Jacksonville, FL Fishing Report
14 April 2025
Welcome to Fish Whisperer Charters in Jacksonville, FL!
Water surface temperatures have dropped a bit after a very cool week and range from 70° - 72° around the Mayport area depending on the tide. We went from shorts to hoodies overnight! If the warmer days settle in this week, it will bounce right back and continue to climb. Water clarity has been decent depending on tide and winds have certainly affected it with clean green one day and café con leche the next. NW to NE winds have howled for a few days and the tidelines have been very distinct with clean green water on one side and the cloudy river water on the other.
Bait pods are beginning to make a better appearance with sporadic pods to larger biomasses making it a bit easier to net them. I have been using the perfect sized ‘jetty candy” with some success around the big rocks. I ran the rip lines only once last week looking for the manta rays and cobia with no success. That type of fishing is normally during late April around college graduation dates and I am looking forward to a few shots at casting on a nice cobia or two. It’s mesmerizing to even watch the enormous manta rays gracefully swimming along the surface and I will have some folks simply want to watch and film.
Black drum, sheepshead, and redfish are still the staples right now with the better fishing around the big rocks. A few snotty weather days this week made it very tough but there were windows of a great bite, and we were able to take advantage of them. Tide shifts continue to be the better times for me with a break in the swift full moon current. Jack Crevalle schools are everywhere and it's always a fun fight to get into those; especially with kids!
TTPs (Tactics, Techniques, Procedures)
This is the time of year that one should have a layered approach to a successful day of fishing. It is still transitional, and many species can be caught. What I mean by layered approach, in my case, is loading equipment for offshore trolling for striking fish, bottom rods for grouper/snapper, etc., shark rod for shrimp boats or pogy pods, and light tackle for inshore fishing. Weather can change very quickly this time of year and being prepared for different types of fishing means success. I’ll load up some shrimp in case the pogies are scarce and always some squid.
If the weather stinks and I’m not able to get around the inlet or offshore, this is a good time of year to fish trout during the spawning season. I have noticed some larger trout around and they can be a lot of fun on light tackle or float rigs for the young and old. Shrimp are typically the ticket but lures, stripped mullet, or pogies are great as well. Prety much any ambush point is a great place to start looking but be sure to practice the "shoot and scoot" technique if they're not biting. There's a lot of spots to cover that could produce some great fish!
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
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
