Expert bloggers

Hot, hot and more hot is what our anglers had in store for them in Nassau County this past week.

The prevailing west winds calmed the surf but caused cooler water and high surface temperatures, and caused choppy seas in the morning for offshore anglers.

Local charter captains reported that slow trolling has waned a bit due to the cooler water temperatures, but there was a mixed bag of grouper, snapper, barracuda, kingfish and cobia at the reefs and wrecks. Live cigar minnows or Spanish sardines jigged up along the buoy line or at the wrecks will work best when live-bait slow trolling. Brunswick and Elton Bottoms can expect amberjack, kingfish and dolphin, along with an occasional sailfish.

Acres and acres of menhaden (pogy) are cruising Amelia Island’s shoreline. Along with the bait pods come predators: Sharks, cobia, tarpon, kingfish and Spanish mackerel will be found cruising around them. You must be in stealth mode when approaching the bait pods, and always be courteous of other anglers. If another angler is working a pod of bait, be courteous and move on. There are plenty of pods out there to fish, so there’s no need to crowd another angler.

Sight casting or trolling a Clark  spoon lure on the incoming tide along the beaches and at the south jetty will produce Spanish mackerel. Watch for the birds working the schools of Spanish mackerel, and good luck.

Flounder were caught this week at the north and south jetties, in the Amelia Island and Fort Clinch state parks, and off the George Crady Bridge fishing pier. Live mud minnows, small finger and Berkley Gulp swimming mullet, and pogy and Contender grubs worked well for flounder. Whiting, puppy drum, and yellow mouth trout have also been reported at these locations. Slow trolling on the ocean side of Cumberland Island, north around the Christmas Creek area, has produced large amounts of speckled trout.

Fresh shrimp, or cut mullet or pogy, will produce ladyfish, blues, yellowmouth trout, small sharks and whiting this time of year when fished on the bottom in the surf. Gotcha plugs or silver spoons cast into the surf will work for blues, Spanish mackerel and other types of trout.

Backcountry anglers can expect fishing for redfish to improve because of cooler inshore water temperatures. We have experienced some abnormal high tides for this time of year, and anglers who have been wading the grasses have caught redfish and sheepshead. Cut mullet, cut pogy and fresh shrimp fished around your favorite structure on the last of the outgoing tide and most of the incoming would be best. Rapala skitter walks, Contender Irish Whiskey grubs, Berkley Gulp, Inline spinners and gold spoons work, too. Fly fishermen have reported that gold spoons worked well in the grasses this week.

Have a safe and happy July 4 with family and friends on the water.

Until next week … Capt. Jim.

Capt. Jim Johnson is owner of Amelia Island Bait and Tackle, Nassau Sound Bait & Tackle and Rappi Charters, on which he spends many days fishing around Amelia Island and offshore. To submit information about and photos of recent catches, stop by his shop at 1925 14th St., call 277-0775, or e-mail captjim@gct21.net.

In February, Congress passed the omnibus financial stimulus plan proposed by the new administration. The plan calls for spending $789 billion,  and it will have an enormous impact on all our lives.

One of its principal goals is to increase domestic employment and save U.S. jobs from being lost to plant shutdowns and outsourcing to other countries. Mark Zandi, chief economist for Moody’s Economy.com,  has provided an in-depth analysis of the plan. He suggests that it will give 2 million people jobs by the end of 2010, and as many as 3 million by late 2011.

That’s part of the big picture, but no matter what your political views, the main question is: What’s in it for you? The answer is some very significant changes to your taxes and overall finances.

To start with, in the second half of 2009, every employee will see some more money in their paycheck. Less money will be withheld for taxes, up to $400 for individuals and $800 for couples, both this year and next. And if you’re receiving Social Security, Supplementary Security Income, or veterans’ disability or retirement benefits, you’ll get a check for $250 this summer.

One of the biggest changes is in the Alternative Minimum Tax. The AMT was enacted years ago to make sure high-income individuals, who normally have lots of ways to reduce their taxes, actually pay some taxes to Uncle Sam. The problem is that the AMT was not indexed for inflation, thus over the last few years it has started to hit lower income levels. It now affects more and more middle-income taxpayers whose incomes have risen over time. The new stimulus package directs that an individual earning up to $46,700 will get an increase of $500 in the exemption to the AMT, and couples earning up to $70,950 will get $1,000. The effect of this is that 26 million families will be freed from the AMT in 2009.

The stimulus plan also aims to help the auto industry by giving buyers a break on sales taxes on the purchase of a new car, pick-up truck, motorcycle or motor home. If you buy one of these in 2009, you can deduct from your income taxes the state and local sales taxes on the purchase. You qualify for this if you make less than $125,000 (families less than $250,000) and the vehicle costs no more than $49,500. If you buy a hybrid, you’ll get significant additional tax credits.
There will be an increase in the American Opportunity tax credit for college students’ parents. That’s for single parents earning up to $80,000 and families that bring home up to $160,000. The credit will go from $1,800 to $2,500.

Remember, these are not tax deductions, but tax credits. After you figure out what you owe to Uncle Sam, you get to take these tax credits off that amount on the bottom line.

One big break in the plan is for those laid off in 2009 who exercise their rights under the federal program COBRA, and stay covered under their former employers’ health insurance plans. The plan allows a 65 percent subsidy for those premium costs for nine months. Also, the first $2,400 in unemployment insurance benefits will be completely exempt from any taxes.

Among the largest single benefits is an incentive for first-time homebuyers. If you’re buying a house for the first time, and do so before the end of November this year, you’ll receive up to an $8,000 tax credit. Unlike those who bought a house in 2008, you will not have to pay the credit back.

If you fix up your existing house to create greater energy efficiency, such as installing new windows or insulation, you can get up to $1,500 in tax credits.

There is, of course, much more in this multi-billion-dollar stimulus, but the items mentioned here will have the most immediate and major economic effect on our society as a whole.

When speaking of the stimulus of money upon society, a first-century Roman historian, Titus Livius, known as Livy, said it clearly and best. He opined in his famous Maxim 656 that, “Money alone sets all the world in motion.”

Our government is counting on it.

Malcolm Noden of Fernandina each taught economics for more than 30 years at Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration. For more insight from Noden, check out his blogs at nodenroadtrip.blogspot.com  and tourismtalk.blogspot.com.

With almost every patient I see, I introduce the concept and practice of deep breathing. It is one of the most effective stress-relievers in existence.

Learning to control your breathing, even in life-threatening situations, increases your chances for survival. Combat trainers working with Green Berets and FBI agents often refer to this phenomena as “combat” or “tactical” breathing.
The human body, when it’s working right, is an amazing system.

When faced with an extremely fearful situation, the hypothalamus produces adrenaline and cortisol for release into the bloodstream. These hormones increase heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure and metabolism. Blood vessels open wider and let more blood flow into large muscle groups. Blood chemically changes to coagulate more quickly so we bleed less if wounded. Pupils dilate to improve vision, our livers release stored glucose to increase energy, and our bodies produce more perspiration to cool us.

The amazing thing is that all this happens automatically without a conscious effort on our part.

Still, with all this natural action, most people experience some degree of fear in their daily lives. So what can you do? One way to deal with fear, whether it comes in the form of anxiety or panic, is to learn how to breathe correctly.

In many cases, we are unaware of our breathing pattern. There may have been times you noticed your breathing is shallow, or you were unknowingly holding your breath.

If we slow down our breathing rate in a fearful situation, we can often reduce fear and act more rationally. Yoga folks and others who practice meditation are in on the secret power of healthy breathing.

Experiencing a panic attack is like going 140 miles per hour on Interstate 95, except you may be at work or in your kitchen. For individuals who experience anxiety and/or panic attacks, self-help is available.

The same can be said for anxiety disorders. A rapid heart beat, tightness in the chest, fear of losing consciousness or having a heart attack and dying, and sweaty palms are common.

Several techniques are used to reduce stress. Deep, abdominal breathing is often the best way to reduce the chance of high anxiety and panic.

Free-floating anxiety or panic seems to come out of the blue, sometimes when we least expect it. There may not be time to do deep breathing exercises; however, there are cognitive coping techniques that help relieve symptoms and give us time to gradually work on breathing skills.

Although they may be frightening, severe anxiety or panic attacks are not usually dangerous to our health. But practicing deep breathing may make potentially habit-forming medication, alcohol and other drugs no longer necessary. This is not only healthier, but also a lot less expensive.

Bob Howat is a licensed marriage and family therapist who lives and practices in Fernandina Beach.

Talk about a heat wave; we’re in the midst of one of the hottest summers I can remember.

Last weekend was hotter than ever, but the anglers in the Nassau Sport Fishing Association Tournament of Champions were at the top of their games. Bob Johnson and Keith Lane of Leicester captured first place with a whopping, hard-to-beat 48.64-pound kingfish. Congratulations.

Anglers fishing the surf, offshore, jetties or the backwaters have had excellent action this past week. I would expect the same this weekend, with similar weather predicted.

Backwater anglers will enjoy good fishing, especially if looking for action from flounder and redfish. The lower levels of the tide will bring exceptional results when using live mullet, mud minnows or live shrimp for bait along the oyster beds, around docks and other structures, and at the mouths of feeder creeks. These areas are perfect hangouts for summer backwater fishing. Topwater plug fishing will continue to bring hot action early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Anglers bottom fishing in their favorite holes in the Nassau River are reporting redfish, puppy drum, whiting and flounder.

The George Crady Bridge and Fort Clinch State Park fishing piers have anglers reporting whiting, redfish, puppy drum and an occasional flounder.

Surf anglers are reporting intermittent catches of bonnet head sharks, whiting and blues. Anglers using live finger mullet at Amelia Island State Park are catching reds and trout.

The jetties are holding cobia, tarpon, bull reds and many sharks of different species. Cut pogy or mullet will be the go-to bait this weekend when fishing on the bottom. The last of the outgoing tide through the incoming tide will give some results. Flounder, along with lady fish and Jack Crevelle, are being caught with live finger mullet and mud minnows along the rocks on both sides of the jetty. A heavy duty topwater plug cast into the schools of Jack Crevelle will offer some rod-bending action. On the last of the incoming tide, keep an eye out for large schools of Spanish mackerel.

Offshore anglers have had great success catching grouper and snapper at the inshore reefs. The water temperatures at these locations have not caught up with the air temperatures. The water 10 to 15 miles offshore has been about 74 degrees.

Live bait such as cigar minnows, Spanish sardines and menhaden (pogy) will give you great action this time of year.
Further offshore at the R4 or R5 towers and further out, expect dolphin, kingfish, barracuda and amberjack, along with an occasional sailfish. Live bait slow trolled or rigged ballyhoo will work at these locations.

Until next week … Capt. Jim. 

Capt. Jim Johnson is owner of Amelia Island Bait and Tackle, Nassau Sound Bait & Tackle and Rappi Charters. To submit information and photos of recent catches, stop by his shop at 1925 14th St., call 277-0775, or e-mail captjim@gct21.net.

Provided by Jim Johnson

Cheryl Pankake caught this 22-inch trout  recently from the surf at Amelia Island State Park. 

Hot weather and light winds out of the southwest are predicted for this weekend. Local anglers will enjoy excellent fishing offshore at the reefs and wrecks, and in the surf, backcountry and around the jetties. I would plan to get out there early to beat the heat.

Offshore fishing continues to be productive with legal grouper and snapper being caught on the reefs and wrecks. It will not hurt to keep a flat line out while bottom fishing; it’s a great way to land a kingfish or cobia. Kingfish, cobia, amberjacks and barracuda are also being caught while anglers troll the local reefs and wrecks. Live bait has been available using a Sabiki rig. The pogy pods are scattered and you’ll have to work harder to obtain them this week.

The George Crady Bridge and Fort Clinch fishing piers are both excellent hot spots for whiting, flounder, trout, sharks and many other species this time of year. Live shrimp, cut mullet and mud minnows are great baits when fishing from the pier or bridge. As well, targeting flounder has still been successful in both these areas.

Because of light winds and calm seas, this is a great weekend for anglers to try their luck in the surf. Cheryl Pankake reported a 22-inch trout from the surf on Thursday.  Dead shrimp with a Fishfinder rig on the incoming tide will be your best bet.

Your best bet for the backcountry is to fish early in the morning or late in the afternoon to beat the summer heat. Live shrimp on a float rig will work, or a mud minnow fished on the bottom is perfect this time of year. Top water plug fishing along the marsh grass at high tide, about 7 a.m. today , will give you an excellent shot at a nice trout or redfish.

On a closing note, good luck to all the anglers in the 27th annual Tournament of Champions Kingfish Tournament. Weigh-in is from 1 to 4 p.m. today  at the Fernandina Harbor Marina, where a fresh fish fry will be held at 7:30 p.m. with live entertainment.

Until next week … Capt. Jim.

Capt. Jim Johnson is owner of Amelia Island Bait and Tackle, Nassau Sound Bait & Tackle and Rappi Charters, on which he spends many days fishing around Amelia Island and offshore. To submit information about and photos of recent catches, stop by his shop at 1925 14th St., call 277-0775, or e-mail captjim@gct21.net.

Provided by Jim Johnson
Don Edlin caught this big red, almost 30 inches long, on Little Talbot Island on a silver spoon in the slough on the incoming tide.

Florida has the dubious distinction of being the pain pill capital of the Southeast. Some fly-by-night pain clinics have been dispensing prescription narcotics with little oversight. That all changed when state lawmakers passed legislation requiring private-owned pain clinics and pharmacies to report certain narcotic pill sales to a statewide database, and be inspected and regulated by the state.

While pills provide a quick fix, they do not treat the underlying cause of pain, which should be treated by a qualified pain management expert.

Addicts can potentially suffer severe withdrawal symptoms with systemic side effects; the addictions have both psychological and physiological components and can be deadly.

According to the State of Florida, in 2007, nine Floridians died each day from prescription drugs. This must stop. Buyers at fly-by-night pill mills request a drug, pay cash and leave with prescription in hand. Patients who are prescribed narcotics do not receive the appropriate medical consultation and care. They require follow-up visits; their medications must be scrutinized and used judiciously to avoid any interactions and side effects.  A physician should have access to a patient’s medical history, medical records and lab values for accurate diagnoses and treatment plans.  

This doesn’t happen at black market pain clinics. Operating on a cash-only basis, they exist solely for profit. For the drug user or dealer, this set up allows for the easy sale of narcotics that can be diverted and resold on the black market. For patients in pain with a history of narcotic abuse, the damage is already done. Their addictions are fed, making it even more difficult for them to come clean.  They are hooked before they have a chance to experience other modes of therapy.

Florida is behind the curve, but I am glad it is catching up; 38 states already have prescription monitoring programs to cut down on prescription fraud and drug abuse. It’s a good start, but more needs to be done.

Dr. Diva Nagula is a double board certified pain management doctor and medical director of Southeast Spine & Rehabilitation in Fernandina Beach.  

First of all, let’s clear up a few items about sex.

Sex is, of course, a prime motivator. Many would disagree, but the only reason anyone or anything is here on this blue orb in the middle of darkness is because someone or some thing had sex.

The mistake is to believe it is the property of the young, the driven and the hormonally overloaded who act totally insane at nightclubs, office parties and rock concerts. It’s the senior generations that seem to have a lock on the subtle nuances of sexual behavior.

My advice to my fellow field rabbits is not to abstain. And here’s a secret: Drink more coffee.

Yes, I know your doctors say to stay away from coffee, but they are myopic and usually don’t consider the whole person. One cup of coffee a day increases your libido, according to one university study. So use the wisdom that comes with age, which should overrule questionable behavior, and enjoy.

A simple cup of coffee can be the beginning to perfect bliss (you deserve it). It is normal behavior, and to be expected generation after generation.

I am not talking about caffeine by the spoonfuls in a tin can of sugar. Nor am I talking about the sugar high provided by the typical purveyors of Double Mocha Macchiato Caramel Skinny crud. Those drinks are your worst nightmares — dimpled thighs and bulging belly concoctions. Leave those to the youngsters, as they can burn off the sugar and other additives.

The perfect cup, with its associated dose of caffeine, is all that is needed to sensually elevate the mind and body by stimulating the central nervous system.

A study by the University of Michigan found that 62 percent of older, married women who drank coffee daily were sexually active, compared with 38 percent of similar women who did not drink coffee. For men, a cup a day seemed to stave off potency problems: 59 percent of married men who didn’t drink coffee, but only 36 percent of coffee-drinking married men reported troubles.

Don’t overdo it, though. Studies show that the more coffee you drink, the less it becomes a stimulant for healthy sexual activity. And on your pursuit of great coffee and the caffeine associated, remember that the darkest of roasts has the least caffeine.

Make it special. Buy the best coffee and brew it in expectation of taste and not desire. My wife always says, as she finishes the last bit of a cappuccino I made for her, “Ahhhhhhhh, almost as good as sex.” I hope that means I make one heck of a cappuccino.

Gill Johnston is a Roasters Guild member and a master roaster. He and his wife, Barbara Johnston, are co-owners of Nuanz Coffee Roasters and Tea Merchants in Yulee, and they alternate writing opinion columns each month.

Live bait has been abundant, giving reds, trout and flounder plenty of food. So to be successful, you’ll have to get creative with your lures and presentation of live bait.

Offshore anglers continue to have great success bottom fishing the inshore reefs and wrecks. Red snapper, Gag grouper and cobia are being caught, with the best results coming from using live minnows or pogies. Kingfish and barracuda are also being caught when anglers are flat-lining live bait.

Traveling further offshore, dolphin continue to be spotlighted, especially when trolling for ballyhoo. Big game anglers are also picking up a few wahoo, tuna and sailfish. As always, look for the weed lines and large floating debris, which are magnets for bull dolphin.

As the bait pods cruise up our beaches, jetty fishing has turned up a notch. Tarpon, sharks, reds and cobia are foraging along the rocks for a free meal. The last of the outgoing tide through the incoming tide will give you red-hot action this summer when you’re fishing on the bottom. Flounder are being caught with live finger mullet and mud minnows during low tides along the rocks.

The Fort Clinch State Park and George Crady Bridge piers have had flounder, puppy drum, speckled trout and small sharks. George Crady anglers are still contending with yellowtails. Live mud minnows have been the go-to bait for flounder and trout, while cut pogy has been working well for redfish and small sharks. Mark Lyons and Kevin Baker both reported excellent flounder action over the past few weeks at the north and south ends of Amelia Island. Philip Smith also reported action from flounder while fishing with live mud minnows.

Surf anglers finally reported that action has improved since the recent northeaster. The water clarity has improved and the surf has calmed. There have been reports of small sharks and pompano, ladyfish and rays this week. An occasional puppy drum was reported, too.

Backwater reports have been fair because of water clarity. Topwater plug fishing is still hot in the early morning and late afternoon. I would recommend you use Rapala skitter pops or Storm chug bugs. They make noise, and that’s what you need with such poor water clarity.

And last but not least, don’t forget the Nassau Sport Fishing Association’s 27th annual Tournament of Champions next week. The captain’s meeting is at 7 p.m. Thursday  at the Fernandina Harbor Marina. Good luck and good kingfishing.

Until next week … Capt. Jim.

Jim Johnson is owner of Amelia Island Bait & Tackle, Nassau Sound Bait & Tackle, and Rappi Charters. To submit information about and photos of recent catches, stop by his shop at 1925 14th St., call 277-0775, or e-mail captjim@gct21.net.

Excellent weather is predicted for this weekend, so anglers should be ready for good fishing from our banks, piers, surf, bridges and offshore. Calm seas are expected, and the summer weather pattern is here, along with the pods of bait moving up our coastline. The choice is up to you: offshore, surf or inshore fishing.

The dolphin bite is still in full swing at the ledge. Keep an eye out for any debris or weedline on the run to the ledge. The 40-mile bottoms at Brunswick or Elton Bottom should produce all the action you want if you’re trolling for kingfish.

Barracuda, cobia and sailfish will also be possible. The R4 and R5 towers are holding plenty of live bait. Keep a flat line out while obtaining live bait — you never know what will hook up at these locations.

Grouper and red snapper are abundant at the inshore reefs and wrecks. Live bait is always best, whether you choose to cast-net live pogies or jig up live bait at the reefs. For those who don’t want to use live bait, Spanish sardines, cigar minnows, Boston mackerel and squid are available frozen.

Wednesday was the day to fish offshore. Brandon Allison reported grouper and snapper at the inshore reefs. Capt. David Burns reported kingfish, grouper and snapper while fishing the inshore reefs and wrecks this week aboard the Ms. Content.

Redfish, sharks and cobia can be caught at the north and south jetties. Capt. Danny Flynn and his charter caught and released more than 30 reds while fishing among the pogy pods at the jetties this  week. Flounder fishing has been hot at both jetties. The last of the outgoing through the incoming tide would be the tide I would choose to fish.

The Fort Clinch State Park and George Crady fishing piers are having plenty of action from flounder, puppy drum, whiting and small sharks. Some anglers at Fort Clinch have caught legal-sized speckled trout while using live mud minnows and finger mullet to fish for flounder.

Peters Point, American Beach, Amelia Island State Park and other beach accesses to the southern half of the island have brought reports of whiting, puppy drum, blues and small sharks. The incoming tide has been best for fishing the surf at those locations. Bluefish and small pompano are being reported from the north end beach accesses.

Backwater fishing anglers can expect things to pick up if the water clarity improves. Flounder fishing with live finger mullet or mud minnows will give you plenty of action.

Jimmy Hendry reported plenty of action from speckled trout while top water plug fishing this week on the high tide in the early morning. I would use live bait. If the water is still murky, try live shrimp hooked on a jig or floated.

Now is the time many of us are fishing at our favorite summer spots. I welcome your vacation trophy pictures. Please send us one of you and your trophy fish.

Until next week … Capt. Jim.

Capt. Jim Johnson is owner of Amelia Island Bait and Tackle, Nassau Sound Bait & Tackle and Rappi Charters, on which he spends many days fishing around Amelia Island and offshore.

To submit information about and photos of recent catches, stop by 1925 14th St., call 277-0775, or e-mail captjim@gct21.net.

Provided by Jim Johnson
Capt. Shannon Fountain (right) helps Bill Taylor hold up an 84-inch sailfish he caught in Key West recently.
 

Now is the time to reap the benefits of awesome weather. The predictions look good for this weekend.

Anglers can expect above-average catches, whether fishing inshore or offshore, or in the surf or backwaters. Light southerly winds and excellent conditions for our local anglers are predicted.

Trolling the break at about 70 miles offshore, big game anglers continue to catch dolphin, wahoo, tuna and an occasional sailfish. Brandon and Bob Allison fished the break this past week and boated 15 dolphin and one sailfish.
Green and yellow lures rigged with ballyhoo have been the best colors for catching dolphin, while pink and white were the colors for sailfish.

The inshore reefs continue to be productive for snapper and cobia. Phil Schweizer and Bill Powell caught and released eight cobia this past week. They kept a flat line out with a live pogy while bottom fishing the FB area. Pogy pods have been located among the shrimp boats. Black tip sharks, cobia and jack crevelle have also been working the pogy pods. Dick Butler reported an excellent trip this past week, bringing snapper and grouper back to the dock from the inshore reefs.

Cut pogy and blue crabs have been hooking cobia, redfish and sharks at the north and south jetties, and live shrimp, fiddler crabs and mullet are bringing in trout, sheepshead and redfish along the rocks. Trolling the oceanside of the south jetty on the incoming high tide will produce Spanish mackerel if you use a No. 1 planer and a silver spoon.

The backcountry is still very murky with a lot of water running out of our rivers. Topwater plugs early in the morning and late in the afternoon will give you some action, though. Live mullet or mud minnows will get you plenty of flounder. Live shrimp floated along the grass lines on the high tide along the Amelia River will give you trout, redfish, ladyfish and jack crevelle.

Reports of flounder, puppy drum and occasional redfish and trout have been coming from the Fort Clinch State Park and George Crady fishing piers. Live mud minnows or finger mullet are the go-to bait for flounder at either state park.

The action has finally picked up for surf anglers. The water clarity is starting to clear up a bit more. Some anglers fishing the north end of the island have reported some nicely sized pompano at the end of their hooks. The whiting bite has not returned, but should pick up with the good weather predictions this weekend.

Have a good day on the water. Until next week … Capt. Jim.

Capt. Jim Johnson is owner of Amelia Island Bait and Tackle, Nassau Sound Bait & Tackle and Rappi Charters. To submit information about and photos of recent catches, stop by his shop at 1925 14th St., call 277-0775, or e-mail captjim@gct21.net.