Personally, I have fished the Mayport Jetties in everything from a 1974 14' Aluma-Craft to a 17' Carolina Skiff, a 23' Center console, to mypresent 26' welded Plate Alloy center console, that I had built for fishing Jacksonville's legendary inlet. And through the years I have learned and seen my fair share.
You certainly can't have it all, in one boat.
I see lots of "TOO" small of boats at the inlet, myself. And when I owned the 17' Skiff, I also had at that time 2 other larger boats to choose from for a day of fishing. The little skiff boat, was my inshore creek boat. Not my "do all" boat, that's for sure.
The Jettywolf, my 26' plate alloy boat was literally designed for "jetty fishing" in mind. Period!! High-sides, stable, and yes, damn near rock proof.
Idon't ask it to be my creek boat, ora flats-casting platform. That kind of fishing, isn't my "gig" anyhow.It's a big water craft,that's right at home in the river, the inlet, and local sounds, ICW and tributaries.With lots of safety built into it's design. www.blacklabmarine.com
But as you'll read here:
http://jacksonville.com/sports/outdoors/2009-12-27/story/boaters_nightmare_escaping_with_their_lives
It's not unusual, for people to"squeeze"many fishing tasks out of their small boats. I have customers on my boat during a day of jetty fishing alwayssay to me, "that's a small boat to be out here today, isn't it Dave?"
What happened to these boaters, isn't unusual. One slip, while pulling anchor, getting that rode wrapped around the prop, and in a low-sided small boat that's a bit maxed out with people. In a second, you're in trouble, against that screaming falling tide. With the anchor severely wedged in the granite jetty rocks.
It'll happen several times a year. The last time that I heard verbally of a small boat go down at the jetties, two people were rescued, while one remained missing, not to be found. Boat, gone! Now a reef somewhere offshore.
And think about this for a minute....."alot of beer, and ""other impairments"" make there way on to boats every single weekend.
Asimportant as rods, reels and bait, for the day for many. Yeah, I see it on a saturday morning at the bait shop. One pound of dead shrimp, a bag of ice andthree 12 paks, for 2 guys in a 14' jon-boat.
Add in just one periless situation, a 12 pak, or "other impairment", and some strong current, or cold water,and what do ya have? A near death situation.
Doesn't sound worth it to me. That's why I do not waiver on my policies concerning zerodrugs or alcohol. On my boat, I'm responsible for your every move.
I don't need more to deal with, thank you.
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I ran across this article: http://floridasportfishing.com/magazine/sept-oct-2009/fish-the-moon-day-or-night?utm_source=streamsend&utm_medium=email&utm_content=8035921&utm_campaign=December%20Tackle%20Giveaway%20-%20Florida%20Sport%20Fishing%20Magazine
And thought I'dadd the link to it.
I also have on the right side bar ofmy daily reportsblog,a moon phase calender. www.jacksonvillefishingreports.blogspot.com
I pay attention to solar/lunar tables in my Florida Sportsman Tide Planner. If you don't understand the moon, you should.
The planner is areal fisherman's asset.For years, I have used them to book my charters, and to use as a log book. Filling every blank space with notations.
It has everything to do with the fishing here in our N.E. Florida river.
Because the MOON is the TIDES....
-Be safe, Capt Dave Sipler