Mariana Suzette Yachnowitz
M-W-T 6 AM - 6 PM FRI - 6 AM - 7 PM SAT - 6 AM - 6 PM SUN - 6 AM - 5 PM Closed Tues Page 5
Week of December 22, Fishing Report
The winds and unstable weather picked back up this week, and colder weather was with it. The number of reports declined sharply as not many people were willing to brave the less-than-ideal conditions I wish each of you a very Merry Christmas!
River gages on December 22nd were:
Clyo on the Savannah River –5 3 feet and falling
Abbeville on the Ocmulgee – 8 8 feet and rising
Doctortown on the Altamaha –8.9 feet and rising
Waycross on the Satilla – 6.7 feet and falling
Atkinson on the Satilla – 5 0 feet and steady
Macclenny on the St Marys – 2 7 feet and steady
Satilla River – My daughter is home from college, and we gave the lower Satilla a try this week after last weekend’s cold. We moved offshore a little, fished the deeper backwaters, and had a good day We caught and released 29 fish – about 1/3 crappie up to 12 inches, 1/3 warmouth up to 10 inches, and 1/3 bowfin up to 4 pounds
We used 1/16-oz popsicle
Specktacular Jigs tipped with minnows and a prototype tinsel jig tipped with a minnow for all of our fish. We tried shallow a
little bit and they would not chase down a small plastic, even when worked slowly along bottom A Blackshear angler fished a short time in the lower river on Saturday and caught some warmouth by bouncing curly-tailed jigs on the bottom in the backwaters Another angler reported catching 32 fish this weekend on the lower river. He had mostly crappie, but he also had bluegill and warmouth mixed in his catch. Another angler fishing over the weekend caught about a dozen crappie in the middle river while flinging white beetlespins I get a lot of questions about how I describe river sections There is no hard and fast rule, but I usually call everything above the Hwy 121 Bridge the upper river, from there to the Hwy 82 Bridge the middle river, and everything below that the lower river.
Okefenokee Swamp – Nobody has been fishing the east side based on reports from Okefenokee Adventures This cold snap will hit the shallow waters of the swamp harder and more quickly than the deeper rivers and lakes, but it will also warm up on the back side more quickly.
The dropping temperatures will slow the bite this weekend, but staff said that they saw lots of bowfin breaching the surface this week even in the cold The latest water level (Folkston side) was 120 58 feet
Local Ponds – Crappie fishing was decent this week. Several folks reported catching them. An angler fishing on Saturday who caught 4 fish on 1/16oz Tennessee shad Specktacular Jigs tipped with minnows All 4 of them were over a pound Chad Lee stayed with the bass during the cold this week He made several short trips and caught 7 bass up to 3 pounds
Most were in the 1-2 pound range and ate crankbaits and stick worms, but the 3-pounder ate a ZOOM Ol’ Monster worm I heard of a couple people catching 6 and 7 pound bass on plastics this week in a Brunswick area pond Those were the biggest bass I heard about Saltwater (GA Coast) – Winds were the story again much of the week, but Jamie Hodge and a friend fished the Brunswick area on Saturday They found a good school of fish and caught 26 seatrout, a flounder, and a couple other species on live shrimp They kept 17 of the trout
Capt Tim Cutting (fishthegeorgiacoast com) had great trips early this week before the bad cold. He fished some creeks on Friday and had them eating jigs exclusively. He had a limit of both trout and redfish that day – the bite was on fire He followed that up on Saturday with a limit of trout, but they had a bunch of short fish that day On Monday they had to work for their fish They did find a school of cooperative redfish, and they ate live shrimp under a Harper Super Striker Float His redfish were biting best in 1 to 5 feet of
water and the trout down to 20 feet (most in the 8 to 12 foot range) Working the jig slowly was the ticket for them For the latest fishing information or live shrimp in the Brunswick area, check with J&P Bait and Tackle on Hwy 303 (912-282-9705)
Keaton Beach/Steinhatchee, Florida – Jimmy Cumby and a friend fished a river off the Gulf on Monday and did well for redfish, but they said that the trout weren’t in there much yet They threw a swimbait to the eddies and shell mounds and fooled 18 redfish and 3 trout They tried several bays and creeks and just could not find the trout, or couldn’t get them to bite if they were there.
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).
Capt Bert Deener
Ellie and Bert Deener fished the lower Satilla River this week in the cold and caught and released a total of 29 crappie, warmouth, and bowfin. They all bit 1/16-oz. popsicle Specktacular Jigs and a 1/16-oz. prototype tinsel jig tipped with minnows.
Page 6
Creeks & Rivers
By John Chapman
Time is flying and another year has passed and made way for another January to come in with a vengeance Temps expected to be the coldest in years the next few days into January Fishing will not be for the faint of heart
Just remember when you get all that new gear from the Fat Man not to run out there unprepared and get in trouble Now is a great time to take into account all your safety gear and have a plan In the winter months when weather may or may not be predictable it is more important than ever to have a plan and let someone know the plan You may be saying to yourself at this point oh crap this is another guy on his soap box telling me how scary and imposing winter weather is and how I should dress and prepare.
Yes that is correct Let me give you a short background on myself, and maybe that will shed a little bit of light on why this stuff is so important to me Back a life time ago I was a Naval Aircrewman and aviation rescue swimmer on a variety of helicopters. In that capacity I’ve flown many hours over all different parts of the world in a variety of tempered climates in many oceans of the world
I’ve jumped in the Sea of Japan in Feb and also been in the water off the coast of Korea in the winter, as well as in the Mediterranean Sea in December Ok what does this have to do with a fisherman in Jacksonville, FL. Well the point I’m trying to make is the lessons that have been tried proven and learned apply to us fisherman here as well Water temps below 50 degrees will incapacitate you and eventually kill you
Listen I realize that everyone is not going to go out and buy a dry
suit to go fishing in as a precaution but there are things that can be done to maximize your control of the situation going fishing in these inclement conditions
Set strict time check- ins with loved ones and send them a pin with your location every now and then These things will do two things
The most important thing it will do is make your claim to FWC or the Coast Guard during an emergency immediately valid If you can show an established process of checking in with your loved one and something happens they will take you serious from the minute you report someone missing The other thing it does is establishes a great point to start searching It is always nice to have a dry set of clothes in your vessel with you as well
They make a variety of dry bags and dry storage and those dry clothes could make a difference in the onset of hypothermia or other cold related emergencies if you were to take an unexpected spill in the cold water Also treat Jan like insurance companies treat your smoke detectors, well mine always sends those cheap made in China batteries to remind me to buy good batteries and change them out
So take that reminder to go over your vessel and check the things that are not just creature comforts but also will save your hide in an emergency situation
Fire extinguishers, batteries in IPRB’s, lights, whistles, and flares I realize this is not a popular subject but hey I hope if you got this far and you take it to heart and do a little prep work
Remember all your loved ones that are waiting on dinner and for you to come home Tight lines
Chappy
904-743-3200
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Page 7
Pier & Surf
By Spencer Brogden
It's hard to believe we are already in 2023, but here we are What will the new year bring us for the month of January? Hopefully a bunch of big whiting in the surf in northeast Florida!
At the time of this writing, the water temperature is 65 with a major cold front on the way By the time is passes through I expect the water temperature to drop into the upper 50's. In all my years of pier and surf fishing, when the water temperatures get into the 50's the whiting bite becomes almost nonexistent
Im hoping this won't be the case Regardless, January is definitely a good month to use the Diet Pepsi trick with your shrimp If you haven't seen this trick before, it's simply soaking
your shrimp in Diet Pepsi before you go fishing
I only use this method when the water is in the upper 50's to mid 60's. I have been using this method over 20+ years after learning about it first hand on the old Jacksonville beach pier. There was a guy crushing the big whiting while everyone around him watched
I went and got a can of DP and did the same and next thing you know I was catching whiting as well There are a few theories as to why it works but I don't get caught up in that
All I know is it works and I've filled many coolers over the years using it. Now back to the month of January, whiting will be what's hanging in the surf with an occasional redfish or drum
As the surf temperature goes so does the fish If you have any questions on surf fishing in January leave a comment on my YouTube Brokenreel23 or our Brokenreel23 Facebook group We have weekly reports and updates as to what's biting in our area.
Until next time, tight lines!
Spencer Brogden
JACKSONVILLE BEACH PIER TO IMPLEMENT NEW FEE SCHEDULE IN 2023
The Jacksonville Beach Pier reopened in July after renovations from Hurricane Matthew were complete. Starting January 2, 2023, the daily fees for walking and fishing are as follows:
Walking General Admission $2
Duval County residents and all hotel guests with a valid hotel key card in Jacksonville will be $1
Fishing General Admission $5
Duval County residents and all hotel guests with a valid hotel key card in Jacksonville will be $4
Page 8
Pest Control Services Bed Bugs * Roaches * Termites * Spiders * Carpenter Ants * Scorpions * Fruit Flies * Yellow Flies * Rats/Mice * Hornets * Midges * Ants * Fleas and Ticks * Silverfish * Millipedes * Carpenter Bees * Mosquitos * Pantry Pests * Springtails * Bees * Earwigs * Flies and Gnats 904-242-BUGS wwwbeaversbugblasters com Mon 7am - 1pm Tues & Wed - Closed Thurs - Sun 7am - 5pm 9549 First Coast Hwy Fernandina Beach, Fl. 32034 904-624-7293 otlbaitandtackle@att net S&D Williams , Family Owned Shrimp / Finger Mullet / Blue Crab / Squid / Sand Fleas / Fiddlers / Fishbites WANTED!! Old Fishing Lures and Related Items Call or Text Mike at (904) 424-7071 *55 Gallon Drums* - Food GradeLive Bait Wells / Floating Docks Fuel Storage 904-955-3829 DELIVERY AVAILABLE Page 9
Page 10
Intracoastal & St. Johns River
By Capt. John Eggers
It took a long time for salinity levels to finally get back to normal after Nicole went
creek mouths during the outgoing tides with the best fishing near or at low tide
Big flats that go dry will be a perfect place to target them as they stage and feed waiting for the water to get back on the flats
These same fish will make their way up on the flats and move to the back where the water will heat up the fastest. Creek fishing will also be good again fishing that outgoing to low tide. Look for the schools to be on the shallow long runs between the deeper holes as they search for warm water and bait Speckled trout fishing can be good as well
I like to find the current breaks around structure or deep drop offs that create eddies where the trout will school up and ambush their bait White and or chartreuse paddle tail or curly tail soft plastics do great Live shrimp and mud minnows on float rigs or live bait tipped on jigs will definitely produce lots of bites too The sheepshead bite slows a little but they can still be caught around bridge pilings, jetties, and shell bars
Finding their favorite bait being fiddler crabs may be a challenge
Page 11
Karlie from Jacksonville
Offshore Deepwater
By Capt. Tim Altman
Let’s Talk Offshore Fishing!
In December the Cobia Showed up right on schedule. The offshore wrecks in 100ft or greater have been on fire. If you’re going to get there leave early because your super-secret favorite Cobia spot may not be so secret
On the first trip offshore with the new 2022 Contender 25t, the “Hoodeux” we limited in Cobia and went 1 for 3 on Wahoo With Cobia, we limited out within the first 25 mins of Jigging with one over 40lbs!
We caught our Cobia on Chartreuse Alien Jigs Tipped with Squid jigged from 10-20ft off of the bottom. If you’re not sure where to find them go to Strike Zone Fishing Jacksonville and ask one of their expert staff We caught our Wahoo in 125ft in clear blue 74-degree water on a White/Blue colored C&H American Express Lure @ 19mph We were 1 for 3 on Wahoo in 3 ½ hours of HighSpeeding
The Wahoo have shown up all up and down the fishing grounds
In the Strike Zone North Florida Elite 60 Wahoo Tournament, a Tournament that began on Nov 26 and runs until January 15th, several boats have fished with varied results.
As of today (20 Dec) Team Marine Specialties is in 1st place with 102lb 2-fish aggregate and poised to claim just over $79,000 of the overall total tournament purse of $114,000 Will the lead last?
Possible, but not likely especially if we get a stretch of good weather with fishable days These gentlemen were high-speed trolling in an undisclosed location and if they were being truthful, caught the bulk of their fish around the time of the tidal change. These things make a difference, so know where you want to be and be there when the conventional wisdoms of tidal change and moonrise/set/overhead are in motion
At HooDoo Sportfishing Charters we specialize in Wahoo charters this time of year! So, if you’re interested in a great time targeting Wahoo, please contact us at HooDoo Sportfishing @ www.saltwaterchallenge.com or call/text 904.859.6314
I’ll say it again and again Please support your local business
Until next month, please stay safe on the water and remember that great things happen when you take a kid fishing
Capt Tim Altman
HooDoo Sportfishing Charters
wwwsaltwaterchallenge com
904.859.6314
Page 13
Me with our “Hoodeux” Wahoo
Captain Chris Altman with a Hoodeux Cobia.
Intracoastal
Rivers & Creeks
By Capt. Todd Philcox
In NE Florida we will experience our version of winter during the month of January, more than likely we will have one or more significant cold fronts that will bring overnight freezes to our area and result in rapid and substantial cooling of water temperatures
Don’t put your gear away, while fishing may slow for a day or so, our inshore species must feed to survive. Fish the same winter pattern I wrote about in December, work deeper into the creeks for redfish, look for slightly deeper holes near oyster bars where the tide is draining off larger mud flats and the water will be slightly warmer There will be scattered flounder and black drum in those same areas Sunny afternoons on the low outgoing tide will be optimal.
During our winter months I target redfish primarily and will fish water as shallow as I can get into (and out of!) with my 21’ bay boat These past two months I’ve seen water in the 65-degree range in November and early December, and then a cooling trend dropped water temps to the mid 50’s around Christmas weekend
The redfish bite was decent throughout with many small fish and some lower slot fish mixed in. Winter cooldowns tend to concentrate and school up the slot size fish in the shallows leading to some great action, be alert as you will see these
schools moving water on calm days.
Live shrimp and mud minnows continue to be my primary bait throughout the winter, I fish those baits on a 1/8 or a 1/4ounce jig, depending on wind and tide conditions
Slow down your presentation no matter what bait or artificial you are working and don’t be reluctant to just let live or dead bait sit when you have it in a productive zone.
I’ll keep a closer eye on water temperatures this month, if I see extremely cold water, anything below 50 degrees would qualify, I’ll tend to head closer to the St John’s River where ocean tides will moderate water temps
Our winters vary substantially year over year, some years strong freezes will drop water temps as low as 45 degrees, other years have been milder seeing water that barely dipped below 60 degrees.
The fish will be feeding regardless, but sunny 65-degree afternoons sure make for more comfortable fisherman!
Wishing you a Happy New Year with many days on the water!
Page 14
Capt Todd Philcox Salty Charters (904)403-8575
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
wwwJaxParks com
www.COJ.net
Well, We hope everyone had a great Christmas Holiday season and you received all good things for your boat, fishing and just enjoying our North Florida outdoor life!
The cold weather has arrived, and warm weather will be right back! That is the good thing about living in Florida! The waterway is returning to a normal seasonal status
The water temperatures are in the low sixties and the salinity levels have returned to normal status in the Mayport, JU and Buckman Bridge areas. The water levels have returned to normal, and we are finally seeing an incoming tide as strong as the outgoing tides.
Now the last thing to get too normal is the damaged facilities repaired
City of Jacksonville Continues to make improvements and several projects are seeing progress Access to the Mayport area by boat and space for commercial industry is getting near The new docks of Mayport continue to make progress The repair process is a little more complicated due to including the FEMA and insurance process
The new Jax Beach Pier operator should be in full operation, so improvements and changes are soon to be seen with access to bait, Ice, tackle, and refreshments.!
The construction of the new dock on the east side of the Jacksonville Zoo is complete and the Zoo will soon complete the entrance plan The dredging of the Kayak access at Castaway Island Preserve is near 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
We have additional damage at Reddi Point, Jim King Park Kayak Dock, Metro Park Marina, Lonnie Wurn, Blue Cypress dock, The multi-use trail road at Huguenot Park Palms Fish Camp The large amount of debris in the waterfront parks and our waterways is starting to get cleaned up but as always in the St Johns use caution and be on the lookout for floating debris.
The derelict vessel war is still full speed ahead. The new budget by FWCC is in place and we are starting to see FWCC work the cases to get us approval to remove They have completed the investigation and requested removal assistance for the vessel south of the Atlantic Blvd bridge
A contract has been approved and removal should be soon FWCC is working to complete the process for the sunken sailboat northwest of the Beach Blvd channel on the ICW A sailboat was pushed aground in the Ortega River and another one was pushed on to Exchange Island, both have been removed by the owners.
The Jacksonville Waterways Commission continue to address the Offshore, Near shore, and in
shore reef concepts.
The City of Jacksonville own 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) are being 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 have 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.
NOAA is working on a plan to restrict speed offshore 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
Continued on Page 22
Page 15
New docks at the Jacksonville Zoo
Blackened Shrimp and Grits
Instructions
2 1/2 cups low sodium chicken broth (divided)
1 1/4 cups fat free milk
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup quick cooking grits (not instant)
1/2 tablespoon butter
1 1/2 oz sharp cheddar cheese (freshly grated, divided)
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 tablespoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon dried cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
olive oil spray
24 Jumbo shrimp (about 1 lb cleaned and deviened)
3 tablespoons scallions (sliced) lime wedges (for serving)
1. In a small bowl, combine the paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, thyme, oregano, salt, black pepper and mix to blend.
2. Spritz the shrimp with oil on both sides and rub all over.
3. Coat the shrimp with the spice mix.
4. In a medium size pot, bring 2 cups of chicken broth, milk, water and salt to a boil, careful it doesn't boil over. Slowly stir in the grits and stir continuously until the grits are well mixed
5 Bring the pot to a boil, reduce heat to the lowest setting, cover with a fitted lid and simmer for approximately 28 to 30 minutes, stirring after the first 5 minutes then again occasionally to prevent the grits from sticking on the bottom; adding more water if necessary.
6. The grits should have a smooth consistency similar to cream of wheat.
7. Stir in the butter and 1 ounce of the cheddar and the Parmesan cheese, remove the grits from the heat and keep warm.
8. Just before the grits are done, heat a large cast-iron skillet with the olive oil over medium-high.
9. Add the shrimp, and cook until the spices are darkened and aromatic, and the shrimp is opaque, about 2 minutes per side
10. Divide the grits among 4 plates and top with remaining cheddar cheese, then nestle the shrimp on top
11. Add the remaining 1/2 cup broth to the skillet to deglaze the pan and cook about 1 minute over medium heat until it reduces by half, drizzle over each plate
12. Garnish the whole dish with the scallions Serve immediately with lime wedges for serving
Morgan Metals & Designs Inc. Dan Morgan Owner 6541 Powers Avenue #11 Jacksonville, FL 32211 Specializing in Custom Aluminum and Stainless Components, Towers, Arches, T-Tops, Railings and More 904.731.3334 Office 904.731.3337 Fax Black Creek Marina Located on Black Creek off US 17 in Clay County Black Creek Marina is here for all your Bait n Tackle, Fuel, Boat rentals and Slip rental Fuel * Bait * Tackle Slip & Boat Rentals 904-631-6658
Page 16
Hook It & Cook It
Guana Lake
By Capt. Matt Chipperfield
We are coming off our first hard freeze of the winter and our fishery is adjusting to the cold Many of our inshore species took shelter in deep columns of water to avoid the bitter surface conditions
If they were lucky enough to pass the freeze unscathed, they will be looking for a meal as temperatures level back off Here are some tips for fishing during these colder months
I’ve covered this topic in other reports, but I can’t stress this enough now that arctic blasts are arriving Cold water means lethargic fish
If you are moving your lures too fast or reeling your baits in too quickly you are most likely missing opportunities Slow your lures down, take long pauses between twitches, let the live bait sit a little longer
Slow sinking and suspending twitch baits are absolutely ideal artificials for this slow presentation Dead sticking the plug and letting it sit for long periods of time allows trout and redfish to catch up and strike Use heavier weighted sinking plastics in deeper water and lighter weighted suspending or floating lures in shallow water
Speaking of shallow water, this is where you’ll find the redfish this winter.
Slot and overslot redfish like to get skinny this time of year They’re after warm water and stranded baits caught in the tight backwaters of the intracoastal waterway Large schools of reds will push their way across mud flats, oyster bars and creeks attacking shrimp and minnows in their path.
If you have a shallow drafting kayak, paddle board or poling skiff this is the time to see what it can do Look for a midday to late afternoon low tide and push back
into shallow Look for wakes, tips of tails, scattering shrimp and even the occasional strike on the surface
Use live shrimp or mud minnows on jig heads, lightly weighted soft plastics, or your favorite fly Just remember, move slooooooow You don’t want to spook fish you haven’t spotted yet
If you have a larger boat limited to deeper water or you’d like to fish the inlets and bridges sheepshead and flounder will entertain you for hours You can use the same jig head for both fish and fish the exact same area for them.
You just have to change the bait Both sheep and flounder love hard structure areas with current. The jetty rocks, dock pilings, bridge pillars and any other solid structure will have these fish around them
The sheep will be hanging mid to bottom column on the structure while the flounder will be on the bottom surrounding the structure Use a large finger mullet or mud minnow for the fatties and a fiddler crab or live shrimp for the sheep
Be sure to bring some extra tackle though, that structure is going to snag
(904) 610-8501
Capt Matt Chipperfield
Palm Valley St Augustine
By Capt. Cory Sparks
Winter fishing is here and hot! Well actually cold and if water temps stay low, you’ll want to change a few tactics this month.
Cold mornings and stretches of cold weather will affect fish movements and feeding all month Somedays the fish need a little bit of warmth before they will cooperate so early mornings are not always a must
As the sun gets above head in the midday sky, it will warm certain areas of water quicker than others and these “hot spots” can be just the temperature difference the fish prefer to be in. Any structure that will absorb and hold heat will be targets to check for staged fish
Oyster bars, dark mud flats and banks, as well as shallow ledges in creeks with water moving over them will all be warmer than surrounding waters and should not be overlooked Cold fish can be very slow moving and reluctant to bite so slow your presentations down dramatically if you're using artificials. When
using live or dead bait, many fish will softly tap the hook before fully committing
Stay tight and feel them as they nibble, but wait until the rod tip loads with some pressure before setting the hook
Look for redfish to school up on low tides during the lunch hours. This is when they can find a shallow flat and bask in the high light/ high heat conditions
Approach these schools very stealthy and cast to the edges Going in loud and disturbing these fish in any way will scatter and move the school and your shot will be over Fish for trout using paddle tails, jerk shads, or shrimp profile plastics on a ¼ oz jig If the bite is short striking or soft, go down even further in weight until you find the slow retrieve rate and weight combination that gets them to strike
Twitch baits are great this time of year as well and covering the docks with slow twitch and sink cadences using anything similar to the Mirrodine mr17 profile is a great place to start Just keep thinking slow slow slow! And when you think you're slow enough, slow down some more! Sheepshead and Black Drum will be around shell bottom and pilings.
Use fiddler crabs and live shrimp to target these fish I prefer to tip my live bait with a Fishbites EZ Strip A small square piece pinned onto a jighead not only offers color and scent, it also helps hold the bait
on by softening the knocks and bumps your hook will make throughout the cast and retrieve Lastly, dress warmer than you think you need to A north wind or cloud cover can make the day on the water feel much colder than expected.
You can always take layers off but it’s hard to get warm once you’ve got the chills. Think about this especially taking kids fishing One crew member freezing can cut your day short and no one wants that! Keep Reeling!
Capt Cory Sparks
310charters.com
Page 18
Kayak Fishin' By Will Neimann
Happy New Year!!! I hope everyone’s holiday was fun and relaxing Like we say every year, New Year’s resolutions come and go but fishing lasts forever
With the current grocery prices, fishing can also provide a little relief, so if you don’t fish, no better time to learn
That being said, January is a good month to hit the water, but it can be challenging with the winter time weather patterns
Winter fishing is controlled by the cold fronts we get throughout the month. The few days leading up to the front are generally the best days to fish, with the two days prior being the best
When a strong cold front is approaching, the fish can feel it and triggers them to feed heavily. But once the front passes, lockjaw is often the result Planning trips and being able to adjust to the weather will make your trips through the winter months more productive
The days leading up to a front are generally very mild and comfortable. The red fish, trout, flounder, and pompano will agree.
The prefrontal days are the best days to get on a few fish on the flats They will be warming themselves up on the mud around the oyster beds and grasses As much as I like an early morning bite, the winter bite is often better after the sun has time to warm up the mud on the flats
Cold mornings will be slower than warm afternoons, so if you fish early, don’t be discouraged if the bite is slower to start the trip. I prefer smaller
presentations during the winter months Smaller baits are killer this time of year
A Swingin Buck bucktail jig is about as good of lure as you can throw during the cooler months
It’s a small, finesse lure that imitates small bait fish and shrimp Another great winter time bait is a Fishbites Fightin Shrimp under a popping cork
This setup is especially good once the water temperatures bottom out.
A popping cork can be worked super slow, which is handy, because the colder the water, the slower the fish react A slow presentation will be far superior to a fast presentation over the next few weeks.
Following the front, the weather will be crystal clear, cold, and windy The normal targets, redfish, trout, and flounder, won’t be as cooperative Although trout will come out to play some Sheepshead, however, will turn on strong. Fishing for sheeps can be a challenge, especially when bait is hard to come by Fiddlers bury themselves, so digging is the only way to get them Mussels, mud crabs, mangrove crabs, barnacles, blue crab knuckles, shrimp, sand fleas, and oysters are all good alternative baits to use if fiddlers are unavailable
A NCT Sweeper Jig or a Reel Habit Sheepshead Jig are two very good jigs used to snag these bait stealers Vertical fishing structure, pilings, bridges, rock piles, or jetties, is the most common way to get them.
When fishing this month, watch the weather and plan accordingly Don’t let the cold conditions sway you from filling the cooler Fish got to eat when it’s cold too. Good luck and tight lines. I’ll see ya out there.
Will Niemann
Lead Guide @ St Augustine Paddle Sports 772-475-9469
Daytona Ormond Beach
By Capt. Jeff Patterson
We are about to dip into the coldest temps of the year possibly down in the 20s so we’ll see what happens to the fishing.
It’s been a fairly mild fall but have some drastic changes coming with the forecast I wouldn’t be surprised if we see some fish affected including snook, tarpon, and others as well
There’s been a bunch of different species being caught consistently including reds, black drum, snook, seatrout, flounder, tarpon, pompano and even more. Redfish bite has been pretty solid in Ormond up in the basin and I’ve been doing good in the ICW first thing in the morning in that area
I’ve found a small school of reds a few times recently with some tailing fish We’ve had some fun trips throwing artificials and soft plastics have been working great It’s a good way to find a flounder as well and it seems like they are all over right now. Grass lines have been holding a bunch and along the edges of oyster bars.
There has been a bunch of juvenile tarpon in the Tomoka River I was back there recently and this school seemed to stretch a few hundred yards or more! Usually I can get them to hit a free lined finger mullet but couldn’t get them to touch one on a couple different trips However they were all over a small Yo-Zuri 3d minnow. Just keep an eye out if you’re
back in that area when moving around. There’s a pretty good chance you’ll see some rollers.
Seatrout bite has been very good and I’ve been doing best fishing banks with nice drop offs Season is open as of Jan 1 It seems many people are still not aware of regulations that changed within the last couple years and there’s an app called Fish Rules that works great for regulations/ seasons etc for all the different species.
A lot of anglers have been targeting sheepshead and black drum and doing very well. The bridges and docks have been popular lately considering the conditions we’ve had Fiddler crabs when you can get them and small shrimp have both been baits of choice
I’ve been hearing reports about people catching drum at just about all the bridges in the icw in Volusia County I still never believe a report without proof though. Speaking of which feel free to reach out and share reports with me and show me your catch any time!
Happy New Year from Pole Dancer Fishin’ Charters!
Capt Jeff Patterson
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smallboatBIGFISH.com (386) 451-4992
January is here and it’s time to target those winter redfish! We have been hitting the creeks and oyster flats hard. There has been absolutely no shortage of reds in our area. Take advantage of our high tides and go explore the grass walls first The redfish have been tucked up in the shallow water. I love to throw my “creeper” topwater by “Kiss My Fish Lures” first Cast parallel with the grass lines within 4ft of it and give it the “walk the dog” method Hungry reds, large trout, and even snook will hit hard! Another artificial I like to use is 4”-7” paddle tails by Slayer Inc and Fishbites
Use the same method casting parallel to the grass or along the side of oyster beds. You can use a heavier jig head as well and strip the bottoms for flounder. The mouths of the creeks and deeper holes around creek bends
have been holding nicely. As the weather continues to stay cold we should start to see the water clarity get better.
The cold will kill off the algae hopefully bringing us some great sight fishing conditions Personally, there is nothing more fun than pushing around in the skinny water sighting game fish.
The key is to be be super stealthy and not to pressure them Remember, if you can see them they can most likely see you If you spook them its over so take your time
The Sheepshead and black drum bite has still been excellent as well Check out the Bridge Donkey Jigs by Hunting and Fishing Depot for targeting these fish Tip these jigs with fiddler, mud crabs, or sand fleas and drop them by any dock or bridge pilings.
If your having a hard time like most people finding these baits you can also try using frozen sand fleas, or wrapping any clam or crustacean in a small bait bag and tip the hook. Also, don’t be afraid to downsize your gear for these fish.
Using a small rod and reel combo can make a world of difference as you can feel almost every bite!
As always, stop into Genungs Fish Camp and pick our brains about more of what’s biting locally and what gear to use! We’ll catch y’all later!
Drew Florez
1/31/23
Expires
SUBER - Continued from Page 15
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 website 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! Happy New Year! BE SAFE! AND WASH YOUR HANDS!!
Capt Jim Suber
Buy - Sell & Cash Offers
Tournament Board
By Craig VanBrocklin
Winter Tournaments
FLA – 3 Trout (weight)
1st Nathan Johnson/Matt Lewis 7 47
2nd Scott O’Brien/Alex Buchanan 6 84
3rd Chad Duncan/Jeremy MacDonald 6 34
4th Wade Hastings 6 25
5th Robert Lytle/Chris Warde 6.23
6th Charles Dehlinger/Bob Morris 6.16
AIGA Inshore Classic
Youth Redfish Spots
1st Jacob Davis 12 Spots
2nd Eli Smith 3 Spots
Adult Redfish Spot
1st Roy Forbes 16 Spots
2nd Joe Dudzinhski 15 Spots
3rd Butch Miller 7 Spots
Aggregate (1 Redfish, 1 Seatrout)
1st Rocky Davis 8 12 lbs
2nd Matt Davis 8 08 lbs
3rd Nik Bremer 7 36lbs
Casting Competition -Brad Richardson
Van Staal Reel raffle -Bruce Beauchamp
Early entry Okuma - Allen Mills
Eggnog Open Steinhatchee (2 Redfish)
1st Hunter Brasington/Carson Kamien 13.26
2nd Steve English/Branden Tryst 12 75
3rd Scott O’Brien/Wade Hastings 12 44
4th Richard Martiniuk/Charles Martiniuk 12 43
5th Richard Hullett/Paula Smith 12 07
Kayak (2 Redfish, 1 trout)
1st David Driscoll 66 75”
2nd Matt Lanier 65
3rd Russ Capien 63
Upcoming Tournaments
January
* 7th FLA
* 21st Pro Redfish
February
* 4th FLA
* 11th Power Pole East Coast Go Live
* 25th KA Redfish
March
* 4th FLA
* El Cheapo Sheepshead
* 18th FL Redfish Series Jax
Page 23
1st. Jr Amelia Island Guides Tourney Jacob Davis 12 Spots
2nd Amelia Island Guides Tourney Aggregate Matt Davis
