Friday, December 28, 2018

Good Variety of Catch

Boy the temperatures sure have gotten higher the last two days here at Amelia Island!  I had met Clint Davis, his daughter Lindsey and her friend Nathan down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and with only a slight breeze and clear skies, we made the run up the intercoastal to dip into Jackstaff and begin fishing with jigs and live shrimp. We worked the bank slowly and it was Lindsey who "knocked the skunk off" when she landed a hungry Seatrout. Although we had some nibbles here and there, that was the extent of our fish catch along that stretch!

We ran thru Horsehead and around to some docks at Seymore's Pointe and here Nathan got on the board when he hooked up and landed a hard fighting Black "puppy" Drum.  Then Clint felt a bump on the bottom, set the hook, and reeled in a keeper sized Seatrout.

Our next stop was down at Broward Island, fishing the very, very last of the outgoing tide. We had no real bites until the tide turned back in, then we caught a couple of Trout and had a nice Sheepshead to the boat. We fished north and south then made the run back to Seymores.

Here, things heated up a bit, drifting float rigs along the marsh grass and both Nathan and Lindsey put Trout in the boat, with one of them being keeper size.  Our final stop was down at Spanish Drop and now the wind had picked up and was blowing. But we found a good ambush point and both Lindsey and Nathan caught some feisty Redfish. Clint added a Trout then Lindsey wrapped things up with another Trout catch. When we totaled up the fish we realized we'd caught a good handful and counted it as another great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Thursday, December 27, 2018

Fish On Fire

I've had a busy last couple of days! Coming back from Christmas, I went with the Blalock Fishing Team yesterday morning. The wind was up but we were able to find places to fish. Both William and Dara had some good Trout and Redfish catches early at the logs of Tiger Island, fishing live shrimp on the bottom with the tide just starting in.  We then fished a grassy pointe at Bell River to no avail, then made a long run down the Amelia River to set up between two docks, now dubbed "the DW". We were fishing in about 4' of water, high and incoming tide, over some shell beds. The fish bite was non-stop for at least an hour, one after the other - Redfish and Seatrout, with many of them of keeper size (all fish caught this morning were released).  Things finally slowed  and we ran back to Lanceford Creek. After battling the wind in a couple of spots we found shelter, and fish! A few of the biggest Seatrout of the day were caught, then we called it a day, another great day of fishing!

I met Jack and Motsi Hanna and their son Jay after lunch and although I surely thought that the "DW"wouldn't still have fish, it was worth a try, so we made the run, set up and BOOM! One Redfish after the other. They started off just undersized but after we got them out of the way, the trio began to get Slot sized fish. We boated their limit of fish ranging from 18-19" then we began to cull when we got fish over 20". We actually got tired of catching fish! We then came back to Lanceford and tried a couple of spots but the wind was really up and blowing so we wrapped it up and came back to the ramp and put some Redfish filet's on ice!

I fished this morning with Paul Wozny,  his wife Elaine, and their daughter Kateri, meeting them out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp. The tide was still barely going out so we buzzed down to Broward Island and began fishing the logs with jigs and shrimp. We had not bites initially but when the tide changed and started back in, we began to get fish. After putting a couple of small but feisty Redfish in the boat, we hooked up and landed a keeper sized Sheepshead. Then we had a strong bite and, BOOM! Big Fish On! Paul played the big fish perfectly and patiently and after a good battle that took us to the deep part of the river, Paul landed an Oversized 29.25" Redfish, boy what a fish!  We then came back to Seymore's Pointe and eased in between two docks and took up the float rigs with live shrimp. Fishing a few feet off the bank, all three anglers caught and landed some nice keeper sized Seatrout. Paul had one of the biggest, a 21.5" Gator Trout! Again, the wind had picked up so we made a quick tour thru Horsehead then headed in, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Sunday, December 23, 2018

Starting a Christmas Holiday Off Right

The Blalock's were back in town for the Christmas holiday - Bob, his son William and daughter-in-law Dara. I met them out at the Goffinsville boat ramp and boy was it a "cool" one with temperature's just a tad bit under 40. The sun was coming up and there was enough fog to keep me from opening it up most of the way down to Broward Island. The tide had a couple of  more hours to come in so it wasn't such a great time to be fishing Broward but I thought, being that we were right there, we might as well try it. The Blalock team are excellent anglers and were making pin point casts
to the bank but the fish just didn't cooperate until finally, William hooked up and put a small Sheepshead in the boat.

We made a run back to Christopher Creek and fished some docks and it seemed like we just weren't going to get many fish when, BOOM! William had felt a fish pick up his jig and shrimp combo and move off with it and after he set the hook, Big Fish On!  William played it expertly and luckily the fish headed for deeper water so all William had to do was be patiently and land the big
23.35" Slot sized Redfish. All fish caught today were released. We worked around the bank and as we reached a grass line all three anglers put Redfish in the boat, with one of Dara's being in the Slot.

Our next stop, after coming out of the creek was down around Seymore's Pointe. We fished a grassy pointe that looked like and excellent ambush pointe but had not takers, then after a "tip", we set up along a bank of grass that had submerged oysters and Wow! Crazy! We started catching fish, one after the other: Keeper sized Seatrout. Keeper sized Slot Redfish. Keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum. Keeper sized Sheepshead. Keeper sized Flounder. The bite was on fire and we took advantage of it, fishing down the very last shrimp in the well! Again, all fish caught today were released, and it made for a great day of fish pre-Christmas fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Thursday, December 20, 2018

Big Sheepshead Blows Away Bragging Rights

With less than two weeks left in the year for guest anglers on the Anglers Mark to vie for bragging rights for the biggest fish caught during the year, we had a huge Sheepshead caught today that landed in first place for the 2018 Anglers Mark Bragging Rights Tournament! 

I had met Tom and Kelli Middleton down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning and after running up the intercoastal to deep into Jackstaff we set up at a large marsh outflow and began tossing live shrimp under floats on a high and outgoing tide. Although we had a nibble or
two we had no takers so we eased forward with plans to fish a marsh bank. We had only move thirty yards when both anglers began to get bites, then hookups, and then Seatrout catches. It was a good flurry of catching then Kelli had a good bite and this time her drag began to rip. I was a little concerned that I had set the drag to light and that a decent Trout was ripping the line out, but boy was I mistaken! Kelli played the fish perfectly and a after a good battle, landed a big 21.25" Sheepshead and garnered 1st place in my Bragging Rights Tournament. (scroll down the right side of this report for standings).

After fishing that bank we moved back into Jackstaff and worked another bank  and here Tom put the first Redfish in the boat. We picked up another Trout or two before we made the run thru Horsehead and over to some docks. Although we had no real bites on jigs and shrimp around the pilings, we again picked up another Red up near the marsh grass.

Our next stop was down at the Spanish Drop area and here we stuck with the jig rods. Tom was makin excellent casts to another marsh run out and after he had a hard "bump", he set the hook and, Fish On!  He played it patiently and soon landed the first Slot Redfish of the day. He went back to the same spot and after a couple of casts, he picked up another nice Redfish.  After fishing one more shell lined bank in that area we made a final run down to Broward Island, still fishing the outgoing tide, which had gotten down pretty low, and the fish catching got hot!

Tom's first cast between some limbs produced a feisty Redfish then he found a "honey hole" that produced a couple of keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum and a couple of keeper sized Sheepshead. Kelli got in on the action and picked up another Slot Redfish to wrap up another great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Cold Weather Drag

Whooooeeee! It was 38 degrees when I met Bob and Adrianna Reynolds out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp this morning and fog covered the Nassau River, enough so that visibility was only about 50 yards. We puttered thru the fog down to Broward Island and began pitching mud minnows on a jig up to the bank. It took a good handful of casts but finally Bob had a strong bite and, BOOM! Big Fish On! He and I both could tell that it was a big fish - it was digging deep hard and ripping the drag - but Bob was playing it perfectly and patiently and...BAP...fish off! Ouch!   And only a few minutes later Adrianna had a similar hookup, except her big fish started
heading towards Orlando and...BAP....fish off!  In retrospect, I wonder if the drags were just so cold and hadn't been used all morning and they had less "give".

But these two anglers were not to be deterred and as we worked the bank they began to catch some feisty Redfish. Bob picked up a Seatrout before we left the area.

We fished some docks at Seymore's Pointe and Bob hooked up and landed another Red then we cruised down the Nassau to fish some marsh grass and flooded shell beds. Adrianna got hot and caught 2-3 Redfish with one of them being in the Slot size (and with 13 spots) then Bob warmed up and put another Seatrout and then a Flounder in the boat to garner his Amelia Island Back Country Slam of Redfish, Seatrout and Flounder.  The sun had warmed things up and it made for a great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Thursday, November 29, 2018

Fishing On The Lee Side

Talk about cold and windy! We had moved our early morning trip yesterday to the afternoon and as we stood at the boat ramp watching the west wind blow white caps across the river we questioned, "did we really want to go fishing?" I had met Austin Jackson, is father Stan, and their friend Doug Mackle up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park and on land it was a beautiful day! But we decided to fish and we found out that as long as we stayed on the lee side of a land mass, the fishing was enjoyable.

Our fist stop was over on the outside of Tiger Island, fishing live shrimp and mud minnows.  We had gotten a few nibbles when finally Doug, after making an excellent cast where we saw some mullet get "popped" and in short order his float disappeared and, Fish On!  Doug played the fish patiently and soon landed a nice Redfish. Stan was drifting his float with the current behind the boat and he then hooked up and reeled in a keeper sized Seatrout.

We then ran around to Lanceford Creek and fished a grass patch to no avail, then bounced over to Soap Creek and here the fish catching picked up a tad, coinciding with the outgoing tide.  Stan found a couple of more Trout off the stern and Austin got on the board with a Trout catch of his own.

Our final stop was back at some docks on Lanceford and here the things got hot. I think it was the first "demo" cast that got a bite, then all three anglers were catching fish. Most were Red Drum with a couple of smaller Black "puppy" Drum thrown in. We added two Slot Reds to the box then called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Thanksgiving Fun Fishing at Amelia Island

You just can't beat a good day of fishing especially when you know that some great food is coming your way the next day for Thanksgiving! Paul Doman and his family were visiting Amelia Island and he and his daughters Edi and Adelaide met me early this morning down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp at the very top of a  high tide. We left the ramp, ran up the intercoastal and dipped into Jackstaff with plans to fish a large marsh runout with float rigs an live shrimp. I'm pretty sure it was first cast and, Fish On! I've been telling people you can't hardly NOT catch a Trout if you've been
fishing the last few days and today was no exception. Paul reeled in that first fish but the ladies got in on the action quickly and soon they too were hauling in fish. We worked up and down the bank and caught fish as we went.

After running thru Horsehead we made a stop at some docks at Seymore's Pointe and again, Seatrout were biting on almost every drift. Bait was getting busted up along some grass and after Paul had made a pinpoint cast, let it drift naturally along the grass,
BOOM! Big fish On!  Paul played it perfectly and  patiently and soon landed a nice 24" Slot Redfish. Later, he was fishing somewhat out a ways, over some submerged oysters, and hooked up and landed a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum (all fish caught today were released). Both Edi and Adelaide brought in keeper sized Seatrout.

We ran down to Pumpkin Hill and while the girls took a break, Paul worked the bank over a shell bottom and caught three feisty Redfish. One fish hookup was brief - the fish rolled, took his bait, and BAP! Fish off in just a split second!

Our final stop was back at Spanish Drop and here Edi had the hot hand - she caught a couple of Trout then after a perfect cast to some exposed shell, BOOM! Another Big Fish On! Edi worked it to the boat and after a good battle landed another Slot Redfish. What a great way to wrap up a fun fishing trip here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Outstanding Catching in Amelia Island Backwaters

I fished with the Nolan crew this morning, Pete and his daughters Taylor and Tatum and her boyfriend Victor, meeting them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp. We had a high and outgoing tide and decided to fish a large marsh runout above some docks in Eagan's Creek with float rigs and live shrimp.

Just like yesterday, it didn't take long before these anglers were catching fish, and a lot of them! Taylor started it off with a nice
Seatrout catch and then she kept it going, reeling in a couple of more. Tatum and her dad Pete picked it up from there and began to get on the action, catching Trout, Trout, Trout. Victor had an early case of "Victoritus" but he finally shook it off and caught his share of Trout.

We worked along the bank and found a slender grass island with submerged oysters surrounding it. Pete had let his float drift up close to it and, BOOM! Big fish on! He played it perfectly and soon
put a nice 21" Slot Redfish in the boat. We worked up the way, caught a few more Trout, then as we drifted back by the island, the Reds began to bite in earnest. Tatum caught and landed a Slot Redfish then it was Pete's turn again - Big Redfish On!  This one was even bigger than his first and put up a great battle but Pete was up to the task and eventually landed a big 24" Slot fish.  Both Tatum and Victor caught Redfish that were just under the 18" Slot size.  We caught more Trout for a while then made the run around to Tiger to finish out the day.

All anglers caught Trout at a point of grass and Pete, determined to feed the family,  added a keeper sized Weakfish. When we fished the treetops, Pete added a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum and a Flounder to round out his Amelia Island "Super Grande Slam" of Redfish, Seatrout, Black Drum, Flounder, and Weakfish!  What a great way to wrap up a fun day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Monday, November 19, 2018

Like Gangbusters

I fished with the Richardson's today, Mark and his dad Allen and son Brayden, meeting them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp and boy was it foggy! But not so much that we couldn't cruise to our first spot with 100 yards of visibility.  After we set up in Lanceford Creek at a large marsh run out and baited our float rigs with live shrimp, the anglers made their casts and BOOM! Seatrout on! From then in on it was like Gangbusters, fish after fish after fish caught. Most of the Trout were undersized but they put 3-4 fat keeper sized fish in the boat, too. (All fish caught today were
released). As we worked along the bank this trio of anglers picked up a couple of feisty Redfish, had a big one break off in the oysters, and made an hour and a half of fish catching fun!

Before we left the area we fished some dock pilings in Lanceford to no avail, then made the long run up the Bell River to some more docks. Mark caught another feisty Redfish and Brayden put another keeper sized Trout in the boat - both fishing with jigs and mud minnows.

Our final stop was around at Tiger Island, fishing the tree tops. Allen hauled in a couple of nice Reds, we added a small Black "puppy drum" and then a small Flounder to round out an Amelia Island Back Country Grande Slam of Seatrout, Red Drum, Black Drum and Flounder, making for a another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Sunday, November 18, 2018

Trout, Redfish and Flounder

Trout, Redfish, and Flounder - that's what we're catching right now, and as for quantities, in that order. Today I fished with Gil Langley, his daughter Brittany and son-in-law Nate, meeting them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp for an early morning trip. The sun was just up as we headed up the intercoastal to dip into Jackstaff Creek and then ran even further up into the marsh. It only took seconds after the first float and live shrimp were tossed for us to have a fish on - Nate was on the rod and he expertly reeled in a nice hungry
Seatrout.

Gil found out that he could drift his float on the back side of a corner of marsh and pick up a fish and he pulled in a couple of more Trout. We crossed the creek and began to ease along the shoreline and Brittany got in on the action when she hooked up and landed Trout, then Nate had a stronger bite, a hookup, and then played the fish patiently to the boat, our first Redfish of the day.

We then ran thru Horsehead and around to Spanish Drop and switched to jigs and shrimp and again, all three anglers caught fish. After moving down the bank 100 yards and sticking with the jigs, we really got into some fish. Gil put a keeper sized Seatrout in the boat and there was a Redfish or two caught there. If the Seatrout minimum size limit was 14", we would have had a "mess"! Fortunately, Gil found another that was keeper sized.

After briefly fishing some dock pilings at Seymore's Pointe we ran down to Broward Island and worked the tree tops. Brittany hooked up and landed a keeper sized Flounder, then garnered her very own "Amelia Island Back Country Slam" when she caught a Redfish.  Both Gil and Nate added fish before we called it a day, another beautiful one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

21" Slot Red, and a Quarter

After a couple of days off (one due to weather), I got the opportunity to fish with Len Pelletiere and his brother Joe who was visiting Amelia Island for a few days. We met down at the Big Talbot Island Park boat ramp and made the longish run up to Broward Island to take advantage of the first of an incoming tide. The two anglers began tossing jigs and live shrimp to the bank and before long Len had put a small Black "puppy" Drum in the boat and a couple of feisty Redfish. We eased along the bank and Joe got in on the action by landing a couple of feisty Reds himself, and then added a Sheepshead to the mix - we had a Slam!  When things seemed
to slow we made a move, running back to the Spanish Drop.

Here, we caught another Redfish or two then we moved back to some docks at Seymore's Pointe. Len was fishing a float over the oysters and hooked up and landed a keeper sized Black Drum (all fish caught today were released). We had seen a fish bust bait up near a little bend in the grass and after Joe had made a pinpoint cast his float slipped under the surface and, Fish On!  He worked it patiently to the boat and landed   nice Slot 21", and quarter sized fish. Just minutes later he got his cast back to the same spot and, Boom! Another nice fish on. He worked this one to the boat and landed it also, another Slot sized fish.

We eventually made the run thru Horsehead and fished a stretch of now flooded marsh grass and Len ended with the hot hand, putting a few hungry Sea Trout in the boat and garnering the duo an Amelia Island Back Country Grande Slam of Redfish, Black Drum, Sheepshead and Seatrout. Another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

Friday, November 9, 2018

Into The Fog

When I met Allen and Lavern Webb up at the north end boat ramp we had fairly clear skies but when we landed at our first stop at the outside of Tiger Island, the fog began to roll in, and it was THICK! Allen set up on the bow and tossed a 7w fly rod while Lavern took the stern with a float rig and live shrimp. We worked along the flooded marsh grass on a  high and incoming tide. Allen had no "hits" on the fly and Lavern wasn't doing much better until finally, her float disappeared with a vengeance and as her drag began to sing we knew, BIG FISH ON!  Lavern kept the pressure on, let the fish run and when it
rolled a few times up near the grass we could tell that it was a big Redfish. She worked it patiently to the boat and eventually landed a 26 1/2" Slot Redfish and this one had some "shoulders"!
But it was crazy that we had no real bites after that.

We crept thru the fog and checked out a couple or three flooded grass flats but so no sign of tailing fish so we continued on thru Tiger and around to Bell River where we set up alongside some flooding oysters and here both anglers put a handful of hungry Seatrout in the boat. Our next stop was around at Lanceford Creek, fishing a grass patch with the float rigs and with the first cast, BOOM! Lavern hooked up and landed a big Seatrout. We caught a few more Trout as the tide had turned and started back out, hit another grass patch and picked up another keeper, then made one more short run.

This stop was up Soap Creek and it was a good move because Lavern put another keeper Trout in the boat, then Allen matched it with a big one of his one, and one upped it with the biggest Trout of the day, a 19 1/2" fish. The fog had cleared and the sun was out, the water was like glass, and we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida



Thursday, November 8, 2018

Boys Day Out

I fished with Bob Cadorin and  his two son-in-laws Nick and Carlos, meeting them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp mid morning. The tide had peaked around 9am so we ran over to Lanceford Creek and fished a grass patch as the water started back out. The trio were tossing float rigs and live shrimp and started off feeding the "baitstealers", but finally, we had a hookup and "knocked the skunk off" with a Seatrout catch. I expected more bites but we didn't get them so we made the move!

Soap Creek was nearby and as we eased in things were looking
pretty good with the water now draining from the marsh and the fish bite picked up. All three anglers had Trout catches and Bob put a keeper sized one in the boat. Later, we caught a Slot Redfish and then another one or two small but "feisty".

We then made the run back and around to Tiger Island. The wind had picked up but luckily it was out of the NE and as we got around behind the island, the conditions were ripe for catching fish. After
landing a couple of good eat'n Whiting and a sizable Croaker, we began to work the logs.  Bob added another Slot Redfish, Nick added a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum and Carlos picked up a sizable 19" Flounder to round out their Amelia Island Back Country Grande Slam!  With that, we headed in, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.




Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Trout For Dinner

I fished with the Wytiaz father and son duo, Frank and Eric, meeting them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning. We made the quick run up to Pumpkin Hill and began fishing some flooded grass on  a high and incoming tide with float rigs and live shrimp. After a short stretch, Frank "knocked the skunk off" when he hooked up and boated a nice keeper sized Seatrout.  We picked up one or two more on that stretch then bumped around the corner to fish a large grass patch.  There were a couple of Trout hanging out and we caught them, too!

We ran over to Christopher Creek, broke out the jig rods, and fished some dock pilings but we had zero bites. After coming out of the creek we made a stop at Seymore's Pointe and had picked up a quick keeper sized Trout that was hanging out at a grassy pointe.

Spanish Drop was our next stop and here the anglers caught a handful of Trout - Eric got hot there at the end and put 3-4 in the boat one after the other - and Frank found a couple of feisty Redfish up near the bank. It was an absolutely beautiful day and we caught fish so we counted as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Tuesday, November 6, 2018

Trout Filets Coming Up!

I had the pleasure of fishing with Clint and Jean Davis again yesterday morning, meeting them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. There had been forecasted rain but these two anglers were game to go fishing anyway!  We made the run up the Nassau River to Pumkin Hill and began to toss float rigs with live shrimp up to some flooded grass patches on the very top of a high tide. We were only in to fishing for a few minutes when Jean's float disappeared and she had a hookup, a nice keeper sized Seatrout!  Shortly after hat Clints float vanished with a vengeance and his drag began to rip, FISH ON!  I at once thought "big Redfish" but as the fish
kept going and going we had the sinking feeling - a Shark. Ouch. But it was a good fight and fun to catch and after we got it boatside we were back to fishing.

We worked that area thoroughly and every once in a while picked  up a Trout with a Redfish or two added in and ended up with a couple more keeper Trout. Our next stop was down at the Spanish Drop area where we worked the bank with float rigs on a now outgoing tide. We picked up ONE (1) Redfish. The very same spot the day before I guestimate we caught 20-25 fish! Crazy how one day makes a difference!

The docks at Seymore's were our next stop and here Clint got on the "keeper board" in a big way, catching two nice 18"  keeper Seatrout on jigs and shrimp. We finished up fishing the mouth of Jackstaff then called it  day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

Sunday, November 4, 2018

Redfish and Trout Catching Bonanaza

 

I met the Richmond family, Dale and his daughter Katie, her husband JR and their son Neil, out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp the early morning of the Time Change. The tide was just starting out up here so we made the quick jump over to Pumkin Hill and set up fishing some grass patches and it wasn't long before all four anglers were catching fish. The Seatrout bite was on fire and they reeled in one after the other. They added a Bluefish and a Bonnethead Shark, and may have had couple of Redfish. A couple
of the Trout were of keeper size.

When the bite slowed there we hit another bank and these making were making pinpoint casts and it payed off. They picked up a good handful of Trout and another Red or two.

Things slowed so we buzzed back down the Nassau and down to Spanish Drop and set up along a bank that had submerged shell along the bank. Redfish, Redfish, Redfish, Redfish, Redfish....and a
few Trout were caught. We were using live shrimp and mud minnows and it didn't matter what we used for a bait. We finished the day tossing jigs and minnows and plastic grubs and caught fish on those, too!  It was an outstanding day for fish catching and another great one here at Amelia Island, Florida

Saturday, November 3, 2018

We Lost Count

You know when the first cast of the day catches a big Seatrout and then you lose count of how many fish you've caught within the first thirty minutes - it's been a good morning of fishing!  That was how it was this  morning. I had met Ann Mastroserio and her friends Rich and James up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp but we had a stiff wind blowing out of the North West, so we made the first run down to Lanceford Creek to try and get out of the wind, and it worked! Our first cast was to marsh run out and BOOM! Float Gone! Rick was on the rod and patiently worked in a big Trout that measured a little over 18", now that's the way to start a fishing trip.


 From then on it was game on and all three anglers were putting fish in the boat, one after the other! Seatrout, mostly under 15", but once in a while a "keeper" then as we got near some oyster beds, they began to catch Redfish. Most of those were undersized unit Ann hooked up with one that ripped drag. She played it like a pro and soon landed our first Slot Redfish. These anglers added another Slot Red to the catch and a couple more keeper sized Trout before we move on.

We fished some dock pilings on Lanceford and had one Redfish catch then we made the long run back to Tiger Island and set up fishing. Again, first cast, and BOOM!  James had a good hookup. He worked it to the boat and landed another Slot Redfish. We worked the bank thoroughly,  then crossed over to fish the opposite bank and found a keeper sized Whiting to round out our catch. It was beautiful morning, albeit a tad bit windy, but we when we called it day we counted it another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Friday, November 2, 2018

Puppy Drum Bite

I had the Pete Nolan group today and I fished with Tom, Eric and Dimas, meeting them all up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park. We made our run over to Lanceford Creek to fish some docks and we began to pitch jigs and shrimp up to the pilings. I was beginning to think that it was a tie between the gnats and "baitstealers" as to what was biting the most. Luckily these anglers hung in there and were able to catch a few fish - one a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum, then a feisty Redfish, then a nice sized Grouper, believe it or not!

When we tired of the gnats and baitstealers we ran back north and around to Tiger Island and spent the rest of the day there and it turned out pretty good. The trio put three more keeper sized Puppy Drum in the boat, a couple of more keeper sized Seatrout, and a nice 18" Flounder to round out a good "mess 'o fish"!  When we ran short of bait we switched to jigs and plastic grubs and caught Trout. The two hottest colors were a silvery/glitter grub with a chartreuse paddle tail and then the age old red head/white twister tail.

Although we started slow we finished strong and it made for another great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Already In The Winter Pattern?

Boy what a beautiful day we had today! I had met Clint and Jean Davis up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp as the sun was coming up and we made a quick buzz around to Tiger Island to take advantage of the very first of an incoming tide. We fished the north end for just a bit and the "baitstealers" made their presence known so we eased down to the tree tops and this did the trick. Jean had made an excellent cast up into a pocket and as she worked it out she felt a faint bump, set the hook, and FISH ON! She played it perfectly and soon landed a nice 18" Black "puppy" Drum. The "Skunk" was off!  Dean had been casting to another pocket and wasn't quite
getting it to where he wanted it, but after a perfect cast, BOOM! Big Fish On!  You can always tell when you have a big fish on light tackle because it Just. Doesn't. Come. In!  But Clint was patient, let it make a few runs, then slowly worked it to the net, a nice 25" THICK Slot Redfish!

After the two anglers put another Slot Red and another keeper sized Puppy Drum in the boat, and some smaller Reds to go along with those, we crossed the creek and set up where we had seen some bait getting busted. Sure enough, both Clint and Jean began catching Seatrout, up to 14" in length. We caught a good handful and probably could have caught another handful, but we decided to make a run up to the Jolley River.

The first 50 yards of oysters we fished produced nothing but baitstealers, and a lot of them, but finally Clint had a good bite on a float rig and live shrimp and he hooked and landed another Slot Redfish. And that was it!  We fished another couple of banks in the Jolley and only caught a fish or two. After we fished some flooding oysters in the Bell River, we called it day, another great one fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

We had somke good fishing early around the logs but not much along the oyster beds, later. Makes me wonder if the water temperature (67 degrees) is already affecting the fish!  We also saw a Bald Eagle, Blue Heron, and a Manatee during this trip!

Monday, October 29, 2018

Grande Slam on a Great Day

What a beautiful morning to start the week here at Amelia Island, Florida! I met John Cipriani and Dean Miller out at the Goffinsville Park with the tide still going out but due to hit bottom within the hour so we made a bee-line for  Broward Island and set up off of the tree tops with plans to fish with jigs and live shrimp. The Redfish were busting bait all along the bank and it wasn't long before they were busting John and Dean's baits too!  We began to catch one Redfish after the other and then picked up a good handful of Seatrout, too.  Dean added a Flounder to round out his  "Slam" early then John had a
strong bite and the battle was on!  He played the big fish patiently, kept the pressure on, and soon landed a 26" "Tournament" Slot Redfish, boy what a fish!

We fished that spot thoroughly, then moved down the island and picked up a couple of fish before we made the run back to Seymore's Pointe and picked a dock to fish. One side didn't produce but he other one did! Both John and Dean both put some Black "puppy" Drum in the boat to garner their "Grande Slam" for the day and they also had a feisty Redfish to go along with the catch.

Our next stop was down at Spanish Drop and here John picked up a couple of Reds and then a Trout. Our final stop was back at Pumpkin Hill and just when I thought we'd get "skunked" on this one, Dean had something roll on his bait, take it with a vengeance and then it was off to deep water. Dean kept the pressure on and let the light tackle rod do the work as the fish took him to the bow then it fought from one side of the boat to the other. But Dean was up to the task and eventually landed a nice 4' Bonnethead Shark, boy what a battle. And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

Grass Patches

I fished again this morning with the Blalock fishing team William and Bob, meeting this time out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp. With just a short jump over to Pumpkin Hill, we were fishing in a matter of minutes. Both Bob and William were set up fishing live shrimp under floats on a high and still incoming tide. Although our first spot produced nothing but nibbles, we eased forward 50 yards and began to catch fish. Bob had the hot hand early and picked up 2-3 keeper sized Trout behind a small grassy island.

We eased around a point and drifted down the bank, pitching to the grass, and when we got to
another couple of stand-alone grass patches, BOOM!  We began to catch fish. It was only about 3' deep and I knew there were oyster beds underneath the water. Bob had landed a fish or two and William had yet to "get on the board" when his float went by a patch of grass and slowly went under. William set the hook and the fish went crazy!  It fought and splashed and jumped all the way to the boat but William easily landed the biggest fish of the day, a nice 21" fat Seatrout (all fish caught today were released). Boy what a fish! After getting few more fish there we made the short run over to Christopher Creek.

As we worked some dock pilings with jigs and live shrimp,  William stayed hot, catching a feisty Redfish and a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum. Bob had a good bite that thru the hook then he had a huge bite - one that ripped drag and stayed put...and thru the hook, ouch! 

We fished some docks at Seymore's Pointe then switched to some jigs and plastic grubs and we did pick one more Trout before we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida