishing Club

to coronavirus social cing we are still not able to lub meetings. The City of onville owns our clubhouse mits capacity to 50%. We ble to hold our Club aments as long as a crowd ’t gather around the scale i ion out club members get their own as conditions nd they did allow some fine snapper catches adies Tournament was turday, August 15th At me the results were not

t tournament of the year he Bottom tournament in ber ng:

the writing of this article

b house is closed as part oronavirus response We

e one meeting in June on the Mayport Ramp lot If September

s are allowed, they will on the 3rd and 17th speakers haven’t been ed

follow www.jaxfish.com acebook page for details come available.

en the doors around 6:00 want to come early to nner is at 7:00, and we

y try to get started with ting about 7:30, and we

ve a great raffle All of etings 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!

131313
14

September is a great month to fish Jacksonville’s inshore waters Our mullet run will begin this month as millions of our most predominate forage fish begin to form larger schools and head out of inshore waters toward our ocean inlets to migrate south

This enormous quantity of bait will have every species large enough to eat a mullet fired up and feeding actively this month through October

There are opportunities to target many different species in a variety of different conditions, from redfish, flounder and trout on shallow mud flats, to bull reds along the St Johns river banks and deeper stretches of the intracoastal, to tarpon, jacks, sharks and more bull reds outside the tips of the big jetties

In late September fishing opportunities expand once again to include flood tide fishing on the grass flats for redfish and sheepshead. The 17th thru the 22nd of the month will feature flood tides and the chance to wade and sight fish using spinning or fly-fishing gear. Make sure you bring along a cast net for the next two months

to secure a good supply of mullet and fish them live either on jig head or a fish finder rig up on the flats and weed edges at high tide or along the intercoastal banks and creek holes on lower tides

I’ve found the last 3 hours of the falling tide through the first hour of the incoming to be the most productive for redfish, flounder will be mixed in these areas also as will trout

Action for the bull reds will be hot from the jetties up the river to the Dames Point bridge, fish the drop offs from 35-45 feet deep with cut crab, mullet or

ladyfish on a circle hook, use ample weight to hold the bottom, heavy tackle and hold on!

The scene at the big jetties at the mouth of the St Johns river will be quite a spectacle as the mullet schools pour out of the inlet and are consistently harassed and blown up by large jack crevalle and tarpon, hanging below the topwater action will be bull reds and a variety of sharks.

Free line larger live mullet, or fish them under a float, and be sure to also fish a line or two on the bottom with live or cut mullet

All the species mentioned above will be feeding up and down the water column at different depths

Give me a call if I can help you get out fishing and enjoy one of our best months on the water!

904-403-8575

(H.O.W.)

Heroes on The Water

Heroes on the 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

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

Capt. Todd Philcox

"Chappy" Chapman

Dogs days of summer are giving way to the fall wind, rain, and overall unpredictability of the tropics

As I write this week we are just barely out of the sites of a rare situation of two Hurricanes possibly bearing down and hitting our neighbors in the Gulf of Mexico at the same time.

While we pray they don’t get it like it is predicted we also sigh

in relief that it is not us. This past month the weather has been brutally hot For me the bite has been almost winter like with a lot of lethargic lazy fish Except of course the schools and schools of junk fish killing the bait that is transiting from one body of hot water to a cooler one

The best method is to cruise the river at night and work the lights of the docks along the river this time of year A jig head and a plastic thrown into the shadows beyond the light then worked through the shadow transitioning to the light and then back out will usually get you a strike.

I would like to share a tip that might actually help a few folks as they dust off the boat and get out on the water after the dog days of summer

Something simple yet as valuable as the gas in your boat sometimes A checklist Yes, it is sounds stupid and quite simple

minded but how many times has your wife or kids or whoever told you “all you think about is fishing”? Well sometimes in that capacity we simply overlook important parts of the “fishing” that we take for granted

I use one almost every time I head off to the water and for the first three years that I transitioned from a kayak to a boat I had a 2” by 2” post it sticky note on my rear-view mirror that said PLUG

Yes I hear two chuckles now from those who think who could be dumb enough to leave the plug out of the boat and those who have returned to the landing to take the boat out to put the plug in. There are two checklist that I use one for going and one for returning.

The one upon return is simple Cut off electronics, rinse rods, rinse boat motor, empty coolers, and plug in onboard boat charger The one going is a little

more elaborate and more customized to your boat and your routine A few things on mine are life jackets, trolling motor remote, net, water, PLUG, rods (yes I’ve gotten all the wat to the ramp with not one rod), and because I’ve done it multiple times the trolling motor remote is on my checklist twice

Laugh about it then think about it You can get as creative as you want but it will help, I promise You can type it hand write it or whatever on a piece of standard paper and slide it in a document protector and get a cheap grease pencil and check things off year after year and not be caught at the ramp needing something.

Hope this jogs some memories and helps a few of you. Take care and tight lines

16

Thinking Outside the (Tackle) Box

It is no secret I love everything fishing, but this time of year I love to be floating face down hiney up hunting for scallops in the gulf. It is SO fun!! Assuming you have a boat, all you need is a dive flag, mask, snorkel, fins, and a net bag to put your catch in And sunscreen!

Typically, folks go out the channel and look for the group of boats Don’t go blasting in, there are people in the water Approach slowly and maybe find

a spot around the peripheral

Once you get a feel for what you are looking for, don’t be afraid to look for your own little honey hole away from the crowd.

Creep away from the group and even up towards shore watching the bottom very closely as the gulf can have surprisingly shallow water FAR from shore Look for water about 3 feet deep and then send someone over to look around

We have found some nice little treasure troves of scallops this way Be sure to be mindful of what the tide is doing so you don’t get stuck up there in low water though

The season is open until September 24th for all but Dixie and most of Taylor counties which close Labor Day, and includes the waters along the gulf coast from Gulf county just west of Port St Joe to Hernando county a little north of New Port Richey. You must have a current Florida fishing license to harvest

scallops You can keep 2 gallons each up to 10 gallons per boat in the shell, or a pint each shucked up to 4 pints per boat If you don’t have a boat, there are plenty of places to rent one.

There is still time to try it, but if you miss out on scallops, we still have spiny lobster. More on that to come soon!

Trina Polkey

Pier n Surf

Hey guys and gals, I hope everyone had a great month of August Towards the end of August the mullet started running the beach finally What does that mean for the month of September? It means fish in the cooler!

As the mullet cruise the surf, the speckled trout, redfish, flounder, spanish mackerel, bluefish, and tarpon will also cruise right behind them Over the last several years, I have done quite well in the month of september catching good amounts of redfish and speckled trout using mullet I catch in the surf. The first step is catching the mullet.

You need a cast net that you are comfortable throwing and one you can open! You also need at least a 5 gallon bucket, and a good aerator I use two aerators on my mullet, they consume a lot of oxygen so its best to give them what they need Second thing, catch the mullet With the mullet, early morning and late evening they will usually be in just inches of water and it makes them very easy to catch

Just watch as the waves come in and go out and you will see them running back down with the wave. As the sun comes up, they move into deep water, usually knee to thigh deep. When they do this, i wade out knee deep and walk slowly to the north

The mullet are headed south this time of year, so walk north and they will usually come by

Also, watch for fish chasing them. A lot of times they will start jumping and thats how i will find out where they are.

I try to only keep 20-30 mullet in a bucket with double aerators. Any more than that and they start to die Now that you have the bait, it's time to fish My favorite rig for them is a simple carolina rig I use a 2-3 ounce egg sinker, and an 8-10 inch leader of 20-25lb strength

I use a number 2 hook as well, typically a wide bend hook made by eagle claw Fish directly behind the breakers, or in sloughs that are close to the beach The reds and trout will hang in these areas as well as the flounder and other predatory fish.

The surf will produce nice fish this way as well as all the local inlets, especially anywhere there are rocks in the inlets.

I hope this helps out, and if anyone needs any help on the set up feel free to send me a message on my youtube page, Brokenreel23

Until next month, tight lines!

Spencer Brogden

Let's Talk

Offshore Fishin' by Capt.

August was another month for Kingfish My favorite moments came from the Jacksonville Bluewater Club “Back to School” Kids Kingfish Derby. The first annual Kids Kingfish Derby was a huge success with 83 kids participating and over $20,000 worth of prizes given away to 29 places. Let’s get right into it:

Continued on Page 11

20 20
1st Place winner in the Small Fry Division (6 & Under) was 6 Year Old Brody Rose with a 29.01Lb Bruin Bennett was the 1st Place winner in the Junior Division (7-15) With this 33.38lb Kingfish! Hayden Girard won the Sailfish Award with this release of her first ever sailfish! Team Burnin Daylight won the boat aggregate prize with over 90lbs of kingfish and had 4 Kids place in the top 15 of the Junior Angler Division.

St. Augustine Tides

21

Green Cove Springs Fishing Forecast

and meals of fresh Shrimp. So get to it!

The Large Mouth are under docks and scattered on the deep bars in the River For the docks, live shrimp or medium shiners should get your string stretched Then the deep bars, lipless crank bait or deep running crank bait So have at it.

Well, let's start with the Drum and Croaker bite It has been really fine with no end in sight. The amount of bait in the River is the most I've seen and all species are eating like there's no tomorrow. The mile marker, the dip and holes are holding these species. Best shot is a bottom split rig with either a bait shrimp or a piece of fresh dead. So go to it

Next one up are the Red and Flounder The Reds being the eating machines they are, have been crushing crabs, finger mullet and shrimp They're liking the shallows and under docks Oddly enough the bite instead of being near the end of the docks are more on the shallower side of things.

The Flounder are hitting medium shiners and finger mullet They've been hanging near the edges of drops and also under docks But in any case, just go!

The Mullet run is in full tilt with the roe Mullet probably showing up near the end of the month All you need is chum, patience and a little luck, but with luck, you can get a nice mess of fish to either fry or smoke So go to it!

Now onto the Shrimp These beauties should be showing up and eating sized All you need is a cast net, some chum, and the ability to pick them up Remember shallow water shrimp require chum! But for you deep water shrimpers, a webbed cast net and a good locator.

You'll be rewarded with bait

The Bream are under the pads in the creeks and truly love flyrod poppers But they will eat a nice glob of worm. So if you have the need, you can go with these or sneak in a few crickets suspended under a small float You'll have fun and catch fish so why not go!

Lastly, Cat Fish in the cool evening, over night or early morning, should reward you Night crawlers and all the other Cat Fish bait should work So go to it!

Till next time, keep your line wet and your lure movin'.

R & J Tackle 904-284-5081 Monday - Friday 6-6 Sat. 5 am - 6 pm Sun. 5 am - 5 pm 501 S. Orange Ave. Green Cove Springs, FL. Quality Bait & Tackle at a Fair Price
&
Hamilton
Richard
Judy
22

Kayak Fishing

Twice a year, spring and fall, the east coast of Florida experiences a massive migration of mullet This is commonly referred to as “the mullet run” The fall mullet run normally begins the first of September and runs through the end of October There are millions of mullet in the water during these few weeks

With the huge influx of baitfish, comes an increase in predator fish to the area. Trophy tarpon, bull reds, tackle testing jacks and bluefish, gator trout, snook, and sharks will be feeding heavily on the mullet.

Watching for mullet schools and feeding fish on the flats and inlets is a great way to sight cast at some world class fish

Throwing an Unfair Lures RipN-Slash or a Mirrolure MR17 in their path, with a jerk/pause retrieve, will definitely get their attention

Working a topwater plug along grass lines, oyster beds, and ledges will produce exciting and explosive strikes, especially during low light hours

A Storm Chug Bug, Unfair Lures Dogwalker, or a Rapala Skitterwalk, in either natural or bone colors are my go to lures for this type of fishing. Bouncing a Fishbites Fight Club in the same areas, under and around the mullet schools will pick off flounder and redfish regularly

Fishing the area inlets with live or cut mullet or cut ladyfish will

catch all sorts of different species, from bull reds to snook to tarpon, along with a few sharks

These areas are dangerous for kayakers however. The current is extremely strong and the passes are tight, boat traffic is always an issue, so plan accordingly. Bigger tackle will be needed for the inlets due to lots of rocks and the caliber of fish

I normally use 65 lb braid with at least 40 lb fluorocarbon leader Set the drag light and wait for the fish to take the bait before tightening it down Using a 6/0 circle hook will help with a good, solid hookset

No matter where you decide to fish this month, rest assured, the bite will be on So get on out on the water and experience the fantastic fishing we have here in St Augustine. Good luck and tight lines. I’ll see ya out there.

Lead Guide

St Augustine Paddle Sports 772-475-9469

Black Creek Marina Fuel * Bait * Tackle Slip and Boat Rentals 904-631-6658 23

Fishing Guana

To most people “mullet” is just a bad haircut. To fisherman it is a prime bait species that is responsible for one of the most exciting fisheries in Florida: The Mullet Run. Every year during late summer and early fall mullet flood out of the river systems and saturate our beaches and nearby inlets

They are thick enough to walk across and attract hoards of hungry predators Monster sized jacks, tarpon, black tip sharks and even redfish and trout gorge themselves on their numbers

The action can be nonstop and is pure chaos at times I’m going to out,one a couple ways you can take advantage of this seasonal fishery

Let’s start inshore. The simplest way to target trout and redfish in both the intracoastal/river is to rig a popping cork with a two foot leader tied to a 1/0 circle hook and suspend a live mullet underneath it Allow the cork to float over oyster bars, ledges, mud banks and grass lines Popping the cork and breaking the surface of the water will draw fish to your presentation and will increase your strikes significantly

The cork perfectly mimics the sound of a predatory fish striking the surface while the click-clack of the beads imitates the sound a baitfish makes when being attacked Most predators are bullies by nature and can be

If you’re targeting flounder or black drum 1/4 oz jigheads can be used to bounce live or cut mullet across the bottom

Moving out of the creeks along our beaches and inlets the bite is in full swing. The silver kings and jack crevalle are hammering large mullet. During both outgoing and incoming tides these jumbo sized fish can be found cruising the beach, stacking up in deep water along rocky inlets and staging on bridges or structure

How you fish them depends on where you find them and the depth of water they are in Along the beaches free-lined pogies on 60-70 pound leaders and 7/0 circle hooks are ideal In deeper water you will need to use lead weights on ledger rigs to pin the bait to the bottom and keep your presentation in place

If the tarpon are rolling along structure a float rig with a 4-6 foot leader is perfect to suspend your bait in the strike zone. Make sure you have heavy rods and reels with plenty of line on the spool, these beasts will test your tackle and put the screws to you.

Hang on tight and enjoy the show!

Capt

24
d i iki if h h

Well Ladies and Gentlemen let's get ready for the Fall Surf Fishing Challenge October 23rd and 24th ,2020

We had to postpone because of the Virus till now.

Please check out the website for the event WWW.SURFFISHINGCHALLENGE.COM

$3,500.00 IN PAYOUTS BASED ON 100 ANGLERS. Buckets full of surprises will be handed out to the First 100 sign ups.

The event will be held at Lost Lagoon Wings and Grill in New Smyrna beach, Florida

We are getting into some great fishing finishing up summer and the fall mullet run is right around the corner That being said, there’s already been big schools of mullet off the beach and around the inlet and a bunch of bait in the intercoastal as well

Sometimes it gets a little tough to pick a strategy and stick with it this time of year with so much going on. We have had some awesome fishing around the inlet catching some very nice snook up to the mid 30 inch range, slot size and bull reds, tarpon, a bunch of mangrove snapper, and even quite a few permit I’ve

been Using live shrimp, pinfish, and finger mullet around the jetties

I hadn’t fished Ormond Beach in a while but I’ve tried it out recently and caught some really nice redfish, quite a few flounder, and a bunch of snook

The water has been very fresh in the tomoka basin from all the rain we’ve had so be careful pumping raw water into your live well.

We are going to have flood tides this time of year so fish will get way back in the grass flats. It’s pretty cool because even in my bay boat I can fish some areas in the backwaters that I can’t normally get to However, that can make catching bait difficult with many areas for them to get where you can’t throw a cast net Great time of year to get on the water! Catch em up!

Capt Jeff Patterson

Pole Dancer Fishin' Charters

www smallboatbigfish com

386-451-4992

Hook It & Cook It

Fall is in the air and the water temperature is starting to drop and the fish are getting fired up The redfish, trout and flounder are in the creeks and they are all excellent fish for this month recipe. This is a light dish that is sure to impress all of your friends

Fish Florentine

Ingredients:

2lbs fish fillets

1-10 ounce package fresh spinach

1 cup chopped red bell pepper

4 ounces cream cheese

6 oz half and half

4 oz grated Parmesan cheese

1 tbsp chopped garlic

2 tbsp butter

2 tbsp olive oil

Your favorite seafood seasoning for fish, Salt and pepper to taste

In a large frying pan add olive oil and butter and red bell pepper sautee approximately 5 minutes Add garlic and spinach cook on medium Heat until spinach has wilted add cream cheese and stir then add half and half continue to cook until you have a creamy spinach mixture then add Parmesan cheese

Now it is time to cook the fish add a little butter and olive oil to a frying pan season your fish fillets with your favorite Seafood seasoning you can never go wrong with Old Bay or a good blackened seasoning. Cook fillets 4 to 5 minutes per side depending on thickness of fish Put spinach mixture on plate and top with fish fillet

26
26
Lee Grasso, Capt Jeff Patterson, Marcus lisicki - second place flounder at 3lb even in Flagler sportfishing annual classic aug

Fishing Crescent Beach

The Matanzas - If it hasn’t happened by the time you read this it will be happening very soon The running of the bulls at Matanzas inlet where the big “Bull” Redfish start showing up in large schools to spawn

This usually happens early August into the beginning of fall but since this IS 2020 nothing should be expected to be normal Redfish are still 2 per person per day in our area and need to be between 18” - 27” to keep That being said it is still a rush to tangle with the some of the “breeders” that cruise the channels in and around the inlet. If you’re targeting them from the Matanzas Bridge don’t forget your drop net (aka bridge / pier net) because you won’t be able to just crank them up from the water on to the bridge The bait of choice will be Blue Crab or Mullet on the bottom

You can use live finger Mullet or cut Mullet chunks but pay attention to what the other more seasoned anglers are using and be prepared to adapt if you’re not catching and they are Once landed please get your pictures holding the fish horizontally as opposed to vertically and release them ASAP to increase the chance of survival so they can do what breeders do and make more babies so our kids can have the same opportunity to make their own memories in the future.

A few other things to keep your eye on are the changes to Flounder regulations including an increase minimum size limit of 12” to 14” and a reduced bag limit from 10 down to 5 per person You can follow these and other changes at Myfwc com

And for those more interested in skinny water fishing (my preferred style of fishing) myself and others have been crushing it in less than a foot of water back in the oyster flats and creeks on Fishbites “Dirty Boxers” on a color I’d call chartreuse but the brand calls “counter punch”. Redfish, Trout, and Flounder have all been striking those baits without hesitation.

In fact I was out on one of our Solo Skiffs that we rent out of Genung’s Fish Camp in less than 6” of water when an upper slot Red comes within two feet of the skiff Without even having to cast I lower that dirty boxer into the water and the Red nailed it and took off

I let my 5 year old fight it in and we enjoyed blackened fish tacos that night Best of luck in making your own memories with the ones you love!

904 540 7245

Expires 9/30/20
27
Capt Adam Morley Matanzas Red Henry's First Flounder

It’s time for the Mullet run to fire off! Utilizing these baits are a must this month Every toothy critter in the ditch will be keyed in on feeding on mullet They can be fished by multiple presentations depending on the conditions

I like throwing mullet on jig heads when actively covering ground or dragging flounder spots When I see a bank with bait and possible feeding fish such as reds and trout, I will use a No-Brainer, Knocker rig, or Carolina rig These set ups allow you to hold bottom and cast long distances They also keep the mullet moving freely and erratically, creating a commotion that draws predators in. When tides get higher, you can fish mullet under popping corks along grass lines and shell bars

If the mullet are too large to fish in the previous ways, cutting mullet chunks up and soaking on the bottom work just as well at times as the live bait.

Lastly, free lining a live mullet where rolling tarpon are seen will get the bite early and late in the day

The Black Drum bite this last month has been on fire in Palm

Valley They have consistently been holding in steep drop offs along the ICW.

I expect that bite to remain strong in September Don’t overlook bouncing live or fresh dead shrimp on a 3/8 oz jig head down drop offs and shell bars Reds, Trout, Flounder and Sheepshead are all being caught using Fish Bites strips and live / dead shrimp like this Crab and shrimp flavored Fish Bites strips in various colors will continue to be deadly! Clients look at the rectangular strip I place on the jig head in disbelief

No one believes a colored strip that looks so un-life like will work... until they pitch it out and the rod doubles over! It takes practice and application to get it dialed in but once you gain confidence in it you won’t fish without it! Keep Reeling!

Capt Cory Sparks

Oldest City

Bait n Tackle

1949 A1A South St Augustine, FL 32080

David Privett * Candace Burke

Open 7 Days a Week

Oldest City Bait & Tackle, serving the St. Augustine area since 1991. Products include Live, fresh & frozen baits, rods & reels, a wide variety of fishing tackle (904) 461-0244

28
ABOVE - Mack landed this 18" black drum on a high tide grass line LEFT - Andy and grandson Andrew landed a trophy 9lb 27" doormat! BELOW - Mark Simmons crushed the red and black drum this trip!

How to Choose the Best Spinning Reel

Spinning reels are a helpful tool that every avid fisher should have in their arsenal. These are so popular among fishers of all skill levels because they are very lightweight, intuitive, and easy to use However, not all spinning reels are created equal Since this type of reel is such a crucial part of the fishing process, it's important to find the best spinning reel on the market Here are some tips and tricks to help you find the best one for your needs

Material and Construction

The construction of spinning reel is very important to your fishing success It's important to choose a reel that is durably constructed so you'll be able to get years of use out of it To test the construction of the reel, look at how the parts are assembled. Everything should feel solid, with no flimsy parts, and the materials should feel heavy duty. When the reel is in motion, the action should feel smooth and comfortable

It's also important to consider the material your reel is made of Generally, spinning reels are made from either graphite or aluminum There are pros and cons to both materials Aluminum reels are very strong, but they can also be very heavy, which can be a challenge for some fishers However, their construction tends to be more solid Graphite reels are lighter and easier to handle, which make them a good choice for beginner fishers They're also essential for anyone who fishes in saltwater, because graphite does

not corrode in the same way other materials do

Speed and Gear Ratio

The speed at which your wheel rotates will affect the level of control you have over the reel To determine what speed you need for your reel, you'll need to look at the gear ratio of your reel The gear ratio indicates how many times the reel rotates with the rotation of the handle A higher gear rotation means the gear will rotate faster For new fishers, a slow to mid-range gear rotation is going to be the most effective for control

Size

Since spinning reels can be very heavy, the overall size is very important to consider. The weight should also be directly correlated with the weight of the line you intend to use. For bigger fish, you will need to use a heavier line. If you are using a heavier line, it's important that your reel can handle the extra weight However, it's also important to consider how the reel handles overall If you don't have much upper body strength, it's best to start with a light reel and work your way up to heavier fishing

Spool Quality

Another factor that is very important to consider is the overall quality of the spool on the spinning reel The way the spool is constructed will affect the smoothness and overall handling while you're casting There are two types of spools - internal and skirted Skirted spools are generally the preferred style of spool in modern fishing because they help prevent tangling of the line. For those who prefer a longer casting distance, it may also be helpful to look for a long cast spool that will reach much further The cast and feel of the spool is something that's

important to test before making a purchase

Pricing

Fishing materials can be very expensive, so it's important to find a reel that will give you the best value for money. You may have to spend more to get the quality you need, but it's important to make sure the price directly corresponds to the value of the reel A good reel is an investment piece, so don't hesitate to take your time shopping around to find the best spinning reel on the market

There are many factors to consider when shopping for a spinning reel

The overall construction and handling of the product is essential to the way the reel handles When in doubt, try to go to a local fishing shop and test the reels in person with the help of an expert This will help you find the reel that is the best fit for you

29

14th Carlos Garcia / Steve Ivey 9.88

15th Chandler Altman / Manny Altman 9 57

16th Jonathan Lee / Brian Clark 9 56

ACGFA Challenge

Redfish Aggregate

The Tournament Scene

Summer Tournaments

Wednesday Night Tournaments

Mike McCue Park

1st Brian Dutcher / Eddie Cabler 9 84

2nd Alec Pope / Kieran O’Brien 7 09

3rd Chad Duncan / Maggie Duncan 6 01

Palm Valley

1st Malcolm Griffith / Dean Oakley 7 58

2nd Chad Duncan 3 38

3rd John Joes 1 53

Sisters Creek

1st Brenda Smith / Randall Padgett 6.24

2nd Terry Sturgeon 5 96

3rd Scott O’Brien / Wade Hastings 5.51

Lions Club

1st Chad Duncan / Randall Padgett 9 80

2nd Alec pope / Kieran O’Brien 5.71

3ed Brendan Cooks / Cole 4 57

Kids Back to School Kingfish Derby

Aggregate

1st Burnin Daylight 90.29

2nd Tax Relief 68 71

3rd Saltwater Challenge 55 95

IFA Jax

1st Danny Sheldon / Kyle Craven 14 64

2nd Matt Davis / Nathan Morgan 14.29

3rd Joe Wortham / Preston Pineiro 13 37

4th Kicen Gardner / Wyatt Seay 12.77

5th Steven Howie / Ken Mullett 12 52

6th Jesse Rain / Luis Jarmillo 12.33

7th Keith McBride / Eddie Marsh 12

8th Raymond McDermott / Mike Whittier

11 50

9th Jeff Pope / Mark Pionessa 11 49

10th Bob Morris / Gregg King 11 45

11th Jimmy Pausche / Scott O’Brien 11 28

12th Darren Frost / Marvin Engle 11 23

13th Jeremiah Joost-Miller / Nathan Turner

10 22

4th Rick Mackey 14 40

5th Frank Risk 14.20

6th Luke Kersey 14 10

7th Megan Fishack 14 (Lady Champion)

8th Danny Morin 13 90

12th Florida Lure Anglers

19th Safe Harbor Redfish Spots

26th Anglers for a Cure

October

3rd Netti Kayak

3rd Full of Bull

6th Big WT

10th Pink up the Spots in Vilano

24th Flounder Pounder

30
1st Eddie Cabler 14.90
2nd Jim Price 14 60
3rd Austin Woolf 14.40
Kingfish Aggregate
70.65
68 40
BJ Morris 61 70
Craig Sutton 61 32
Scott Jones 60 94
Nathan Rinnert 59 62
Steve Lucie 58 32 9th Keith Daniel 58 08 10th Hayden Engert 56 04
Angler Age 7 - 15 1st Bruin Bennett 33 38 2nd Hayden Wiles 30 48 3rd Grayson Hill 27 09 4th Christina Stephens 24 08 5th Brooke Pickett 22 83 6th Davis Bennett 20 05 7th Ella Jones 19 01 8th Reese Hansens 16 89 9th Michael Leuthold 15 28
Ethan Hussey 13 95 11th Jack Pugh 13.79
Maddux Wright 13 45
Brittany Generazio 12.41 14th Ali Pickett 12 13 15th William Roberts 12.09
Angler Age 1 - 6 1st Brody Rose 29 01 2nd Hunter Tarkington 27 3 3rd Parker Moon 24 6 4th Jason Grey 21.29
Douglas Bell 19 82
Brooks Smith 13.34
Sawyer Paxon 13 13
Sadie Thomas 12.56
Wells Jarrett 12 41
Ryan Vining 10.86
Tournaments
1st Zach Crabtree 71 98 2nd Geoff Starn
3rd Billy Crabtree
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
Jr
10th
12th
13th
Jr
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
Upcoming
Elite
September 1st Big WT 12th Jacksonville
Redfish
31
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.