On a great charter fishing trip on Mosquito Lagoon recently with my client Kelly, her husband, & their friend, we stalked a school of jumbo Redfish, while they were tailing, we caught up with them and Kelly hooked up and caught this 44″ Red, on 10 lb test spin tackle, estimated weight 29 pounds, using the length times girth formula. Kelly also caught a 27″ Seatrout which weighed almost 7 pounds. To further show up the guys on the boat, she also caught a 31″ Redfish at 11.5 pounds. We are still having fun Edgewater Indian River Backcountry trips with lots of easier fishing type action, lots of Jack Crevalle and Ladyfish with Trout and Black Drum in the mix also.
I offer Mosquito Lagoon Flats Fishing trips for Redfish, Seatrout, & Black Drum .This type of sight fishing can be challenging and very rewarding when you hook up with a drag pulling Redfish, Drum, or Trout. Good for experienced anglers or the less experienced anglers looking for a new fishing challenge. I also offer Indian River Backcountry Fishing trips, that is mixed bag fishing for Seatrout, Redfish, Black Drum, Jack Crevalle, Ladyfish, Bluefish, Snapper, & many more saltwater fish. On the average Backcountry trip we catch between 10 and 15 (or more) different species of saltwater fish.You never know what will bite with this type of fishing, mainly drift fishing while free lining live shrimp on light tackle make for lots of rod bending and drag pulling. Fun for experienced anglers and an easy way for less experienced anglers to be successful at catching lots of fish.
Capt. Michael Savedow
Edgewater River Guide, Inc. 386-689-3781 email>
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website> http://www.EdgewaterRiverGuide.com
May 17th, 2010 Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Guide Report
The fishing the past couple of weeks has taken off fantastically. No doubt that it is here to stay for the long haul. From here on out it will continue to just get better and better as the warm summer days approach. Next thing you know it is July. Just awesome! There is nothing better than fishing in the summer in Florida. A few tarpon have been seen here and there in the Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River which is a great sign. If these tarpon are seen in the lagoon and river they will be along the beaches in full force in not long at all. Redfish, trout and black drum have been on fire on the flats in the early morning on the Mosquito Lagoon and very active throughout the day as well. As long as the sun stays out and the wind and weather work with you the fishing will be very intense. The key as always is to get an early start and avoid other boats at all cost. If you see another boat flats fishing try your hardest to avoid them, they may be approaching fish in a quiet way. Again 600 to 800 feet is a good thing and not that much on the water but just enough to give your fellow angler the space they need. There is more than enough water to fish in the area, it just takes some work to find it. Use tactics such as trying new areas and you will discover new grounds to fish. You never know until you try. Stealthy approaches are important to a good days success, so take your time and pole towards fish as much as possible.
Redfish are feeding on numerous baits. Mud minnows, live small blue crabs, live mullet, shrimp and plastics seem to work perfect. Weed less rigged DOA shrimps and CALS will produce very nice catches of redfish and trout. Black drum are perfect candidates for the fly fisherman. Use a small black crab pattern or shrimp pattern for feeding drum and hook ups should follow. Trout are finally being caught in fairly good numbers which is a really good sign after this winter. Top water plugs are always fun for these apex predators and there is nothing like seeing the explosion of this hit on the water. Search drop offs and sand bars for smaller trout and search the backcountry flats and pot holes for the bigger trout that will be secluded. As with all of the fish you catch please handle them with extreme care for the perfect picture and even better release. Also with water levels low use caution for your navigation.
Captain Drew Cavanaugh Cell/352-223-7897 Visit Us At: http://www.floridainshorefishingcharters.com/
Hit the big rocks around 3:15pm and took along my “grasshoppa” Chris C. with me. Or as James at B&M bait & tackle called him…..”If you’re a Jettywolf apprentice, does that make you a Jetty-pup or cub?” I told James Wolves have pups, bears have cubs, “get it right, will ya!”
So the “pup” and I blasted our way on out to the south jetty tip. I had a plan on this low,low full moon tide. Search for some Tripletail, till the tide got right and then whack some Yellermouth Trout and what ever bites afterwards. Sight casting them three tailed fish isn’t as easy as it sounds. If ya don’t know the habits and practices of a Tripletail, I’ll let ya “google” them.
We eased along the tide rip line, looking for a hovering ‘tail. And to make a long story short, we saw six of them. Caught zero. Five out of 6 were small, probably the size size of a good fresh water Crappie (aka: to a Florida Cracka’) a “speckled perch”. One was a keeper sizer in the plus range. It came to Chris’ live shrimp, and even came to my “Shiney Hiney” shrimp lure but wasn’t aggresive at all. That was the first larger one we saw, or we ran into the same one all over again, and it literally swam off the rip and to the boat! But for some reason the shrimp didn’t get in it’s face. These fish are known to reach 20 pounds with ease. Table fare, excellente!
Remember, everything seems a bit late. Here’s last years first sight casted one I caught by myself on a solo day on March 12th.
That day I saw no less than 10 Tripletails, but it sure was hard to spot, drive the boat and cast. Kinda like Cobia hunting, it’s best if someone is spotting and someone is driving. But of course I did a solo trip last year and caught a sight casted Cob too.
If I had to wait for someone else to go, I’d never get my fish. Because when it’s go time. I’m not waiting on ya’. Especially the way the Cobia are around here.
So after a bit of Tripletail frustration the tide was half ass right. So I got the Jettywolf in position. It took a bit of adjustment. The SE wind was building and going one way, the tide started to run the other way. And not long after the jetties were 100% vacant. Because the seas picked up. Just like last Saturday with Don, Lisa and Nathan. “HOLD ON SHUT UP AND F-I-S-H!” These photos I took at a low level, just before they all turned to whitewater on top.
At first, every single cast and bite on the Float rig was a “float down, reel set and no fish.” I soon figured it out after two dozen live shrimp were wasted. The Spanish Macks were up in the rocks. We’d get a twitch of the float sometimes and then nothing. Then, I finally caught one, Chris caught a Yellowmouth Trout, then some Bluefish, then it was really sporty. And the action was steady, steady steady. We were doing all out combat fishing in the bucking seas. And again…..this is why the Jettywolf was built. She handles the “slop” like a thoroughbred with waders on! Chris was loving it. Just like Don, and Lisa last week. But not Nathan, he was seasick. It’s action at the extreme level for jetty fishing. Water’s hitting the side of the boat and even with my high sides, is rolling over the gunnel. But we’re dancing around and having a ball, setting the hook and reeling in fish.
Then, a large twin engine WellCraft trolls by us. I said to Chris, “watch me whack one while they’re trolling for 12 inchers….” And between the swells my float says Bye,Bye. I reel and set the hook on a screamer. Isn’t it something, I knew that was gonna happen. The guys in the Wellcraft got all bug eyed. And before you could say Brutus T. Redbass they were anchored up near us. But weren’t there long, at all.
This over sized Redbass had so much “spit and vinegar” in it, I had to work to keep the fish out of the jetty rocks with all I had. But pulling isn’t the key. Because my tiny wire Kahle hook, is just that; tiny and thin wire. So it’s knowing when to pull. Add in the fact that the fish had folding rolling waves to play in. It was a great battle on the ole light tackle float rigging Skakespeare 7′6″ Ugly Stik Striper rod.
We caught fish till the baitwell was empty. And man did we wish we had more shrimp. Because I had the Hydroglow fish attractor light and would have loved to see what we could do after dark. So we headed back in to clean our limits of Yellowmouth and the Spanish Mack I caught, under the boats big LED floods.
It was a great afternoon of rubber leggin it, along the jetty. And like a Jettywolf, we were at the end of the rocks howling at the full moon, making the turn back into the river, feeling successful even though we caught no Tripletail.
And I’m glad my young “Jettypup” friend got to experience it, too.
Next up: Saturday morning at 7am with two fella’s.
Had a super great crew aboard Saturday. Number one, they were all about departing at 3:00pm, as everyone else was going home. I liked that. And number two, Don B. was aboard. And I really like, Don. From the first time we went out years ago, Don will keep you in laughing all day long. The other thing that was neccessary for a late departing Saturday trip was BIG TIME sea legs!
My first spot was “white water”, but I knew the fish would be there. Exciting as all hell, in small doses. The boat sat in the trough and whallowed back and forth, water crashed and slapped the side of the boat and a few times splashed right in! Yes, it was “hold on and fish”. But Don and his friend Lisa, and young 14 yr. old Nathan were up to it. I said, “we’re gonna whack some big Yellowmouth Trout, maybe some Specks, too.” This is what the JETTYWOLF was built for. I’ve fished here many times before in these same exact conditions. Sometimes the fish are chewin’ in a spot and it’s not going to be super comfortable. But it’s gonna be a whack-fest! So you gotta be there.
And I was right. Don, Lisa, and Nathan started reeling in fat Yellowmouths to 20 inches, no problem. The fish were scattered though. So it took some finding them. I just told Lisa, “Don’t get too comfortable with them. Because the next time your float may go down it could be a big Redbass. And it won’t act like a Trout!” Sure enough, about 5 minutes later, her float goes down, and see ya later……the RB takes off on a 100 foot run down the rocks. In these seas, the battle was magnified. Standing, reeling, rod bending, drag pulling, swells folding, all made the fight, that more intense. Besides the 15 pound mono leader, and the number 4 Kahle wire hook, along the big nasty granite boulders. The Redbass ended up being a 28-1/2 inch fish, and was a good picture taker, then quickly released to fight another day. I thought I took a few pics of the fat Yellowmouth Trout. Especially the one that Nathan caught. But, I guess not, in all the excitement. Don said he was loving it. Lisa was hanging on a having a blast trying to hook up more Trout. Not long after Nathan catching the largest one, he was down and out for the count in the bow, sea-sick. So after Lisa’s Redbass, we moved on. I didn’t want to sit there any longer, the poor boy was not looking good. So we moved on.
As we pulled away from the jetty. Guess who shows up? I see it about 10 swells away, poking it’s head out of the water. It’s Flipper!!! The friendly Dolphin again. It saw us bouncing around in the seas and came straight over and again…..asked us for a free fish, sticking it’s head out of the water along side the boat and smiling the Dolphin grin at us a few times. I wasn’t about to give it a big Yellowmouth Trout. And we never even caught a single Bluefish (believe it or not). So after not getting a freebie, it swam away.
My whole plan was working. There was hardly a boat around at 5pm. No traffic, no wakes, no anyone! I was loving it. So the plan was to go do some Sheepshead fishing, after the Trout. Yeah, can ya believe it.
The Jettywolf was going Sheepherding? Reason being is, they are going NUTZ! The buck Sheepshead seem to be just about everywhere. The spawn, I guess is in full courtship of sorts. Not that a Sheepshead has only just one life love….
So I pulled up on the spot that a few weeks ago we caught a 10-1/4 pounder. The spot is deep, has great current and I know, doesn’t get hammered by the masses. The anchor line was tight for only 5 minutes and Don, sitting up on the bow was already slowly pumping the first Sheeps to the boat! We looked up and there he was rod bent and bucking, with a big grin. Them danmed Digital Cameras, I ended up getting a shot of Don dropping the fish instead of holding it. (just like when I tried now for the 3rd time of getting a photo of Flipper!) My Digital Camera is way tooooo slow to react!
Nathan, was now back feeling alive. And was having a hard time feeling the tap,tap, of the Sheepshead bite. Don had 3 fish in 5 minutes back to back. Lisa had her fair share, no problem. So I helped Nathan out.
All the buck Sheepshead ranged from 2-4 pounds. And I wanted to see if we could catch that big “sow” that could be near. So I even tried a few drops. But instead of fiddlers I tried jumbo live shrimp. And yeah, I got tons of bites. But only caught the first Jack Cravalle of the season. Lisa caught a pup Black Drum at 16″. I would have liked to see a 10-15 pound Black Drum too, for Nathan. That would have been something. But, the Sheepshead kept chewin. And as the sun went down, the bite went in and out as the tide slowed too. So we left for the dock with a 72 qt. cooler full of 6 Trout, 1 Black Drum, and 10-12 Sheepshead.
My plan worked out great. And Lisa even had headlamps, thank goodness. Because half way through the fish cleaning, it got really dark!
4/22 & 23 - A little bit of every thing.
My buddy Jay Perrotta of BlackLab Marine & RockSalt boats was in town as of Thursday afternoon.
Bringing that big RockSalt 34 welded aluminum boat www.rocksaltboats.com up from S. Florida. To just show folks. So my dad and I met him over at Morningstar Marina, as he pulled up from the St, Johns. We’ve been keeping tabs on Jay’s travels north through the ocean and ICW via www.aluminumalloyboats.com the forum that’s my second home. I bought my boat from Jay when he lived in Maine. And the Rocksalt 34 is a different breed of aluminum alloy welded boat. It’s monsterous and can seriously GO FAST.
With twin 350 V-8 Yamaha’s, and the yacht quality look of the hull and interior. The boat was a “must see”, at this years Miami International boat show in Febuary. And I didn’t hit Miami this year. So I missed it. But this was even better. Jay and the Rocksalt being in J-ville.
Painted 1/4″ plate alloy with toilet, two sinks, two livewells, racing seats, 700 Horse Power, three electronics boxes, and console and hard top that the crew can do chin-ups on. Nothings coming loose on this boat! Fish “holds”, not just boxes, and storage out the ying-yang. This is a awesome offshore fishing machine. And it’s all made out of the same material my boat is. 5053 Marine Grade Alloy.
The ride comes later. Jay and his buddy needed nurishment and some cold drinks. They had just run from New Smyrna Beach this morning in the ocean to Jacksonville’s St. Johns River inlet. So off we went to Singletons Seafood for fried oyster Po’ boys with crunchy onions on top.
My dad and I helped Jay by giving him and Charlie a ride to rent a car in Jax Beach. But my ride would come on Friday. I had nothing else to do. And wouldn’t miss behind the wheel time on this big bad ****** boat. So I met Jay at the Marina on Friday morning and we went cruising. The spit will roll out your lips when this boats lighting it up out the jetty rocks.
No seas, dead azz flat calm. Bummer…..ya want some “sporte” seas in a boat like this.
If I was an Long Range offshore guy and really wanted a boat to get customers there and back fast, I’d only have aluminum, of course. And this would be the boat I’d have custom built.
4/22-23 - Night Fishing shake down.
Hit the river at 8pm after hanging with Jay, Charlie and Pop’s, and the Rocksalt 34. Had my buddy Nick who’s the drummer for the band, Rathkeltair (Celtic Rock Fusion: www.Rathkeltair.com ) with me. He’s a night owl, so he was a good choice. We did a shake down night fishing trip and got back home at 2:30am.
Tried out my LED’s I mounted on the top of my windshield. And my new Hydroglow light for fish attracting, yes it attracts! The tide was falling and hauling butt. We caught fish, a few Specks, some sand trout (yeah small sand trout), some Blues naturally, and a few Yellowmouth Trout. The hydroglow light is supposed to FLOAT. And it didn’t. It sank. So that was an issue. The current was a issue too. And we tried a few docks that have lights on all night. Ones I have been just dieing to try, with not much success. But all was good till maybe mid-night. And that’s when it got colder than a well diggers azz out there. And I needed more than I had on.
Yeah, COLD, and a tad windy too. Next time, I’ll actually have a game plan, also. But this was just a shake down. Now Hydroglow is sending me a new light, and I’ll return this “sinker”.
I loved it. NO one around. The whole river to myself. If it wasn’t so dang cold it would have been better. But I can see this summer is gonna be different for me. Because I’m not gonna put up with wakes, jetskis, Poke run race boats and ghetto cruisers, waking me. And every spot will be open to fish.
I’ll be heading out in the evening with customers, if they can. Why not?
_________________________ Capt Dave Sipler’s Sport Fishing
-Light tackle fishing charters since 1996 Jacksonville Florida www.captdaves.com
