Catch Fish This Year in St. Augustine, Jacksonville, and Amelia Island
with Capt Tony Bozzella

Capt. Tony Bozzella's Year 'Round Fishing Calendar
For Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Fernandina/Amelia Island

Capt. Tony is the North Florida for Carbon Marine and Carbon Marine push poles:

Mangrove Push pole - a 19 1/2 foot all Carbon Graphite; weight 4lbs 11oz's - $349.99 includes freight Jacksonville area.

and The Loop - a 21-foot, all carbon graphite; weight 5 lbs - 379.99

TBS offers any and all other products on the www.carbonmarine.com Same low price! No up Charges. Just call Capt. Tony 904-651-0182

~~

Months picked are when record numbers & size of species have been caught. Months that overlap can be good for both descriptions listed. Feel free to call to talk about your trip.

November - March: Great time to anchor / stakeout and live bait Redfish, Black Drum and an occasional Flounder or Sheephead in the shallows of the backcountry marshes. This is year round, however, it is some of the best time for this style of fishing. The fish are schooled up, and we will cast out and bait fish in various fishy locations catching mutiple fish. In the earlier part of the season, (Nov-Dec) it is a great time for kids.The action can be fast with good numbers on the smaller Redfish with some big ones mixed in. On days when weather is permitting, sight fishing redfish on the mud flats can be best with lures, bait or fly (8wt floating line). Poling the boat across shallow flats and actually seeing the fish or push and making a presentation. The water is clear and the Redfish school up well at this time. As the smaller Redfish fade out, it is very common to catch mutiple Redfish in the 24 -32 inch Range.

March - June: Great time to cast diving / topwater plugs to big Specked Sea Trout. This is an awesome time to have a chance at a trophy gator (over 5 lbs) Trout. Casting with light tackle spinners or fly can be very productive with good action and numbers as well. It is not uncommon to get other species at this time such as a Redfish, Bluefish, Jack Crevalle, Spanish Mackerel and Ladyfish. If you've never caught a fish on an artificial lure or fly and have the desire, this is your time! In the earlier months, huge schools of blues will keep your rod bent as we plug for Trout and other species, there can be some very action packed days! Don't be afraid that you are not "good enough" for lure fishing. I will make it fun and take the time and teach you if needed. Your success rate is high.
May: Another possibility (weather permitting) run outside the jetties, cruise just off the beach, looking for migrating rays and sight fish Cobia. These fish can be big, powerful, and exciting! You will sight / blind cast with TBS Jigs on slightly heavier spin tackle to these fish as they follow the migrating rays. Sometimes there can be multiple fish under one ray.

July - Sept: There could be a few different things going on at this time? I try to fish early or late afternoon to avoid the mid day heat. It could be a combination of bait or lure fishing for both Redfish and Trout, with a mix of Mangrove Snapper, Jack Crevalles, and Ladyfish either in the St. John's river, backcountry marshes or area inlets. Another very fun angling experience, there are large schools of big Ladyfish (Poor man's Tarpon) that are 3-5 lbs and are very willing to eat a lure or fly. Big ladyfish of that size are drag screaming jumpers that put up a great fight and you can catch multiple fish! Occasionally, we have also hooked Tarpon in these schools as a bonus! I have taken many people, as well as seasoned anglers, to do this and they all had alot of fun. Also, (weather permitting) casting lures, flys, or bait around the bait pods to Tarpon and Sharks or even setting up a chum slick and drifting baits out in the slick.

Sept. - November: We have afew things at this time of year also. Fishing the flood grass with fly or spinning gear for tailing Redfish and Sheephead. There are days that fall tides flood the grass flats and make this an exciting way to fish, we might wade some spots or pole the boat across the flooded grass and hunt individual fish as they root up crustaceans from the marsh. This is very visual, as the fish feeds, you will see tails sticking out of the water and we will carefully sneak up on them to make your presentation. Perfect situation for fly fisherman. Most shots are close in comfortable conditions. Another great time to plug / jig good size trout. Although spring gives up most of the biggest Trout, this is an awesome and productive time for quality Trout with great action and numbers lure fishing. Again, just like spring, This is the time to catch fish on lures, and I will teach you while making it fun and successful. It is not uncommon to have 20-50+ fish days with some nice sizes.

~ ~ ~ ~

Capt. Tony Guides Multi-Wins in 2009 Celebrity Redbone

Capt. Tony Bozzella
guided Kevin English
to victory in the
2009 Oldest
City Celebrity Redbone Tournament
with multiple
wins in 1st place
in Guide to Grand Champion Angler
Award and Most Trout Releases, and Spin/Plug Division Champion.

Capt. Tony has guided anglers to 1st place wins in the 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 Celebrity Redbone Tournaments.

From Capt.
Tony's 2010 Catch Log

2010 Catch Summary
(Inshore Back Country & River)

Trout: Artificial & Bait

: 2010- 137 trips
: Total Trout catch - 1080
: Biggest Trout - 9lbs
: Trout over 5lbs - 26
: Best day aggregate 60+
: Best day on fly 14 fish / 3 species

Reds: Artificial & Bait

: 2010- 137 trips
: Total Redfish catch - 833
: Biggest redfish - 40+ inches over 30lbs
: Best day aggregate - 52
: Best day on fly - 7 Redfish

Testimonials:

Dear Capt. Tony:

My father-in-law and I had a superlative time. We always seem to catch fish with you and this time was no exception. More important though is that fishing with you is always enjoyable. There are always great laughs, good stories, and we learn something new every time we go out. You are the quintessential Captain. I never hesitate to recommend you because those who go out with you will have a blast.

---Jon Caplan