WOW, What A Week!
I have been itching to get out to the jetties and give the redfish a try, but between the cold water, inshore charters and the weather, I have just now been able to wet a line out there.
The day started with, Warner Hull, Raymond McCauley and myself, putting in at Clapboard Creek Fish Camp and easing toward the jetties. I had a few live finger mullet but I knew that I was going to need some crabs or poggies to have a chance of really getting the job done (catching nice redfish).
As we eased out towards the jetties we could see the waves breaking over the north side of the rocks and we all were going oooh and aaah as we knew what that could mean. When the waves are breaking over the rocks, it can mean you are in for a rough day. As we got closer to the end of the rocks, we were able to see over the top of the rocks and into the ocean on the south side to what looked like a giant mill pond. It was very nice on the south side of the rocks and that is where we were headed to catch out bait. It was a gloomy cloudy day and the sun had not even come close to showing itself and Both Raymond and I knew it was going to be tough to catch out poggies when the sun is not out. The poggies don't seem to group up and come to the surface when there are low light conditions as it was this day.
It really did not matter how many times we had to throw the net for bait because we needed poggies and that is what we were going to catch. As we eased around the tip of the rocks and made our way in on the beach, we saw a few birds diving and saw an occasional flip as a poggie broke the surface.
We broke out our Fitec cast net and eased up to where we saw the flips. Raymond loaded the net and threw out an almost, sort of, perfect circle and directly on top of the flip.
WOODS AND WATER, insert picture "castnet" here
He managed to get about a dozen on this throw and to the live well they went. We continued this process, looking for the flips and casting, for about an hour, until we had about 100 poggies. It is better to have too many than not enough.
After our bait catching fun, we headed for the jetties to stake out our spot.
We eased along for a few minutes looking at the water movement and with a close eye on the Bottomline recorder. Even though we knew where we wanted to put the anchor down, I like to check out the area and to do this you need a good recorder. This is your underwater eyes and I like to see if the fish have by some chance, moved a little from where they are supposed to be to a new spot. I would hate to put my hook down and be on the wrong spot.
After a close look at the water and the Bottomline recorder, we eased up against the current and slipped the anchor down. Raymond let out line as I looked at the recorder. I knew that I wanted the boat positioned just about 25 to 30 feet from the spot that I wanted to fish. As we came up on the spot, I barked out "okay, tie it off". Raymond cinched the anchor rope over the cleat and we were ready for MR. Bigfish.
I had brought an arsenal of Shakespeare Tidewater reels that were spooled with 50 and 80 pound test Power Pro and attached to Ugly Stik Tiger rods. I knew there were some bruisers down there and I wanted to have the tackle to do battle with these big fish.
The rest of the rig consisted of a new deep water spinner made by www.ancientmarinertackle.com , the bait of course a live and cut poggie. The reason that I had Raymond tie off the anchor rope 30 feet before we actually had the boat over the spot, is the current. At the jetties the current runs pretty good and the current pulling on the line and rig will drag it out about 30 feet away from the boat before it makes it's way to the bottom.
WOODS AND WATER INSERT "spinner-suid" here
A picture of the spinner squid baits that I used in conjunction with a live and cut poggie to fish on this day. I think the bright colored spinner blade and soft plastic squid must attract the attention of the fish down there. Heck it works on reds in the creeks and largemouth bass, why not use them in deep water. With a strong current as we have at our inlets, the blade spins in the current, sending out vibrations and flashing.
It wasn't long before we were hooked up and Warner was the first to jump on a rod. He almost could not get the rod from the holder as the fish screamed line from the reel, we did have the drags set pretty tight.
Warner did battle with this monster fish and before long (10 minutes), up came a very nice jetties sting ray.
It is hard to go to the inlets around here and not catch a sting ray. What do you do tell them not to get on the hook?
The next fish was Raymond's turn and it was a nice spinner shark that gave him one good jump before breaking off.
I was about to the point to say, "okay, you guys can have al of the fun today and I will watch" after these two nice fish.
Not long and we were hooked up again and Warner was quick to get on the rod. He moaned and grunted as he worked this fish near to the boat. I was standing next to him and it appeared to me that this was not a ray or shark but maybe something like a big redfish. Another few minutes and He had this bad boy close enough to the surface to see and I was quick to get the net as I think we were going to wan this fish in the boat. Warner grunted a few more times and with a swoop of the net, this nice fish was ours. Good job Warner, a nice 32 inch red. "How about a picture", I said and he was quick to get in position for his photo opportunity with a nice jetties red.
WOODS AND WATER INSERT "WARNERRED" HERE
Warner Hull with a nice jetty red.
The next fish was a nice red and then another. We had a few BIGGGGG rays and a few more sharks. These fish were keeping Raymond and Warner pretty busy as I watched. I finally broke down and sent a bait on one of the spinners and sat ready for this pole to double over. The boys caught a few more fish while I stead fast and ready waiting on my pole to bend. I had moved it to the front pole holder and added another 5 ounces of lead, now totaling 10 ounces, as the current picked up.
I saw my rod tip thump and then nothing. All of my attention was focused on the rod tip as it thumped again. I slowly got out of my seat and walked to the front of the boat where I picked up my rod and slowly tightened up on the line. As I lifted up on the rod I felt another thump and it was now time to turn the handle and get ready. He was there and off he went, screaming line from the reel. I was thinking, I had a very nice shark or ray as most of the reds are in the 30 to 38 inch range and most of them weigh between 15 and 25 pounds with an occasional fish weighing in at around 35 pounds and I was pretty sure I did not have a red as he was still pulling line out as fast as he could go. I am thinking, a few more minutes of this and my knife might accidentally touch the line. I did not want to fish a big shark. The longer that I did battle with this fish, the more I was thinking it was not a shark and more like a bigggg red or cobia. Now, I had to see what was on the other end and not wanting to come to see me. About 15 minutes into the battle, I got a glimpse of the fish and it was not a shark but I was not sure if it was a red or cobia. I continued to angle the fish for another five minutes or so before he tired enough to come up to the boat and I was beside myself as to the size of this redfish. By far this was the largest red that I had landed at the jetties and here I was getting the whole thing on film. Raymond managed to get most of the fish in the next before one of the poles in the front of the boat went off. He said "take it" and almost climbed over me to get to the pole in the front of the boat. I managed to get the head of this monster in the net and drag him into the boat. Boy, what a fish.
I measured him, 33.5 girth and 46.75 length. Based on the length - girth formula, it weighed around 65 plus pounds. When you look at this picture, keep in mind, I am 6'2" and well over 300 pounds. Now you have something to compare the fish to.
WOODs AND WATER INSERT "jimred" here
Capt. Jim Hammond with a monster red, caught at the Mayport Jetties on a cut poggie.
After this fish, I was done. No more for me, I was now the full time videographer and supervisor. I was not going to touch any more poles, except to put bait on them and send them back out.
Not long after the monster, we all decided we had enough and headed back to the house. What a wonderful day of fishing and a personal best for me.
Now is the time to get out there for the big reds. Give me a call and I will take you.
LOCAL ACTION:
The offshore bottom fishing is starting to get fired up with some nice catches of snapper, seabass and grouper. As soon as the cooler water moves in, we will be looking for a few blue water fish, like wahoo, tuna and dolphin to show up at the stream.
Lots of reds at the jetties and in the surf. Get ready for pompano and big numbers of whiting to be hear any day now. Try a clam or fresh shrimp fished just inside the breakers.
The fall trout bite is just starting to pick up and with this we should see some tarpon in the inshore backwaters.
Capt. Jim now runs a charter service from Amelia Island to St. Augustine for inshore boats from 16 feet and ocean boats to 62 feet. Give me a call for your next fishing trip.
Charter Information:
Capt. Jim now runs a charter service from Amelia Island to St. Augustine for inshore boats from 16 feet and ocean boats to 62 feet. Give me a call for your next fishing trip and can be reached to book a trip by calling 904 757 7550.
Moms and Dads: Remember mom and dad, spend some time with your sons and daughters taking them fishing and you will not be looking for them come Friday and Saturday nights, as they will be home in bed waiting to go the next day. (I am not just saying this because it sounds good. I MEAN IT, YOU WON'T BE LOOKING FOR THEM.)
This report is brought to you by 
and 
Thanks
Capt. Jim Hammond
Capt. Jim's Fun Fishing Inc.
17184 Dorado Cir
Jacksonville, Fl 32226
(904) 757-7550
jim@hammondfishing.com
www.hammondfishing.com