Weeding Out The Dumb Fish

No wind for a change! Whoooee! After weeks of aggravating wind, the flags were laying limp when I met Gary Elder, his sister Karen and her husband Jim down at the City marina. It was a right at low tide so we ran north up to Tiger Island and caught the first of the incoming, fishing with jigs and live shrimp. It didn't take long before the fish began to bite. Karen put a nice keeper sized Seatrout in the boat then Gary added a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum. They picked up a few more Drum, a couple of small Trout, then
another keeper Trout, a small Flounder, then Gary landed a nice Slot sized 24.5" Redfish, all of them evidently not too smart, according to Jim. When the bite finally slowed we ran around to Bell River and fished some slip float rigs deep. Jim figured it out early and put a couple of fat Trout in the boat. Gary stayed with the jig and landed another Trout fishing deep on the outside of some docks. Our last stop was back near Tiger fishing with Cajun Thunder float rigs up near the flooded grass and Jim found some more Trout to wrap up another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Girls Just Want To Have Fun

We had a great morning forecast today so I met the Fields family, Bob and Amy along with their two daughters Page and Clare, down at the south end boat ramp with plans to fish the first of an incoming tide. We ran up the Nassau River and made our first stop at Bubblegum Reef. We had two anglers on the bow and two at the stern tossing live shrimp and jig combo's to the river bottom and dragging them slowly back. Our first bite was a slight "bump" then FISH ON! Page had the rod and she worked the big fish patiently to the boat and soon landed a nice 17" Sheepshead. We fished until
the structure covered then moved over to fish some docks at Seymore's Pointe. All the anglers were making good casts to the dock pilings and when Page yelled, "I've got a fish", we could tell it was a good one by the way her rod was bent. She fought the fish furiously and landed another 17" fish, this one a fat Flounder. The wind had picked up and was rocking us pretty good so we ran down to Broward Island and it was like fishing on a pond! We had another slight bump and young Clare got on the board when she worked in a hungry Flounder. Bob was fishing  patiently and persistently and he found a few Seatrout to add to the catch then Amy wrapped it up with a nice keeper sized Sheepshead round out another great day to be fishing Amelia Island waters.

Persistence Kept The Skunk Off

We had a beautiful day to fish yesterday evening -sunshine, balmy temperatures, but a bit breezy. I had met Adam Castelucci and his two sons Andrew and Alex, down at the Atlantic Seafood dock and we headed up Bell River to fish an outgoing tide. I had two of the anglers drifting deep slip float rigs and one of them tossing jig - all fishing with live shrimp- and although we had few bites, we had no takers. We buzzed around to fish the Jolley River and boy was it a low tide. I don't think I've seen it that low. We fished some seriously exposed oysters and again, a few bites, but no takers. Our next stop was around at Tiger Island, but the tide was down so low we couldn't get through the entrance. We made a short stop at Eagans Creek then ran back to the marina to pick up Adam's wife, Angie. Waiting for the tide to turn and come back in, we did a tour of Old Towne, the Pogy Plant, Fort Clinch and Cumberland Island then we crossed over to fish the backside of Tiger. The conditions were actually pretty good as the island was blocking a now Southerly wind. In just a short while Andrew had a strong hookup and FISH ON! Boy this was a big fish!  Andrew was doing everything right, keeping the pressure on, but...FISH OFF! It had thrown the hook!  That happens.  So I'm thinking, "here we go". We fished up and down and up and down but only had a nibble here and there until finally a hookup. Young Alex fought the fish in and landed a nice, fat Speckled Seatrout to knock the skunk off!  Whoooeee!  Although it was a slow day of fish catching it was still a great day to get out with your family and spend some  time on the Amelia Island waters fishing.

A Fish Here and a Fish There

I also did an afternoon trip today, fishing with Wes Methaney and his wife Mary Beth. The wind had picked up somewhat out of the South East so we made our first stop down at the Rayonier warehouse to fish with jigs on the very last of an outgoing tide. Mary Beth kept up her record of being the first to put a fish in the boat when she landed a hungry Seatrout. Our next stop was around behind Tiger with plans to fish the first of the incoming tide. Boy was it a low tide! We barely scraped across the entrance, kicking up sand as we went but when we got to the deep side of the island we
were able to fish some seriously exposed logs. Wes had quickly got the knack for detecting the subtle bite of the Black "puppy" Drum and landed a couple while were there. We also had a good strong bite and hookup. Wes played it patiently and perfectly and landed a feisty Redfish. Trying to take advantage of the wind block, we stayed behind the island for a while but eventually we made our way out and back to Eagans Creek.  Fishing jigs to the bank, Mary Beth made an excellent cast to a small marsh run out and hooked up with a nice sized Seatrout to wrap the day up.

Bulky Slot Redfish

The winds of yesterday afternoon died down just a bit for today, so I met Jimmy Haverstick and his two sons James and Henry down at the City marina early and we headed out to fish the last of an incoming (and very high) tide. We ran a short ways up Bell River and fished some flooded oyster beds with no luck then we moved around to fish the outside of Tiger Island. All three anglers were tossing float rigs and live shrimp. Jimmy, myself and Henry all saw Henry's float submerge slowly, come up, then go under again and when Henry lifted his rod and reeled, we knew he had the first fish
of the day, an hungry Flounder. The wind was still kirking pretty good so we moved around behind Tiger and fished the logs on a high and outgoing tide, which is very difficult. But we were out of the wind so we did the best we could, and it paid off. Henry tossed his bait into a likely spot and had a strong hookup and FISH ON! He worked hard at getting that fish in and even though it took him deep and from one end of the boat to the other, he stayed with it and landed a big, fat, Slot sized Redfish, boy what a fish!  Later, James had a strong bite and he too had a nice fish on. He played it patiently and soon landed a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum. We fished the area thoroughly then made the long run back up and into Bell River to fish some docks with deep slip float rigs. Although we worked 2-3 docks, up and down, we had no real bites.  Our last stop was over in Jolley River and as the guys wrapped it up, Jimmy picked up a nice keeper sized Whiting. Although fishing was difficult with the wind blowing, it still turned out to be a great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Slam Then a Grand Slam

I had the Hardy family this morning - Tom, his son-in-law Bryan and grandsons Jake and Ethan, fishing out of the City marina with plans to fish the very first of an outgoing tide. I set up all the anglers with float rigs, set shallow, and we made our first run up a short distance in the Bell River to fish some flooded marsh grass. We got a few good bites and then Jake "knocked the skunk off" when he landed a hungry Seatrout. After Bryan put another Trout in the boat we ran over to Eagans Creek to fish some docks with float
rigs set deep. We had to work 2-3 docks but we found a Trout here and there. Bryan landed a couple with one of them being a keeper sized 18"s. Ethan was drifting a float closer to shore and when he had a bite he set the hook and had a good fight on his hands. He played the fish perfectly and put a keeper sized Sheepshead in the boat.  We continued to fish the docks, picked up a Trout or two, then headed over to Lanceford Creek to fish some docks. After Bryan found one Trout, we made our last stop at Tiger Island. Bryan was fishing a pocket with a jig and shrimp when he felt
something heavy on his line and as it began to pull back, he set the hook and had the fish on. He worked it slowly to the boat and we netted a nice 17" flounder, rounding out an Amelia Island Back Country Slam of Trout, Sheepshead, and Flounder. But they weren't finished yet! Tom had been pitching here and there in between the young anglers and he finally had a window to make his cast where he produced a feisty Black "puppy" Drum to make it a Grand Slam and another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Are The Flounder Coming In?

Boy what a beautiful morning! It was still a little chilly but only one light jacket chilly! The sun was coming up when I met Scott Alphers, his daughters Sidney and Quinn and their friend Misty, down at the Big Talbot Island Park boat ramp. We headed up the intercoastal, dipped into Jackstaff, and began fishing a marsh run out with float rigs and live shrimp. We had a nibble here and there them Quinn yelled that she had fish on and sure enough, she did! She reeled it in like a pro and we counted the Bluefish catch as "skunk off the boat". As we were getting pictures, Scott reeled one
in, too. We fished a stretch of marsh grass, crossed over and fished another stretch, and here Scott caught a nice Flounder.  Then Misty put a Flounder in the boat and a small Seatrout. Sidney was making excellent casts - probably the best of all the anglers - and she patiently and persistently worked her bait and jig. We then made a run through Horsehead over to the Nassau River and fished some still submerged oysters that produced no bites. We eased up to Bubblegum Reef and it was Misty's first cast when she had a big hookup and, FISH ON!  This was a big fish that was having nothing
of begin caught. It ripped the drag, making run after bull run and I thought, surely a big Redfish or Black Drum. Misty fought it valiantly but eventually the wily fish made it's way for some structure, locked the line down, and broke off, OUCH!  But Misty was not to be deterred, continued to fish, hooked up with a Ladyfish, then landed a nice 17" keeper sized Flounder. Scott had a good bite, too, one that ripped drag for a brief second, then threw the hook. Our last stop was down at Broward Island, and even thought the tide was down, we had no real bites. But it had warmed nicely to shirtsleeve temperature and as we headed in, we counted it as another great day to be fishing Amelia Island waters.

Trout Window Opens

Where did the cold weather come from? Although not frigid, the temperature was down to around 51 when I launched this morning, warranting a vest and fleece jacket for the morning. I was fishing with Dillon Herbert and his friends Eric, Ryan and Ezra who were down enjoying a spring break holiday from their jobs as coaches and teachers. We met at the Atlantic Seafood dock and made our first (cold) run up Lanceford Creek to fish some docks, which happened to be out of the wind. It was ideal conditions and with the
sun getting up, comfortable too...but we had no real bites. We ran back through Lanceford and over to Eagans Creek to fish some dock pilings as the tide changed. The guys fished jig rods until I could get some Cajun float rigs changed over to slip float rigs and this did the trick. Ryan got the hang of it early and put a nice Seatrout in the boat then the others began to get bites. For about an hour and half  these anglers were playing cat and mouse with Trout down deep. Ryan put a big 20.5" Trout in the boat then followed that up with a keeper sized 16" one. Then Ezra hooked up with one,
played it patiently, and soon landed a nice 19" Trout.  He picked up another 17" Trout along the way. Dillon had one of the big ones hooked up that ripped drag and broke the 14# test leader! With time running out, Eric got on the board with a keeper sized Trout landed. The sun had warmed things up nicely and the fishing had picked up too, so we counted it as another great day to be fishing Amelia Island, Florida.

Fishing Before the Storm

I fished this afternoon with Cale Conry, is son Quintin and their friend Ryan - meeting them down at the City marina with plans to fish the last few hours of an incoming tide. We ran up to the outside of Tiger Island and fished some flooding oyster beds. Quintin had the hot rod early, landing a hungry Seatrout and a feisty Bluefish. Cale put a small Trout in the boat and Ryan had a nice fat one at boatside before he "quick released" it. We made our next stop further up the beach of Tiger and here we had a number of good bites but no takers.  After bouncing over to Manatee Cove the
fishing picked up a bit - they had a couple of more Trout come to the boat. We ran through Tiger Basin and over to Bell River, stuck with the float rigs, had a number of good bites but no takers, then made a move to fish some flooded grass in Lanceford Creek. Both Quintin and Ryan were making good, long casts but we had only been fishing for a few minutes when an approaching thunderstorm appeared to be coming too close so we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Big Trout Big Reds and Bragging Rights

I had the pleasure of fishing with Tom Gaslin again and this time he brought along his son, Sam, meeting me down at the Atlantic Seafood dock early this morning for day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. We had a couple of hours before the falling tide hit bottom so we made a run over to Eagans Creek and began fishing deep. Sam got set up on the bow of the boat tossing up current with a jig and shrimp and before we could get Tom going with a slip float rig, Sam yelled FISH ON! His first cast had produced a big
bite. Sam played the fish perfectly and after a good fight landed a nice 19" Seatrout!  Then both anglers were fishing and catching fish and then Tom had strong bite on his deep float and he too had a big Trout, this one over 20". We fished 4 docks, up and down and the duo landed a handful of Trout with another one right at 20" and then Sam added a keeper sized Sheepshead. When the tide hit bottom we headed out and over to the Jolley River, making a brief stop at MOA where we had no bites then we eased back to Tiger Island. We hadn't been there but for a few minutes when Tom had a strong bite. We knew this was a big fish as it ripped the drag on the Shimano reel but Tom kept the pressure on. It was a good fight and Tom prevailed, landing a nice "Tournament sized" Redfish -26"-boy what a fish. They kept tossing jigs and a few minutes later Sam had a strong bite. It was immediately clear that this fish was even bigger! It stayed deep so long that I was thinking it might be a big Black Drum. It took Sam from one side of the boat to the other, but Sam stayed with it and eventually landed a nice, oversized 29.5" Redfish - a beast! Now that's the way to wrap up a great day of fishing here at Amelia Island!  This fish puts Sam in first place in the Anglers Mark 2016 Bragging Rights Tournament - Redfish Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings).