Oversized Redfish, Finally

 

We had a beautiful sunrise today when I met Steve Locke and his son Justin out at Goffinsville Park this morning. I mentioned to Steve that we were getting some nice Trout and a few small Slot Redfish but we hadn't been getting nay BIG ones. Right. We made a quick run down the river and around to Seymore's Pointe where I thought we'd get some Seatrout on float rigs and shrimp on the first of an outgoing tide. I was wrong - we only had one bite, but no takers. We ran thru Horsehead and over to Poteat Point and here the duo got a few Seatrout. Justin had one take his bait and pulled a bit of drag and after a successful battle Justin landed a nice 17" keeper sized Trout. We eased up the bank and fished a pocket with those float rigs. Steve had made a good cast but the sun was right in our eyes - he peered past the glare and saw his float drift in to the grass and BAM! Fish On!  Steve worked 'em out, let the drag rip, then patiently played a nice 20" Slot Red to the net. Just like I had mentioned, "we're getting Slot Reds, but they're not real big".

We fished across the river there with the floats, then ran back up into Jackstaff and fished a drainage, both to no avail. After running back thru Horsehead and down to Twin Creeks we set up and tossed the floats. Not much action, so we switched to jigs and this did the trick. Justin was on the bow and picked up a Slam within 5 minutes - a Seatrout, a Red Drum, and a Black Drum. We moved down the river to a drainage and stuck with the jigs and it was the right call. Justin caught a couple of smaller Reds, then Steve, pitching to a submerged oyster bed, hooked up and landed a feisty Redfish. He went back to the same spot and BAM! Big Fish ripping. This fish was big! I was worried about a crab pot/rope being in the way but Steve worked it out into deeper water where it was safe. He slowly lifted his rod, then let the big fish run, then slowly worked it in, then let it run. The fish ran deep and behind us and got in the current and Steve stayed patient and gradually brought to the net an Oversized 30.5" Redfish, boy what a fish.

Moving down to Spanish Drop we worked back into the current and here Justin got hot tossing his jigs/shrimp to the shell bank. He caught a good handful of Redfish and a few Seatrout as the jigs fell down that shell into deeper water. Steve switched back to a float rig and went long and picked up a Trout. After fishing a few spots along Nassaville we called it a day and heading back to the ramp. we counted ita s another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Easy. Easy!

 Boy what a front that was that came thru last night as the Mighty Gators brought home their 3rd NCAA Basketball Championship! We had thunder, lighting and a steady downpour for ....at least 10 minutes, but it caused the temperature to drop a good 20 degrees from the previous day. I met David Barrow and his two sons Cole and Knox up at Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp and I was back in jeans and a jacket for the day. We eased out of Egans Creek and made the run over to Soap Creek and fished a large outflow on the first of an outgoing tide, thinking that there may be a few Seatrout hanging out, but no, no fish.

We worked along the grassy bank and all three anglers were getting good casts and drifts. Knox had made one with his float rig up to a point of grass and when his float disappeared he tightened in the line and let the circle hook set and Fish On! Knox had some place to be because he was cranking him in quick and I was coaching "Easy. Easy!", but despite my coaching Knox brought to the net a nice 20" Slot sized Redfish - the "skunk was off".

We then made our  way around to behind Piney Island and fished some dock pilings - a spot that had paid off the last two trips, but we had no real bites up  under the dock and out in the creek. Our next stop was down the intracoastal fishing some structure and this did the trick. The trio of anglers caught a good handful of Redfish, one of which was in the Slot, and they boated a handful of Seatrout, one which was over 20".  We moved forward a bit and again boated Redfish (two were in the Slot, one had to go back) and more Seatrout. 

After running down to Seymore's Pointe and fishing a dock that produced a Stingray, a Seabass, and a Stone Crab, we moved around to Nassauville and picked up another couple of Trout to round out 3 for the box. We had to battle some wind today but we found a few spots that were fishable, and with a few fish in the live well, we made the long run back and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

The Trout Just Keep Coming

 I was back to work today, fishing with the Bailey family -David and Allyson and their son John David. We met early up at Old Town Bait and Tackel knowing that the wind was going to be blowing just a bit, and increasing as the day progressed, and it did. Our first stop was down the intracoastal and after dipping into a small creek David and Allyson fished off the stern to some dock pilings. Altough they did have a nibble or two, it was John David off the starboard side who "knocked the skunk off" when he boated and landed a couple of Seatrout, one of which was of keeper size. 

We then came out of that creek and ran down to some structure and fished deep. David got on the board when he hooked up and patiently battled to the boat another keeper sized Trout and while he was doing that Allyson hooked up and got here's right to the boat for a "quick release". We eased further up some rocks and again, caught keeper Trout, one of which was just over 20" - they had their big fish. We might have picked up two or three fish there but when we dropped back to the original spot, BAM! They got a good flurry of fish catching. A handful of more Trout and then both David and John David battled and landed a Slot Redfish. Allyson contributed to the pot when she hooked up and expertly landed a big 18" Trout. 

After coming back to Fernandina then running way up the Bell River we fished some docks and again found Seatrout deep. I began to count fish to make sure we didn't go over our limit! After adding a couple of more keepers we made our way around to the Jolley River and fished the MOA briefly before heading back to the ramp. We had avoided the wind all morning, had a good box of fish in the boat so we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

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Slayed The Trout

 I wrapped my week up fishing with Todd Johnson and his friend Todd "Raleigh" when I met them up at
the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp early. We made a run up the river towards the bridge and dipped into a creek to begin fishing with jigs and live shrimp under some dock pilings This paid off for Raleigh - he pulled a few feisty Redfish out from under that dock. But even better, Todd found a cut to pitch to and it paid off with a couple of big Seatrout catches - they measured right up to 19". Raleigh followed suite and he too picked up a Trout or two.

We came out of that creek and worked further up the intracoastal to fish some structure and again, we found Trout. Both Raleigh and Todd were pitching to a edge of current and letting their jig fall deep with the current and BAM! Trout on. They landed a few there, a couple which were of keeper size, then we move up and Raleigh put another in the boat just shy of 19".

After running all the way back past Fernandina we made our way around to fish the logs of Tyger. We didn't have much action at all until BAM! Big Fish On!  Raleigh was on the rod and played it perfectly - he worked it up from the bottom, let it run, worked it up, let it run and soon tired it out and brought to the net a nice 25" Slot Redfish. Raleigh added a couple of small Flounder catches to his tally.

Another faily long run took us up the Bell where we fished some docks. More Trout and lots of them. And the biggest of the day, just over 19". In addition to many smalls that we tossed back this angling duo rounded out their limit of 5 keeper Trout apiece. We had caught a bunch of fish and had enough for them to feed their families so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fising here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Good Fishing Day

 I picked up the Stettner crew this morning over at Oyster Bay -Robert and his friends Mark and Kirk. We then made the run over to Tyger Island and set up to fish jigs and live shrimp as the tide started back in. It wasn't long before this trio of anglers were catching fish. They put a couple of keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum in the boat, a couple of small but feisty Redfish, a handful of hungry Seatrout, one of which was of keeper size, then Mark battled to the boat a nice 24.5" Slot sized Redfish. 

After fishing up and down the island for a good while, we made the run around to the Jolley River and fished a stretch of still exposed shell with float rigs and shrimp and then jigs and shrimp, but to no avail. The wind had picked up and our drifts just weren't....drifting! 

A final run around to Bell River did the trick. I was expecting to get Seatrout on the back side of some dock pilings but it was on the front side where Robert found a "honey hole" he had a strong hookup, one that ripped some drag and we knew that if it was a Trout it was a big one, and sure enough, that's what it was, a nice 19" Trout. Robert pulled two three more big Trout out of that same spot before it fell off. After fishing another couple of docks we headed back and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

First Jack of the year

 I was out again today, fishing with Steve Buckley, meeting him down at Sawpit Creek boat ramp early.
We've fished north the last two times we've fished together but I wanted to show Steve another "side" of Amelia Island. We ran up the Nassau, all the way to a dock that is under repair/construction and got there before the crew showed up to get in a bit of fishing before the sawing and hammering started up! It paid off - Steve hooked up and landed a hard fighting Black "puppy" Drum, a feisty Redfish, and the first Jack Crevalle catch of the year. 

After the construction workers began work we moved around to Nassauville and fished between two docks. Steve had a few nibbles here and there but not much was happening until he had worked his jigs and shrimp out deep and BAM! Nice Fish On!  Steve played it patiently and worked to the surface a big 19" Seatrout.  We then moved down the bank a few docks, fished them pretty good and then the same thing happened. I was thinking "big Trout again" but when we netted it we saw it was a big Weakfish! We'll take it!

The tide had started in so we ran down Broward Island, set up and caught a feisty Redfish, then moved on down the island and worked back and this did the trick. Steve hooked up and landed some small, beautifully coppered Redfish then he battled to the boat a nice Slot Redfish. 

Our final stop was back at Twin Creeks fishing float rigs and this paid off on that higher incoming tide. Steve would make his cast up current, let it drift naturally and BAM! That float would go under. Steve had to quickly pick up the line so the circle hook set and he got most of them! They were small but fun to catch Seatrout and a good way to wrap up another great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Grande Slam and a Mess 'a Fish

Another pretty day today, so much so that the bugs were a bit of a problem. I had met William and Dara Blalock and their friend Brian Roach out at Goffinsville Park early - the tide was supposed to be at it's low but it was still going out, so we eased down Nassauville and set up between a couple of docks to fish that last of he outgoing. I was surprised that these three experienced anglers didn't get a bite! But we moved down a few docks and worked them until the tide changed and when it did, BAM! A double hookup on Seatrout, one of which was of keeper size. As we moved down a bit Brian had pitched up between some pilings, worked it out and had that strange 'thump" we're all familiar with. Brian set the hook and slowly worked in a nice 17" Flounder. 

We then ran down to Broward Island and fished as the tide started in. It wasn't "on fire" but Dara did finally "knock the skunk off " the spot with a Slot sized Redfish catch. We moved down the island and worked back and things heated up. The trio added another couple of keeper sized Trout, another couple of small Flounder, then William went off the stern and picked up a hard fighting keeper sized Sheepshead. They also caught a handful of small but feisty and fun to catch Redfish. 

After running way up the Nassau we dipped into a creek and worked the bank back into the current. Not a bite for most of the way and I was thinking the spot was going to be a bust but finally we got into a few fish and added the final Slot Redfish of the day - they had their limit. Our final stop was back at the mouth of Pumpkin Hill where we drifted floats but we had not takers. These anglers had an Amelia Island Grande Slam in the box -Redfish, Seatrout, Flounder and Sheepshead, and a good mess of fish at that, so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Trout Makes The Slam

 I fished this morning with Eric Slavens, meeting him up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle ramp early. We
eased out of Eagans Creek and made our way over to the logs of Tyger Island to toss jigs and live shrimp on the first of an incoming tide. It wasn't long before Eric had a strong hookup and after playing the fish perfectly, he landed a nice feisty Redfish. We worked up and down the bank and Eric picked up two more of those Reds, and then we had an "almost legal" Flounder come to the net. 

We then made our way out and around Tyger and up to the Jolley River - running a good ways up in there to set up at a point of grass with the current splitting either side. Switching to floats made the difference. I think Eric's first and second drifts produced bites and on the third he had a hookup. I fought it patiently to the boat and landed a Seatrout to round out his Amelia Island Back Country Slam of Redfish, Flounder and Seatrout. We worked that point good and landed another handful of Trout, one of which was keeper size.

On down the river, just past Snook Creek, we turned into the current and worked back. We were casting in to the wind but when Eric got his float up near the grass he picked up a fish - more Trout and another of keeper size. After fishing Jolley "bank" for a stretch we realized that the tide had hit its peak and we weren't getting any bites. We ran back around to the outside of Tyger and caught the first of the outgoing tide there and this paid off with a few battles with some hard fighting Bluefish. 

It had been a beautiful day, we had stayed in the backwaters and had some action here and there so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Found Some Reds

 

I wrapped my week up fishing with the Dannenfelser's -David and Michele. We met up at Old Town Bait and Tackle and eased out of Eagans Creek early to make our first run over to Bell River where we set up at a point and drifted float rigs. David had a bite right off but it didn't take, then we worked up and down the edge, seeing multiple fish boil and tail up in the shallows, but they wouldn't eat. Before we left David did manage to get one hungry Trout up near the grass.

We then ran around to Lanceford and fished a deep bend between two docks and this did the trick with both anglers getting some Trout and Michele adding a Bluefish to the catch. One of these Trout was of keeper size but all fish caught today were released. Down a ways, at a grass patch, we circle it tossing the floats. There was a lot of bait action up in the grass but we had no takers until David hooked up and landed another Trout. After fishing Bolton's Bulkhead we moved on. 

Over at Soap Creek we worked the edge of the grass on the very last of that incoming tide, and first of the outgoing and again, caught a Trout. After running back down Lanceford, up the Bell and thru Tyger we set up on the outside of the island to fish the first of an outgoing and here we had a bit of action. The duo both caught Redfish which put up a pretty good battle. Michele added another Bluefish to her catch before we crossed the creek and picked up one more Seatrout. The sun never really came out today, but the water was calm, there was enough breeze to keep the bugs off, so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

The First Three Were Keepers

 We did a "share-a-trip" today putting Bob Kossman and Frank Wytiaz together for a fun morning of
fishing the back waters of Amelia Island (message me to be added to the "share-a-trip" group). We met down at Sawpit Creek this morning and run up the Nassau to make our first stop at a large outflow to toss float rigs and live shrimp on the first of an outgoing tide. It only took minutes and they were catching fish. The first three fish were keeper sized Seatrout - the biggest being about 17". These guys didn't miss many - we caught a handful of smaller but fun to catch Trout. 

We then ran thru Horsehead and over to Poteat Point and here Bob, fishing off the stern, caught a couple of smaller Trout. We bounced across the creek and fished some water flowing a few grass islands and this did the trick with another couple of Trout catches. Back at Jackstaff, fishing another outflow, Frank hooked up with another couple of Trout. We fished Jackstaff "bank" but there was no cooperation along there. 

After running back thru Horsehead and down to Backriver we set up and fished a shell bank as the shell began to show. Not much was happening until Bob had a strong hookup. He played it patiently and landed a feisty Redfish. Further up the river at the mouth of Pumpkin Hill we worked the bank with the float rigs. When we got to a couple of patches of grass Bob was drifting long and found a couple of more Trout back in a "riffle". Our last stop was fishing some dock pilings back at Seymore's Pointe before we headed back in and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Trout Were the Main Fare

 We had a beautiful morning today when I met the Husa family -Matt and Ruchika and their two kids Divya and Kian down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We made a good run up the intracoastal, then up the Nassau to Seymore's Pointe where we set up and tossed float rigs to a grassy point at a large outflow. This did the trick - the family almost immediately began to get bites - those floats were going under!  They won some and lost some - Matt and Kian hauled in one together then Divya and Ruchika hooked up and landed a couple. Ruchika added a  Bluefish to her catch total. A couple of those Trout were of keeper size. 

We then ran thru Horsehead and over to Poteat Point and although it wasn't on fire, they did get another Trout. We bounced back thru Jackstaff and fished a creek and here Matt got hot - he landed a nice fat keeper sized Seatrout, then tangled with another. Back thru Horsehead we went and down to Nassauville to fish with jigs deep between a couple of docks. Divya added another Trout to the catch and she also caught a Perch deep. 

We fished down the dock line, tossing the jigs and it was Matt who had a strong hookup. I could see the fish flash and it was a feisty Redfish with a bunch of spots -12 total. This angling family had a few fresh fish in the box, we had had a beautiful day, so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

What A Wrap Up

 I fished today again with Andy and Jennifer Aberle, meeting them out at their home and riding along in their Pathfinder to try and find some fish! We stopped real close by and tossed float rigs with live shrimp to a large outflow on a high and outgoing tide but I was somewhat surprised to see hardly any current flowing -we had no luck.

We then ran thru Horsehead and over to Pompano Point and set up again with the floats and here we did have a bit of current and that paid off with a couple of  Seatrout catches. Continuing on up the intracoastal we made as stop and fished some structure with jigs and live shrimp. There were a bunch of baitstealers and only one Trout. After making the run up into behind Piney Island we set up current from some dock pilings and pitched to them, but to no avail. I was beginning to worry. 

Our next stop, further up the Intracoastal paid off, though. Jennifer was getting excellent casts up into some dock pilings and fishing it good - Andy was fishing off the outside. Jennifer had the first hookup, she played it perfectly and brought to the net a nice keeper sized Seatrout. Meanwhile, Andy had a strong bite out deep. It was ripping drag and in danger of getting tangled in the pilings. Andy worked the boat out, kept the pressure on the fish, then fought it to the net, a big 20" Black "puppy" Drum. 

After getting the fish measured, photographed and in the box, Andy went back to the same spot and BAM! Big Fish On!  I was thinking we were in a Black Drum "honey hole" but when this fish came to the surface we saw it was a large Slot Redfish. Andy played it patiently and landed it. He went back to the same spot and had another strong hookup -another Slot Red - they had their limit! 

We fished down a dock or two, then came back to the "hot spot" where Jennifer got in on the Big Fish action. She had made a great cast, fished it slow, and had the hookup. Jennifer fought the fish to the surface and the net - another Slot Red which we photographed and released. We had to hit 5 spots but the final one paid off so as we headed back to their dock we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

The Boyz Were Catching

 

I kicked off the week fishing with the Hutchins family - Matt and Laura and their two sons Garrett and Carter. We met early down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and headed up the intracoastal to make our way to Poteat Point and break out float rigs and live shrimp on a tide that had been going out for about 2 hours. It only took a minute before those floats were going down! I noted the water temperature was almost 64 and it seemed to turn the small Trout on. Garrett and Carter took turns reeling in Seatrout at that first spot. We did ease forward just a bit and got a couple of more further up.

We then ran thru Horsehead and down to Spanish Drop and switched to jigs and shrimp. The anglers had a few nibbles but no real takers. We moved up to fish a large drainage but again, nibbles but no takers. Our next stop was over at Nassauville, fishing between two docks.  The baitstealers were prolific but we did manage another Trout. Back around at Seymore's we fished some dock pilings and this did the trick. Matt found a nice Black "puppy" Drum then he and Garrett took turns hooking up with the Drum. Carter was on the net and did an outstanding job pulling them in to the boat. They also added a couple of feisty Redfish to their catch total. 

Our final stop was down at Broward Island, fishing under a Bald Eagle. The current was really ripping but Matt did manage to get one more Trout out of the deep. We had stayed busy at a couple of spots reeling in fish so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Trout Were the Game

 I fished yesterday morning with Greg Fritzgerald. When I got up and stepped outside to get the boat ready I was hit with a gust of wind - I went back inside and double checked the weather! It was forecasted to be windy, right on the bubble, but it was going to be a beautiful day so I went on with the "plan" - meet Greg at Sawpit Creek, run up to Nassauville and fish the docks out of the NW wind. And that's what we did!

That first stop started things off right - Greg was tossing jigs and live shrimp on the last hour or so of an outgoing tide and he caught a good handful of Seatrout. He said he was getting just a faint "bump" - he'd tighten his line and set the hook. Many were undersized but he had a couple that were of keeper size. he also put two keeper sized Weakfish in the boat. 

We worked up and down Nassauville fishing in pleasant "pond like" conditions. Every now and then we'd find a dock that produced a handful of Trout. Greg perfected the hookup and didn't miss many. He added to his catch total and keeper total, enough so that we had reached his limit and were tossing 15"+ fish back. One of those keepers was a "Gator" - when he hooked it up I was thinking, "finally, a Redfish" - but I was wrong. Greg played it perfectly, worked it up off the bottom, let it run, worked it in and landed a big 20" Trout, the biggest of the year and worth Bragging Rights for a while!

We fished down the Nassau for the last 45 minutes of the trip and Greg did finally find his Redfish, a feisty one that measured just undersized. We had went out this morning with a plan and it had paid off with some comfortable fishing, some good action, and a few 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.  

Private Waters? Trophy Trout!

 

The weather cooperated with our plans to fish today - it was looking "iffy" earlier in the week but as we got closer today it appeared the winds and rain would hold off until after out trip. I met Don Walters and his longtime friends and fishing buddies Alex and Bruce down at Sawpit Creek early and we headed up the Intracoastal and then into the Nassau to make our way up to Nassauville to make our first stop at a couple of docks to fish the last of an outgoing tide with jigs and live shrimp. The "baitstealers" were on fire! We may have gotten a Trout there but most of the bites were the little perch - good practice for hooking up but not what we wanted!

We then bounced around to fish some Seymore's Pointe dock pilings - worked one, then eased along
and pitched to others. This paid off when Bruce, fishing off the stern, had a strong hookup and boated a nice feisty Redfish. We stayed on the outside of the docks, pitching forward, and the trio caught a good handful of small but hungry Seatrout.

After making the run down to Broward we worked the bank pretty good, but again, a ton of baitstealers -maybe a trout or two. We then made that long run up the Nassau to dip into a creek and fished the first of an incoming tide. Unfortunately that forecasted wind was right on time and it was really blowing into us. But it didn't deter these anglers - Bruce again found a good hookup off the stern - this one was ripping a bit of drag and sure enough, when landed, it measured in the Slot - our first keeper! We fished on down the bank and found a "honey hole" of fish. These weren't "private waters" but it sure was nice to get a good flurry of fish. Don hooked up and landed a nice 17" Seatrout, then Alex followed that up with a big 19" Trout. Then all three were catching Redfish. Two of those fish measured right at 17 3/4" and had to go back but as we worded down the bank Don found another Red that fit into the Slot. We had a good bit of action with smaller fish early, topped it off with some keeper fish later, so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Slowly Got a Slam

 What a beautiful day we had today! I met Glenn and Patti Langford up at Old Town Bait and Tackle early and after easing out of Eagans we made our way over to Lanceford Creek to try and fish some docks but when we got there it seemed like we were a bit late for a "convention" of other Guides. We did fish one dock for a bit and Patti "knocked the skunk off when she hooked up and landed a small Black "puppy" Drum. We moved on. Our next stop was back at Soap Creek where we again tossed jigs and live shrimp to some dock pilings on a lower and incoming tide. I was beginning to think that this spot was going to be a dud when Patti made an excellent cast up into the pilings - she had a hookup and fish on!  Patti played it perfectly and brought it to the net - a nice keeper sized Sheepshead.

We then made the run around to Tyger Island, getting there a bit later than I like but it still paid off. Both Glenn and Patti caught a few Redfish, one of which was of keeper size. They also added a Seatrout catch to their bag total. They actually had a "Grande Slam" of Drum, Sheepshead, Redfish and Trout. . We worked down the island and back up, not getting much, until we got back to where we started and picked up another couple of Redfish, two measuring right at 17 3/4", and also a small Flounder.(Super Grande Slam).

After running back around to the outside of Tyger we fished along the marsh bank with jigs for just a bit, to no avail. We then made the long run over to Bell River and fished jigs deep. Glenn put a keeper sized Seatrout in the boat and Patti had one to the boat that would have been the biggest Trout of the day but alas, it threw the hook right at the boat. Ouch. It had been a beautiful day, we had some 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. 

Fishing In Style

 Today I fished with Andy and Jennifer Aberle, meeting them out at Semore's Pointe and launching in their beautiful 25' Pathfinder, boy what a fishing machine! We eased around the corner, made a short run down thru Nassauville and set up to fish jigs and live shrimp on a tide that was just starting in. I was hoping to catch the "last of an outgoing" but we made do. Both Andy and Jennifer were getting excellent casts - they both had tossed up behind some dock pilings Andy hooked up a with nice fish and expertly played it to the boat to land a nice 17" Seatrout. Jennifer almost immediately followed that up with a Trout catch of here own. The duo added another Trout or two before we moved on. 

We made our way down to Broward Island and set up to fish the first of an incoming tide. We didn't get any huge fish but we did have a smorgusboard of small er fish - Black "puppy Drum", a couple of Sheepshead, a Catfish and a Perch or two. 

We drifted float rigs up at Pumpkin Hill, down each side of the pointe, then finished up fishindg some dock pilings back at Seymore's. It was a beautifly day, we had some action, so as Andy eased the boat back on to the lift we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Wisconsin Boys Catching Some Fish!

 I wrapped my week up and it was a beautiful day to do it! I met Peter Brown and his Wisconsin fishing buddies Shawn and Jeff - down at Sawpit as the full moon set. We ran up the Nassau, all the way to Broward Island and the water was slick as ice, not a rippled. We set up at the island and tossed jigs and live shrimp on a tide that already been coming in for about 2.5 hours, but we made it in time. That first stop didn't produce but we eased down about 50' and that did the trick - Shawn "knocked the skunk off" when he hooked up and landed a hungry Seatrout. He built a commanding lead in the "fish catch total", catching one Trout after another.  We worked down and up that bank and added a good handful of Seatrout to the catch. 

After running way up the Nassau we dipped into a small creek and worked the bank and boy did this pay off. All three anglers began to get Redfish -Shawn on the bow, Peter in the middle and Jeff off the stern. These fish were just undersized but real feisty and fun to catch. Then it got even better!  They hooked up with four Slot sized fish -that fourth being over the limit and was released. They also added another Trout catch or two.

We then came back and fished Pumpkin Hill, switching to float rigs and drifting long. Shawn was up on the bow and handicapped trying to fish backwards but he made it work and caught some more Trout. We fished a large drainage at Seymore's Pointe, had no real bites, then ran thru Horsehead to troll along Jackstaff "bank" and here the trio wrapped up the day with one more Seatrout catch. We had beautiful sunny skies, almost no wind, and the temperature had warmed enough to shed jackets and with fish in the box, as we headed back, we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Bar Setting Trout

 I had the Mathe Fishing Team this morning, Jerry, his son Greg and grandson Henry. We met down at
Sawpit late morning with the sun already up and clear skies to greet us on a high tide that was just about to start out up at Nassauville. And that's where we made our first run to, easing up at a large drainage to break out some float rigs and live shrimp. I think first cast got a bite, 2nd cast got a bite, and on the third, Henry had a strong hookup. He was cranking it in and it was fighting back but Henry had the best of it and soon landed a 19.75" Seatrout - the biggest of the year and good enough to kick off the Anglers Mark 2025 Bragging Rights Tournament -Seatrout Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings).

The trio picked up a couple of more Trout, floating their baits over submerged oysters, then Greg had the big bite. I was hoping it was another big Trout but it was just as good - a hard fighting Redfish. We then ran thru Horsehead and over to Poteat Point where Jerry got on the board with a Seatrout catch. After working a bank thoroughly there, we crossed over and fished a beautiful outflow, but to no avail. Back thru Horsehead we came and up to Back River Point where we drifted the floats, but again, no bites. 

We then made the tactical decision to switch to jigs and fish deep and this paid off, Fishing between two docks with the jigs, Henry padded his lead on the catch total, getting another Trout or two. We finished the day down at Broward, fishing under a Bald Eagle. We got another Red there and another Trout before we headed back to the ramp, and we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Catching Dinner

 We're having a beautiful week of weather this week and today was no exception when I met John
Fredericks and his fishing buddy Dan up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp. We eased out of Eagans Creek then made the run over to the outside of Tyger Island and set up with float rigs and live shrimp with plans to fish the marsh grass as the tide started out. Both John and Dan were getting good casts and good drifts but we didn't get a bite.

We bounced around Tyger, moving up towards Jolley and fished a large drainage with jigs and shrimp and again, no bites. We then ran up the Jolley to Snook Creek, eased inside, drifted floats out the back to no avail, then tossed jigs across the creek, again to no avail - no real bites.

If you've followed the last few days of fishing reports you may have seen that this has been the norm - no fish for the first couple of spots. But following Rule #4 - "if you're not catching fish, MOVE" - that's what we did - we made the run around to Bell River and anchored out from some docks and tossed the jigs up-current  and let the jigs bounce down the bottom and this did the trick. Dan, fishing off the stern picked up a couple of Seatrout and a small Black "puppy" Drum. And when we moved up a couple of docks John got in on the action and caught a few of those hungry Trout. We dropped back about 4 docks and fished the pilings and this strategy paid off when Dan hooked up and expertly played to the net a keeper sized Black Drum. 

We then made the long run back to Amelia, ran down the Intracoastal and found some more docks to fish. I was expecting Redfish but John found some Seatrout out in the middle of the creek. He landed a good handful, one of which was of keeper size and there were at least three that were just 1/16" shy of being legal - we tossed those back. Our final stop was further down the Intracoastal, fishing  deep and on the first cast John hooked up and landed another keeper Trout. That was the only fish we caught there! But these two anglers had some fish in the box for dinner so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Rock Fish at Amelia?

 

Although it was a bit cool to start out with the day ended up being beautiful and the temps warmed nicely to make for some comfortable fish catching! I had met David Vice and his fishing buddy's Gary and Lee out at Oyster Bay dock early and we made a long run back down the Lanceford, up the Bell and thru Tyger basin around to the outside of Tyger to set up and toss float rigs with live shrimp on a tide that had just started out. We had not a bite. No luck at all.

We then made our way over to Eagans Creek and set up current from some dock pilings and it didn't take long before these guys were catching some fish. Lee got hot early and put a couple of Redfish in the boat, one of which was Slot size, and David picked up a Trout out deep. We then made our way over to Lanceford Creek and fished a grass patch, then a bulkhead with the floats and again, no bites. Those float rigs fished in shallow water are just not producing!

After making the run back down Lanceford and then down the intercoastal we made our way to another set of docks Kee got hot again and pulled a couple of Reds out from underneath, and David, fishing off the  bow, worked a drainage and caught a good handful of Seatrout, two were of keeper size. Then Lee, who had been quite for most of the morning, began to get hookups. He put a couple of feisty Redfish in the boat and a few of those Seatrout. Between him and David, they caught bunch of those Trout that measured 14 7/8" .

David worked those dock pilings again and BAM! Big Fish On!  This fish was putting up a crazy battle and digging deep and ripping drag. I was thinking the battle looked different and sure enough, when David brought it to the boat we saw that it was a 23.5" hybrid Striper, boy what a fish. This is only the 2nd Striper landed on my boat in the 18+ years of guiding. But then topped that fish when he battled and brought to the net, a big 25" Slot Redfish. Gary wrapped things with another couple of Seatrout catches before we headed back to the dock and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.