by: Robin Draper, AuthenticFlorida.com Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. As love fills the air, try some old world charm in St. Augustine, ideal for a romantic destination or just a fun weekend …
Five cool things we discovered in St. Augustine
31 Dec 20188:38 AM
St. Augustine celebrated its 450th birthday in 2016, making it America’s oldest European city.
It’s one of Florida’s most popular destinations and thus many people probably think they know all about St. Augustine. I did too, before I made these cool discoveries on a recent visit.
Ponce de Leon was really short
St. Augustine’s waterfront is dominated by a status of Ponce de Leon, depicted life-size, which means very very short.
When you visit St. Augustine, you can’t help but soak up the history of the Spanish explorers. It’s everywhere – from the magnificent fort, the Castillo de San Marco, which commands the waterfront, to the narrow lanes that make the historic district so charming.
To read more on the 5 cool things to do in St Augustine and Bonnie’s adventure visit the Florida Rambler!
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![](mailto:?subject=Five cool things we discovered in St. Augustine&body=St. Augustine celebrated its 450th birthday in 2016, making it America’s oldest European city.
It’s one of Florida’s most popular destinations and thus many people probably think they know all about St. Augustine. I did too, before I made these cool discoveries on a recent visit.
Ponce de Leon was really short
St. Augustine’s waterfront is dominated by a status of Ponce de Leon, depicted life-size, which means very very short.
When you visit St. Augustine, you can’t help but soak up the history of the Spanish explorers. It’s everywhere – from the magnificent fort, <a href="https://floridarambler.com/northeast-florida-getaways/st-augustine-fort-castillo-de-san-marcos/">the Castillo de San Marco</a>, which commands the waterfront, to the narrow lanes that make the historic district so charming.
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/st-augustine-ponce-de-leon-Bonnie-Gross.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-5285" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/st-augustine-ponce-de-leon-Bonnie-Gross-300x215.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="215" /></a>St. Augustine’s waterfront is dominated by a status of Ponce de Leon, depicted life-size, which means very very short. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)
To read more on the 5 cool things to do in St Augustine and Bonnie's adventure visit the <a href="https://www.floridarambler.com/northeast-florida-getaways/five-cool-things-in-st-augustine/">Florida Rambler</a>! https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/five-cool-things-we-discovered-in-st-augustine/){kind=link}
, grunts, parrotfish, angelfish, and rock beauties, plus the stingrays. Visitors can book guided snorkeling tours daily, with all gear included.
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/P1000085.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4847" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/P1000085.jpg" alt="" width="4608" height="3456" /></a>
For those who don't feel like getting wet, there are touch tanks holding horseshoe crabs, starfish, and other invertebrates, a live seahorse exhibit, educational talks, and tanks where you can observe a juvenile Goliath grouper and a weird-looking Atlantic guitarfish, and pay extra to feed nurse sharks and rays. I think a lot of the kids were startled at the loud sucking noise emitted by the sharks as they gulped the baits on the surface using the powerful pumps in their jaws.
After touring the aquarium, visitors can stroll across the parking lot and fly through the sky on seven ziplines and other treetop conveyances at the Castaway Canopy Adventure. Swinging through the full range of lines, sky bridges and towers takes up to about two hours-- all under the supervision of professional guides. Advanced bookings are recommended at <a href="http://www.OldCityZip.com">OldCityZip.com</a>.
For more information and reservations for the St. Augustine Aquarium, visit <a href="https://www.saaquarium.com/">www.saaquarium.com</a> or call 904-429-9777. To book a hotel room for your stay, check out Holiday Isle Oceanfront Resort on St. Augustine Beach, soon to re-open as a Guy Harvey Outpost. Call 1-800-513-5257.
https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/aquarium-gets-kids-interested-in-oceans/){kind=link}
![](mailto:?subject=Capturing Convicts: Sheepshead Rigs & Tips&body=This post covers some of the best rigs for year-round sheepshead fishing in North East Florida. Many people do not have problems catching convicts but everyone does it differently and there is always a new way to learn. They are great tasting, fun to catch, and a good option when the weather is poor and Redfishing is slow or your clients are die-hard bass fishermen that “set the hook” a little too much. If you would like to learn more about catching sheepshead or have a special way that you do it, drop a comment at the bottom.
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Live-well.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-5255" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Live-well-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a>
The Sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus) are chewing right now in St. Augustine. With even some of the most novice anglers racking up double digits in a weekend, there are no secrets on how to catch them. Everyone does it a little differently even though most anglers say they do it the “right way.” Here is a little bit about what has been successful for me sheepshead fishing around St. Augustine for many years.
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/SheepsheadBoy.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-5256" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/SheepsheadBoy-300x295.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="295" /></a>Photo courtesy of Florida Memory “Sheepshead boy” Note: Not me…
I mainly use three different techniques for capturing convicts. The most common way is with a slip sinker rig, next is with a jig head, and last is with a speargun or gig. Usually the most successful days come from using the traditional slip sinker rig but I have racked up some serious meat with the speargun.
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/IMG_9946.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-5257" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/IMG_9946-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a>Mustad O’Shaughnessy live bait hook Extra Short 1/0 or 2/0
These are great hooks for tucking a fiddler crab or two on. Occasionally, I’ll use a double strength version of these hooks that is even better for fishing the nearshore wrecks and other deep water.
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Hook.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-5258" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Hook-300x189.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="189" /></a>
Hooks are some of the most important choices in fishing.. obviously. These hooks have rarely failed me on all kinds of fish including on sheepshead.
Leader: Following is a six to eight-inch section of 20 pound monofilament leader tied using Uni-Knots directly to the hook and swivel. Swivel strength is always a bit heavier than the heaviest line I might use.
Weight selection: I use the lightest weight I can to get to the bottom. A 1/2oz to 3oz weight. Anything heavier than 3oz will make it hard to feel the sheepsheads bite and react before they are gone.
Rod & Reel: A bait caster reel thrives when fishing for sheepshead. I stick to the Abu Garcia Ambassadeur series. Either the S, C3, or C4 models are great choices depending on budget.
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AbuGarcia.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-5259" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AbuGarcia-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a>
Choosing the right rod for sheepshead should be based on strength, longevity, and length. A shorter rod with more back bone will help you tremendously when wrenching that convict out of the pilings. Save your money on buying super high-end fishing rods while sheepshead fishing because if you go enough, you will break a tip, bust an eye, or scratch it up on the barnacles around pilings.
Shoreline / Shell bottom fishing for Sheepshead
This is a very fun way to get into the convicts. Sometimes they are really chewing on the shell banks and other rock bottoms around this area. The traditional sheepshead rig will not be very effective in this situation because you will miss many bites.
Try using a jighead combo on spin tackle with a fiddler crab or shrimp.
Here is how:
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/IMG_9938.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-5260" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/IMG_9938-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a>
An 1/8th oz head with a 2/0 hook is just the right size for keeping a crab on the bottom long enough to get the bite. Following that is about a 2 foot piece of 20lb or 30lb Monofilament tied line to line to the main line using a double Uni-Knot. If you have the crabs to spare, using two fiddlers on one hook with a jighead will catch more fish.
As a disclaimer, you should always adjust your tackle to your fishing conditions regardless of what you are fishing for. Tides, wind, water clarity, and bait all play a factor in line choices and hook sizes. Sometimes Sheepshead are wide open and others they are very picky and need a little bit of encouragement.
Bring a shovel to crush up chum, like oysters, and to scrape barnacles off of pilings. The investment of time collecting a full bucket of chum will go a long way.
Remember to be respectful when fishing around docks and scraping peoples pilings, they paid a lot of money for their docks and sometimes forget that they do not “own” the water underneath it.
Be safe and Catch fish!!
By Guy Harvey Resort Pro Team
Captain Jakob Hardy
<a href="http://www.Fishardy.com">www.Fishardy.com</a>
https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/capturing-convicts-sheepshead-rigs-tips/){kind=link}
![](mailto:?subject=Guy Harvey to Raise Funds for Hurricane Relief Efforts in the Bahamas&body=
Guy Harvey Enterprises is supporting hurricane relief and recovery efforts in the Bahamas by donating 100 percent of net profits from a newly designed t-shirt to <a href="https://www.convoyofhope.org/donate/anglers-for-the-bahamas/">Convoy of Hope: Anglers for the Bahamas</a>.
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/bAHAMAS-sTRONG-sHIRT.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5422" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/bAHAMAS-sTRONG-sHIRT.jpg" alt="" width="578" height="721" /></a>The Bahamas Strong t-shirt, which features an iconic Guy Harvey sailfish design with the Bahamian flag, is priced at $25 and available at <a href="https://www.guyharvey.com/bahamas-strong/bahamas-strong-t-shirt.html">https://www.guyharvey.com/bahamas-strong/bahamas-strong-t-shirt.html</a>.
“Hurricane Dorian left an unprecedented path of destruction through the Bahamas, causing unimaginable loss of life, property and security,” said Dr. Guy Harvey, world-renowned artist, conservationist, scientist and entrepreneur. “I was born in the Caribbean and lived here all my life, so I am particularly heartbroken by the devastation in the Bahamas. We sympathize with our island neighbors and will help in any way we can.” https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/guy-harvey-to-raise-funds-for-hurricane-relief-efforts-in-the-bahamas/){kind=link}
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