Newbie to Jax - Sites, and is boat big enough?

[Distraction]

My family and I are considering moving to Jax. I love to dive, love to spearfish, but have been having to put up with the cold waters and low viz of the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia.

I have a few questions, and you guys seem like the experts to ask. (I'm VERY excited about finding this board.)

1. I have a 19' SeaPro v-hull center console with a 115 ob. Up here, I have to wait for a calm day to travel 10-20 miles out. Will my boat be able to handle the ocean there?

2. I prefer shallower dives for viz and air consumption reasons. Are there places to go that are under 100' that are productive?

3. How far out do you guys typically go?

4. Is the St. Johns River any good to dive/spear/fish?

I know that's alot of questions, but any advice would be helpful.

Thanks!

Matt

[slipknot]

Welcome aboard Distraction,I live here in Jax.and will try to help.
Your boat should be sufficient,just pick your days like anywhere else.Yes,there is good diving under 100',especially in spring while the big grouper are still in close.we have a very good reef system established between here and St. Augustine and I would suggest purchasing a Hot Spots book, it should give you all the information you need to find all the Wrecks/natural bottom that you need.As the water warms you have to follow the fish as they move farther out,but there are about 3 months,from mid. march til June, where you can find plenty of big fish close in.
And i'm sure that you can allways jump on a boat from one of us on the BOARD.Sometimes Bluegun and I can't find anyone else to go,so it ends up being just him and I on a big ol', gas thirsty Mako 26.
Anyway,I hope this has helped.
Good luck.

[greyface]

My feelings are hurt...:p I wake up with morningwood every day!

[Distraction]

So what species are available besides grouper?

And can the bugs be caught year round, and in shallow water?

[100days-a-year]

Bugs year round,i got a 7# yesterday.Not in shallow water .Snapper;red,mangrove, yellowtail,vermillion,mutton,cubera,occasional others,Hogfish,Cobia,Grouper;black,gag,scamp,warsa w,yellowmouth,red,All the pelgics in season and if you must .......AJs.

[Reel Crazy14]

Right now shalllow dives produce just as much as the deeper dives because of the water temp. Yesterday out of St.Augustine at 70 ft we shot 2 Grouper and the vis was 70 ft because we could see the bottom at the surface. But we went 4 miles north and the vis turned to 40 ft. If you can see them, Flounder are offshore in the shallow reefs and are definatly not challenging to get. St.Augustine is only a short ride from Jax and usually has better vis but not as many wrecks and reefs.

I have never dove the St.Johns but have heard of people doing it. The nearby springs have 100' vis and are everywhere around florida.

[Maguire]

Hey, 100-Days a year, I have a question. Why do you say "if you must Amberjacks?" Is it because they are not good to eat or just not much fun to shoot? I shoot them in Virginia Beach and the only negative thing I have found is that the bigger one's have worms. Thanks, Maguire.

[f94gator]

If you go with slipknot, be sure to bring a kevlar vest and a bag full of egg sinkers!!:D :eek:

[Brad B]

Distraction, If you have family for Gods sake don't take them diving out of NE Florida. You see a 26'Mako heading your way get the M-60 mounted and prepare for a firefight. Slipknots gonna drop his divers right under ya and then if you don't like it Greyface is gonna start popping Hydrashocks in your direction. Its Ok though cause they are true southern born and bred and nobody owns THEIR ocean.:D

[Spear One]

As long as you have a 406kh E.P.I.R.B and you keep a close eye on the weather, a boat that small can be safely used in that area.

Don't even consider it without the EPIRB!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[100days-a-year]

Maguire,here's my list of reasons in order.Red,mutton,mangrove,yellowtail and cubera snapper,Gag,black,yellowfin,scamp and red grouper,cobia,hogfish,dolphin,flounder and sheephead.Also the aforementioned thrill of shooting a worm infested fish.On the west coast they aren't a problem here they have worms usually.I am a very picky seafood eater as my freezer is always stocked with really good eatin' fish.Did I mention hook'n'linin' for African pompano,tuna and wahoo.

[slipknot]

Originally posted by f94gator
If you go with slipknot, be sure to bring a kevlar vest and a bag full of egg sinkers!!:D :eek:

NO,NO,NO, don't bring a full bag of sinkers,bring an empty one. We will fill it up with incomming throughout the day. And if it's a good day,we will get a few 20oz. jig's too. :D :D :cool:
Well said 100 days,those are exactly my reasons. I will take one once in awhile just to give away to pesky, landloving, fish beggars.

[blue gun]

the MORNINGWOOD is out there! use CAUTION!:D :D :D :D

[100days-a-year]

What are the sinkers for?;)

[slipknot]

Some are for breakfast,and the others get melted down for more bullets. :cool:

[blue gun]

Slipknot, Tell em what happened at the ramp.:D

[greyface]

Oh shit, here we go again.....:D

[slipknot]

I will plea the 5th.,and not discuss any ramp altercations.
What happens at the ramp,stays at the ramp ! There's enough heat around here as it is. :D

[riplipper]

I am moving down in June to Jax so I will also be buggn everyone a lot for dive info and trips....I have a 22WA Angler with the outboard mounted on the back of a large swim platform with ladder...should be great for diving.....
Looking foreward to meeting some of you....I have never spearfished but have done a ton of diving and buggin....so I have some stuff to learn...

[Maguire]

I'd say those are some pretty good reasons 100-days a year, although I don't have all those species up here in Virginia Beach.

[JaxShooter]

Hey Distraction. These are a great bunch of guys with a lot of helpful information. If you move to town there is plenty of diving and spearfishing to do.

[rrobship]

Just found this board looks like its going to be a good place to check out

[bristolxyz]

Come on , now you let the banana out of the bag.. WTF happend at the ramp? (In 25 words or less, we will add our own imagination)

[slipknot]

I definitely did'nt let the cat out of the bag, and I definitely could'nt explain it in 25 words or less. Lets just say some westside gibrone came real close to loosin' his last 2 teef.
Oh yeah, there was another guy too.;)