With kids heading back to school, it’s a good time to look back at a great summer of fishing, learning and adventure across Northeast Florida’s waterways.
From the Intracoastal and St. Johns River to the beaches and nearshore waters, there was plenty happening this summer. Kingfish and tarpon kept rods bent along the beach, while redfish, flounder and trout gave inshore anglers plenty of action.
Some of my favorite moments, though, came from watching young anglers explore these different waters and learn something new along the way.
I’ve always enjoyed teaching kids that being on a boat is about much more than catching fish. We work on safe boating, reading the weather and water, finding and identifying bait, handling fish properly and respecting the wildlife and natural environment around us. Northeast Florida gives us an incredible outdoor classroom to do it in.
Colossal Academy students Henry Beenen and Asher Carlton spent plenty of time aboard Jax Fishing Charters this summer, building their fishing and boating skills while experiencing everything our local waterways have to offer.
BEACH & NEARSHORE
One of the summer highlights came surprisingly close to the beach when Henry, Asher and my wife, Kelly, had their first opportunity to hook an Atlantic sailfish. Watching a sailfish light up behind a bait and then launch from the water is something even experienced fishermen don’t forget.
Henry summed up the beach bite well: “This summer’s bite was hot! There were plenty of kingfish and tarpon along the beach.”
Asher also put his skills to work during the summer kingfish tournament season, placing in a tournament - youth division.
INSHORE & INTRACOASTAL
The learning continued inshore, where redfish and flounder provided plenty of action around the morning low tides.
Henry, already an experienced young fisherman, learned a new way to target redfish along the Intracoastal banks this summer — a technique he says has quickly become one of his favorites.
And the adventures aren’t over just because school is starting. Tarpon and kingfish remain around the beach and bait pods, while redfish, flounder and trout continue to provide inshore opportunities as we begin looking toward the fall mullet run.
That’s one of the things I love most about our waterways. Every trip can be an adventure and a chance to learn something — whether it’s your first day fishing or you’ve been doing it your whole life.
