Help fishing in JAX, St. Aug or Daytona

[cJAY]

I have been fishing for many years. Mostly on charter boats. I recently bought a boat and would like to begin some off-shore fishing. It’s a 23 foot pro-line, 200 hp Suzuki. My goal is grouper/snapper. My boat is in dry storage on the St. Johns, but I would be willing to trailer it to St. Augustine, or Daytona.<br /><br />I have no idea where to start. I don’t know where to go, what type of bait to use, type of rigging, ect… I just need to know where to start. I would be willing to hire an experienced fisherman to take me out, in my own boat, but I would not know who to ask. Any help would be great.

 

[skipnice]

Re: Help fishing in JAX, St. Aug or Daytona

I recently moved to St. Augustine but have been comming here on vacation for about 30 years. We also would charter a boat and although it is fun it is not the best way to learn. I went to a local bait and tacle shop and started asking questions and then those answers led to more questions and so on. There is a very helpful chart that I ordered online from Florida Sportman Fishing Chart "St. Augustine" area. It will give you all the GPS coordinates for the local wrecks and reefs. I have found that you have to go out at least 9 miles to get some decent sized fish although I am sure it is possible to get them in closer. I have been using squid for bottom fishing over the wrecks and am slowly learning the techniques for trolling using pre rigged ballyhoo and live pogies. I was lucky the other week and hooked two mahi and two spanish mackrel trolling bally hoo and live pogies. Oh, finally I would reccomend putting your boat in at the Lighthouse ramp. It is a nice ramp and at low tide there is enough water to get in and out. Hope this was somewhat helpful but I am new to this also. Good Luck