Jacksonville Fishing Reports 3

FISHED THE CREEKS DURING A SUPER NEGATIVE TIDE. THE WATER WAS SO LOW, THAT EVEN MY BOAT HAD TO LEAVE OUT WHILE USING THE TROLLING MOTOR. IT WAS WAY SHALLOW IN SOME PLACES, LITERALLY INCHES, OF WHAT USUALLY WOULD HAVE BEEN A FOOT OR MORE. LOADS OF SMALL REDFISH, OF NON-KEEPER STATUS. BUT WE DID END UP WITH OUR 2 KEEPERS AT 19 & 21 INCHES. I CAUGHT A 4 INCH SPECKLED TROUT ON A 3.5 INCH LURE! SMALLEST TROUT I'VE PERSONALLY EVER CAUGHT. WE ONLY HAD A FEW TROUT AND ALL WERE SMALL, NON-KEEPERS. THE TROUT IN THE CREEKS ARE STILL SMALL, DESPITE THE AMOUNT OF BAIT THATS BACK IN THE CREEKS. MULLET FROM 3 INCHES TO 20 INCHES EVERYWHERE! IF ONLY THE BAIT WAS SPECKLED SEA TROUT INSTEAD, BOY WOULD I BE HAPPY......"but that would make this area's name be Louisiana, instead of Florida"" BEFORE LEAVING OUT OF THE CREEK, I DROPPED A FLOAT-RIG OVER THE SIDE WITH A HUGE LIVE SHRIMP ON THE HOOK AN DRIFTED THE RIG UNDER THE DOCK IN THE PHOTO, AND CAUGHT THIS NICE BLACK DRUM. I LOVE ME SOME CREEK BLACK DRUM ALMOST AS MUCH AS BIG SPECKLED TROUT. OF COURSE AS THE TIDE FELL, THE REDFISH WERE INSANE. BUSTING BAIT IN THE SHALLOWS WITH THEIR BACKS OUT OF THE WATER. NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YA SEE THEM, I STILL GET EXCITED AND WANT TO KEEP CATCHING. BUT WE HAD TO GO. DIDN'T WANT TO GET STUCK UP IN THERE. YOUTUBE VIDEO LINK: https://youtu.be/IGgj4rRjMLM?si=krwZ-Z13Pnp8wSAH

NOVEMBER IS A FAVORITE MONTH MONTH OF MINE FOR INSHORE FISHING. "NO MORE SWEATING!!!!!!!" YOU MAY ENJOY, NO SNOW. NO ICE. BUT BRING A HOODED SWEATSHIRT. ONE WITH A HOOD FOR THE COOL N.E. FLORIDA MORNINGS IS A ANGLERS FRIEND. NOVEMBER IS A TRANSITIONAL MONTH. AND IT SEEMS TO NOT LAST LONG. WATER TEMPS COOL OFF, AND FISH SPECIES BECOME MORE ACTIVE OR JUST PLAIN EASIER TO FIND WILLING TO EAT. PLUS, THE UNDESIREABLES USUALLY "BACK-OFF". """"""VISITORS"""""" DON'T KNOW THAT 110 DEGREES IN THE SHADE WHEN THEY WANT FISH TO JUMP IN THE BOAT LIKE A OLE MILLER LITE BER COMMERCIAL, IS N-O-T PRIME TIME FOR INSHORE FISHING. TRANSISTIONAL TIMES ARE BEST AND ALL WINTER LONG. A VERY SHORT WINTER! ANOTHER PRIME MONTH IS APRIL. GOING FROM COOL WATER TO WARMER. BUT STILL HOT WATER TO COOL WATER IS STILL MY FAVORITE. MAYBE BECAUSE IT'S ALL I THINK ABOUT WHILE ITS SO HOT ALL SUMMER LONG. YEAH, WHILE FISHIG IS JULY & AUGUST'S HEAT, I'M DREAMING OF NOVEMBER! AND TOURISTS ARE UNAWARE. THEY ARE ON VACATION, KIDS ARE OUT OF SCHOOL, THE WHOLE 9 YARDS. BUT IF YOU ARE A SERIOUS ANGLER. YOU SHOULD BE THINKING, NOVEMBER THRU APRIL. BUT WITH THAT COMES WEATHER. NOTHING IS FREE. WE WILL HAVE TO PLAN. MY OLDEST SAYING IN THE CHARTER BIZ IS; "AS OF OCTOBER 1ST, ALAYS HAVE A BACK UP DATE IN MIND" PEOPLE FORGET ABOUT HURRICANE SEASON. BUT, BY NOVEMBER IT'S USUALLY OVER. HERE IS A VIDEO ALL ABOUT "BEST TIMES TO BE HERE IN N.E. FLORIDA FOR THE BEST FISHING" USE THIS LINK. its a GOTTA WATCH VIDEO! CUT & PAST THIS TO YOUTUBE. https://youtu.be/LGaXxdHx_Aw?si=_HaqbEyRlqxCpzaY **The video focuses on the best time to fish in Jacksonville, Florida. The speaker, a seasoned VETERAN fishing guide/Captain, emphasizes the importance of fishing during the cooler months, particularly on weekdays. They share their personal experience of a successful fishing trip in the winter, showcasing the variety of fish caught and the enjoyable weather conditions.

NURSERY FISHING IN THE MUD HOLE 10/29 Jacksonville, Florida PROBABLY OVER 30 FISH AN 8 HOURS OF FISHING IN MILL COVE, FROM 1 FOOT TO 10 FOOT. THE TAKE HOME FOR DINNER? ONE SPCKLED SEA TROUT!!!!!!!! THE PLACE IS BEYOND A NURSERY. UNBELIEVABLE. WE CAUGHT LOADS OF 14'' TROUT, BLACK DRUM, AND REDFISH IN THE 6 HRS PLUS WE SPENT IN THE COVE, AND ITS A 100% NURSERY. THE TIDE WAS RISING, FALLING, WE HAD IT ALL! WE FISHED THE BRIDGE, SHELL BARS, GRASS LINES, DOCKS. IT DID NOT MATTER. THE ONLY PLACE WE DID NOT TRY WAS WHAT USED TO BE A TROPHY TROUT SPOT, BUT IT WAS THE WRONG TIDE AND KINDA A FAR RIDE. LIVE SHRIMP, ALL DAY. ON POPPING CORKS, ON JIG-HEADS, SOME TOP WATER PLUGGING. ALL FISH WERE ""SHORT""....SUCH A NURSERY. NEVER FAILS. CAUGHT LOADS OF FISH, ALL THE RIGHT SPECIES. IT'S FALL, BAIT IS EVERYWHERE. WATER TEMPS ARE GREAT. HAD A PERFECT DAY. TRAVEL A GOOD WAYS TO FISH AN AREA, CATCH TONS OF FISH, AND """""ONE"""" FISH WAS A KEEPER FOR DINNER. TO KICK IT ALL OFF, AT THE END OF THE DAY, CAUGHT A VERY NICE FLOUNDER, BUT FLOUNDER SEASON IS PRESENTLY """""""""""CLOSED"""""""""""" ITS ACTUALLY QUITE PITIFUL.

HERE'S JUST A FEW OF THE WACKY FISH CAUGHT RECENTLY (weird to smallest, coldest to CLOSED for harvest) The wind has been blowing, an the HIGH TIDES are killing me. Everything is FLOODED, and bites when the tides is so high like that are about "NIL". Did install a Larger and better Sounder/GPS on the Jettywolf on the 28th of Oct.

Here's Mike, he and his his dad fish out of a little boat in the creeks, "just like I do". But Mike wanted to catch a bigger fish. So he booked a 1/2 day trip. We didn't go far. But the tide was wicked strong as usual. And Mike caught a 17 pound Redfish, which you usually won't get up in the Marsh Creeks. Unfortunately, this was the only one. But the battle cured Mike's want for a BIG fish for a little while. It wore him out. additional photos: Creek Flounder and Smallest Trout ever seen caught

VIDEO 10/14 VIDEO LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0l1whkM7_gA

10/15 - 2nd day with TRAVELLER BOB. Not much to report. Turns out that the weather went Bad real fast. Bob and I met at 7am as usual, at the Mayport boat ramp. The forecast wasn't good. ''SMALL CRAFT EXERCISE CAUTION!!'', a radical difference compared to yesterday (day 1) with Bob. But we bottom fished for Bull Redfish. Starting out ''hiding'' from the N.E. Wind. Caught some junk, a few whiting, a few panfish types and toooo many saltwater catfish. The scourge of the St, Johns river. Which are un-avoidable, if any bait is near the bottom. The ebbing tide was fast, so we hid from it also. Then, as noon approached and we were further from the boat ramp it really got bad. A falling tide against a NOW due EAST wind bucking the current made the river a true soup sandwich, for my Small Craft'' that was a creek boat. We got soaked, didn't catch any big Bull Redfish, and should have just went in the creeks, and left from the Oak Harbor ''secluded'' boat ramp. The flat bottom JETTYWOLF ll, took a beating, and we decided to bag it, at noon. The wind versus tide is never a good thing in Mayport FL. We had Redfish & Speckled Trout fillets from yesterday. So Bob said, '' ya wanna join me at ''Singletons Seafood Shack'' in Mayport for Blackened Redfish and fried Trout for dinner?'' Of course, I said. Singleton's is a local favorite in Mayport, only around the corner from the boat ramp. They'll cook up your catch for ya. And thats what we did and it was damn good! Here's Bob, getting ready to chow down. You too can have a ''mess free'' dinner of what you caught, aboard the Jettywolf ll, with Capt. Dave's Sport Fishing, Jacksonville, FL. Just visit CAPTDAVES.COM to reserve your 4 or 6 hour day.

Went into Mill Cove at low tide "shallow alert" but the Jettywolf ll handles it like a dream. The water was like mud, everywhere we went today. Have oldest customer with me for day one of two. We fished over a shell bar with live shrimp on small floats drifting with the last moments of current. Bob caught a few small Speckled Trout, and I hooked up a keeper 19" Redfish. The bait stealers as usual were a huge issue as always in N.E. Florida inshore. So as the tide died, so did all bites. Left out of the cove and float-rigged a few other spots. Bob wasn't hooking up anything. So I gave it a try, and hooked up on a 17" chunky Speckled Trout. But that was about it besides Bob catching a Jack Crevalle. Bob's usually the "hot rod". So we left out, the river was full of wakes from tug boats and ships. So into a creek we went. Now, the tide was rising. NOT the best for this creek spot. I cast a gold spoon and got a "keeper" 18" Redfish on it. So we kept it. Then Bob caught a 20" Redfish and a handful of "Pups", at 16 inches. Not a super day. Found out even though Mill Cove is "FULL" of Mullet, big ones. Obviously, its still not "right". It's becoming only a dead of winter area. The reason we tried it at my Benchmark spot (one that gives me all the ideas if its worth it in there) the bait-stealers are rampid, and it's not turned on as years ago. Maybe in Nov. or Dec. Day#2 with Traveller Bob we will pursue over-sized Bull Redfish, and have even a bit longer falling tide. The forecast is a lot more wind for day 2 (10/15).

AFTER THE ''BIG'' WINDS....on Sunday Oct. 12. A ZOO of people at the tiny Oak Harbor boat ramp. Parking lot was full by 0730 hrs. when we departed. it was finally calm. Couldn't give away a bait up in the creek, so went into the ICW, and still not much. Had a 5 & 8 yr old brothers and dad. just fished the rods in the holders. the kids couldn't do much, but we ended up with croakers and a stingray. The day after the week of mega high winds didn't do us any favors. NEXT UP: Tuesday and Weds. TRAVELLER BOB, FROM ASHVILLE. 👍👍

OCTOBER 8, 2025 HUSBAND & WIFE FROM ''GUATEMALA'', ORIGINALLY PICKED 10/9 AND THE FORECAST WAS SCA-25 KNOTS. THE FULL MOON OCTOBER TIDES MADE THIS DAY CHALLENGING ENOUGH SO WE WENT ON 10/8 INSTEAD AT HIGH TIDE. NEEDING "LOWER WATER" TO CATCH ANY FISH UP IN THE MARSH. STARTED OUT CASTING JIGS & SHRIMP, FOR JACKS AND LADYFISH. LOADS OF BITES NOT MANY HOOK UPS. AS THE TIDE DROPPED WE ENDED UP GOING TO MY FLOAT-RIG SET-UPS AND BAIT CASTING TACKLE AND LIVE SHRIMP. THEY ENDED UP WITH 3 REDFISH, TWO PERFECT "KEEPERS". BUT AS THE TIDE GOT "PERFECT", AND THE BAIT FISH (MULLET) STARTED SHOWING UP ALL AROUND US. THEY WANTED TO GO IN AND CALL IT A DAY, AT 3:30pm. "OK, WHATEVER YOU WANT" .... I WAS READY WITH PLENTY OF LIVE SHRIMP TO CATCH MORE REDFISH. THE CHALLENGE WAS REAL TODAY, AND WE WERE ON THEM, NOW. WE SWITCHED DAYS, WE SWITCHED TIME OF DEPARTURE, WE HAD TO WAIT ON THE TIDE, WE BARELY AVOIDED 2-3 RAIN STORMS PASSING BY, AND WE AVOIDED ANY HIGH WINDS. I WAS READY TO GET ON MORE REDFISH. *** PLEASE, BE ABLE TO STAND, MOVE ABOUT THE BOAT, AND BE VERY MOBILE, AND SURE ON YOUR FEET. TO GO ON THESE TRIPS. NONE OF THESE TRIPS ARE SITTING IN A CHAIR TO FISH. CAPTDAVES.COM

Spud Poling - ''the better Power Pole'' MY BOAT HAS SPUD POLES AND HOLES THRU THE HULL....say that twice fast. Really better than the $1400 a piece Power Poles that are sold commercially and others put on their boats. Simple, and effective. on bow, and two on the stern, it blew 20 knots with driving rain at one point, and I never moved.

https://youtu.be/UT6_86J_Bv4?si=DLJ0JDgo6ZkDfSyO