Ahoy there, Anglers,

There are a few things I want to talk about. First, Rick Hale of Rick's Bait & Tackle Store and I have been on the phones getting support for the Recreational Fishing Alliance's North Florida Chapter, and I have to say we've really been making progress in fighting the non-science-based fishing closures that the eviro-nut-backed Feds are forcing on all anglers. Just since our first RFA Rally we held November 1st we've had loads of support from area anglers, inshore and offshore alike. This is exactly what we all need, support from the fishing community. If we're going to stand up against these enviro-nuts that want our boats off the water, want our fishermen and women off the shoreline, off the piers, and off the bridges and private docks even, then we need to stand together and grow our 'army' and show the politicians that "WE FISH AND WE VOTE".

This is our time. It's not about Republicans or Democrats or Independents. It's about a love for a national pastime that's been enjoyed for centuries, fishing. Anglers are in all parties. Please come to our next RFA Rally. Get educated about what's happening that you don't see in the news or in the paper. It's free.

Our first RFA Rally was held with only 3 days notice; we had over 170 anglers attend. A great showing! The second RFA Rally was held Dec. 6th and we had 250 anglers willing to stand up and make a difference. Our next Rally is March 6th at 7:00pm at the Sneakers Sports Grill, 8133 Point Meadow Road right at Baymeadows Road and 9-A X-way. RFA members, please bring your membership cards for special drawings for some great prizes, or you can join right on the spot. If you fish and want to keep being able to fish and have your children and grandchildren be able to enjoy a day on the water, then you need to be there ! We'll have Senator George LeMieux and congressman Ander Crenshaw speaking at this Rally. Our rights are being taken from us, almost weekly now, with more and more species closures and area closures and most of these closures and new restrictions are being done "back-door"-wise before anyone even hears about them until they're done and passed. The RFA is on YOUR SIDE right there in Congressional hearings and Senate meetings each and every week speaking up for YOUR rights! Fishing is America's number 1 pastime and Americans have been fishing even before there was a U.S. government. Help us help you! Join the Recreational Fishing Alliance. It's only $35.00 per year. Some people will pay $50 to $100 to go fishing but won't pay $35 to protect that right to fish. The RFA needs you as much as you need them.

I also want to thank the companies that are partnering with the North Florida Chapter of the RFA. Please thank Nimnicht Chevrolet. If you let them know you like their support of the RFA they are going to donate $100 for every truck they sell this year. Please thank the Coastal Angler Magazine. They have been gracious enough to help with a half-page ad to let people know who to join to keep their rights. Great fishing articles and local fishing reports in the Coastal Angler keeps you informed as to what's happening and where. Pick up your copy, it's free at many Gate stations, bait shops, and tackle stores. Please thank the Fishing Connection Paper because they are also keeping you informed about our RFA Rallys and when to be there.

It does take money to get the word out to anglers who have no idea what's being done behind closed doors. It takes money to have someone there in Washington, every week, fighting to keep your right to not only fish but to boat and be able to keep enough fresh fish (at least some of your catch) for family and friends to enjoy. Help tell the National Marine Service and the enviro-nuts that no one owns the fish in the ocean or the rivers until they're in your cooler. Come on, it's $35 to join. Please, help us help you before it's too late !

RFA Mission Statement:
Safeguarding the rights of saltwater anglers.
Protecting marine, boat and tackle industry jobs.
Ensuring the long-term sustainability of our nation's fisheries.

CREEKS:
The redfish in the shallows are really doing good. Catches of 10 to 28 slot-sized fish on each trip are making news. Remember, the new bag limit for Florida redfish started February 1st is 2 redfish per person per day, 8 per boat maximum, (so if there is 5 of you then you on board a boat you cannot keep over 8). No more closed season on spotted sea trout and the limit has been raised to 6 per person per day, same slot size as before. Reds in the shallows during the calm wind days are showing themselves everywhere. Trout, mostly small shorties but some real nice ones up to 4 1/2 pounds, are being caught with some regularity again. A couple flounder here and there but not many. Start looking for more to show up when the water warms to about 72-74 degrees. A few black drum and some big sheepshead have shown up in the creeks during the incoming tides. We've had a few 9 to 10 pound sheepshead caught on a quartered crab in the creeks on the higher water. Some have even shown their tails on oyster beds but not in the flooded grass.

JETTIES:
The sheepshead really slowed down a few weeks ago and are expected to fire off almost any time now. I've been checking my logs and have seen a pattern of them picking up about a week and a half to 2 weeks before the El Cheapo Sheepshead Tournament each year. The tournament is always the last Saturday of February, which is the 25th this year, so I'm predicting they'll fire up really good in another week or so. We're already catching some good 8 to 11 pounders in the deep water areas so it's coming for sure.

I'll be conducting a "Preparing for the 2012 El Cheapo Sheepshead Tournament Seminar" Thursday evening, February 16th at 6:00pm. Please come to see me if you can. Black drum are being caught at all the jetties and some have been the giants. Please release these breeders. There aren't many this time of the year but they are what's giving us our table-sized ones to be able to enjoy for dinner. There'll be a lot more of them after the full moon in March through the first half of April. Ringtail porgies are being caught at the rocks also. These are an overlooked fish as they're just like a sheepshead, only smaller. Member of the same family. Slot-sized redfish and oversized redfish are chewing at the rocks also. I haven't seen a black margate this year yet and the mangrove snapper never really showed up either. Spotted sea trout, yellow mouth trout, and whiting are being caught between the hundreds of little sea bass.

RIVERS:
Whiting in the Nassau River hasn't fired off yet but most any day now. These are great tasting, clean fish to eat. I love them fried in peanut oil. A few black drum in the St. Mary's River, Nassau River, Ft. George Inlet, St. Johns River, and Sebastian Inlet. These drum are running between 4 and 16 pounds with a couple giants here and there to 85 pounds so far. Tiny sea bass everywhere. I think they'll be a problem fish in trying to target other species soon. Sort of like the closed-down red snapper offshore. You can't hardly catch anything else for catching big red snapper everywhere. Spotted sea trout along the rock banks and grass edges during the higher tides along with a redfish or two when you're lucky. I love the Bomber Long-As in targeting these guys in the rivers and the Cove. There are a few large croakers found in the St. Johns River lately along with some nice whiting. Yellowmouth trout are chewing again also.

MILL COVE:
Spotted trout and redfish are the main players in the Cove right now. There are a couple black drum and a few yellowmouths being caught, but anglers are mostly targeting the trout and redfish. Float a live shrimp on a 2/0 Eagle Claw Khayle hook along the grass edges during the higher tides for both species. Top waters are a load of fun but the bite comes and goes during the cooler water temperatures. I know it's been 60 to 61 degrees in these areas but it's still a little cool for a good top water bite to happen. You can still catch them on top waters now, especially the trout, but it's not quite as good as it will be in April, May, and June. I like the Super Spook Jrs in the redfish color and the speckled trout color and the red head-white body works well also. Bomber Long As in the blue back color works well for me also. The reds will be pushing wakes also in the shallows around the islands and the banks during the lower tides, but you need to know where you're going, especially on our full moon and new moon low tides, or you could get stuck for a few hours.

JAX. BEACH PIER:
Small bluefish, small to medium whiting with a few bull whiting are chewing real good and a few small pompano are being caught also. A couple sheepshead around the piling being seen but the bite for them is slow. Look for the bite to really pick up for the whiting and more as the water temps begin to rise.

Remember, please secure your trash in your boat, on the bridges and docks, and please keep it out of our beautiful waterways. We've all got to help Mother Nature. She helps feed us, when the Feds allow it.