As of this writing

As of this writing, Team No Doubt (Bill Richardson, Tony Testone, Ronald Hall and Jim Hammond), has one more SKA king mackerel tournament left in the regular season. So far we have fished four events. Won money in two, are in forth place in our division and to date we have spent about $6900.00, not including lost wages for these days not worked. We have to date won a whopping $3200.00. BUT, how can you put a price on the FUN and EXCITEMENT we all have be enjoying and we are forth overall in out division. How can you put a price on that.

If you think you are going to tournament fish and make a large amount of money, YOU ARE WRONG. Only a very small percentage of these anglers break even much less make any money. To make these tournaments a money making venture, you have to win at least one or finish in the top three a couple of times.

Offshore tournament fishing is tough. The ocean is not always one foot or less and the days it is big, your body and equipment take a pounding. And even if everything is working just right, you manage to get a big one on, you have no guaranty it will come to the boat let alone in whole condition, as Team No Doubt has experienced in one tournament. We lost a 45 pound plus fish to STINKING BARRACUDAS. If we had managed to land this fish in whole condition, we would be in the plus money wise.

But again, who can you put a price on the competition and fun we are having. See, we are four guys that have never fished together in tournaments and we are not supposed to be in forth place but somewhere near the bottom. This and the chance to get an invitation to the Nationals is what has kept us motivated and the 40.45 pound King Mackerel we weighed in the Greater Jacksonville King Fish Tournament. Having a fish like this in a major tournament will lift the spirits and light the fire back in your motivation.

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Picture courtesy of Gump Sports Photo

One of the TEAM NO DOUBT, Bill Richardson with our 40.45 pounder from the Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament

Bottom line about tournament fishing is: Get out there and put forth your best effort, try to have fun, don't do a lot of second guessing yourself, make sure all of your equipment is in top order, be safe and remember, IT IS JUST FISHING. If you keep all of this in mind, you will have fun and who knows, you might win something.

The Mayport Princess, a party boat out of Mayport, has been reporting nice catches of snapper and grouper with lots of vermillion mixed in. The can be reached at 904 241 4111.

The king mackerel are still out in force but should be tapering down as we get closer to October. They will start back up in force when the water cools off in December and January. These will be the little fish that pass through each year in the 100 foot depth range. Try a spoon or dead cigar minnow trolled at about 2 mph.

Lots of sharks both in the ocean and inland waters. Try the tip of the jetties or behind a shrimp boat. Be careful of the nets and lines behind the shrimp boats.

A few tarpon in the river and a few at the end of the jetties. Small trout, poggies, ladyfish and crabs work well. Try using a Daiichi circle hook to prevent the fish from swallowing the hook. These hooks are great for catch and release because they usually hook the fish in the jaw not down deep.

All the croakers, drum and yellow mouth you can stand in the Green Cove part of the river. Dead shrimp fished on the bottom is the ticket. I filmed a show with Tommy and Sierra Langdo last week and in one hour we had over 25 nice fish.

It seems like all of that rain we have had in June and July was not just rain but Croakers. It seems like they are everywhere in the river. The nice ones are south but the little TR size seem to be everywhere and way too many in my good trout spots. You can go through ten dozen shrimp to catch a few trout, for all of the croakers.

Lots of flounder in the creeks and they like shrimp, mullet, cut bait and Sea Striker trout grubs on a lead head. In the creeks, I like the outgoing and like to fish small creek mouths and long stretches of sandy bottom near a big oyster patch. Fish slow and be on contact with the bottom.

The redfish are chewing pretty good for this time of the year. I have been working a moving tide and fishing up close to the oysters with shrimp, crab and mullet. When I have been on my Minn Kota, I have been throwing a Zara Spook, a Sea Striker Paddle Tail on a plain X Point 5/0 worm hook or a small mullet on a jig head. As you are easing down the bank, look for the water that these fish are pushing and try to make your cast about eight feet in front of them as not to spook the fish.

Good fishing and Moms and Dads, remember to take your kids fishing and you will not be looking for them as they will be home waiting to go the next day.