Summer Time Smile

The redfish must’ve had a team meeting this spring and decided, “Alright boys, today we cooperate.” Lines hit the water and it was game on—slot reds, over-slot reds, reds that clearly skipped breakfast and chose violence instead. These fish were intense, eating like they had somewhere to be and we were late getting them there. At one point I’m pretty sure one redfish followed another to the boat just to see what all the commotion was about… mistake. Instant regret. Light tackle was screaming, drags were working overtime, and smiles were locked in. Safe to say the redfish showed up in numbers in spring—and they did NOT come to play nice. - Captain Austin

High winds made for a sporty one on the water today, but that’s all part of the game. We picked our windows, stayed smart with our positioning, and still managed to put a few fish in the boat. More importantly, we kept it safe, stayed within our limits, and made the right calls when it counted. At the end of the day, no fish is worth pushing it too far—getting my people out there and back to the dock safe will always be the real win. - Captain Austin

We’ve had a great run of traveling anglers in town lately, and the fishing has been showing off for them. Redfish have been the main attraction, with steady action on light tackle, and a solid trout bite mixed in to keep things interesting. A few flounder are starting to make their presence known as well. What’s been awesome is seeing folks from all over get their first taste of our local fishery—whether it’s their first redfish ever or just a new style of fishing, the smiles have been nonstop. The river’s been treating visitors right, and it’s shaping up to be a strong season. If you’re visiting and thinking about getting on the water, now’s the time—Jacksonville is putting on a show. ? - Captain Austin