Recipe of the Month: Butter Beans and Shrimp

I saw this recipe pop up on Facebook and thought it looked like some real "comfort food"!  It was at a really cool site, boudreauxsrbackyard.com  I cooked it, it was outstanding!

Butter Beans and Shrimp

Ingredients:

2   tbsp oil

2   tbsp flour

1    lb large lima beans, cleaned and soaked (I used frozen, follow directions)

2    lb shrimp, peeled and deveined (save tails to make shrimp stock)

1    onion, chopped

2    stalks celery, chopped

4    cloves garlic

2    chilis (optional)(you won't taste 'em cooked), chopped

2     quarts of water (make shrimp stock out of tails)

1     cup cream

2    tbsp vegetable base

1/2   bunch of green onions, chopped

1    tbsp parsley, chopped

2    tbsp shrimp dust (I tried three stores and couldn't find this, hence the shrimp stock)

2    tbsp Creole seasoning (there was enough salt in my seasoning that I didn't need to add any)

      White Rice

      Sausage

Directions:

1.   Wash beans and soak them overnight

2.   Heat oil over med. heat and whisk flour, cook until light brown in color

3.   Add in trinity, garlic, chili's, stir and cook until soft

4.    Add in beans and water (shrimp stock)

5.   Stir in Creole seasonings, vegetable base and shrimp powder

6.   Simmer for 3-4 hours until beans are tinder. Add liquid as needed( I cooked the frozen beans          for about 30 minutes. The package called for about 25)

7.   Add in heavy cream and simmer 20 minutes

      It was about along here that I cooked my rice

8.   Add in shrimp, green onions and parsley and cook 15 more minutes

      It was about here that I cooked the sausage

9.    Serve over rice with a side of sausage

We Made The Run

 I wrapped my week up fishing with the Conforti guys today, meeting them up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp early. The weather had cleared from yesterday and it was a bit cooler, but winds were expected to pick up as the day went on. We made our first stop over at Tyger Island, fishing the logs with jigs and live shrimp but the first area produced nothing.  After moving down the way Fred(the middle) hooked up and expertly landed a feisty Redfish. Then Fred(the younger) had a strange bite, a hookup, and he landed a nice Flounder. 

The wind was already picking up as we ran thru Horsehead over to the Bell and down to Lanceford where we headed up the creek to fish some docks with the jigs. We were somewhat sheltered here but after fishing a couple of docks we had no real bites, so we moved on.

I had intended to run way up the Bell River and fish those docks but I figured it was about the same distance as running south  to where we had some good action yesterday, so we made the run. We did stop off at one spot to fish a deep hole, but again, no bites.

Reaching Seymore's Pointe we all switched to float rigs and tossed them up wind to get good drifts across a shallow oyster pocked flat and here we had some action. Leo put a keeper sized Seatrout in the boat, then Fred(the senior) had a strong hookup, one that ripped some drag. He fought it valiantly and after battle landed a Slot sized 21" Redfish. Fred(the middle) had the same kind of fight, played it perfectly and put another Slot Redfish in the boat. The anglers added another couple of smaller Reds, smaller Trout,and a Bluefish before Leo topped things off with another keeper Seatrout. 

We were a long way from the ramp and running into the wind but as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Big Bang at the End

 I was wondering who was crazier, me or my guests for wanting to fish this morning, especially when I
stepped out of the house and it was pouring rain. I got the boat ready to go, came in for some coffee, and as I headed to the bait shop it was still raining, and they were surprised to see me or anyone else heading out to fish. But the forecast called for the rain to stop mid morning, so when I met Steve Locke and his fishing buddy Jason out at the Goffinsville boat ramp we all had on our rain gear, and we headed out.

The first stop was down at Broward Island, fishing jigs on the very last of an outgoing tide. The water was a bit muddy, which had me worried, but Steve soon knocked the skunk of when he hooked and landed a feisty Redfish. Jason followed that up with a keeper sized Seatrout, then added another feisty Red to the catch total.  We picked up one or two more Reds and a Blue, fishing under the Bald Eagles, and we missed a couple of fish, too. 

We made our way around to Seymore's Pointe and fished some dock pilings, got a few nibbles, and Steve put another Trout in the boat.  After heading back around to some docks at Nassauville and here the water was calm with the wind blocked by the land mass. It took a few minutes but eventually both anglers began to get bites, and hookups. Steve took his chances up near a submerged log and caught another Red, a hard fighting Blue Fish, and then both he and Jason got in to some Flounder, catching and landing 5 of them with two being of keeper size. And we missed a few. 

Back Seymore's we switched to float rigs and they caught another Red, another Flounder, and another Blue Fish. On further around we fished a large drainage at the last of an incoming tide and this is when we had the Big Bang!  The duo began to get Seatrout of nice size, the biggest was 18.5" caught by Steve.  After Jason had made a cast that got him up alongside a grassy point, his float drifted and, BAM! Fish On!  He worked the fish out fairly quickly and we were thinking maybe a small Red, especially when it boiled, but then it began to rip drag with a vengeance and we knew it was big. There was a chance it may cut off on the shallow oysters but Jason stayed with it and finally brought to the net a big 26.5" "tournament" sized Redfish, boy what fish. They added a few more Trout to the boat, 6 keepers in all and of course there were a few that we missed. But as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as a wet fishing trip that turned out pretty good!

Chased Off

 I fished this morning with Glenn and Patti Langford, knowing we might get wet. We met down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and  headed up the Nassau, all the way to Broward to fish the first of an incoming tide with jigs and live shrimp. The first spot we stopped at didn't produce anything but nibbles, but as we moved down the way we began to get bites. We had a good bite, a hookup and Glenn battled to the boat a nice Slot sized Redfish. Patti, fishing off the stern, and a good hookup and landed another Red, then Glenn hooked up and fought to the boat another Slot Red.  We put a couple of more feisty Reds in the boat before we moved on. 

Down on the south end of the island, fishing under the Bald Eagles, Patti found a hungry Seatrout to bring to the net. After fishing the mouth of Pumpkin Hill with float rigs and feeding a handful of "bait stealers', we moved on. Our next stop was way up the Nassau, into a creek where we fished some downed logs. Again, Glenn had a hookup but this time his line got wrapped around his reel - as I worked to get it unwrapped, Glenn brought to the boat another feisty Red, brought in hand over hand!

As we were heading back to the Nassauville area we could see the rain heading our way but we were prepared with rain jackets. Unfortunately we were not ready for the lighting!  We could see flashes of the lightning and when it began to crash closer to us we decided to "pull the plug" and make a run back to the ramp. But we had had a few hours of fishing and had a couple in the box so as we pulled up to the dock we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

It Began and Ended With a Flurry

Boy what a wind we had yesterday! I had to cancel the trip with winds 17-20mph plus, but we thought we could get one in today. I met Derek Poon with his two sons Zach and Tylge down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early and the wind had died down to a comfortable 8mph so we made the run up the Nassau and around to Broward to try and catch the incoming tide before it got too high. I think first cast we had a hookup - Zach was on the rod and he played it perfectly to the net - a feisty Redfish and first fish of the day!

Shortly after that "dad" got hot -Derek caught and landed a Slot Red, then a nice keeper sized Seatrout. We moved down the way and fished back a little bit, under a Bald Eagle, and here Derek hooked up and landed a keeper sized Flounder - he had a "Slam" in the box!

We then came back up to Pumpkin Hill and switched to float rigs. The wind had picked up and it was making it difficult to cast into the wind but we did our best and caught a couple of small Seatrout. After fishing a grass patch for a bit we moved on. 

Our next stop was between two docks, back to fishing the jigs and shrimp and although we didn't have much action, Tyler did put another Flounder in the boat. We now had some high winds AND a high tide and I was thinking we had probably did all we were going to be able to do but we tried one final spot around at Seymore's, still tossing the float rigs and boy was I wrong All three anglers began to get bites - Seatrout. They had a handful of smaller Trout but Derek added 4 more keeper fish to his tally, Zach added a keeper Trout to his count, and Tyler put a big Blue in the boat. 

When we got back to the ramp we had a mess o' fish in the box so we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

The Killing of an Industry

Years ago while growing up in Fernandina we could go down to the City docks and purchase fresh shrimp right off the boats. Shrimp boats would be tied up two and three deep, stern to bow. There was a seafood market that ran perpendicular to the wharf that also sold fresh shrimp and seafood. And then, the shrimping industry dwindled.  A city that once proclaimed itself as the “birthplace of the modern shrimping industry” now showcases those same old time shrimpers as “Grande Marshals” in the Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival. But even now, you can see river shrimpers trawling their nets out in our rivers, and you will see the glimmer of lights of bigger shrimp boats off shore at night, dragging the waters.   But why are they no longer at the City docks? What happened to the shrimp industry? Surely higher gas prices hurt. Labor and insurance costs had to have gone up. Margins had to have gotten smaller trying to compete with the imported farm raised shrimp. But did City’s policy’s adversely affect the shrimp industry? Did they raise the dock prices and make it unaffordable to keep their boats there?

Fast forward to 2024.  City Commissioners Bean, Antun, Ayscue and Ross just voted to approve funding for the Waterfront Park, ignoring their own strategic planning that stresses keeping the area a “working waterfront”.  Only Commissioner Sturges voted to not approve the funding.  This vote, and moving forward with the Waterfront Park will be the death of your local Charter Boat industry at the Marina.  The Park plan squeezes the parking lot and will make it difficult to maneuver a boat trailer. The expanded Pentanque courts take up more

space that could be used for parking. The proposed new restaurant to replace Atlantic Seafood will require 75 parking spaces. The Plan already suggests combining Tour bus parking with boat trailer parking. But far worse than any of this, proponents of the Park are already promoting moving all City events to the waterfront – events that close boat trailer parking. Already the Pentanque Tournament closes the parking lot. The Shrimp Festival closes the parking lot.  Other events such as Sounds on Centre, the Chili Cookoff, and the Saturday Farmers Market have been proposed to move here. How can they have a thriving Farmers Market AND boaters maneuvering their

trailers at the same time? They’ll close the lot. If you are a boater, you need to realize, A CLOSED BOAT TRAILER PARKING LOT IS A CLOSED BOAT RAMP!

There are over 50 Charter boat Captains operating out of Amelia Island. When someone proclaims the economic impact of the 3-day Pentanque Tournament, ask yourself, “what about the economic impact of those 50+ small Charter Boat businesses to our community?” They’re operating year-round, day in, day out!  They are purchasing gas, ice, bait, tackle, trailer tires, boats, engines, office supplies, maintenance and repair supplies, and hiring deck hands and paying taxes on their homes and purchasing tags and licenses – just like any other small business on Amelia Island, off-island, and down Centre Street. They represent Amelia Island to visitors and locals and when they get them out on the water they see the REAL Florida – not the fake, manufactured fun that your Main Street organization is promoting. They get those folks out on the water and introduce them to the wonders of our ocean and back waters and make REAL memories for families and their friends. At least one Commissioner has voiced his disdain for YOUR Charter boat captains. Three others have voted on a Waterfront Park that will mark the beginning of the end of that industry.

That same Commissioner seems to blame those Charter boat captains for the costs of the Marina. The Marina has raised their slip prices. They’ve inferred that they would like to raise them more.  The City could double, even triple the Charter Captain’s slip rates and the Marina Enterprise Fund STILL would not be making a profit. It’s not the Captain’s fault that the City built the Marina in the wrong place and it needs to be dredged annually. It’s not the Captain’s fault that the City has made bad deals with lease holders over the years. It’s not the Captain’s fault that the City has retained very little upland property -property that the Marina could have used to make a Marina profitable.  And you have to ask yourself, “why, out of 50+ Captain’s, are there only 8-10 Charter Boat operations down at the City docks? Are City policy’s keeping them away?

That same Commissioner has let it be known that recreational boaters (you) and the Charter Boat Captains are selfish. They want parking for themselves and their customers. Would you say downtown Centre Street business’s are selfish for wanting parking for their customers? Somewhere their employees can park? Are you selfish for wanting access to OUR public waters? Somewhere deep down in the City’s planning documents they suggest that the City should provide one boat ramp for every 12,000 citizens. We are now over 13,000 citizens. When you think about it,  Fernandina residents have access to a 13 mile beach;  they have access to a 1400 acre State Park;  we  have access to volleyball courts and a skate park at the beach and  multi-purpose Recreation Centers at Atlantic Avenue and Elm Street, with swimming pools and gyms and gymnasiums. Our residents have access to the  playground and Park behind the Atlantic Rec Center, a miles-long 300 acre Greenway, a playground and Park at Eagans Creek, and a huge Central Park with Tennis, Pickleball, softball and baseball fields and the SUMMER courts for the Pentangue club. Their WINTER courts are at the waterfront! Not to mention outlying City parks, beach access’s, soccer and softball fields. Yet we Boaters are considered selfish for wanting unhindered access to the ONLY City boat ramp.

In the last Park plan it was suggested that the City put up a memorial plaque in honor of the Shrimping Industry.  With the new Park plan, the plaque should read,  “On March 5, 2024 Commissioners Bean, Antun, Ayscue and Ross voted to build this Park and to kill a once thriving Charter Boat industry here in Fernandina Beach”.

 

A Seatrout Kind of Day

 

We lucked out with the weather this morning - the forecast had changed by the time we got on the water and for the most part, we had clear skies and low winds. We did have two rainbows that graced us with their presence! I had met Pete Nolan hand his high school fishing buddies Sam and Steve down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and we ran up the intercoastal, then into Back River and around to the Nassau to set up fishing an edge at Pumpkin Hill. We almost immediately began to get bites - a good handful of small but hungry Seatrout, and also a couple of Bluefish. 

We worked around the corner and fished a grass patch and here Pete put a keeper sized Trout in the boat and Sam tangled with a Bonnethead Shark. 

After making the run around to Seymore's Pointe we set up at a large drainage and drifted floats on the first of an outgoing tide, and again, some small Trout, and a couple Blues.  After running thru Horesehead and around to Pompano Point we again got a few Trout.

Our last stop was fishing a bank along Jackstaff with jigs and shrimp and minnows and again...more Trout! Sam added a nice Whiting to the box before we called it a day and as we headed back to the ramp, we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Topped The Box Off

 Another beautiful day today when I met Don Walters and his fishing buddies Alex and Tim down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We made the run up the Nassau and found a spot at the outside of a large drainage and began to toss float rigs and live shrimp, and we stayed pretty busy catching hungry Seatrout.  Most of them were just undersized but Alex did put a keeper sized one in the box. 

We then ran thru Horsehead and over to what used to be Poteat Cut and stayed with the float rigs. The trio caught a couple of the small Trout but as we worked around the point Don had a good hookup and expertly brought to the boat a keeper sized Pompano!  I've renamed the spot "Pompano Point" That's ony the 2nd Pompano I've had on the boat. 

After fishing a creek off of Jackstaff for a bit, we ran back thru Horsehead and down to some docks at Nassauville, fished them with jigs for a bit to no avail, then we ran up the Nassau to dip into a creek and began to fish the shallow bank with the jigs.

This paid off - I've  found you have to work the whole bank and many times you'll find the Reds and today we did! Don hooked up and landed a small but feisty Red, then Tim added the biggest Trout of the day to the box.  As we approached one of the "honey holes" Don began to get Redfish bites. He put two Slot Reds in the box then Alex topped it off with another Slot Red. They had one more Slot fish that we threw back and had a handful of smaller Reds caught before we called it  day. 

As we headed back to the ramp with a nice box of fish we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Beautiful Day Slam

 Oh boy what a beautiful "chamber of commerce" type day we had today. Although the temperature was
hovering around 48 degrees when we launched, it quickly warmed as that sun came up with clear, cloudless skies. We met down at Sawpit Creek and then ran up the Nassau to set up at a large drainage north of Seymore's Pointe and within minutes the duo were catching fish on float rigs with live shrimp. They had a good flurry of Seatrout catches and weeded thru the shorts to get a couple of keeper sized fish. 

We then moved around to Nassauville and fished between two docks with jigs and the shrimp. I was hoping for some bigger Seatrout - we caught none, but Ken did pick up a Flounder, then we had another, then Larry put a keeper Flounder in the box.

After fishing a stretch of oysters with float rigs at Back River we continued on up the Nassau, dipped into a creek, and began to work the bank with the jigs. Larry eventually found a good bite, set the hook, and Fish On!  He played it patiently, letting the drag and rod bend do the work and after a good battle landed a nice Slot 21" Redfish. Ken followed that up with a Redfish catch of his own. They put another Trout in the boat then Larry finished things up with another Redfish catch. 

We had had a beautiful day and had an Amelia Island Back Country Slam of Seatrout, Flounder, and Redfish in the box so as we headed back to the ramp they counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

A Grande Slam and Upper Slot Red

 

I did  an afternoon trip today, meeting Nate Aron, his father Aaron, and his father-in-law Gil Langley up at Eagans Creek. The wind had died a little bit since this morning and as we eased out of the creek we had clear skies and sunshine!  We made our way over to behind Tyger and fished the logs with jigs and live shrimp on the first of an incoming tide. The first area was kind of slow except for the bait stealers but when we moved down we began to get fish. 

The trio put a nice Redfish in the boat, some Trout,  then Gil hooked up and landed a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum. That made an Amelia Island Back Country Slam, then Nate had strange bite, worked it patiently to the boat, and landed a nice Flounder to make it a Grande Slam. Then Aaron had a strong bite and when it was ripping drag and digging deep we knew we had a big one. Aaron played it like a "Jim Brown" pro, worked it to the boat, and landed a nice 25.5" Slot Redfish. We had some good action after that but when it slowed we moved on - running up to the Jolley. After trying our hand with some float rigs, to no avail, we ran up to Snook Creek and switched back to the jigs and caught a couple of Seatrout. 

Our final stop was around at Bell River and here we had a good uptick in catches - mostly Seatrout, but a small Black Drum also. It had warmed just a bit, we had fished in clear, sunny skies, and we had a couple of fish in the box so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Wind and Cool Make for a Challenge

 When I stepped out side this morning in the dark to get the boat ready I was a bit surprised by the wind still kicking. I knew the forecast called for high winds overnight but I thought they were supposed to be done with by daylight. I went back in  and checked the weather and it was about right -14mph at the time, dropping to 12 as the morning progressed. So loaded up!

I met Dennis Adams, his son-in-law Danial, and nephew Ben up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp and we eased out of Eagans and made the run north, into the wind) and around to the Jolley River.. Boy was it choppy!  We ran up the Jolley and found a large drainage to drift float rigs and live shrimp on the outgoing tide, but had no bites. Further up the Jolley, at Snook Creek we switched to jigs and this paid off. All three anglers began to get fish. Young Ben found him a "honey hole" off to the side and caught a good handful of hungry Seatrout. 

We then made our way around to the Bell River and stayed with the jigs and got good number of fish caught as that tide dropped - Seatrout, a small black drum, and a keeper sized Sheepshead. Our final stop was back at Lanceford Creek, fishing some docks. Although CM didn't pay off, we moved down a dock or two and BAM! Big Fish On!  Daniel was on the rod and played it perfectly, working it out from the pilings and brought him to the net lively - I almost missed him he was so green!  But after netting we measured it right at 25", a perfect Slot red to rap up another great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Big Red Battled out From Dock Pilings

 We had what I thought was a good tide today - last of an outgoing, then first of an incoming. I had met Kristen Benton and her friend Quinton out at Goffinsville Park early - the skies were just a bit overcast and there was very little breeze, and we made our way around to Seymore's Pointe to set up current from some dock pilings and toss jigs and live shrimp to their base. Both anglers had "nibbles" but no real takers, other than a 'baitstealer" or two, but when I switched Quinton to a mud minnow, that must have done the trick! BAM! Big Fish On!

And unfortunately that big fish went straight thru the pilings and out the other side!  But Quinton was up to the task - he kept the pressure on and let that strong braid saw back and forth over the piling and when the fish came back to the middle he worked him thru - that fish didn't know who he was dealing with!  Quinton worked it in slowly and eventually landed a 26.875 fat Redfish - a sure "Champion" in any Tournament! Boy what a fish!

Kristen put a small Seabass in the boat and we had a small Trout catch before we moved on. Our next stop was back around at Nassauville where we tossed the jigs between two docks. The "demo" cast produced a Redfish bite that Kristen expertly brought to the boat. We also picked up a couple of more hungry Seatrout here.  After fishing some exposed shell banks down at Spanish Drop, to no avail, we moved up a few hundred yards and found one more Seatrout, out deep. 

Our final stop was down at Broward Island, working along the treelined bank. The first area we tried didn't produce anything, but 40' further down we got into a good Redfish bite. Kristen and Quinton took turns reeling in fish and a couple of times we had a "double" hookup - two Reds once, and a Red and Black "puppy" Drum a 2nd time. The added one skinny but Slot Red to the box then Kristen finished things up with another small Drum catch and a first of the season Mangrove Snapper. 

We had ended with a bank and had two nice Reds in the box so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida 

Trout Carry The Afternoon

 I fished this afternoon with Eric Stevens, meeting him up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp. We had a high and still coming in tide as we eased out of Eagans Creek and I wasn't feeling very confident in our prospects. We ran over to Lanceford Creek and fished between a couple of docks with float rigs and did pick up one Seatrout which got my hopes up...but then we had no more bites. After trying our luck around the corner at a grass patch, to no avail, we moved on. 

After running back down Lanceford, up the Bell, thru Horsehead and around to the outside of Tyger we set up on a corner of grass as the tide started out, and my confidence level was now up. Eric was making excellent casts and getting good drifts and I waited for the bite, and waited, and waited, again, to no avail. My confidence was shattered!

We then made the run up to the Jolley River and seeing another boater sitting on the spot I was heading to, we continued on around to the Bell and found some docks to fish. My demo cast with the jig  produced a bite and from then on we were catching fish. We worked thru a bunch of smaller fish but Eric got his limit in keeper sized Seatrout, and we thru back a couple that were of legal size.  Eric added a Redfish catch, a few Black Drum catches and a few "baitstealing" Perch. 

The afternoon had started real slow with that high tide but as it started out we had begun to get fish and as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

Barely Legal

 I fished with the Langfords this morining, Glenn and Patti, meeting them up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp. We had the first of an incoming tide so we made our way over to Tyger Island and fished the logs. An incoming tide, no wind, and just a few bugs made for what I thought were ideal conditions, but the fish didn't cooperate with the plan. They did catch a Bluefish and a small Flounder before we moved on. 

Our next stop was over at Lanceford Creek, fishing some docks, and this paid off. We worked a few different docks and picked up fish, caught on jigs and live shrimp. They put in the box two Redfish that measured a little over 18", a Seatrout that measured a little over 15", and a Black Drum that measured a little over 14" - all "Barely Legal", but keepers just the same.  They also had a few more smaller Redfish caught. 

We then fished the outside of Tyger in a couple of places with float rigs. We may have had a few bites, but no real takers. We had a handful of fish in the box and as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Fl.orida. 

Grande Slam For The Day

 I fished with the Prolog's Hand and Mary and their daughter Mollie to day, meeting them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning. And after running up the Nassau to our first stop at a dock at Seymore's I was feeling pretty confident that we were going to get in to some fish today. The tide was supposedly low and just starting in, and it was at this spot, but we struggled with bait stealers swiping our live shrimp off the jigs. We did outsmart a couple of them but had no luck with any bigger fish. 

Our next stop; was down at Broward Island and even though it had been "low tide" for about 45 minutes, it was still going out. We fished a good bit and dealt with the bait stealers again, then we moved on down the way and fished back. Here, we finally got into some fish - Mollie "knocked the skunk off" with a nice Seatrout catch. But again, that was it. 

Back up the island we went and now that the tide had begun to come in, we finally started catching.  Mary put a keeper sized Sheepshead in the boat, then all three anglers were catching Redfish, one of which was in the Slot. Mary had a Seatrout catch which gave here an Amelia Islands Back Country Slam. When the bite slowed, we move on, heading back to Nassauville. 

Fishing between two docks we didn't get too much action, but Mary did have a strange bite, a hookup, and patiently brought to the net a almost legal Flounder to round out her very on Grande Slam. 

Our final stop was up the Nassau and into a Creek where we worked bank with logs. It was some finesse casting but they were up to it and caught a couple of Seatrout and Redfish. We had had a beautiful day and had pulled in 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. 

Just a 40' Difference

 Wow!  Cool temperatures today, sunny skies, and almost zero wind greeted us this morning when I met the Szkaradnik crew down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. Joe and Karen and Karen's brother John were eager to get up the river and fish so we headed up the Nassau and around to Broward to fish the first of an incoming tide with jigs and live shrimp. Although we had a few nibbles, and Karen did "knock the skunk off" with a keeper sized Seatrout catch, it was less than I expected. I was bumbed. But we moved down the bank about 40' and BAM! BAM! BAM!  We began to get fish. Joe hooked up and played a nice 23" Slot fish to the net, then he and Karen traded catching small but feisty Reds, then Joe had another big bite and the battle was on!  He fought the fish patiently working it back in run after run and after a good fight, landed an Oversized 28.5" Redfish, boy what a fish!  That moves Joe into 2nd place in the 2024 Anglers Mark Bragging Rights Tournament-Redfish Category.   

We caught a few more fish then moved down the island and worked back, tossing the jigs, but had no more bites. Our next stop was over at some docks at Seymore's and here Karen added a small Seatrout to the catch, and John had his first action when he hooked up and landed a small Sea Bass. We then came around to Nassauville and fished a outflow and Karen added a small Flounder to her catch, giving her an Amelia Island, Back Country Slam. 

Our next stop, after running way up the Nassau, was in a small creek. We worked back into the incoming current and Joe kicked it off quickly with a Redfish catch. We eased along that bank and almost to the end we again to get Redfish bites. We lost two to the downed trees, but both Joe and John added a couple of Slot sized Redfish to the catch. 

We had had a beautiful day and had some nice catches so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida 

Mover Over Bragging Rights

 I was feeling a little uneasy when after hitting our first spot today and the weather seemed like it was going to be a factor in our success.  I had met Todd Schroeder, his daughter Allana, and his dad Dennis up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle early this morning and we eased out of Eagans Creek with the nav lights on. That first stop was around at Tyger Island, thinking that the tide had only been coming in for a couple of hours and maybe the downed trees would still be showing but when we arrived the tide was already up and the North wind was blowing right down the pipe. When my first "demo" cast hung on a stump it went downhill from there. We moved up the island and fished deep but had no luck and moved on. 

After running thru Tyger Basin and over to Bell we set up between two docks and fished back to the pilings. Todd had two quick good bites and then he hooked up on the third - he played it patiently and brought to the boat a Slot Redfish to "knock the skunk" off. We sat there and tinkered with bait stealers but also caught Redfish. Allana did here share, hooking up and landing multiple Reds, one Slot that had 4 Spots. Granddad Dennis was stuck on the bow so I had him drifting a fixed float down the adjacent grass line. The next thing I new he had a hookup, a bend in his line and the drag was ripping. That drag ripping made me think it was a Redfish but then it started thrashing on the water and sure enough, we he landed it, it was a big 20.5" Seatrout - the biggest Trout of the year and big enough to move Dennis into first place in the 2024 Anglers Mark Bragging Rights Tournament-Seatrout Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings).  When the bite slowed, we bounced down the docks and found another Redfish or two. 

We then moved around the corner and fished a bulkhead and Todd picked up the action. Fishing a fixed float in about 6' of water, he had his float disappear and, Fish On!  Todd worked it expertly to the boat and landed a big 19" Seatrout, a fish big enough to move him in to 2nd place in the Bragging Rights Tournament.  He added one more Trout to his catch total there. 

The tide had gotten up really high and we tried a couple of other spots but had no real bites so we headed back to the ramp and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island Florida. 

Trout Getting Bigger

 The last couple of trips I've noticed we're picking up bigger Seatrout - in the 17"-18" range, and today was no exception. I had met Kimberly Manek and her friend Jeremy up at Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp. As we eased out of Eagans Creek the wind was blowing around 10mp but it was expected to get up to 17mph before the morning was over. We made a quick run over to Bell River, up the river, and found a flooded point of grass to fish with float rigs and live shrimp. The anglers were throwing right into the wind, but they were still getting good drifts, but also had no bites. 

 

We then ran up Lanceford Creek and got in between two docks and stayed with the floats and out of th wind, we caught fish. Both anglers had good hookups and brought to the boat a handful of Seatrout, the biggest being right at 18". We then moved around the corner and drifted back to a dock and caught another Trout. After easing over to a flooded grass patch, Jeremy managed his float along side it and picked up a couple of more Trout. 

After running back down Lanceford, up the Bell, and cutting thru to Tyger we fished a large outflow with the floats, but had no luck. 

Back thru Tyger Basin we went, over to the Bell, and then a long run up it to fish some docks. Kimberly got hot here, picking up one Seatrout after another off the stern. Then Jeremy went in closer to the bank and caught the first Redfish of the day. We bumped the boat in and fished a dock and caught 2-3 more Redfish. After dropping back and fishing another dock, to no avail, Kimeberly went to the bank with a cast and on the retrieve she had a "bump", set the hook, and caught and landed another big 18" Seatrout. 

We had avoided the wind for the most part, found Seatrout action here and there, had 8 soon-to-be-filets in the box so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida 

Good Trout Bite Early

 We had a very high and outgoing tide to fish when myself, Bob Kossman, and Larry Westfall made to it to our first spot this morning. We fishing  a large outflow up the Nassau River with float rigs and live shrimp. My 'demo" cast produced a bite (I missed him) but after that Bob and Larry stayed busy catching Trout. We missed a you but caught more than we missed. A few of them were of keeper size with two being right at 17" 

When the bite finally slowed, we ran thru Horsehead and over to Poteat Cut and fished a stretch but the wind in our face made it a bit difficult. We came back to Jackstaff and fished a run out but had no bites.

Back thru Horsehead we went and down to some docks at Nassauville and here Larry got hot fishing a jig deep. He picked up a handful of Trout, had a big fish rip drag and come off, then he hooked up and landed a big 18,5" Trout, big enough to kick off the 2024 Bragging Rights Tournament, Seatrout Category.(scroll down the right side of this report for standings). 

We then fished Pumpkin Hill with the float rigs but had no luck then made our way up the Nassau and into a creek to fish the jigs. And here it was Bob's turn to get hot. He hooked up with a big fish that was ripping drag but it made its way under a log - we could feel it tugging and sawing back and forth when we pulled the line. We tried repositioning the boat, opening the bail, but to no avail - it finally broke off. 

But Bob was not to be deterred - he hooked up and landed a nice 20" Slot Red (no pic- accidently dropped it over the side!), but then he saved me and caught and landed another Slot Red. We added one more feisty Red before we called it a a day. And as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Within A Half An Inch

 

I fished with John Fitch and his daughter Annie today, meeting them up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp early. We eased out of Eagans Creek and headed down the river to try and hit a spot before others got there!  We made it!  I set up alongside some structure and the duo began to toss jigs and live shrimp, letting it fall to the bottom, and then letting the current bounce it along the bottom. We hadn't been there long before we caught some feisty Redfish. But then BAM! a big bite and Fish On!  Annie was on the rod and she patiently worked it, keeping the rod bent and pressure on. She worked it to the surface and after a good battle landed a bulky 25" Slot Redfish, boy what a fish!  

We picked  up a few more Reds there, including a "barely legal" 18" Slot, then we moved on. Our next stop was fishing some dock pilings and even though these anglers were making excellent casts, we had no real bites. Same for the next stop - perfect outgoing tide, fishing some dock pilings, no bites.

After making a long run up to Bell River we again fished between two docks with the jig and shrimp and this made the run worth it. They began to catch Seatrout and landed a good handful of them. John hooked up an landed a keeper sized Sheepshead, then caught another smaller one. We picked up a few more trout, then moved on. 

Our last stop was around at Tyger, fishing the logs and I think it was first cast, we had a double hookup! Annie expertly reeled her's in, a feisty Red, but Johns was bigger. He fought it expertly and soon landed a 24.5" Slot Red, almost as big as Annie's. It was kinda crazy, but we fished for a good 30 minutes after that and didn't get a bite!  But as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing ere at Amelia Island, Florida. 

First Cast Jinx?

 Usually when our first cast of day catches a Slot Redfish I'm thinking "that's a good start". That's what happened this morning after I met John Fredericks and Dan Forsch up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp and we hit our first spot - some dock pilings down the Amelia River. We were fishing on a tide that still had a few hours to go out, tossing jigs and live shrimp and first cast, BAM! Fish on!  Dan worked him out from behind a piling, played it perfectly and soon landed a 19" Slot Redfish!

But after that we fished and fished and had only nibbles from the "bait stealers'. After trying another dock we found anglers fishing from the dock so we moved on. Our next stop was way up Bell River, fishing a bend in the river and here the "first fish jinx" was off!  Both Dan and Robert caught Seatrout - a good handful of 14" fish but they also landed a couple of keepersize. We also had one or two "big" ones get off. They also caught a handful of smaller Black "puppy" Drum. We worked up and down that bend for a while, then moved. 

A brief stop at the MOA, with oysters exposed, and the tide low and still going out, but again, no luck.

Our final stop was around at Tyger, fishing the first of an incoming tide. Again, both anglers caught fish - feisty Reds, and then Dan put a nice 25" Slot in the boat. He also found what must have been a school of 10" Puppy Drum. We fished a downed tree - Dan had made an excellent cast, let it fall down by the limbs and BAM! Big Fish On!  Dan worked it patiently and when it came to the surface we saw it was a big Sheepshead and when netted it measured right at 20" - big enough to move in to First Place in the 2024 Anglers Mark Bragging Rights Tournament, Sheepshead Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings). 

We had gradually built up a nice box of fish so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Fog Makes it Difficult to Get Started

 We had a fog that blanketed Amelia Island this morning and when I met Joseph Mahoney, his dad Norm, and nephew Mike up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp, we had to ease out of Eagans and down the Amelia River to make it to our first spot. Joe was up front, on the cooler, braving the cooler wind and keeping a second set of eyes out for crab pots, channel markers and anchored boats. We made it safely to that first spot and began to fish some dock pilings with jigs and shrimp and I felt sure we would get some fish. We did not. All we had were nibbles and nibbles and nibbles from "bait stealers". 

We then slowly made our way back north and around to Tyger Island where we set up to fish the first of an incoming tide. Mike "knocked the skunk off" with a keeper sized Seatrout catch, but that was it until we moved down the way and evidently the switch flipped. It was fast and furious fishing for a while. Both Mike and Norm put feisty Redfish in the boat - at one time we had a "double" hookup and at one time we had a "triple hookup" when Joe hooked up. They added a couple of smaller Black "puppy" Drum to the catch then Mike had a strong hookup and, Fish On! He played it perfectly, battled it patiently, and soon landed a big 26" Slot Redfish, boy what a fish! Norm added a keeper sized 15" drum to the box.

After running up to the Jolley we fished the MOA with the oysters still showing, had no luck, then continued around to Bell River and fished some docks. Joe outsmarted and landed a Sheepshead, and keeping with the "striped fish" theme, caught and landed a Puppy Drum. The trio added another feisty Red to the catch and another keeper sized Seatrout. 

The fog had lifted and we were able to make the long run back to the ramp and as we eased down Eagans we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Monster Red on Worst Weather Day

 Today had to have been one of the worst day's weather-wise that I've fished in a long time. We had checked the forecast and saw that by mid morning their was a 64% chance of rain but those Weathermen are notoriously wrong, right? Not today! I met Todd Johnson and his fishing buddy Patrick Davis down at Sawpit Creek on a tide that when we reached Nassauville, would just be starting to come in . When we reached our first spot we tossed jigs and live shrimp to some dock pilings but only produced two "aquarium" sized Seabass. 

As we motored to the next stop we began to get sprinkled on and for the rest of the day it either sprinkled or drizzled, or drenched us. And just  when we were rejoicing that we had very little wind. the "No-See-Ums" hit us with a vengeance. I had them in my eyes and swallowed a good handful. I thought for sure we'd get fish at that spot but had not a nibble. But we eased down a bit and fished the bank with the jigs, caught a few "feisty" Redfish  when Patrick hooked up and his drag began to rip I knew he had a big one!

Boy what a battle!  This fish was not coming in and I began to worry that it might be TOO big. He played it perfectly, battled it from starboard to port and back again, and then did it again, and when he finally got it to the surface we saw that it was a huge Redfish. I had trouble getting it into the net and had to try a 2nd time! After landing the fish it measured right at 35" which moved Patrick comfortably in the lead in the 2024 Anglers Mark Bragging Rights Tournament-Redfish Category. 

After moving down the bank even more and turning into the current, we fished back a ways and just as we were about to leave Patrick put a perfect sized 24" Slot Red in the boat. 

Our next stop was up the Nassau, fishing a creek with the jigs. As we worked along the bank I began to wonder if this spot was going to "skunk" us. But once we found a tree to pitch under we found the "honey hole". Bam, Bam, Bam, Bam we caught fish. Todd put a keeper Slot fish in the boat and caught and landed a few more that were in the slot. Then Todd, trolling behind the boat, had a THUMP and then his rod bent and Fish On!  Todd worked it patiently to the net and landed a nice 17" Flounder, big enough to kick off the Bragging Rights in that Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings). 

We were soaking wet, and had gnat bites all over our hands, but as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.