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Publisher: Joe Dionne
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Danielle Dionne Pacowta
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Contributing Writers
Jeff Altman
Lee Bowman
John Nooney
Brett Warren
Trina Polkey
Will Neimann
John Chapman
Capt Jim Suber
Spencer Brogden
Capt Tim Altman
Capt. Bert Deener
Capt Cory Sparks
Capt John Eggers
Capt Todd Philcox
Craig Van Brocklin
Capt Adam Morley
Capt Jeff Patterson
Capt Charlie Freeman
Capt Matt Chipperfield
Fishing Connection is published monthly by the Fishing & Boating Media Group Inc on or before the first Tuesday of each month No material printed herein may be reprinted or sold for distribution without the express written consent of the publisher Thousands of copies are distributed monthly at selected retail outlets and by subscription For advertising information please call Joe Dionne 904-962-5996
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September 2021
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 ($24 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 fbmgjax@gmail.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 fbmgjax@gmail 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
J.O.S.F.C.
By Lee BowmanThe water temp has been hot and the bite is having its good days and bad days Kings have still been all over the reefs and wrecks as I'm also finding descent numbers on the beach. The tarpon have definitely had some better year's but we still may be a little early.
We have been finding a few here and there on bait pods The offshore bite has been pretty good The Vermillion (100-150’) have been fairly easy to limit out on
I've been seeing some mangroves coming back into the dock. Last weekend (8/7-8/8) a few Cobia were pulled off of closer reefs within 20 miles The sharks have been on everything I have caught and seem to be everywhere
Be ready to make a race to the surface with your catch
Afternoon thunderstorms, as usual have been making afternoons tough for a lot of us but if you can get out after those storms the beach fishing and slow trolling has been beautiful and once the seas lay down a bit these blazing hot afternoons have been a little more tolerable
School has started back but we still hope the kids make it to the meetings We are always looking for guests and speakers so if you have anything you would 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:
September 2nd
Meeting-Speaker TBD
September 4th
JOSFC Club Member Bottom
tournament Back up date will be Sept 11th.
September 16th
Club Meeting Fishing Boards
END!
Banquet plans are happening so be prepared for us to announce a date 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 Thursday 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.
Capt Lee Bowman
Fernandina
By Capt. Charlie FreemanOK, for me September is a month of change It's the month when normally the most tropical storms / hurricanes are formed but is also a month when fishing improves
Tarpon will still be found in good numbers at the St Mary's Inlet as pogies and mullet will be found in good schools Bull Redfish will also be caught at the same location
Surf Fishing, be it at the inlet, Peters Point or Nassau Sound will find whiting, sharks, some pompano and trout for those using cut bait, sand fleas and cut shrimp
Inshore the slot reds, flounder, trout and whiting can be found in the deep holes of the ICW, along the banks where there is oyster beds or other rough bottom, as in the shoreline from Rayonier to West Rock or fishing the docks from Nassau Sound to the SR200 bridge
Right now as I type this, the number of big schools of finger mullet at night are getting larger, as are the mullet My average size mullet I am castnetting is up to the 3"-6" size
Offshore the bottom bite will continue to be strong Dropping down a live bait or cut bait will get you grouper, Black Seabass and those pesky Red Snapper (you must release the Snapper as they are out of season)
Always put out a couple of flatlines as there are plenty of cudas, kingfish, a few mahi and a few cobia still in the area
This month's featured bait shop is RennWorks Outdoors, family owned and operated I stopped in a few weeks ago to talk with them but they were closed as they all went fishing, Now that's a serious family
At RennWorks Outdoors they are more than just your local bait and tackle shop They are a place to share stories, learn new fishing techniques, and have your questions
answered by their team of knowledgeable staff who have fished the waters of North Florida and South Georgia for over four generations
Whether it is fishing for Bluegill or Crappie in our local freshwater ponds and creeks or fishing for offshore species with electric reels and 80 wides, they have you covered They offer premium baits including medium and large local white shrimp, squid, mullet, rigged and unrigged ballyhoo, boston mackerel, ribbonfish, cigar minnows, and many other baits They also provide fishing gear from brands such as Top-Shelf Shimano, Daiwa, Penn, Avet, Seigler, Florida Fishing Products, Bull Bay Rods, Blackfin Rods, Z-Man, and many others
In addition to their bait and gear they also offer apparel and lifestyle products from AFTCO, Bajio Sunglasses, Bubba Knives, Marsh Wear, Scales Gear, Skinny Water Culture and Toadfish Outfitters
Be sure to check out their Facebook and Instagram pages for upcoming events, specials, and new products They are open every day from 9:00am to 5:00pm, with the exception of Sunday and from Noon to 1:30pm on Thursday when they close for a family lunch
If you have any questions, you can stop by the shop located at 2440 Lynndale Road, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034, give them a call at (904) 310-6794, or email them at rennworks outdoors@gmail com They look forward to seeing y’all soon!
Capt
Charlie FreemanCreeks & Rivers
By John "Chappy" ChapmanSummer time weather is always a challenge for whatever reason in Florida, this year alone we’ve dealt with everything from tropical storm rain and wind to Africa hot temperatures and the occasional blue bird day on a full moon
Of course, if you are a seasoned guide then you can press on through it all and post numbers of all kinds of fish and great days on the water in between the torrential down pours and electrical storms but what do you do if you have any other 9 to 5 job?
Truth be told I had a lil bit of writers block this month and happen to come upon this topic from a fellow writers FB post and with her permission I ran with one of the suggestions
It reminded me and grounded me that there are other fish out there that sometimes we take advantage of the ease and fun of catching them while chasing the BIG REDS in the river or their tastier cousin the flounder
I’m talking about trout, and yes while it is well documented that my all-time favorite way to catch trout is with a well-placed top water there are more ways to skin this cat
If you are fortunate enough to have a job that you are off during the week when the river is less crowded and you have access to the whole river then trout can easily be wrangled in all the normal spots of Jacksonville. Rocks, Creek mouths, popular grass lines, and a number of well-known spots along the
bridges etc. but if you only have the weekends and you like to eat breakfast with the family then by the time you get out there on the water these spots have been hammered for hours.
Tried and proven way to wrangle these guys in a less stressful environment with great success is to go ahead and spend the day with the family and cut that deal to spend a few hours out after dark
Almost every dock light along the river will hold fish I like to ease up to the dock against the current and just barely get within casting distance and inch my way to where I can comfortably cast into the light and let my bait sink a couple of seconds then reel it into the darkness
Give it a few casts before you should get that telltale trout thump I like to throw a simple light jighead (I use the round smooth head Slayer) with a white or glow curly tail. If you can maneuver the boat so you can throw into the darkness on the other side of the light and reel the lure into the light then back into the darkness again that will sometimes reward a strike. If they are just not there move to the next light. Also, live shrimp will always entice fish to bite even most times when you can’t see them darting through the light
I do however have a tip for when you come up on those fish that you see darting through the light and are so focused on the small bait, they are eating they will not touch anything in your tackle box. One such occasion I was fishing with my dad from land at a condo in Texas under a light and there were thousands of sea trout but they were so focused on this small fry bait that they wouldn’t hit anything we had
Continued on Page 19
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Pier & Surf
By Spencer BrogdenMullet run and September usually go hand in hand If previous years are any indication, then this month we will see plenty of mullet cruising the surf
If you fished any in august, you saw the mullet and probably even caught a trout or two Well September is august on steroids Redfish, speckled trout, Spanish mackerel, tarpon, kingfish and plenty of sharks will be dining on them.
My favorite rig to use is the simple Carolina rig as I've mentioned before. Depending on the mullet size, I use a #2 or #4 wide bend hook along with 2025lb leader
I try to use the lightest weight possible, but if you do have to use a heavier weight don't be discouraged because the fish will still eat Early morning tends to be the best time to find the
mullet in only inches of water
After you catch some, don't toss them much further out because those predator fish are usually in the area you caught the bait
I've seen redfish in mere inches of water chasing mullet early in the morning. Amelia island all the way down to matanzas inlet will be prime spots to use mullet for bait!
If mullet isn't your thing, there is also an abundance of sandfleas for bait Whiting, redfish, black drum and pompano live them I use a double hook dropper rig when using sandfleas along with a sinker guy Sputnik
Look for run-outs, sloughs and sandbars for the feeding zones One thing to consider, if we get any hurricane near the Carolinas we will probably get an early push of pompano as they head south out of the storm I've seen this very thing happen several times over the years!
To stay up to date weekly on what's going on in the surf, check out our YouTube page Brokenreel23!
We have weekly reports of what's biting and the water clarity Until next month, tight lines!
Spencer BrogdenPonds, Lakes, and Streams
By Capt. Bert DeenerSaltwater and ponds will be your best bets again this week. The southeast Georgia rivers didn’t get too much additional rain from Fred (they were already high), but the Altamaha system got pounded by the storm and is rising again
The dog-days of summer are here!
Okefenokee Swamp - Fishing has been slow with the high water On Thursday, an angler who fishes the east side regularly caught a warmouth and a couple small fliers by pitching crickets and worms for 3 hours
The fish spread out into the prairies when the water is high, and it is hard to find a concentration of them The scenery is awesome, but don’t expect to catch many fish per trip this week
The latest water level (Folkston side) was 121 65 feet
Ocmulgee Public Fishing Area (near Hawkinsville) - Despite the heat, anglers caught some big bass this week On Sunday evening, several kayak anglers did really well. I know of 4 bass between 21 3/4 and 23 3/4 inches that they caught.
The crappie bite has been slow in the heat. Remember, bass are catch-and-release at the area.
Saltwater (GA Coast) - Bobby Thompson fished the St Marys Jetties on Friday and caught a
great mess of good eating fish. He threaded a piece of shrimp on a 1/4-oz. jighead and caught 12 small jack crevalle, 20 big croaker, 2 trout, a short redfish, a black drum, and a whole host of baitstealers and a 100-pound stingray
Robert Bringolf and Kris Irwin came down to fish the St Marys Jetties with me and had a great day on Friday We caught 4 redfish up to 42 1/2 inches on Capt Bert’s Bucktail Jigs and Jetty Jigs with Keitechs and Sea Shads A 31-incher ate a mudminnow on a Jetty Jig
We also had 3 bulls power across the rocks and break off We had a couple trout, bluefish, and several other species, as well On Saturday the winds swung around from the east and made it really choppy The east breeze also kept the tannic, fresh river water around the rocks I think those two factors were key to slowing down the bite. We jumped a big tarpon and had a bunch of bait stealers eat squid and Sea Shads and trout eat bucktails, but the big bull reds eluded us for the 4 hours we were on the water before storms ran us off. Capt. Greg Hildreth said that it was slow this week He fished Thursday and saw a handful of tarpon but wasn’t able to get any of them to eat For guide trip information, call Capt Greg Hildreth at (912) 617-1980 or check out his website (georgiacharterfishing com)
Check with the Jekyll Island Fishing Center (912635-3556) for the latest on the Jekyll Island Pier or St Simons Bait & Tackle (912-634-1888) for the latest on the St Simons Pier
Keaton Beach, Florida Capt Pat McGriff of One More Cast Guide Service wwwonemorecast net
Phone: 850-584-9145 said that his charter had a great trip on Friday before Tropical Storm Fred blew through Scott White and Hugo Lara from Miami fished with him, and Hugo caught his first seatrout on the first bait that they put in the water He also caught his first redfish ever later in the day They ended up limiting out on trout and caught 3 redfish in a few hours, and their fish all ate pinfish suspended 34 inches under a Back Bay Thunder Float.
They fished in 5.5 to 6.0 feet of water, and the water temps ranged from 87.3 to 89.8 degrees. He said that the floating grass was so bad that about the only artificial that you would be able to fish would be a jig and Cajun Thunder Float rig, as horizontal presentations would be extremely aggravating to downright impossible to fish right now
Capt Bert Deener
bertdeener@yahoo.com
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
Caption: Kris Irwin caught a monster 42 1/2-inch redfish on Friday while fishing with his friends Robert Bringolf and Bert Deener (right) at the St Marys Jetties. He caught it on a 3/4-oz. mullet-colored Capt. Bert’s Bucktail Jig.
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I know everyone is screaming Bull Reds but I have to tell you my heart is somewhere else right now I love bull reds, don't get me wrong.
But we only have a couple weeks left to scallop until next summer!! My nephew has been diving for “scallops” in the pool this entire year waiting for Labor Day weekend so guess where I'll be?
In Steinhatchee or otherwise depending on water clarity This is a sport for just about
everyone It is like hunting Easter Eggs for adults!
You'll want to check the seasons along the Gulf coast, but the area in which Steinhatchee lies is open through Labor Day You don't have to wake up before dawn You don't have to run a ga-zillion miles
And you don't have to posess math skills All you need is a dive flag, mask, snorkel, fins, liquid spit and a bag to put your catch in. Each harvester can take 2 gallons un-shucked or a total of 10 gallons for the whole boat Again, check the regulations specific to where you are to be safe
Then you just go out with a short piece of high quality flourocarbon leader tied to a tiny little hook tipped with a tiny bit of shrimp soaked in diet Pepsi. Just tie it off to your finger(they don't fight that hard)and swim over the beds They will be popping up like dollar weed in the spring! I keed I keed!! Just
swim around and watch for them. They are easy to see if the white or sometimes coral color side is up, but if their mossy side is up sometimes all you see is a different shape Scoop 'em up and put them in your bag! You can get them in water too shallow for your boat at low tide or in 10+ feet sometimes A little shallower is much mo desirable If you've nev experienced this you have to p it on your bucket list One of m favorite things to do!! And your nephew or any oth significant person in your li wants to go you go. Cherish an love them and the speci memories Trust me on this
Intracoastal St. Johns River
By Capt. John EggersSeptember is the transition month into fall and fishing starts to get a little more predictable and easier to target certain species.
The mullet run finally starts up bringing tons of finger mullet to the waterways Everything from reds to snook take advantage of the run and not only are the local fish gorging themselves an influx of ocean fish make their way inshore
Large jacks, lady fish, bull reds and big flounder will all be around for the run The water temps will finally start to drop a lit l i ki h cr
magnet for slot reds and bigger flounder
The early topwater bite will be about as good as it gets all year for trout, snook , and red fish Black drum will be biting around the jetties, rock piles, and deeper shell bars
The star for the next few months, if you really like some drag screaming action, will be the bull red From the Mayport jetties to downtown the bulls will be here in big numbers.
Target slack tides in 35 to 40 feet of water on the rivers drop offs with whole blue crabs on slider rigs. Make sure to use circle hooks for catch and release and have a venting tool These big fish need to to be vented,! Failing to properly vent them will kill them just like offshore fish If you dont know how to properly vent a fish look at a youtube video and learn how By doing this it gives the fish a much better chance of survival preserving the fishery for our future anglers
Intracoastal
By Capt. Todd PhilcoxSeptember is a great month to fish Jacksonville’s inshore waters Our mullet run will begin this month as millions of our most predominate forage fish begin to form larger schools and head out of inshore waters toward our ocean inlets to migrate south.
This enormous quantity of bait will have every species large enough to eat a mullet fired up and feeding actively this month through October
There are opportunities to target many different species in a variety of different conditions, from redfish, flounder and trout on shallow mud flats, to bull reds along the St Johns riverbanks and deeper stretches of the intracoastal, to tarpon, jacks, sharks and more bull reds along the jetties at the mouth of the St Johns River.
Make sure you bring along a cast net for the next two months to secure a good supply of mullet and fish them live either on jig head or a fish finder rig up on the flats and weed edges at high tide or along the intercoastal banks and creek holes on lower tides
With such large quantities of bait present and water temperatures still quite high I find it more productive to fish very slowly or just let baits sit this time of year I’ve found the last 3 hours of the falling tide through the first hour of the incoming to be the most productive for redfish
Flounder action will pick up along the docks and other
structure along the St Johns River, I fish live mullet and shrimp on a 3/8-ounce jig head, slowly bouncing those baits along bottom.
The trout bite has been slow but should pick up as water temperatures begin to slowly drop
Action for the bull reds will be hot 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 on a circle hook, use ample weight to hold the bottom, heavy tackle and hold on!
The scene at the big jetties at the mouth of the St Johns river will be quite a spectacle as the mullet schools pour out of the inlet and are consistently harassed and blown up by large jack crevalle and tarpon, hanging below the topwater action will be bull reds and a variety of sharks. Free line larger live mullet, or fish them under a float, and be sure to also fish a line or two on the bottom with live or cut mullet
All the species mentioned above will be feeding up and down the water column at different depths Give me a call if I can help you get out fishing and enjoy one of our best months on the water!
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904-716-1627
Our Waterways
By Capt. Jim SuberWelcome to the 2021 Hurricane Season and the wind down of the summer rush! The water temperatures are balancing out at around 82-85 degrees in the Jacksonville Area
We have experienced some algae bloom as far north as Arlington area The weather continues to be somewhat wetter than normal and with the patterns of the tropical activity the chance of more storm effects in our area are better than possible Be sure to have your Hurricane / Tropical Storm plan in place and prepare early and review often.
I continue to remind all to be aware of manatees and they will be in the shoreline areas and not only in manatee zones The manatees will now start to move out of the area but the migration is a slow process so their presence will remain into the fall
The river salinity has been up and down the scale this past month and as long as the wet weather continues there will be a lack of stability
We have seen some great tournaments during the summer and I think the Jr Anglers came out as the overall winners
It is always nice to see the excitement and pride of not only the Jr Angler but the adult that made the day possible It is obvious this summer created life long anglers due to an adult that cared enough!
The winners were abundant not only with the first place status but any and every child that caught a fish or brought a fish in to be weighed at docks!
It always makes you proud to be involved in our fishing community
The Mayport Community Center Construction is in progress.
The Parks and Recreation Department has opened the park west of the Ferry complex for over flow parking We continue to make it through tournaments and weekends with little inconvenience.
A contract for the dredge project for Oak Harbor Basin has been awarded and work started but a small glitch in the pre-surveys has caused a small delay
We may not see dredge activity for a couple of more months. The installation of the new adaptive kayak launch and dock extension for Mandarin Park has started and there will be some closures and restrictions when the floating dock extension starts
The docks are being built so actual on site activity should start soon. New dock projects on the south bank area, Jackson Street and Post Street continue to work through permits and contracts All of the permits and submerged leases have been secured and the contract and notice to proceed will come soon.
The docks will be built at the factory so actual activity on the site will come closer to the end of the year We are still working through the process to begin construction phases for the dredging of Burt Maxwell Boat Ramp, The construction of the new dock on the east side of the Jacksonville Zoo, the dredging of the Kayak access at Castaway Island Preserve, and a new fishing platform at River Road Park in San Marco.
With a cooperative effort between the Waterway Management Department, City of Jacksonville Environmental Quality Division, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and Florida Fish and Wildlife and Parks and Recreation Maintenance staff we have removed several derelict vessels from our waterway through our boat ramps
We now have secured contracts with Salonen Marine to remove derelicts in the ICW, Trout River, Julington Creek, Broward River and Mandarin Point in the St Johns River thanks to grants issued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Boating and Waterways Department thanks to funding provided by our State Legislature
As always allow me 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 so check there web site for 2021
The cost of the classes to the student will continue to be reduced to an affordable $10.00 thanks to a donation from Jacksonville Marine Charities from proceeds from the Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament
The next class will be announced on the America’s Boating Club web site at wwwusps org/localusps/Jackson
The Jacksonville Sail and Power Squadron, America’s Boating Club of Northeast Florida and United States Coast Guard Auxiliary are back available for vessel safety checks
With the New Year everyone needs to have their vessel re-inspected I continue to remind all that if you are aware of an event that will impact our waterway or if you are a member of a club or organization that is planning an event that will impact our waterway please let us know so we can help you with promoting North Florida is fortunate to have a large number of organizations and individuals that invest hours and hours of volunteer time to make opportunities for our friends in need with the participation of our gracious anglers and business owners If you send the information to me at jsuber@coj.net we will publish on the website and promote on Facebook pages The city of Jacksonville has several events around the city and Beaches that we are just not getting credit for as a community We want to
promote our city and our beaches as a city with great waterways and beaches with tournaments, events and entertainment opportunities that are happening just not being included in the Big Picture
Last but not least, show pride in the facilities provided for your use with your tax dollars by properly disposing of your by product when you clean your fish and dispose of your trash appropriately BE SAFE! AND WASH YOUR HANDS!!
Capt Jim SuberLicense for the State of Florida
Offshore Deepwater
By Capt. Tim AltmanThe Live Bait Situation!
Pogies have been scarce from the Saint Mary’s inlet to the Saint Augustine Inlet for almost the entire month of August Cumberland Sound in and just south of the Saint Augustine have been holding lots of pogies.
There has been lots of speculation why out of Mayport it is hit or miss (mostly miss) with pogies, but I believe it may be because of rain we’ve had in late July and August but I’m not a scientist Regardless how do you get live bait for live bait out of Mayport and where? Well the answer is the tip of the North Jetties between the rocks and the first red buoy
You must prepare by rigging Sabiki Rigs on small spinners and have your crew (preferably more than one person) ready to pitch into the schools of Threadfin as you mark them on your sounder You should be able to load your livewell within 25 minutes Remember if you aren’t using a trolling motor to hold you in the current, to have someone on the helm to keep you on the bait and off the rocks.
Sailfish
In early September Sailfish inhabit the Near-Shore wrecks and known Kingfish Haunts The “Southeast Hole” along with the “MR”, “RL” and “Jax Wreck” have all produced sailfish over the first 3 weeks of August The Sailfish Pot was won by Rick Juenger while soloKingfishing just off of the Nassau Sound
Capt. Jeffery Lentz of the Thin Blue Line Fishing Company
Charters has released 2 Sailfish fishing within 6 Miles of the beach Capt Jeff’s first Sailfish release came when he was fishing his granddaughter Skyla in the Kids Kingfish Derby. Skyla won the first Sailfish release for the Kids Kingfish Derby and she took home a Lifetime Saltwater Fishing
Kids Kingfish Derby “1st Sailfish” winner Skyla Tolleson!
Kids Kingfish Derby Results
The Kids Kingfish Derby was another GREAT SUCCESS! 94 Kids enter the tournament, 44 kids weighed fish and 28 of them won prizes! Joey Davoli weighed the heaviest Kingfish in the 7&Up division with a 39 55lb Kingfish, Yes that’s right, his first-ever Kingfish was a BEAST! Douglas Bell won the 6 & Under “Small Fry” division with a 26 71lb fish
Both kids won Lifetime Florida Sportsman Gold Hunting & Fishing Licenses! Thanks to Mr Tim Beasley of TB Landmark for being the Primary Sponsor for this tournament Without Tim Beasley and other great sponsors like Capt. Roger Beale & Family of Beale Marine & Casualty, Dave and Angela Workman of Strike-Zone
Fishing Jacksonville, Tyler Smith & Family of To-The-T Pools, Steve Thompson & Family of Dandee Foods this tournament would not happen! Support those that support us!
“Small Fry” Winner Douglas Bell
off of the Nassau-Sound and the offshore areas just south of the Jacksonville Pier since late May While we in Florida don’t particularly like to eat them, they are a great fish to let kids fight on light-tackle!
Take a kid fishing!
Folks bait may be tough to find, Kingfish might be tough to find but schools of Bonita busting the surface on Rain Minnows are not tough to find at all They have been
TJ Altman with nice Nassau Sound Bonita!
I’ll say it again and again until we get through this COVID-19 has affected our economy on every level. Please support your local businesses because they are the one’s disproportionality impacted 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
www.saltwaterchallenge.com 904 859 6314
Public Participation
By John NooneyTight Lines and Screaming Reels Fishermen! How do you really feel?
ABANDON SHIP!
Agenda item 9 at the August 11, 2021 Jacksonville Waterways Commission meeting was an update by state representative for House District 15 Wyman Duggan for SB (Senate Bill) 1946 (Anchor Limitation Area)
The legislation was sponsored by Senator Tina Polsky and cosponsored by Senator Aaron Bean 67 counties in the state of Florida Monroe County is the only county exempt given that a significant amount of workforce housing is utilizing waterborne housing that requires anchoring.
Representative Duggan has been working on this issue that came about from constituents concerns about persistent waterborne blight SB 1946 is not a state mandate It only applies to counties
Continued from Page 7
I’ve since used this same technique on trout here in Florida and South Carolina and it works Buy the cheapest bass spinner bait with that plastic skirt on it No matter the color usually but match the hatch, make a couple dark ones and a couple of light ones Get some small split rings and a small treble hook #4 OR #6 slide one on the split ring then cut the plastic streamers off the bass lure and weave 8 or 10 of them on your split ring
You should have what eventually looks like a really small split ring with a treble hook and 8 or 10 streamers on it, tie it off and use a split shot above it (whatever size you need to cast with) then work it
I reside in Duval County The Bill prohibits anchoring a vessel for more than 45 consecutive days in a 6 month period in an anchoring limitation area except under exceptions in current law The Bill ensures that, upon an inquiry by a law enforcement officer or agency, a vessel owner or operator has the opportunity to provide proof that the vessel has not exceeded this time limitation
Just asking the question Besides law enforcement, who are the agencies that will bring compliance to SB 1946? Will your County be creating new legislation?
Representative Duggan in his remarks referenced Lindsey Brock Former Chair of the Charter Revision Commission and JWC member in noting that SB 1946 gives Counties another option for local control at their discretion. So, in Duval County The Jacksonville Waterways Commission after hearing from state representative Wyman Duggan who also mentioned working with JWC member Jon Michael Barker and Jacksonville city council member Randy DeFoor that it is now the Jacksonville city council that can introduce an ordinance to address this issue for Duval County
Tight Lines and Screaming Reels
John
Nooneyvendo5@yahoo com
904-434-0839
through the shadows. It will look like a small minnow darting through the shadows and they can’t stand it Sometimes you are rewarded with other species as well Happy Fishing!!
John
"Chappy" Chapman
It’s time for the Mullet run to fire off! As we get some north east blows the migration will start cranking up at the inlets and beaches and eventually make its way into the ICW
The bridges around St Augustine are holding upper and over slot fish redfish Target these reds by soaking live mullet on the bottom with moving water Tarpon are also around the bridges and you can switch up your routine by going after these fish in the dark Drift live mullet through bridge currents and out of the shadows to under the bridge lights. Live mullet free lined is fine or a few feet of leader under a big cork will get you the strike! Having bigger corks tied on allows you to see them easier when they go down and they will go down! Landing these fish are a whole other story though! We also have some flood tides predicted this month If you haven’t tried this challenge, you are really missing out You can use your trolling motor to ease along the grass flat edges or pull up on a flat to wade for fish Redfish, sheepshead, and black drum will all be “waving their flags”
These are the tails of the fish sticking out of the water while they are foraging for snails, crabs and other bait on the bottom. Look for these tails to break the
surface and figure out which way the fish is facing
Cast your weedless lure or a fly well past the fish Retrieve it slowly through the grass until you can drop it a foot or two in front of the fish.
As the fish approaches, a subtle movement will trigger the bite and you will usually see the water boil That’s the time to get tight, feel pressure and set it! You will see the fish scream off through the grass flat as your line cut a path through the water! We have a world class flood tide fishery so learn to read the tide charts and plan your “sick days” around these opportunities!
Overall, water temps and midday heat should still keep you fishing early and late, when possible, just like last month Topwater lures in low light conditions will continue producing quality fish. Paddle tails on ¼ oz. jigheads are a fail proof go to as well. The “dog days” of summer are wrapping up and fish will be targeting mullet more consistently as the mullet runs begins
Make sure you have your cast net and catch a few mullet to use while you're fishing Fall is in the air and the fishing is going to be great! Get out there and enjoy it! Keep Reeling!
Capt Cory Sparks
310charters.com
TOP - Riley bumped a shrimp along the bottom for this keeper!
BOTTOM RIGHT - Summer with a mid slot redfish!
BOTTOM LEFT - Tommy Dacus fooled em' with a paddle tail!
St. Augustine Crescent Beach
By Capt. Adam Morley
Back in my day
As I sit here in the shade of the same oak trees that Jack and Mary Jane Genung would sit under down here at the Genung’s Fish Camp I wonder if they ever asked the same questions I’ve been asking myself lately.
While there is plenty to be happy and content with, what do we do with the “other” things. The things we know are coming, are uncomfortable to think about, and are probably not popular in our circles so we pick other topics to talk about and leave them for the future
The problem I’m having these days is that I now know the future, I can see it I’m watching him, his friends, and their generation grow up I’m telling them stories of “how it used to be” knowing that’s what Jack Genung and every other “old timer” used to do But I still consider myself young (my body some mornings would disagree with that statement) and even in my lifetime growing up on the Matanzas river I’ve watched the changes and I’ve listened to older locals as they come in for bait & tackle tell me what we don’t want to admit on a larger stage out of fear that it’ll force changes
We would rather reminisce of how it used to be than take the action needed to get us back there If you haven’t seen the changes I’m talking about it might be because you’re new here or your livelihood hasn’t
depended on it and you’re just happy to have what we have But more and more of us who’s livelihoods depend on knowing what’s happening to our waters are getting concerned While you you might be happy with just catching your limit, we remember 70 -100 fish days
And Jack Genung would hear “70 -100 fish” and think it was a slow day of fishing. The trends are not looking good (sure short term profits look great for the fishing industry, of which I’m a part of) but the long term sustainability and what I will be passing down to my son doesn’t look great
We have a growing population along our coast, poorly thought out development of the watershed that flows into our estuaries, and a pandemic that has sparked new and renewed old interest in fishing (Catch Fish, Not Covid) but no plan on how we are going to ensure that the next generation or even my generation at the age of retirement (I can dream) are going to be able to say “I remember when things were tough, but look at this abundance we have now”.
Let’s get there, let’s get to that future where we can say things are better now than they were in the past It will take engagement and sacrifice, but if that’s all it takes to prevent the water issues we are seeing elsewhere around the state I’m ready
A good start would be to remind people of the “Polluter Pays” amendment in the state’s constitution that our legislature has refused to act on It’s time to get to work
Capt Adam Morley904.540.7245
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
FISH RULES
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fishrulesapp.com
FRESHWATER FISHING LICENSE
Required to take or attempt to take native or nonnative freshwater fish
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
very aggressive on the take
Small crab flies and soft plastic crawfish lures have been smashed on a regular basis during my charters.
A few things to remember while casting at tailing fish and working through the flood:
(1) When you spot a tailer identify where the head is, which direction the fish is facing and where it is moving. This allows you to lead the fish properly when casting.
(2) Lead the fish, do not cast directly on the fish’s head. This is especially true when using weedless soft plastics. The impact of a bait on the surface will often spook wary fish It’s best to cast 3-5 feet in front of the fish and
It s usually a short grassed area with sun baked, hard ground There should be plenty of food sources in the grass like crabs, crickets and spiders.
Chances are you will have to look for the flat. Wait for peak tide and move around. Look for standing water under the grass and start poking
Capt. Matt Chipperfield
ChipsCoastalCharters.com
(904) 610-8501
Chipscoastalcharters@gmail com
The fall mullet run produces many nice opportunities to hook into some big fish. Tarpon, snook, bull redfish, gator trout, doormat flounder, big jacks, and many other species that are common to the area will follow the baitfish.
However, with all the bait in the water, sometimes patience is key to a good day The fish have a lot to choose from I’ve found when the fish are feeding on mullet, but won’t hit your mullet, throwing a live shrimp gives them something a little different to munch on and will usually trick that finicky fish
In general, mullet patterns are the go to this time of year, live, cut, or artificial A 3”- 4” paddle tail or curly tail needs to be in your arsenal for the mullet run Fishbites Fight Clubs and Ancient City Outdoors Paddlers are both great choices. Color will depend on water clarity and weather.
As a general rule, the clearer the water and brighter the day, the lighter the color In tannic/brackish water, gold, root beer, chartreuse, and black are some of my favorite colors, although a white curly tail works great just about everywhere
Another bait that needs to be in he lineup is a mullet imitation suspending twitchbait, such as an Unfair Lures Rip-N-Slash or a Mirrolure Mirrodine.
This style lure mimics an njured mullet very well and is fairly simple to use An nconsistent jigging or jerking of he rod tip will produce the wanted action, with pauses between jigs or jerks
This allows the bait to suspend and slowly sink To your tackle selection, a plug, such as a Skitterwalk or a Stor Bug, will be very effect mornings, evenings, and you see fish busting on Be watching and liste these explosions. Work the grass lines a beds on the flats, the d and ledges in the creek as the runouts and inlet working runouts, I p outgoing tide
Look for eddying ( water This usually ma or ledge and is always few casts It looks to b mullet run this year, s there and have fun G and tight lines I’ll se y there
Will Niemann
Lead Guide at St Augustine Paddle Sports
233 SR16 Suite A 904-217-7085
Daytona Ormond Beach
By Capt. Jeff PattersonIt’s really hard to beat the fishing this time of year With the fall mullet run going on the fishing is hot from the backwaters and all throughout the Intracoastal to the inlet and off the beach
Out off the beach the mullet are everywhere and you can fish these bait pods for tarpon, redfish, king mackerel and sharks You can see some spectacular feeding frenzies on these bait pods that can be as big as a football field at times
Catching bait this time of year is usually no problem at all. The inlet has the same thing going on but a little more variety as well.
It’s pretty wild I’ve seen bait pods get pushed down the beach towards the jetties and all the boats will start hooking up at the same time and we’ll have triple and quadruple hook ups! It’s pretty awesome when I can watch the fish finder light up and tell my clients to get ready just before the drags start screaming Redfish, Tarpon, and Snook fishing is hot around the inlet this time of year
In the Intracoastal you’ll see these big bait pods working their way in off the beach and these same feeding frenzies going on in the river at times.
September 1st Snook season opens back up and you can do very well targeting them the next few months
Bridges, docks, and the inlet are good areas to target Snook I’ve always done best the first couple hours either side of a tide change
Great Snook fishing at night on
dock and bridge lights When I’m specifically targeting snook I like to have live select shrimp if possible Redfish and Seatrout bite should be good in the basin and back in the Tomoka River
I personally like using artificial back there to cover a lot of ground and I just think it’s a blast Top waters, twitch baits, and shallow divers all work well for me. Nothing beats a big Snook hitting a topwater! Lots of great fishing in September so contact me if you’d like to set up a trip!
Capt Jeff Patterson
Pole Dancer
Fishin’ Charters
wwwsmallboatbigfish com
386-451-4992
Wade Fishing with Artificials
By Brett WarrenSome people get lucky once, but I’ve been told “luck” generally happens when preparation and opportunity come together Before heading out on the water, double check the last 6’-8’ at the end of your braid for frays by holding it up to the light and then cut out any areas that might look worn.
NOTE - This is very important in smaller diameter 8# or 10# braid Re-tie your knots while you’re not in a rush, don’t wait until you see the braid wearing or for it to break.
My FG leader knots usually wear just above or below the knot after a day or two of casting.
Dress accordingly for bugs, water and mud. Dark clothes, buffs, hats, waders and tight wading boots are a must Do not wear any loose footwear, the mud will suck a loose boot right off, of your foot!
Throwing lures is all about covering water Long, accurate casts are necessary for making the most out of your time on the water
It’s a bummer to see a big Trout jumping out of the water or busting bait and not having the casting distance to reach them In low light, Topwater plugs cast well, cover a lot of water and illicit strikes and boils.
If I get a Topwater strike and can’t get another, I’ll quickly retie and cast a subsurface lure in behind it since I know the location
Walk / shuffle the shoreline
SLOW! Bad things happen when you’re in a hurry and you could potentially spook the fish you’re trying to target.
Listen for splashes, flushes, boils and wakes. Rule out bait and cast to or in front of your target. Blind cast down the bank ahead of you before you wade through the water.
From there, stop every 10’ and fancast out at 10:00, 12:00 and 2:00 then move on and repeat There’s a Trophy out there waiting for you and the Fishbites Trading Post has the gear, if you’re willing to put in the time!
Brett WarrenWendy Henry, 47 Years old, passed away August 13th from a sudden heart attack leaving this world too soon She was a well respected Lady Angler who has contributed so much to help build and bond our local fishing community
North Florida Inshore Slayers, Submerse Outdoor Fishing Team, Fishbites, Fishbites Trading Post, St Augustine Paddle Sports, B&M Bait and Tackle and life4reel will be teaming up to create a fundraiser event for Wendy’s family We are working out the details so if anyone would like to help out or contribute please E-Mail Roy Mattson (
Bayliner, Carolina Skiff, Hurricane, Key West, Regal, Sweetwater, and Trophy center console fishing boats. We offer Mercury, Suzuki, or Yamaha outboard engines.
386-255-2345
With summer coming to an end cooler weather will soon be upon us and the fishing will be heating up. The river is full of fish right now from redfish,mangrove snapper,speckled trout and plenty of flounder you wont have any trouble filling the cooler with some tasty fish. This month's recipe is is a basic Italian tomato sauce with lots of fresh ingredients so easy to make and oh so good
Ingredients:
Redfish Fillets
10 Tomatoes chopped
1 Bell Pepper chopped
1 Large Onion chopped
1/4 c fresh Basil
8 cloves Garlic
4 tbsp Italian seasoning
1/2c white wine
2 tbsp sugar
topping:
1/4c Panco bread crumbs
2 tbsp melted butter
1/4c Parmesan cheese mix Panko butter and cheese together
In a large saucepan add tomatoes onion, bell pepper,garlic with a little Olive oil no and cook on low heat until thick add white wine continue to simmer, add salt and pepper to taste add sugar
In a casserole dish put a layer of sauce then place redfish fillets and top with breadcrumbs bake in 400deg oven for 15-20 min or until golden brown and serve with your favorite pasta.
Tournament Board
By Craig Van BrocklinSummer Tournaments
Big WT (whiting)
1st Skip Walker 29 45oz
2nd Larry Finch 26.2
3rd Brian Hooie 22 45 Ladies Bobby Roo 15.85
Wednesday Night Tourney - Lions Club
1st AJ Hunter/Danny Waters 8 55
2nd Jesse/David 8 05
3rd Toby/Jake 3 70
North Florida Inshore Slayers Slam
1st Chase Maddox 70 125
2nd Alex Beltran 68 625
3rd Craig Van Brocklin 67 625
4th Jorge Quintana 67.562
14th Loose Cannon 30 06
15th Vengeance 29.75
One Last Cast Redfish
1st Jimmy Price 7.48
2nd Brantly Davis 7 2
3rd Derek Jolly 6.11
Jimmy Pausche 7 Spots
King of the Beach
1st Bobwiser 41 03
2nd Reel Quick 37.33
3rd Cool Breeze 36 89
4th Chicken Bone 33 45
5th Reel Obsession 33 04
Juniors
1st Jaylee Carter 37 33
2nd Brittany Generazio 32 84
3rd Anderson Voss 32 6
4th Colton Chapman 30.82
5th Fisher Altieri 30 34
6th Brody Rose 28.82
7th Caitlin Mercier 27 6
8th Michael Vitko Jr 26 47
9th Shane Cannady 25 95
10th Kate Harrison 24 77
Upcoming Tournaments
September
7th - Big WT
19th - Slayers Wendy Henry
Memorial
25th - Anglers for a Cure
October
2nd - Netti Kayak Challenge
