From: Capt. Jim Hammond
Date: August 11, 2002
Time: 21:16:26
I recently had the opportunity to go kingfish fishing with Capt. Mark Williams aboard his 26 foot Shamrock. The day started for me around 5:00 am, an hour later than my normal wake up time for a day of fishing. I got ready and headed toward my videographer's house. As always Ron Gunter was up and ready to catch the big one. We headed in the direction of the Mayport ferry, as we were going to be able to catch the first crossing to meet Capt. Mark at the Mayport public boat ramp around 7:00 am.
We crossed the river and made our way to the boat ramp, getting there about 30 minutes early. This is one thing that I got from my dad, being on time. He used to tell me four things when I was a boy, "be on time, do what you say you are going to do, don't by a wooden boat and don't marry an ugly woman". To date I have followed his instructions.
As Ron and I sat waiting for Mark, boat after boat was heading out. Keeping a sharp lookout for our Captain, we saw Dennis, Roger and several other boats launching and heading out. You know what we were going through, even though Mark was not late, we felt like all of the fish were getting away. Here it had been light for almost 45 minutes and we were still in the parking lot waiting.
Just about the time that I was ready to get on the phone, here he came. We drove to the boat, unloaded a few things and off we went, in search of Mr. Kingfish.
He headed out of the river and due north to catch the offering for this day, Poggies. He had a big school of them just north of the Nassau Sound and this is where we were headed. After a short ride to the bait, Mark made two cast and the live well and a five gallon bucket were both full of what was going to produce kingfish for the camera.
We then headed for a small piece of live bottom that he had been working all week, to produce catches of 20 or more kings per day. As we arrived at "THE SPOT" he tossed over a couple of sea anchors. With inboard boats like his Shamrock, you need to drag something to slow them down, so the baits can swim instead of being drug on their sides. After deploying the sea anchors, he quickly started sending out baits. As he was sending out the first bait, we were hooked up. Not bad only one bait in the water and we already had a nice fish screaming out line. He had the rod in his hands, so we all said, "you take this one". Capt. Mark is like all other charter captains, he is use to rigging, driving and landing the fish but seldom does he get a chance to fight the fish. Several times he tried to hand off the pole but found no takers, so he did what anyone else would have done with a nice fish on, he angled the fish and brought it to the boat to be landed.
As the fish came within range of the gaff, Tim Carney slipped it under the kingfish and up into the boat the fish came. Alright, we had only been to "THE SPOT" for ten minutes and we already had a nice 12 pound king in the box. Not a bad start.
After all of the yehaaahs and attaboys were done, we sent out the rest of the baits and began our troll over the spot once again. We trolled for about 30 minutes and nothing, did we catch the only kingfish out here? Mark got on the radio to talk to one of his buddies, as he called out to the other boat, "you gettin any", the other boat responded, "got one and lost one". Just about the time that Capt. Mark was calling another buddy, one of our reels started making that funny noise, you know, the noise like it was hooked onto a car going the opposite direction about 50 miles per hour.
This sound is without a doubt one of the most liked sounds for fisherman that are trolling. This sound also has many meanings. It can mean that you are hung on the bottom, hung on another boat, hung on a patch of grass or in our case HAS A BIG DADBURN FISH GOING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AS FAST AS HE CAN SWIM. This, is a good sound. You know how you have been out there trolling along, trolling along and trolling along. Everyone is kinda in a lull or almost in a suspended mode, then that sound happens. Everyone gets in his or her place and the action is on, downriggers on the way up, other lines cleared, in ready for the battle with the fish that has the reel making that funny sound.
This time it was Tim Carney's time to get one in. After all of the lines were cleared and the downrigger was brought up, Captain Mark sent Tim to the front of the boat, where it is easier to angle the fish. This was a little nicer than the first one and Tim being the seasoned angler that he is, fought the fish and brought him alongside where I was ready with the gaff. As the fish made his last run, I slipped the gaff under him, up and into the boat for another photo opportunity. Alright we now had my limit and were working on the next limit.
We trolled in this area for about another hour with two more strikes but no hook ups. As with most guides, Mark was ready to move to another spot, in search of more productive grounds.
He called out "wind um up" and we were off to another of "HIS SPOTS". The next spot was a couple of miles away and as the Fishin Magician got up and ran toward the next spot, I settled back for a quick drink of tea and a pack of crackers, in anticipation of some more nice fish.
After a short ride we were there and ready for the next bite. Mark and Tim started getting the baits out, I slid behind the wheel and pointed the boat towards the numbers that the GPS said to go and Ron Gunter got the camera ready to catch some more hot action on film. As the boat approached the "SPOT", the bottom machine, was showing bait from the sea floor to the surface. I like it when the recorder is showing bait that thick, because it usually means there are striking fish nearby. As I drove the boat around the bait school, one of Marks reels started making that funny sound again. As like the previous times, we all had a job and mine on this fish was to hold the pole. Now, I did a little more that just hold the pole. I grew up fishing for kings and many years ago, I got to enjoy kingfish fishing like we will never see it again, 50 to 100 kings per day, so I kinda knew what to do with the pole. As with the previous fish, Mark had the downriggers up, sent me to the front of the boat and pointed the boat toward the fish as I angled it. After a short battle the fish made his way to the gaff and in the boat with another 12 pound fish. Just the right size for the grill, frying pan or broiler.
It wasn't long before we had another king on and it was Tim's turn to fight this one. Once again we preformed like a well oiled team and in no time had Tim in the front of the boat angling another nice fish. After some time we were all starting to second guess, what was one the other end of the line as this fish did not act like a king. Some five minutes later the fish came near enough to the boat for us to get a look and we all saw the reason that it did not act like a king. It was hooked in the side, so the fish could pull without us being able to turn his head. The next time the fish passed the boat we all got a good look at the one hook that was hooked just past the pectoral fin and not very deep at that. We all knew, that if we wanted this fish, we were going to have to be gentle and take our time. After several more passes the fish swam near enough for me to slip the gaff in him and in the boat he came. What a nice fish, this was about a 20 pounder.
After the fish made it to the box we all resumed our jobs, me at the wheel, Mark and Tim sending out baits and Ron on the camera. By the time all of the baits were out, we were back over the spot and just past it brought us another, fish on. It was my turn once again. I grabbed the rod and to the front of the boat, I went. The rod was doubled over and the reel was screaming as the fish ran out his 100 yards and stopped. I then began to work him toward the boat as Mark pointed the bow at the fish. With Tim standing next to me with gaff in hand, I lead the fish to the boat and with one upward motion of the gaff, we had another king in the boat.
What a day or should I say what a 1/2 day. We had only been out a few hours and had a nice box of fish and I had a show.
This fishing experience will air Tuesday August 20 at 7:00 pm on cable channel 7 WTWN, so tune in and catch the action.
Capt Mark Williams can be reached for charters by calling 745-4513. Capt. Mark Williams also does snapper and grouper charters.
I have secured a deal with Duval Ford Commercial and Fleet sales for all persons that call them and say that they watch my show or read my articles to get an unbelievable deal on any new Ford car or truck, when purchased from them. You will need to call 381-6558 and ask for Mike Tudor or go to www.duvalford.com. I just purchased a new truck and they saved me almost $8000.00 dollars.
Charter Information: Capt. Jim Hammond is an inshore saltwater charter guide in Jacksonville, Florida 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.)
Television Fishing Show:
Catch some local fishing action Tuesday nights at 7:00 pm and Sundays at 8:30 am on cable channel 7 WTWN in Jacksonville, the Beaches and Clay County and Thursday nights at 7:00 pm and Sundays at 10:30 am on channel 22 WQXT in St. Augustine and St. Johns County.
Good Fishing
Capt. Jim Hammond
jim@hammondfishing.com
http://www.hammondfishing.com
(904) 757-7550