Report submitted by 'Surfrat'
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Juno Beach Surf Report
Juno Beach, FL
February 13-16th, 2005
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Well, the weather turned around, the big winds and swells that
were pounding the Beach finally subsided and it was a gorgeous Sunny day,
variable NE-SE, little chop later in the afternoon. Got a late start, figured
I'd be out there 'til dark anyways. When I got to the Beach, there was some
dark Coffee colored water off and on floating around, ugly stuff, I was told
it was the result of some construction a mile or so North,... getting run
off into the Surf go figure, if it ain't one thing there's sure to be another.
HT was around Noonish and I arrived shortly after around 1:00. Even though
I had nice fresh Jacks, I brought some Shrimp with the hopes to live-line
one out as the wind was appropriate. Second cast double-header, not real
big ones though 11"ers, threw 'em in a bucket and got my Shark Rod.
Threw Mr. Jack out, and waited for a bit for him to get away from
the Surfzone, but he ended up doing a great job swimming out about 50+ yards,
and I was thrilled,... “Go Jack Go!” He just cleared the dirty
water, and the Balloon started to bob, and then dissapeared.
FISH-ON! But not a very first aggressive first run, after about
30 minutes I was convinced it was a Big Ray as it was stubborn and stodgy,
and tended to move straight out, versus running parralel, no acrobatics either,
so I started “TWANGING,” the running line as I’ve had success
doing that with Rays encouraging them to move versus sitting down and burying
their Blobness in the Sand. Another 15+ minutes expired and I started to
worry about losing half my spool to a Big Blob, hence I though I’d lock
it up when I had the chance to save my line, (as I lost most of my line on
my other spool last week getting chomped off) just then in the curl of a
breaking wave, I saw it was in fact a Shark,.... SWEET!
Darn, I had a time with this fish, walked me North up the Beach
way too far into a partially submerged Limestone Reef outcropping, I had
to keep my Rod up as high as possible to get the line aways from the Rocks.
Finally, found a spot to get her in, handed off the Rod to a Dude as a Crowd
had gathered to see the critter, and went in. On the Beach, nice fat female
Blacktip, (81"s) 6’ 9”.
A Dude and his Son, lent a hand.
Ready to get the hook out.
Tues. 2/15
Managed to get out in the afternoon, gorgeous day, clear calm
Seas, SE-S winds. Hit the Beach with plenty of fresh Jack, only to be using
it (once again as back-up) and trying for a/some live Jacks or a Pompano.
Thought I’d put out my Bait Rod with some Shrimp. Then I ran into a
Buddy that had gotten there before me (evidently, not tons of bait around),
but he caught a Big Spot as soon as I set up,... he was going to throw it
back, but I figured (reluctantly) perhaps I’d hook it up and toss it
out,... never fished a Spot before, and not quite sure if it’s a desirable
appetizer for ‘Tips or their Buddies.
Set out the Shark Rod with the Spotty. It Swam out real good,
but no takers, then my Buddy caught a 12” Runner, I rebaited and walked
around with him for almost an hour, then decided to spike the Rod and get
a Beer out of my cooler, as I stood back up I saw a shadow moving towards
my bait then the Balloon broke off and my Rod went off, I grabbed it. After
the first big run, the fish dropped the bait, I reeled it back in and the
whole Runner was intact with a diagonal scar on both sides near the Pecs,
looked like he grabbed it head first and ran then dropped it, aas I had the
hook above the tail.
I thought maybe a big Snook, or a Cobia, I don’t think
Tarpon are around now? I now sooner get done looking at the Runner and two
Sharks 4’+ come darting in right at the face swimming irradically back
and forth, I run with them and toss the Runner right in front of them, they
were’nt at all interested.
A bit later two freakin' monster Mantees go floating by 30'
off the Beach. I managed to pick up 2 more Runners on Shrimp, just before
dark (on the 2nd Runner) I was thinking about packing it up, when I noticed
my Balloon floating quickly to my left and my line going out to my right,
moments later FISH-ON. He went Airborne twice, walked me South, I flagged
down and handed my Rod off to this one/only Dude walking on the Beach and
got him out... 5’ 11” male Blacktip.
Fortunately I ran into a Dude to snap a few pix.
Weds. 2/16
Managed to get out again later this afternoon, gorgeous day,
clear calm Seas, (again) SE-S winds, a bit choppier though 10-15 gusts -
higher. Hit the Beach (again) with plenty of fresh Jack (still), only to
be using it (once again as back-up) and trying for a/some live Jacks or a
Pompano. Put out my Bait Rod with some Shrimp, real slow, lost 2 Shark Rigs
(w/fresh Jacks) and one Bait Rig.
After about a tad over an hour, I finally managed a Runner on
the Shrimp, and then another, tossed out the 1st, 15 minutes later (Dejavu),
Balloon bob, strike, freaking awesome run, straight out, I thought the hook
was set only to reel the bait back in, whole Runner, with deep lacerations
above the Pecs just behind the Gill Plates.
I really think (after some thought) it's been big Cobias or
big Snook (I took a few Pix of the whole Runner with bite marks and I will
post them for comment). A Charter Boat Capt., I know has had some good catches
with both species close to shore in this area (?)
I quickly threw out the 2nd Runner, this time hooking it in
front of the Dorsal vs. the Tail in case the Mystery Visitor came back. Light
was fading, 10-15 minutes, (repeat from the day before) - FISH-ON.
Up the Beach, no acrobatics, but tough. I commandeered a couple
of elderly Ladies walking by, handed off the Rod to one of 'em and went in,
'kinda sweet they were having a pretty good time, and I needed another set
of hands.
On the Beach, 6' 2" female Blacktip.
Another pic..
Awesome Fishing...
- Surfrat
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