The following Bait Shops Carry

Flagler Pier - 20 March

3-21-06
TOP CATCHES -- In four days of fishing last week at the Jacksonville Beach Pier, Loi Tran amassed more than 100 whiting. Also at the pier, Walter Harris had more than 75 whiting, Steve Gayle topped 60 whiting, Nila Stack had a 4 1/2-pound pompano, and Corey Thomas caught a 3 1/2-pound pompano. ...

Using live blue crabs for bait, Capt. Greg Fields and Gene Moss bagged an 83-pound drum and a 79-pounder at the tip of the south Mayport jetties.

The big drum usually hang around through March and into April.

SELF SUFFICIENT -- The Self brothers, known for their panfishing prowess, are at it again.

Ira and Billy Self recently worked Julington Creek for 30 catfish and 111 panfish, including bluegills, shellcrackers and warmouth perch. The fish were taken on earthworms that Ira dug himself.

SALTWATER

TOP CATCHES -- In four days of fishing last week at the Jacksonville Beach Pier, Loi Tran amassed more than 100 whiting. Also at the pier, Walter Harris had more than 75 whiting, Steve Gayle topped 60 whiting, Nila Stack had a 4 1/2-pound pompano, and Corey Thomas caught a 3 1/2-pound pompano. ...

Capt. Scott Tait, Gail Clements and guest fished Chicopit Bay, Fort George and the Mayport jetties, totaling seven flounder, 10 sheepshead to 4 pounds and two drum on fiddler crabs and mud minnows. ... Capt. Jeff Wansor caught a 10 1/4-pound sheepshead at the Mayport jetties. ...

Capt. Dave Sipler and Ron and Regina Jurek combined for 40 trout -- most legal size -- on shrimp and float rigs in the Mayport area of the St. Johns River. ... Capt. John Dyrssen and the Arner family had five trout, a redfish and two flounder on Saturday in the Intracoastal Waterway. ...

Corey Bowen and Scott and Travis Lane bottomfished about 15 miles out of Mayport and tallied five snapper to 16 1/2 pounds, a 17 1/2-pound grouper and a flounder. ... Capt. Mark Williams and Alton Robey caught a limit of snapper to 18 pounds, a 13-pound grouper and a number of sea bass and flounder on Thursday about 20 miles out of Mayport....

Capt. Fred Morrow, Frank Pixler and Peter and Marshall Hayes totaled four drum -- including a 50- and a 30-pounder -- along with seven sheepshead to 7 1/2 pounds, 42 whiting and 24 yellowmouth trout on Friday at the Mayport jetties. ... Kayaker John Shipley reeled in a 26-inch redfish and five sheepshead to 4 pounds at the Mayport little jetties.

3-23-06 BEN WILLIAMS

Published Thursday, March 23, 2006

Compiling a fishing report involves talking to the local knowledgables, searching the Northeast Florida Web forums and trying to remember what I caught myself. Because I'm in the seafood business and have access to them, that involves asking the local fish houses and the occasional commercial fishermen what they've seen over the last few days. What I'm looking for is patterns, something useful to pass along to those who plan to venture forth in the next few days. And this week there were patterns, consistencies if you like, that might be useful. Among the recurring themes was the whiting. Ron Joiner at the County Pier said that "coolers full of whiting" were being hauled off the pier and that the bite was not confined to one part of the day.

Bill Kerr at Hook Line & Sinker commented on the whiting, indicating the fish were both inside and outside the inlet. Kerr went on to say that both Charlie Parker on the Hooked Up and Bill Schuller on the Heads & Tails were having good luck with the reds and trout, including a good number of weakfish.

Kerr followed that up with the note that "the blues have made a appearance." Joiner at the pier seconded the blues and mentioned the weakfish, too. Farther south, Matt Wrann at Devil's Elbow described the sheepshead fishing as "nuts." Wrann's report coincides with what we are seeing in the market. The sheepshead are larger, more abundant and, as should be the case this time of year, laden with roe. And you need to try sheepshead roe.

Wrann also reported a few pompano coming from local waters. His report of local pompano was backed up by a commercial hook-and-line fisherman who had more than 70 pounds while fishing from a undisclosed location in Flagler County.

Besides the appearance of the pompano, there was a significant uptick in the number of flounder. While flounder numbers have been on the rise for a few weeks, they were even more evident this week, mixed in with most every red and trout report. As is normal for this time year, the fish are running on the small side, even though a number of larger fish were around.

Published Saturday, March 25, 2006

By CAPT. JIM JOHNSON
Tight Lines,

With daylight-saving time just a cast away, April 2, area anglers are gearing up for longer days to fish. Spring break for our schools occurred this past week, giving families a chance to spend time at the beach or on the water in hunt for some of our local saltwater species.

Warmer water temps have given us excellent opportunities for whiting, black drum, trout and reds. The surf anglers continue to catch plenty of whiting along Amelia's beaches from Fort Clinch to the point at Amelia Island State Park. Like always, shrimp fished on the bottom with a fish-finder rig is your best bet.

Oscar and Thomas Sanders caught more than 125 whiting this past week working the surf of Amelia Island.

3-30-06

Offshore Jacksonville Beach: Quite a few snapper within 15 miles of the beach. Grouper moving inshore. Beeliners at Elton Bottom. Whiting, a few pompano, black drum at Jax beach Pier.

Published Thursday, March 30, 2006

As the temperature rises and seas calm, fishing is the St. Augustine area is taking a turn for the better.

Reports from local bait shops say whiting are readily available. Blues can be had as well, although they've been mostly small.

The information from Pacetti's Marina Campground is that fishing has been good the past several days. People are catching specks, bass and catfish.

Among the recent hauls there were 19 specks by D. James Tate, 13 breem by Gene Simmons and 21 shellcrackers by Bob and Kathy Heinold. Those catches all came Tuesday.

Over at the St. Augustine Marina, Jimmy Beach said things are very active. He said anglers are getting whiting and blues from the surf and from the pier using shrimp and finger mullet.

4-01-06

Anglers fishing the inshore reefs continue to catch grouper and snapper along with seabass. Cigar minnows, Boston mackerel and squid all have been working for bait. Keep your sabiki rod handy to check for the availability of live bait along the reefs. Always use live bait when available. When using live bait, I prefer a single-hook rig.

North Beach, Fort Clinch, Main Beach, Jasmine access, Slider's access and most any other beach access with a good size slough has been producing a good number of whiting. The incoming tide, especially toward high tide, should produce some nice catches.

Tommy Sanders did it again this week with a nice catch of 17 whiting. Rev. W.O. Holmes reports he is still having success fishing the surf for whiting. A. Hunt also reports some nice mornings along the surf for whiting. Dead shrimp fished on the bottom has been working well for those in search of the tasty whiting.

4-13-06

The spring migration scene is due to break loose any day now. Spanish mackerel have shown in spurts, but there's been nothing consistent yet. Big bluefish could arrive soon at area inlets, particularly St. Augustine. Beach cobia, which have been off Canaveral, can't be far behind.

Offshore Mayport: Beeliners remain consistent in the BR, East 18 areas. Partyboats scoring some scamp grouper. Whiting, trout at pier. A wave of Spanish visited the pier last week.

Offshore St. Augustine: Wahoo at the ledge, along with dolphin, some billfish. Beeliners, a few cobia in 100 feet. Sea bass have slowed inshore. Whiting along the beach.

4-15-06

Linda Roaderick caught more than 17 nice whiting from the George Crady Bridge state fishing pier Tuesday.

4-27-06

In the surf, anglers are catching bluefish, whiting and a few flounder.

Fort Clinch south to the point at Amelia Island State Park and all accesses in between are all producing nice catches. Fishing at the access at Sliders could be a problem due to the monstrosity still parked in the waters just offshore. The George Crady Bridge state fishing pier and the Amelia by the Sea pier also are reporting nice catches of whiting. Von Holcomb reports the pompano are here!

5-4-06

Offshore Mayport: Cobia on the beach. Spanish mackerel have been spotty. Dolphin, wahoo at the Tuna Patch. A mix of drum, trout, pompano, whiting, redfish at the pier.

few whiting in surf saint aug

He's heard some reports that a few whiting have been pulled from the surf. Also, Kerr said the river bite has slowed somewhat, but people are catching some redfish and trout.

5-11-06

5-18-06

5-25-06

Farther south, Matt Wrann at Devils Elbow summed up the flounder situation as "absolutely phenomenal." He went on to say that the trout were also willing around the lights at night and on lures, both early and late in the day. Matt's description of the flounder situation was substantially buttressed by the catch of one of our commercial giggers, who had more than 60 fish from areas north of the St. Johns River mouth on Monday night. As is to be expected this time of year the fish are running for the most part in the 1-to-2 pound range, but doormats have not been uncommon.

6-10-06

6-21-06

7-11-06

7-27-06

8-9-06

8-16-06

Roy’s Bait House reports king mackerel in the 20 lb range are being caught from the pier and that whiting, small pompano and some small cobia are in the surf. Corky Giddens had a 22” redfish and Rick Fisher landed 50 whiting.

Roy’s Bait House reports lots of whiting in the surf along with some pompano, blues and sheepshead.

In the surf, whiting continue to be plentiful along with pompano.

Northeast winds kicked up the surf this past week and made surf fishing just about impossible, however it didn’t stop pier fishermen. Bill Allgire at Flagler Beach Bait and Tackle on the Flagler pier says a lot of slot size redfish are being caught despite the rough surf. Trout are also being caught but Bill said the bite only lasts about an hour. Some spanish mackerel are around and the whiting bite has begun to pick up along with pompano.

10-08-06

This time of year, when I have a shorter window of fishing opportunity, I'll be at the beach. October and November are to surf fishing here what Bike Week is to Daytona Beach. All sorts of ugly cusses show up in droves. They're looking for good time and they're not too picky about what they eat. Big bull reds, ravenous blue fish, brutish jacks, pretty pompano and tasty whiting all fire up this time of year.

10-10-06

Flagler Beach Bait and Tackle reports that the surf was a little rough this past week but it didn’t stop Bob Burns from landing an 18 lb king mackerel. Flounder Joe was at it again for flounder to 4 lbs. Bill Allgire says there’s plenty of Spanish mackerel around along with bluefish up to the 6 lbs.

10-12-06

Ocean piers: Action is fair on flounder, reds and small pompano. Whiting has been curiously slow

Closer to shore, the tarpon are in surf and in the river.

Also, people have been finding lots of whiting.

10-19-06

Ocean piers: At the Jacksonville Beach Pier, there are no whiting at all. Very slow on everything else. Sheepshead are around the pilings at St. Augustine Beach Pier but have lockjaw.

STUART KORFHAGE
stuart.korfhage@staugustinerecord.com

Published Thursday, October 19, 2006

In the surf, whiting continue to bite, and pompano are just starting to show up, Goldstein said.

10-25-06

This week's drop in water temperature should give all our fishing the boost needed. Grab your rods and reels and have some fun!

Ocean piers: Action at the Jacksonville Beach Pier is picking up. Pompano are showing up, and bigger whiting are hitting, along with bluefish and a few flounder. The report from the St. Augustine Pier is catfish - and only catfish - all week long.

10-26-06

Closer to the ocean the flounder run is just getting better and better. Our commercial gigger, forced to hook and line fish as his motor went on the fritz, had a cooler full of large ones on Sunday. He also released a number of reds.

And if the various Internet reports are any indication, those targeting reds are being well rewarded for their efforts.

Out on the beaches, pompano, the leading edge of the fall southerly migration, have shown up in the last few days. The fisherman with the pompano also had some very nice whiting on both his trips.

It's also worth noting that the commercial shrimpers are starting to see more whiting in their nets. The whiting move south with the falling water temperatures along with the pompano.

10-31-06

Beach fishing was hot last week with blues and spanish mackerel tearing up bait in the surf. People tossing plugs were scoring all day long. The blues and Spanish are still around and flounder have begun to move in, also look for the flounder to start to turn on around Matanzas inlet this month. Thanksgiving week is usually the most productive.

STUART KORFHAGE

Published Thursday, November 02, 2006

For those staying closer to home -- or at least land -- have good news.

Both Laudenslager and Jimmy Beach at the St. Augustine Marina have heard good reports from the surf.

Among the best catches have been that of bluefish. Beach said he talked to a fisherman Wednesday who caught some big bluefish in surf, a few whiting and pompano. However, the speckled trout are light.

Laudenslager said anglers are still waiting for the really big whiting to find this area. He's heard of 16-to-17-inch catches near Pine Island.

Also in the surf, people are catching some flounder and trout as well as undersized reds.

11-8-06

The surf and pier are providing blues, whiting and reds. Look for the flounder action to pick up in the surf and pier as well.

11-9-06

Down at the other end of the county, Matt Wrann at Devils Elbow reported plenty of reds tailing on the flooded flats. Back in the creeks and along the Intracoastal itself, Wrann said that there were plenty of drum in the 3-to-6-pound class to be had mixed in with significant numbers of blues, some of them large. He also mentioned a fisherman who managed to catch a 30-pound red off the Matanzas Bridge on Sunday.

He also noted that even with the difficult surf conditions, which had the breakers occurring hundreds of feet out past the end of the pier, there were still some quality fish coming up onto the planks. Whiting, sheepshead and pompano have been cooperative at various times during the last week. Deserving of special note was Joiner's report that right up until the wind kicked in he was seeing cobia trailing rays on a regular basis.

11-11-06

Less wind is predicted for this weekend leaving anglers an open door to have fun fishing whether you choose to fish the backwater, surf or possibly the offshore. Our water temperature is now below 70 degrees. This drop in temperature should create a grouper, snapper and black sea bass bite offshore. Inshore this should also trigger the trout, redfish, flounder and whiting to bite also.

11-12-06

Surf fished Sat and today for about an hour a day between Ormond and Flagler

The flounder bite continues to improve with the falling water temperatures. They’re taking buck tail jigs as are trout. They’ll also eating live mullet, live shrimp, mud minnows and soft plastics that are bumped across the bottom.

11-16-06

Ocean piers: At the Jacksonville Beach Pier, small whiting, oversized redfish and bluefish have provided most of the action. There is no bait in the water. At the St. Augustine Pier, there's plenty of bait showing but nearly nothing biting, except catfish and small sharks

Temperatures have felt nice, and that's meant some pleasant mid-November trips, both inshore and offshore.

But the wind picked up Wednesday, and the forecast isn't pleasant for the next few days, so that may turn into some abbreviated good times.

Reports for the most part, have still been positive, all the way up until Wednesday's hard blow.

Most of the action inshore has stayed consistent, despite the wind that limits longer trips.

Small snapper are still biting close, but not many have been worth keeping.

Whiting are around, and flounder have been prevalent from Guana to Matanzas.

11-24-06

GOOD

Chris Teet at the Daytona Beach Pier said on Wednesday anglers caught whiting on almost every cast after just a few minutes of letting baits soak in the surf suds. A few undersized drum were caught, too. That big sheepshead run from last week has petered out, though, he said.

Patty French at the Sunglow Pier said anglers were getting sheepshead, a lone red and plenty of whiting.

Ponce Inlet area

Capt. Luke Pearson said the water temp was 68 at the inlet and 58 in Spruce Creek. The mouths of Spruce and New Smyrna creeks are turning up slot reds, snook, ladyfish and jacks, he said. At the inlet, he said it's a lot of blues and a few flounder.

Capt. Fred Robert said he's put clients onto five stout snook near the jetty rocks and an 11-pound flounder off the channel bottom this week. So the Thanksgiving flounder run is here, 'cause that's a doormat!

11-30-06

The weekend looks fishable, both inshore and probably offshore, especially Sunday. The St. Augustine Beach Pier has been good for bull whiting all week and should be a good bet for those without boats. The anticipated Thanksgiving speckled-perch surge occurred. Chase them in your favorite spots.

Ocean piers: The Jacksonville Beach Pier reports much better fishing this week, with some smaller whiting and drum. The first sheepshead are hanging on the pilings. Undersized pompano are being caught. But the St. Augustine Beach Pier is a different story. The bull whiting are tearing it up.

"The whiting have really turned on from the surf and beach pier," he said.

Also in the surf, Kerr and Jimmy Beach at the St. Augustine Marina have heard reports of good catches of black drum.

Beach added that he's heard of some nice flounder and lots of undersized speckled trout.

12-1-06

EXCELLENT TO GOOD

Ed Countryman at Ocean's Bait & Tackle in Ormond-By-the-Sea said those cold brown suds are giving up a lot of 10-pound drum. They're in the first slew hitting dead shrimp, he said.

"Ditto for the big whiting," he said. "The blues are hitting mullet and are out about 100 feet on the inside of the second sandbar."

He said that Ken and Sue Horton proved that old adage that reds love rough surf with catches of 39- and 26-inch reds.

Roy Mattson at Roy's Bait House in Flagler Beach said Ken Stone caught four slot reds, a 20-inch pompano, some whiting and some five-pound drum.

Ike Leary at Granada Pier Bait & Tackle said he heard that the old ship wreck on the beach at Cardinal Drive in Ormond Beach is showing at low tide, attracting lots of fins and fishermen.

12-7-06

Ocean piers: The Jacksonville Beach Pier reported decent catches of whiting in the surf. Anglers at the St. Augustine Beach Pier did well on whiting and smaller black drum.

12-8-06

Ron Wallace at the Daytona Beach Pier said in a few hours Thursday, four guys caught three drum, one red and some whiting and blues.

Tiffany Christiansen at the Sunglow Pier said it's been whiting, drum and a few sheepshead.

Jake said the word at Flagler Beach Bait & Tackle is that whiting and drum to 18-inches are active and a few trout are biting in the morning.

Offshore

Richard Bramerel at the Fishin' Shack said bottom fishing has been excellent when seas allow skippers to get out. He said the best range has been around 100 to 120 feet, but snapper have been good even at 90 feet.

Ponce Inlet area

Bramerel said jetty anglers are reporting blues, a bunch of reds, some good-sized flounder still and black drum, too.

Capt. Fred Robert said the water temperature is 65 degrees. Thursday he caught a lookdown, blues, small jacks, reds from 22 to 30 inches and a little tarpon. He said the big mullet are running and the sheepshead in the rocks are running small.

12-09-06

The word from local captains and other sources tell me the fishing has been kind of slow lately.

12-14-06

Ocean piers: At Jacksonville Beach Pier, it has been warm and cold. In general, the fishing temperature has been pretty tepid. At St. Augustine Beach Pier, bull whiting and some nice drum are being caught.

The weekend is looking better than most, but it's still pretty iffy for offshore fishing. Ten- to 15-knot winds will be circling from the southwest, then northeast and east Friday through Sunday. Seas will be in the 3- to 5-foot range. The reds and trout are up in the creeks. The reds are big, and the trout are small. The St. Augustine Beach Pier has been loaded with bull whiting all week. The winds won't hurt that a bit.

From Staff

Published Thursday, December 14, 2006

Local fishermen who enjoy reeling in trout had a field day this past week.

"The trout fishing has really been excellent," Avid Angler's Don Edwards said. "This is the best trout fishing around this time of year."

The good news is there are plenty of trout to go around, as well as bluefish.

"Everyone has been catching everything this week," Edwards said. "There has been a lot of fish caught this week and everybody is doing pretty good."

Edwards said on a trip this week each person fishing caught 20 trout and eight-to-10 bluefish, as well as some flounder.

"The trout are all over," Edwards said. "Usually around high tide with two hours either way the trout and bluefish have been hitting.

12-15-06

GOOD TO FAIR

Surf & Piers

Ed Countryman at Ocean's Bait & Tackle reported a consistent bluefish bite, whiting as monstrous as these smallish fish come and lots of sizeable black drum taking the bait this week.

"It seems that almost everyone that boasts of a good catch had some drum included in there," Countryman said. "Not to be outdone, the whiting that have been brought by the shop are some of the largest that I've ever seen. They have to be approaching somewhat of a record size as they look like slot reds with their tails hanging out of the tops of five-gallon buckets."

Bait-wise, he said mullet and sandfleas have been scarce in the cooling surf.

The surf and pier are producing whiting, sheepshead, blues and the occasional oversized red. Any red measured with the tail pinched that is over 27” must be released back into the water. Whiting are eating shrimp or fish bites that are fished on a whiting rig. These rigs come pre rigged and can be purchased at any tackle shop. The blues are hitting dead mullet rigged on a fish finder rig. Sheepshead will eat fiddler crabs fished very close to the dock pilings of the pier. Reds will eat a rigged dead or live mullet. Big reds will eat a bluefish or whiting head rigged on a 4/0 or 5/0 hook.

I like to use deeper diving plugs this time of year because the fish are deeper due to the colder water. Use small plugs in the winter because the trout’s main diet is glass minnows. Fish these plugs slow. Most fish are pretty lethargic this time of year and don’t like to expend a lot of energy chasing bait. If you have a depth finder try trolling the dropoffs in the ICW. You’ll need a plug that can dive in the 6 to 10 ft range

12-21-06

FAIR
Surf & Piers

Roy Mattson at Roy's Bait House said the bite is whiting, black drum from 17 to 20 inches and loads of blues and that the surf is back up to 70 degrees.

Here's a whale watching note. Mattson said there are reports of right whale sightings at Crescent Beach and Matanzas Inlet.

"Jake" at Flagler Beach Bait & Tackle said a few pier anglers are getting 40-inch reds off the end of the pier.

12-27-06

The word from the pier is whiting and blues.

Let’s take a look at the year in review for our inshore fishing. We’ll start with trout. For me the daytime trout bite was slow. Trout were caught but not in the quantity and quality that the last few years have produced. I’m thinking that maybe the lack of rain this year had something to do with it, just a wild guess. It wasn’t until late October through the middle of November that I began to get gator trout and most of those were caught on topwater plugs and flies.
Flounder. The flounder run that usually takes place during the month of November never materialized. However, flounder in the 14” to 16” range have produced most of the year. I even had a report that one angler had 65 flounder in one day during the month of October.

12-29-06

The surf is cleaning up and Larry Lytle at the Daytona Beach Pier said his crowd had 40 to 45 black drum by noon Thursday -- nearly all of them keepers. Eight or nine reds from 21- to 24-inches long were mixed in. Blues and whiting were hitting and there's a lot of stingrays around, he said. To release stingrays, just cut the line and scoot them over the planks. If you must de-hook them, cover their tail with a wet towel or they might stick you.

Ponce Inlet

Donna Reczek at the Fishin' Shack said the jetty crowd is getting whiting, blues, black drum, out-of-season trout, a few flounder, an odd pompano or two and some sheepshead, too.

12-28-06

Ocean piers: Slow at the Jacksonville Beach Pier, with whiting hitting for a couple of hours. Fishing at the St. Augustine Beach Pier has been poor.

The surf and pier are producing whiting, blues and the occasional oversized redfish. The whiting are being caught on fish bites or shrimp that are fresh dead or frozen. The blues and reds are taking live, frozen or chunks of mullet.

1-4-07

St. Johns River mouth and vicinity: Some whiting are in the surf, especially around Hanna Park, where the speckled perch are biting in the ponds. Striper fishermen are coming in empty-handed. Trout and redfish continue to follow bait and running water.

Offshore Fernandina Beach, Mayport St. Augustine: No offshore fishing reported this week because of the weather.

Ocean piers: At the Jacksonville Beach Pier, whiting continue to be slow. Some black drum and yellowmouth trout were taken there. Whiting are biting at the St. Augustine Pier this week, and they're big bulls. The word on bait is that if you can't get live shrimp or dead shrimp that are fresh, you're wasting your time.

JUSTIN BARNEY
justin.barney@staugustinerecord.com

Published Thursday, January 04, 2007

One catch that Laudenslager said he's been confused about is the absence of whiting.

They've been spotted on the shore and the inlet, just not in the expected frequency.

"I'm hoping to see that surge of whiting, it just hasn't materialized like last year," he said.

"They bite one day, and not the next. I can't understand that."

Guy said he's heard of several offshore reports that have been kind to anglers willing to chance it, and actually made a run himself last week in Jacksonville.

"Hit and miss (offshore), we got cold and wet," he said.

"We still came home with plenty of fish, though."

1-5-07

Ed Countryman at Ocean's Bait & Tackle said limits on blues, pompano topping 3 pounds, plus a few slot reds are coming in, and big whiting have been feeding all day, regardless of tide.

Ponce Inlet

Capt. Luke Pearson said the past week has yielded some huge gator trout in the inlet's back creeks. He said high tide is best, with top-waters early in the morning and jigs later in the day. The big reds are mostly feeding real early, he said. Plus plenty of reds and weakfish are hitting, he said.

1-10-07

Due to the unusually warm start to 2007, there are many options to what type of fishing you may want to try on your next day off. I thought I would give you some ideas for fishing this month if this great weather persists.

Dead shrimp fished on the bottom will give you excellent results. If you are fishing more than one rod I would always keep a finger mullet on the bottom for trout and blues. When using frozen finger mullet I like to cut the tail off and hook the mullet up behind the lips. Also using a finger mullet when fishing from the Fort Clinch pier or the George Crady Bridge State Fishing Pier gives you the added opportunity to catch a redfish, trout, blue or puppy drum.

1-11-07

Ocean piers: The Jacksonville Beach Pier has had inconsistent catches of whiting and a few bluefish. The St. Augustine Beach Pier has completely shut down this week because of big waves and filthy water.

In the surf, Laudenslager said he got a report of someone catching 100 whiting.

Surf & Piers

Michael Godwin at the Daytona Beach Pier said Thursday's crowd reeled in 30 blues and 30 to 40 whiting in the choppy surf, a downturn in action from last weeks reds, flounder and pompano.

Roy Mattson at Roy's Bait House said what pompano are being caught are taking clams. Keep that slippery clam on your hook by wrapping it in a piece of hair net or pantyhose.

The pier and surf continue to produce whiting and redfish. Use shrimp and fish bites for whiting and shrimp or mullet for the reds.

1-18-07

With the weather that has blown in this week, thoughts of fishing have surely diminished.

For those fishing in the surf, people are catching some bull redfish and whiting.

Ocean piers: Jacksonville Beach Pier has produced a few whiting, bluefish and yellowmouth trout. The St. Augustine Beach Pier has been a waste of time this week.

1-19-07

Ed Countryman at Ocean's Bait & Tackle said anglers are catching slot-sized reds. He saw one that had 22 spots. Countryman said Paul Day and "Roland" reeled in a load of bull whiting near the Kahuna Grill. He said Gene Tomlinson's first cast Monday morning produced a 20-inch, 6-pound pompano. Countryman said there are a few thick pockets of sand fleas around, but lots of barren sand, too. Most are using dead shrimp for bait, he said.

Tomoka Basin area

"Jake" at High Bridge Bait & Tackle said its been slow with all the wind and rain, but a few trout and reds are getting themselves caught. Word is Capt. Kent Gibbens has been getting some inshore slams working the basin.

Offshore

Capt. Pete Knopp, skipper of the Heavy Hitter, was at the Fishin' Store and said it doesn't look like the boats are going to get out this weekend, with buoys hitting 10 feet, but Capt. John Krall of New Smyrna Beach took his Southwind out Tuesday before the front hit and got 16 snapper, including 7 sows, 16 gray grouper and four or five scamps, plus sea bass, red eyes and trigger fish.

Halifax River

Ike Leary at Granada Pier Bait & Tackle said its been quiet, but the drum bite has been good and a few sheepshead and whiting are coming in, too.

Bill Allen at Howard's Bait & Tackle by the Dunlawton Bridge said the bite's been quite a few sheeshead, some to 7 1/2 pounds, plus a few small trout, some drum and a lot of blues.

Ponce Inlet area

Capt. Luke Pearson said fishing couldn't get better for him. He's been working the tide from the inlet back into the creeks, getting dozens of reds, trout to 8 pounds, drum, whiting, tons of blues, ladyfish and some snook in Spruce Creek.

Bill Bayer and Bob LaVelle of Ponce Inlet said the jetty bite has been slow but reliable for sizeable sheepshead. Steve Larson with the Pastime Princess said he's caught drum, reds, sharks and a few pompano at the jetty.

1-25-07

Rough conditions last weekend

In the surf, bluefish and black drum have been plentiful.

"They're catching some whiting, but they're not tearing it up," said Kerr of surf fishing.

1-26-07

Surf & Piers

Roy Mattson at Roy's Bait House said it's been whiting, small blues, some drum and sheepies and a few pompano, with one guy getting six pompano including a 14-incher.

2-1-07

Both Kerr and Beach said there has been some whiting activity but not very much..

2-2-07

Ponce Inlet area

Yvonne and Mike Halaiski of Deltona hit the bridge fenders in New Smyrna Beach on Saturday and said fishing was slow. They caught six sheepshead with only three keepers.

"I guess the high pressure system had something to do with it being slow," Mike said.

Capt. Fred Robert said the water is 59 degrees and he's getting a couple of reds on mullet. The sheepshead are starting to get big and are hitting small dead shrimp and crabs, he said. He said he can't find pinfish in the river or in the bait shops and those are what the snook want, lately. But he has had luck with trout near the mangroves. You have to free-line live shrimp on light line, like 8- or 10-pound test, he said. The water is clear enough that they can see the line and won't hit heavier stuff.

Surf & Piers

Dan Kemp of Ormond Beach said he's been catching some pompano and reds in the surf. The whiting are typical sizes one day and big as reds the next, he said. And the occasional bluefish school is running the bars, scaring off all the whiting.

Countryman also said he's seen catches of whiting, blues and reds, plus some black drum. He said catches have been pretty respectable despite recent cold, windy conditions.

"The blues are out around the second bar," he said. "Everything else is in close to shore. Some of the locals are reporting huge whiting catches coming from 3-feet of water about 50-feet from shore."

2-7-07

I know many of our local surf anglers are eager for some spring-like weather so they can hit the surf for what hopefully will be a banner year for bull whiting. Now is the time to get your surf gear ready for that first warm day to try your luck for bull whiting.

I also would check to make sure you have the correct terminal tackle. Take an inventory of your surf bag and restock. Extra sinkers, swivels, sinker slides and hooks are always a must. My favorite hook when surf fishing is the No. 1 baitholder, but there are plenty of excellent hooks giving each angler a hook he or she prefers. Circle hooks are used by more and more surf anglers because you do not have to set the hook. I personally feel the hook set is the fun part of fishing.

My surf rig consists of a sinker slide above a bead, then a No. 7 barrel swivel to an 18-inch piece of 25-pound test fluorocarbon leader tied to a No. 1 baitholder hook. Many other local surf anglers prefer a light double hook pompano rig for surf fishing, which is equally effective for catching whiting. A sand spike is a great tool if you choose to fish multiple rods but, most importantly, it is great tool to help prolong the life of your reel. When not using your rod always place it in a sand spike. The worst thing you can do is to lay your rod and reel in the sand or let the salt water wash over your reel. I don't care if you have the most-expensive tackle on the fishing scene, it will not stand up to saltwater intrusion.

When the surf temperature warms up a bit be ready to try your luck. Fresh shrimp or fresh frozen shrimp, peeled, clams or sand fleas will be your best bait. I prefer the incoming tide when fishing the surf, although any tide will work when the bite is really turned on.

The die-hard surf anglers still have been out there trying their luck for the big bulls. Occasionally, I will get a report of a really nice catch this time of year. The only way you will know if the bite is there is to go out and give your luck a try. Check your weather, and if the winds are light out of the west or northwest give your luck a try, you may be calling me with a report - one of those really nice catches.

Capt. Jim Johnson is owner of Amelia Island Bait and Tackle, Nassau Sound Bait & Tackle and Rappi Charters, on which he spends many days fishing around Amelia Island and offshore. To submit information about, or photos of, recent catches, stop by his shop at 1925 14th St., or call 277-0775. Or send digital photos of recent catches to captjim@gct21.net.

2-8-07

Ron Joiner at the County Pier put it succinctly, and with a certain amount of feeling in his voice, when he said "typical February."

He did say, though, that the water was clear, and that he expected the big drum to show in a couple of weeks, if not sooner.

Down at the south end of the county, Matt Wrann at Devil's Elbow, reported the water in the Intracoastal as being "tea colored" from the rain, but that it was getting better each day.

According to Matt, the reds have shifted from keying on the grass to being the most active along the edges of oyster bars in 1 to 2 feet of water.

Matt also noted that even though speckled trout are currently closed to harvest, there are still some to be caught, along with a few yellowmouth.

Whiting reports from that area of the Intracoastal were hit and miss, with one angler totaling 86 one day and returning the next day with fewer than a dozen. And Matt also mentioned the blues, but in a different way, saying that inside "the bluefish are in the way" of folks fishing for other species.

2-9-07

GOOD

Ron Wallace at the Daytona Beach Pier said the whiting have been in the 10-inch range and that the handful of anglers on the pier are getting about a half dozen drum and sheepshead a day.

"The water is so clear," he said, "you can walk out the pier and see thousands of sheepshead underneath the pilings, but they're not biting."

Tomoka Basin area

Capt. Kent Gibbens said in this super clear, super low water, reds are easy to find but tough to catch because they're feeling so exposed. There are a lot of flounder scooting around, too, he said.

Offshore

Capt. Pete Knopp at the Fishin' Store said the bottom bite for snapper, grouper, triggers and sea bass is good and steady from 100 feet out to 220 or so, but nobody has had any extraordinary trips. This weekend ought to be wide open though.

Halifax River

Bill Allen at Howard's Bait and Tackle said they've had a fair run on sheepies, blues, flounder, trout and reds lately.

Ponce Inlet area

Capt. Fred Robert said outgoing tides and periods of west winds have been best. He said the water is so clear and cold that sheepshead haven't been easy to catch. A lot of lookdowns and blues are being caught as well as a few trout in the river, he said. The blues are so active, live baits are tough to get to the reds. Capt. Robert said he did manage to get dead baits to a few keeper-sized reds, but no bulls.

2-15-07

In the surf, fishing has been strong for whiting and bluefish. Saint A

2-16-07

GOOD

Elaine Brown at the Sunglow Pier said lately it's been a few whiting and blues, a rare redfish and if you're lucky a sheepshead. She said the pompano were around, but she hasn't seen one for a couple of days now.

Tomoka Basin area

"Jake" at High Bridge Bait & Tackle said the few anglers that have been out and about are doing well on sizeable trout, drum under the bridge, and they're having luck targeting mud ponds for reds.

2-17-07

Surf fishing for whiting seems plentiful one day and hard to catch the next. The incoming tide fished with shrimp or clams will give you your best shot at bull whiting. Any one of your favorite beach accesses or sloughs will be a good spot to try for whiting. Fort Clinch and the George Crady Bridge are also great places to try for the whiting especially if you don't want to get your feet wet

Area piers: Neither the Jacksonville Beach Pier or the St. Augustine Beach Pier have produced lately, mostly because of the weather. That could be a totally different story by this weekend, with winds and temperatures moderating.

Saint A

Whiting have picked up in the surf, including a few that Laudenslager said were around 14 inches long.

2-23-07

Halifax River

Bill Allen at Howard's Bait & Tackle said he saw the Dunlawton Bridge's first snook of the season Wednesday morning, a 31-incher caught by Jeff Marrs. Allen said there are lots of blues around and a good amount of sheepshead, too.

Surf & Piers

Ed Countryman at Ocean's Bait & Tackle said, "The snapper blues are having a field day with the bait fish around the second sandbar."

He said limits are common, but a lot of the fish are too small, too. The huge blues should arrive at the end of March, he said. For now, a few bull whiting and sheepshead are still coming in.

Tomoka Basin area

Countryman said that local regular Andy Romano and his friends are having great success catching big reds in Bulow Creek. "Dano" Williams cornered a large school of reds in the Tomoka Basin this week, too, Countryman said.

"There's not much in the way of snook to report yet. The water is still a little cold," he said.

Maybe a few more warm days will help the action spread on up the river from the isolated catches reported so far in the vicinity of the inlet.

Ponce Inlet area

Capt. Fred Robert said the inlet water is 61 degrees and that there are so many blues it's tough to not catch one. He did manage to get baits down to some reds around 20 pounds. He said there's good trout activity, lots of lookdowns and some sheepshead being caught. The incoming tide is bad, he said. Wait for the outgoing tide's current to fis

Area piers: There have been a few whiting. Bluefish are hitting at the Jacksonville Beach Pier. None at the St. Augustine Beach Pier.

Beach said he also got a report of a 43-inch redfish that was caught Tuesday. He said he's heard multiple reports of bluefish and whiting biting at the Vilano fishing pier.

3-2-07

Surf & Piers

Roy Mattson at Roy's Bait House said the surf is 62 degrees. Joe Walkup caught a 2-pound, 8-ounce pompano on clam strips, he said. People are getting blues, a few big reds and buckets of whiting, he said.

Stan Hiles and Jim Miscisin caught 61 whiting, a pompano and five small drum at the Canaveral National Seashore's parking lot No. 4. Hiles said they used dead shrimp and sand fleas and made short casts.

Ponce Inlet area

Capt. Fred Robert said the water temperature was 67 degrees Thursday morning. His catches have been blues to 5 pounds, a few trout and big sheepshead in the rocks. He also noted that ladyfish are starting to show up again

Area piers: The Jacksonville Beach Pier gave up a few whiting, trout, sheepshead and drum. But it has been better there than at the St. Augustine Beach Pier, where the water is beautiful, the weather's been better and the fish are AWOL.

3-10-07

A. Hunt reports the whiting bite has finally turned on along our surf. Bull whiting have been caught from the north end of the island to the south end. Just pick your access and give whiting fishing a try on the incoming tide this weekend. Hope to see you on the water.

EXCELLENT TO GOOD

Surf & Piers

Ed Countryman at Ocean's Bait & Tackle said the blues have been in close and the whiting bite has been best from late afternoon to dark. He said a lot of skates are around and anglers need to avoid handling them because they can give you an electric shock.

Roy Mattson at Roy's Bait House said the pompano are thick as flies south of Ponce Inlet, but just here and there in Flagler Beach. The whiting are thick and hungry up north though, he said.

Ponce Inlet area

Capt. Luke Pearson said lots of clear blue-green water is pushing through the inlet and he's catching 30-inch reds, trout and blues. He found a school of 4-foot bull sharks on the sandbars inside the inlet in about one foot of water and got some great light-tackle fights from them.

Capt. Fred Robert said the water is 66 degrees and the blues are everywhere. He said the reds haven't been in the channel and the snook on the jetty are a little reluctant to strike. He said bait has been scarce and sheepshead are active in the rocks on the outgoing tide.

On the home front Roy’s Bait House reports bluefish up to 11 ½ lbs in the surf along with whiting, pompano, and sheepshead. Mike Salzer fished the backwaters for a 4.04 lb and a 7.05 lb redfish. Greg Zvierko had flounder, reds and trout in the ICW. Gary Crawford went offshore for porgys and triggerfish.

3-15-07

Area piers: The Jacksonville Beach Pier went gangbusters over the weekend with whiting, trout, bluefish and small drum. St. Augustine Beach Pier had the same thing. It just turned Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There's a slough forming. The weather this weekend should mimic last weekend. It's a good bet you'll see the same fish biting. 10-12^th

"(And) the best time to fish them has yet to come," Beach said.

There continue to be good reports of whiting. And Beach said his son Brian had good luck with speckled trout and redfish on plastic grubs while fishing the north river on Sunday.

3-16-07

Roy Mattson at Roy's Bait House said a blue close to 12 pounds was caught on a whiting. Lots of lines are getting bit off so rig with wire leaders if you're after blues. The best whiting bite has been on the incoming tide and out past the first sandbar, he said. Pompano are here and there north of Ponce Inlet and very active farther south.

Matanzas Inlet area

A few big reds and black drum are being caught in the surf near the rocks south of the inlet, Mattson said. In the river, folks are finding reds working the flats in Stomach Lake and the twin Silver Lakes around Flagler Beach, he said.

Captains Doug Buchanan and Kent Gibbens caught six snook, three reds, jacks to 7 pounds, ladyfish, a 2 1/2-pound mango and a 12-pound tarpon fishing the Palm Coast canals.

Tomoka Basin area

A 4-pound, 2-ounce Nile Perch was caught near Low Bridge, Mattson said. That's an invasive species for Bulow Creek.

Capt. Gibbens said the snook and tarpon seem to have cleared out of the Tomoka River. In the basin he's caught 7- to 10-pound reds and saw Danny Williams get a red near 20 pounds.

Offshore

Buddy Simmons at Gulf Stream Custom Tackle said wahoo are off St. Augustine and the spring run of yellowfin is going down 87 miles out of Ponce Inlet. Some cobia are coming in and the bottom bite has been from 80 to 110 feet, he said. George Pisula on the Double G caught a 58-pound black belly grouper, he said.

Halifax River

Bill Allen at Howard's Bait & Tackle said trout and reds, sheepshead and lots of blues are taking the bait.

Ponce Inlet area

Allen said a few Spanish mackerel have been caught off the jetty as well as one or two pompano.

Capt. Luke Pearson said big trout on top-waters, reds in the bay and snook in the creeks are all turning on.

3-19-09

3-22-07

BEN WILLIAMS

Published Thursday, March 22, 2007

At the County Pier, Ron Joiner said that the wind had kept the water around the pier dirty all weekend, but that it was clearing nicely as of Tuesday.

Joiner reported that there were sheepshead working the pilings, blues in the surf, scattered whiting about, and that the first pompano of the spring had hit the planks last week.

3-23-07

Surf & Piers

Countryman said Ormond Beach residents Bill Vanderbend caught a bunch of big blues and bull whiting and John Ariani landed two large pompano and two sheepshead after dark on dead shrimp.

Ponce Inlet area

Despite the casting difficulties presented by strong prevailing winds, Capt. Luke Pearson said, "Fishing has been awesome. We had grand slams (four species caught in one day) three days in a row and triple headers (three fish on at the same time) of snook, redfish and drum. We have been hitting the backwater early in the morning, and then moving out around the inlet and slamming the trout and sheephead."

3-24-07

The surf is still producing excellent catches of whiting. Bull whiting can be caught from almost any beach access on Amelia Island from the north end of the island at Fort Clinch State Park all the way south to Amelia Island State Park.

There is loads of bait in the ICW right now. Large schools of mullet and glass minnows are apparent. This is a good thing because with the bait comes fish that feed on it. This is holding true when it comes to snook fishing. I received a first hand report the other day from an angler that had been out two nights in a row fishing the Highbridge area. He said there was bait and snook all over the area and he was catching a lot of them using a diving plug. I can attest to the snook biting because I landed my first of the season this past weekend. I had two that went 16 and 21 inches using a 7m mirrolure. The smaller fish swallowed almost the whole plug but with some careful hook removal the fish was released unharmed. Looks like it’s time to break out the fly rod to see if they will hit a topwater fly. I had good success last year with a Rainy’s bubblehead fly in the 2/0 size. These flies can be ordered online through Bass Pro Shops.

3-29-07

Ocean piers: Definite upswing at the Jacksonville Beach Pier this week. The whiting reports were up and down, but the whole cast of characters showed up at one time or another, including flounder, pompano, trout, redfish, sheepshead, yellowmouth trout, Spanish mackerel and some black drum pushing 10 pounds. At the St. Augustine Beach Pier, there might be fish below, but it has been hard to get a bait down past the bluefish and Spanish mackerel. Lots of fun there.

Inshore fishing has been interesting. While both Kerr and Laudenslager said flounder reports are slow, there has been good news about catches of red bass, sheepshead and black drum. Whiting have not been active there.

Kerr said captain Bill Schuller on the Heads and Tails reported lots of reds, many oversized, good black drum, some spotted sea trout and yellow mouth trout. There were even some catches of jack crevalle, a sure sign of warmer water.

In the surf, the only consistent catch has been of blues.

3-30-07

Surf & Piers

Larry Lytle at the Daytona Beach Pier said anglers are catching whiting, drum, sheepshead, flounder, blues and trout.

At the Flagler Beach Pier, Jason Nelson, aka "Mr. J. Fillet," said the big rods on the end of the pier have caught Spanish and small king macks, and about one 40-inch red per night. He also said keeper pompano are around and the bluefish are running.

Tomoka Basin area

Lytwyn said the red and trout fishing has been good around High Bridge and in the basin. He said anglers are still tangling with snook way up the Tomoka River around Boy Scout Island.

Halifax River

Fishing is good enough no one wants to be a river rat. Lots of "sworn to secrecy" going on. So the confessions I did finagle, stuff like "decent snook at the bridges," and "a 14-pounder at Main Street," must be just the tip of the iceberg.

Matanzas Inlet area

Snook are getting caught on the flats adjacent to the S.R. 100 bridge by people who want it kept secret! Try Stomach Lake, the Silver Lakes, the bridge fenders and don't tell them I sent you!

Ponce Inlet area

Capt. Fred Robert said an angler got a 40-pound cobia in 30 to 50 feet of water Wednesday. He said he saw the first small tarpon of the year under the New Smyrna Beach south causeway Thursday. The water is 74 degrees, he said. Trout from 4 to 6 pounds, small reds, jacks and blues to 4 pounds are biting in the rivers, he said.

4-5-07

Ocean piers: The Jacksonville Beach Pier reports black drum, sheepshead, yellowmouth and speckled sea trout. Again, fewer whiting than expected. The St. Augustine Beach Pier had a huge bite of black drum, all in about 2 feet of water at the lower end of the tide. Whiting are slow, but bluefish and Spanish mackerel kept things interesting.

Jimmy Beach at the St. Augustine Marina said people are finding bluefish "practically anywhere."

And there have been good catches of pompano, redfish and Spanish mackerel in the surf, according to Pam Laudenslager at Camachee Island Sportfishing and Charters.

Inshore fishing has been good as well. Trout and redfish have been available and even some flounder.

"It's still a little early, but they're catching a few," Laudenslager said.

4-6-07

Surf & Piers

4-7-07

The whiting were caught in good numbers from the north end of the island at Fort Clinch State Park all the way to the south end of the island at Amelia Island State Park. Many anglers left the George Crady Bridge State Fishing Pier with big smiles on their faces due to their coolers loaded with whiting.

The drum fishermen continue to catch black drum on the south jetties, at Main Beach and the breakers at Nassau Sound. Crab, clams and large shrimp continue to be the baits of choice to hook a choice black drum.

Also, keeping a whiting rod out while waiting for the drum to bite is still producing plenty of whiting for those wanting some other table fare.