PRINT VERSION DISCONTINUED
The Fishing Connection Monthly Publication was introduced to Northeast Florida fishing enthusiasts in 2002 and since that time it has grown dramatically with printed distribution in the local Jacksonville, Florida area including Fernandina and St Augustine, and since then the Fishing Connection LOGO became an Iconic Symbol in the fishing community.
In the last few year’s we have branched out to several other Florida counties including Clay, Flagler, Volusia, and Brevard distributing up to 10,000 copies per month, and read by well over 30,000 readers monthly and distributed to well over 100 outlets including Walmart’s, Bait n Tackle Shops, Restaurants, Grocery Stores, Sandwich Shops and dozens more.
During the last 2 years or so the cost to produce the printed version kept rising due to printing costs including Ink, paper, transportation, and delivery costs, and Postal rates kept climbing as well, and then COVID hit!!
Rick Hale and I both agreed prior to his death to comprise a letter to our Advertisers that we would do our very best to prevent any rate hikes as long as we possibly could and it seemed to work for a period of time, and then costs began to rise again with fuel, paper, and lumber prices skyrocketing and the cost to produce the paper became too much to handle without having to crawl back
to our customers after we assured them we would not increase the rates.
Today, most small businesses are feeling the bite and doing what they can to stay afloat with the costs of EVERYTHING going up at a rocket pace, and I refuse to knock on their door again and ask for more money when they have less than before. I have racked my brain over the last few months to come up with a solution to keep the Fishing Connection alive and concluded that it was time to go DIGITAL beginning with the May 2023 issue!!
This way, the Fishing Connection survives, The readership expands tremendously and is viewed WORLDWIDE by millions who benefit from the information the Fishing Connection provides each month, and also view the ADS that our advertisers place with us each month
Best of all we are giving back to our advertisers who supported us for so long by cutting their AD rates by (50%) and allowing those savings to go back into their businesses to help with the daily expenses it takes to run a business in today's environment, all while including more attractive ADs and being able to Click on the AD and have it transfer you straight to their Business website or Facebook page.
My biggest regret is to those dedicated readers who have subscribed year after year to have the Fishing Connection mailed to their home or business, or go to their local outlet to grab one off the racks and not have the feel of the actual paper they have held in their hands for years.
I have included a Mailing List form on the FishingConnectionOnline.com website so anyone can simply enter their E-Mail address and click the Submit button to receive a FREE
monthly Flipbook issue in their EMail
I totally understand that everyone is not Tech and Internet savvy and I will continue working on a solution to find a way to keep a printed copy arriving in their mailbox each month, or being displayed on the racks and counters in your neighborhood, and hopefully, we can financially get back to the time when affordability returns and all is well with the world again Until then we hope you continue to value the information that our column writers provide you with each month and support the advertisers who keep this Publication afloat, and please feel free to contact me with any questions or suggestions you may have.
We will be going thru a few changes here shortly but will continue to provide you each month with the valuable fishing Information you look forward to getting from this Iconic Publication.
The Fishing Connection is available in Flipbook form and can be found at FishingConnectionOnline.com
We Love all of you and thank you for understanding and supporting this popular Fishing Publication.
Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions you may have by texting me at 904-962-5996
Sincerely,
Joe Dionne Publisher / Editor Jaxpier@Gmail.com Fishing & Boating Media Group Inc
FishingConnectionOnline.com 5
Fernandina
Amelia Island
By Nik Bremer
Well, it’s June already and summer is officially here. Kids are out of school, families are on vacation and our waterways and beaches are busy, busy, busy. With that said, everyone please have a safe summer.
Remember to lead by example and if you happen to take a newcomer out on the water, or to the beach, make it a point to teach them a little about etiquette. For most of us, this info is common sense, but that’s because we were raised by someone who taught us the ways of the water. If you’d like a good look at the ones that didn’t get the memo, go to Dee Dee Bartels on The Fourth of July or a busy weekend. Here are a few reminders to ensure a positive experience for all anglers.
First, respect fishing boundaries by giving ample space between you and the next guy. If you’re on the beach, I typically give enough space for my neighbor to fight a large fish without encroaching on each other’s lines. 50 yards is a good starting point. Remember that the fish will usually swim with the current after it is hooked. If you’re in a boat and get to your spot late, it’s best to find another location to respect the space of the angler that got there first. I’ve had situations when other so-called fishermen (minus the etiquette) pull up right next to me and have actually cast over my lines. Depending on tempers, things could escalate quickly, and no one needs that.
Secondly, clean up after yourself. You may have heard the expression “Leave it Cleaner Than
You Found It”, try to go by that motto. Nobody likes getting to the beach and seeing plastic scattered around. If you see something that isn’t natural for the setting, please take it with you to dispose of at a later time.
Next, be mindful of noise. Not only will this step allow you to keep the fish around, but it will also allow you to keep the respect of surrounding fishermen and residents. Most of you reading this are no longer in High School and are not trying to impress others by blaring loud music trying to be cool. That’s what the sandbars are for.
Last and probably the most important, follow the fishing regulations. This starts by familiarizing yourself with the regulations set by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. Adhere to size and bag limits, seasonal closures and gear regulations to support sustainable fishing practices. I hate when I see people loading a cooler with 13” trout or keeping an over slot red. There are numerous outlets to double check these regulations including apps and websites while on the water. At Amelia Island Bait and Tackle we sell foldable fishing rulers that have all of the up to date fishing regulations on them and have clearly marked slots to help you determine what is legal and not. Always feel free to come by and ask questions if you can’t find them on other outlets.
Nik Bremer
Amelia Island Bait & Tackle
Fernandina Beach, Fl. (904) 277-0775
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Fishing the Swamps Creeks and Ponds
By Capt. Bert Deener
May 25, 2023 Report
I hope you have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend and are able to work some fishing into your plans. Saltwater will be rough early in the weekend with very strong winds forecasted, but it should calm down late into the weekend. The Okefenokee and ponds are your best bet for the holiday weekend, but a few rivers are fishable. Some are flooded, so check the gages near where you want to fish if planning to fish a river this weekend Be safe and have a blast on the water!
River gages on May 25th were:
Clyo on the Savannah River – 10 5 feet and rising
Abbeville on the Ocmulgee – 6.0 feet and falling
Doctortown on the Altamaha – 8.8 feet and falling
Waycross on the Satilla – 12 5 feet and rising
Atkinson on the Satilla – 7.7 feet and rising
Statenville on the Alapaha – 5.5 feet and rising
Macclenny on the St Marys – 5 1 feet and falling
Fargo on the Suwannee – 3.8 feet and rising
Alapaha River – Don Harrison paddled around and fished out of a middle river landing on Saturday. He caught 8 redbreasts, 2 bluegills, and 2 spotted sunfish Two of the redbreasts and one
of the bluegills were big fish Bruised banana gold and crawfish Satilla Spins produced his fish It appears from the gages that the Alapaha basin did not get much rain. It came up just enough to make it decent to get around in a boat but is falling out again Expect some offcolor water, but the river should be fishable Paddle crafts are perfect for the river this weekend Take note that the Highway 129 Bridge boat ramp (near Lakeland) will be closed beginning May 30th It will be closed for a couple months while the ramp and parking area are rebuilt
Altamaha/Ocmulgee Rivers – The rivers are barely within the banks, but I got good reports of bream fishing back in the oxbow lakes and bass fishing as well. A Fitzgerald angler fished twice and caught 14 bass one trip and 8 bass another trip Texas-rigged plastic worms were the ticket for him. He fished junebug in the more stained areas and green pumpkin in the few clearer backwaters that he found. He had a 4-pounder on one trip, but most were 1 to 2 pounds Another angler fished some backwaters way up a creek and wore out the big bluegills with crickets He caught a few with worms on the bottom, but crickets were best. A pair of anglers fishing the lower Ocmulgee around Lumber City eased up into a small creek and caught a great mess of bluegills, shellcrackers, and redbreast sunfish on Satilla Spins and crickets. The main river is swift, but you should be able to catch some fish in current breaks and backwaters For bream, try spinnerbaits, but you may have to resort to pitching worms and crickets if they’re not active enough to chase. Fish are shallow, so you should be able to find some panfish, catfish, or bass willing to bite
. Satilla River – The numbers reported this week were not high, but I heard of some really nice fish being caught, especially redbreasts. John and Lisa Morgan came down from Alabama to fish, and they had a total of 48 good-sized fish (30 were over 10-oz.) in 3 days of fishing. On Friday they had 2 big fish that weighed 15.45-oz apiece. They caught most of their fish by pitching lime green bugs, but had about 1/4 of their fish on Satilla
Spins It wasn’t the numbers of fish they’re used to catching, but they had a blast and enjoyed the big fish Capt Kyle Meyer and a friend fished the middle Satilla on Wednesday and caught 20 panfish and bass on Satilla Spins and some on poppers (with a fly rod) Their biggest was a 10-inch rooster that ate a catalpa Satilla Spin I learned that Steve Nettles caught a 6 91-lb bass on a jackfish-colored Dura-Spin in the Satilla backwaters along with a few warmouth Savannah River – Tyler Finch fished a smaller tributary to the river on Friday and did well for panfish before the river came up fast He had 45 panfish on 3/16oz. Satilla Spins tipped with crickets.
St. Marys River – The only report I got this week was from the Shady Bream Tournaments event on Saturday. They had 14 boats entered, and Chris and Troy won it with 8.77 pounds (10 panfish). Second was Daniel and Darwin with 8.40 pounds Ernie and Charlie placed third with 8.33 pounds. Big fish was a 1.34pound crappie caught by Bo and Clay. They will be holding a co-ed tournament on May 27th, so check out Shady Bream Tournaments on Facebook for more details
Okefenokee Swamp – Chuck Dean fished the east side on Friday and only took his fly rod. He flung a chartreuse streamer and caught 5 bowfin to 3 pounds and 2 chain pickerel (jackfish) He went back with a friend on Sunday from 10 until 1:30 with spinning tackle and Dura-Spins and caught 65 bowfin and a big jackfish during the short trip. Their best colors were fire tiger-chartreuse blade, crawfish-brass blade, and red/whitesilver blade. They trolled until one of them hooked up, then the other cast around while the original person fought the fish close to the boat to net it. They caught fish both casting and trolling, and often they were both hooked up before the first angler could get the fish close enough to the boat to net it. Their biggest fish was 5-lb , 4-oz , but they had a dozen right at 5 pounds. They said that the yellow flies were bad in some areas. Cover up when you fish the swamp from now through about the 4th of July.
FishingConnectionOnline.com 8
If you can avoid thickly wooded areas and stay in the open, it will be more pleasant. Steve Nettles reported catching warmouth, bowfin, and jackfish on both the east and west sides on Dura-Spins in the jackfish color This weekend on the east side he had 40 panfish (warmouth and fliers) and 10 jackfish The latest water level (Folkston side) was 120.50 feet.
Dodge County Public Fishing Area (near Eastman) – Ken Burke fished the area on Friday and caught 7 bass His biggest was 3 pounds with a couple more 2 1/2-pounders. His fish ate plastic worms rigged on a shaky head. The water temperature climbed to 82 degrees during the day He also fished the lake on Wednesday and caught 6 bass up to 5 pounds with 3 others in the 2 to 2 1/2-pound range. Crankbaits were the key to getting bit that day.
Hugh M. Gillis Public Fishing Area (near Dublin) – Ken Burke reported having a good trip to the area on Saturday He caught 16 fish total (14 bass). The oddballs were a 3-lb. pickerel and 2.5-lb. brown bullhead. His biggest bass was 2 pounds. He caught all but 2 fish on a crankbait, and those 2 ate a shaky head worm The water temperature was 82 degrees.
Local Ponds – Bud Gray came down from Nashville, Tennessee to fish visit Chip Lafferty, and they fished a Brunswick area pond on Friday. Bud caught his first bass ever during the trip. They caught 17 bass up to 4 pounds in 2 hours of fishing, and a copperfield vibrating jig was their best lure that day. Lily fished with her dad in a Blackshear area pond on Friday, and they caught 6 crappie (kept 3 of the larger ones) and a bass by trolling minnows. Another pair of anglers fished a pond on Saturday and trolled minnows and pitched crickets for 9 crappie up to 14 inches (1 3/4 pounds) and a handful of big bluegills
Tommy Davis fished a Waycross area lake on Tuesday and caught 9 crappie (slow for his standards). Six of them
were good fileting size, but 3 were topping a pound He caught them by spider-rigging a Tennessee Shad Specktacular Jig tipped with a minnow. A couple of anglers fishing a Baxley area pond flung Satilla Spins and pink worms and caught exactly 50 bluegills up to 9 1/2 inches and a 1-pound shellcracker The pink worms were suspended about 18 inches under a float and the best color Satilla Spins were cracklehead crawfish and black/chartreuse. They tipped the small spinnerbaits with green pumpkin magic 2-inch Keitech swimbaits. Chad Lee caught 4 bass this week while fishing in a Camden County pond for a short time. He had a couple 2pounders on Senkos and a couple onepounders on Red-Eye Shad lipless crankbaits Tripp Vick of Guyton caught a nice bass in his pond on Sunday by flinging a 4-inch green pumpkin ZOOM lizard.
Saltwater (GA Coast) – Tommy Sweeney fished the Brunswick area but only caught small trout this week on artificials. He did have a big tripletail inshore on one trip. It ate an electric chicken Keitech on an 1/8-oz. prototype Capt. Bert’s jighead. Some Brunswick anglers fished inshore with live shrimp and caught a few big trout in the Brunswick area around current breaks. Steve and Brenda Hampton fished the Jekyll Island Pier on Saturday and caught an 18-inch redfish, 3 keeper flounder (12 1/2, 13 1/4, and 19 inches) and a big whiting They caught them on hoodwink plastics and mudminnows Brenda’s big whiting had three 8-inch long eels in its stomach.
Capt. Tim Cutting (fishthegeorgiacoast.com) said that the winds were terrible this week, but he was able to duck into some backwaters and find trout, redfish, and flounder. They caught 10 to 12 keepers per trip this week and caught them on Keitech swimbaits and live shrimp under Harper Super Striker Floats Most of the fish were caught near or in fallen trees, but a few oyster shell mounds produced, as well. Tides this weekend
should be a good height, but the wind forecast is terrible early in the weekend. It should improve some late in the weekend, but check the forecast before heading to the big water
Keaton Beach/Steinhatchee, Florida –
Capt. Pat McGriff of One More Cast Guide Service (850-838-7541; www.onemorecast.net) out of Keaton Beach had some great trips this week. They had limits of trout on Thursday and Friday with some big fish along the way They released 2 over the slot on Saturday and Sunday and one over the slot on Monday. Each day was tough getting bites when it was slick, but the fish started chewing as the breeze picked up During the slick times, they found trout would eat pink ghost Assassin 5-inch Shads bounced on 1/8oz. jigheads in 5.5 to 6.5 feet. When the wind picked up they moved in to 4 to 4.5 feet with some stain and caught trout to 22 inches on live pinfish under Back Bay Thunder Floats They found reds on Monday in 3 to 3.5 feet and caught 4 up to 26 inches (4 anglers onboard). The biggest fish they landed (and released) was a 35-inch cobia on Monday. They jumped the first tarpon of the season this week but the fight didn’t last long on 10-pound test It was basically a good jump then byebye
Capt. Bert Deener
Capt.BertDeenermakesa varietyofbothfreshand saltwaterfishinglures.Check hisluresoutatBert’sJigsand ThingsonFacebook.Fora copyofhislatestcatalog,call himat912-288-3022 ore-mailhim
(bertdeener@yahoo.com).
FishingConnectionOnline.com 9
Fish Kisser of The Month
June 2023
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Pier & Surf
By Spencer Brogden
June is here and the invasion of kingfish and tarpon along our shoreline is in full throttle.
One quick glance at the end of the pier during the day and the multiple umbrellas, and tall rods lining the end will tell the story of kingfish season. At the time of this writing several nice kingfish have already been caught off the end of the Jax beach pier. The set ups and crowds may look intimidating but once you get to know the people and see how easy the set ups are you might want to try your hand at it!
In this months article we are going to briefly discuss how to target these kings from the pier.
The set up we use is a trolley rig, similar to a down rigger used on a boat. We use two rods. One rod we call the anchor rod. Typically a 10-12ft rod is used with a reel capable of throwing 46 ounces. I use 25lb test on my mud anchor rod. This rod will act as our trolley rod. We attach what we call a mud hook, think Sputnik but much larger It will catch in the sand and enable us to attach our baits to slide out over the top of the water
You will need a tall piece of PVC that you will attach to the rail with bungee cords to set your anchor rod in
Next is your fighting rod I use a Torium and a Speed Master on an 8ft fighting rod. You will want a reel capable of holding 4-6 hundred yards of line. Do kingfish run that far? No, but the tarpon that also eat the baits do. I use 20lb line and have even gone as light as 16lb. Most use between 20-30lb line on their fighting reels.
I like using an 8ft rod because it makes it easier to lift my line over other rods when the fish runs up and down the pier
The tackle aspect is pretty simple You will need kingfish wire, Treble hooks, swivels and egg sinkers I use AFW wire, usually 38-44lb. I make about a 45ft leader with it and use a three treble hook set up. I use #4x trebles for this. Depending on what bait you use will determine how far apart you have each hook.
To attach the fighting line to the anchor rod I use a snap swivel followed by a short piece of line with a 3-5oz egg sinker and then a swivel On the swivel I tie a small piece of 6lb leader I attach the other end of the 6lb leader to the swivel on the leader on the fighting rod After this is completed you simply use the snap swivel to attach it all to the anchor rod. It will then slide down the line as you let line out on your fighting rod.
Kingfish will hit a wide variety of baits. I’ve caught them on the pier using Bluefish, Spanish Mackerel, Whiting, Greenies, Pilchards., Sand Trout, Pogies and Spots. Some days they prefer one over the other Ultimately, the bait I
would choose to use the most would be a bluefish
They live a long time and definitely seem to catch a king’s eye more often than not Just remember with your baits to obey the regulations. You will want to bring a large bait bucket you can hang in the water so you can have several baits on hand at all times.
This is a quick and easy version of how to kingfish on the pier. It is a tight knit group on the end of the pier but they are also a very friendly bunch to those who truly want to learn how to do it And there is an unwritten rule out there
No braid The reason being is with braid, if a fish were to cut across the front of the pier through all the lines it will cut everyone off! I use braid on everything except my kingfish setups.
I hope this helps and I hope to see some new anglers catch a big king off the end of the pier. Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel Brokenreel23 for weekly updates. Until next time, tight lines!
Spencer Brogden
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• Angler - Matt Smith
• Gaff Man - Kerry
• Location – Jax Beach Pier
• Date – 5/5/23
• Weight - 42 lbs.
• Bait – Bluefish
• Angler – Will Rehberg
• Gaff Man – Matt Smith
• Location – Jax Beach Pier
• Date 5/13/23
• Weight – 36.6 lbs
• Bait – Bluefish
Joe Dionne with a nice Kingfish Bait
14 inch Bluefish
And yes, that was a few years ago lol
FishingConnectionOnline.com 15
Our Waterways
By Capt. Jim Suber
COJ Waterways Coordinator
Dock Master
Division of Natural Marine Resources
Department of Parks
Recreation and Community Services
1410 Gator Bowl Blvd.
Jacksonville, Fl. 32202
Office (904) 630-0839
Cell (904)509-0588
Jsuber@coj.net
www.JaxParks.com
www.COJ.net
Greetings, Well here we are, Summer has arrived The water temperatures are on the rise with high 70’s and low 80’s reported. The salinity levels and water temperatures have leveled off to normal levels.
The tournaments are full speed ahead and it is looking like the fish are willing to cooperate Jacksonville Marine Charities Redfish Roundup went well and the Kingfish Tournaments are ready to kick off and the kingfish are starting to show up for the events. The sailboats gave a great show on the St. Johns from Palatka to the Rudder Club at the Buckman Bridge
The winds were up so the event proved to be a real race! The Jacksonville Rudder Club always has a great event and The Jacksonville Sail and Power Squadron assisted the club with safety boats on the race route. 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 wood docks at Metro Park have been installed and a floating system area installed for River Taxi and drop off zones. Metro Park Marina closing for demo and rebuild has been pushed to mid-June and hopefully pushed farther to get past our 4th of July activities
Boaters are still able to continue to use the Metropolitan Park Docks for events at the Arena and stadium area We have several FIND grants moving along. Riverview Park new boat ramp is near mobilization, Liberty Street Marina design and permits, Pottsburg Creek/ Beach Blvd design and permits to rebuild, Mike McCue Boat Ramp Bulk Head replacement design is near completion, Thomas Creek Fish Camp Adaptive Kayak launch is in design and permits, Reed Island Park development is in bid review
Jim King Park and Boat Ramp, St Johns Boat Ramp Boardwalk and the replacement of the Oak Harbor Bulkhead. We have started the dredge project of Goodby’ Creek which will deepen the channel from the St Johns River to the Boat Ramp area
A new city ordinance has been approved by the city council to develop an anchoring restriction zone in the Ortega River. This will require vessels leave the area after 45 days on anchor. New signage for enforcement will be installed soon
In addition to these new signs Florida Fish and Wildlife has added two Manatee Zone 300 ft from shore signs on the south side of the Ortega The complete waterway is designated slow speed zone 300 ft. from shore. The derelict vessel war is still full speed ahead. FWCC Officers are working the cases to get us approval to remove but the paperwork process is in slow motion FWCC is working to complete the process for the sunken sailboat northwest of the Beach Blvd channel on the ICW.
We have derelicts working in the 5900 block of Heckscher Drive, on the Trout River and one back in Cedar River. We have derelict vessels at Lions Club, Burt Maxwell, Wayne B Stevens and Half Moon Ramps. This process takes time, but all these vessels were at one time someone's pride and joy so insuring due diligence to allow the owners deal with the vessel takes time and a lot of investigative time by law enforcement
The Boating an Waterways Office in Tallahassee of FWCC has received funds for derelict vessel removal so they are working on contracting a contractors to remove over 30 vessels state wide with 6 removals planned for Duval County.
The City of Jacksonville is submitting grant requests to the Florida Inland Navigation District for design of dredge needs in the downtown area, the design of extending the floating dock system at
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Continued
2023 Jacksonville Mug Race participant
The Chairman of the Waterways Commission has named a committee to explore a slow speed zone at the Cesery Bridge as well as all lower level bridges in the county. The committee held a noticed meeting and approved a zone at the Cesery Bridge and the full commission as of this writing is scheduled to vote on the recommendation.
The full council voted approval on the issue to get an ordinance for approval then the request will go to FWCC for approval Within the next few months you will see slow speed zones signs for the Cesery Bridge as well as signage warning boaters in this waterways of paddle craft activity.
I want to continue to remind all, on the east end of the Back River behind Blount Island we have a sand bar developing. It is on the
Ramoth Drive side of the river. A solution to this concern is being worked on. The Jacksonville Waterways Commission continues to have 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 Waterways Commission has submitted legislation to fund warning buoys for the area as a cause and solution is explored.
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. For those navigating the St Johns River south of Doctors Inlet a large tree stuck in the river bottom and just under the surface when tides a higher and actually out of the water at low tides was reported to concerned boaters on Mothers Day Clay County Sheriff’s Office was investigating.
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 .usps.org/localusps/Jackson.
JSPS continue to do vessel inspections so you can contact an inspector at the same web site or reach out to me and I will assist getting you with an examiner. Last but not least, show pride in the facilities provided for your use with your tax dollars by properly disposing of your by-products when you clean your fish and dispose of your trash appropriately!
BE SAFE!
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Capt. Jim Suber
THE PRIDE OF BALTIMORE II visit to downtown Jacksonville North Bank.
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•Construction consulting, if you want professional help with your project Call us at 904-683-4468 now to learn more about our services.
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Intracoastal Waterway
By Capt. Todd Philcox
June on Jacksonville’s inshore waters will bring in our consistent summer pattern of extreme heat and afternoon storms, set your alarms earlier to take advantage of earlier sun rises and calm morning waters
On those early mornings I’ll focus on fishing flats along the intercoastal banks around the high tide and the steeper drop offs closer to low tide. Redfish, trout and scattered flounder will be feeding along the weed line on early morning higher tides. Target those fish with finger mullet, mud minnows or live shrimp on the lightest jig possible, an 1/8-ounce jig will work in shallower water and light wind conditions.
Fishing this spring proved to be a bit challenging with quality redfish scattered and difficult to find many days, hit your spots but keep moving and you should eventually find some nice fish.
The number of fish species to pursue continues to increase, larger creeks in the Palm Valley area will hold tarpon and some snook along with an increasing population of mangrove snapper and smaller bait stealing species like pinfish, as the summer progresses I tend to fish mud minnows and finger mullet more than shrimp.
If you are intent on fishing live shrimp over the summer pick up a couple dozen extra as the smaller mangrove snapper, pinfish and juvenile reds and trout will pick many a hook clean. Tarpon inshore are extremely wary, but I have found large live shrimp, mud minnows or mullet, fished under a cork or free lined with 5 to 6 feet of fluorocarbon leader to be productive
I’ll use a 20 to 40lb test leader and 3/0 to 6/0 circle hook dependent on bait size and the size of the Tarpon targeted.
Fishing topwater plugs early mornings throughout the summer is a blast and will elicit aggressive bites from trout, redfish, jack crevalle and an occasional snook.
Throughout the summer be more aware of water conditions, mid-day weekend boat traffic will make fishing the Intracoastal banks quite uncomfortable, if not outright impossible after 10am on Saturdays and Sundays, if you are able, try to fish weekdays for more peaceful conditions
That heavy boat traffic will stir up and muddy inshore waters to the point of being unfishable, find protected waters farther up creeks or fish the St Johns River and jetties if possible Be mindful of water temperatures as well, they will rise quickly once those 90-degree days start adding up I’ll seek moderate water temperatures during periods of extreme heat, summer days will see inshore waters reach 90 degrees some afternoons, some 5-7 degrees warmer than morning water temps.
If I am fishing afternoons or evenings during the summer, I’ll run closer to the river or jetties where the ocean’s influence will keep water temperatures more consistent I look forward to seeing you on the water, give me a call if I can help get you out fishing!
Capt. Todd Philcox
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Salty Charters (904) 403-8575 Saltychartersjax.com
FishingConnectionOnline.com 21
Captain Dan Kremer from Lake of the Ozarks with his first Redfish
Mark Tkachik with a nice Redfish
Mark Nixon with a nice 24" Redfish
Arlington Bait & Tackle Changing Owners
We would like to thank the family we've come to know as the fishing community during the past 20 years. Without you, we would not have been in business all this time! Since there is construction going on I regret I have to wait to give the BBQ party I want to do for our family of customers that has so graciously supported us all these years! Arlington Bait n Tackle will be open
during construction and continue doing business as usual! We would like to introduce you to the new owners as we depart!
They will continue providing you with your fishing needs and then some! They have great plans for you with a Fresh New Look.
With the new 1st. Gear Coffee shop and more. So, you will have a one-stop wake-up coffee to go! As soon as all of the construction is finished we will throw that BBQ!
We will announce it when the new opening of both the Bait shop and Coffee Shop are ready!
We hope that you consider them as family as you did for us building the relationship bridge of trust!
Please continue to patronize your local fishing bait store here in the Arlington Fishing community in the renewed College Park Shopping Center at Northeast Arlington Expressway and University Boulevard North. Thank you and may God continue to bless all of you! We will miss you and hope to see you on the water!
Happy Fishing!
Carmen & Bill Lamb
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Palm Valley
By Capt. Cory Sparks
Palm Valley
June 2023
Thankfully they are finally done dredging in Palm Valley!
The water clarity due to the dredging taking place the last few months has been as bad as I've ever seen in my time fishing in the Valley. Dredge equipment and submerged pipes will remain for a while so navigate the area between the Palm Valley bridge south to the Nocatee Kayak launch with caution.
Most of the creeks on the west bank still have equipment blocking them Causing damage or worse yet causing an injury is not worth chasing fish. Be mindful of the crew and equipment and exercise caution to allow them to safely finish their work.
This month mullet will become a sought-after meal with Redfish, Big Trout, and Flounder. Bringing a cast net can be the key to a successful day on the water. Use live or cut mullet on fish finder or knocker rigs around structure and oyster bars. Any funnels of falling water are worth checking too.
If the tide is high, work grass edges and “coves” on the grass line. Meaning, if the grass line is a long straight stretch that has random indents or pockets, check them!
Many times, schools of fish will ambush those points or just mill around the straight away break
and give you the opportunity to catch them hanging there. Using cut ladyfish, blue crab, or croaker also apply to the above tactics if mullet isn’t available.
The flounder bite has been strong, and it should continue all summer. Most fish have been in the upper teens and are not picky with their feeding habits. Mud minnows, live mullet or a Fishbites Dirty boxer or other curly tails of your choice on a jighead will all work this month
If the water remains dirty though, switch up your tactics and throw spinnerbaits. These lures drive the flounder nuts, and a simple cast and slow retrieve will locate fish. They also are an engaging and fun way to cover ground. Keep Reeling!
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Capt. Cory Sparks 716-307-7654 310charters@gmail.com www.310charters.com
Mike with a nice Flounder!
Maq with his first Redfish!
Kelly with his biggest Redfish!
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Captain's Log: Fishin' Frenzy with Capt. Adam Morley
Avast, me hearties! Gather round and listen to the tale of a fisherman's dream come true in the legendary Matanzas River. Brace yourselves for a pun-filled fishing report that will hook you from the first cast to the last. So grab your rods, buckle up, and let's set sail on this nautical adventure!
High tide was our golden ticket to redfish paradise. Along the grass lines, over oyster bars, and around creek mouths, those rascally reds were chompin' at the bit for a taste of our irresistible topwater plugs And let me tell ya, those Kiss My Fish bone colored Creepers had the reds begging for a smooch! It was a lip-lockin' frenzy out there, with every cast resulting in a fin-tastic battle of wills.
But when the tide went low, it was like a whole new world unfolded before our eyes. The shallow open flats became the playground for schools of hungry reds, just waiting to pounce on our offerings. We rigged up with Skinny Water Lures Blue Crab colored paddle tails, all weedless and ready for action And wouldn't ya know it, those reds
couldn't resist the temptation! They attacked those lures like they were the last crabs at a seafood feast, leaving no doubt that our rigging skills were off the hook.
And as if that wasn't enough, we introduced them to the Fishbites Dirty Boxer, the curl-tailed champion in the ring of redfish lures. In its white color, it was like offering those reds a fancy tuxedo, and they gladly accepted the invitation to dance. They were whirling and twirling, putting on a show that would make even the most seasoned ballroom dancers envious. The Dirty Boxer was a knockout, and we were crowned the champions of the inshore slam!
Speaking of the sea floor's treasures, the flounder made a grand entrance with May's full moon, and boy, were they flaunting their stuff! Several fish measuring over 20 inches graced our nets, giving us a taste of floundering greatness. Bouncing and dragging soft baits along the bottom was our secret weapon, enticing those flat beauties like a siren's call.
It was like playing a game of hideand-seek with these masters of camouflage, but we had the upper hand, reeling them in with finesse
Now, let's dive into the world of trout The bite has been decent, but there's been a slight slowdown in their enthusiasm. It's like they're saying, "Hey, let's take it slow and steady, mateys!" Nonetheless, we ventured to the shallow channels in the flats around the oyster bars, where these cunning trout were lurking.
They were sly as foxes, prowling the waters with a mischievous glint in their eyes. But we knew their game, and we played it well. Casting
our lines with precision, we managed to outwit a few trouty tricksters and add them to our bounty
And let's not forget about the snook, those elusive creatures that find solace under the dock lights south of the Matanzas inlet. With the warming waters, their appetite has been revving up like a finely tuned engine. To tempt these nocturnal hunters, we presented them with a feast fit for royalty –large live shrimp, free-lined to let them savor every delicious bite. It was like hosting a gourmet dinner party under the moonlit sky, and the snook were the honored guests, indulging in a culinary delight So there you have it, me hearties! A fish tail of a report
904.540.7245
June 2023
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Capt. Adam Morley
CaptainAdam Morley with a Redfish caught on top water while on a YouTube episode of “Challenging The Outdoors”
Mike Cook’s Redfish with the Fishbites lure he caught it on
Mike Cook AKA the St. Augustine Sand Man
FishingConnectionOnline.com 31
Kayak Fishin’
By Will Neimann
One thing that I’ve loved since moving to Florida, close to 20 years ago, is the diversity. Growing up in Missouri, we were very limited on when and what we could fish for Winter was normally out due to ice, but wasn’t thick enough ice for ice fishing, so late March through October was generally fishing season.
And then we were limited to bass, catfish, croppie, and bluegill mainly. Although several rivers have rainbow trout. So needless to say, when I moved to Florida, I was overwhelmed with options of fish to target. Fresh, salt, inshore, offshore, the options seemed endless. Then add in all the different species regulations on top of everything else. Let’s just say, my first few years here were all about learning, and honestly, I still find the regulations confusing It wasn’t until I picked up my first kayak that I really began to learn though Having a kayak opened up so many more options on where I could go.
If I wanted salt, I would load up and drive east 10 minutes and if I wanted fresh, I’d drive west 10 minutes. Living in an area where The ICW and surrounding creeks are only a few miles from the St. John’s River is quite special. We have the best of both worlds here in Saint Augustine. World class redfish and world class bass just miles apart.
June begins our hurricane/rainy/summer season The fish in both salt and fresh will be most active first thing in the morning, before it gets too hot. Once the day warms up, the bite generally will slow down some. So the saying the early bird gets the worm rings true over the next few weeks. During low light conditions, dusk and dawn, cloudy or foggy, top water baits are a great option in both salt and fresh water In the salt, work the grass lines at high tide and the oyster beds and shell bars at low tide. A Storm Chug Bug or Rapala Skitterwalk Are my favorite inshore top waters. The Chug should be worked with quick pops and
pauses. While the Skitterwalk is best worked using a technique called walking the dog. Short, quick, steady twitches of the rod tip while retrieving the lure will achieve this technique. Walking the dog is also highly effective in the freshwater using a Zara Spook. Another couple lures I love to throw on top in fresh water are buzzbaits and frogs. Both are great around pads, which we have plenty of on the St. John’s.
One thing to keep in mind throughout the next several months, however, is that the weather can change very quickly Check the daily weather before going Most days will show afternoon thunderstorms. Some of these storms will be very intense and you don’t want to be caught up in it on your kayak. A good rule of thumb is that if you hear thunder, it’s probably time to come in It will go from sunny and beautiful to a monsoon in the blink of an eye. I’ve been caught up in the creeks a few times during these storms. It’s scary and dangerous even for season pros. I do not recommend it.
June is a great month to be on the water, despite the thunderstorms. The snook, tarpon, and flounder are all in and the reds and trout are all hungry Bass will feed heavily early on, then move into the shade during the hot parts of the day Have fun, be safe, and bend a rod Good luck and tight lines. I’ll see ya out there.
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Lead Guide @ St Augustine Paddle Sports 772-475-9469
Will Niemann
Glenn's first redfish, caught on a live shrimp from St Augustine Paddle Sports.
Alan's first redfish caught on an Icebreaker Hackney Jr Belly.
Will Neimann enjoying a day of fishing in St. Augustine
FishingConnectionOnline.com 33
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Released
Daniel Davisson Jax Beach Pier 5/22/23 Safely
The Kayak Angler
By Skye Burkhardt
Kayak fishing sure has become one of the most popular ways to catch fish! It is definitely a great way to get fresh air and enjoy the outdoors, and hey get a little exercise too. As well as a way for Angler’s to avoid the hassle at busy boat ramps What’s a kayak? It gives us a freedom to launch on small canals and creeks down little roads off the beaten path, where we are unlikely to encounter any traffic if at all. Yeah fishing is all about the adventure being in tune with nature and the ability to scout and find new honey holes. Fishing from my kayak has its bonuses, such as getting back into those skinny waters, skimming inches deep across grassy flats, marshes and paths through creeks and canals With a kayak, the passion and the will to, it can take you places that even flats boats can only dream of
•The Right Kayak
Finding the right kayak that fits your fishing needs does take a little research. Would you prefer a sit on or sit in kayak ? What is suitable for your size? Would you like a kayak that you can stand on and fish? These are the questions that go on and on you need to ask yourself before making a purchase. I recommend putting in the work and doing your research as much as possible Watching YouTube videos is a great start. Read reviews and getting insight from other Anglers
who fish the way that you intend to and target the species you would like to catch
I prefer a sit in kayak and it allows me to sit higher giving me better visibility and a quicker reaction rated while sitting to cast and rest or while on the move. With your deck on your sit on kayak I find it a lot more stable and easier to stand up while site fishing
For paddling and peddling long distances having a longer narrow kayak helps with tracking straight as well as faster when traveling across large bodies of water Of course you’ll have to give or take that being said giving up a little bit of stability with a more narrow fast track and kayak However is worth it if you plan to cover lots of water and enjoy traveling and the journey
I myself have a Pelican 130 HD hydryve with a paddle drive system. It gives me the ability to cross large bodies of water and rivers with depth And within seconds I can easily pull the plug the drive system back in Example: when I’m fishing the flats
I’m able to pull the system and 99% of the time I am paddling or polling rather than peddling due to being in inch deep water.
My Pelican has amazing tracking, lightweight and has a wide deck with the space and stability to stand and sight cast my catch.
As I understand it, many anglers believe we need to blend with nature in their vessel with earth tones such as greens tans brown camouflage neutrals. Pssssh the fish don’t care or can see what color your kayak is. So if you want lime green or pink go for it or bright colors to express you while you live your passion and enjoy the outdoors go for it! It also allows boaters to see you from a far keeping you safe especially while there are motors buzzing around and also keeps other kayakers from inadvertently blowing up your fishing spot. And let’s face it brighter colors make for a better and more vibrant fish photo.
•Accessories
To save time and for safety while on the water you can use a piece of styrofoam or a quarter piece of pool
noodle to hook your choice of lures on for switching baits and saves you time while the fish are blowing up as well preventing me from hooking myself and having to go into dry storage to get to my tackle box
While fishing skinny water and chasing Reds on the flats. A push pole can be your best accessory for maneuvering through the shallows and keeping you stealthy when stalking your catch.
I find a paddle holder can be your best friend while polling it not only keeps your paddle in place but also pairs with your push pole allowing you to stake out your vessel This is very useful for anglers as myself who enjoy getting out of the kayak to wade
There are plenty of accessories out there to make your kayak fishing experience much easier so you can stay productive! Starting with basic. An anchor, I prefer a yak floating stick to steak Being sure your kayak is equipped with rod holders and a storage system for tackle and tools Your paddle is propably your most important accessory being sure you have the proper shaft length for the width and length of your kayak I purchase my accessories from yak gear and railblaza. Also if you are a live bait fisherman, I find using a small cooler instead of a bait buck maintains your water temperature keeping your bait alive longer making you one happy fisherman!
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Feel free to check Inshore Adventures With Skye On Facebook and Brassyangler87 on Instagram Thank You Skye Burkhardt †�� 386.402.2539
FishingConnectionOnline.com 37
Daytona Ormond Beach
By Capt. Jeff Patterson
We are working our way into some awesome fishing in June of all kinds!
There’s been a bunch of mullet the last few weeks making it easy for catching bait It has been tricky to catch smaller finger mullet at times but bigger 6-8” mullet have been very easy to get.
Those bigger ones I like to use for tarpon, bull reds, and big snook. The inlet has been holding a bunch of tarpon from 15 lb to 100 plus pound fish I have been doing best using a mullet with a split shot or two depending on the size of the bait to get it down in the water column some. Croakers have worked as well just free lining but my croakers were a little small for tarpon bait
I have been catching upper slot redfish and some over to 40” around the inlet mainly using bigger finger mullet on
the bottom but have also caught a few just using a split shot when I was targeting tarpon
I’ve found a pretty good school I could mark on the fish finder but only a couple times recently. One day it was when I was leaving a slow bite at inlet to come back in the river and just happened to see them on the Simrad.
It saved me that morning and made and made for an awesome trip! Back in the river there’s been some big snook especially at the bridges but also docks Snook season is closed JuneAugust but they are a blast to catch.
I’ve been using croakers and those bigger mullet for the most part but I honestly don’t try the bridges a whole lot with clients because they are very hard to get away from the structure. There’s a bunch of seatrout hanging around docks right now and a pigfish on a cork has worked the best.
I’ve been getting quite a few flounder with small mullet and mud minnows on sandy banks especially on the outskirts of oyster bars. Flounder should be moving out in the ocean any time now to spawn All kinds of action in June so get out there and get your rod bent!
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Capt. Jeff Patterson
Mike Miller and Walter Kidd with a couple of over slot Redfish
to finish off the season
FishingConnectionOnline.com 39
David Kelly, perfect slot Snook at 31.5”
Tournament Board
By Craig VanBrocklin
Spring Tournaments
FLA Steinhatchee 1 Red 3 Trout
1st Bodo Burghard/Bill Bishop 12.16
2nd Kellie Anderson/Jim Anderson
10.58
3rd Jeremy MacDonald/Chad Duncan
10.26
4th Alec Pope/Justin Flowe 10.26
5th Scott Koons/Phil Zeller 10.17
FLA Season Points
Championship
1st Matt Lewis/Nathan Johnson 614
2nd Jeremy MacDonald/Chad Duncan 609
3rd Scott O’Brien/Alex Buchanan 606
4th Alec Pope/Justin Flowe 602
5th Wade Hastings 583
Teens
1st Chasey Riley 238
2nd Kyle Kollmorgan 212
3rd Mackenzie Danese 65
2nd Lynneia Holladay 457
3rd Shelly Williams 423
Jacksonville Premier Trout
BigFish
1st Justin Paulk/Skip Swain 6lb 14oz
2nd Daniel Doughty/Chris Peterson 5 4
3rd Chris Holleman/Lee Clements 5 0
4th Scott Jones/Brad Safreed 4 13
3 Fish Aggregate
1st Eddie Cabler/Nate Ferguson 9lb
5oz
2nd Matt Lewis/Nathan Johnson 8
143rd Brian Dutcher/Leigh Davis 8 6
4th Devin & Stacy Durrance 8 1
Junior
1st Jaylee Carter 1 pound 15.oz
Junior 2nd Brantley Davis 1 14
Junior 3rd Adelynn Harmon 1 12.4
Ladies Champion Jill Carter 2lb 14oz
Kayak
Sandy Stark 28"
Jose Lucena 27.5
Richard Windmann 27.5
Zachary Prince 26.25
Smallest trout Matt Crews 9"
Lady Champion Dana Thrower 15.25”
Florida Redfish Series St
Augustine
1st Slayer Lures 12.48
2nd River Coast & Property Group
11.44
3rd Carl Black Orlando Fish Bites 11.41
4th Blazer Bay 11.37
5th Fish Talk Live 10.54
Big Redfish - Auto Owners 6.83
5th Andrew Imes 37.25
Big Redfish – Cory Fogleboch 26.5
Florida Surfcasters
Whiting
1st Thomas Morse
2nd Jennifer Buksar
3rd Brian Curlett
4th John Lindecamp
5th Kane Warden
6th Brent Wildes
Pompano
1st Brian Hooie
2nd Milton Cox
3rd Richard Gentzel
4th Shauntel Curlett
5th Krysztof Kolaczkiewicz
6th Mia Clyde
Juniors
Whiting Aubrey Hellman
Pompano Jain Cauldwell
Upcoming Tournaments
June
3rd Kingfish Mayhem St Aug
10th Wildwood Inshore
Villano
Old School Kingfish
Shootout
24th Kingbuster 400
July 18th GJKT Jr. Angler
21st GJKT General
Junior
1st Otto Burghard 88
2nd Omry Hoffman 72
Lady
1st Summer Waters 507
Kayak
1st Chris Crego 47.5
2nd Garrett Boykin 45.75
3rd Hunter Crego 42
4th Jeff Altman 39.25
22nd GJKT Redfish
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Burghard and Bishop
FLA winners
Steinhatchee
Chris Crego
1st kayak
Fl Redfish Series
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FishingConnectionOnline.com 42
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Busy South Corner on The Jacksonville Beach Pier and Still room for 6 more set-ups
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Joe Dionne
Publisher Editor
Danielle Dionne Pacowta Volunteer Editor
