Fishing Connection Online October 2022

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wwwFishingConnectionUSA com October 2022 Volume 21 Issue 250 Nassau * Duval * Clay * St. Johns * Flagler * Volusia * Brevard
Page 19
Page 27
Rates Page 2 Fish Kisser Page 2 Offshore Page 5 & 13 Freshwater Page 6 Recipe Page 16 Pier n Surf Page 8 Kayak Page 24 Waterways Page 15
Tides
Tournaments
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This Month's

Writers

Page 4 - Nik Bremer

Page 5 - Lee Bowman

Page 6 - Capt Bert Deener

Page 7 - John "Chappy" Chapman

Page 8 - Spencer Brogden

Page 11 - Capt John Eggers

Page 13 - Capt Tim Altman

Page 14 - Capt Todd Philcox

Page 15 - Capt Jim Suber

Page 16 - Jeff Altman

Page 17 - Capt Matt Chipperfield

Page 19 - Tides

Page 20 - Capt Cory Sparks

Page 21 - Capt Adam Morley

Page 23 - Roy Mattson

Page 24 - Will Neimann

Page 25 - Capt Jeff Patterson

Page 27 - Craig VanBrocklin

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COVERS MAILING COSTS Name Address City State ZIP Phone E-Mail Make Check or M/O Payable to Fishing Connection and Mail to Joe Dionne 6605 Brandemere Rd. South Jacksonville, FL. 32211 You can also pay online at FishingConnectionUSA.com Publisher / Editor Joe Dionne FishingConnection@aol com is published monthly by the a Group Inc on or before the month No material printed ed or sold for distribution ten consent of the publisher are distributed monthly at ets and by subscription nformation please call Joe 962-5996 Page 2 Th les sub the Fis ect the views of the Fishing Connection The main objective of The Fishing Connection Publication is to provide you as a fishing enthusiast with the best information and knowledge from the top anglers in N E Fla and ask you to please support the paying sponsors and column contributors who make this monthly publication possible
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October 2022

Fish Kisser of the Month

Congratulations to our Fish Kisser of the month, who looks really happy laying a big kiss on that fish's slimy lips We have a Free Annual FISHING CONNECTION subscription (12 issues) mailed each month to your home or office ($28 00 Value) for any of you that submit your photo to the contest and are chosen as the winner If you are this month's winner please contact Joe Dionne at FishingConnection@aol com with your name and phone # to claim your certificate Prize must be claimed no later than midnite of the last day of this month to be valid If you would enjoy seeing your photo in the Fishing Connection please send in your best Fish Kissing Photo. Thanks to all who send in a Fish Kisser photo. Anyone can win, maybe soon it will be you Send photos to FishingConnection@aol.com

Rules are Simple

Your lips MUST CLEARLY touch the fish's mouth The person in the photo must be clothed but clothing on the fish is optional Remember, all submissions are considered against future entries too, so if you haven't seen your photo yet, you're still in the contest

Disclaimer

We are not responsible if the fish you're kissing bites your dang face off

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With the summer heat ending, we’re finally starting to see the water cool down a bit The mullet should stick around until we get that first cold front, so take advantage of that.

This time of the year is much more comfortable to fish Over the last month, fish have gorged themselves on this mullet run and become accustomed to eating larger baits, so bump those three-inch paddle tails up to four or five inch baits to target those larger fish

Continue to cast net mullet and present those on a fish-finder rig This rig will work well pretty much everywhere It allows the fish to get into the strike zone and act natural If hooking in the mouth, remember to only hook the top half allowing the mullet to open his mouth to get oxygen in its gills, it will last much longer.

The jetty bite continues to be very active and will remain this way The bull red bite has been great, flounder bite has been good, and the trout bite will increase as the water temps continue to drop

The bull reds could be found at the end of the Florida jetty, slightly

towards the beach side on the incoming tide Big cut baits like blue crab, mullet and lady fish will all produce your personal best red The red monsters could also be caught from the shore.

Fort Clinch on the last of the outgoing to the first of the incoming will allow you to cast into deeper water in order to get your bait in their path Get ready for a fight!

If you’re going after the flatties, work live mullet or mud minnows on a jig head over the top of the rocks If you prefer artificial, give a bucktail with a fish club grub on it a shot And guys, remember flounder closes on the 15th of October until the start of December

So as much as we all love to eat flounder, they all must go back in the water

Come by Amelia Island Bait and Tackle to show us what you’ve been catching, we love to see those pics Until November, Tight lines

Nik Bremer Location

1925 S 14th St, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034

Hours Monday Friday 6:30am 5:30pm

Saturday Sunday 6:00am 5:00pm

Contact Us: (904) - 277-0775

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J.O.S.F.C.

The rough offshore weather has been a little better than last year but we still have had to pick and choose some days

We do have some great inshore options right now for the days you cannot get out The bull reds have been showing up in the river Please treat these fish delicately and make sure to properly release them back into the river.

It never fails that I see some every year floating down the river belly up I can usually pull up and revive a few of them These big fish are our breeding population and we want to keep the fishery as healthy as possible

Outside of the inlet, the tarpon have been all over They are in the river also but the silver kings have probably been more abundant than I have seen in the last couple of years. Kingfish have been slowing down but it is not completely over.

As the water cools down it will be more likely you will catch them on reefs and wrecks rather than trolling the beach Reef species are starting to fire off pretty well I’ve seen some hefty triggerfish coming off the bottom and if you get into them they are always a great catch

We are always looking for guests and speakers so if you

have anything you’d like to come and talk to the club about that is fishing or boat related send us an email or Facebook message

JOSFC Upcoming Events:

JOSFC Board Meeting

Monday, October 3rd

Meeting- October 6th Vote for board members and Club President

Meeting- October 20th speaker TBD

October 22, 2022 annual JOSFC Club Banquet, see board members for tickets

October Club Tournaments

No Tournaments scheduled for October

Find us on Facebook and check out our website to keep up with upcoming events, schedules, or any changes wwwJaxFish com

Our meetings are on the first and third Thursdays of each month

We are open to the public so we would love to have you at a meeting even if you are not a member

M-W-T 6 AM - 6 PM FRI - 6 AM - 7 PM SAT - 6 AM - 6 PM SUN - 6 AM - 5 PM Closed Tues
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Fishing Report 9/22

The dry weather has been nice this week The rivers have started dropping back out, and the Altamaha system is in pretty good shape for this weekend. River gages on September 22nd were:

Clyo on the Savannah River –3 5 feet and falling

Abbeville on the Ocmulgee – 1 7 feet and falling

Doctortown on the Altamaha –5 4 feet and falling

Waycross on the Satilla – 9 3 feet and falling (77 degrees)

Atkinson on the Satilla – 9 9 feet and falling

Macclenny on the St Marys – 9.4 feet and falling

Satilla River - The river is just getting in the banks again You should be able to do pretty well for catfish and not have problems getting around in a motorboat this weekend

Panfishing will probably be slow, but you should take some bass tackle, as you will be able to catch some in the creek and slough mouths with the cooling water Fling topwaters early and fish plastic worms and craws around heavy cover once the sun gets up

Okefenokee Swamp - The water is still high. I talked with an angler who fished this weekend and zeroed on the east side. The bite should pick up as the level falls this week It fell just over an inch over the last week

Catfishing on the west side

should be pretty good if you put shrimp or worms on the bottom

The latest water level (Folkston side) was 121 26 feet

Local Ponds - Surprisingly, I didn’t receive any reports from pond anglers The bass should be moving shallow and feeding on baitfish, while some of the last waves of bluegill spawning should be happening But, I just don’t have any details this week Ponds are definitely worth trying now that the heat has broken some Expect the crappie bite to pick up with the cooler morning temperatures forecasted over the next week.

Dodge County Public Fishing Area (near Eastman) - The SEGKBF kayak club hosted a successful bass fishing tournament this Saturday Lots of bass were caught Daniel Woodcock caught the big bass of the tournament, a 22 1/4-incher, while flinging a black Texasrigged stick worm.

Ocmulgee Public Fishing Area (near Hawkinsville) - The trophy bass bite has slowed some, but a few were still caught this week Nothing over 8 pounds was reported Some bluegills were caught from the fishing piers (they have feeders on them)

Paradise Public Fishing Area (near Tifton) - The annual Outdoor Adventure/J A K E S Day event will be held this Saturday (9/24) on National Hunting and Fishing Day Different outdoors events will be held throughout the morning For more information about this event and all WRD events, go to gofishgeorgia com click on events, then scroll down to the date you are interested in for events across the state.

Saltwater (GA Coast) - The water was in decent shape this week, and reports were extremely variable, which is typical as the fish start moving from their summer to fall patterns The worst report I had was from a

very experienced angler who fished all around the St Simons area for big trout with topwaters and plugs and did not catch a fish on Wednesday. The best reports were from a couple of Brunswick anglers who fished the inland rivers several times for good catches of trout and redfish Over the weekend, they pitched plastic shad imitations to current breaks and caught redfish that were right at the minimum size one after another That day they had a few 15 to 16 inch trout with those same shad plastics in Brunswick Early this week they fished around St Simons with live bait and caught 8 redfish from just under legal size to 23 inches. That day they also had a 19-inch trout on artificials. On Tuesday they found a school of keeper trout and caught 15 of them on artificials None that day were over 15 inches, but they were chewing On the trips, the best colors of artificials were clear with chartreuse glitter, shad colors, and greenish colors The forecasted cooler weather this weekend should get the trout chewing. Jacksonville, FL Saltwater - I fished the inshore waters around Jacksonville for a few hours on Tuesday morning before being chased off by mid-day thunderstorms I found a really good topwater bite and caught 14 seatrout up to 24 inches (released that one) The biggest fish ate a black-silver Mirrodine, but most of the others inhaled a shadcolored Yo-Zuri prop bait or Super Spook, Jr. Trout were the only species that ate the hard baits that morning

New Moon is October 1st To monitor all the Georgia river levels, visit the USGS website (waterdata usgs gov/ga/nwis/rt)

For the latest marine forecast, check out wwwweathergov/jax/

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

Capt. Bert Deener caught this 24-inch Seatrout on a Mirrodine on Tuesday in the Jacksonville, Florida inshore waters and released it.

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Creeks & Rivers

Fall is almost upon us! We got a small taste of a little cooler more bearable temperatures and it sure was nice!!

Fall is the time for big ole Fat Flatties Don’t forget that the days of keeping the potato chip flounder are over FWC finally raised the limits from 12” to 14” and those two inches might make a huge difference in bringing more flatties in and keeping the stocks full

Then again they might have been just throwing dice in the back room in Tallahassee like they do when they make Snapper regulations. In a few years we will know Again, it makes all the sense in the world to limit the recreation guys to 5 fish now while not curtailing commercial but that’s also what they did again

Anyway now that I got that off my chest, flounder are a true treasure in NE Florida and are one of the most versatile and tasty game fish we have While looking funny and definitely different than any other fish if you think about it they are the only ones that through their physical characteristics tell you exactly where to fish for them. In case you don’t know flounder hatch out and their fry look like every other normal fish with a normal two eyes, head, and body but then after hatching and before they reach about a half inch in length they look like they do now and adapt to living 90% of the time on the bottom

They have adapted quite nicely to this body type their style of laying on the bottom and ambushing their prey has made them a fun game fish to seek out. Funny thing is, it seems like most people don’t actually target them but catch them while

fishing for other fish They can however be targeted and there are some folks who do quite well at it

I could go on about a certain way to target them but there would be thousands of folks that laugh and have a better way That being said I will just go over some of the locations that I’ve had luck targeting them this time of year First of all they are almost always an ambush predator and on the bottom looking up

I’ve heard people swear about a rocky bottom, sandy bottom, and all other bottoms you can come up with I’m not well versed in stepping out of the boat checking the actual bottom but I can say if you are along a grass line and you take a few minutes to observe the mullet, mud minnows, or other fish being tossed straight up in the air then more than likely there is a flattie under there encouraging them to jump straight up

Also, if there is a break in the grass or an outflow of a “ditch/stream/whatever” in the marsh they love to sit on the outskirts of that and ambush whatever gets washed out on an outgoing tide

I love to throw up to jagged looking odd spots in the grass and bounce the lure off the edges of this grass, let it sink a second and then bounce it on the bottom back to the boat. That telltale solid bump will be your clue to set the hook fast and hard Then keep that pressure on all the way to the net

If you give them a lil bit of slack line or let them flip on top the water, well you’ll have to start all over again Hope this helps, just remember you can’t catch them on the couch!!!

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Pier & Surf

Buckle up, because the month of October tends to be an action packed month of fishing Both surf fishing and pier fishing is hot and heavy

The return of cold fronts will start to drop the surf temperatures into the mid to upper 70's and that only means good things for fellow surf fisherman

The mullet run is also in full gear and that only adds to the feeding frenzy in the surf and pier. The hardest part of surf and pier fishing in October is deciding what to target If you want to target whiting and pompano, fresh shrimp, clams, sandfleas and fishbites is the way to go I use a double drop rig with a Sputnik for the weight

If you want to target Redfish and speckled trout bring your cast net and get some live finger mullet I use a simple fish finder rig and an 12-18 inch leader. I like to play the mullet in a slough or directly behind the breakers as this is where the the reds and trout feed while chasing the mullet

Don't forget that the redfish limit is now 1 per person October is also the month Sheephead and black drum show up around piers and any type of rock structure along our coast Live sand fleas, fiddler crabs and fresh shrimp work well for both of these.

While targeting all of these fish I prefer northeast winds between 8-15 mph. We tend to get some fairly strong northeasters as well in October, and fishing usually fires off 2-3 days after it calms down

Don't forget to check out our YouTube channel Brokenreel23 for weekly reports and updates as to what's biting in the surf Until next Month, tight lines!

Page 8
Spencer Brogden
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Page 10

Octo into fall

Northea

Coolin flush the St, John the ocea take adv are tired prices for shrimp get out with your cast net and catch your own

From Green Cove Springs to downtown Jax they will be migrating by the thousands You can catch them from docks, bulkheads or boats with a decent shrimp cast net One of the stars following and eating the shrimp are flounder October by far is

drop offs, docks, and rock piles.

Bull reds are especially thick as they come into the river from the ocean to spawn I like to fish the slower part of the tide, either high or low, so that i can use the lightest weight possible to keep the bait directly on the bottom and not drifting.

Whole blue crabs, mullet or cut bait are key to catch them but make sure to use a large circle hook to keep from gut hooking and injuring the fish. I fish the river channel in 35 to 45 feet of water which means they must be vented properly before releasing keep a good descending device or vent tool aboard at all times One last thing make sure you check your fishing regulations there

In S Ca Page 11
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CMC1249834

Offshore Deepwater

October, Independence and Pure Luck

As I was last year, I will be in MagBay Mexico @ the Magbay Lodge during the 2nd week of October chasing Striped Marlin This time of the year the Striped Marlin bite goes off

It is not unusual to have 40 releases in the same day on live bait and light tackle. Not a day goes by that I don’t count my blessings on just how lucky my life has turned out

As a teenager growing up in Alma, Georgia I never dreamed I would have the opportunity to fish like I do and to see the world I was focused on 2 things (for the most part), there was fishing and sports Back then, this time of year signaled 2 things to this young farm kid, Friday Night Football and Flounder! Here is my teenage October story as I choose to remember it:

October 1976 I was 16 Years old Friday nights immediately after Football, I would see my girlfriend back to her home and tell her I’d see her Sunday evening at church I’d rush home to get 3 hours of sleep (because my mom forced me) and with all my gear pre-packed and staged, at 4am I’d hit the road on my way to Fort Clinch State Park (Fernandina Beach) in my dad’s old Dodge corn truck named “Maudy”.

It was an ugly yet feminine

green/aqua color Ole girl had a 4-speed heavy duty transmission, slant six-cylinder engine, no muffler, no AC, and AM Radio I was spending the money I’d earned during the summer picking tobacco to pay for my gas, bait and entry into the Fort Clinch Park.

I’d bought a minnow trap somewhere along the way and I’d stop by the Old Marina Bait Shop to get 2 Blue Crabs and some live shrimp At the payphone just outside the bait shop, I’d call home collect and let them know I was safe

After entering the park and securing a campsite I’d make my way back to the Old Fort About halfway back on the left was a little creek that held tidal water I’d stop there, crush the crabs, put them in the trap and head the rest of the way back to the St Mary’s river directly behind the Fort complex For the next two hours I’d fish the live shrimp with limited success

For me the real bait was the big mud minnows that I would catch in my trap in that tidal creek For this kid they were flounder slayers After two hours on my dad’s old watch I’d return to the minnow trap and it would always be full of huge mud minnows. I’d then fish all day and partially into the night. When I got tired or the cooler was full, I’d spend Saturday night in a pup-tent set up in the pickup bed of Maudy

She kept me off of the ground, dry and away from small creatures and snakes Man I hate snakes I was then and still am really only afraid of 4 types of snakes Poisonous, NonPoisonous, Alive and Dead Sunday mornings I’d wake up to the sun rising and the sounds of waves crashing on the beach. Sunday mornings I was only allowed to fish

Continued on Page 18

This beautiful family had a great day on the Hoodoo Boat. A nice Magbay Striped Marlin we released in October of last year. TJ Altman with his 2nd place Kingfish in the Kids Kingfish Derby

Intracoastal Rivers & Creeks

October is one of my favorite months to fish Jacksonville’s inshore waters

The days are getting shorter and hopefully cooler, water temperatures are dropping, and redfish begin to push back into shallower water as the mullet run wanes.

Fishing action in September was decent along the Intracoastal, mid-month the northeast winds blew and tides were minimal leading to a slower bite The quantity of finger mullet had grown nicely but they became a bit harder to find later in the month when the weather pattern changed, hopefully we will still have a good amount of mullet around through the middle of October.

Bring along a cast net to secure some if possible and fish them live either on jig head o fish finder rig up on the f weed edges at high tide o the Intracoastal banks an holes on lower tides I p fish the falling tide thro first hour of the incomin targeting Redfish

The flounder action h decent in the St. Johns fishing docks and roc produced some nice fish lbs. The trout bite has and off but should impro month

Flood tides will occur f 8th through the 12th and through the 29th this providing the chance to fi

on the grass flats for tailing redfish and the occasional sheepshead

The most productive flats tend to be closer to ocean inlets where the tidal range is greatest, the Ft George area and the adjacent intracoastal grass flats are productive, as are flats closer to Vilano Beach to the south

Fly-fishing with crab imitations or gold spoon flies is productive in the grass as are Gulp shrimp and crabs fished on light tackle, all need to be rigged weedless. Also on tap for October is the height of the run of spawning bull redfish, action will be hot throughout the river up to the Dames Point bridge, fish the drop offs from 35-45 feet deep with cut crab, mullet or ladyfish, use ample weight to hold the bottom Remember to vent fish if needed and thoroughly revive them before release

Get out fishing and enjoy one of our most beautiful and productive months on the water!

Capt Todd Philcox Salty Charters (904)403-8575 Saltychartersjax.com

Our Waterways

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

wwwCOJ net

Well, here we are fast approaching the fall weather and fall boating and fishing! To me the best time of the year! The sunshine is still abundant, and the water is cooling off some The fronts and weather patterns have to be watched but hey that is what we do in Florida We are fortunate to not have to winterize or shrink-wrap our boats! The summer has been a great one and the waterways gave plenty for the fishing and boating community!

The Manatees are starting to depart the North Florida area, but some are still around so continue to use caution and keep a look out. The City of Jacksonville Continues to make improvements and several projects are seeing progress. The new docks of Mayport are being installed These docks will be for the OSEARCH vessel when in Jacksonville as well as other commercial operations and Shrimp Boats

There will also be a designated recreational vessel dock for

public use So, access to the restaurants and parks of Mayport will soon be accessible for your enjoyment The Jacksonville Beach Pier continues to be the place to fish Not only over 125 Kingfish caught the pier anglers are pulling in a variety of species.

The Dredging of Bert Maxwell is complete and over 7 ft average was reached. Oak Harbor Dredge project is complete, and boaters and anglers have a clear deep path to and from the ICW with also seeing over 7 ft depth. The construction of the new dock on the east side of the Jacksonville Zoo is in progress and waiting on the floating dock sections delivery

The dredging of the Kayak access at Castaway Island Preserve and the dredging of Goodby’s Creek is still working through the process and contractors should be able to mobilize soon The new fishing platform at River Road Park is finishing up and should soon produce a great access for local anglers

The contractor has experienced several delays, but completion is in sight The North Bank docks are getting closer to completion with the bulkhead wall nearing completion and the additional floating docks installed to add additional boater access. I have had the pleasure of joining the Jacksonville Offshore Fishing Club the last month or so and I want to thank them for the hospitality and fellowship I was fortunate to join them for a fish fry and celebration of the past Presidents It was impressive seeing the legions of North Florida Fishing that have led the organization. We are working to add a fish board with a Mayport Florida Sign for anglers to take photos of the daily catch.

More to this coming soon! Congratulations to Amelia Siegel and her team for the completion of her Eagle Scout Project building a new Life Jacket Loaner Station at Mayport Boat Ramp.GREAT JOB!! The Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament is adding new volunteers and congratulations to

Tom Darga being selected to join Jacksonville Marine Charities Board of Directors

Tom will bring years of experience volunteering and fishing in our community GJKT is working on additional volunteer positions so if you are interested in being involved in an organization interested in the success of the North Florida Fishing community and charities for children and fishing interest call the tournament office and let the tournament Chairman Mel Hammock know you are available.

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 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 shoal became an Island during our low tides in August, so it is obvious the dynamics causing the shoal is continuing Blount Island Marine Corp Base is working a dredge operation and the spoil pipe is crossing the back river to Clapboard Creek so use caution 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 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 2022.

The cost of the classes to the student will continue to be reduced to an affordable rate thanks to a donation from Jacksonville Marine Charities from proceeds from the Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament.

The next class and all future classes will be announced on the America’s Boating Club web site at wwwusps org/localusps/Jackson JSPS continue to do vessel inspections so you can contact an inspector at the same web site or reach out to me and I will assist getting you with an examiner

Last but not least, show pride in the facilities provided for your use with your tax dollars by properly disposing of your by-products when you clean your fish and dispose of your trash appropriately!

BE SAFE! AND WASH YOUR HANDS!!

Capt Jim Suber

Office (904) 630-0839

Cell (904)509-0588

Jsuber@coj net

5

Hook It & Cook It

SHRIMP CREOLE

It has been a great year for the shrimp run in Northeast Florida These tasty little crustaceans start upriver around Palatka and head their way North up the Saint Johns river on their way to the ocean. You know when the shrimp are running you will see boats all along the Shands bridge and around doctors Lake and bright lights on the ends of the docks of the St John's river everyone casting nets into the baited water trying to get their limit of shrimp It is a family event with everyone doing their part

My kids used to love picking up the shrimp as they fell from the nets Shrimp are the things movies are made of! there is boiled shrimp, fried shrimp, shrimp and grits, shrimp kabobs and one of my favorites shrimp creole

This recipe is a labor of love but if you do it right it is well worth the trouble

4 -Tablespoons butter

1 -large onion , diced

1 -rib celery , diced

1 -green bell pepper , diced

2 -cloves garlic , minced

½ -teaspoon salt

½ -teaspoon black pepper

½ -teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 -Tablespoon flour

1/3 -cup dry white wine (optional)

1 -15 oz can diced tomatoes

1 -cup chicken stock

2 -bay leaves

Hot pepper sauce, such as Tabasco , to taste

2 -lb large uncooked shrimp , (about 32)

6-8 -cups hot cooked rice , for serving

2- green onions , chopped, for garnish

Add butter to a large skillet over medium heat Add onion, celery, bell pepper, and garlic and sauté until veggies are lightly browned.

In a small bowl whisk together the thyme, salt, pepper, cayenne and flour Stir into onion mixture and cook for 2 minutes

Deglaze the pan with wine (if using) and then add chicken stock, tomatoes, bay leaves and hot sauce Reduce heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally

Remove bay leaves Add shrimp and cook until pink, just 3-4 minutes

Serve over hot cooked rice and garnish with green onion.

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Page 16

Guana Lake

Grass bass, flounder, bull reds and mullet: that’s what you can find in North Florida waterways this time of year. Nor’easters have kicked the mullet run into high gear as the rivers dump out massive schools of bait

Flood tide season is in full swing and we are just starting to see the beginning of the “running of the bulls” in our river The Flounder Pounder tournament is on the horizon and temperatures are beginning to drop The “Fall Blitz” is underway and our North Florida fishery is on fire.

Let’s start our in the grass flats

Intracoastal flood tides during new and full moons are producing some of the best sight fishing in the state Redfish are tailing hard through the grass during peak tides and have been very aggressive thus far Small crab flies and soft plastic lures rigged weedless have been smashed on a regular basis during my charters

If you are planning a flood tide session be sure to keep an eye on the tide chart and wind forecast Nor’easters, large swell and sustained onshore winds can drastically increase tidal height Conversely, stiff offshore winds and high pressure systems can keep water out of the flats and decrease the flood tide

Understanding how atmospheric conditions can effect your flood tides is very important when choosing where to fish and when It can be the difference between finding fish in the flood or staring at waterless grass

If you’d rather fish for a heavyweight redfish the bulls are

on parade Ledges, holes and deep structure within the St John’s and Intracoastal Waterway are home to massive schools of breeder sized reds this time of year

A wide range of chunked baits and live baits will work well for these behemoths, but the most popular tend to be quartered blue crab and mullet Be sure to use heavy tackle and bring the big leads. You will be pulling these fish out of high current areas with some significant depth, sometimes past the 50 foot range

You want to land this fish in a timely manner and revive them quickly so they can swim back to the school and continue making babies

And please remember if you are fishing in 30 feet or more you need to vent these fish to allow them to decompress and remain on the bottom. Failing to do so will result in dead bloated fish If you do not know how to vent a redfish there are plenty of YouTube videos explaining the process

October in Jax is well known as Flounder Pounder time Flatties are fattest this time of year and feed relentlessly as the winter approaches With an abundance of mullet moving through our rivers and inlets all you need is a cast net and a few knocker rigs to put some meat in your cooler Egg weights with khale hooks or jigheads ranging from half to one and a half ounces are very effective rigs for bouncing mullet along the bottom. You’re likely to catch redfish and trout as well which can make for some fun mixed bags Just remember that the flounder “thump” is distinct and requires a delayed hookset Let the flounder chew on the bait and make their way into the hook A hasty hookset can often result in missed fish

I’ll see you guys next month Until then, get out there and enjoy the cooler weather!

(904) 610-8501

chipscoastalcharters@gmail

Page 17
Capt Matt Chipperfield
com

Continued from Page 13 until 10:30am

It was then that I was supposed to be on the road back home. Being a kid, I always fished till 11:30 which put me home around 2:30pm

Yea, I know I was a little different 16-year-old, but those days & nights in the Fort Clinch State Park during the Fall of 1976 & 77 were some of the best times I can remember. We didn’t have much money and I still joke today that “my parents worked 3 jobs between them to support their farming habit”

But the reality is that my mom and my dad trusted me to be smart and to be safe. They taught me the basics of being independent and innovative

They loved my involvement with sports and fishing Personally, I think they mostly just loved the flounder I brought home Well, I guess you’re wondering why I’m taking about inshore fishing and juvenile independence.

Yesterday I was teaching my grandson TJ (always pictured in these articles) how to tie his shoes You see he was having a little difficulty getting the whole shoe-knot-thing down As a 6year-old HE felt he was failing at something basic.

I know how he felt, I suffered from the same thing until my grandfather taught me a new way to tie my shoes I showed him how I still to this day tie my shoes different then everyone I know

He sat in my lap for about an hour demanding perfection of himself. He tied and tied until he could get it right for both shoes 3 times in a row

Frustrated with tears and a crooked mouth he would not relent

I tried and tried to get him to take a break and re-group. He’d scowl at me and say No! Not until 3 times in a row! Honestly my legs were going to sleep, but he kinda scared me with the scowl thing so I had to suck it up My point is, our kids strive for independence We must

recognize those that do and allow them the leeway to make mistakes, get stiches and sometimes even break bones. Sometimes the best thing we can do is just to get out of their way

Sailfish will still be around this month The Triggerfish bite is starting to fire up The Mutton and Mangrove Snapper bite further offshore is still very strong. Kingfish are slowly moving off of the beach to the offshore wrecks.

Gas prices and Inflation have affected our economy on every level

So please support your local businesses because they are the ones most disproportionality impacted. Take the time to go to your local store even though giving your money to Jeff Bezos (creator of Amazon) may cost less because of soaring fuel prices In the end it hurts your local community immeasurably

If you need assistance with any type of Rigging and Tackle, please visit Southern Kingfish Hall of Fame Fisherman Dave Workman Jr @ Strike Zone Fishing Jacksonville See Dave or his top-notch staff for expert advice with the widest selection in Northeast Florida for all your fishing needs!

Until next month, please stay safe on the water and remember that great things happen when you take a kid fishing

The HooDoo Boat is still in Sailfish Mode If you’re game for some of the most exhilarating fishing here in NE Florida, then give us a call for your Fishing Adventure!

Capt

Tim Altman

HooDoo Sportfishing Charters saltwaterchallenge com

Page 18
Courtesy of U.S. Harbors.com Tides * Weather * Boating * Fishing www.usharbors.com Fernandina Beach, FL - October 2022 Mayport Naval Station - October 2022 Fort Matanzas, ICWW, FL - October 2022 Ponce De Leon Inlet South, FL Tides - October 2022

October is one of the best months to fish Palm Valley!

The Fall season transition is going on The Mullet run is fired off! Fish are feeding well in the temperature breaks And just about everything is ready to cooperate and bite

Utilize mullet this month by catching some each trip with your cast net Mullet on a variety of presentations will drive results in October.

Pin a live one to a 1⁄4 oz jighead and work areas by slowly dragging it across the bottom to locate flounder. Knocker or Carolina rigs allow a frisky live mullet to create commotion and will work well in signaling redfish and trout to the bait

Using circle hooks on these set ups and leaving the rod in a holder to do its fool proof thing is a great way to keep an extra rod out and increase your chances! Free lining mullet to the many rolling Tarpon that are working channel edges in the Valley will hook you up with a “Silver King” Mullet can also be fished under popping corks or used as cut bait in any of the ways listed above

Unused mullet can be frozen and used later as cut bait, but don’t take more than you need! This is a great bait and resource to us, but as with everything, taking care of the resource responsibly is important!

October also has some great flood tides and Redfish, Black Drum, and even Sheepshead are

gorging themselves while in the grass on crabs, snails, grasshoppers, and anything else they can find.

When tides recede, the bite can be slow due to the fish being full after coming off the marsh grass flats. I like to target higher tide stages due to this and locate fish as they are anticipating feeding on flooded areas that are usually out of reach.

When targeting “tailers” use your favorite soft plastics paired with weighted weedless hooks to get the lure down into the blades of grass where fish are foraging Cover ground in flooded grass areas while scanning the water with your eyes

You are looking for the slightest break in the water surface of a tail poking out. Sometimes it’s very subtle, and other times they are waving like little flags. Approach quietly and avoid casting this set up to close to fish or having your line touch them in anyway.

This will blow the fish out and you will watch them shoot off the flat Land your cast well past the fish and to the side they are moving towards Slowly retrieve the lure to within a few feet in front of the fish As they approach, make subtle movements to draw the strike and watch for the blow up!

Baaam! Fish On!

You're now addicted to flood tide stalking! Keep Reeling!

Capt Cory Sparks

716-307-7654

Chase with a Birthday Redfish!
with a Redfish to start the morning!
John Nodson
Jaggar Matthews with his first keeper!

Wake up Green Day

September has come to an end The Hot Hot Heat is on its way out and the Eagles will start nesting around the area once again With the light kiss of cooler temperatures the fish patterns will be changing and you’ll need to adapt as the water temperatures drop as well.

For all the Momma's and Poppa's out there it’s a great time to get the little Rascal(s) Flats fishing since the Redfish bite starts to turn on Target them with soft plastic artificial baits in the shallows around oyster bars

If you can’t get into the flats the running of the bull reds should still be happening around the inlets and bridges, live finger

mullet and blue crabs on a Carolina rig will do the trick there

Keep in mind that the Redfish regulations recently changed to one per person, check the FWC site for full details. Another regulation to keep in mind is flounder season closes October 15 through November 30th The trout bite will be picking up under the dock lights, free line live shrimp them

Artificial shrimp like a DOA or VuDu will produce as well but run the risk of getting shredded by the schools of bluefish that often hangout under the same lights. As I write this in late September we still haven’t been seeing many Pompano in the surf but as the water temperatures drop into the low 70s to upper 60s we should start seeing them off our beaches as they make their way south

Another bite that turns on with cooler temperatures is the Sheepshead bite, we’ve already been seeing nice fish being caught in all the usual spots using the usual baits (rocks, docks and pilings with fiddler crabs). So in short, things fire up and the temperatures cool down. Tight lines.

Expires 10/31/22 Page 21

SALTWATER FISHING LICENSE

Required to take or attempt to take saltwater fish, crabs, clams, marine plants or other saltwater organisms (other than non-living seashells and lionfish with certain gear) A Florida fishing license is required to land saltwater species in Florida regardless of where they are caught (state or federal waters)

Resident Annual: $17.00

Resident Five-Year: $79.00

Non-Resident Annual: $47.00

Non-Resident 3-Day: $17.00

Non-Resident 7-Day: $30.00

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Page 22

Fishing the Surf in Volusia / Brevard

Buy - Sell & Cash Offers

Kayak Fishin' By Will

October means one thing in Saint Augustine and that's Redfish

Our annual redfish migration happens during the month of October, and is often dubbed Red October due to the influx of them in our waters Big bull reds are very common catches this month

It’s oftentimes actually harder to catch a slot than a bull The biggest reds will be in the area inlets and under the bridges, but don’t be surprised if you get a big one on the flats or up in the creeks The reds move into spawn, so they will make their way into the shallows

When targeting these stud fish, you’ll want to use gear that can handle them Yes, fighting a big fish on light tackle is definitely fun, but it’s rough on the fish Many red fish that are fought to the point of exhaustion, don’t make it

Using heavier gear will shorten the fight and allow the fish to recover easier A medium heavy or heavy action rod with at least a 5000 series reel will tackle most bulls without a high mortality rate Using circle hooks will also help keep the fish healthy

I use 4/0-6/0 circle hooks for bulls, with 65 pound braid and at least 50 pound leader for the bridges or 80 pound leader for the inlets The amount of weight used will be determined by the current and the water depth

You want your bait on the bottom Using a Carolina rig or knocker rig are the easiest ways to rig up St Augustine Paddle Sports offers Swingin Circle

Hooks that are deadly for reds

They have a circle hook on a swing jig head, giving the jig extra action as it articulates, as well as making it harder for the fish to shake the hook loose

Although, the biggest bulls can be caught on artificial baits, the easiest way to get them is on live or cut baits Live mullet, blue crab, shrimp, or pin fish are the most common live baits for bulls, with live blue crab being the number one live bait.

I normally break the claws off (which can be used for sheepshead in the same areas) to make the crab defenseless. A defenseless crab will get eaten before one with big claws Removing the clause also releases smells into the water, drawing the reds in If fishing live baitfish, hooking them through the head is my preferred way

One of the absolute best baits for redfish, however, is cut ladyfish If you’re targeting bulls, saving a couple ladies to cut up will be very beneficial Cut blue crab is just as good, but if neither are available, fresh dead, cut up mullet would be my third option for cut bait. Don’t be afraid to use the heads of both the mullet and the lady fish With cut bait, sharks, catfish, and stingrays may get annoying, but when that big bull picks it up, it’s all worth it Oh, and don’t be surprised if a snook or tarpon ends up on the other end of the line There are still plenty of them under the bridges and in the inlets as well. Hopefully you can find time this month to track down these awesome fish.

Just remember that the bulls need to be handled quickly so they recover quickly Pop a quick photo and get them back in the water Good luck and tight lines I’ll see ya out there

Lead Guide @ St Augustine Paddle Sports 772-475-9469

Fresh Salt & Offshore Baits Tackle Souvenirs 6805 US 1 South St Augustine Fl 32086 Got Bait? Monday - Saturday 6am - 6pm Sunday - 6am - 5:30pm Ice Boiled P-nuts Beach Toys Boogie Boards Skim Boards 904-794-7501
Page 24 Oldest City Bait n Tackle 1949 A1A South St. Augustine, FL. 32080 DavidPrivett *CandaceBurke Open 7 Days a Week serving the St. Augustine area since 1991. Products include Live, fresh & frozen baits, rods & reels, and a wide variety of fishing tackle

Daytona Ormond

The fall mullet run is in full affect and what an awesome run it’s been so far!

The inlet, the bridges, the flats, docks, it’s all been awesome fishing In the river the Tomoka Basin has producing redfish, snook, and tarpon. Finger mullet have been working great and they are all over the place. The water levels have been up higher which happens this time of year and mullet can be tricky to catch being able to hide in grass and mangroves Pay attention while you’re on the water at higher tides to areas of shoreline with a beach to catch bait

The Intracoastal has been awesome around docks and bridges. Redfish, snook, and flounder have been all over the docks and even the shoreline in between docks. Same thing,

cork have all been producing nice fish There’s been a bunch of slot and over slot snook caught and I think it will be just as good over the next month

The inlet has been awesome as well I’ve had quite a few days with 10-20 redfish or more and even left them biting multiple times

I’ve pretty much gotten a big school of redfish schedule down pat and I know when they are going to be in certain areas. That’s an advantage of being on the water so much Tarpon have been out there and having crazy feeding frenzies on mullet and put on an awesome show!

Not to mention catching them along the way There’s been some really nice snook and bigger finger mullet and pigfish have been good baits A lot of the snook have been over slot up to 38” but a blast to catch.

Over the last month or so I’ve actually had more permit landed on my boat than I ever have too around the jetties Seems like they are getting more common in the area over the last couple years

Another awesome fighting fish I’m telling you if you want a good chance at landing a big fish now is the time! Call me

Page 25
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Tournament Board

Summer Tournaments

Florida Lure Anglers – 2 Redfish weight

1st Thomas Riley/Chasey Riley 12 90

2nd Brett Kelsay/Walton Leddy 12 67

3rd Damien Solarono/Spencer Fox 12.53

4th Jeremy MacDonald/Chad Duncan 12 11

5th Ty Sikes 11 91

6th Daniel Doughtery/Chris Peterson 11.68

King of the Hill Surf Fishing (length)

Junior

1st James May 15.5” whiting

2nd Charles May 13 75 catfish

3rd Matteo Kunz 13 25 whiting

Whiting

1st Brian Hooie 16 5

2nd Milton Cox 13 25

3rd Ben Aranas 13

4th Ronald Wright 12 25

5th Jimmy Weldon 11 5

Gamefish

1st Paul Vancelette redfish 18 25

2nd Cullen Berg trout 16 25

3rd Mike Brown trout 15.75

4th Jason Schull trout 15 5

5th Skipper Alford pompano 14 25

JOSFC Ladies Offshore - weight

1st Derek Siegal 26 8

2nd Jake Ogin 18 79

3rd Lynne Gokey 18.1

Upcoming Tournaments

October

* 1st FLA Sisters Creek

* Netti Kayak

* Full of Bull

* 4th Big WT

* 7th- 9th Young Life

* 8th Flounder Pounder

* Cowford Redfish

* Pink up the Spots (Vilano)

November

* 5th FLA

* Bigg Sam Slam (Vilano)

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Page 27
FLA September winners Thomas and Chasey Riley King of the Hill Surf Fish winner of the Gamefish category Paul
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