Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Are We Fishing or Catching?

For a awhile there we were thinking we might just be on a fishing trip, not a "catching" trip! I had met Ed and Maddona AndrewLavage up at Old Town Bait and Tackle early this morning. We had dark and gloomy skies with the clouds blowing north over the ocean. But the temperature was almost "shirtsleeves" weather with a promise from the forecasters of it to reach into the 80's today. Can't beat that! We eased out of Eagans Creek and made our way over to Bell River to fish a flooded oyster point on the last of a high and incoming tide. Both Ed and Madonna were getting excellent casts and good drifts but we had not a bite on their float rigs and live shrimp. 


We ran thru Tyger, made the turn around the Concrete Teepee and after making our way up the Jolley River we set up along side a point and drifted the floats and shrimp again. What little wind we had, had died down and the water was a like glass and the floats looked oh so sweet as they drifted along, but evidently not to the fish because again, not a nibble. Further up the river, just past Snook Creek, we turned into the current and here Madonna's first cast produced a good bite. That float disappeared and Madonna tightened up and let the circle hook set - she worked it to the boat and "knocked the skunk off" with a hungry Seatrout catch. After moving into Snook Creek and switching to jigs and the shrimp and working the bottom, we moved on. 

Up thru the Jolley we went and around thru Bell to some docks where we stuck with the jigs. We had only been anchored for a minute or two and with the tide trying to change, the fish began to bite. Both Madonna and Ed stayed busy catching Seatrout on the bottom, in about 20' of water. They were all in the 14-14.5" range, but Ed did find a keeper sized 17.5" Trout up by the dock pilings.  We moved down a few docks and fished the pilings direct and this paid off - Ed hooked up and landed a couple of feisty Redfish and Puppy Drum; Madonna hooked up and battled a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum to the net. She also added a couple of Redfish to her catch total, and then snagged a small Sheepshead to round out an Amelia Island Backcountry Slam of Seatrout, Black Drum, Redfish and Sheepshead. 

We had started the day "fishing" but ended the day "catching" - the sun was out now and it was warm enough to shed those jackets so as we headed back to the ramp, we counted it as another great day to be fishing (and catching) here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Monday, February 10, 2025

Add The Title: Angler

 

I was back fishing today when I met Nick Burke and his fishing partner Sajia down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early. There was a bit of fog but it didn't affect the visibility so much that we couldn't make the run up the intercoastal and turn into the Nassau. We then made our way up to Seymore's Pointe to set up at a large drainage on the very first of an outgoing tide. I noted that the water temperature was in the low 60's. We baited up (fixed) float rigs with live shrimp and began to toss them up current to let them drift back and across a flooded shell bed. Sajia had never fished before, never cast a spinning outfit but she was a quick learner and was making excellent casts within minutes. And it paid off - she had a hookup and reeled in her first ever fish - a hungry Seatrout. Nick was fishing off the stern and found that he could let his float "go long" and eventually a Trout would pick it up. He had one chase it down and take the hook. Both anglers caught a handful of those hungry Seatrout before we moved on. 


After running thru Horsehead we made our way over to Poteat Point and drifted the floats along that marsh line. We worked it pretty good but had no bites. We dropped back into Jackstaff, passing the White Pelicans and fished a drainage over there. Again, not bites. Back thru Horsehead we went and then up the Nassau to fish some docks, this time switching to jigs and live shrimp. The Trout were quick to pounce. Sajia had mastered the casting and caught a good handful of Seatrout, while Nick, again on the stern, found a nice "honey hole" of Trout out deep and he boated another handful. We left 'em biting - we probably could have stayed there and caught fish but we were looking for bigger ones.

We ran down to Broward Island passing under the watchful eye of a Bald Eagle and tossed jigs to the bank. The current was really running here but I think the baits were getting washed out too quickly. Further up the river and into a creek, the current wasn't so swift. Nick had the first strong bite - he played it perfectly and soon brought to the net a nice feisty Redfish. Shortly after that Sajia had a good bite. It ripped a bit of drag but Sajia was up to the task. She played it patiently and hauled in the biggest fish of the day, another Redfish. In her limited time away from studying for her Doctorate, Sajia enjoys tennis, archery and running, but now she can add "Angler" to her list of titles! The sun had come out, we had caught some fish, so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

ScuttleButt: Boaters (and more) Lose After City Commission's Vote

Last night all five City Commissioners voted to approve funding for the Waterfront Park down at the marina.

Boaters lost - their parking and maneuverability will be squeezed. Their parking will be non-existent when "events" are held at the new park.  Note: somewhere buried in the City's own plan it is recommended that the City have one boat ramp for every 12,000 residents. There is now over 13,000 residents in the City with absolutely no plans to build another ramp.

Residents lost - the historic and cultural significance of a "working waterfront" will be diminished with the addition of a playground, splash pad, band shell, and continuance of Pentanque play. 

    Objective 5.05 of the City's Comprehensive Plan: Waterfront Planning:  The City shall protect shorelines and waterfront lands in order to ensure adequate and appropriate locations for water-dependent, water-related and water-enhanced uses.

    Policy 5.05.02: The City shall guide and direct the location of all future water-dependent adn water-related uses according to the following criteria:   (d) Protecting shoreline adn waterfront areas in order to provide locations for marine/estuarine related uses, such as commercial and recreational fishing, boating and other water-dependent uses and activities.

    Policy 5.05.09  The City shall protect recreational and commercial working waterfronts...

    Policy 5.05.13  The City shall evaluate land development regulations that incentivize maintaining water-dependent uses such as marinas, fish camps, and commercial fishing operations. 

    Objective 11.06 Design and Planning: The City shall encourage compatible design and planning  within the surrounding existing historic districts

And from the City's own Community Redevelopment Advisory Board's Vision Statement... Redevelopment efforts for Fernandina Beach's waterfront area should "Maintain the CHARACTER of Fernandina Beach as reflected in its working waterfront and historic district".

Visitors(and the rest of us lost) - Remember when they tore down the Keystone Hotel? What a travesty. It was an icon on Centre Street and today would have been complimentary to all of our historic structures.

 Fernandina Beach has always been known as quaint town with a historic waterfront. From the CRAB's own Annual Report -"the City of Fernandina Beach has a rich history for which the waterfront area has played a significant role. Much of the City's "historic charm" evolved from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which saw a boom in the shrimping industry and the area's popularity as a tourist destination for wealthy Americans from the northeast."

We still have a vibrant fishing and shrimping community here in Fernandina Beach. While out on the water you can see local shrimpers dragging their nets. Those shrimpers are "peddling" their shrimp, either from their homes or roadside stands.  There are a few bigger shrimp boats that dock north and south of the City Marina. There are bait shrimpers coming and going and Crabbers launching up at Dee Dee Bartels. There are well over 50 Charter Boat captains operating out of Amelia Island. 

What if the City had embraced that commercial fishing community and enhanced the waterfront to accommodate them? Imagine if you could go down to the docks and purchase fresh shrimp, crabs, and fish right off the boat?  Instead, these Commissioners put on their creative hats and will be funding a....Playground. Yes, another one.         

As one young mother (and member of the Parks and Rec Advisory Board) noted, "most all waterfront parks have a playground". Exactly. I hesitate to mention the danger of mixing young kids and a maneuvering boat trailer, but that historic area was (and is) why locals and visitors alike cherished it as a real-life working waterfront.  Playgrounds, splash pads, Band Shells and Pentanque courts do not belong at our historic waterfront. We all lost with this vote. 

What can you do? Get off your butt and tell them how you feel.

 jtuten@fbfl.org Joyce Tuten gminshew@fbfl.org Genice Minshew

jantun@fbfl.org James Antun
dayscue@fbfl.org Darron Ayscue

tpoynter@fbfl.org    Tim Poynter                                                                              

Monday, February 3, 2025

The Bite is Back!

 

We had a better tide today, and warmer water temperatures and it made all the difference in the "fish catching action". I had met Dennis Fritz and his fishing partner Jim down at Sawpit Creek boat ramp early and we ran up the Nassau River (which was like glass) to make our first stop at some docks with plans to fish the pilings on the first of an incoming tide with jigs and live shrimp. It didn't take long before these two anglers were putting fish in the boat. They were subtle bites - just a "tap, tap, tap" and with a quick hookset they had Fish On!  Most were Black "puppy" Drum in the 15-16" range, some were smaller, and they also picked up a couple of hungry Seatrout.


We then ran up the river to Broward - the area I wanted to fish was taken, so we continued on to the "2nd choice". I don't know if Jim had even had a chance to get his line in the water but Dennis had made his cast and BAM! Fish On!  He played it perfectly and soon landed  nice 24" Slot Redfish. We were fishing right under a Bald Eagle and when Jim hooked up and brought to the surface a Seatrout, it was flopping  a bit and the Eagle dove on the fish!  Very neat to see. The angler up north of us vacated his spot so we moved up there, fished it, to no avail, then moved up a little more. Jim was fishing off the stern, making excellent casts, and letting his jig/bait drop deep and it paid off. He said at first he thought he was hung but then it started fighting and Big Fish On! Jim played it patiently and soon brought to the net a 5lb plus 21" Black Drum. Minutes later, he followed that up with another big Drum of equal size. 

We then made a run further up the river and dipped into a small creek and began to work that incoming tide. It took a few minutes but then both Jim and Dennis had hookups and landed feisty Redfish. We worked along and Dennis put another 18"+ Slot fish in the boat, then Jim followed it up with a nice 19" Slot fish. Dennis wrapped things up when he battled on Oversized 29" Redfish to the boat that will move him into 3rd Place in the 2025 Anglers Mark Bragging Rights Tournament (scroll down the right side of this report for standings). 

We had some beautiful weather when the sun finally came out, we had some good action of fish catching, come nice fish in the box for dinner, an Amelia Island Back Country Slam under their belts, so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.



Thursday, January 30, 2025

I Could of Kissed "em

 I wrapped up a long, difficult week today fishing with the Hutchens brothers - that cold water has been tough on the "fish catching" totals. These guys, Tom and Bob were good anglers, and we fished some spots that looked absolutely beautiful - sunny skies, no wind to speak of, great casts, outstanding drifts, but there for a while it was looking like we were going to get skunked!  I can't remember the last time I've been skunked on a trip. It does happen once in a while, but not in a long while!

The good news is that the water temperature is rapidly rising with this warmer weather. Monday I was noting 42 degrees and today I saw some at 57 degrees. I had picked the Hutchens brothers up at Sawpit Creek and after running up the Nassau River we pulled up at Twin Creeks and drifted floats and mud minnows (no live shrimp today). I think the first drift Tom had a brief bite - the float disappeared, but there was no fish attached. We fished that good with the floats, then we ran up to Seymore's and fished a large drainage. I'll be brief- good casts, good drifts, no bites.  

  We ran thru Horsehead and over to Poteat point - good casts, good drifts, no bites.                                         We came back to Jackstaff  and fished - good casts, good drifts, no bites                                                       We ran back thru Horsehead and down to Nassauville and switched to jigs - good casts, no bites

We then ran up river and fished a small creek with the jigs. Again, Tom and Bob were getting good casts
to the bank. We fished it good, and just when the "skunk" was beginning to smell up the boat Bob had strong hookup and worked in a nice hungry Seatrout! I didn't know whether to kiss Bob or the Trout! We fished along, then began to drift back down with the current and when I heard Tom's drag ripping I thought it might be another hangup. But it was a Big fish and was pulling drag UP current. Tom kept the pressure on fought it back to the boat, played it perfectly and soon landed a "tournament" sized 26" Redfish, boy what a fish! We continued to drift with the current and then Bob had a strange "bump". He worked it in slowly and soon landed a nice keeper sized Flounder.

We had fished over 5 hours, had very few bites for the first 4 and half, but these anglers' perseverance paid off. It had been a beautiful day so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Worked Up A Slam

 We had a beautiful day today with sunny skies, just a light breeze and temperatures rising when I met Zach Peyton and his son Tyler and their friend RC up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp. We eased out of Eagans Creek and made a short run over to the outside of Tyger Island where we set up with float rigs baited with live shrimp. We were getting good drifts along the marsh grass on the first of an outgoing tide and were hoping for a Seatrout or Redfish but we had not a nibble. 

We then ran thru Tyger, over to the Bell, down to Lanceford and made our way up it. It looked like there was an Outfitters convention going on at Crazy Mary's - it was surrounded, so we continued on around and fished a grass patch with the floats, to no avail. We fished Dave's Dock for just a bit, then made a short run over to Soap Creek and fished a large runout. I did have one good bite there - I missed it, dang it, then we fished on up the grass line a bit and but had no more bites.

These anglers were up for the challenge - we made a run back down Lanceford, then down the intercoastal to dip in behind Piney Island to fish some dock pilings as the oysters were just beginning to show, and this did the trick. After just a cast or two with a jig and shrimp we had a hookup. Tyler was on the rod - and he expertly worked it out from the pilings and to the boat to land a nice feisty Redfish, one that measured right at 17 7/8", just shy of Slot. We went back to the same spot and just minutes later had another strong bite. This fish tried to get around the pilings too. RC was on the rod nod now and he played it perfectly and brought to the net a nice Slot 22" Redfish. Minutes later, another "thump" and a hookup. Tyler was working it in but it was acting differently - when it dug deep I was wondering just what it was - Tyler worked it up and we netted a nice keeper sized 15" Flounder - we haven't seen a keeper Flounder in a while.

Our next stop was further down the intercoastal where we fished some structure deep with the jigs We had no bites so we moved on. We made a loooong run back up the river, up the Bell and over to some docks where we set up deep and tossed jigs up current. Zach got hot, hooking up a handful of Seatrout which he handed off to the boys to reel in. Those Trout rounded out an Amelia Island Back Country Slam of Redfish, Flounder and Seatrout. These guys had to work for them (just like all week), but they stayed with it and had a few fish to take home for dinner so as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Can't Fudge The Truth

 I could try and sprinkle sugar on it but the honest truth is the "fish catching" has been going down hill the last week since that severe cold. I talked to two anglers had the boat ramp and who confirmed it with their recent fishing trips - the fish just aren't biting. When I picked up some jigs from "Redfish Carl" this afternoon, he said he had ran up the St. Mary's and didn't get even a nibble. Water temp's were around 44 Monday, 46 yesterday, and 49 today - I'm guessing when they get into the 50's we will begin to get back to normal.



My anglers today, David Vice and his son Nathaniel, and Bob Kossman had to really work hard at it to get some fish in the boat. Nobody got skunked, but it was close! We all met out at Goffinsville Park and then made our way around to Seymore's Point to fish a large drainage. I keep thinking that this spot will eventually turn on.  These anglers were tossing float rigs and live shrimp and mud minnows up current and letting their bobbers drift around the point. They were getting good drifts but had nary a nibble. We moved out and fished deep with jigs in a couple of spots, and again, no bites.

We then ran up the Nassau and dipped into a creek and worked it good. The drawback to these creeks are you lose a bunch of jigs to the submerged logs. It can get aggravating for the anglers but luckily they had me re-rigging! If your going to fish loggy areas I tell people, "learn a couple of knots that you can tie quickly" so you can get back to fishing. We had worked along for a good while and finally both Nathaniel and David had hookups, almost simultaneously. Nathaniel worked his patiently to the net and landed a feisty Redfish that measured 17 15/16" - almost legal! But David's fish proved to be a nice keeper sized Seatrout.  We continued to work the bank and Nathanial had another strong bite, played it perfectly and this time landed a nice Slot Redfish. We fished that stretch up and down and up and down then moved on. 

After fishing and shell line at Back River with floats to no avail we made our way back around to
Seymore's Pointe and this time fished some dock pilings with jigs and shrimp. They reported a few faint nibbles but no takers until Bob hooked up. He fought the fish perfectly and knocked the skunk completely off the boat when he landed a nice Redfish. We had to work all day for the fish that we got - they weren't 'jumping' into the boat, but it turned out to be a beautiful day and another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Monday, January 27, 2025

Water Temperature's Warming

 Those low 40's water temperatures are coming up a bit, today we had it at 47 degrees. I had met Pat Andreasen, his son-in-law Bryan and grandson Mason down at Sawpit Creek early this morning and we made our way up the Nassau River on the first of an outgoing tide with clear and soon to be sunny skies. That cold water we've had has stunted the "fish catching" and today was no different. The trio of anglers were making good casts with float rigs, drifting them over some submerged oysters but we had no luck at that first spot. We ran thru Horsehead and over to Poteat Point and again got good drifts, but to no avail, not a bite.


Back thru Horsehead we came and after stopping at Seyrmore's Pointe, we decided to set up out deep and toss jigs and live shrimp. We worked a few docks and finally Mason "knocked the skunk off" when he hooked up and landed a Seatrout. We then made our way around to Nassauville and fished some docks with the jigs but again, no luck.

After a long run up the Nassau we fished some downed logs with the jigs. All three anglers put in the work and did catch up a handful of fish. Mason topped the board with two nice feisty Redfish and a keeper sized Seatrout. Bryan put a nice Redfish and a Seatrout in the boat. The sun had really started heating things up and I ended up peeling both layers of outwear off. It was a beautiful day, we had caught some fish, so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Saturday, January 25, 2025

Can't Beat the Beauty

 

I fished this morning with John Pellerin and his buddy visiting from Montana, another John. Although the sun was out when we met at 8:30 it stilled seemed awful cold, but that didn't last past the first run. We ran way up the Nassau and dipped into a creek and worked the bank on a tide that had been going out for about three hours. It was slow going but then John2 found a bit of a fishing whole when he hooked up and landed a couple of feisty Redfish. We moved down the bank an then John1 found his own fishing hole - he hauled in an "almost legal" Redfish then he had another subtle bite, set the hook and Fish On! This cold Redfish (the water temperature was 44) aren't putting up much of a fight - the just give up and come to the boat! Or maybe it knew it had met it's match? Anyway, John1 worked in a nice 23" Slot Redfish. 

We worked that bank thoroughly and John2 got another "almost legal" Redfish before we moved on. We made our way back down the river to some docks at Nassauville and here John2 caught a hungry Seatrout deep. We fished Spanish Drop for a bit, working a shell bank, to no avail, then we fished some docks up at Seymore's Point, again to no avail. Those fish are either so cold that they are just hunkering down or they have moved off to find warmer waters. We had some great sunshine and fished some beautiful areas so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Friday, January 24, 2025

We Salvaged The Trip Big Time

 

Although it was a tad cold - about 34 degrees when I launched, the forecast called for winds at 10mph and sunny skies and the Weatherman nailed it. I had met Mark Averbuch and his fishing buddy Bill down at Sawpit Creek - we were all bundled for that first run and  when we pulled up to some docks at Nassauville we were out of the wind, exposed to the sun, and it was fairly comfortable fishing. Unfortunately the fish didn't cooperate. Both anglers were making excellent casts with their jigs but had few nibbles. Mark did "knock the skunk off" with a feisty Redfish catch.

We then made our way around to Seymore's Point an fished some dock pilings. Not a nibble. I noted there that the water temperature was a bit over 41 degrees. It rose to 44 as we fished throughout the day. We bounced down the docks fishing two or three but had no real action until Bill hooked up and expertly landed another feisty Redfish. 

After making the run down to Broward Island we fished the last of an outgoing tide with the jigs and
fished a good stretch of the bank. Not a bite. So we were looking at 2 fish in about 2.5 hours - not a good ratio! We then made the long run further up the Nassau and dipped into a creek and fished it as the tide slowed to a stop. Finally, this duo of anglers began to get some fish, and some good ones. They ended up boating about 6 Slot Reds - one was 26" and one was 26.5", one was 22" and then Mark patiently played to the net a 29.25" Oversized Redfish - big enough to put him in 2nd place in the 2025 Anglers Mark Bragging Rights Tournament (scroll down the right side of this report for standings). Mark also added a keeper sized Sheepshead to the mix.

They added a good handful of small but fun to catch feisty Redfish. We had a slow start but a great finish so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.