Super fun day!!!
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Surf Report 10/9/2014
Small day - but the tide drained out far (due to the full moon). We were able to see a part of the beach that doesn't get dry all that often. That changed the breaking wave pattern a lot - but the waves were small anyways.
Super fun day!!!
Super fun day!!!
Flounder Gyotaku
With the kids still fresh from a harder to gyotaku fish (the pinfish), I figured the flounder was a good opportunity to continue developing their experience.
I really didn't help them at all this time around, and their prints came out perfect! Helps a lot to have a really flat fish.
I really didn't help them at all this time around, and their prints came out perfect! Helps a lot to have a really flat fish.
Fishing Report 10/8/2014
I tried to catch the flood tide at the salt marshes by Cedar Point. Glassy smooth water and LOTS of bugs. When I get into conditions like that, I always drop into my "SUCK IT UP BUTTERCUP" mode - mind over matter.
I had the St Croix Tidemaster and the Orvis Helios 8wt out with me. I had specifically gone out trying to find redfish tailing in the flooded grass. I found flooded grass and tons of finger mullet - and tons of bugs (did I mention that already?).
I didn't get any hits on the fly (although I oddly enough saw mud minnows attacking the Waldner Spoon Fly I was casting - they weren't much larger than the fly), but I used the time to practice casting. I am at the point where I can 'feel' mistakes in casting while they are happening, and I can correct them on subsequent casts - the neat thing is this has never become tedious - I'm pretty sure I've found the next thing for my next 40 years (what surfing/windsurfing/kitesurfing was for my first 40).
On the way in I was blind casting a Gulp Shrimp on a 1/4 oz black jig head and I got to see color on a big speckled trout - unfortunately it was just holding onto the bait and when it saw me, it left the game. I stuck around the same spot trying to reengage but it didn't happen. What I did get was a hookup with the first Southern Flounder I've caught in a very long time (if you've been keeping up with this blog, you'll recall I caught a small Peacock Flounder out in the Indian Ocean - but that was then and this was a Southern). I got this guy by the "skin of it's teeth" - literally.
This guy was 13" (legal keeper is 12") - dinner!!!
I had the St Croix Tidemaster and the Orvis Helios 8wt out with me. I had specifically gone out trying to find redfish tailing in the flooded grass. I found flooded grass and tons of finger mullet - and tons of bugs (did I mention that already?).
I didn't get any hits on the fly (although I oddly enough saw mud minnows attacking the Waldner Spoon Fly I was casting - they weren't much larger than the fly), but I used the time to practice casting. I am at the point where I can 'feel' mistakes in casting while they are happening, and I can correct them on subsequent casts - the neat thing is this has never become tedious - I'm pretty sure I've found the next thing for my next 40 years (what surfing/windsurfing/kitesurfing was for my first 40).
On the way in I was blind casting a Gulp Shrimp on a 1/4 oz black jig head and I got to see color on a big speckled trout - unfortunately it was just holding onto the bait and when it saw me, it left the game. I stuck around the same spot trying to reengage but it didn't happen. What I did get was a hookup with the first Southern Flounder I've caught in a very long time (if you've been keeping up with this blog, you'll recall I caught a small Peacock Flounder out in the Indian Ocean - but that was then and this was a Southern). I got this guy by the "skin of it's teeth" - literally.
This guy was 13" (legal keeper is 12") - dinner!!!
The Crazies Come Out
We got up early yesterday to check out the lunar eclipse - that was supposed to be up the same time the sun was rising. A Selenelion.
As the sun came up, the moon was already behind the horizon...
As the sun came up, the moon was already behind the horizon...
Monday, October 6, 2014
Fish Printing
Marlon caught this Spottail Pinfish on Sunday afternoon. The kids asked if we could make some gyotaku out of it.
We'll add color and details later today.Gyo
We'll add color and details later today.Gyo
Not Big Boards
For the longest time now I have been ferrying really big SUPs on top on the Surf Taco. I wasn't even sure the Beater would fit between the rack span.
I'm only posting because this looked really funny to me.
I'm only posting because this looked really funny to me.
Surf and Fishing Report 10/4/2014
We took a drive down to Matanzas Inlet to got shelling, surfing and fishing. The coquina is really fine and can get pretty think at this beach (North side of the inlet).
La and the kiddoroosters went out the second sand bar to catch the breaking waves. After a little bit, I saw them paddling back in pretty quickly. They said they saw a shark in the lineup and calmly came back in.
The tide was coming in at the same time, so the kids found another, even more fun diversion - what they've named the "Lazy River". It's really the trough of the last sandbar before the high tide line. As the tide comes back in, the waves start to fill it back in and as it drains, you get a steady flow back to the low point. The kids ride their boards on the current and I would say have even more fun than they do when surfing.
I had the surf gear and was pounding the trough between the second and third sandbars - but I got nothing. I brought out the cast net and made some casts to see what was running just offshore (inside the waves). I caught a bucket full for finger mullet (and let all but seven small ones back in the water - I kept the seven to use as bait later). I asked Noe if she wanted to cast and she caught one!!!
Lastly - I saw some fish that were not mullet hanging right where the water and shore met. They were really small pompano. I hope this means their bigger siblings are on their way back down south.
Another great beach day in Florida!!!
La and the kiddoroosters went out the second sand bar to catch the breaking waves. After a little bit, I saw them paddling back in pretty quickly. They said they saw a shark in the lineup and calmly came back in.
The tide was coming in at the same time, so the kids found another, even more fun diversion - what they've named the "Lazy River". It's really the trough of the last sandbar before the high tide line. As the tide comes back in, the waves start to fill it back in and as it drains, you get a steady flow back to the low point. The kids ride their boards on the current and I would say have even more fun than they do when surfing.
I had the surf gear and was pounding the trough between the second and third sandbars - but I got nothing. I brought out the cast net and made some casts to see what was running just offshore (inside the waves). I caught a bucket full for finger mullet (and let all but seven small ones back in the water - I kept the seven to use as bait later). I asked Noe if she wanted to cast and she caught one!!!
Lastly - I saw some fish that were not mullet hanging right where the water and shore met. They were really small pompano. I hope this means their bigger siblings are on their way back down south.
Another great beach day in Florida!!!
Fishing Report 10/3/2014
Catching up on some posts from the weekend. I went SUP fishing to explore the low tide exposures at Dutton Island. I got skunked, but I did get some hits on a curly tail gulp - the bait got nearly cut in half by the first hit and had some good teeth gouges on the second. I'm not sure what the fish where, but a skunk is a skunk.
I did get a real close look at the edges of the spartina grass flats - lots of holes where fiddler crabs were the dominate species - not the marsh crabs I saw last time during the high tide. This is enlightening (for me anyways) in that most spartina grass flies are of the bigger crab type tied in the "merkin" fashion to get a fuller body. I'm going to have to get over my reluctance to tie with yarn and make some 'fiddler' crab flies.
Those holes in the mud are crab condos - or redfish feeding troughs.... where's my vise?
I did get a real close look at the edges of the spartina grass flats - lots of holes where fiddler crabs were the dominate species - not the marsh crabs I saw last time during the high tide. This is enlightening (for me anyways) in that most spartina grass flies are of the bigger crab type tied in the "merkin" fashion to get a fuller body. I'm going to have to get over my reluctance to tie with yarn and make some 'fiddler' crab flies.
Those holes in the mud are crab condos - or redfish feeding troughs.... where's my vise?
Thursday, October 2, 2014
"Blood and Guts" Fly - Fishing Report 10/1/2014
*** UPDATE ***
The kids and I are changing the name of this one to "Bloody Guts". It rolls off the tongue easier...
Here's the fly I tied up for the needlefish around here - I'm calling it the "Blood and Guts" fly. Take a hook (any hook - you aren't using it for conventional warfare, only as a platform to anchor the yarn - and lay down a thread base from the eye back to about halfway down the shank. Next, pick some yarn - the kind with tighter weaves will work better - and make sure it is the color of roadkill - bright reds, some flesh tones and a dark streak of color every now and then. You'll want to take about 10 strands that are 3-5" long and trap them onto the shank facing forward (towards the hook eye). Wind the thread up to the eye and back down to the halfway mark (where you started) - this will help keep the yarn in place (this is not a wind "friendly" fly and the take is not a 'peaceful' interaction - anchor the yarn down well). Now take the yarn and wrap it around the hook (the base of the yarn is now at the eye of the hook if you understood my instructions - if you didn't, get the yarn to the eye and then start wrapping) - keep wrapping until you get just past the halfway point to the shank (your thread should be here too). Make some extra wraps with the thread and whip finish. Use your favorite head forming substance (I like UV epoxy) and cover the head and the thread wraps. This last step will help make sure you can get the fly out of the needlefish teeth easier. That's it!!! I had to do a little searching to find the group of needlefish that stack up at the jetty/beach corner here on Mayport. But once I found them, I made my casts into the center of the group and it looked like a wrestling match - all the fish were trying to chomp down the fly! I got one to take and the yarn fibers got tangled up in its jaws. I didn't bring my gopro to take a picture and I didn't think La had her phone (but she did) so no pictures of the fish (18" - not a record breaker, or even a drag lurcher - but fun nonetheless). Looking at this, I would also think this tie would make a good palolo worm imitation... So there you have it - one of my first species specific saltwater flies! Oh - and one more thing, I brought the Orvis Helios 8wt out - there is a a definite night and day difference to flyrods. The Helios is one hell of a great rod - it makes me look like I know what the heck I'm doing. After specifically casting a number of rods lately, I am convinced that I am going to thin the herd and just keep the really exceptional rods. They make flyfishing that much more enjoyable. I know this may sound elitist, but it's true... if you're looking for some 'good' flyrods, you might want to email me. I also used the Surf Spinning stuff - but no joy. I'll take a sight casted needlefish anyday to ward off the skunk!
Here's the fly I tied up for the needlefish around here - I'm calling it the "Blood and Guts" fly. Take a hook (any hook - you aren't using it for conventional warfare, only as a platform to anchor the yarn - and lay down a thread base from the eye back to about halfway down the shank. Next, pick some yarn - the kind with tighter weaves will work better - and make sure it is the color of roadkill - bright reds, some flesh tones and a dark streak of color every now and then. You'll want to take about 10 strands that are 3-5" long and trap them onto the shank facing forward (towards the hook eye). Wind the thread up to the eye and back down to the halfway mark (where you started) - this will help keep the yarn in place (this is not a wind "friendly" fly and the take is not a 'peaceful' interaction - anchor the yarn down well). Now take the yarn and wrap it around the hook (the base of the yarn is now at the eye of the hook if you understood my instructions - if you didn't, get the yarn to the eye and then start wrapping) - keep wrapping until you get just past the halfway point to the shank (your thread should be here too). Make some extra wraps with the thread and whip finish. Use your favorite head forming substance (I like UV epoxy) and cover the head and the thread wraps. This last step will help make sure you can get the fly out of the needlefish teeth easier. That's it!!! I had to do a little searching to find the group of needlefish that stack up at the jetty/beach corner here on Mayport. But once I found them, I made my casts into the center of the group and it looked like a wrestling match - all the fish were trying to chomp down the fly! I got one to take and the yarn fibers got tangled up in its jaws. I didn't bring my gopro to take a picture and I didn't think La had her phone (but she did) so no pictures of the fish (18" - not a record breaker, or even a drag lurcher - but fun nonetheless). Looking at this, I would also think this tie would make a good palolo worm imitation... So there you have it - one of my first species specific saltwater flies! Oh - and one more thing, I brought the Orvis Helios 8wt out - there is a a definite night and day difference to flyrods. The Helios is one hell of a great rod - it makes me look like I know what the heck I'm doing. After specifically casting a number of rods lately, I am convinced that I am going to thin the herd and just keep the really exceptional rods. They make flyfishing that much more enjoyable. I know this may sound elitist, but it's true... if you're looking for some 'good' flyrods, you might want to email me. I also used the Surf Spinning stuff - but no joy. I'll take a sight casted needlefish anyday to ward off the skunk!
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Culprit
I just downloaded the pictures from La's iphone, so I have more pictures to tie back to some of the more recent posts. This is the oyster patch that shredded the cast net this past weekend.
I personally think a smaller diameter cast net drives better casting technique. I'll stick with the small nets.
I personally think a smaller diameter cast net drives better casting technique. I'll stick with the small nets.
Kitesurfing Spot
We took an afternoon drive down to Jacksonville Beach to check out the pier that a few people had been suggesting to us (as another spot to go fishing). We passed 16th Ave S and pulled in - this was one of my old surfing spots when I was in high school and now that the kids are surfing, I thought it would be neat to show it to them. When we got to the beach, we saw this:
Obviously popular with the local kiting crew. 10th Ave S was where they were all parked. Too bad I didn't bring my kiting gear (not really - we don't have the room for what we did bring...).
Obviously popular with the local kiting crew. 10th Ave S was where they were all parked. Too bad I didn't bring my kiting gear (not really - we don't have the room for what we did bring...).
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