Surf Fishing
During a sunny afternoon before the rain clouds, go to the beach, and with the sun at your back, look into the waves close to shore. Actually, look through them and you might see schools of fifty to one hundred sting rays, with wing spread of three feet, swimming north or south right through the bathers. Most bathers don’t notice these magnificent fish!
Blue fish are also beginning to show up when the water is clear. Large pods of poagies (small bait fish) are moving along the Ponte Vedra coastline about seventy feet from shore. Larger fish like sharks and tarpon feed below the pods.
The Second Annual Clay Roberts Memorial Inshore Slam Fishing
The tournament was held June 13 at Sisters Creek Park. Thanks to all the sponsors, participants and volunteers, the tournament once again was a complete success.
Ninety boats registered for the competition. Almost half of the teams weighed in fish. Not a drop of rain fell at Sisters Creek making it a perfect day to be out on the water. Top honors went to the team of Dean Oakley and Justin Sherwood whose slam weighed in at 11.25 pounds. Last year’s slam winner, Chris Cenci, placed second, and Tim Yeager placed third with a weight of 10.03 pounds. Tournament records were set with Wade McKendree’s 7.32 pound red, Jimmy Pausche’s 5.25 pound trout and Russell Miscally’s Mudville Grille boat’s 6.27 pound flounder.
All proceeds from the tournament go to the Clay Roberts Memorial Scholarship Fund at Bishop Kenny High School. The scholarship was won by Thomas Lemmon, a senior, who best emulates Clay’s spirit and values.
Steinhatchee
July begins the snorkelers migration to Steinhatchee for scallops. Remember to call Capt. Jim Henley, known as the Scallop and Fishing King of the little village, at 352-498-0729. Henley frequently guides former President Jimmy Carter when he visits the gulf coast. Check out Henley’s Web site: www.saltwaterfishn.com
New Smyrna Beach
I drove down and met with Capt. Pete Knopp and Jim Taylor at the "Fishing Store." Offshore fishing here is usually excellent. Unfortunately, due to the economy, the number of trips going out is down as many of their clients are employed in aspects of the sluggish housing industry.
New Smyrna is located only 30 miles from the Gulf Stream ledge. Ponte Vedra is about 70 miles from the ledge. The waters of the Gulf Stream are a different color and temperature from the rest of the ocean, producing the best catches off shore.
Capt. Knopp also recommended several guides for inland fishing charters in famous Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River. One is Capt. John Frazier, 386-426-6330.
Safe Fishing
Product ambassador Capt. Jose Wejebe, host of Spanish Fly, Vida del Mar and Saltwater Sundays on ESPN2, held a seminar in Jacksonville at West Marine’s flagship store in the St. Johns Town Center. At the seminar, June 27, a new product, "Spot," a GPS system, was featured.
Remember the sad boating accident story recently about the NFL players off Clearwater? One was rescued and three young men were drowned. That tragic incident need never have happened if they were carrying a new, simple, camera sized system that is now a part of my boating equipment on The Reel Story.
The portable device is set up in connection with your home computer and with a push of one of four buttons you: 1) Alert 911 — notify both public and private emergency responders of your exact GPS position; 2) Check-in — allow loved ones to know that you are all right; 3) Help — request assistance from friends and family notifying them of your exact location; 4) Track — send and save your location and allow contacts to track your progress using Google Maps.
Capt. Wejebe told me that he photographs inland positions with their coordinates then later studies those areas for future fishing trips. I talked with Derek Moore, "Spot" marketing manager, discussing the value of the product as a safety feature for all of the small boaters of our area. Think about how quickly the weather changes here in northeastern Florida. Kevin Donovan, West Marine general manager, was excited about this new product, as am I.
UNF Coastal Biology Program and Environmental Services Inc. sponsor "The River As We See It" art exhibit
The Coastal Biology Program at the University of North Florida and Environmental Services Inc. are sponsoring "The River As We See It" art exhibit, which kicks off during the Downtown Artwalk from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 1, at the Jacksonville Main Library. The exhibit runs through July 31.
The exhibition showcases St. Johns River artifacts and photography as well as river paintings by Paul Ladnier, UNF associate professor of Drawing and Painting. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Amy Moore with the UNF Coastal Biology Program, at 904-620-2830.
The UNF Coastal Biology Program allows undergraduates and graduate students to research and identify in local waters the essential habitats of sharks and mantarays. They find juvenile sharks and look for breeding areas and study the ecology of the waters and habitats. The program is headed up by Dr. Jim Gelsleichter.
July 13th 2010 - 5:27PM