Her First Fish

We got out to fish this morning before the storms hit...kinda! I met Brian Severin and his daughters Rhegan and Maddi down at the City marina and we headed over to Lanceford Creek to fish some flooded marsh grass on the very first of an outgoing tide. The three anglers were tossing float rigs with live shrimp and I believe it was 7 year old Maddi's first cast when she had a nibble and her float went under. She reeled in her very first fish, a hungry Seatrout! We fished there for a while, had some bites, then moved around and
fished some dock pilings. We had bites and young Maddi put another fish in the boat, this one a Croaker. The wind was kicking up somewhat so we elected to stay behind the land mass and ran around to Bell River to hit some  more docks. Here, we switched to jigs and shrimp Rhegan got in on the action when she fought to the boat a nice Stingray. Then she hooked up and landed the biggest Trout of the day. We ran around to Tiger Island and had just begun to fish when the bottom dropped out and some rather large rain drops began to fall. We picked up and ran back, got soaked on the way, but counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Daylight Topwater Fishing

We had a plan, meet early and fish the very first of a falling tide with topwater lures. I met Kye Stepp, his brother in law Matt and his father in law Tommy "Big T", down at Sawpit Creek boat ramp and we headed up to the Horsehead area to fish the grasslines. I could tell right off that these guys were anglers - they were calling their shots and making pinpoint casts to points and pockets. We worked a long stretch near Bubblegum Reef but had no real "spits" at the lures. We ran around to Jackstaff, fished another stretch and again, no bites.  I had a few shrimp left over from the day before so we switched to a jig and it wasn't long before Big T had a hookup. After patiently playing the fish, he landed a fat but hungry Seatrout. And shortly after that he landed another. We worked a bank with the jigs for a while, ran around and fished some docks at Seymore's Pointe, fished the "Snapper Hole" to use up all of our bait, then fished one more bank with jigs and plastic grubs. Although this trio of anglers fished it hard, the bite was slow, but it still was a great day to be out on Amelia Island waters.

Summer Time Variety

I had the pleasure of fishing today again with Paul Landahl who brought along his friend Kathy, meeting them down at the Big Talbot Island Park boat ramp. We ran up the Amelia River and into Jackstaff and to a large marsh run out to begin fishing with float rigs and live shrimp.  The two anglers had only been fishing a short while when Paul had strong bite that bent his rod over and, FISH ON! We new it was a big fish when the drag kept ripping, but Paul kept the pressure on and soon the fish slowed. He fought it for a good while then landed a nice 4’ Bonnethead Shark. We fished that spot just a short while then jumped over and trolled another bank, to no avail. We crossed back and fished a point and here things heated up a bit. Kathy hooked up, using a jig fished deep, and landed a nice keeper sized Seatrout. Then Paul followed that up with one of his own. We had a few good bites and after Kathy picked up a Shark of her won, we ran over to some docks at Seymore’s Pointe. Tossing jigs, both Paul and Kathy had some Mangrove Snapper bites. We bounced around to another dock where Paul tangles with a high flying Ladyfish, then Kathy found her groove and began to put legal sized Mangrove Snapper in the boat. She was even able to coerce a large Blue Crab into the boat! The sun was up and we were hot so we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Hard Work Pays Off

Back to work today! I had Zach Luckie, his young son Tate, and his father in law Tommy fishing with me today. We had met at the Atlantic Seafood dock at the City marina early this morning and made our initial run over to Egans Creek to fish some docks on the last of an outgoing tide. All three anglers began to get bites right off and then they landed a handful of "almost legal" Black "puppy" Drum. Tommy had a strong hookup and he and Tate valiantly fought the big fish for a good while. After a good battle they landed a fairly large Stingray. Zach had a good hookup and he and Tate
hauled in a keeper sized Flounder. We ran over to Tiger Island and fished the logs, picking up another Puppy Drum then Zach had a good bite and with a little help from Tate, they put a nice Slot Redfish in the boat. After working the island thoroughly, we ran up to the Jolley River, fished Snook Creek and Zach landed a small, but feisty Redfish. We bumped around to the MOA, Zach found another Puppy Drum, then we made our last stop over in Bell River. The bite had slowed to almost nothing when Zach made a "bounce" cast off of a dock and BOOM, FISH ON! He applied some pressure and kept the big fish out of the pilings then Tate jumped in and together they fought and landed a big Slot Redfish, rounding out and wrapping up another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Snapper Bite Comes Alive

I had the pleasure of fishing with Steve Foss again, who this time brought along his daughters Stephanie and Katie, meeting me down at the Big Talbot Island Park boat ramp early this morning for a run up the Amelia River to with plans to dip into Jackstaff and fish the very last of an outgoing tide. The conditions couldn't have been any better - early morning, eager anglers, a slight breeze, current slowing, bait moving everywhere...and we had no real bites! Ouch! We crossed over and fished a point and we did have one hookup but  the wily fish threw the hook. We ran through Horsehead and began fishing an old oyster bed as the tide started in and again, the conditions and tide were perfect, but no real bites. We headed down to Broward Island and fished the downed logs just as the tide changes down there. Steve had a Flounder on for a while and typical of a Flounder, it threw the hook right at the boat. We had one more strong bite and Stephanie patiently worked it to the boat and landed a nice feisty Redfish...Skunk Off The Boat! Whooeee! The sun was up and we were soaking towels in ice water to put on our necks. Luckily my new  Breakline Porlarized sunglasses were doing their job to protect my eyes!  We made a final stop back at Seymore's Pointe and fished some rocks with float rigs and the remainder of our live shrimp (which was a bunch!) And here, things heated up rather quickly. Both Katie and Stephanie were making excellent casts and all three anglers began to get bites and then began to hookup with hard fighting Mangrove Snapper. We had a couple of double hookups and a few of the Snapper measured to 14", which is a nice size for an Amelia Island back country Snapper. The trio landed a few handfuls of the Snapper and we fished until we ran out of bait, then we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Biggest, Most, and Most Variety

We had an outstandingly beautiful morning today when I met the White family, Joel and Brooke and their daughter Annibelle down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. Although the bait shop was out of live bait, I had purchased some dead shrimp and we threw the cast net to get some minnows, then we ran up the Nassau River and made our first stop at Bubblegum Reef. It was Annibelle's first fishing outing and in minutes she was making excellent casts. We had some small nibbles but no takers so we eased over to some docks and began to pitch to the pilings. Annibelle had made a good
cast and was letting her shrimp sit when the rod tip bent over and FISH ON! She held on tight and with the help of her dad, began to work the big fish to the boat. After a good battle they landed a big Jack Crevalle that looked like it had been in a previous battle with a dolphin. We ran down to Broward Island where Joel picked up a feisty Black "puppy" Drum and we were treated to a sighting of a Bald Eagle. Our last stop was back at Seymore's Pointe and here Annibelle made a pinpoint cast to the "hot spot" and hooked up and landed all by herself a keeper sized Mangrove Snapper. She also outsmarted a wiley Pinfish. With that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

LIke a Light Switch

I got to do a late afternoon trip today with Allen and Ann Richardson and their two grandkids Anna Claire and Walker. We met at the City docks at 3pm and made a long run up the Bell River to fish some docks with the tide about half way down. We had some huge live shrimp which we baited onto 1/4 oz jigs and began to toss to some dock pilings. The anglers were making good casts and we worked a few docks diligently, but we had no real bites. We then ran around and into the Jolley River, up to Snook Creek and
fished some now exposed oyster beds. Again, we worked the area thoroughly, but, no bites! So we are two hours into a fishing trip and no fish in the boat. But these anglers were patient and it paid off. Our next stop was over at Tiger Island with about an hour to go until dead low. It was like someone turned on a light switch. At our first spot we hooked up with a hard fighting Slot sized 20" Redfish then put a keeper sized 16" Black "puppy" Drum in the boat. (All fish were released to be caught another day) We fished up and down the island, landed a small but keeper sized Flounder to make it an Amelia Island Back Country Slam. Walker made a cast to a grassy shore line, bounced it off the bank, and caught another feisty Drum.  As we fished the logs Allen hooked up and landed a keeper sized Seatrout to make it a "Grande Slam" then Anna Claire wrapped things up when she fought and landed the biggest Flounder of the year, a 20" flattie, putting her in first place in the Anglers Mark 2016 Bragging Rights Tournament-Flounder Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings). And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Big Red Kicks Off The Day

I was wondering what the first day of fishing would be like after the tropical storm Colin came thru. I met Jim and Becky Jeffers and their "niece" Shelby down at the City docks with plans to run over to Eagans Creek to fish the docks on an incoming tide. There was just a slight breeze and a few clouds to make it a perfect morning for fishing. The three anglers were tossing live shrimp on 1/4oz jigs up to the dock pilings and were just getting small nibbles when Shelby hooked up and, BIG FISH ON! This fish was ripping drag and trying to get up into the dock pilings but Shelby applied the
pressure and worked it out then kept the pressure on as she patiently worked it to the boat. After a protracted battle that took her from the bow to the stern and back to the bow, she landed a big 26.75" "Tournament Sized" Redfish, boy what a fish! We continued to work the docks, had another big hookup but this one threw the hook, then Jim had a good fight with a feisty Black "puppy" Drum. Before we left the docks he also landed a keeper sized Flounder to round out the trio's Amelia Island Back Country Slam. We ran over to Jolly River and her Shelby got back into the action when she hooked up and landed a 3' long Bonnethead Shark. We fished Jolley Bank with no success, other that getting treated to a Submarine sighting, then hit Tiger Island where Shelby landed another Shark, then wrapped the trip up with a tour of Cumberland Island to see the wild horses, Fort Clinch,  and Old Town. It turned out to be a great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

The Best Sunglasses Ever!

Wow! You know how when you slip on a pair of new shoes and they just fit perfectly and

your feet go AAAHHH?  Or when you find a nice jacket and it fits just right and you think, "man this feels good"? Well that's how I felt when I slipped on my new pair of Breakline Polarized Sunglasses!  My eyes went "AAHHHH"!  Their polycarbonate lens make them very light on your face and I could tell immediately that my vision was crisp and clear and that my eyes were protected from the sun. My eyes actually relaxed! I spend over 200 days on the water a year and I've got to have a good pair of sunglasses. I went with the Cahaba in tortoise with a bronze lens and they look and feel great!

More from Breakline:
Breakline products are built to last and designed to improve your outdoor lifestyle. Through innovative polarized lens technology, you will see that we truly offer the best polarized sunglasses in the fishing and outdoor industry. Our Z-920 polarized lenses possess similar advantages to glass, such as scratch resistance and optimal clarity, but with the lower price of polycarbonate you get ultra lightweight sunglasses for a much better cost than glass! We challenge you to compare our polarized sunglasses to anyone else in the fishing industry. All our lenses have coatings to enhance your vision and product durability. Our lifetime warranty including loss prevention is revolutionary.

                                                Click on each picture and see the difference!

Without Breakline Sunglasses                                                                  With Breakline Sunglasses

Big Shark Fight Highlite of Trip

With plans to fish the calm before the storm, I met Dale and Charlotte Cathell down at the City marina this morning and after a brief safety orientation, we headed north to the outside of Tiger Island on the last of an incoming tide. The two anglers were tossing live shrimp under floats to the flooding marsh grass and when Dale hooked up we knew immediately that it was a big fish - his drag ripped out as the fish went one way then the other. But Dale patiently applied the pressure, keeping his rod up and letting the
bend in the rod do all the work. We chased it a couple of times and as Dale worked it to the boat I could easily see with my new Breakline Sunglasses he had a big Bonnethead Shark - fun to catch! Dale worked it patiently to the boat and when it came along side we saw that it was a 4'+ Bonnethead Shark, fairly big for the light tackle that we use on the Anglers Mark. After releasing the fish we continued to work the marsh grass and Charlotte got on the board with a feisty Black "puppy" Drum catch. We crossed the creek and worked another bank and the two anglers had a good flurry of Seatrout catching. The tide was beginning to flood the grass so we spent some time hunting Redfish tails. Although there were plenty of mullet entering the grass, we saw only one Red tail and it didn't stay visible but for a few seconds. We ran through Tiger Basin and over to Bell River, fished some more flooding grass then wrapped up the day over in Lanceford Creek. It was a beautiful day to be out fishing here at Amelia Island. The "bite" wasn't on fire but it's always nice to be out on the water.