The Essentials: Bass Fishing in North Florida For the Boat Less
Boat-less. Standing on the dock envious of the lucky fellows who are speeding along on their way to the “honey hole”. Have no fear. The best bass fishing does not require a boat or even an expensive bass fishing guide. For the best bass fishing tips onshore or from a dock read this article. Let’s get this out into the open so that there will be no allusion in regards to who this piece is geared towards. The economy is bad and as it looks not going to improve for quite some time. We all realize that a great method of catching a giant bass is to hire a bass fishing guide. The experienced professional comes with the best bass fishing gear and the best overall bass fishing information available today. Thats great if you have the extra 150.00 a day to give to this professional bass angler. For the rest of the fisherman who are scrapping by paycheck to paycheck, this article is for you.
The boat issue. Yes it is great to be once again, one of the fortunate anglers who possesses a bass boat. One of those fast sleek jobs with all the bells and whistles. It will even have a little “kicker” on the back end to allow the bass fisherman to ease into position. For the rest of us who desire a trophy bass fishing experience, there is this posting. Now that we have that little piece of business sorted out let’s get involved with the art of bass fishing techniques. For decades anglers have been pulling trophy bass out of Duval County’s river, lakes and ponds. Minus a fancy boat or even a wonderful and I do mean this, every penny’s worth bass fishing guide. How do they do it? Without a boat or even a 200.00 blow up raft how is it accomplished?
The magnificent and often maligned St. Johns River system runs through the heart of Jacksonville. As it makes it’s way slowly through the county it branches off and forms various feeder streams and bodies of water. It is in these area that the best bass fishing can be found. For example, there is a place on The Jacksonville Naval Air Station that regularly produces the best big bass fishing in the area. The trick is getting on to the base. After 9/11 everything has unfortunately changed. The terrorist threat has cut off many bass fisherman from their favorite holes. There is hope. It is rumored that in order to gain access to the base as a civilian one should inquire at the main gate. Turn into the base and proceed to the MP at the gatehouse. He will instruct you on how to be granted entry onto the military installation. Once you have this day pass in your hands, it is time go trophy bass fishing under the guns of our great military.
Let us assume for this posting, that the day pass has been secured. Success. Largemouth bass fishing is just moments away. Before the secret location is given out to the entire world, let’s run through some background about why the base offers some of the best trophy bass fishing in the area. Ever since the military opened the base way back when, they have kept the environment relatively clean and undisturbed. The military base is home to thousands of service men and women and their families. The river has been protected from civilian boat traffic and that has assisted the largemouth bass population to be left undisturbed and thriving. That factor alone has created one of the finest bass fishing spots in Jacksonville. A bonus for you.
Now for the hot off the griddle largemouth bass fishing tips! The bass fishing equipment needed is minimal: a sturdy reel, a flexible but strong 7 foot bass fishing rod. The tackle should be some medium sized hooks and good fresh line. A cast net is needed so that the schools of mullet that cruise by the sandbar can be harvested. Drive to the south end of the base towards the military base housing. As the road meanders through the base keep a sharp eye out for the base golf course. This is the landmark that will guide you into the location where the big bass reside. There is a little stream that comes from the golf course and runs into the St. John’s River. Clear and running it can be used as a guide that leads right to the fishing spot. Now depending upon the area children the trail that once existed could now be covered up and invisible. Thats good and bad.
Good for the bass fishing spots are hidden even from base traffic. Bad because this means a little bit of bush whacking is called for. There is a trail that runs on the south bank of the stream if followed will eventually open up to the river. The thrill of discovery will be at hand when you emerge out of the bush and see the utopian landscape that is set before you. A large sand bar is directly in front of the opening to the bush and can be used a s a set up point. At low tide it is about two feet high and at low covered. Cast-net some of the many schools of finger mullet that inhabit the area and lip hook one of the baits on to your gear. casting towards the north in the marshy are will deliver a fantastic bass fishing trip.
