Blustery March Fishing at Amelia Island

 Although the forecast called for (finally) some sunshine today, it also called for winds beginning at 13mph and getting up to 17mph as the day wore on, which can sometimes make for a tough time fishing. And it did!  I had met Steve and Lara Bunkowske and their two angler kids Nate and Alex up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp early and with the wind already whipping, we headed over to Lanceford Creek to fish some dock pilings with jigs and live shrimp. Even though the boat was not cooperating in the wind, these anglers were able to get some good casts and finally it was Nate who outsmarted a wily Sheepshead, hooked it up and brought it to the boat to "knock the skunk off". 

We fished another dock to no avail, then headed over to Soap Creek and set upwind from an exposed oyster bed. Steve and Alex were on the stern pitching to the oysters and although we weren't getting many bites, Alex had the big hookup and, Fish On! Alex played it perfectly and worked it to the net to land a nice 21" Slot Redfish, boy what a fish!

We later fished Tiger Island logs on the first of an incoming tide, the best time to be there IMO, but it was not to be. The wind was affecting my boat handling and the anglers casts and the fish didn't want what we presented to them. But it was a beautiful sunny day so when we called it  day, we counted it as another great day to be out on the water here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Amazingly Beautiful Day Here at Amelia Island

 You know you've got the best daughter when she gifts you with a back country fishing trip on the Anglers

Mark!  Paul and Elaine Wozny received a Christmas gift certificate and they cashed it in today and boy what a pretty morning it was! As the sun came up we headed over to Seymore's Pointe to fish some dock pilings with  jigs and live shrimp. Although the bite was slow on the last of an outgoing tide, Elaine was hot with her fish catching! She picked up a couple of hungry Seatrout, then a nice 18" keeper one, then she found a feisty Redfish to rip some drag on her reel. 

We ran down to Broward Island just as the tide was supposed to hit dead low and  here Paul got in on the action, landing a few Sheepshead and another Trout. We  hit a couple of spots there but never found our big Redfish, but again, it was a beautiful morning. 

Our next stop was back at some docks in Nassauville, now fishing the incoming

tide. We were pitching up between two docks, letting the jig go to the bottom and slowly letting it fall down the river bottom and BOOM! Seatrout on. Paul was working it thoroughly and caught a good handful, one of which was of keeper size. Right at "last call" Elaine had a hookup and put a keeper Weakfish in the boat to wrap up another great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

40 Plus

 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.

We Were Delt a Duece

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.  

Fourteen and Three Quarter

 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.  

Making The Most Of It

               

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. 

Super Grande Slam Thanksgiving Week

 This father/daughters team of anglers met me early this morning down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp - Pete Nolan and  his daughters Tatum and Sydney - with plans to take in the beautiful day - the best so far in over a week!

We ran up the intercoastal and dipped into Jackstaff and fished an even smaller creek with float rigs and live shrimp, and got "skunked". We crossed the river and fished a bank of oysters and even though we didn't tear them up, Sidney did put a Seatrout in the boat.

After running thru Horsehead we made a quick stop at some docks at Seymore's Pointe and here we picked up another Trout, and Pete put a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum in the boat. Our next stop was down at Spanish Drop, fishing the shell beds and this paid off a bit - Tatum caught and landed a nice Slot Redfish. The trio of anglers landed another Redfish or two before we moved on. They had a Slam.

Our next stop was down at Broward Island. We fished a large marsh run out and with Tatum fishing off the stern, she found a Flounder to make it a Grande Slam. As we drifted back, about ready to move, Pete hooked up, fought valiantly, and landed a nice 18" Black Drum.  We moved down the way, about ready to call it day, when the bite really picked up!  They caught another keeper sized Seatrout, another Trout, and then Tatum caught and landed a Sheepshead to make it a Super Grande Slam!

 Then Sidney had a big bite and, Fish On! This one was ripping drag, but Sidney played it perfectly, then OH NO! Pete pointed out a huge submerged limb and sure enough, the big fish found its way around it. We tried to pull the line away from the limb but the boat was caught in the current and....the line came free and...Fish On! Sidney kept the pressure on and worked it to the boat and landed a Slot sized 24" Redfish, boy what a battle! And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Early Fish Bite Frenzy

I was back at this morning, fishing with Frank Wytiaz and his wife Joanne after I had met them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We made a quick run up the Nassau River and stopped at a large marsh run out. The bait was getting "popped" all along the bank so we set up to fish with float rigs and live shrimp.  It only took minutes and we were catching fish. Ladyfish, Jack Crevalle, Seatrout, small but feisty Redfish, Pinfish, Catfish -it was a smorgasbord.  Frank was fishing out of the stern and had drifted his float long when something big hit it. He worked it to the boat and landed big Seatrout that was just a tad bit under 20". Later, Joanne had made an excellent cast to the bank, hooked up and when her drag began to sing we knew it was a big fish. Joanne played it patiently, worked it to the boat, let it run, ripping drag, worked it to the boat, and landed a nice 21" Slot sized Redfish.  I had looked at my watch and we had been fishing this one spot for well over an hour, and catching fish!

We did move up the way, switched to jigs and shrimp

and picked up one more feisty Redfish. We then fished some dock pilings and caught Black "puppy" Drum, another small Redfish, a Croaker, and Joanne added to the variety with a couple of Mangrove Snapper catches. We eased around the corner, switched back to float rigs, and fished some rocks but only found one small Mangrove.

Our next stop was down at Broward Island. Fishing with jigs we added to the catch one more Redfish. The sun was getting up and getting hot so we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Chasing the Prize

Back to "work" today, fishing out of Dee Dee Bartels Park where I met Mark and Jen Woodard and their daughter Lilli early this morning. We had a dead low tide so we scooted across the river and dipped into Tiger and fished the logs with jigs and live shrimp. Lilli's casting had improved since last month and she was really getting her bait up to the right spots. But it was her mom Jen who "knocked the skunk off" when she put a hungry Flounder in the boat, then added to that with a small Black "puppy" Drum.

 We fished up and down the bank and the three anglers caught more Drum, some small but feisty Redfish, a couple of Croaker, and a couple of more Flounder, one of which was of keeper size. Then Jen made it an Amelia Island Back Country Slam when she hooked up and landed a keeper sized
Sheepshead.

Our next stop was up at the Jolley where we ran way up the River and stayed with the jigs. We picked up another Redfish and a Whiting before we moved on to Snook Creek where we finally were skunked.

Coming back to the outside of Tiger, we fished some now flooded oysters to no avail, then buzzed thru Tiger and over to Bell where we setup for the final challenge. Lilli was vying for another GPK but it was dad who put the bigger fish-a Seatarout-  in the boat to take home the prize and bragging rights for another year. And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida