The Final Hour

It's fishing. That's what we kept telling ourselves this morning. We had done everything right - consulted all the fishing forecasters, got out early on a good tide, and followed a plan that considered the tides. Each spot we hit we expected fish. I had met Louis Welch and his son Richard up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park and we made a quick run up and around to the outside of Tiger Island with plans to fish a nice marsh runout on the outgoing tide with mud minnows and jigs. After catching a good handful of Flounder during the week I thought this spot would be teeming with the flat fish. Both anglers were making excellent casts  and working their minnows back slowly, but we had no bites.

We moved around to the mouth of the Jolley and worked the "bank". The oysters were showing and we worked it thoroughly but had no real bites, other than a brief encounter with a high flying Ladyfish. We ran further up the Jolley, fished the mouth of Snook Creek, had one hookup with a  hungry Trout, but no more takers. We bounced around to the MOA, had one brief hookup, and again, no takers. OUCH.  So much for the MOA!

 Continuing on, we ran around to the Bell River and fished some dock pilings. No bites. With only about an hour in the trip to go, we made the long run back around to Tiger and slipped in behind the island.

Louis and Richard were pitching the pockets and in just a short time, Richard felt his jig being tapped. He tightened the line, gave it another second or two, then set the hook with a firm rod tip lift and, BIG FISH ON! We could tell right off that this was a big fish by the way the drag was ripping. It tried to get up into the logs but Richard kept the pressure on and when he got it worked out a bit we eased the boat out into deeper water where the  battle continued. The fish ripped drag a couple of times but Richard was up to the task and eventually landed a nice 26.75"  "tournament" sized Slot Redfish, boy what a fish!  We worked up and down tha bank and Louis added two more Slot sized Reds while Richard added one of his own. Although the first 3/4's of he trip was tough, the last hour made it all OK, so we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

A Little Bit of Everything at Amelia Island

The typical summer catch continued to today with multiple species caught: Flounder, Jack Crevalle, an Eel!, Seatrout, and Mangrove Snapper. I had met Phil and Susan Raymond down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning and we made a quick run up the intercoastal to dip into Jackstaff with plans to fish the first bank on an outgoing tide. The mud minnows that I had saved from yesterday had all died overnight but I had some live shrimp to use.

We began fishing the bank, tossing to the exposed oysters and in just minutes Phil had a hookup. It was a strange bite and sure enough, after he worked it patiently to the boat, he landed a nice keeper sized Flounder (all fish were released today). We continued to work the bank and after Phil snagged some shell - we got the jig to come loose - and when we reeled it in there was a small eel attached to the hook!

We crossed over the creek and fished a sandbar and here Phil picked up a couple of Seatrout in quick succession. Susan got on the board when she successfully battled a hard fighting Jack Crevalle.

We ran through Jackstaff and made a quick stop at one dock and within minutes the duo were catching keeper sized Mangrove Snapper.  Landed a few, added a small Flounder, then we ran down to Broward Island. We were drifting with the current, tossing our jigs up to the bank and letting the current carry it down and Susan had a strong bite. She played it patiently to the boat and landed a big 18" Seatrout. Phil added one or two, Susan added another, then we made one last stop back at some exposed oysters at Nassau River.

Phil picked up a brilliantly blue Blue Crab and another Jack Crevalle and after playing hide and seek with a couple of Bonnethead Sharks, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Variety Continues

Red Drum, Seatrout, Flounder, Mangrove Snapper and....Catfish. That was the variety count today. I met Brian Shuford and his father in law Mike down at the Big Talbot Island Park boat ramp early this morning and we headed up the Nassau River, making our first stop at two marsh runouts with plans to fish the last hour or two of the outgoing tide with jig, shrimp and mud minnows. The two anglers started right off, making excellent casts to the bank, but we had no real bites.

The wind was kicking a bit so we ran up to Seymore's Pointe, found some shelter, and fished some dock pilings - but still no bites. So we headed down to Broward Island and with the wind out of the SE, it was like fishing on a pond! It was the very last of the outgoing tide and both Brian and Mike were working the bank thoroughly, tossing their jigs up current and letting them bounce back with the current slowly,  when Brian "knocked the skunk off" with a hungry Seatrout catch. Then, within minutes, he had another bite, this one stronger. He played the fish perfectly and patiently and after a good battle, landed a nice Slot Sized Redfish. Then Mike got on the board when he boated a fat Seatrout. We worked up and down the bank, picked up a small Mangrove, then Mike had a good "bump" he worked it in slowly and just as I was about to net a keeper sized Flounder, off it came - OUCH. Typical of a Flounder to come off at the boat, though.

We made one last stop back at Seymore's Pointe and wrapped things up with another Mangrove catch and one slimey Catfish. And with that, we called it  day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Summer Time Amelia Island Fishing

I do think summer is almost here, based on the variety of fish we're catching. I met Domenic and Victoria Ferrelli down at the Atlantic Seafood dock on the very last of an outgoing tide and we popped over to fish an exposed oyster bank at the mouth of Bell River. The two anglers were tossing live shrimp on jigs and although they were making excellent casts, we only picked  up an ugly Sea Robin.

We made run around to Tiger Island and began to fish as the tide started in. Victoria caught a hungry Mangrove Snapper then we had a good bite and, FISH ON! Domenic commented that it wasn't very big but when the drag began to rip he changed his mind! At one time I thought the big fish was going
to get up in the logs but Domenic kept the pressure on and worked him out to deeper water and after a good battle, landed a "Tournament" sized 26.5" Slot Redfish -with 10 spots! Boy what a fish! We worked the bank thoroughly and later Victoria had a good bite. She worked it to the boat and landed a hungry Black "puppy" Drum.

We ran around and up to the Jolley River, fished the "bank", but had no real bites, then moved further up the river. Both Domenic and Victoria put a couple of Bonnethead Sharks in the boat, a couple of Jack Crevalle, another Black Drum, then Domenic wrapped things up with a nice 22" Slot Redfish. With that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

More Like a Soccer Match

Boy what a pretty morning we had today! Just a tad bit cool running to the first spot, not a cloud in the sky, and only a slight  breeze that helped keep the no-seeum's away. I had met Dale Steinkamp and his nephews Parker and Chaz down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and after the safety orientation, made the long run around to Broward Island to take advantage of the first of an incoming tide.

Except that the tide was still going out when we got there! All three anglers were tossing mud minnows on jigs to the shoreline and all three began to fill "bumps" on their baits. It was the older angler, Dale, that "knocked the skunk off" when he patiently let the fish take his minnow then he slowly set the hook and, fish on! He worked it to the boat and landed a nice keeper sized Flounder. Dale quickly proved that his technique was no fluke when he boated a 2nd, a 3rd and a 4th keeper sized Flounder - the biggest being around 18".  The guys were drawing comparisons to the Patriot/Falcons game as Dale pulled way ahead in the "catch" total. We worked up and down the island, had a bite here and there, then made a run back down the Nassau River to fish some still exposed shell banks.

With the water being so clear we actually saw two Redfish cruising the shallows but just as we were making our casts a big Bonnethead rushed out of on outlet and scared them off. We fished some docks at Seymore's Pointe but had no bites then ran back to Pumpkin Hill where Parker put a nice Black Tip Shark in the boat. But other than that, Team Young Angler was about to have concede to the more experienced guy in the boat. We ran out of time and called it day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida!

 But wait! On the way back to the ramp we passed a spot that had been occupied earlier and with some bait still in the boat, we "put time back on the clock" (just like a soccer game) and stopped to fish. All three anglers began to get bites, then Chaz hooked up and landed a keeper sized Mangrove Snapper. Then he and Parker had a double hookup and both landed  Snapper. Chaz made another cast and when his float disappeared and his drag began to sing, we knew this was a bigger fish. Chaz played it patiently and soon landed a nice 21" Slot sized Redfish. He later picked up two more keeper sized Snapper and with the added time, took bragging rights for biggest fish of the day!

Making a Meal with Mangroves

You may have noticed I haven't reported trips the last week or so. That's because the couple of trips that I had around Shrimp Fest there wasn't much to report, other than not much biting in the back water. I hear the big bull Reds can be had out at the jetties if  you're in to that kind of fishing, but the backwater, coupled with high winds, has been kinda tough.

 But I fished yesterday with some regulars, Dennis Brizzi and his buddy Hal, meeting them out at the Goffinsville Park early morning. We made a quick run over to Pumpkin Hill, set up along some oysters and began to ease along the bank, tossing jigs and shrimp on the first of an incoming tide. Although conditions looked right and the shell banks looked enticing, we only picked up a couple of high flying Ladyfish.

Being in the area, we made a quick stop down at Broward Island and set up outside a large marsh runout. The two anglers were still tossing the jigs and within minutes Dennis had a hookup, called it "small", then his drag began to sing! It was a big fish. He played it patiently and eventually landed a nice 23" Slot Redfish.


Dennis had his spot picked out, went back to it a few times, had a good bite, but no take, then he had another hookup and landed a nice keeper sized Flounder.  We moved up a ways, tossing jigs forward and letting them bounce back with the current and found a hard fighting Jack Crevalle, then a fat keeper sized Seatrout that Hal worked to the boat.

Our next stop was back at the Horsehead area, fishing a now covered oyster bank, looking for Reds. The two anglers were tossing float rigs with a short leader along the oysters and began to pick up Mangrove Snapper. They've been getting bigger over the last month and these were of keeper size. I had one strong hookup that I felt like was a Redfish but within in seconds it dashed across the oyster bar as drag was ripping and cut itself off. Darn it!  After getting a good mess of the Mangroves, we made one last stop around at Seymore's Pointe and limited out on the Mangroves (5 a piece). With that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Against The Wind

We had a really nice morning today when I met Rob and Shannon Holbrook and their daughter Ginny up at the north end boat ramp. The tide had only been coming in for an hour so we made the short run around to Tiger Island and set up, tossing jigs and live shrimp to the shore line. As we fished we could see the wind picking up and blowing by the island. These anglers were making excellent casts to the  pockets and it was young Ginny who "knocked the skunk off" with the first catch of the day, a feisty Black "puppy"
Drum.  Minutes later Rob had a thump the minute his bait hit bottom and he worked in a keeper sized Flounder. Although the conditions were right, the bite was slow so we ran out and around and up into Jolley River and fished the incoming tide at large creek inlet. We had a few nibbles, but no takers then as we worked around a point Ginny had her float disappear and she hooked it up perfectly, landing a hungry Seatrout. We fished further up the Jolley, had a nibble or two, then ran around to Bell River and fished some docks. Again, just nibbles. Our final stop was back towards Fernandina on the Bell and one of Rob's first casts produced another Seatrout. After leaving Tiger Island most of the trip was spent dealing with the wind. It was fishable but the wind made things difficult. These anglers were up to the task and made the best of it and we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Slot Reds Big Trout Good Variety

With forecasted winds this afternoon getting up to at least 18mph, Wayne Hackett and I agreed that it'd be best to fish this morning, so that's what we did!  The good news is that I've been having some good luck fishing that high and still coming in tide which is what we had today. I met Wayne and his dad Harold down at the Big Talbot Island Park boat ramp and we made the quick run up the Nassau River and made a stop at some flooded oyster beds with plans to toss float rigs and live shrimp to the marsh grass. The two anglers started right off making excellent casts and it wasn't long
before we got a few bites. Wayne put a keeper sized Seatrout in the boat and another smaller one. We bounced down the river and Harold had a good fight with a feisty Jack Crevalle. Then Wayne had a strong hookup and after a patient battle, landed a 20" Slot sized Redfish. We inched down the bank, had a fish or two caught, then when things slowed to a halt we cranked the big engine and ran down to Christopher Creek to fish some shallow, flooded oysters.  Harold picked up a Trout, then battled a Black Tip Shark. Then Wayne had a strong bite and worked in a big 19.5" Seatrout.
And as quick as the bite started, it quit! We ran around the bend and fished with jigs and shrimp. Wayne picked up a keeper sized Flounder to round  out their Amelia Island Back Country Slam of Seatrout, Redfish and Flounder, then it was Harold's turn to have the big bite. He played it patiently and perfectly and soon landed another Slot sized Redfish. We picked caught another small Trout or two then headed back, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

One Fish Per Spot

Well, that's what if felt like today. We had a beautiful mid morning trip set up when I met Nancy and Bill Hohenshelt up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park and boat ramp. We made a quick run over to the outside of Tiger and set up at two large creek outflows, tossing live shrimp under floats. Both anglers got a nibble here and there, but no takers, so we bounced across the creek and fished some more flooded marsh grass. Again, we had some good nibbles, and then Bill landed a feisty Bluefish. We then ran out and around and up the
side of Tiger and found another outflow. I switched the anglers to jigs and live shrimp because I new the bottom wasn't rough. Within minutes, Bill had a hookup and landed a nice hungry Seatrout. But no more bites were had. So we continued on around to the Jolley River, fished the "bank" and here Nancy got on the board when she landed another nice Seatrout. We worked up the bank, had a bite now and then, and finally, Bill hooked up and caught a keeper sized Seatrout. We fished further up the Jolley at Snook Creek, had no bites, then hit the MOA. It was the right tide and the conditions were right, fish were popping, but they just weren't eating what we werew offering. We made one last stop back at the logs of Tiger. After getting a few bites, Bill had a strong hookup. He  played the hard fighting fish patiently and soon landed a feisty Redfish. Although we didn't slay the fish, we did have a few catches, so we counted it as another great day to be out on the water here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Battle With A Beast For Bragging Rights

Celebrating his daughter's 16th birthday, Duane Schumaker treated his girls to an Amelia Island Back Country fishing trip on the Angler's Mark. Duane had birthday girl Jasmine along with her sisters Samantha and Savannah "the Legend",  when they met me out at the Goffinsville Park and boat ramp early this morning. We made a quick run around to Christopher Creek and began tossing float rigs with mud minnows (no shrimp available today). It didn't take long before the girls were getting bites with their floats disappearing and within a few tries they got the hang of hooking
up!  Jasmine put the first fish in the boat, a nice keeper sized Seatrout. Samantha followed that up with one of her own then we added a couple of smaller ones. We were fishing the minnows shallow over some flooded oysters and when one float went under and the drag began to sing, we knew we had a big fish - FISH ON! Jasmine was on the bow fighting the fish with her sister Samantha and as their line plowed thru some marsh grass, Duane had a hookup - another big fish on! He and Savannah were battling their fish while the crew on the bow battled theirs - we had
a double!  It took a while but we got the first fish in and netted, which turned out to be 26" and in the Slot and then we got the second fish in, an oversized 28" fish. Now that will wake everyone up! We fished the area thoroughly, had a bite or two, then ran around and thru the marsh to Jackstaff. I eased  up the bank with the anglers tossing their floats but we had no bites. We crossed over to fish a sandbar and began to get fish. Duane was tossing a jig and some dead shrimp that we'd dug out and he picked up a couple or three hungry Seatrout out deep. Then Jasmine caught a hard
fighting Jack Crevalle on the dead shrimp and later, when her drag began to rip on another fish I proclaimed "SHARK". This fish was big and was ripping drag and had no plans of coming to the boat. But Jasmine kept the pressure own and played it patiently. When the big fish got back in the current I released the anchor and followed it down the river. It took Jasmine from the bow to the stern and from starboard to port and back to starboard and back to port as we drifted down the creek. It was a battle of wills and Jasmine won - eventually landing a whopping 34" oversized Redfish and grabbing first place in the Anglers Mark 2017 Bragging Rights Tournament - Redfish Category. Boy what a fish! (Scroll down right side of this report for standings). We fished a good handful of spots, picked up another couple of small Reds, a nice Bluefish, a hard fighting Ladyfish, then called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.