ESPN Freshwater

Jetty redfish run extra beefy.

And when you add in the sheer numbers of fish, the end result can be exciting, non-stop action.

Situated at the mouth of the St. John's River, Jacksonville's Mayport Inlet is a pass bustling with military traffic, freighters, commercial fishing vessels and, of course, recreational fishing boats. Its jetties provide a unique mix of current flow, structure, depth and food, which attract a variety of species, including redfish.

During the spring and early summer, a pre-spawning aggregation of redfish gather along these jetties, ultimately transitioning into a spawning aggregation during the late summer. If you know precisely where to look for these schools and recognize the prime tide stage, you can keep as busy as you want catching and releasing quality-size redfish.

Having heard stories about the redfishing at the Mayport jetties, I was intrigued enough to trailer my boat up from South Florida. I was set to meet Kirk Waltz at the Mayport public boat ramp, and have a go at these fish.

With more than 20 years of guiding experience, Waltz knows the inshore waterways, rivers and inlets between St. Augustine and Amelia Island like few others.

Although he specializes in catching redfish, he is equally skilled at pursuing tarpon, seatrout, cobia, flounder, sheepshead, king mackerel, Spanish mackerel and offshore bottom fish. Waltz is based out of Jacksonville and operates Enterprise Fishing Charters.

Our plan was to fish the jetties during the final three hours of the falling tide and the initial hour of the incoming tide, where a slow to moderate current would enable us to fish more effectively.

We would use our trolling motor to edge up to the jetties and our fish finder to uncover schools of redfish. Once a school was located, we'd use the trolling motor to stem the tide and hold over the top of them, then drop jigs to the bottom.

A live bait on a jighead can attract some extra large jetty redfish.

Once you accomplish that, you must remain either right over them or no farther than a short cast away; drift beyond a school of fish and you're not likely to catch them.

Once a fish is hooked, you must then keep them out of the rocks.

Looking for the perfect balance between sport and strength, we used medium-action spincasting tackle. Our reels were spooled with 12-pound hybrid line. We paired the reels with 7-foot rods with tips just light enough for us to feel our jigs and any subtle takes, yet sufficient enough to put the heat to a big fish.

We used four feet of 30-pound fluorocarbon leader and a one-ounce boxing-glove-style jighead tipped with a live pogy or mud minnow. We ran the hook of the jig through the nostrils of the smaller baits or under and out the top of the jaws of the larger baitfish.

Our tactic involved dropping a jig to the bottom, engaging the reel drag and slowly lifting and dropping the rod tip to dance the jig on top of the rocks. More line was let out the instant the jig lost contact with bottom.

When a redfish nails the bait, a solid "thump" telegraphs back up the line. We'd immediately lower the rod tip for a second or two to enable the redfish to consume the bait, then reel tight to the fish and set the hook.

To help stop a redfish from reaching the rocks, the angler should apply heavy pressure while the other person steers the boat away from the jetties. Once the fish is a safe distance from the jetties, the boat is stopped and the angler is free to enjoy the fight.

Subtleties that make a big difference in this fishing include putting on a fresh bait after a few minutes of vertical jigging. Note that this isn't as critical when the fish are biting, as it is for when the bite really slows down.

In addition, stay in contact with your bait and make sure you can feel and sense everything that is happening; this is where super-braid and fluorocarbon/nylon monofilament composite lines, as well as non-stretch fluorocarbon leaders, have an edge.

Waltz and I scored with these redfish virtually at will. Outside of keeping alert to boat traffic and staying on top of the fish, this was some pretty relaxing fishing that didn't require a long boat ride. In fact, the jetties were a mere 10-minute ride from the boat ramp.

As I loaded my boat onto its trailer and prepared for my drive back home, I found myself wishing that we had redfishing like this back in South Florida.

Nevertheless, I had the peace of mind in knowing that once the bite heats up again next season, I'm just a 4½-hour drive away from some of the most dependable redfish action the Sunshine State has to offer.

Contact fishing guide Kirk Waltz at (904) 241-7560.