Jacksonville, FL Fishing Report
22 April 2025
Welcome to Fish Whisperer Charters in Jacksonville, FL!
Water surface temperatures are at a very nice 74° - 75° around the Mayport area depending on the tide. Mornings have been cool and the winds a bit more cooperative in the morning than in the afternoon. Water clarity has been decent depending on the tide and late afternoon winds muck the water up a bit; particularly on the south side of the jetty rocks where the water is churning against them with the breeze. Tide lines have been very distinct, and clients continue to be amazed how precise the line is between stained river and clean ocean water. Bait pods are more plentiful making netting a few much easier and the small sized “chocolate-covered jetty cherries” are just what the redfish, flounder, and trout are looking for.
Redfish have stepped up their game with the bait influx giving clients an absolute thrill when they hit medium light tackle! Sheepshead and black drum are being caught in handfuls, and it really is a “shoot & scoot” fishery with one day yielding some at just one spot while other days require lots of travelling. Jetties have been the primary place I’ve been fishing but have ventured up the river a few times. Tide shifts continue to be the better times for me for all species with a last of low a bit better.
TTPs (Tactics, Techniques, Procedures)
Although the water is still a little cool for the kings to be on fire, it is fair to assume that they are going to follow all of the bait that is showing up. Now, let’s talk kingfish!
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. Using a lighter mono, like 15 – 20#, may increase strikes because kings have excellent vision and it would decrease the chance of spooking them, especially in clear water. While preparing the wire terminal tackle, be sure to keep in mind the size of the bait being used. If there is a 10” stinger length and 6” bait, then the excess wire causes the bait to swim erratically and is also visible to the fish. Also, a flexible rod 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 NOT trying to jerk the fish into the boat. Let the rod and reel do the work. My clients will often tell me they watched on videos folks jerking rods and trying to flip the fish in the boat. This works for bass or smaller fish, sometimes, but not these fish. Raise the rod up with steady pressure and reel down as you lower it, making sure not to lower it too much and giving the fish slack. Then stop reeling, up steady and repeat the sequence back down. If you need to give it a couple of pounds of extra drag, just use some thumb pressure on the line in front of the reel. I find this isn’t necessary many times, though. That’s just the top two things I hear folks talking about or ask me about. Hope that helps!
If there are ever any questions, just post them up on my Facebook Page and I'll get back with you.
Catch em' up and stay safe!
Until next time...
Fair Winds & Following Seas,
Capt Kris Kell
Until next time...
Fair Winds & Following Seas,
Capt Kris Kell
