November 2023 Volume 21 Issue 263
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Nassau * Duval * Clay * St. Johns * Flagler * Volusia * Brevard
Whiting * 1Flounder * Pompano * Red Drum Black Drum * Sheepshead * Spanish Macks
Joe Dionne
Danielle Dionne Pacowta
Publisher Editor
Volunteer Editor
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Page 6 Nik Bremer Page 11 Capt. Bert Deener Page 18 Spencer Brogden Page 20 Capt. Jim Suber Page 24 Capt. John Eggers Page 26 Capt. Todd Philcox Page 30 Capt. Cory Sparks Page 38 Capt. Adam Morley Page 42 Will Neiman Page 46 Capt. Jeff Patterson Page 50 Craig VanBrocklin
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Fernandina Amelia Island By Nik Bremer
Fall time in Northeast Florida, the water temperatures have dropped with a handful of Nor Easters, and the Pompano have started their migration from the North to the South in order to find warmer water. We’ve already seen some nice fish and quantities. If you’ve never caught or eaten Pompano, well you’re in for a nice treat. Pompano fight great and taste even better, yielding a firm, white, delicious meat. So… the 101 on Pompano to put some good dinner on the plate. Let’s start with gear, Many Pompano hunters are gunning with 12’+ rods to get past that second breaker to get into the trough to target the schooling fish on their way south. To get the distance, fishing with a
conventional casting reel will give you 100 yards plus. Reels like Abu Garcia’s Pro Rocket and Penn’s Fathom 15CS will allow you to fine-tune your cast with an adjustable 6 pin centrifugal brake and dual anti-reverse system to prevent backlash. To get the best out of your cast, I like using no more than 15lb mono. The mono provides a little stretch to prevent break-offs if you happen to backlash. With that said mono is much easier getting a tangle out when that backlash occurs. It happens to the best of us. On that mainline, I hook up a 30lb test Fluorocarbon Pompano rig, with 2/0 circle hooks. Floats or no floats? Every day is a little different. Try a variety out there and whatever starts hitting the most, switch the others over to up your odds of catching your limit. Pompano love fresh dead shrimp, sand fleas, clams, and blue crab knuckles. Again switch it up and test the waters to see what’s hitting. Don’t forget the Fish bites, always another great addition to the rig adding color and another scent. I always have a pack of sand flea Fish bites in my surf bag. Where to fish: Like many fish, Pompano feed in the troughs and cruise in the deeper water as they head south. In the lower part of the incoming tide, I like to get out past the second sandbar. As that tide pushes in, I like to target the pumps
that come in to feed on the sand fleas, clams, and anything else found in the whitewash. Reading the beach is very important to understand where to fish. Please see the attached picture to get a general understanding of different terms used while surf fishing. There are also a lot of great videos out there with drone footage to show what you’re looking for when fishing in a new area or even after a heavy storm that has caused a change in the sandy bottom. Pompano are caught up and down the island, but we see a ton of success on American Beach, the beach side of Amelia Island State Park, and up in Fort Clinch on the beach side, parallel to the large rock jetty. Looking for more details, always feel free to drop by Amelia Island Bait and Tackle or Old Town to talk shop. Tight Lines Amigos!
Nik Bremer Shop # (904) 277-0775 Cell # (760) 212-8131 1925 S. 14th St. Fernandina Beach, FL.
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Above Photo courtesy of Delaware-Surf-Fishing.com
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Swamps, Creeks, and Ponds By
Capt. Bert Deener October 26, 2023 Fishing Report
Okefenokee Swamp – Bob and Chip Lafferty fished with a friend on the east side of the swamp on Monday afternoon and caught a bunch of fish. They pitched a chartreuse sally and caught a flier in a few minutes just to see what they looked like then spent the rest of their time casting and trolling for pickerel (jackfish) and bowfin. They caught a few pickerel by casting jackfish-colored Dura-Spins and trolled for most of their bowfin. The best colors on the trip were fire tiger-chartreuse blade, jackfish, and lemon-lime. Their biggest jackfish was 18 inches and biggest bowfin was 7lb., 11-oz. The most recent water level (Folkston side) was 120.76 feet. Local Ponds – A Waycross angler fished a local lake and trolled for crappie on Saturday afternoon in celebration of opening day of deer season. He ended up catching 16 fish on 1/32oz. Zombie Eye Jigheads and 2-inch
Keitech swimbaits. He caught mostly 8 to 11-inch crappie, but he also had a 4-pound bass inhale the little swimbait. He caught the fish in the upper end (shallow) of the pond while trolling at 1.0 to 1.3 miles per hour. The best swimbait colors were chartreuse-pearl, sexy shad, and bluegill flash. Chad Lee and Daniel Johnson fished an Alma area pond for a few hours over the weekend and caught 4 bass about 2 pounds apiece on stick worms and hollow-bodied frogs. Saltwater (GA Coast) – Capt. Greg Hildreth (georgiacharterfishing.com) has been on the bull Reds all week. He filmed with Mark Davis of Big Water Adventure TV show and got several catches of big bulls on film. Look for the show to air in the near future. His charters this week were all about big bull redfish in the sounds and bars. Jay Turner fished the Savannah area on Tuesday and had a great day. He had a bunch of trout and redfish and kept about a dozen total and a big flounder. He also fooled 25 and 29inch stripers (released them). All of his fish came on Zombie Eye Jigheads and plastics. Capt. Tim Cutting (fishthegeorgiacoast.com) said that the tides were great for inshore fishing all week, and the winds cooperated for the most part. His charters boated LOTS of slot redfish this week – catching a limit each day. They had some oversized Reds mixed in each day, as well. They also caught big Sheepshead when they targeted them on hard
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cover. Monday was an especially great trip, as they caught tons of Reds, 10 good Sheepshead, and ten good trout to go with them. The stripers have started showing up in their catch, as well. He fished live shrimp under Harper Super Striker Floats all week. The new bait shop in Brunswick named Wat-a-melon Bait and Tackle is now open Friday through Sunday from 6am to 4pm each week. They have plenty of lively shrimp and fiddler crabs and also have live worms and crickets for freshwater. They’re on Hwy 303 just north of Hwy 82 in the same location as the previous J&P Bait and Tackle. For the latest information, contact them at 912-223-1379. To monitor all the Georgia river levels, visit the USGS website (waterdata.usgs.gov/ga/nwis/rt). For the latest marine forecast, check out www.weather.gov/jax/.
Capt. Bert Deener Capt. Bert Deener makes a variety of both fresh and saltwater fishing lures. Check his lures out at Bert’s Jigs and Things on Facebook. For a copy of his latest catalog, call or text him at 912-288-3022 or e-mail him (bertdeener@yahoo.com).
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Bob and Chip Lafferty of Fort Lauderdale, FL had a great trip in the Okefenokee
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Jason Kennedy put it on them on the middle Ogeechee River. He used a bruiser Satilla Spin to catch this big Redbreast
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Caden Lee with an 8lb slot Redfish. Caught on a Gulp shrimp in Fernandina Beach.
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Local Wild Caught Large & Jumbo Shrimp __ Live Blue Crabs __ Tackle & Seasonings
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Pier & Surf By
Spencer Brogden It’s hard to believe that it’s already November, where has the time gone!? We saw a nice Pompano run mid-October before several days of strong northeast wind and large swells dirtied up the waters in Northeast Florida and slowed the bite. The Pompano will still hang around our area as long as
the water temperature stays in the 65-71 degree range. The main bait of choice for them has been fresh river shrimp, crab knuckles, and sandfleas and it doesn’t hurt to tip your hooks with small pieces of fish bites as well. There have also been some really nice Whiting coming up in our area, several 16 and 17-inch fish! They will also hit the same baits that the Pompano eat. The Whiting bite will only get better as the water cools down even more. As long as there are mullet in the surf, speckled Trout and Redfish will also be there. Bring your cast net, and after catching mullet toss one back right behind the breakers where the Redfish and speckled Trout
will be hanging. The Bluefish and Spanish mackerel will also readily take a mullet so if they are around you will definitely need to use a higher lb. leader. All these fish can be caught from the pier as well as Black Drum and Sheepshead down by the pilings. Do not forget that Flounder season is closed for the entire month of November for everyone except commercial fishermen. Don’t forget to check out our Brokenreel23 YouTube channel for weekly updates! Until next month, tight lines!
Spencer Brogden
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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, Fall is full speed ahead and the water temperatures are dropping fast. The City of Jacksonville Continues to make improvements and several projects are seeing progress. The Jaguar season by boat is working as planned and the boaters are rafting together, and the docks are festive. We have several FIND grants moving along. Riverview Park's new boat ramp has moved out of red tape and the contractor has received the contract and work will start within the next month. Liberty Street Marina is in design and permits, Pottsburg Creek/ Beach Blvd design and permits to rebuild, Mike McCue Boat Ramp Bulkhead replacement design is near completion and the FIND funding to construct is due for approval, Thomas Creek Fish Camp Adaptive Kayak launch is in design and permits and is ready to move for construction. The City of Jacksonville is submitting grant requests to the Florida Inland Navigation District for the design of dredge needs in the downtown area, the design of extending the floating dock system at Jim King Park and Boat Ramp, St. Johns Boat
Ramp Boardwalk, and the replacement of the Oak Harbor Bulkhead. The new lighting and bathroom improvement project for Wayne B. Stevens Boat Ramp is getting close to completion 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 to leave the area after 45 days on anchor. New signage for enforcement has been installed. With all of the heavy rains we have experienced higher than average tides which has caused the salinity levels to fluctuate, and a lot of fresh water is moving through the waterways. This also has caused many debris items including old docks, palm trees, and pilings make it to the waterways so caution and a lookout is a must. The derelict vessel war is still full speed ahead all over our waterways. More are piling up and the process and funding are working slowly. The sailboat at Arlington Boat ramp. The sunken vessel at Burt Maxwell ramp, the derelict at Stinson Park and the old sunken boat in Cedar River have been removed. The old vessel sunk north of Half Moon Island Park is scheduled for removal. The sailboat north of the Beach Blvd Bridge on the ICW is under FWC investigation. Congratulations to Chip Davis, The Flounder Pounder volunteers, the Jacksonville School for Autism, and all of the tournament winners and anglers who placed for a great tournament for a great cause. Jacksonville Marine Charities has sponsored the Child Cancer Fund Fishing Derby, The Fishing Derby for Jacksonville Downs Syndrome Association the last month or so, and in November helped with the Fishing Day for Brooks Rehabilitation. The Kingfish Tournament world of Northeast Florida has witnessed several changes and updates with the tournaments that started with the Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament adding a few feet and horsepower to their prize boat and adding the Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Kick Off Beach Tournament. The summer is going to be exciting and North Florida is going to be the place to fish! 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 well as pursuing a funding source to study a cause and solution. 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. 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 is always a priority. Invest in a QUALITY EPERB, and file a float plan with someone who 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 website 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 website www.usps.org/localusps/Jackson . JSPS continues to do vessel inspections so you can contact an inspector at the same website or reach out to me and I will assist in 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!
Capt. Jim Suber 20
Jacksonville Waterways staff removing debris
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Parade Route for Jacksonville Boat Light Parade November 25, 2023
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Intracoastal Waterway By
Capt. John Eggers Cooler weather means cooler water temps which means great fishing. Since the water temps drop out of the 80s and reach the 70s and upper 60s the fish tend to school up better. Redfish will be in schools of 10 to 50 fish, mostly at low tide in the Intracoastal, and will stage out in front
of flats that dry up and shallow creek mouths. They will feed and stay schooled up throughout the low tide cycle until the tide switches and starts coming back in. Just about any live bait will work but when fish are a little spooky try dead-sticking chunks of blue crab. Most Of the time they cannot resist it. Feeder creeks are another great place to fish again on outgoing to low tide. Oyster beds and deep ledges or holes will hold schools of Redfish all month long. Look for Redfish with their backs out of the water cruising the edges of the creeks as well. November can be a really good month for sight fishing. Big schools of speckled Trout will be feeding along the drop-offs and etty points in the river and ICW. Live shrimp and mud minnows are the best choice for bait but 3 or 4-inch white fish bite paddle tails or curly-tail soft plastics are a close 2nd. An easy and proven way to find these
schools can be by simply trolling soft plastics and or lip-diving baits until you start catching them. Once located you can start casting to the school. Sheepshead starts funneling in from the jetties to the downtown areas. One of my favorite fish to not only target but to eat too. Tides aren't as crucial for these guys but structure is. They seem to like the 8 to 15 feet of water range and will be schooled around pilings, rocks, oyster beds, and bridges. Fiddler crabs are by far the best bait for them on a Carolina rig or a small hook jig head. Even though the season is closed this month Flounder will still be biting on the flats and creeks. Unfortunately, we can't keep them until December. Tight Lines
Capt. John Eggers
904-591-1611 www.rocknreelcharters.net FishingConnectionOnline.com
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Intracoastal Waterway By Capt. Todd Philcox
November fishing on Jacksonville’s inshore waters begins a transition to winter patterns, Redfish start to school up and move into the creeks and backwaters, Trout action will improve and Flounder will continue to be caught along the Intracoastal edges and in the creek holes. I’ll begin to push farther back into the creeks south of the St Johns River, all the way to Palm Valley as the water cools, preferably fishing the middle to the end of
the outgoing tides, on colder days I will favor a late afternoon low tide working around oyster mounds and the creek bend holes which will hold a great variety of fish including Redfish, Trout, Black Drum and an occasional Sheepshead or Flounder. As the days continue to get shorter and cooler the necessity to fish in the early mornings subsides, choose your time on the water now based more on tides, and don’t hesitate to enjoy a sunny warm afternoon working your favorite creek. Live shrimp are my primary bait throughout the winter along with mud minnows, I fish those baits on a 1/8, 1/4 or 3/8-ounce jig, and go lighter in the shallows so as not to spook fish. Soaking cut blue crab on a circle hook will also pay off for Redfish throughout the cooler months. Trout will aggressively strike swimming and diving plugs fished along the Intracoastal banks in 4 to 8 feet of water, schools can be located by slowly trolling those banks to cover a bit more ground. This month will offer the last opportunity for fall flood tide fishing, pursuing tailing Redfish up on the flooded grass flats. Tides will be optimal from Saturday the
25th through Tuesday the 28th, if you fly fish, or have an interest in fly fishing, flood tide fishing offers the best opportunity to stalk, sight, and cast to 2030” Redfish in shallow water. Bull Redfish action will slow but can still be found from the jetties up the river to the Dames Point bridge, fish the drop-offs from 35-45 feet deep with cut crab, mullet or ladyfish, and use ample weight to hold the bottom, circle hooks and heavy tackle. Don’t be surprised if you tie into a bull red along the Intracoastal as well, they scatter and wander away from the river this month and will be caught along the deeper sections of the waterway. Get out fishing and enjoy some cooler days on the water! Give me a call if I can help get you out there.
Capt. Todd Philcox Salty Charters (904)403-8575 Saltychartersjax.com
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Liam and JP with Bull Red
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Mike, Gene and Luka with a HUGE Flounder
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many times that a piece of fresh shrimp gets inhaled more easily than a whole shrimp. This in return results in your catch and hook-up ratio going way up! Another addition to my bait is a small piece of shrimp or crab-flavored Fish bites EZ Strips. Green, pink, orange, or electric chicken all seem to add to the effort of enticing fish to bite!
Palm Valley By Capt. Cory Sparks
The weather is beautiful, and the fishing has been even better in Palm Valley this fall. November will involve many inshore species that are feeding heavily and willing to bite. Black Drum can be found on just about every shell bar or ledge along the ICW. Shrimp on jig heads is tough to beat but depending on depth, fishing shrimp under floats and corks can work just as well. If you are targeting a Black Drum and they are biting soft or you are losing shrimp to them, try breaking the shrimp in half. Black Drum have small mouths and I find
Redfish are feeding on mullet, mud minnows, and shrimp. On low tide stages, I use jig heads and keep bait set up in paths where Redfish will cruise by and pick up the bait. On higher water or incoming tides, put a live shrimp or mud minnow under a popping cork and cast well ahead of an ambush point. Let the current and your retrieve bring the bait back to the staging fish while watching for the cork to go under. This will also locate Flounder (closed) and Trout as well as other predators. Speaking of Trout, this is my favorite month to land large catch numbers of these fish. Look for cleaner water rips and concentrations of bait on the surface. Birds diving can also be a clear indicator that Trout will be lurking below. Numerous artificial baits work well from paddle tails to slow-sinking twitch baits, to top-water plugs. Try to cover all depths of the water column that you’re fishing until you find where they are feeding. Some days Trout are deep and other days they
want a bait suspended off the bottom. Cover ground until you find them and then try different techniques and baits after you know fish are feeding in a spot. This can teach you how to use different offerings you may not have thought would work. Take the opportunity of these feeding Trout to learn a new lure or cadence and in essence, you will be expanding your repertoire. Many Trout will be slightly undersized this month, so we all need to practice safe handling techniques to allow these fragile fish to be released healthy and have a great survival rate. If a Trout is clearly undersized, use a de-hooking device or pliers to shake the fish off back into the water. When you handle these fish, you remove much of the protective "slime" that helps them survive. This stresses and harms the fish so unless you are keeping it, minimize yourself from handling these seaTrout. Keep Reeling!
Capt. Cory Sparks 716-307-7654
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Christen and Donetta doubled up on Drum
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Conner with his first big Redfish
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November 2023
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October Fishing in and Around the Matanzas River By Capt. Adam Morley As a seasoned angler and captain navigating the pristine waters of the Matanzas River, I'm thrilled to share the latest updates and insights on the bustling fishing scene here in St. Augustine and the surrounding waters. With the recent turn of events, the fishing landscape has witnessed a significant surge in activity, beckoning enthusiasts and novices alike to delve into the rich bounty that these waters have to offer. Surf Fishing Adventures: The surf has been abuzz with excitement, brimming with strong reports of Pompano and Whiting sightings. It's no surprise, given the recent drop in water temperatures. The classic combination of float rigs,
Sputnik sinkers, and an array of irresistible bait options such as Ghost Shrimp, live sand fleas, or fresh dead shrimp, has proven to be the perfect recipe for reeling in these delightful catches. Mastering Sheepshead Hunts: There's a sense of triumph in the air as anglers reel in impressive Sheepshead hauls near the rocks, docks, and bridges. Armed with bottom sweeper jigs and fiddler crabs, they've been conquering the waters with unwavering determination, turning each excursion into a thrilling adventure. Bluefish Encounters: The ever-elusive Bluefish have been making their presence known in both the surf and the river, providing an electrifying spectacle for fishing aficionados. The art of casting spoons and hard plugs has been essential in their pursuit, although it's wise to exercise caution as their razor-sharp teeth can easily dismantle even the sturdiest of soft plastics. Meanwhile, finger mullet remains a trusted ally for those seeking a triumphant encounter with these spirited fish. Chasing Speckled Trout Thrills: With a mild upsurge in the Speckled Trout activity, it's been a joyous experience targeting these majestic creatures. Employing paddle tails on 1/8th to 1/4oz jig heads has proven to be a winning strategy, particularly in dynamic waters surrounding oyster bars, grass points, and pinch points. The enchanting aura of early mornings and late evenings has ushered
in a time of heightened anticipation, leading to an array of memorable catches. Delving into the Realm of Black Drum: The pursuit of Black Drum has been met with favorable outcomes, thanks to the strategic deployment of fresh dead shrimp or blue crabs in the deeper pockets of the river. Patience has proven to be a virtue, with resilient anglers being rewarded with captivating tales and impressive catches, signifying the undeniable allure of the Black Drum's mystique. Unveiling the Redfish Charade: While the Redfish have been somewhat elusive, their intermittent appearances have kept the spirit of adventure alive. The dynamic interplay of diverse bait options has served as the cornerstone of successful outings, with the Matanzas Inlet and its surrounding regions continuing to offer a tapestry of exciting opportunities. The thrilling pursuit of slot and undersized Redfish has become a hallmark of the fishing experience, igniting a spark of enthusiasm among enthusiasts keen on unraveling the mysteries of these vibrant waters.
Capt. Adam Morley 904.540.7245
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The Mesmerizing World of Snook: Tales of Snook sightings continue to weave their way through the fishing community, with one unforgettable encounter after another capturing the essence of the angling spirit. The careful orchestration of 3/4oz white bucktail jigs paired with a Fish bites paddle tail has proven to be the key to unlocking the Snook's elusive nature, leading to an array of captivating adventures and unforgettable moments that linger on in the hearts of seasoned anglers and beginners alike. For those eager to explore more about the local fishing landscape, be sure to join me on my exhilarating adventures through the "Take A Bow with Captain Adam Morley" YouTube channel and
the captivating chronicles of the "St. Augustine Sandman.“ As the season unfurls its myriad wonders, let us embark on a journey that celebrates the thrill of angling, the wonders of nature, and the indomitable spirit of the fishing community. Together, let's create unforgettable memories etched in the timeless tapestry of the Matanzas River and its enchanting surroundings.
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Capt. Adam Morley Genungs Fish Camp 904.540.7245
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Kayak Fishin’ By Will Neimann November is one of the two months we get here in northeast Florida, where the water temperatures are perfect. What do I consider the perfect water temperature? 68 degrees to 72 degrees is the ideal temperature range for our local fish. They are happy and hungry this time of year. In the hot summer months, and the cold winter months, the fish are more sluggish and less reactionary, making the month of November a month for aggressive takes. The cooler water temperatures will push the snook and tarpon into the area creeks, where it’s deep enough for a thermocline. A thermocline is defined as a steep gradient in the water where the water temperature is significantly different above and below the thermocline. In layman’s terms, it’s a sudden, dramatic
temperature change. In the summer months, the cooler water is on the bottom. In the winter months, it flips and the warmer water is on the bottom, giving the fish a comfortable spot to ride out the winter. Find a thermocline, find fish. The Trout and Bluefish will also be pushed into the area as the water temps drop into the perfect zone. Not sure what’s more annoying, a Bluefish or a little Mangrove Snapper, however, I do love a good smoked Bluefish dip. Both of these species will be schooled up in the area creeks, especially around the mouths on an outgoing tide. They will also be cruising the area oyster flats. Trout and Blue Fish often occupy the same space. I think the Trout plays as a clean-up crew for the ravenous Bluefish. I’ve, many times, caught a Trout and a blue on back-to-back casts to the same spot. When a school is located, keep making casts into it. You can catch fish every cast very frequently this time of year. It’s not unheard of for 100 fish trips per person during November. If there’s no blue fish around then throwing soft plastics is a good option. Hackney Jr Belly in Icebreaker or Purple Nurple are my go-to cool water plastics. However, if Bluefish are in the area, they will destroy the soft baits, and you’ll go through a pack in about 10 minutes. In this scenario, a hard bait such as a
Mirrolure Mirrodine or an Unfair Rip-NSlash are excellent choices. If live baiting, a live shrimp under a popping cork is hard to beat. Another November target should be Sheepshead. Although they are here yearround, they start moving in from the offshore wrecks and reefs this time of year, making our inshore numbers skyrocket. These are structure fish, so they are most commonly found on bridges, docks, jetties, and rock piles. In reality, any structure with barnacles growing on it could potentially hold a Sheepshead. They’ll eat most crustaceans, but fiddler crab, mud crab, mussels, sand fleas, and oysters seem to be their favorites. However, if you use oysters, you must have a receipt for them. Oysters are a regulated species so you’re not allowed to use them directly out of the water. Vertical fish the structure if possible and if you feel anything weird, set the hook. A sheep's bite is very subtle. Get out and enjoy this beautiful month. Good luck and tight lines. I’ll see ya out there.
Will Niemann Lead Guide @ St Augustine Paddle Sports 772-475-9469
Wade with a beautiful St Augustine Redfish 42
Reed with his first Sheepshead
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Daytona Ormond Beach By
Capt. Jeff Patterson We have had some awesome action over the past month! I had some great trips and definitely broke some records. I had one particular day I ran 2 four hour trips landing over 70 Redfish between the two! We have transitioned into fall temps and the water temperature has gone down to the low 70s. We have had a lot of cranking wind and quite a bit of rain making for some tough conditions and some fresh water throughout the
river. The inlet has been holding a bunch of snook around the jetties and we’ve been catching them on pinfish, pigfish, and bigger 6-8” live mullet. The outgoing tide has been where it’s at. Here recently the Redfish bite has been better for me on the outgoing tide but on the outside of the jetties if conditions allow you to get there. I’ve been getting them on the inside of the jetties too, just not as consistently. Due to the conditions we’ve had I’ve been fishing in the river more than anything over the past few weeks. There’s been a really good Black Drum bite around the bridges in Ormond and Daytona. There’s been a bunch of snook and some tarpon around the bridges and they have been biting best on both tides but when there is a bigger tide change and the water is moving more so it helps to check out the tide chart. Big jigs and paddle tails have been working awesome. Over the last couple weeks, the Pompano have moved in and I’ve gotten into them really well a couple
of times. I actually discovered them when I was heading to a creek mouth and a pile of them skipped out of the water. That’s one thing cool about finding Pompano in the shallows. Sometimes they let you know they’re there. I’ve been catching them on smaller live shrimp with a split shot and getting them best about halfway through the incoming tide. Check for them around the edge of oyster bars and mussel beds. In my opinion, Pompano are one of the besteating inshore fish and a blast to catch on light tackle! We have had some gorgeous weather the last couple of weeks. Get out and get your rod bent!
Capt. Jeff Patterson 386.451.4992 smallboatbigfish.com
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Lucas Butler from Wisconsin’s Redfish (he caught all on his own) was so big his father Brian had to help him with a pic
FishingConnectionOnline.com
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John O’Brien from New York with an over-slot Redfish
FishingConnectionOnline.com
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2nd Caleb Johnson 2.2 3rd Viola Swan 2.0 Anglers For a Cure Inshore Slam 1st Black Dog 8.45 2nd Getit-Nuati 8.29 3rd Death Flop 7.52
Tournament Board By
Craig VanBrocklin
Fall Tournaments Florida Lure Anglers 3 Flounder (weight) 1st Everett Barts/Bill Lancaster 9.01 2nd Nathan Johnson/Matt Lewis 8.90 3rd Devin & Stacy Durance 8.06 4th Chris Warde/Robert Lytle 7.8 5th Chad Duncan/Jeremy MacDonald 7.12 6th Amy & Dave Farrish 6.97 Big WT (Whiting) 1st Brandon Whitfield 19.85oz 2nd River Hoellwarth 18.1oz 3rd Wendall Nolan 16.9oz Female - MaryBeth 7.80oz Pompano - Tom Powell 19.05oz Flounder Pounder (3 fish aggregate) 1st Eddie Cabler 15.1 2nd Jonathan Houston 11.8 3rd Steve Ivey 11.6 4th Bain Bushloper 5th Jeremy Sienna 10.5 6th Will Longstieth 10.2 7th Mike Blackman 10.2 8th Kippi Beckhart10.1 9th Andrew Virtuoso 10.1 10th Nick Odle 9.7 Womens 1st Brandy Short 8.1 2nd Jen Gruber 4.0 3rd Angel Eggers 3.9
Redfish 1st Peyton Conley 7.38 2nd Wyatt Moore 6.17 3rd Everett Barts 5.45 Flounder 1st Joshua Starnes 3.49 2nd Bob Cowan 2.7 3rd Woodrow Waggoner 2.52 Trout 1st Ryan Auclair 1.42 2nd Joshua Starnes 1.2 Sheepshead Will Niemann 1.41 Kayak Redfish 1st Travis Goodale 45.5” 2nd Will Niemann 25.25 Kayak Flounder 1st Craig Van Brocklin 20.13 2nd Jeff Altman 18.88 Kayak Trout 1st Zack Prince 28.25 2nd Will Niemann 15 Young Life Triple Challenge Slam Eddie & Elijah Cabler 12.88 Flounder David Merry/James Thomas 6.57 Trout Matt Davis/Cody Weber 3.45 Redfish Chris Holleman/Jay Duprist 5.8
Upcoming Tournaments November 4th * FLA * NE FL Inshore Slayers Sheepshead * Crooked River Cast on the Coast December 2nd * FLA
Jr Angler 1st Madisan Short 3.6
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Eddie Cabler Flounder Pounder 2023 51
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