Fish Kisser Page 3
February 2023
Volume 21 Issue 254
Offshore Pages 5 & 13
Recipe Page 16
Pier n Surf
Page 8
Subscription Form Page 2
Freshwater
Page 6
Tides Pages 3, 10, 24
Tournaments Page 23
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February 2023
Fish Kisser of the Month
Congratulations to our Fish Kisser of the month, who looks really happy laying a big kiss on that fish's slimy lips We have a Free Annual FISHING CONNECTION subscription (12 issues) mailed each month to your home or office ($28 00 Value) for any of you that submit your photo to the contest and are chosen as the winner If you are this month's winner please contact Joe Dionne at FishingConnection@aol com with your name and phone # to claim your certificate Prize must be claimed no later than midnite of the last day of this month to be valid If you would enjoy seeing your photo in the Fishing Connection please send in your best Fish Kissing Photo Thanks to all who send in a Fish Kisser photo. Anyone can win, maybe soon it will be you. Send photos to FishingConnection@aol.com
Rules are Simple
Your lips MUST CLEARLY touch the fish's mouth The person in the photo must be clothed but clothing on the fish is optional Remember, all submissions are considered against future entries too, so if you haven't seen your photo yet, you're still in the contest
Disclaimer
We are not responsible if the fish you're kissing bites your dang face off
Wind, Rain or the Cold?
Odds are one (or all) of these were a variable the last time you wanted to get out fishing This year has been challenging at times, no doubt, but there are things we could do to keep those lines tight
The water temps have been hovering in the low 60s lately making some fish sluggish But regardless of the cool temps, fish must still eat Redfish could be found is thinner waters in the creeks and on the mud flats which absorb all of those warm sun rays Lansford and Alligator Creek are a good place to start Work your way in with the tide hitting docks, structure and oyster beds Mud flats and oyster bars at the mouths of feeder creeks is where they will hang out before the tides allow them to move further into the creeks to shallow water If your boat is capable to get into that skinny water, slowly and quietly move in and keep your eyes peeled for activity Look for the “V” a redfish makes in the water as they feed. A live shrimp on
either a 1/8oz jig head or a wide bend hook with a light split shot 6inches above it will both work great.
Figure out the direction the fish are moving and cast 5ft in front of them and let the bait do the work Their senses will take them to their meal, any closer and you may spook them Much like the weather, trout have been hot and cold. You may go all day without a bite and with warning, go 20 for 20 after getting into a school
I prefer locating the fish with live bait and switching it up to artificial after I get into them I always have a Grinchmas colored Contender on a setup ready to go. The action on a descending Contender tail is to trout You are looking for a reactionary bite from these fish Twitch, twitch, pause with a Vudu Shrimp or 17M Mirrolure are highly effective when targeting trout.
With the Sheepshead bite fired up and El Cheapo right around the bend, fiddler crabs are in higher demand than gold I get 50 calls a day at the shop asking for fids Until we get consistent warmer weather, fiddlers will remain scarce, not only local, but statewide. That’s the bad news, but the good news is that convicts eat more than fids
They love sand fleas, clams, oysters and black mussels
Nik BremerThe El CHEAPO is coming up SOON!!!!
This is an awesome tournament you don’t want to miss out on, Be sure to save the date March 4, 2023, and get registered today at wwwelcheapojax com!
Our general tournament is carrying a 10,000.00 FIRST PRIZE! Our Kayak division presented by Hagan Coastal Outfitters has an amazing 12' Hobie Compass Papaya pedal drive kayak as a grand prize!
Valued at $2749 00!!
There's going to be some stiff competition with the Kayaks this year! Our ladies division presented by landsouth construction and Murray Ford Superstore FIRST place is 1500 00 and that we have over 2,000 00 in prizes for our Junior division presented by A&A Express
And let's not forget to join us Friday, March 3rd, and Saturday, March 4 for our Captains meeting, Award ceremony, and HUGE raffle tables that are open to the public!
NOTE: On the day of the tournament the St Johns River ferry will NOT be in service Please plan accordingly.
For more info be sure to check out our Facebook page as we will be continuing to post updates wwwelcheapojax com
I've seen some massive sea bass come in from offshore right now You shouldn’t have a hard time catching some keepers, Many consider black sea bass to be one of the best eating fish in the Northeast Their meat is flaky, mild in flavor, and not oily – for that reason, sea bass can be cooked in a variety of ways
If you’re in the 100ft range don’t
be scared to drop a slow-pitch jig the cobia bite has came back around they always put up a good fight
I hope everyone is getting their practice in for the El cheapo tournament, this tournament you may fish Inshore or Offshore
Remember structure is your number one friend such as Rock piles, bridges, docks, and pilings. Yes, the ones you have nightmares of getting your boat too close to but Sheepshead admires structure
If you are from Jacksonville Florida and you enjoy fishing just as much as I do, then you should know what JOSFC Stands for “Jacksonville Offshore Fishing Club”
Our club started in 1959 as a group of local fishermen committed to making offshore fishing in this area more exciting and reliable Though it says offshore in the club’s name, we fish inshore as well, we are a reliable, affordable family-friendly fishing club we all become family if you want the truth
Our meetings are on the first and third Thursdays of the month we are open to the public, we would love to have you at our meetings even if you’re not a member yet
JOSFC's
Upcoming Events for February
At the first Thursday meeting we’re having the club’s annual chili cook off YUMMY!
The Second Thursday meeting is the captains bag stuffing meeting! If you have anything you would like to share that is fishing or boat related send us an email or Facebook message I hope everyone has a wonderful start to their new year and catch them up until next time tight lines!
Mariana Suzette Yachnowitz
https://jaxfish.com
Fishing Report
The cold, windy weekend reduced the number of reports, but we’ve had fairly stable weather the last few weekdays. The forecasted late-week cold front will likely cause you to have to deal with some wind and cold again on Saturday Fishing ponds, small blackwater rivers, and other protected waters is a good plan for the weekend River gages on January 19th were:
Clyo on the Savannah River –12 1 feet and rising
Abbeville on the Ocmulgee – 8.1 feet and falling
Doctortown on the Altamaha –10.5 feet and rising
Waycross on the Satilla – 9.0 feet and falling
Atkinson on the Satilla – 6 9 feet and cresting
Macclenny on the St Marys – 2 9 feet and falling
Satilla River – The water level is good on the lower river, and crappie in the oxbows or catfish on the bottom would be your best bet The upper river is on the cusp of spilling into the floodplain
St Marys River – Mark and Sabrina Williams fished the middle St. Marys on Thursday afternoon and had to work for them. They tried artificials and minnows for crappie but didn’t find them, but they did catch 4 nice redbreasts and a few stumpknockers by fishing worms on the bottom in the 54-degree water
Okefenokee Swamp – Fishing was good in the Okefenokee this week during the warm-up On the east side (Folkston entrance), a couple anglers pitched jigs under a float on Wednesday and caught a good mess of fliers, Bill Stewart fished with a friend on Wednesday afternoon for a few hours on the east side, and they trolled up 30 bowfin and 4 pickerel They had an 11-lb , 7oz and 9-lb , 8-oz bowfin that both ate fire tiger -chartreuse blade Dura-Spins in 49-degree water Smaller fish started biting as the water warmed Other colors that worked well were crawfish (both brass and orange blades) and bla artreuse blade. T
of their fish by trolling and could not get any takers when they tried casting The latest water level (Folkston side) was 120 66 feet
Local Ponds – Konner and his dad Robert fished their pond on Friday in the cold and wind, and Konner caught 2 bluegills and a pair of golden shiners by pitching crickets Chad Lee caught 7 bass this week on short lunchtime trips They were almost all 2 pounds and under, but he did manage a 3-pounder on a white spinnerbait in the wind on Thursday Senkos fooled the rest of his fish He fished and Alma area pond in the crazy high winds (his anchor wouldn’t hold) on Saturday and fooled 2 bass with a crankbait. A couple of Blackshear anglers fished a pond on Monday and had a great catch of bass and crappie They had 63 bass (biggest were 8 pounds and their top 5 weighed 33 pounds) They also had a dozen crappie up to a pound They fished live bait, junebug stick worms, and chartreuse jigs tipped with minnows for their fish Dodge County Public Fishing Area (near Eastman) – The bass bite has been really good at the area. An angler reported catching over a dozen quality bass per trip this res, and his ales down to
7 pounds. He released all of them. An angler fishing the pier on Thursday morning had a 25-inch bass on live bait.
Paradise Public Fishing Area (near Tifton) – The big bass have started biting Ray Mitchell fished live bait off the Lake Patrick Pier on Thursday morning and caught a 10-lb , 0-oz and 10-lb , 3-oz bass Crappie bit ok, some people reported catching them and some didn’t Nathan Nissley fished the area on Wednesday and caught some crappie, but he had to fish deep for them.
Saltwater (GA Coast) –Capt. Tim Cutting (fishthegeorgiacoast com) had some good catches inshore during the good tides this week Early this week his clients caught 30 trout (biggest 20 inches) and a few reds by swimming Berkley Power Swimmers and Blue Water Candy’s Christmas tree colored curly-tail grubs On Tuesday they caught a limit of reds then chased sheepshead. They kept 7 nice sheepshead with the biggest 8 pounds. They fooled them with shrimp.
Capt. Bert Deener makes a variety of both fresh and saltwater fishing lures. Check his lures out at Bert’s Jigs and Things on Facebook. For a copy of his latest catalog, call him at 912-288-3022 or e-mail him (bertdeener@yahoo.com).
Creeks & Rivers
By John ChapmanSome time the weather does not cooperate and you must find other fishing related activities
The weather has been that way so far this year and this month be a continuance
I do not have to recap the wind and the subfreezing temps for anyone who got all those new fishing supplies for Christmas and has been trying to find a way out to use them in the last month or so
The weather has been brutally cold and in between that, the wind has been up and all over the place Typical winter conditions in NE Florida, those nice days fall Monday thru Friday when most folks who read this are working.
I think the saying goes something about turning lemons into lemonade. This is how to do that. Take advantage of those days and bank that precious family time, add up that wifey time so when the weather turns to a more favorable fishing forecast you are in there Ok well that probably won’t work out so good so concentrate on a sure bet First thing that you will appreciate is taking your favorite “go to” rod to the retention pond in the neighborhood and throw it a couple of times.
Check for that tell tale coffee grinder sound of an off season in the garage or the remnants of that saltwater dunking you forgot about No better time to find that problem than before you go one of the first nice days of the year you get out Also, it would
not hurt to flip the spool, take one rod and reel with old line you are going to replace anyway and run tie your line on to that empty spool and wind it on up This puts the old line that was on top on the bottom and puts the less used line on top.
It will last longer this way and it looks like new line as well Take the time to check my favorite, all your top water lures and make sure the hooks are all there and freely move the way they are supposed to Nothing worse than a top water with only two hooks because that slob of a redfish broke off one of the hooks last season
There are numerous others that will put you in a bind, such as that cast net that you caught on an oyster bed and forgot to repair the hole it caused, those jig heads that decided to rust in the bottom of your tackle box My personal favorite is getting chewed out by my wife because I come home after using sunscreen and still looking the red hue of a ripe tomato only to read the label on the sunscreen and it has been expired for three years.
Then back to fishing gear the juice you put on your lure to make it appetizing for the fish is rancid and comes out looking and smelling like pluff mud
There are numerous other ways to make that day of fishing go smoother if you get out there and do a little preventive maintenance on your gear I mean we take care of the boat, right? Take a few minutes and lay out the rest of that gear and give it a good look. Make a checklist of things to do while you’re sitting there on the couch watching that favorite Rom Com with your significant other Until then Tight Lines
John Chapman904-743-3200
983 University Blvd. N
Located in the N.E.corne of the Town and Country Shopping Center
STORE HOURS
Wednesday 7am - 6pm
Thursday 7am - 6pm
Friday 7am - 6pm
Saturday 6am - 6pm
Sunday 7am - 5pm
Closed Mon. n Tues.
Mud Minnows
Live Shrimp
Fresh Dead Shrimp
Cigar Minnows
Spanish Sardines
Boston Mackerel
Clams
* Finger Mullet
* Fiddlers
* Blue Crabs
* Live Shiners
* Live Minnows
* Live Crickets
Wide selection of Artificials
* NON -ETHANOL FUEL
* WET & DRY STORAGE
* TRANSIENT SLIPS AVAILABLE
* COMPLIMENTARY WIFI
* BOAT PARTS & ACCESSORIES
* 30 TON TRAVEL LIFT
* HULL CLEANING & BOTTOM PAINTING
Arlington Marina has been recognized as a Clean Marina by the Florida DEP and The Clean Boating Partnership
Pier & Surf
By Spencer BrogdenWe had a cold January in which we saw several freezes and the water temperature along the northeast Florida area drop into the upper 50's.
That really slowed the bite down compared to what it was before the freezes Now as we enter into February, the water is back in the low 60’s which means the whiting bite will start to pick up.
All that’s needed to target them is fresh shrimp(soaked in Diet Pepsi) and either a double or single hook rig I prefer some type of east winds between 6-10 mph for the best results West and northwest winds aren’t bad either as long as the water isn’t too dirty.
There will also be a lot of small blues still cruising the surf, many of them following the pogie pods that hang around the beach Another option for bait,
and one that I think blows every other bait out of the water are ghost shrimp
You will need a ghost shrimp pump to catch them but they are well worth it. Redfish, black drum and Sheephead will also eat them To see the ghost shrimp and how to get them check out my YouTube page(Brokenreel23)
As far as pier fishing is concerned, the Jax pier will hold whiting and Sheephead. The whiting bite tends to be best early morning and late afternoon at the pier, the reason being a LOT of bluefish hang around the pier and the whiting don’t really like that too much
If you want to target Sheephead, live fiddler crabs, oysters, mussels and live shrimp will all work at times.
Pier Sheephead are some of the trickiest around because they sometimes change their diet day to day Fiddlers will work one day and the very next they want live shrimp.
Looking ahead, once we get through February, March will begin a period of EXCELLENT fishing Until next time, tight lines!
Intracoastal & St. Johns River
By Capt. John EggersFebruary ,for me, is the hardest month to have a consistent pattern for most species that I target on my charters.
Weather fronts carry cold , windy, cloudy conditions that keep the water fluctuating thus m lethargic and m where the term lo from.
So many times I schools of redfish and around the b soaking on the bo fishing frustratin almost always o after the front p and drops the wa to 4 degrees.
and because deeper water tends to be a little more temperature stable it will hold more species of fish. Most rock and shell banks 10 to 20 feet will have sheepshead, speckled trout, whiting , black drum, croaker, yellowmouth trout and a lot of times big reds
Of course fiddler crabs work best for targeting sheepshead but everything mentioned before will bite live shrimp and will be the easiest of live bait to find Try to fish shrimp tipped jig heads but if there is too much current use Carolina rigs and vary the weight size to fit the current speed.
You will be happily surprised with the success you get while keeping a bent rod and avoiding those fish that just won't bite
for locating fish Pick up a 3 or 4 inch paddle tail on a jig Slow down your retrieve on the structure and bounce the bait slowly off the bottom. What I am trying to do is catch speckled or yellowmouth trout. Once I catch and locate them I will switch to live shrimp The trout are normally pretty aggressive and a good indicator that you are on good bottom or structure that will hold many other species of fish. This technique will help you get through the cold weather of February and keep you on biting fish Tight lines
Capt John Eggers
Rock n Reel Charters 904 591 1611
Offshore Deepwater
By Capt. Tim AltmanFebruary Wahoo Mania
Wahoo Junkies in Northeast have had wide-open fishing in January Look, I could bore you with a lot of fishing tactics, lures and terminal tackle talk..but right now it’s all about finding the weather window and getting out there Just get your gear ready and go
Fishing reports have been streaming in, but let’s focus on the North Florida Elite 60 Wahoo Tournament Capt Kris Nowicki and Team “Just Us” were the winners of the 2023 North Florida Elite 60 presented by Strike Zone Fishing Jacksonville.
Kris and Team Just Us had a 2fish aggregate of 179.06lbs, That’s almost a 90lb average!!
2nd Place in the Elite 60 belonged to Jason Beckner and Team Catch Up with 169 63lb 2fish aggregate
One of Jason’s fish was the largest fish caught in the tournament at 93 70lbs
3rd Place belonged to Zack Wilson and Team Bigger & Better with 140.76lbs.
Top Lady angler was Gina Gill with a 55 67lb fish and top junior was 15-year-old Drew Holmquist with a 65 31lb fish
All in all, 69 fish were weighed in the 43-boat field of this tourney with the average
weighed fish being 46 50lbs
Total Prize Purse for the tournament was $114,750
It’s not proper to tell how much folks get paid but Kris Nowicki won more money for winning this tournament than I paid for my first 2 homes combined! Mind you that I am old, but that’s still a metric butt-ton of cash.
Folks North Florida has some of the best Wahoo Grounds in this nation for size If you want a trophy Wahoo, Northeast Florida is the place you want to be! If you plan on making a Wahoo trip over the next 3 months, pick your days very carefully and get out there because the fish are here Look for a minimum of 70degree water Also look for clean water (blue), the cleaner the water the better the bite. If you can find clear 70degree water in depths of 120170ft, then play connect the dots with all of your bottom fishing numbers
When cleaning our January fish their bellies were full of Vermillion Snapper, B-liners we call them The most productive lures on the Hoodoo Boat for January have been those that immitate the colors of the Vermillion Snapper
The fish pictured below was caught on a Palmetto Lures “Half Lit” in orange and yellow like a Bliner. The fish was caught in 116ft in 73 5-degree water over one of my Bliner spots
Continued on Page 25
Team “Just Us” with a 91lb Wahoo Top Lady angler was Gina Gill with a 55.67lbIntracoastal Rivers & Creeks
By Capt. Todd PhilcoxWinter fishing on NE Florida’s inshore waters offers a great opportunity for continuous action with a variety of species including redfish, flounder, trout, black drum and sheepshead
Recent weeks have seen many days with 20-30+ fish counts including numerous redfish from 16-22”, some flounder from 1218”and black drum or sheepshead mixed in.
I expect this type of action to continue throughout February as our winter months are my favorite time to fish
I’ve had two tougher fishing days in the last two months and they both closely followed the two major cold fronts that resulted in freezes and significant water temperature drops, the first front on Christmas weekend brought water temps down to a low near 46 degrees and the next major cold front in mid-January saw water temps drop to 51 degrees
On those two days we managed 8-10 redfish from 16-22” but the bites were very sluggish and we had to work hard and cover a lot of ground to find any action
The good news is water temperatures bounced back within 2-3 days to the mid 50’s range and the bite turned on nicely.
I primarily fish light tackle, a 7’ medium light rod with a 2500 class reel spooled with 10lb test braided line and a 20lb test fluorocarbon leader working live shrimp and mud minnows on a
1/8 to a 3/8-ounce jig, depending on wind and tide conditions.
I offer this information because, while I have another 4 size setups with progressively heavier tackle, I fish this lighter setup 85-90% of the time with consistent success and enjoyment for my clients
My expectations are to land redfish in the 15-30” range on this gear, though I have had clients land 25-30lb reds on this lighter setup.
The area I fish predominately, the Intracoastal waterway between Butler Blvd and the St. Johns river, offers a great variety of conditions, shallow mud flats, oyster beds, winding creeks with significant depth changes and the Intracoastal banks and grass lines
All these areas will be productive at different times and under different conditions, the hard part is figuring out when to target each area. I find the most success during our colder months fishing shallower waters farther back in the creeks and those deeper creek h tide drops
There are no charts our creeks, so the o learn them is to get the low tides an slowly!
Wishing you good luc days on the water, c can help get you out into the action! Capt.
(904)403-857
Our Waterways
By Capt. Jim SuberCOJ Waterways Coordinator
Dock Master
Division of Natural Marine Resources
Department of Parks
Recreation and Community Services
1410 Gator Bowl Blvd
Jacksonville, Fl. 32202
Office (904) 630-0839
Cell (904)509-0588
Jsuber@coj.net
wwwJaxParks com
www.COJ.net
2023 has come in with a bang and a lot of projects are full speed ahead. The cold weather arrived and has stayed a little longer than we hoped for but warm weather is around the corner! The water temperatures are in the low sixties and have dipped in to the high 50’s The salinity levels have continued in the normal levels
The City of Jacksonville Continues to make improvements and several projects are seeing progress
Access to the Mayport area by boat and space for the commercial industry is getting near
The new docks of Mayport continue to make progress The deck is now being formed and poured The repair process from the storms continue to be complicated due to including the FEMA and insurance process but progress is moving forward
The new Jax Beach Pier operator is in full operation and all seems to settling in to the new prices and procedures The construction of the new dock on the east side of the Jacksonville Zoo is complete and the Zoo is working on a new entrance plan
The dredging of the Kayak access at Castaway Island Preserve is completion and the dredging of Goodby’s Creek will start soon
The upland park construction from Hogan to Pearl St in front of the Times Union Performing Arts Center is still under development so access to the floating docks in that area is still restricted. The Jacksonville Jaguars had a great second half season and ended with a needed to win last home game which afforded us a playoff game
It seemed like two playoff games and the synergy fun and excitement was raised several notches at the Metropolitan Park Marina Now that the season is over the Marina is going to soon go in to re-development. They will be closing around the first of April and demolition, dredge and rebuild if the marina, bulkhead and Riverwalk to match up to the new hotel, office building and marina operation building in construction
The closure is expected for the next three plus years Next door at Metropolitan Park a new master plan is being developed We are re-installing the wood docks at Metro Park to accommodate boaters and the river taxi operation The City of Jacksonville Park staff removed the sand build up at Mayport Boat Ramp The city has contracted for electricity to be installed at the fish cleaning pavilion. We are working on a partnership with Jacksonville Marine Charities,
The Jacksonville Off Shore Fishing Club and the City of Jacksonville to install a sign board to show fish catches for photo opportunities at Mayport Ram and Jim King Park and Boat Ramp
The Power Pole Redfish tournament was a success and Jim King Park and Boat Ramp
January 21
The tournaments will continue soon with the JOSFC El Cheepo
Sheepshead tournament at Mayport March 4, Florida Surf Casters April 1st, Elite Redfish tournament April 22, Elite Redfish Kayak Tournament
April 23, Jax Premier Trout Tournament April 29th and Jacksonville Marine Charities Redfish Roundup Spots Tournament May 20.
We are still experiencing debris floating in the waterway and some very large dock pieces have been retrieved and more is expected
The derelict vessel war is still full speed ahead. FWCC have completed the investigation and requested removal assistance for the vessel south of the Atlantic Blvd Bridge.
A contract has been approved and by this publication date the vessel should be history FWCC is working to complete the process for the sunken sailboat northwest of the Beach Blvd channel on the ICW
Continued on Page 24
Coconut Shrimp
Ingredients
¾ cup all-purpose flour, divided
⅔ cup beer
1 large egg
1
½ teaspoons baking powder
2 cups flaked coconut
24 medium raw shrimp, shelled, deveined, with tails attached
3 cups oil for frying
Directions
Line a baking sheet with wax paper; set aside Whisk together 1/2 cup flour, beer, egg, and baking powder in a medium bowl until smooth. Place coconut and remaining 1/4 cup flour in 2 separate bowls.
One at a time, hold shrimp by the tail and dredge in flour, shaking off excess. Dip in beer batter; allow excess to drip off. Roll in coconut, then place on the prepared baking sheet Refrigerate for 30 minutes Heat oil in a deep fryer or large skillet to 350 degrees F (175 degrees
C)
Working in batches, fry shrimp in hot oil, turning once, until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes Use tongs to remove shrimp to paper towels to drain
Looks like we are going to have a real winter in Florida this year
We are two freezes into the season and water temps have bottomed out The Christmas freeze was so frigid it dropped water temps inside Guana to 47 degrees!
But, that doesn’t mean fishing is cold too. In fact, the bite has been steady and will continue to heat up through February. The one bright side of cold weather is clear water. As temperatures drop the algae within our intracoastal waterways dies off
We also tend to have less rain this time of year which means less sediment in the water A lack of particulate matter in the water column allows for excellent visibility and crystalline conditions This means sight fishing for redfish in the backwaters will be prime. Reds like to school in the creeks and skinny water this time of year as they search out sun baked flat and stranded prey
They are clearly visible the sun i out and the tide is low You wi often see them pushing water a they cruise along the bottom or, you’re lucky enough, their tail wi breach the surface Unweighte soft plastic lures or free-line shrimp should allow a finess presentation to these prowling reds
If you’d rather stack some meat fo the cooler Sheepshead have bee chewing regularly along oyste bars, bridge pilings, jetty rocks an other forms of hard structure These convicts are well known fo being bait robbers and sneak peckers
Pulling up one empty hook after another can become extremely frustrating.
But, fishing straight up and down while watching your rod tip can help You’ll notice many sheep fisherman fish directly on top of their structure or as close as possible This is to make sure they can feel the bite and eliminate hang ups on the bottom
Casting off the boat will cause you to drag through the structure instead of sitting on it. Watching your rod tip while fishing up and down will also allow you to see the subtle bite of a sheep.
For beginners it can be very hard to feel the bite, but watching the tip of the rod for a bump will help alert you to an eat
Disclaimer: there has been a noticeable shortage of fiddler crabs across most bait shops Although crabs are the preferred bait of choice sheep will eat live shrimp, cut shrimp, cut blue crab and shucked oysters. Or, if you’re the DIY type you can always go into the marsh and find your own fiddlers. Good luck!
Capt Matt Chipperfield
ChipsCoastalCharters@gmail.com
Palm Valley St. Augustine
By Capt. Cory SparksPalm Valley February
Water temps this winter in the Valley have remained on the cool side. Undersized redfish will remain cooperative and can be found in any creek hole or bends with moving water. These fish have been a blast and the sheer numbers are an encouraging sign for our spring and summer redfish bite!
Other species are chewing as well but the key to February success will be to move your bait or lure SLOWLY!
If you think you're going to slow, stop and go slower, or better yet just “dead stick” it Bigger fish will feed but the bite will be soft and subtle Some days you will see as many redfish on the banks as you can wish for but if the water is mid to low 50’s and your attempts to catch them are unsuccessful, move along Some schools are just finicky this time of year and you should spend your time searching for cooperative fish rather than sitting on a school of cold fish that won't chew!
Sheepshead and Black Drum will be nibbling around structure and along oyster bars I love tipping a live shrimp with a piece of Fishbites E-Z Strips on a ¼ oz jighead and letting the current drift it along
Throwing up current and staying in
touch with the bottom while feeling for the bite is a great way to locate these 2 striped fish. If your shrimp keeps losing the head or tail or gets stolen, downsize the offering
Many of our biggest catches come off a small piece of shrimp that fish can easily engulf rather than maneuvering a whole shrimp around their small mouths Once you master feeling the bottom and identifying shells and hang ups as well as bites, you can literally use that technique to read other areas.
When you have a good feel and contact on the bottom, you can know whether you're in mud, sand, shells etc just by staying in touch with your hook You will also begin distinguishing the subtle bites vs. bait thieves and small hang ups or knocks against shells
Flounder have been around but on the small side generally Mud minnows slowly fished around drop offs will locate these fish Many times, a rod left out to soak will have a weight to it when reeling it in to check and then you will realize there is a fish that has eaten it and laid there hooked.
As for trout, target mid water column with artificials and work them as slow as possible Let the lure do the movement through falling slowly Then an occasional twitch will fire these fish off Keep Reeling, C C S k
Karen Raskay with her first Redfish
Captain Matt Sundell of the U. S. Army with a flattie
Sam and Ryan with their first reds
Kayak Fishin' By Will Neimann
Whether you’re a saltwater angler or prefer fresh, February is a fun month Redfish, trout, and flounder will be schooled up on the flats in the crystal clear water we get this month
Not forgetting, the sheepshead bite will be great throughout the month as well Inland, on the fresh side, the crappie, bass, and bluegill will be spawning, so no matter where you go, you’re in for some fun.
During February, our inshore waters are the clearest they will be all year Some days we’ll be 15 to 20 foot visibility But this could make fishing a little more difficult Yes, you can see the fish, but the fish can also see you, so making long cast to the fish is the best approach Scaling down the size of the bait is also a good idea
Smaller, finesse presentations are great this time of year. Ned rigging is a finesse bass technique that works well in the
salt too Using a small crawl or paddle tail on a Ned head will pull fish all month. Other great finesse lure is a Swinging Buck. The weight forward design allows for a long cast with minimal splash, and is an excellent choice in clear water
Working in the grass lines at high tide and the oyster beds at low, you will find reds, trout, and flounder Wearing a good pair of polarized sunglasses and a hat will help cut the sun’s glare so the fish are easier to see in the distance
February is a site fishing month. However, on days following a cold front, sheepshead should be the target. They will be found on the area bridges, docks, and jetties Using mud crabs, blue crab knuckles, or live shrimp are good options when fiddler crabs aren’t available Vertically fish the pilings or rocks if possible, using a NCT Sweeper Jig or a Reel Habit Sheepshead Jig
A sheepshead bite is very light, so if you lose some bait, that’s part of the game. However, don’t sit in one spot too long without a bite. If they’re there, you’ll know within a few minutes. Moving inland, to our numerous bodies of freshwater, as of writing this article, the crappie are starting to push up into the pads, but are still in pre spawn mode
Continued on Page 25
Daytona Ormond Beach
By Capt. Jeff PattersonMan we sure have had some beautiful weather the last few weeks over all! Inshore bite has been really good.
The water has cleaned up a bunch and we have had some clear water that makes site fishing a blast but it can also make it tricky This time of year I fish some shallow areas up around the Tomoka Basin where you can even find big schools of both redfish and black drum
There have been some very calm mornings which makes seeing these fish easier but they can also see you easier so you have to be careful I really like throwing a soft plastic with little weight so it doesn’t spook fish when casting as easily Also a free lined live shrimp works very well
These fish are moving down h li l fi hi i h
been doing awesome with s plastics on a 1/4 or 3/8 oz jig he
Artificial has been very product and hard to beat the action We’ been picking up a flounder here a there and get some good fish in winter
I like using a soft plastic on a head for them too especially be able to cover a lot of territory
The bridges have been good black drum and lots of anglers ha been doing great with sheepshe too. The bridges should continue be productive over the next mont
The inlet has still been swarm with small blues with a ton of 1 12” fish being caught So much t I haven’t fished it a whole There’s been a few times where y literally could not get past th with a bait
The other thing is when you ho one or even another fish for t matter sometimes the little blu will chase after your egg sinker you’re using one on the way and when they bite the sinker, will bust your line
They have run me off a spot quit few times recently There has be some big sheeps around th though I think the bite at the in should only get better over the n month so we’ll see.
On another note I am now running ff h i i h t
February is here and what a great start to the year we’ve had The Jaguars are playoff winners and the fishing has been fantastic!
We have spent almost all of our time the past month sight fishing the oyster flats and creeks. The water clarity has been unreal. There have been tons of big schooling reds hanging around the oyster beds and the best part is you don’t have to wake up at the crack of dawn to find them I like to wait until about 10am and let the sun come up If you time it perfectly with the low tide around noon the water should warm up and the sight fishing becomes epic!
At the lower tide we have been pushing around in about 3ft of water looking for nice oyster bed clumps with some moving moving water.
If you like artificial you can’t beat a 4”-5” paddle tail right now I like to pair it with a lighter jig like a 1/8 or 1/4 The water is shallow so you don’t need anything too heavy to hang on the bottom
If the area you're fishing is really oystery, I would try using weedless jigs by Seaworx fishing. The hook stays flush with the top of your paddle tail, letting it pull right over anything you may get hung up on. Also, you may want to try fishing topwater in these areas
Since the lure is being dragged
on the surface you don’t have to worry about anything below My absolute favorite topwater is the “creeper” made by Kiss My Fish. It has a killer “walk the dog” motion and a really loud rattle good enough to wake the neighbors
We have been catching a lot of really nice sized flounder hanging out near the oyster beds as well If you're specifically targeting these fish you can also look for nice breaks between the islands and oysters with moving water
Use a heavier jig so you can drag bottom and retrieve very slowly. At a higher tide, we like to take advantage of all the water, and bring the boat deep in the creeks where you normally can’t go Schools of reds are typically sitting way back in the deeper holes around the creek bends and ends
If they are there you will know instantly You will either see them tailing out of the water or big wakes on the surface while they're cruising looking for bait. Another good area to try during high tides is the grass walls. Try to stay about 30 feet from them and strip your bait parallel with them
There have been some really nice trout and reds being caught The winter trout bite is here! I like to use the 5” slam shady by zman for these guys If you like live bait, nothing beats a shrimp You can tail hook them on a jig or put them under a cork They have been hanging in the middle water column, so the high tide bite has been better.
As always swing by Genungs Fish Camp to pick our brains about what’s biting in the area I will also be running kayak fishing charters this year, from our location, so come on in and see me! We’ll catch you later!
Drew Florez
Expires 2/28/23
Tournament Board
By Craig VanBrocklinWinter Tournaments
FLA – 1 Redfish/2 Trout (weight)
1st Wade Hastings 12 45
2nd Amy & Dave Farrish 9 96
3rd Alan Flowers/Lee Jones 9 44
Upcoming Tournaments
1/21/2023 PowerPole Redfish
2/4/2023 FLA
2/11/2023 PP East Coast Go Live Redfish
2/18/2023 North Fl Inshore Slayers Sheepshead boat/kayak
2/25/2023 KA Redfish boat/kayak
3/4/2023 FLA
3/4/2023 El Cheapo Sheepshead boat/kayak
3/25/2023 Fl Redfish Series
4/1/2023 FLA
4/1/2023 Florida Surfcasters
4/1/2023 Inshore Extreme Kayak Challenge
4/15/2023 Hadassaah's Hope Vilano boat/kayak
4/22/2023 Elite Redfish
4/23/2023 Elite Redfish Kayak
4/29/2023 Jax Premier Trout boat/kayak
5/6/2023 FLA
5/13/2023 Fl Redfish Series St Augustine
5/20/2023 FLA Championship Weekend
5/20/2023 Redfish Roundup Spots - kayaks allowed
5/27/2023 CCA STAR begins (9/4 end)
6/3/2023 Kingfish Mayhem St Augustine
6/24/2023 Kingbuster
7/18/2023 GJKT Jr Angler
7/21/2023 GJKT General
7/22/2023 GJKT Redfish - boat/kayak
8/5/2023 N FL King of the Beach surf fishing 9/23/2023 Anglers for a Cure - boat/kayak 10/7/2023 Full of Bull
10/7/2023 Netti Kayak Challenge
10/7/2023 Hook the Future
10/14/2023 Flounder Pounder
Continued from Page 15
A new ordinance has been approved for the Ortega River that will require owners of anchored vessel remove the vessel after 45 days in a six month period Signage should be installed soon
The Jacksonville Waterways Commission continues to address the Offshore, near shore, and in shore reef concepts The City of Jacksonville owns the permits for the offshore reefs and two reefs in the St. Johns River.
The Idea of a near shore reef with in the 3-mile limit as well as Deep water Fish Aggregating Devices (FAD’s) continue to be studied Grant opportunities have been identified and are being explored
If you are interested and have ideas stay in tune and make your ideas known
I want to continue to remind all, on the east end of the Back River behind Blount Island we have a sand bar developing It is on the Ramoth Drive side of the river A solution to this concern is being worked on. Please use caution and a look out anytime you are underway especially when up on plane in your boat, debris items are just under the surface and seeing them can be difficult. Day time always use good, polarized sunglasses and at night slow down and double your caution and lookout
The Jacksonville Waterways Commission has formed a committee to address this issue and discussions continue with The Army Corp of Engineers and a source of the sand is being explored
The cooler weather has made most of the manatees go south but we still may have some lingering in warm water spots so always use caution FWCC has been monitoring a few manatees that remain in the Ortega River and one had to be rescued
The City of Jacksonville staff observed a manatee stuck in the mud flat at Metro Park January 6th
I notified the FWCC Manatee Rescue Staff at the Jacksonville Zoo and a rescue operation was launched With the assistance of the COJ Park staff and Jacksonville Fire and Rescue, FWCC staff were able to recover the 1100 plus pound manatee and the manatee is now
recovering at the zoo for a return to the waterways soon
NOAA is working on a plan to restrict speed off shore of the east coast during the right whale season This currently applies to large ships and deep draft vessels but they are requesting a rule that will apply to all vessels over 34 feet This will have a major impact on our north Florida and South Georgia fishery so stay tuned to this and let NOAA and your Congressman and Senators know your position.
As always allow me to continue to remind everyone to always check your boat and yourself Use of a lookout and being aware of your surroundings are always a priority. Invest in a QUALITY EPERB, file a float plan with someone that will miss you first so if things don’t go as planned, the search for you can be narrowed and recovery can be quicker
Take a safe boating course and do your part to activate our waterways!
The Jacksonville Sail and Power Squadron, America’s Boating Club, continuously offers America’s Safe Boating Course at Lamb’s Yacht Center and classes have resumed monthly Check their web site for classes through 2023
The cost of the classes to the student will continue to be reduced to an affordable rate thanks to a donation from Jacksonville Marine Charities from proceeds from the Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament.
The next class and all future classes will be announced on the America’s Boating Club web site at wwwusps org/localusps/Jackson JSPS continue to do vessel inspections so you can contact an inspector at the same web site or reach out to me and I will assist getting you with an examiner Last but not least, show pride in the facilities provided for your use with your tax dollars by properly disposing of your by-products when you clean your fish and dispose of your trash appropriately!
Happy New Year!
BE SAFE! AND WASH YOUR HANDS!!
Capt Jim SuberContinued from Page 19
Trolling along the pads will get them, especially through the deeper holes Greens, yellows, and purples have been good color choices
A Missouri Minnow, under a slip cork, is a good choice for live bait. Bass are also pushing up onto their beds. Some lakes already have an active spawn, but most will be happening over the next few weeks.
Bass will hit just about anything when they are spawning, if it’s too close to their bed I really enjoy a good top water bite
Personally, I think it’s the most exciting way to get them Plugs, frogs, and buzzbaits are my favorites, but some days they slower presentation is needed
On those days, a Texas rigged creature bait, such as a Rage Craw, is what will be most productive.
Work a shoreline and slowly bounce the bottom, but make sure you’re rigged weedless
Fresh or salt, big water or black water creek, the fishing in February is worth the trip Good luck and tight lines I’ll see ya out there
Continued from Page 13
I’ve had several Wahoo charters in January that were all hi-speed trolling All of them yielded nice fish, with the biggest pictured below
A nice surprise this year has been the keeper-size Seabass that have shown up good numbers and you don’t have to run that far to get them. Look for live bottom or good structure from 13-19 miles out of the Mayport Jetties You will have to weed through a plethora of juvenile Red Snapper, so please bring you barometric descension device to release them safely
On one of my shorter charters with the smaller of our 2 boats, the Hoodeux Boat (the new 2022 Contender 25T) we limited out with big “Greenhead” Seabass in less than an hour.
We were using light tackle equipped with “chicken rigs” and the hooks tipped with Cuddlefish If you’re looking for Cuddlefish (small squid) call B&M Tackle on Mayport Road to see if they have some in stock If they do pick them up even if you’re not fishing that day and keep them frozen for your lucky day off Cuddlefish are also deadly for my favorite bottom fish this time of year Triggerfish! The Triggerfish have been on fire in depths of 130-170ft. Folks Triggerfish is the true chicken of the sea They are a little tough to clean,
but well worth your time and effort
We have limited out in good size triggerfish in our charters over the Christmas holidays and in January Don’t expect the hot triggerfish bite to cool down until May
Where can you purchase all of your Wahoo tackle and rigging? Strike Zone Fishing Jacksonville is where! Strike Zone owner Dave Workman Jr. has the largest selection of Shimano
Reels in Northeast Florida and has a huge selection of Wahoo specific tackle and rigging
Ask for Archie or Dalton to get expert advice on all your Wahoospecific needs
HooDoo Charters Wahoo Trips are in full Swing For more information or to book a trip use the contact info below
Until next month remember that great things happen when you take a kid fishing!
Roys Surf Fishing Guide Service
Happy to report that all Beaches in the Daytona Beach area are open to Fishing and Driving
Also would like to let you know Flagler Beach Pier Now has live Bait for the Surf Fishermen. Open 6am To 5pm .
Roy's Surf Fishing Challenge is March 31 , April 1st 2023 to learn more SURFFISHINGCHALLENGE.COM or follow on Facebook
Fishing Report as of 1/23/2023
The beach is still holding Pompano and lot's of Whiting and Bluefish , Black Drum , Few Sheephead water temp is 65 in Daytona Beach.
If your coming to Daytona beach over the next few weeks to Beach Fish
Your Rod & Reel Bait & Tackle is open at 4am Year around come check them out tell them Roy Sent you.
Roy's Surf Fishing Guide Service royssurffishing.com
