Your next Jacksonville inshore fishing g

8月 28, 2026 Jacksonville 1 seeMorePhotos
Redfish
レッドフィッシュ

トリップ概要

Giving you the info you need. REDFISH, RED DRUM, EVEN IN THE HEAT OF SUMMER The most consistent “sport fish” during the hot summer months is the Redfish. They really don’t mind the 87 degree water temps. When fishing the shallow saltmarsh areas. I’ve been able to find them on both tides, high and low. But they aren’t everywhere. Just like me, they have their favorite hang-outs. Around shell bars, Oysterbeds, and creek mouths. The only problem I’m having is that we have so much bait around. Mullet are everywhere. And that’s our competition. I’ve been casting soft plastics on light 1/8th to 1/4 ounce jigheads. With hope my lure stands out enough with all the bait swimming around. Yeah, Redfish like the slower moving “crustaceans” such as crabs and shrimp. But so do the small bait stealer fish, too. You absolutely must wear polarized sunglasses, so you can see where the underwater structure is, so not to hang up on the oysterbeds, every cast. Being able to see underwater in the shallows is so essential. Look for the Redfish to get thicker and larger as fall approaches. And here in N.E. Florida that should start happening in September. As far as the BIG Bull Redfish, the ones we measure in pounds versus inches. It’s so funny. I can spot a rookie in a second on Youtube. They measure a Redfish, instead of weighing it. Around here, you can’t even keep one over 27 inches (tail pinched) so who really cares how long it was. It isn’t going in the cooler anyhow. It’s “sport fishing” for sure, just for the fun of it. And by October, it’s 100% go-time for the fish that go 20-40 pounds. It’s a “bait-n-wait” fishing. They’ll bite in the river. When our tidal current is just right. And generally speaking they want 30 feet over their head. It’s nothing I spend the whole day doing. Like I said, “it’s bait -n-wait fishing”. I’d say 90% of all my customers over the last 30 years have caught their largest fish of their life bottom fishing for these Bull Redfish. But at the same time, everyone wants fish to take home. So this is not going to be that fishing. We have to fish the shallower waters, casting baits in the saltmarsh for any “keepers”. I find it funny that after all these years, many customers have caught the latest fish of their lifetime, but then complain they have no Redfish to take home. I call that “looking a gift horse in the mouth.” Again, that’s why I don’t split days into all kinds of hours. Half days, ¾ days, Full days. For 30 years, I’ve offered a one price day, for up to 6 hours. Because you may want to try your hand at big Bull Redfish, before or after a day in the Marsh creeks. If you reserved a 1/2 day, which is 99% of the time just 4 hours. There may not be time or TIDE to do any other styles of Redfishing. And because I do a max. of 2 persons. It’s very easy to switch up and try different techniques and tackle. Besides, I fish shallow waters a lot, and we cast a lot, too. You don’t do that with groups of 3 or even 4. Keep that in mind when you book a day of inshore fishing. You’re not putting 4-6 people on a 17’ flats boat targeting Bonefish in the Florida Keys. And I've never seen a Bass boat with 4-6 people on it, fishing for Large mouths in a lake either. Just because it’s saltwater fishing, doesn’t make ‘’Redfish fishing’’ any different.
Dave Sipler
Jacksonville, Florida, United States
2 FOR FISHING THE TIDE thumbnail
Jacksonville has a 30 year, full time veteran fishing guide, and it's Capt. Dave's Sport Fishing, in Jacksonville Florida. I used to run a 26 foot center console, inshore, jetty and river fishing in Jacksonville for 20 years.. Then, along came this bookin...

このチャーターの他のレポート

You fish the wrong months❗
You fish the wrong months❗
11月 1, 2026
Capt.Dave’s Sport Fishing THE TIME IS NOW! Nov. 1, 2026 I just talked to a guy who is a cable TV salesman yesterday. As I was backing my “Flat Bottom Girl” into her Boat-port. We’ve talked before, a few years ago, (yes, I have his company's service, already) Again, he was one of thousands of people I’ve talked to over my 30 year Charter Fishing career who thought Fishing in Jacksonville Florida was only good in the summer. W-H-Y do people think that? I just don’t get it. It’s 110 in the shade in the summer. The fishing is hard, the water is hot. And the species “WE” want are harder to come by. THIS IS FLORIDA. True, we’re not “LaLa land” Florida in Jacksonville. We here, all know that we are just a speed bump, on the way to supposed “real Florida”. Places like South Florida, According to all the Northerners. The transient sailboaters, the Canadian Trawler fleet, etc. But, as I’ve preached till my face is blue. October 1 thru May. Is our best inshore fishing season. Even the center console “offshore”, fishing crowd around here all become “inshore Guru’s”, because it’s way to rough to get offshore on any given day. (which is how it is in the charter fishing world, we don’t pick the days. You do.) Yeah, the cable salesman said, “I ought to go with ya some day. But it’s not good in the winter is it?” So, I had to give this same speech…..yet again! If you live in Illinois, Indiana, Vermont, NY. And there’s grey skies day after day. Rain, Snow, and the last time you had your own boat in the water was when it wasn’t solid. And you’re just plain sick of it. Yes, we have our fronts come at a closer rate, than in the summer months. C’mon down to Jax. All you’ll need is a fisherman’s best friend, as I call them. A hooded sweatshirt. RIGHT NOW, October 31st, 2026. The water temp is perfect. That’s the key to everything. It’s 68-72, depending. 70 degrees and below is Prime time. Redfish, Seatrout, Black Drum, Sheepshead, Flounder, Croakers, Weakfish, Mangrove Snappers, all good eaters. And on Light Tackle (I use the lightest tackle we can, for maximum challenge and fun) You’ll sometimes wonder what, “what did I get myself into?” Example; yesterday I went out solo. I got a new Daiwa JDM baitcasting reel. 100% made just for light braided line. And can cast “Grams”, versus “Ounces”. I figured I’d head out and be back in a few hours. Well, 8 hours later. I was back at the boat ramp! I was catching Speckled Trout one after another. Not all big fish. But fun on my Old18 Ultra light rod and this new reel. Then, came Redfish. I made several moves, as the tide flooded in. And ended up with my Limit of Seatrout, and was now catching and having to throw back real nice keepers. 15 inches and better. Great Fun on jigheads and soft plastic baits. Then, came some Weakfish. I refer to them as a Speckled Trouts ugly cousin. They are not as pretty. But they fry up real good too. Then, some large Croakers moved into the area. What normally happens when you’re into the school of Croakers??? Mr. Redfish, “bull Redfish” aren’t far behind. Well, first I hooked a 30 plus incher on the light tackle. In lots of tidal current, it was one hell of a light tackle battle. As soon as I released that fish. I picked up my Ultra Light rod and reel with a 1/8th ounce jighead and soft plastic bait on it. Made a cast in the opposite direction. Still in deep water. And to be 100% honest….”I got my butt, handed to me on a silver platter!!!” My new reel doesn’t hold a lot of line. I guess you could say it’s a borderline BFS reel. (Bait Finesse System, Daiwa) I went from the port side of the boat, dragged across the stern, around 2 other standing rods, around the Suzuki 90hp outboard, and off the fish went. YEP, it was a way larger “bull Redfish”. My tiny spool sung as the drag smoked off line. I watched as the line got smaller and smaller, on the tiny spool. I was afraid it was gonna dump my reel! So, I thumbed the spool, and the jig broke off the 12# Mono leader I had tied to my 8# Braid. So, is it going on now? Heck yes! So don’t be like everyone else. Just because kids are out of school in the summer. Does not mean anything when it comes to fishing in Florida. I do 2 person Light tackle charters. Been in business since 1996 as a Full-Time guide. 12 months a year 7 days a week. I don’t pack people in a 20’ boat like cord wood. We’ll need ROOM. There’s a lot of casting going on. That means hooks flying through the air. True inshore fishing is NOT some large group affair. My “Flat Bottom Girl” is a heavy alloy all welded specifically built 20 footer to go in shallow water as well as deep. She’s stable, with loads of ball room dancing space, when you’re hooked up to a big fish. Kids over 10-12, can go on my ‘one rate’ covers you, 6 hr. day. Believe me, I’ve never done a ½ day trip in 30 years. A 1/2 day is 4 hours. You won’t be happy with that. We always end up staying longer on those supposed ½ day trips. It only makes
続きを読む
Why do private charters cost so much.
Why do private charters cost so much.
10月 17, 2026
Searching for a private fishing charter and wondering why the prices look so high? After 30 years as a full-time fishing guide on the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Florida, I’ll give you the honest answer. You want to go fishing, but you have no boat, no tackle, and no local knowledge You’re looking to go fishing. You have no local knowledge, no boat, no tackle, but you have the time. The first thing you may do is grab your smartphone as you sit at Grandma’s house, bored stiff, on a family holiday visit. Or you have a weekend layover on a work trip in a town you know has saltwater fishing opportunities. Something you’ve never done before. You’re from middle Indiana, corn country. All you know is pond bass. On your smartphone, right on top of your search for “fishing in Jacksonville,” you find Google Ads running. The internet is 100% ''pay to play'', if you didn't know. IT'S NOT LIKE WHEN I STARTED CHARTERING, ANY LONGER!!! You go to that website. There are 150 charter boats listed. Or, because you’re a tech-savvy 26-year-old, you ask your phone’s AI: “I need a fishing guide on Saturday. Find me one.” Why do private fishing charters cost so much? I’ll bluntly answer the title of this blog straight away. “Why do private fishing charters, guides, charter boats, whatever you want to call them, C-O-S-T so much?” Booking websites take 10% to 30% off the top! EVERYTHING IS PAY TO PLAY. That search you just made costs!! If you found that Google website ad on top of the page with 150 charter boats, it’s just a booking agent: web people, desk jockeys who are running a business of “lists.” They are not locals, and they charge anywhere from 10% to 30% off the top to reserve this fishing boat and guide for you. It’s all about Y-O-U. Making it easy. Just click here, click there. Add a credit card and you’re going fishing Saturday at 7 a.m.! Same goes for if you ask your Google Gemini AI, your iPhone’s Siri, whatever… It’s costing big $$$, either way, to that fishing guide or charter boat. I know that a “guy with a boat, some fishing tackle, etc.” is not a real business in some people’s minds (usually women, who know zero about fishing). I can tell very easily, because they want to go on the cheap, they want the fish to jump in the boat, and because you’re a single-proprietor business, they want to haggle over price. Something they don’t do at Walmart or the gas station. Booking sites end the haggling, but also the personal service Yes, I remember when I’d actually talk to people on the phone and have a conversation about their possible fishing charter day. In 2026, that’s becoming rarer and rarer. My over 50-60 yr old customers don't act that way. But the young ones do. As a 30-year full-time fishing guide, captain, and charter boat operator, that’s the only thing that’s good about those booking agent websites: there’s no haggling or asking for military discounts! But then again, they are 100% the ruination of small businesses, driving prices higher and turning what used to be a “personalized service” into something just like getting an Uber driver to show up at your doorstep. The real cost of running a fishing charter? I haven’t even covered the cost of that fishing guide or charter boat’s time, tackle, bait, insurance, licensing, and fuel, travel. I equate going on a private fishing charter to playing 18 holes at a private golf course. You have no clubs, no caddy, no golf cart. You may be a die-hard golfer, probably not, but you love it. I see absolutely no difference. Some people can afford to go golfing every week; some may go once a year. All the while, it doesn’t get any cheaper keeping that course maintained and open. Private vs. shared fishing charters: you’re paying for what you get You may only go to non-public courses, for many reasons. CHEAP BUT CROWDED! It’s the same reason you may want a private fishing charter: you, your wife, and the fishing guide, the only three people on the boat. Versus a non-private charter, which only departs with “X” number of people on the boat to make it worth going. Is there a cost difference? Heck yeah. Just like that private golf course, you’re paying for what you get.
続きを読む