Northeast Hot Spots

Falling temperatures bring rising action on First Coast.

Cooling waters produce a very strong bite throughout the region every fall. Just ask Capt. Tony Bozzella of Jacksonville. In the fall of 2007, he and David Foster hooked 142 reds in six hours.

"The bite was huge," Bozzella says. "David hooked 94 reds in one four-hour stretch, boating 72 of them. These reds were 17 to 24 inches and bunched up in the back creeks around Nassau Sound."

Most of the action came from black TBS Jigs fished naked or tipped with shrimp. Goldflake brown came in a close second.

September also begins the bull-red run in the deep pockets of the St. Johns and Nassau rivers and along the south Mayport Jetties. Anglers may take bulls ranging from 30 through more than 50 inches.

Southward, spawning redfish go deep in the Ponce and Port Canaveral inlets and in holes along the rocks and jetties. Also, tempt big bulls in the North Mosquito and Banana River grass flats with live bait or cut mullet.

"These big reds like soft plastics, live shrimp and cut mullet," says Capt. Brian Clancy of New Smyrna, who sight-fishes for schooling reds. "Cast your bait six feet from a rooting fish; then, have patience while she roots around and finds it. There is nothing boring about watching a 10-pounder take your bait."

Falling water temperature kicks off the fall migration of pelagic species throughout the region. Work waters 125 to 300 feet deep. Search for bait pods, color changes or temperature breaks and watch for activity.

"Dolphin and wahoo are the big offshore targets in the fall," Bozzella says. "Troll skirted ballyhoo at 6 to 7 knots when targeting dolphin. Maybe you'll get a wahoo to bite too."

Pick up the pace and upsize your lures when targeting big wahoo and marlin, Bozzella says. Troll C&H American Express lures a bit faster for these speedsters. He recommends speeds of 10 to 12 knots.

Brian Dufek of Jacksonville suggests using a standard six-line spread with a mullet dredge and ballyhoo daisy chain used as teasers. Also, keep a few pitch rods ready in case you spot a sailfish balling bait or a large marlin in the spread. Find bait and you'll find fish somewhere nearby.

Early fall is also an excellent time to tempt speckled trout with topwaters. A "gator" weighs 7-plus pounds and measures longer than 26 inches. Look for gator trout near White Shell Fish Camp, the Little Jetties, the rocks off the Mayport Ferry Landing or the Dames Point and Blount Island rocks.

"Gator trout get excited about the mullet run, and the fall is a great time to hook a big one," Dufek says. "Try a 5-inch seatrout-colored Super Spook."

DOCK TALK
Florida wildlife officers have a difficult job, especially when they must make discretionary decisions about fishing laws. Sometimes, the state codes just aren't clear. Not long ago, two friends and I took a 38-foot Sea Ray up the Intracoastal Waterway to use as a mothership. We launched craft small enough to get us into some very tight waters to look for redfish. We each kept one slot red for dinner.

"Can we legally cut up and cook these fish on board?" asked Dick Michaelson. "Redfish have to stay whole until you get them home, don't they? No filleting, no dismemberment." We didn't use the knife that night.

A week later, I asked Lt. Brad Givens of the FWC Jacksonville office. After searching through the regs, the lieutenant said we could have eaten the reds.

To quote the Florida Administrative Code, Chapter 68B-22.006, Red Drum (Redfish), paragraph four: "All redfish  harvested from Florida waters must be landed in whole condition." But there's an exception: "Mere evisceration or 'gutting' of redfish, or mere removal of gills from redfish, before landing is not prohibited. Preparation for immediate consumption on board the vessel from which the fish were caught is not prohibited." In other words, if you want to catch, prepare and immediately consume a redfish aboard your boat, you legally can.

— David Lambert, Regional Editor