just another new kid in town (Jax)

[woodiewalker]

hey guys, this site seems very informational! I live in jax and love fishing, only thing is, i have NEVER caught a crappie! I would really like to add it to my list of fish that i've caught! I know black creek is one of the places (the only one it seems) that is mentioned as far as spec fishing in jacksonville, however, i have no idea where to start. I dont have a fancy set up with spider rigging or anything... just a 10 foot jon boat and a zebco or two... anyway i was wondering what you guys thought would be the best way for a beginner to approach catching a crappie in jacksonville! Thank you in advance!

[Speckanator]

woodiewalker, You can make it as complicated as you want, but I suggest hooking up with someone to show you a few simple techniques. You hardly ever get skunked with live minnows and a bobber. That works everytime. Just go to the boat ramp early on a weekday morning. There is always someone going speck fishing by themselves and I seriously doubt they would refuse to take you along.

Good Luck and welcome,
Speckanater

[centerdriver]

Ok Phantom. Seen this before on other sites.
Dusty

[Just Enough To Fry]

First off welcome to the board !!!

Please take my advise for what its worth,(seeing how you are paying me nothing, its not worth much). A very wise man (my grandfather) once told me, anyone can catch a fish. A true fisherman takes the time to learn the skills of how to catch fish when most people can't.

If I were just starting out with a 10' jon boat, and had never fished for specks before. I would start off in a smaller body of water than Black Creek, that's a lot of water to be covering for a first timer to speck fishing.

The City of Jacksonville has quite a few Fish Management ponds here in town. And one of the best for Speck fishing is the pond at Hanna Park. It has a decent boat ramp on the north end of the pond. It is a "NO MOTOR ZONE" but electric trolling motors are allowed. I have caught more specks than you can shake a stick at in there. I do not advise keeping them, or eating them although I have been told a lot of people do.

Learn your skills and technique on a smaller pond first, and you will be able to apply it, to some degree in any body of water you fish after that.

To give you a little help, I always trolled beetle spins & road runners with no minnows around the points and drop off's in the pond.

Clyde

[woodiewalker]

thanks a lot for your welcome, help, and suggestions! (not sure what "phantom" meant?)... i have been to hanna park quite a few times but never knew there were specks... i guess that's because i chunk hot dogs and catch catfish and a billion of those little striped bass... i can see where Black Creek could get a little overwhelming for a little boat (and a driver with no experience!) i have caught panfish and bass on rooster tails so far... so hopefully another type of spinner won't be hard to learn... it will be an experience trolling for the first time as well! I will be sure and post back when i take the boat out! - Walker