Fishing Log

Sat. Nov. 9, 2002 - Was called back to work Oct. 25, and am getting less fishing time in now.  Took a 19 inch, 3.31 lb. flounder at the C-2 seawall, east of the fence, on a live finger mullet, during the incoming tide.

Thu. Nov. 14, 2002 - High tide at the mid notch, between the B/C corner and C-1-W, I took 2 nice 16 inch yellow mouth trout and a medium croaker.  Lost about a 30 inch redfish for not having my landing net rigged up.  All fish hooked on a twisty tail jig.

Fri. Nov. 15, 2002 - Two more good sized yellow mouth trout, taken at the same spot as yesterday.

Sat. Nov. 30, 2002 - Fished with Ashley in his boat.  Bought a $14.00 saltwater fishing licence (hated that) and about $13.00's worth of Live fiddler crabs and mud minnows for a very slow day of fishing.  We caught one 15 inch speckled trout, a large male blue crab, and nothing else.  Too much wind and tide to fight.

sheepshead

Sunday Dec. 1, 2002 - Caught a 3 lb. sheepshead and Little Richard gave me another.  Both fish taken from  pier at the Navy's steam plant on the St. Johns River.

Mon. Dec. 2, 2002 - Took a 16 in. flounder on a twisty tail jig after work at B/C Corner.  With yesterday's catch it yielded a quart ziplock bag full of filets.

Wed. Dec. 4, 2002 - Picked up a 17 in. trout jigging at B/C corner, a very pretty fish.

Dec. 23 2002 - At the B/C corner: caught 2 medium size yellow mouth trout and a large croaker, all taken on jigs.  Gave the whole mess to a lagger (craftsman) I work with.

Fishing Log

Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2002 - Overcast day with a light cool breeze.  Took a 22 inch, 4.09 lb. flounder at the seawall near the little fishing dock at C-2-E, on a live finger mullet.

Thursday, Oct. 17, 2002 - Took an 18 inch, 2.5 lb yellow mouth trout at B/C Corner, by the tugs, just before lunch, and a 3 pound flounder at the same place at 4:30 PM.  Both fish taken on live finger mullet.  The Spanish Lady took a top of the slot redfish from the little fishing dock on the riprap, east of C-2.  I took several pictures of her with her fish with a little throwaway camera.  She was a bit shy about it at first, but I think she'll be happy with the pictures when I have them developed.

Saturday, Oct 19, 2002 - An 18 inch, 2 lb. flounder, taken at C-2-E seawall, outside the fence, on a live finger mullet.

gag grouper

Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2002 - Took another 18 inch flounder from same spot as above.  Also released a 12 to 13 inch flounder and a 15 or 16 inch gag grouper there.

  

Fishing Log

Tuesday, October 1, 2002 - Took a 17" flounder from the little pier on the riprap at the east end of C-2.  The tide was incoming, with an overcast sky and a stiff seabreeze.  Chop on the water made baitfish hard to spot.  The Spanish lady gave me some of her bait and a nice mangrove snapper.  She kept a 19" flounder which I was happy to help her land.

Thursday, Oct. 3, 2002 -  I caught a 26.5 inch, 6.01 lb. redfish on a live finger mullet from the seawall at the east end of C-2, on an incoming tide.  The fish smoked the drag and made several strong runs through barnacle encrusted pilings and oil booms that really tested the line.  I was afraid I'd hooked a big jack or a stingray, but it turned out to be a beautiful fish with a gold coppertone color and 13 spots on each side.  I also had a medium sized flounder, already landed, that flopped off the seawall and back into the water.  Still a good day.  I already have some live bait stashed @ B/C corner and plan to get an early start tomorrow.

Friday, Oct. 4, 2002 - Managed to land a very big jack crevalle at B/C corner that strippred my spool almost down to bare metal.  Returned after lunch with more live bait.  Hooked up on my second bait and landed a 6.5 pound, 26 inch flounder.  I lifted her almost 2 ft. off the bottom before she kicked.  Also landed another 17 in. flounder with my last bait of the day.  Took one side of yesterday's redfish and today's smaller flounder by my dad's house, cooked the other half of the redfish for Kathy, and saved the big flounder for other meals.  We are heading down to St. Petersburg tomorrow, and will take a rod and an ice chest for the trip.  I love fishing in October.  

October 5, 2002, Saturday in St. Pete - Spent the night in the Anchor Motel on Treasure Island.  Ate a "Sundown Special" at Leverock's Restaurant at the south end of the island, then caught a 16 in. speckled sea trout on a live shrimp from the motel dock after dark.

stone crab

Tue. Oct. 8, 2002 - Caught a medium croaker, a stone crab, and a 16 in. flounder, just outside the fence at C-2-E.  Gave it all to Black Mary (who works at FTCYLANT) and fishes that spot every day during her lunch break.

Wed. Oct. 9, 2002 - SKUNKED at same location as above (C-2-E).

Thu. Oct. 10, 2002 - 16.5 in. flounder and a small red grouper also both taken at C-2-E on live mullet, just before high tide.

Fri. Oct. 11, 2002 - Caught a 14.5 inch flounder from the small fishing pier outside the fence at C-2-E, which I gave to Jimmy the security guard.  He caught his own 22-23 inch flounder a few minutes later.  Kathy took me out to dinner at Slider's Seafood Restaurant.

 

 Fishing Log

Sept. 16, 2002, Monday - Picked up an 18" to 19" flounder, just outside the fence at C-2-E, using a live mullet on the incoming tide.  Also released a smaller flounder at the same spot.  We plan to serve to Kathy's mother flounder Saturday, with lobster tail which she's never tasted.

Sept. 23, 2002 - Caught a 2.87 lb flounder from the seawall, just outside the fence, at the east end of C-2-E.  Returned after lunch and landed a 6.75 pound, 24 inch flounder at the same spot.  Had to play the fish with one hand and rig the landing net with the other.  Ice compliments of Earl Industries and North Florida Shipyards' ice machines.

Sept. 24, 2002, Tuesday - Overcast and rainy.  Picked up another 19 inch flounder at the same spot as above.  Took that fish to Mac and Helga.  Returned to the same place and caught another 4.77 lb. flounder, then moved down to B/C Corner where I caught 3 large yellow mouth trout, all between 16 and 19 inches long.  A great day.

Sept. 25, Wednesday, 2002 -  Gave Mac and Helga a trout, several mangrove snapper, and a small red grouper.  Lost an estimated 4 lb. flounder this morning at the riprap seawall at the end of C-2.  Upgraded the line on my reel from 14 to 24 lb. test, to compensate for the hangs and rough bottom.

Friday, Sept. 27, 2002 - Took a 17 or 18 inch flounder on a live mullet, just before high tide, from the seawall, just south of the C-2 fence line.  Watched Bobby Hogue clean an impressive catch of flounder (ten or so) he'd caught from the seawall at Foxtrot Cove, just before high tide.  All of his fish weighed between 2 and 5 pounds each.  I took a large flounder over to Jessica's house, and gave Bob Kirk the 4.77 lb. flounder I caught Tuesday.

Fishing Log

Sept. 3, 2002 - Caught a 16" trout last week, several jacks this week, and 2 big topsail cats from the La Cruise dock on the outgoing tide.  Tried to eat the catfish - a bad idea.  The meat was similar to a freshwater cat, but denser and more rubbery.

Sept. 4, 2002, Wed. - Took a 23 inch, 4 lb. flounder on a live mullet @ B/C Corner, near the tugs, just before high tide.  Also picked up a very large jack crevalle @ C-2-W on a live mullet.  Released same.

Sept. 6, 2002, Fri. - 22", 4 pound flounder from the seawall @ C-2-E, on a live mullet during a falling tide.  Also helped a black woman (Ms. Mary) land a nice puppy drum during her lunch break.

Sept. 9, 2002, Labor Day - Took another 22" flounder on a live finger mullet at B/C Corner.

grey triggerfish

Sept.10, 2002 - A beautiful September day with just enough of a NE breeze to dry the sweat.  The water was perfectly clear with live bait and table fish everywhere.  I caught a 15" gag grouper and a 14" Mangrove snapper on live mullet @ B/C Corner.  I moved down to C-1-W where a 13" triggerfish was swimming around my bait bucket.  I managed to snag it with my landing net just before getting run off by a boatload of security personnel.  Stopped by North Florida Shipyards to top off my cooler with some free ice before leaving the base.  

Sept. 11, 2002 - Picked up 2 more small gag grouper from Singleton's dock, here in the village, using live finger mullet on an outgoing tide.

Sept 15, 2002 - A rainy Sunday afternoon.  Cooked up the last of the snapper, grouper and triggerfish on a small covered charcoal grill I bought at Publix for $10.00.  Used hickory nuts (for smoke) and fresh herbs to season the fish.  They were delicious, so is life in Mayport. 

 

  

Fishing Log

Saturday, Aug. 3, 2002 - Hooked a 24 inch ladyfish at C-1-W, that fought like a red, also foul hooked a croaker.  Released both.  No flounder yet, air and water temps still hot.

Monday, Aug. 5, 2002 - Lost about a 2 to 3 lb. flounder at B/C corner for not rigging my landing net before a made my first cast.  Hookup made on a Mr. Whiffle jig tail.

Aug. 6, 2002 - Took a 2 ft. barracuda on a Mr. Whiffle jig tail at B/C corner.

Aug. 16, 2002 - Caught a big yellow jack at C-1-W.  A real line stripper.  Marinated filets in papaya/pineapple juice, with a little soy sauce, cayenne pepper and minced garlic.

Saturday, Aug. 17, 2002 -  The Kennedy Battle Group returned today after a 6 mo. deployment.  Traffic was a zoo, skipped fishing.  Mason came over tonight.  I boiled corn on the cob, shrimp ($4.00 a lb. heads off), and grilled the jack filets.  After dinner I took Mason down to Singleton's dock where he caught and released 5 sailors' choice, insisting on no help.  Restaurant patrons clapped and cheered his performance.

Aug. 21, 2002 - Fished C-2-W despite heavy carrier security.  Caught and released a big blue and several small sea bass during low tide.  Weather still very hot.

 

 

 Fishing Log

Saturday, July 6, 2002 - I took Mason down to Singleton's dock where he caught his first fish.  His first was a mangrove snapper, the next three were sailors' choice.  All were about the size of my hand.  I baited the first hook, but the boy made all of his own casts, managed all of his own hook sets, and landed all 4 fish by himself.  He was very serious about wanting NO HELP!

Friday, July 26, 2002 - I hooked a 15" gag grouper about high tide, just before lunch, at C-1-W.  He hit a chartreuse, soft plastic, metal flake twisty tail, on a red, .25 oz. jig.

Came back after lunch and spotted the same big barracuda that I have frequently seen over at Foxtrot Cove.  I tossed a jig just over his nose that spooked him off.  Also fowl hooked and released several sailors' choice, and lady fish.  Gave the grouper to Mikey Q. who gifted me a pint jar of real moonshine earlier this week.*  The weather has been hot, with temps in the low to mid 90's every afternoon.

* Amazingly good stuff from the mountains of North Georgia: gin clear, with a smell and taste very much like tequila.

Fishing Log

Saturday, June 1, 2002 - Picked up a 16.5" flounder @ C-1-E this morning, stuffed it with feta cheese, spinach, bell pepper and onion.  It was a big hit at Bob Kirk's party.  Glad that the flounder are back.

Tuesday, June 18, 2002 - Yesterday I caught and released a 15" trout @ B/C Corner.  Hooked another today (about the same size) which I tried to land without a net.  A bad choice.

June 20, 2002 - Picked up a nice trout at B/C Corner before work, but got run off by Security.  The conditions were ideal, but I tossed back the fish and secured fishing for the rest of the day.

Sunday, June 23, 2002 - Released a bluefish @ C-2-W that measured 16" to the fork.  The fish fought well with several strong runs and arcing leaps.  The rain has stopped, but it's still muggy with a stiff East wind and muddy water.

June 24, 2002 - The notch at C-1-West was covered up with ladyfish today.  They fight like miniature tarpon, but aren't much of a table fish.  The rain stopped again, bringing on the muggies and lots of mosquitos.

June 30, 2002 - Released a bluefish at B/C Corner, a disappointing month for table fish.

 Fishing Log

Thursday, May 16, 2002 - Kept a 16 or 17 in. trout taken at C-2-W just after lunch, and a medium sized croaker taken just after work, same spot.  Released a medium jack, a large blue, some sailor's choices, and several small croakers.

Friday, May 17, 2002 - Picked up a 15 to 16 in. trout at B/C Corner.  Cooked up a nice meal of Fish and Cajun rice with shaved almonds.  We finally got some badly needed rain today.

Friday, May 24, 2002 - Hooked a large ladyfish after work at B/C Corner.  It jumped 5 or 6 times.  I had to land it to unhook the jig.  It measured 19" to the fork of the tail.

Friday, May 31, 2002 - The flounder showed up this morning at B/C Corner, near the tugs.  I tossed one, lost 2, and kept a good sea bass I caught during lunch.  One of the flounders I lost was about a 2 pounder.

Yesterday after work I ran into CDR Conrad Chung, parked at C-2-W.  He's been gone for about 4 years, then ran into him again tonight at Sliders.  He ate with us: Kathy, me, Bob Kirk, Steve Louks, and Conrad.  Also ran into Desmond waters and his wife there, a great evening.

Last Saturday was Labor Day Weekend.  We had a big family cookout with hamburgers, corn on the cob, and a big redfish, slathered with butter and herbs, cooked whole on the grill.  

Fishing Log

Wednesday, May 1, 2002, Predawn - Returned a 15" y.m. trout & a topsail cat @ B/C Corner.  Both taken on a jig.

May 2, 2002 - A Jack, a spot and a 15.5" y.m. trout @ B/C Corner.  Took the trout to my mother.

Friday, May 3, 2002 - Working the north side of the basin I hooked 3 medium sized croakers and a medium size y.m. trout. Tossed the first croaker and lost a better trout @ C-2-W.  The fish I kept yielded a marginal mess.  The croakers tasted better than the trout.

Saturday, May 4, 2002 - Had 2 predawn hookups @ B/C Corner with something big and slow (3 to 7 lb.?), but never turned it.  The same thing happened @ C-2-E after work.  Nothing to put into the box.  Base Security is making a pest of itself again about fishing.  Have also been spotting manatees, sea turtles and some very large bluefish (27 to 30") just below the surface of the water.

Monday, May 5, 2002 - Tossed back a small flounder taken on a jig @ C-2-W, after work.

May 9, 2002 - Tossed back a medium coroker from B/C corner before work.  I think the yellow mouth trout are gone.

Tuesday, May 14, 2002 - Released a small croaker, pre dawn, @ B/c Corner.  Released medium y.m. trout and croaker @ C-2-W, after work.  I'd like to be working the leeward corners of the piers which are no longer accessible due to increased security surveillance implemented around the base.  Water temp. is up to 78 degrees F. 

Wednesday, May 15, 2002 - Released a sailor's choice (C-2-W), and a croaker at B/C corner.  Nothing much for the table lately.

 

 

 

Fishing Log

April 16, 2002 - Took 4 nice trout, a medium croaker, and a small ribbon fish.  The first trout was taken pre-dawn @ B/C corner (lost several others).  The rest of the catch was taken just before 'Colors,' again losing several fish to poor hook sets.  Gave some of the catch away to Russell Downey's friend Wendell, who showed up just as I'd finished cleaning the fish.

Wednesday, April 17, 2002 - Nailed 3 big trout, pre-dawn @ B/C corner, and took a 4th @ C-2-W notch after work.  Took today's uncleaned trout to Connie (my sister) and Bobby (her husband), and dropped off some fillets from Monday at my Mother's house.  Sold the ribbon fish to B&M Bait and Tackle Shop for $2.00.  Had a good day and didn't have to clean any fish.

Friday, April 19, 2002 - I didn't fish yesterday because I bruised some ribs at work.  Am not scheduled to work again until Monday, but felt well enough to fish the north side of the basin, between 4:30 and 5:00 PM.  Released 2 trout, a croaker, a flounder, and a Jack, all under 14 inches.  Rudy the roach dog killed 3 biggies in the house tonight.

Saturday, April 20, 2002 - Caught a 14.5 inch croaker and a spanish mackerel, 17 inches to the fork of the tail.  Cooked both of them on a cookie sheet, over an open fire at Kathy's pottery building.

Monday, April 22, 2002 - Tossed back a 13.5 in. trout I caught just after work @ B/C corner, wind out of the West, with an incoming tide.  Also made a few casts before work at the same place, with only one small tap.  With temps already reaching into the low 90's during the day, the trout may be leaving.

April 27, 2002 - Hooked a medium size croaker @ C-1-W, and gave it away.  Wind out of the NE, on a falling tide - action slow.

April 30, 2002 - Pitched back 2 medium sized croakers at B/C corner

Fishing Log

April 1, 2002 - Released 3 yellow mouth trout and a blue after work today.  The trout were all heavy for their 13 to 16 inch lengths.  Also had a jig chased up from the bottom by a school of medium sized jack crevalle.

April 3, 2002 -  Caught 6 yellow mouth trout after work today on the falling tide at the C-2-W notch.  Fish all taken on green, metal flake, chartreuse twisty tails on a red .25 oz. jig head.  Got help landing the fish from a sailor.  Gave him 2 fish and kept 4.  All fish were a fat 16.5 to 17.5 in. long.  Also saw someone taking spanish mackerel and bluefish at B/C corner.  PS: Happy 3rd Anniversary, Kathy! Grilled 2 big rib eye steaks to celebrate.

April 4, 2002 - Released 2, 14 in. trout after work today, and kept a fat one that measured over 16 in.  A school of trout followed it up from the bottom.  One looked to be about 20 inches long, the rest looked small.

April 5, 2002 - Released a 12 in. flounder and a 14.5 in. trout at C-2-W notch today.

April 6, 2002 - Kept 3 medium size y.m. trout (15") and gave away several smaller trout and bluefish.  Missed several good hook sets.

April 13, 2002, Saturday - B/C corner, predawn, incoming tide, light S.E. breeze, before work: kept 4, lost 2, tossed one.  All fish about 14 to 15 inch y.m. trout.  Went back at lunch and after work, but the bite was over.

Sunday, April 14, 2002 -  Had planned to hit B/C corner by 7:00 AM but didn't get there until about 9:00.  Worked the north end of the basin until about 11:00 AM: kept a very fat 18 in. trout taken @ C-2-W notch, a large croaker @ C-1-W, a spanish mackerel (16" to the fork), and tossed back several blues.  Iced all down with a big bucket of ice from Earl Industries.  Gave Mac and Helga 2 fish, and blackeded the rest with some nice shrimp that Russell Downey gave me.

Monday, April 15, 2002 - Took 2 trout @ B/C corner before work and another @ C-2-W after work (2 were 15" and 1 was 13").  Watched several spanish mackerel arc through the air, tearing up a school of baitfish. 

  

Fishing Log:

March 10, 2002 - Sunday, Fished the steam plant on the river for sheepshead - nothing.  Then fished in the basin for trout, but only caught bluefish.  Released them.

March 12, 2002 -  Tuesday, wind out of the SE.  Took a girl from the pipe shop with me over to C-2-E for trout.  We kept 16 fish between 13 and 16 inches.  She was very proud of the mess she took home.

March 13, 2002 - Went over to the notch @ C-2-W after work and culled out 10 or 12 (13 to 16 inch) trout for my dad.  A sailor had also been there working for sheepshead with no luck.  When a pelican showed up and started stealing fish off my line, we both left.

March 14, 2002 - Same M.O. as above, no total count on the trout, but I kept 4, gave away 2, and released the rest.

March 27, 2002 - Lost a yellow mouth trout about 24 in. long.  Hadn't bothered to rig the landing net and misset the drag after hooking the Fish.  Snapped the line trying to horse the fish up and over the sea wall.  Rookie mistakes.  Was also plagued with pesky bluefish all afternoon.  I kept 2, 16 in. trout earlier last week that I served to Kathy, with shrimp and scallops, Sunday.  Happy girl.

Mar 29, 2002 - Kept 5 or 6, thick shouldered trout.  The shortest was 14 inches.

Saturday, March 30, 2002 - Ran over to C-2-W and picked up 2, 16 in. yellow mouth trout before Kathy's party tonight.  Gave Bob Kirk a ziplock bag full of skinless, boneless fillets.  His comment was, "I'm all over that!"  Tomorrow is Easter Sunday. 

 

The new format limitations imposed by Google's Blogspot STINK: I would advise new bloggers, just getting started, to find a different platform post their work to. Feb. 12, 2002 - The yellowmouth trout have been biting well all month, but are getting smaller. I took my mother a tupperware container full of boneless filets Sunday. Today I kept 4 small (13"-14") trout, a big croaker, and a 12" or 13" seabass. I tossed back 6 bluefish, and gave away a dozen small trout to a fisherman next to me on C-Pier. Base Security and carpel tunnel syndrome (from too much jigging) have both become an increased aggrevation this month. I have started to use my left hand relieve the stress. Feb. 13, 2002 - After work today I took about 30 yellow mouth trout between C-1 and C-2, mostly small. Threw back 3 or 4 that were shorter than 12". Also kept a few small blues that I will smoke up, along with the trout for Kathy's party tomorrow night. The biggest fish I kept was 17" long. Feb. 26, 2002 - Took a nice mess of yellow mouth at the notch between C-1 and C-2, after work, on the incoming tide, using a pink twisty tailed jig with a white body. 4 pelicans dogged me all afternoon, stealing hooked fish from my line. Still jigging left handed to reduce irritation to my right forearm and elboe. Topped my sauteed trout tonight with a sauce of sour orange, lemon butter, white wine, capers and chopped pecans. Kathy loved it.

Fishing Log

 

Jan. 10, 2002 - Took 4 respectable yellow mouth trout at B/C Corner between sunset and dark on a white body, pink tailed jig.  The first fish I've caught since mid December, when Security clamped down on fishing from the connex boxes on the pier.  The fish were still biting when a tugboat captain and I got run off by a security guard (Lou Soto).  It was tough to leave before the bite was over.

Jan. 12, 2002 - A nice mess of yellow mouth trout and some large croakers, all taken at C-2-West on pink and white jigs.  The trout were all between 16 and 18 inches, and the last one weighed 2.5 lb. on a digital scale.  Small (3 ") bait shrimp just below the surface, were a good omen.

Jan. 13,  2002 - More trout and croakers taken, same spot same bait, working the jig slowly off the bottom.  The smallest fish I kept today was 15" with enough to give a nice mess of trout each, to Mac and Helga, Dave Fisher, some of Kathy's employees. I kept 4 nice trout for myself.  Still lots of bait shrimp and large schools of roe mullet in the water.

Jan. 23, 2002 - Happy Birthday, sister Sara-Nett!  Yesterday I caught 2 medium sized trout and a good croaker which I microwaved at work today for lunch with seasoned salt, pepper, lemon butter and capers, also brought a stuffed baked potato from home.  The connex box smelled like a seafood restaurant.  Also snagged 4 or 5 more trout after work today and released all of them.

Jan. 27, 2002 - Sunday - Caught a bunch of yellow mouth trout at C-2-West, on an incoming tide, using an 1/8th oz. jig with a pink and white body.  All fish between 14 and 18 inches, up to 2.5 lb.  Traded the mess of uncleaned fish to Dean Singleton for several certificates for free dinners at his restaurant.  A good trade.

Jan. 31 2002 - I caught another pile of excellent yellow mouth trout yesterday.  My arm is still tired from jigging.  With today's catch I filled a gallon ziplock bag with skinless, boneless fillets.  The largest fish weighed 2.69 lb. on a digital scale.  I traded the whole mess to Dean Singleton again for more fish and shrimp dinner certificates.  Sweet, and no laws are broken with our barter deals.  I love living in Mayport!