Oversized Red Fish Starts Us Off

The winds slacked off this morning which made for a beautiful day for Jeff and Julie Bachler to get out and experience the back country waters of Amelia Island, Florida. I met them down at the Big Talbot Island Park boat ramp and we headed up the Nassau River to fish some dock pilings on the first of an incoming tide. The bait shop was out of live shrimp today so the anglers were tossing live mud minnows on a jig to the pilings. We had a few bites here and there but no real takers until about 30 minutes into the fishing, then BOOM! BIG FISH ON! This fish ran straight for the pilings

(just like yesterday) but Jeff kept the pressure on and luckily the fish didn't make any sharp turns on the other side! About when I think it as out from the pilings it would make another run. But we were in luck because each time Jeff was able to work the big fish out and soon the battle was at the stern of the boat. After numerous plunges, Jeff subdued the beast and we netted an oversized 27.5" long and super thick Redfish! Boy what a fish to get the excitement going! Later, we made a run down to Broward Island where Jeff put a feisty Redfish in the boat and then a fairly big Ladyfish. Our next stop was in Jackstaff, tossing float rigs with the mud minnows to the flooded marsh line. Jeff found another Ladyfish then a roe-laden keeper sized Seatrout (all fish were released today).  Julie was making great casts but must have forgotten her lucky hat because she just wasn't getting the bites that Jeff was...until she  had a hookup and a high flying Ladyfish launched itself. Julie played the fish perfectly and soon had her first fish of the day!  And shortly after that her and Jeff shared catching another fat Seatrout to wrap up another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.