Neck and Neck

 

I fished today with Don Bickel and  his brother-in-law Doc, meeting them out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp. The tide was still coming in for  just a few minutes so we made a quick run over to Pumpkin Hill, "anchored" and began to drift float rigs with live shrimp. My "demo" cast produced a bite that I wasn't ready for but subsequent drifts produced some action. Each angler caught 2 fish - Jacks and Ladyfish and Seatrout They continued for a while to "tally" their catch and they stayed neck and neck the whole day.

We came back to Seymore's Pointe as the tide started out and fished a large drainage with the floats and even though they had a few nibbles, there were no takers. We ran thru Horsehead and around to Jackstaff and fished another drainage and here we had zero nibbles! But these anglers were not to be deterred! After a quick jump over to Poteat Cut we had just set up to fish a pointe and they caught fish. Doc put a keeper sized Seatrout in the boat and followed it up with a Jack Crevalle catch. Then Don had a strong hookup that was tugging hard and ripping some drag. When it "boiled up" I declared it a Redfish but after Don patiently played it to the boat he landed a Big 19" Seatrout, boy what a fish!

After running back thru Horsehead we fished Twin Creeks for a bit and here Doc put another Jack in the boat. We worked the bank forward for about 20 yards and Don had another big bite. He fought it to the net and landed a Slot Sized Redfish (all fish caught today were released). And shortly after that he landed another Jack(we guestimated we had about 6 today)

Our final stop was back at some docks at Nassauville where we added to the catch one more Seatrout. As we headed back to the dock we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Tripletail Surprise

 

After a long weekend off with the Memorial Day holiday I was back at it today when I met Tom Jenkins with his son Braden and friend Steve, with his son Zach. We met early up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp, eased out of Eagans Creek, and made our way over to the outside of Tyger on a tide that had been going out for about 2  hours. That first stop we drifted float rigs and live shrimp and did pick up a couple of small Seatrout.

We then motored on up the way and stopped briefly at a large drainage to toss jigs and mud minnows in hopes of a Flounder, but it was to no avail. Continuing on around to the Jolley, we worked the "Bank" with the float rigs and here Tom found a feisty Redfish (with 5 spots). They caught another small Trout or two and a couple of Croaker.

After running further up the Jolley, we made a stop at Snook Creek and here Braden finally woke up! He hooked and expertly played a nice keeper sized Seatrout to the net, battled a Ladyfish or two, and then battled a surprising Tripletail to the boat!

We continued on up the Jolley and fished an exposed oyster bank, now tossing jigs, and here Tom put another 5 spot Redfish in the boat, slightly undersized, but still fun to catch. With time running out, we hit one more spot, the MOA. Steve had made a good cast with the jig and live shrimp and when his hookuip began to rip some drag we knew it had some size. Steve played it perfectly and soon landed a nice 19.5" slot sized Redfish. Then Steve, fishing a bit deeper, had a good "thump" he played it patiently and brought to the net a big 22" Seatrout, a fish big enough to move him in to 2nd Place in the 2023 Anglers Mark Bragging Rights Tournament-Seatrout Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings).

Zach had been making excellent casts all day long and had a handful of small bites - he got to feel a good battle for just a bit before the fish finally broke off - it just wasn't to be (I wonder now if he had his lucky hat on?) The sun had shown most of the day, we had just a little bit of breeze and as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Squeezin in a Trip

 We've had rain and wind all week and trips had to be cancelled or rescheduled but we were able to squeeze in a trip today before tomorrows expected high winds (again).  I met Laura and Alex Winter out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp early and although it was nice and sunny the NE wind was already picking up a bit. We fished between a couple of docks at Nassauville then ran thru Horsehead and around to Poteat Cut and set up fishing some exposed oyster beds on the last of an outgoing tide. Laura "knocked the skunk off" with a feisty Jack Crevalle catch. But even though both anglers were getting good casts, we had only nibbles after that. 

We fished the mouth of Jackstaff for a stretch then made the run back thru Horsehead to settle in at some docks at Seymore's Pointe to fish jigs and live shrimp on the first of the incoming tide. Alex got on the board when he hooked up and landed a fat Mangrove Snapper and just as we netted it Laura had a big hookup. She was fishing from the bow and this fish took her around the stern and was putting a big bow in her rod and as the drag ripped we felt like it was a pretty nice fish. Laura came back to the stern, shifted from port to Starboard and then followed the fish back up to the bow where we eventually netted a big Jack Crevalle, boy what a battle!

After running down to Broward Island we fished it briefly on the incoming tide but that NE wind had picked up and was kicking our butts! We ran further up the Nassau and into a creek where we were sheltered. Laura was making pinpoint casts and it paid off when she caught  feisty Redfish. But even though it was outstanding conditions, we had no more luck so we buzzed out of there and made one more stop at the mouth of Pumpkin Hill. 

We'd switched to float rigs and live shrimp and were drifting them down a marsh bank and after Alex had gone long his float disappeared. Alex caught up the line, lifted the rod and let the circle hook set and, Fish On!  He played it patiently and soon brought to the net a Slot sized Redfish. And only minutes later, we did the same thing - this fish was putting up a good battle and I was thinking "big Trout" but when it came to the surface we saw it was small Bonnethead - fun to catch - but it went back. The wind was really kicking now but we had braved it all morning and as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida 

Caballa Espanola!

 

I wrapped the week up fishing with  my newest "in-laws", Douglas and Cindy Bailey who were down visiting Amelia Island to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary!  We met up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp, eased out of Eagans Creek, and made a quick run over to Bell River where we set  up fishing a flooded oyster bed with float rigs and live shrimp with a high tide expected about 9:30am. Both anglers were getting good drifts but we had no takers.

We then moved around to Lanceford Creek and were treated to a Manatee sighting. It caused a boil up near the grass - Douglas made a perfect cast to the spot and BOOM! He had a hookup which he fought successfully back to the net - a hard fighting Jack Crevalle. It must have been hanging close to the Manatee. Shortly after that Douglas worked in another Jack Crevalle, then Cindy, fishing off the stern, had a good hookup. She played it patiently and soon landed a keeper sized Seatrout.

We fished further down Lanceford, then even further -fishing a small grass patch then a seawall, then we made the run back to the Bell River, thru Tyger Basin and around to the outside of Tyger where we set up to fish the first of the outgoing tide. It didn't take long before we began to get fish. The duo landed a fat Mangrove Snapper, Cindy put a surprise in the boat - a Spanish Mackerel (Caballa Espanola in Spanish!), then Douglas expertly landed a big Seatrout, then another Jack Crevalle. 

After crossing the creek we picked up another couple of Seatrout and battled a 4' Bonnethead Shark to the boat, then made a tour of Beach Creek, the outside of Cumberland, Fort Clinch and Old Town and as we headed back, we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Biggest Flounder For The Year

 

We had another Bragging Rights entry burst onto the scene today, the 2nd in consecutive days!  I had met Don Frank and his fishing partner Paul up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp and after making our way out of Eagans, we made a short run over and up to the Bell River where we set up to toss float rigs and live shrimp The tide still had about an hour or two to come in. Both anglers were getting good casts and good drifts and had a couple of nibbles and then Paul had a Shark bite that headed west, and kept going!

After moving around to the other side of a flooded oyster point and trying our luck there, we made the short run over to Lanceford Creek and fished a small drainage and here things picked up. Don was going up just beyond a point of grass with his cast and it paid off with two keeper sized Seatrout catches. Then Paul had a hookup and this one was pulling a bit harder and sure enough, after expertly playing it, he landed nice 18" Seatrout.

We then ran thru Tyger Basin around to the outside and set up fishing a point of grass as the tide started
out. The two anglers had a few nibbles but no takers but then we started seeing some rather large tails flapping at us!  I'm pretty sure they were Sheepshead. We got some good casts to them but they just wouldn't eat our shrimp. Then Don made an excellent cast right where they were tailing and when his float slowly went under I knew we had a nice fish. But this fish just stayed deep, didn't thrash much at all, and didn't make any hard runs so I was beginning to wonder and....when it came to the surface we saw that it was a Door Mat Flounder! After netting it and photographs we found that it was right at 20" which move Don securely into First Place in the Anglers Mark 2023 Bragging Rights Tournament-Flounder Category, boy what a fish! (scroll down the right side of this report for standings)

We fished up the Jolley River for a bit, had no real luck, but as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Pulled Out a Amelia Island Back Country Slam

I fished north again today, meeting Scott Jones and his fishing team - Mathew and Andrew - up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp. We eased down Eagans Creek and made our way over to the outside of Tyger Island to set up tossing float rigs with live shrimp on the first of an outgoing tide. These anglers had made a good handful of casts and only had some small nibbles and I was beginning to get a bit worried when I heard Scott's reel "rip" and when I turned around and saw his rod bent I knew we hand a nice fish on. Scott said later he thought it was a nice Redfish but after expertly playing it to the net we saw that it was a big 22.25" Seatrout, boy what a fish, and big enough to move him into first place in the Anglers Mark 2023 Bragging Rights Tournament-Seatrout Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings).  

Then Mathew had a strong hookup and this big fish was half way to Georgia before it slowed down!
Mathew stayed patient, worked it in, let it run, worked it in, let it run, but eventually wore it out and brought it to the boat -a 4' Bonnethead Shark which we photographed and released.

We crossed over the creek and fished a large drainage and here Scott put a couple of Slot sized Redfish in the boat and Mathew added another big Seatrout to the catch total. After running up and around Tyger, we tried our hand with some jigs and minnows at a run out, tangled with a couple of Ladyfish, and moved on. We then worked Jolley "bank" with the float rigs, battled the Ladyfish, and picked up another nice Trout.

On further up, at Snook Creek, Scott went in close to the shore with a float rig and hooked up and landed the biggest Redfish of the day, one that measured right at 22". Andrew woke up and brought a few Ladyfish to the net in quick succession, Scott fought and landed a Bonnethead, then Mathew had a "bump", set the hook and reeled in a Flounder to round round out their Amelia Island Back Country Slam of Seatrout, Redfish and Flounder. After fishing the MOA for just a bit, we headed back to the ramp and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

One Hot Spot

 

I wrapped up my week fishing with Bob Kossman and Dale Bullard, meeting them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning with a tide that had been going out for a few hours. We made a quick trip around to the old Sawpit bridge and set up to drift slip floats long with live shrimp as bait, but to no avail - we had no bites, not even a nibble.

We then came back to the intercoastal and ran up and across to the Longpoint docks and worked a few of them with jigs and mudminnows. Dale did have one good bite - it took some drag - then was off! Ouch! We continued on up the intercoastal, past Jackstaff, to Poteat Cut and then eased along an exposed pointe an oyster bed and boy was there some activity! Bait was moving and getting "popped" and it didn't take long for these anglers to get some bites. They had a couple of Ladyfish encounters then Dale put a keeper sized Seatrout in the boat.  And then we caught a couple of feisty Redfish (one had 12 spots).

Moving over to the mouth of Jackstaff we worked a bank for a bit, then we crossed over and fished a
pointe where we did have a couple of good bites. After running thru Horsehead and down the Nassau to Spanish Drop we fished a couple of stretches of exposed shell banks where Bob got on the board with a feisty Jack Crevalle catch. 

We finished up  dueling with Mangrove Snapper back at Seymore's Pointe and although we caught a handful of them only one of them was of keeper size. Bob did have a good hookup which he successfully brought to the net - a Bluefish which he had plans to go into a Chowder.  We had had good weather, a bit of action, and so as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida 

High Flying Ladyfish and Slot Reds

 

I fished the the Klein group this morning, Tom and Gail and their friends Rob and Sherrie. We launched up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp and after easing out of Eagans Creek we made the short run over to behind Tyger to fish the logs ( or what's left of them). We worked the entire bank thoroughly on the first of an incoming tide and even though these anglers were getting good casts to the bank, we had only one feisty Bluefish caught.

Note, the logs behind Tyger just hasn't produced much lately. My theory is that storm last Fall pushed the logs up and built up the sand which covered up what structure there was left. Probably good for the island, but the fishing has "stunk".. 

We then made the run around to the Jolley River, turned into the current and fished the "bank". Gail and Tom were on the stern and they began to catch one high flying Ladyfish after another. It was as if they were following the boat. But later, both Rob and Sherrie, fishing forward, picked up Ladyfish, too. Then Rob had a strong hookup and this fish didn't "fly", but stayed deep and when it boiled we knew he had a nice Red. Rob played it patiently and brought to the net a nice Slot sized Redfish.

Sherrie then had a good hookup and she fought it expertly to the net and landed a rather nice sized Whiting that went in the box! Then Rob had another bite that ripped some drag and, Fish On! He kept the pressure on and worked it in - another Slot Redfish.

After moving up the river to Snook Creek we worked another oyster bed. We had a couple of good bites then we tangled with  a couple of Bonnethead Sharks. Rob's and Sherries headed south (and are still going) but Tom brought one in for a picture and release.

Our final stop was around at Bell River, fishing some docks. Here Tom hooked and landed a keeper sized Seatrout then he followed that up with a good Redfish battle, which he won when he brought to the net another Slot Redfish. Rob and Sherrie wrapped things up with a couple of small Sail Cat catches. And with that, we called it a day and headed in, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Good Variety, Good Fish at Amelia Island

 Although it was a bit overcast this morning, it made for a great day of fishing with only a slight breeze blowing. I had met Jonathan Valdez and his father-in-law Dan out at the Goffinsville Park on an "almost low" tide -it was still going out, so we went down a ways and fished between two docks with jigs and live shrimp. Both anglers had a "bump" now and then but it was Jonathan who "knocked the skunk off" when he hooked up and battle a large Catfish to the net. We had a Salt Marsh Mink sighting there, too. 

We then ran down to Broward Island and set up to fish the still outgoing tide, under the watchful eye of a Bald Eagle. Both anglers were getting good casts to the exposed drop off and when we bot between two logs the action commenced. Dan hooked up  and when his drag began to rip we knew it had a bit of size. While he was battling that, Jonathan hooked up and brought to the net a feisty Black Drum. Dan patiently played his fish and soon landed a Slot Sized Redfish. And shortly after that he caught a keeper sized Seatrout.

After fishing Broward we made our way back to Seymore's Pointe, then down to Spanish Drop where the duo tangled with high flying Ladyfish and Jack Crevalle. Then Jonathan, after just switching to a float rig and live shrimp, had his float disappear. He tightened up the line, lifted his rod and let the hook set and Fish On! Jonathan expertly brought it to the net and landed the feisty Redfish.  As we headed back to the dock we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Double Up On Shark

What a great Shrimp Fest weekend we had, and back to "work" today, fishing with Emily Rutt and her husband Joe. I met them early up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp and we headed out of Eagans on a beautiful morning on a tide that had been coming in for about 2 hours. We made the run up and around to the Jolley River, turned into the current and began to fish the "bank" with live shrimp and jigs.

Both anglers were getting good tosses  then Joe hooked up and battled to the net a high flying Ladyfish. Emily hooked up and had to the boat a small Sea Robin and Joe had another brief encounter with a Ladyfish. We ran up the river and fished the outside of Snook Creek then eased inside where, sure enough, they had some serious drag ripping fights with shark - the first was a double - Joe was up on the bow, Emily was back on the stern, and their sharks were headed in opposite directions!  That makes for some exciting times and it was for a bit until Emily's broke off, then shortly after, Joe's broke off too.

But just a short while later Joe hooked up and had a good fight with another shark and this  one he brought to the net for photograph and release. Emily had one more encounter with a big shark then she felt a good bump, set the hook and expertly landed a keeper sized Seatrout. After a photo, we released it to be caught another day.

We came back to the outside of Tyger Island and trolled the edge of a Jasper Beach with the jigs and mud minnows, thinking we might pick up a flounder. We think we had one good "bump", then a couple of times the "Ladyfish King" tangled with more Ladyfish, then we continued on over to Bell River. 

From then on we were fishing float rigs and live shrimp. We might of had a nibble once or twice but no takers. We fished Soap Creek and up in Lanceford then headed back to the dock counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Same Fishing Hole

 I fished with Ross and Rob Gibbs today, meeting them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early., We made the run  up the intercoastal and dipped into Jackstaff, and into a smaller creek then set up outside a drainage on the first of an outgoing tide. This was the same exact spot where I fished yesterday and we had gotten a nice keeper sized Seatrout and I was thinking, "maybe again"!  And sure enough the guess paid off - Rob had his float rig with live shrimp disappear  and after he caught up to it, he lifted his rod and "fish on"!  Rob brought it to the net and landed a nice 18" Seatrout to start the day!

We had a couple of bites but no takers until Ross had a strong bite that started ripping drag and heading south and BAP!, Fish Off!  Then Rob hooked up and landed a small but feisty Jack Crevalle. We moved over to Poteat Cut and fished a stretch but had no luck, then we ran thru Horsehead and fished a large drainage there. We did have some bites but no takers so we moved down the Nassau. 

Our first stop was at Twin Creeks and here we switched to jigs and shrimp. Rob hooked up and landed a hungry Seatrout and when we moved own to another drainage, Ross hooked up and landed another.  We fished Spanish Drop for a bit then made another run, this time up the Nassau and into a little creek. The duo of anglers worked it thoroughly and although the conditions were perfect, we had  no bites. 

Back to Seymore's Pointe we came to fish some docks and here they sharpened their skills dueling with Mangrove Snapper. Some they won, and some they lost.  We made one final stop back at Sawpit  where they picked up a couple of baitstealers. Ross did have a good fish on for a bit, one that was putting a bend in the rod but it threw the hook to send us on our way. But as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Down To The Wire

 Boy what a blow we had yesterday with steady winds up in the 20's and gusts even higher -glad I wasn't fishing! But sure enough, the wind died thru out the night and we had a glorious morning greet us when I met Mark and Jen Woodard and their daughter Lilli down at the Sawpit Creek Boat ramp. We made a long run up the intercoastal and dipped in to Jackstaff and then into a smaller creek and set up at a drainage on the first of an outgoing tide to pitch float rigs with live shrimp. Right off Lilli had a bite but it wasn't a taker then shortly after that Jen yelled, Fish On!  She played it expertly to the boat and landed a nice keeper sized Seatrout.

We then moved over to Poteat Cut and fished an edge and within minutes it was Lilli's turn to battle a fish. She fought it valiantly and soon brought to the net a 20" Slot Redfish. Two in the box! We fished back at the mouth of Jackstaff, bumped across and fished jigs on a point, then made a run thru Horsehead and over to Back River to fish a bank with the tide running by, but to no avail.

Back to Nassauville we went and here Mark got hot, putting a couple ofkeeper Mangrove Snapper in the boat. He also landed a Croaker that we could have kept, but we tossed it back. Around to Seymore's Pointe we went to fish some more dock pilings. The "competition" heated up! Jen and Mark were neck and neck with their fish count, catching Mangrove's and small Seabass and they raced to the finish line matching each other fish for fish. It went down to the wire but I think Mark edged Jen by one fish! As we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.