I think the best bet is to layer your fishing outing with several options. For instance, start early morning around docks and rocks using shrimp or mullet for redfish, flounder, and various other species, then venture down the beach when the sun is little higher and you can spot menhaden pods more easily to venture offshore with. Or, if you catch a few ladyfish, chunk them up and send them down on a 3-way swivel or dropper-rig along the river channel edges for tarpon or red. I’ve found the best tarpon bite has been outgoing tides on the North side of the Mayport Jetties in about 30-35ft of water on the bottom about half-way out the rocks to the tip. If you’re fishing on the top with air-injected baits/free-swimmers/floats, the South tips are hooking up more for me and a few others I’ve spoken with. There are great opportunities for bull redfish in the same areas. If you’re getting offshore to local reefs/wrecks, I’ve seen a lot of sardines and cigar minnows in very clear water the last couple of days which could explain a better variety of species out there now. Water temp has averaged 82.6 on the surface and when we swim sometimes to cool off, there is a noticeable difference 4ft beneath the surface of cooler water. The kingfish bite has been mediocre for me with many short strikes from the “snakes” (smaller king mackerel). However, there are the occasional surprises of cobia and sailfish striking trolled rigs. On the 18th, while filming a pilot episode for an upcoming show, we doubled-up with a 28lb cobia and a 6ft sailfish with the cobia being fought astern and the sailfish on the bow. Both fish took the flat lines at 100yds and 50yds. It’s all on film. I can’t make this stuff up! (TTPs - Tactics, Techniques, & Procedures) Because of the shorter strikes with the kingfish, adjusting the stinger rigs to your bait is imperative. I’ve typically had my stinger about half-way between the dorsal and tail so as not to interfere with the natural swimming motion of the bait; however, after being struck short several times, I moved it back a little further towards the tail and have had much better results. This, in combination with chum-bags and live chumming, should give you results. I’ve also had some questions from clients about why I troll with 20lb mono and soft-tipped rods so I’d like to cover the reasoning. I have no problem with talking with some of the veteran captains in the area and picking their brains so after speaking with some of them and trial and error, I decided to go with a soft tip 7’0” rod with 20lb mono and 40lb fluorocarbon leader (5ft). The leader is connected with a uni-knot and when it’s time to tie on my kingfish rigs, another uni or world’s fair knot is used. When king mackerel strike they may be doing so at 30mph sometimes and if they hit a rig with no shock absorption, like braid, they’ll break it and move on most of the time. The lighter mono instead of 40lb or so is used because those fish have excellent vision and it would increase the chance of spooking them, especially in clear water. A soft, flexible tip serves the same purpose of shock absorption which is very important when the fish is near the boat and decides to swim to Portugal. The key to fighting with these is setting the drag at a very light pressure (2-3lbs is what I use) and gradually cranking down as the fish fatigues. If they start making another run, loosen the drag again. Pump up with steady pressure and reel down as you lower the rod making sure not to lower it too much and giving the fish slack. Then stop reeling, pump up steady and repeat the sequence back down. This technique and set-up worked for two sailfish and multiple cobias, jacks, sharks, barracuda, etc. Just ask Caimyn and Anna from the pictures! Fair Winds & Following Seas, Capt Kris Kell

Trips out to the local reefs/wrecks are still very productive but this week, the South East Hole has produced well without having to run so far. I've trolled ribbonfish but the only fish that has taken them are sharks. So, from Tuesday on, I used exclusively pogies and have scored well with smaller kingfish and even landed a beautiful sailfish on Thursday! Earlier in the week, we ventured off to MR and limited out on cobia while trolling and landed a nice 25lb kingfish, as well. Smiles all around. You can check out the pictures on my Facebook Page where I post on every charter. The inshore bite was not as hot for me this week and caught only smaller flounder, juvie reds, mangrove snapper, but a nice 26" red towards the jetties. The North side of St. John’s docks and rocks from the jetties to the BAE dry docks has been my target areas. (TTPs - Tactics, Techniques, & Procedures) Bait was a bit spread out on some days this week and there was also the issue of netting the wrong size pogies as the larger ones work best for trolling. It may require some looking, but you’ll find them. When it is spread out, I break out the old 12ft Calusa and usually get what I need in one throw. For trolling, skirted baits continue to draw the best bites on the flatline and the downrigger with the sailfish choosing the flatline Thursday;) I’ve adjusted the downrigger depths from last week to about 20 & 35ft where I see the bait pods in the SE hole and the rig I'm using this week is a double-pogy rig tied with surfstrand 40lb test and it has been relentless on the fish. It basically represents a small school of bait in combination with the other baits, menhaden oil slick, and chum. The downside to it is that bait burn will be fast when the bite is hot. So, if you’re low on bait, it may be best to use single rigs. Catch em' up and stay safe! Until next time... Fair Winds & Following Seas, Capt Kris Kell

28 July 2016 Welcome to Fish Whisperer Charters in Jacksonville, FL! Seas have been cooperative these last few weeks but just recently more of the pattern to be expected this time of year. Trips out to the local reefs/wrecks are much easier and have been very productive. Within the last week, kingfish have been consistent while trolling producing 35lb fish along with a good number of 12-15lb fish taken. You can view the latest catches on our Facebook Page where I post on every charter. There are a few choices to net your pogies with South of the Mayport jetties a little less consistent than the North. I've gone North to Amelia Island several times in the last week and the bait is everywhere along with the 2 35lb kingfish we enjoyed just off of the beach ;) The local reefs are producing consistently while trolling pogies at 25ft and 45ft in 65-70ft of water. There have also been some barracuda, sharks, and cobia hit while trolling out there so be prepared for anything! Yesterday, we couldn't keep bait in the water for more than 10 mins before a hit (good problem to have!) Flounder, trout, & redfish have been consistent along the docks with the best bite for me in early morning shifting tides. (TTPs - Tactics, Techniques, & Procedures) Bait is the priority with "pogy/pogies" or Atlantic Menhaden being the best bet, right now. I use a 9ft castnet which works for me if they are a bit spread out or bunched up. I'll idle up to them, shift into neutral, and hopefully "one & done" it. If not, a couple of casts will fill the baitwells. If you're not having luck on the pogies, have a sabiki rig handy and sabiki your bait off the bottom. Native bait to an area you're going to fish is very productive. For trolling, I try skirted baits along with bare bait on #4/5 single strand wire kingfish rigs. Once I've figured out what's hot, I'll refine the spread. I fish 2 downriggers, 1 long line out to 100ft, and a propwash bait. The downrods are typically 25ft & 45ft deep but adjustments should be made based on the information you gather from your sonar suite. If marks are more consistent at a different depth, adjust accordingly. If using the pogies, remember to troll slowly so as not to drown the baits too quickly. Most importantly, USE CHUM. I use a combination of menhaden oil drip/chum bag full of goodies and have been rewarded handsomely. When the bite slows down for the troll, try some bottom fishing in the same area and you may get some surprise cobia/seabass. If there are ever any questions, just post them up on my Facebook Page and I'll do my best to get back with you. Catch em' up and stay safe! Until next time... Fair Winds & Following Seas, Capt Kris

**hidden content** Above is the address to the news story that aired for Caleb. What a pleasure it was to have Caleb and his family onboard for the catch he'll remember forever! Fair Winds & Following Seas, Capt Kris

Bill, Jason, Sarah, & Conner, we had a full day of good times starting with all of us watching Sara catch 8 fish in an hour! (Kid luck or skill?) We may never know

Welcome to Fish Whisperer Charters in Jacksonville, FL! Had four trips this week and want to share the patterns I've observed for the week. Seas have been moderate this week allowing for some offshore trips with clients that include trolling and bottom fishing. After the Nor’easter last weekend, the bite has been…odd? Kingfish, Spanish, barracuda, and shark were crushing us on the downriggers set at the same depth as the bait was showing up on the Lowrance. Then after the big blow last weekend, nothing on trolling; however, bottom-fishing has been extremely productive. JW wrecks and Culverts have produced Cobia, Grouper, and seabass while MR has the snapper eating the bottom out of the boat. Best advice: grab a box of Spanish sardines or cigar minnows and get some bottom-fishing in. Pogie pods are disappointing compared to my logs of recent years but they can still be found between the Jax Beach Pier and Nassau Sound. (Vague, right? But true.) A pleasant surprise has been the flounder bite along the docks and rocks of Mayport. It’s pretty much a given that flounder can be taken! (TTPs - Tactics, Techniques, & Procedures) It’s a better bet for this week to stick to bottom-fishing so grab some cigar minnows for a variety or Spanish sardines for snapper, and find some reefs and wrecks to try out. The better fishing has been further out but that doesn’t mean it can’t change in a day or two. We’ve been using knocker rigs with a #3 circle hook and offshore knot with just enough weight to get to the bottom. Try a piece of cut, then a whole one to see what’s striking then go from there. If you get a grunt or pinfish, butterfly it and send it back down for the cobia or grouper. Since trolling has stunk this week, I have nothing to offer on that subject :) If you’re not able to get offshore, no worries, try the North docks of St. Johns from Mayport to BAE Systems Drydocks. Flounder and redfish are crazy about shrimp on popping corks, jigs with mud minnows, or Gulp! Root beer with chartreuse paddle tails are killing the flounder. Tide changes are the key. Catch em' up and stay safe! Until next time... Fair Winds & Following Seas, Capt Kris