I don't often get the request to catch a "small" fish but the thought was that it'd be nice to take a couple of fish home for dinner and the real big ones would be too much. I had just met Tom Hardy and his long time fishing buddy Bill Dunn up at Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp and we then eased down the river towards Eagans Creek to fish the first of an incoming tide with jigs and live shrimp. As you know, you don't want to take many folks to your favorite spot but sometimes you just gotta do it!
Within minutes the two anglers began to catch BIG Redfish. I kept a tally as they went:
Bill-26" Slot Redfish Tom 29.5" Oversized Redfish
Tom 26" Slot Redfish (w/ 16 spots)
Bill 30.5" Oversized Redfish
Tom 23.75" Slot Redfish
Bill 25.5" Slot Redfish
Bill 18" Seatrout
Tom 26.5" Slot Redfish
Bill 28.5" Oversized Redfish
Tom 24.5" Slot Redfish
Bill's 30.5" Redfish moved him into 2nd place in the Anglers Mark 2021 Bragging Rights Tournament and Tom's 29.5" fish moved him into third! (Scroll down the right side of this report for standings)
...and then we had a small "Rat Red" and small Seatrout! Boy what a morning of fishing. Then the high winds moved in and it all went to pot! But with all that big fish catching, when we called it a day, we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
With the fish bite being "down" the last week or so we needed a day like today. I had met Dave Burkhartand his fishing buddies Ed and Robert out at Goffinsville Park on a dead low tide. After a short ride over to some docks, we set up current and tossed jigs and live shrimp. It didn't take long before we got some action! Dave was fishing deepest with a jig and he pulled in a few hungry Seatrout then Robert hooked up and battled a nice keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum to the boat. Then all three of the anglers were catching fish - Drum up by the docks and Seatrout out deeper. After fishing a second dock where we caught more Drum (we had a total of 4 keepers), we moved on.
Our next stop was down at Broward Island. The tide had been coming in for an hour or two but it was worth a shot and it paid off. Ed had gone to the bank and
let his jig fall slowly with the current when, BAM! Big Fish On! Ed played it patiently and kept the pressure on when the big fish went deep. After a good battle he boated an Oversized 27.5" Redfish, boy what a fish!
As we moved down the bank we got into more Redfish. Ed put a Slot Red in the boat then Dave battled a big one, in and out of some tree limbs, but he prevailed and put another Slot Red in the boat. We added a couple of more smaller Reds them moved down the bank where Ed caught a small Flounder to round out an Amelia Island Back Country Grande Slam of Seatrout, Black Drum, Red Drum and Flounder.
We then moved up to Pumpkin Hill and drifted float rigs where we picked up
some Seatrout, one of which was of keeper size. After fishing some more docks back at Seymore's Pointe where we added a couple of more keeper sized Trout, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Boy what a beautiful day to come back to work to! I had been off for a few days but had a planned fishing trip this afternoon and boy was it beautiful! I met Shane and Janny Sims and their son Cooper down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and we headed up the Nassau River with sunny skies, just a slight breeze and temperatures in the low 70's.
We fished Spanish Drop with jigs and live shrimp, tossing to an exposed shell bank and it was Shane who "knocked the skunk off" with a hungry Seatrout catch. He picked up another one deep, then Janny got in on the action and landed one herself. We fished Twin Creeks briefly, then moved on up to Athens Drop, then made the run up to some docks at Seymore's. Although the tide was still going out, the current was running in and the first stop down current produced nothing. But we moved around so that our jigs and shrimp could drift back to the pilings and this did the trick. Cooper had a strong bite and it was Fish On! He patiently worked the fish away from the pilings, battle it to the net, and landed a 18.5" Slot sized 20 Spot
Redfish - enough spots to take home money in our Amelia Island Guides Association Redfish Spot Tournament to be held this November! And moment later he had a stronger bite - Big Fish On! Again Cooper played it perfectly and put a nice 23" Slot Fish in the boat. Shane jumped in there and picked up another Redfish before we moved on. After fishing another dock or two we made a run.
Some of my guests know I "rate" my fishing trips as to the quality of our "fish catch" and so far the day was grading out around a "3" with 0 being the worst and 5 being the best.....
Our next stop was down at Broward Island with the tide still having about 30 minutes to low. Shrimp were jumping at the mouth of a runout but we had no takers until we fished a jig alongside a log and BAM, hookup and Redfish in the boat. We drifted a bit with the current and Shane outsmarted a Sheepshead, hooked it up and landed it to garner and Amelia Island Back Country Slam of Seatrout, Redfish and Sheepshead.
The tide was coming to a stop so we moved down the way a bit, and began to drift with it. Cooper hooked up and landed a Slot Redfish, then had a bigger one on that threw the hook. Then Janny had a BIG hookup, the drag ripped, the fish went deep, and found a log to wrap around a break off. Double Ouch! But as we eased down the bank we must have gotten into a school because it was a bite on almost every cast. Both Janny and Cooper had hookups - we had a double! and both landed them - both Slot Redfish. Then Cooper had another bite and this one was big! He played it perfectly, worked it slowly, and soon netted an Oversized 27.5" Redfish - boy what a fish!
And with that, we called it a day - a Four in my book - and another great day to be on the water here at Amelia Island. The next time you're on the web or in need of some fishing shirts or hats check out a young entrepreneur'sFishing Apparel line at Coopers Fishing.
After a couple of days of nasty weather we had a gorgeous day greet us this morning! Sunshine, clear skies and only a slight breeze and right about 50 degrees when I left the Dee Dee Bartels Park dock with Bob and CJ Bengston. We flipped a coin - Tiger Logs or Lanceford Docks? Then we headed over to Tiger Island and began fishing with jigs and live shrimp on the very first of the incoming tide. Both anglers were making excellent casts to the bank and letting their bait slide down the river bottom. We eased along teh bank and Bob had a brief hookup and the drag ripped and, fish off! Ouch. But he went back and minutes later it paid off with a hookup and Fish On! Bob played it perfectly and soon landed a big 26 1/2" "Tournament Sized" Redfish, right on the upper "edge" of being legal.
We continued down the bank and Bob added another Slot Redfish, this one with 7 spots and legal at 18 1/2", just over the bottom "edge" of the Slot -he was playing the edges! As we worked back up the island both he and JC caught and landed a couple of "feisty" Reds, then it was CJ's turn to fight a big one! She had a good bite, set the hook then played it patiently to the boat and net. The fish measured at 23" - a nice Redfish (all but one of these Slot Redfish were released).
After a run around to Lanceford Creek we fished some dock pilings where Bob outsmarted a feisty Sheepshead, then we fished Soap Creek with float rigs and picked up a handfull of hungry Seatrout. After fishing Bell River briefly, we made the run thru Horsehead, toured Cumberland Island and saw some wild horses, then the Fort, then headed in, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
We had another nice morning today, albeit a bit foggy when we started. I had met Zach Peyton, his son Tyler, and his father Bob out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp early and we crept thru the fog to our first stop over at Pumpkin Hill with plans to toss float rigs and live shrimp up near the marsh grass on a flooding tide. The trio of anglers were getting excellent drifts but all we got was a couple of nibbles. We fished further down that marsh line with the same results, then ran down to Broward Island and switched to jigs and shrimp. We fished both ends of the island on the last of an incoming tide but had the same results, no fish.
Our next stop was back at Pumpkin Hill but around the corner, in search of a "honey hole" and it was "Pop" who found it. As he drifted his float by a grassy island his float disappeared and he had a hookup! Fish On! Young Tyler was on the net and did an excellent job scooping up a nice Seatrout. Bob went back to the same area and had another hookup - the "skunk" was definitely off the boat.
We then ran up into Christopher Creek and fished a bit with the jigs, then came back out and ran around to Seymore's Pointe, setting up at the mouth of a bay and drifting the floats. Bob had another hookup and reeled in a Trout ,then Zach got in on the action and caught one too, this one of keeper size (all fish caught today were released). Then Bob hooked up and with Tyler's help, they reeled in another keeper sized Trout. After another hookup, we moved on down a line of docks and fished floats and jigs.
Our last stop was down at Twin Creeks, fishing jigs, and we found one more Seatrout. Young Tyler had helped with driving the boat, operating the trolling motor, netting fish, fetching bait, and releasing fish and he was casting his on spinning rod at the end of the trip. We headed in, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
I fished again with the Soper Team - dad Larry and his sons Garrett and Dustin, but this time meeting them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp. Although the skies weren't as clear, the temperature was pleasant and we had a slight breeze that promise to keep the "no-see-ums" off! We headed over to the outside of Tiger and fished float rigs along the flooded marsh line. Little did we know that it was going to be tough fishing today, but that first stop produced no bites. After moving over and fishing Manatee Cove with the floats and getting no bites, we moved on.
Our next stop was over in the Bell River, fishing a pointe of grass, and again, no bites. Then around to Lanceford Creek to fish a seawall and a grassy island to no avail . Finally, after stopping at a dock and trying a jig and shrimp on a tide that had been falling for about an hour, we had a hookup!! Dustin was on the rod and said the big fish slammed it! He played it perfectly, even when the fish got up in the pilings, and he patiently worked out to a waiting net.
This nice Slot Red turned out to be 25" which added to their catch yesterday of a 23" Red and a 24" Red!
We moved around to Soap Creek where Garrett picked up a hungry Seatrout, then switch back to floats that produced nothing. Larry casually put a "baitstealer" in the boat before we called it a day, a rather slow one, but still a great day to be out on the water at Amelia island.
It was kinda "cool" this morning when I launched - my truck thermometer showed 34 degrees, but there was almost no wind and the skies were clear. I had met Bob Kossman down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early and I while I was waiting on Bob to walk up I talked to two bank fishermen and they said they'd already picked up a few Seatrout on artificial grubs they were tossing. But Bob and I made the run up the Nassau River, around to some docks, and began pitching live shrimp on jigs. We fished it pretty good, had just a nibble or two, but no takers, so we moved back down the Nassau and fished some exposed oysters on the very last of an outgoing tide. Bob did hookup and land one nice sized Whiting to "knock the skunk off".
Our next stop was at some docks at Seymore's Pointe. We weren't getting any real bites until all at once, BAM! Bob had a strong hookup and it was Fish On! This fish was ripping drag and had no plans of coming to the boat, but Bob kept the pressure on and eventually subdued and landed a big 22" Black "puppy" Drum, boy what a fish, and boy what a battle!
We moved down a dock or two and began pitching up under an old decrepit dock and soon we were catching an landing a good handful of feisty Redfish, one of which was of keeper size. I think every single fish came out of a 2 square foot spot!
After making the run down the Nassau to Broward Island we set up and began fishing our jigs up to the bank, letting them go to the bottom then as the current took them deeper, BAM! Hookup. Bob found a "honey hole" and landed a few keeper sized Seatarout to garner his Amelia Island Back Country Slam of Redfish, Black Drum, and Seatrout. We fished further South for a bit and found another school of the Seatrout. These were small but fun to catch so as we wrapped it up, we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Although it was a tad bit gloomy today when I met Philip and Al down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp, thewind was holding steady at 10mph and it was forecast to get up into the high 60's today. The tide had been falling for about an hour as we headed up the Nassau River to make our first stop at a large outflow. Both anglers began tossing jigs and live shrimp up current and working it slowly back along the river bottom. Philip "knocked the skunk off" fairly quickly when he hooked up and landed a couple of hungry Seatrout.
We moved up the way a couple of times, fishing outflows, and picking up a Trout or two at each spot. Al had got in on the action and put a couple in the net, fishing off the stern.
Our next stop was up at some docks at Seymore's Pointe, fishing the pilings where I sure we'd get some Black Drum, but we fished to no avail. We moved down and fished a 2nd dock and this paid off with 2 nice feisty Redfish that Philip put in the boat.
After looping around Seymore's we rand down a ways and got in between two docks that had a drop off from 15' to 27'. This move paid off and "upped our average". Philip began hooking up with Trout up on the bow and Al found a couple of Weadfish out deep, both of them of keeper size. He also picked up a couple of Trout back there.
We finished up the day down at Broward Island, still fishing an outgoing tide, but had no real luck. But the sun had come out a couple of times, we were out on the water, so we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
I fished this afternoon with friends Tim Parker and Brian Knicely, meeting them out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp at 1pm for planned afternoon trip. The skies were overcast but the wind was down and it was only in the 40"s and the tide was falling...what better could you ask for?
Our first stop was down the way, along some rocks at Nassauville. Tim and I were tossing shrimp and live shrimp while Brian had tied on a suspending jerk bait. We were tossing the jigs and shrimp up current and it was Tim who "knocked the skunk off" with a couple of Seatrout catches, deep on the bottom. We fished that spot, moved down a spot or two, then moved on.
After running down to Broward Island, set up and fished the jigs. The first area didn't produce but when we drifted back to some logs, Tim found pay dirt - hooking up and battling to the boat an nice Slot Redfish. He added another Slot Red to the box and a couple of smaller Reds, while Brian hooked up with a couple of hungry Seatrout off the stern. Tim had a strange bump, hooked up, and landed a keeper sized 16" Flounder.
The next stop was back at some docks at Semore's Pointe. We had eased up to where we could get some good casts up between some pilings and BOOM! Fish On! Tim pulled a couple of Slot Reds out before he relinquished the spot to Brian and he had some hookups, too. A couple of the fish were Slot sized Reds.
We dropped back and fished another dock as the tide changed and started back in. This is where we got our biggest Reds- all on jigs and shrimp on the incoming tide. A couple of them we had to work out between the pilings but today luck was on our side and we landed most of them - a couple in the 22-23" range. A couple of times we had "double" hookups - Brian landed a nice keeper sized Black "puippy" Drum and we added another one of those to the box.
As the sun was going down we worked our way out of there - Brian had switched back to the twitch bait and had a nice Trout hookup which made for a great way to wrap up another good day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Happy New Year! We're back! My first trip of the year was with Eddie Byrd when I met him down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We had a beautiful sunny morning, just a tad bit cool, and no real wind (yet). The tide had just hit bottom and started back in when we began to fish some dock pilings at Seymore's Pointe with jigs and live shrimp and it was the perfect time to be fishing! Eddie had multiple hookups and landings of keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum and he also did battle with a 23" Slot sized Redfish, which he won handily. Once he had his limit in Drum, we moved on.
Our next stop was down at Broward Island, still pitching jigs. Our first try was unsuccessful but we moved down the island a bit and this paid off. Eddie said he had a "nibble, nibble, nibble, then when he set the hook, BAM! Big fish on! Eddie fought it a good while before I remembered to turn the video camera on. He played it patiently, deep run after deep run, and eventually wore the big Redfish out - he landed it, measured at 30.75" - a new standard for the 2021 Anglers Mark Bragging Rights Tournament!
We continued to fish, picked up a small Seatrout, then headed back to Nassauville. The tide was up and the wind was coming with it! But we did find a nice fat Weakfish to add to the box. Our final stop was around at Seymore's again and here Eddie wrapped things up with a feisty Redfish catch - a great way to end a good day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Counting down to the end of the year! We had a beautiful morning today when I met Brad G and his adult kids Jake and Ashley who were making a quick visit just to fish here at Amelia Island. The tide was high and still coming in as we made a run over to Bell River, up a bit, and then set up along a flooding marsh to pitch float rigs and live shrimp. Not a bite. We ran thru the marsh and around to the outside of Tiger and again began pitching the floats and finally Jake had a good bite - he knocked the skunk off with a nice Red fish catch. But that was the only bite along that stretch. We crossed the creek, fished another grass line and again, no bites. Before we left the anglers switched to jigs and shrimp but that didn't do any good.
With two hours of fishing, only one bite and only one fish -we ran back thru Tiger into the Bell, over to Lanceford, and up Soap Creek and set up alongside a submerged oyster island. The "Comeback Kids" were ready for some fish! Jake had a strong hookup and, Fish On! He worked it to the boat and landed a nice Slot sized Redfish. Then Brad went to the same spot and hooked up - another Slot Redfish. The trio landed three more Reds, all right under the Slot, before we moved on.
Our next stop was over in Egans Creek, fishing some dock pilings on the
outgoing tide. The oysters were just beginning to show and the fish were ready to eat. Brad hooked up quickly and landed a nice 18" Black "puppy" Drum. Then it was "game on" Ashley got in on the action and caught a Drum then we had a couple of times were we had double hookups. Jake was having a hard time squeezing in so he went to a slip float and drifted out deep to the furthest pilings and, BOOM! Big fish on! Jake played it perfectly, fought it valiantly, and soon landed a big 24" Slot Red - boy what a fish. The trio landed a few more of the Black Drum, a couple of them keeper sized, then when the bite shut down we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
....and to top it off..they took their catch to Kitchen 251 where they had a great, FRESH, meal!
It was a tad bit cooler this morning, but clear and only a slight breeze, which made for an absolutely beautiful day. And to top it off, the fish bite was on fire! I had met William and Bob Blalock out at Goffinsville Park and we made our coldest run down to Broward Island to fish with jigs and live shrimp on the last couple of hours of an outgoing tide. My first stop didn't produce much but as we drifted back with the current the two anglers began to pick up fish. They caught a good handful of Redfish, a couple of which were in the Slot, but were released to see another day. Bob also put a big Black "puppy" Drum in the boat and William had a keeper sized Seatrout.
Our next stop was back at Nassauville -we fished a deep spot that I had had success at but not today! At William's suggestion, we moved up to one of our old "honey holes" and BAM! It was lights out. He and Bob both began to catch one Seatrout after the other. Most of the Trout were 14-14 3/4" in length, but they did get a couple of more keepers. Then Bob had a strong hookup and put another nice Black Drum in the boat, then he had weird bite, a hookup, and landed a big 18" Sheepshead. We caught 'em (Trout) until we got tired of catch'n 'em!
Our next stop was around at some docks at Seymore's Pointe. The tide had just started back in and it didn't take long before we were catching fish. They put a few more Slot sized Redfish in the boat, then another big Drum. We moved a dock down and BOOM! Multiple catches of feisty Redfish. We tried to guess how many fish we had caught but couldn't, so we estimated 40 plus! Boy what a day! Another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
When I stepped outside this morning it was drizzling rain and the wind was kicking up the trees, and when I launched 45 minutes later it was still misting and I could see a wall of rain off to the north. But when Bob and William Blalock walked up to the boat at Dee Dee Bartels Park, the rain had stopped, the breeze was dying and the sun was coming out! We flipped a coin and decided to make the quick run over to Tiger Island to take advantage of the first of an incoming tide with plans to pitch jigs and live shrimp to the shoreline. It might have taken a cast or three but soon Bob had a big bite and, Fish On! He played it patiently as it dug deep, ripping drag all the way, but soon Bob had it worn out and landed a big Slot sized Redfish. Just a few minutes later William had the hookup, and again it was a big drag rip'n fish! William kept the pressure on, worked it to the boat, and landed another big Slot Redfish. Two fish caught. Two Slot Reds! (All fish caught today were released).
We continued to work in and out of the logs and continued to catch fish. There was another two or three Slot Reds, a couple of big (18-20") Black "puppy" Drum, and a feisty Sheepshead.
Our next stop was around at Eagans Creek, fishing some dock pilings. We had not been there but for a minute and Bob had his jig in the water and BOOM! Redfish on and to the boat! He caught a nice Black Drum then it was William's turn for a Big fish. He had pitched out into deeper water and had a fish hit it hard! This was a big fish and had no plans of coming to the boat. Then it got wrapped around one of the pilings and it was nip and tuck for a while. But William was patient and kept the pressure on until the fish came out to deep water (thank goodness for braid) where William subdued it and brought it to the net, a 27 1/2" oversized Redfish. After getting a couple of more smaller Reds and another nice Black Drum or two, we moved on.
We fished another dock for a bit then switched to float rigs and drifted shrimp along some still exposed oysters. William got hot and picked up another 4-5 Reds with two of them in the Slot. Our last stop was over at Bells River, now fishing a flooded marsh line with the float rigs. I thought we were going to get skunked but Bob nixed that idea when he hooked up and landed one more nice Redfish. Boy what a day of fishing - another great one here at Amelia Island, Florida.
A beautiful sunrise coming up over Amelia Island greeted us on a cool (32 degrees) morning when I met Chuck and Marca Benton and their daughter Kristin our at Goffinsville Park. But we were all bundled up in layers and I had my "baclava" wrapped around my neck as we headed north and around to Seymore's Pointe to with plans to fish some dock pilings on a tide that had been coming in for about an hour. The trio of anglers began pitching jigs and live shrimp to the pilings and it wasn't long before their efforts paid off.
Kristin was first on the board with a strong hookup - she had felt the "bump" set
the hook, and FISH ON! Kristin played it perfectly, took here time, and soon landed a nice 18" Black "puppy" Drum. I think she put one or two more in the boat before her Dad got in on the action and he began to catch fish. Then it was Marca's turn - she hooked up and landed a nice keeper sized Drum, too. Before long we had a good boxful of Drum. When the bite slowed we eased up to the pilings to try our hand at some Sheepshead "drops". I thought we were going to get skunked but then Chuck hooked up. He fought the fish valiantly under the dock and brought it to the net....a nice feisty Redfish!
Our next stop was down at Broward Island. We were still tossing the jig and shrimp combo. Chuck got hot off the stern and put a few Redfish in the boat, two of which were in the Slot. Kristen set the hook on a Seatrout to make it an Amelia Island Back Country Slam, then Chuck found a keeper sized Sheepshead make it a "Grande Slam". Marca had set aside her rod to warm her hands up but she contributed immensely by "coaching them up".
We fished the rocks back at Nassauville, had a bite or two, then wrapped up the day fishing the now flooding marsh grass with float rigs. The sun was up and we had warmed a bit and we had a boxful of fish so we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Although the late night winds died to nothing we were greeted with a cold, foggy and altogether dreary day when I met Jesse and Taylor Patrick up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park this morning. The newlyweds were eager to get out on our Amelia Island waters and we did just that by making our first run up to the Jolly River with plans to fish float rigs along the marsh grass with live shrimp as bait. These two anglers were getting excellent drifts but we had no takers, not even a nibble on a high and incoming tide.
We moved up the river and did the same thing and we did have one Seatrout hook up which was brought to the boat. We moved in to Snook Creek and tried some jigs with shrimp but had no luck so we moved on. Our next stop was around in Bell's River where we continued to fish with the jigs, tossed up near the bank and fished real slow. After about the third dock we struck pay dirt.. The fish were biting very softly but we had a hookup, Fish On! Taylor worked it to the boat and landed a nice Slot sized 19" NO SPOT Redfish - a Tournament winner for sure!
Then Jesse had a strong hookup. He played it patiently as it dug deep, but Jesse kept the pressure on and soon landed a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum (all fish caught today were released). Then back to Taylor - she had her jig hang on a oyster but when she pulled it off, BAM! Another hookup! She expertly fought to the boat another nice Redfish. Before we left Jesse hooked and landed a Sheepshead.
Our next stop was down the Bells River, back towards town, and back fishing the float rigs (to no avail). We made a stop at Tiger Island and picked up Whiting off the bottom before we hit one more spot with the float rigs. We could feel the rain coming so we pulled up and called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Wow! I think today was the prettiest we've had in two months! I had met Dennis Brizzi and Hal O'dell outat the Goffinsville Park boat ramp and I snapped this shot as the sun came up - not a cloud in the sky and only a slight breeze - 50 degree temperature!
We made a short run over to Pumpkin Hill as the tide had just started out and with both anglers tossing float rigs and live shrimp, we worked a marsh bank. Although they were making excellent casts and getting good (albeit slow)drifts, we had not takers. We moved around the corner and tried the same tactic, but to no avail.
After a brief trip down to Broward, we set up fishing under a pair of majestic Bald Eagles and switched to jigs and the shrimp, fishing on bottom, and this did the trick. Dennis picked up a couple of 14" plus Seatrout then Hal got in on the action and boated one after the other. I released the anchor on the trolling motor and drifted back, stopping on occasion, and the duo caught Trout - just barely under the limit size - at every stop. Dennis went close to the bank with a cast and had a stronger hookup, this one pulling drag, and when he brought it to the net we saw that is was a nice feisty Redfish. Just a bit later he did the same thing, further down the island, and BOOM! Another Redfish on. This one measured out in the Slot. (All fish caught today were released).
Our next stop was back at some docks in Nassauville. The tide had dropped and
the oysters were begining to show and I felt sure we'd get some good fish. That's what I get for thinking! Although Dennis put a fe more Trout in the boat, we had no Drum, no Sheepshead, and no Reds.
We moved down to Spanish Drop and fished the exposed shell bank. Dennis landed another Trout and after Hal went to the bank his jig had just hit the water when, BAM! Fish On! Hal played it patiently and soon landed another nice Redfish. We fished another shell bank up the way, added one more keeper sized Seatrout, then called it a day, another great one to be fishing there at Amelia Island, Florida.
We all agreed that the weather forecaster fooled us! I thought for sure this morning would be pleasant - maybe a bit overcast - but not too cold, not rainy, and not windy. Wrong was he. It was on the cool side and the breeze made it seem cooler and we had a misty rain for about he first hour - but we were fishing and this group of Joe and Karen Szkaradnik and their friend Bruce were up for it and we made the most of it. After leaving Sawpit Creek we headed up the Nassau River and made a stop at Spanish Drop to fish some exposed oysters on the very last of an outgoing tide. The trio was pitching jigs and live shrimp to the bank and after getting warmed up, they began to catch fish. The guys followed Karen's lead as she put Trout after Trout in the boat and the too began to hookup. All of the fish were in the 12"-14" range so we broke the cardinal rule, and move on.
Our next stop was up at Athens Drop and again the trio landed a handful of Trout. But the tide had stopped and was beginning to come back in so we headed over to some docks at Seymore's Pointe and began to fish the pilings with the jigs and shrimp. Within a minute Karen had hooked up, Fish On! She played it perfectly and landed a nice 20" Black "puppy" Drum". Not to be outdone, the "boys" went in and caught Drum of their own. Most all of them were of keeper size. Then we had a couple of nice sized keeper sized Sheepshead brought to the boat.
Our next stop was down at Broward Island. We were back in the wind but the rain had stopped. The boat was rocking from the wind and current but it didn't deter these anglers. Karen had made an excellent cast to the mouth of a marsh run out and BOOM! Big Fish On! When it boiled up I new it was Red. Karen kept the pressure on, worked it to the boat, and landed a nice 21.25" Slot sized Redfish. Moments later, it was Bruce's time for a fish fight. He'd gone to a little cove with a good cast and had a strong bite. The drag ripped but Bruce was ready and fought it to the boat to land another Slot sized Redfish. We had a pair of Bald Eagles keeping an eye on us.
We moved north and fished a bit and here Joe landed a feisty Sheepshead and another Seatrout. After fishing the rocks back at Nassauville for a while, we headed in, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
I had my annual Fernandina Beach Fighting Pirates football team mate fishing trip this past Saturday - made up of myself, Daniel "Bubba" Rhodes, Tony French and Fred Dotson. We all met out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp on a chilly morning, but it was clear and a beautiful day! Tony and I had tallked about it on the way out to the boat ramp - we had the very first of an incoming tide - do we head over to Broward Island and fish the logs, or hit some dock pilings at Seymore's Pointe? We picked the pilings and headed that way - Good Call!
These anglers were making pinpoint casts to the pilings with jigs and live
shrimp, letting it fall, and keeping their lines tight and it wasn't long before Daniel "knocked the skunk off " when he hooked up with a rod-bending, drag ripping fish, Fish On! Daniel, the Michael Jordan of fishing, talked the fish all the way to the net and landed a big 20" Black "puppy" Drum. From then on, it was all gloves off! Daniel added a fish or two then Tony heated up and began to catch one right after the other. After a brief hazing period of keeping Fred up at the bow, we let him back to the stern and he began to hook up too. As the Black Drum bite slowed, Fred hooked up and landed a big 20" Sheepshead.
We were getting nibbles but no takers so when the Drum bite slowed we eased up to the dock and anchored to where we could drop some fiddler crabs down along side them. Again, the fish bite heated up until it was on fire! All four of us took a piling or fished on one side of he other, and pulled out Sheepshead. I had never really done that but it was fun!
As the tide got up the bite slowed so we moved down to Athens Drop and fished jigs and shrimp to the shell beds. Somewhere in there Tony added a keeper sized Seartrout to the mix. We then ran down to Broward Island, fished a bit in the wind, then headed back to the shelter of Nassauville. We wrapped up the day fishing artificials, again catchinig some Trout, one of which was of keeper size. And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida
There's nothing like launching the boat in 29 degree weather, but the sun coming up and Smoke on the Water! I had met Tom Middleton and his fishing buddies Zach and young angler Noah out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp early and I had to warn them about ice on the deck, but boy what a beautiful day! We made a quick run around to some docks at Seymore's Pointe. I was expecting some Black Drum to be caught on our jigs and shrimp but when Tom hooked up and landed a Seatrout, that must have set the tone for the day. Young Noah had made an excellent cast to the pilings and in short order had a hookup, and, Fish On! He worked it to the boat and landed the first "keeper" fish of the day!
After fishing that spot for a bit, we moved down the Nassau and fished Twin Creeks, sticking with the jigs and shrimp. Again, Tom found some Trout and landed a couple. We moved down a bit and again, Trout on the bottom, with a subtle bite. Noah switched back and forth from fishing and "coaching" and did an excellent job.
But the wind had picked up a bit so we ran back to Nassauville and fished some rocks. Here, all three anglers picked up some Trout, one of which was keeper size, then Tom had a strong bite, worked it in,a nd landed the first Redfish of the day. Not to be outdone, Noah had a hookup. He played it to the boat and landed the biggest Redfish of the day. Boy what a fish!
Our next stop was down at Pumpkin Hill, now fishing float rigs. Again, we found a couple of Trout. Coach Noah helped out the other anglers by "spotting" their floats when the went under! Somewhere along there we put one more keeper sized Trout in the boat. We fished Broward Island again, back with the jigs, then we called it a day, another great, albeit cold one, to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
My final day of fishing for the week was today - I've done 10 trips in 12 days and I'm ready for an extended break! My next booked trip is Monday November 30th, so check back in then!
Today I fished with Chuck Benton and his son Tom and boy was it a pretty morning as the sun came up! We met out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp and quickly scooted over to Pumpkin Hill to fish some float rigs with live shrimp on a tide that had been going out for about 3 hours. The first stretch didn't produce a bite but we came back around a corner and as Chuck drifted his bait long, BOOM! He had a hookup. Chuck reeled it in patiently and landed a nice keeper sized Seatrout.
Our next stop was down at Broward Island, and as we eased along the tree line we spotted a magnificent Bald Eagle up in a dead pine tree. We set up at a large marsh run out, now pitching jigs and shrimp, and fairly quickly Tom was on the board with a Seatrout catch. Minutes later he reeled a feisty Redfish. We drifted back a bit, set up off from some stumps. Chuck made an excellent cast, let it go to the bottom and, BAM! Big Fish On! This fish was ripping drag and when it got back into the current it made for a good battle. But Chuck was up to the task, worked it patiently to the boat, and landed a nice 24" Slot sized Redfish. I think we picked up one more Red before the wind picked up and really started kicking up the water.
We buzzed back to Nassauville and found shelter out of the wind and fished the jigs to the rocks. It paid off! Chuck found a honey hole of Trout and caught a good handful, one of which was of keeper size. Tom put a couple of hungry Mangrove Snapper, and a small Sea Bass in the boat, then had a strong hookup. This fish was digging deep but Tom kept the pressure on and worked it to the surface and landed keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum.
Our final stop was around at some docks where Tom topped off the trip with a Stingray catch. The sun was out, not a cloud in the sky so we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
