One Stop Makes The Trip

Back to "work" today after a day off! I met Brant Kelch, his friend Mary and his daughter Kara down at the Big Talbot Island Park boat ramp early this morning and we headed out under some ominous skies - dark and heavy with rain sheets showing to the south of us. But as we started fishing we could see a rainbow between two storms and they passed us one to the north and one to the east, leaving us with just a brisk breeze to fish some flooding oyster beds on the Nassau River on an incoming tide.

The three anglers were tossing jigs with minnows AND live shrimp, the first time I've used them in over a month, but we had no real bites at the first stop. We then ran up to fish some docks at Seymore's Pointe and sure enough, we found some Mangrove Snapper. Mary got things started when she put a nice keeper sized fish in the boat. Both Kara and Brant hooked up and landed fish. We fished the other side of the same dock, fished one more dock, then headed further up the river.

Our next stop was up Pumpkin Hill. We had switched to float rigs and even though the conditions looked good, we were having to toss our rigs directly into the wind, making it very difficult to keep our bait up near the grass line. So we worked our way around a point, got the wind to our backs and BOOM! This did the trick. Mary caught a hungry Seatrout, then Kara put a nice keeper sized one in the boat. Mary followed that up with another keeper Trout and then they added another hard fighting Mangrove Snapper, then another keeper sized Trout. We had a few more good bites, one that ripped some drag but threw the hook, then we made one more run back to Seymore's.

Fishing a dock the trio tangled with Mangrove Snapper, putting two large ones in the boat along with a couple of puny ones. It had taken the whole trip but these anglers had worked up a nice mess of fish! And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

One Heck of A Hot Spot

I was lucky to be included today in a "group" fishing trip set up by Capt. Scott Thompson and I had Zach and Elizabeth Powell and their friend Dale on my boat to do some Amelia Island Back Country Fishing. We had a high and still incoming tide so we left the City marina and headed up Bell River to set up alongside some flooded oysters. All three anglers were making excellent casts and although we had a few nibbles, we had no real bites.

So we ran through the marsh around to the outside of Tiger and the
fish "catching" turned out to be on fire!  They began to hookup with Seatrout after Seatrout then picked up some feisty Redfish then a couple of Jack Crevalle. It was almost non-stop action for a good hour. When it slowed we eased across a creek and BOOM!  Elizabeth picked up the biggest Trout of the day. 


We could see a bunch of feeding activity behind us on a pointe of grass so we dropped back and the bite got hotter. We had a number

of "double" hook ups and  a couple of "triple" hookups.  Dale was at the stern and drifting his float "to Cumberland" and he was picking up Jacks and Trout. Zach was making pinpoint shots to the point and found a Flounder hole, picking up four in a row, and then Elizabeth followed him in and got one, too.  We let the boat drift back and all three anglers were able to fish beyond the pointe and the catching got even hotter. They landed Trout, Redfish, Flounder, a big Bluefish, Jack Crevalle, and a handful of Spanish Mackerel and had a high flying Ladyfish to the boat. It was crazy.

The feeding frenzy eventually slowed so we made a quick run up to the Jolley River, fished the "bank" and the highlight was when a huge Tarpon lunged at Dale's minnow right at the boat -startling us all! And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Working Thru to Catch Some Fish

I think the high and incoming tide today - we're approaching a new moon - had some affect on the early fishing today. But my guest anglers were game and eager to get out on the water and get some fishing done. I met Tim and Jeanne Carson, Jeanne's sister Janice and her husband Rafael down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning and under clear skies, we ran up the intercoastal and dipped into Jackstaff to begin fishing with float rigs and mud minnows tossed up by the flooded marsh grass. The tide was still

coming in and even though the anglers were making excellent casts - we had nibbles, some bites, but no takers.

We ran thru Horsehead and down to Twin Creeks, set up again with the float rigs, and again, nibbles, bites, but no takers. Our next stop was up by some docks at Seymore's Pointe, fishing for Mangrove Snapper. Again, some good bites, but no hookups. Darn it!  We bounced around to some more docks, the tide was coming out of the

marsh, and finally, Rafael "knocked the skunk off" when he landed a keeper sized Flounder. We added one more hard fighting Jack Crevalle before we picked up and ran.

Pumpkin Hill was looking good as the current flowed out of the creek and it did produce a couple of feisty Redfish that Jeanne put in the boat. Janice had probably the biggest fish of the day right to the boat but it broke the leader and was gone!

Our final stop was back at Spanish Drop and here things picked up - finally! All four anglers were getting bites and they put a good handful of feisty Reds in the boat. Tim's rod got hot and as he hooked up a number of times. Boy was it hot! Luckily that last stop gave us some action so we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

Hot Day of Fishing

It was a hot one today, more so than recent days in that the breeze laid down to nothing as we fished. Greyfield Inn dock on Cumberland Island - and we scooted back to Florida to do some backwater fishing. But these anglers were game and we worked through it to catch some fish! I had picked up Walter Jameson and his friend Jason who had along with him his son Daniel - up at the

We ran up the Jolley River and pulled up at our first stop at the mouth of Snook Creek and began tossing float rigs with mud

minnows to the marsh grass on a high and falling tide. The anglers were making excellent casts and had a good handful of bites before Walter put a couple of hard fighting Jack Crevalle in the boat. 

We dropped back to the mouth of the Jolley, eased along an oyster bank, but had only a few bites. Walter did put a keeper sized Flounder in the boat (all fish were released today).  After hitting a nice marsh run out on the outside of Tiger with jigs and minnows, we moved around to the mouth of Tiger and here things picked up a bit. Jason hooked up with a couple of feisty Redfish then he put another, larger, Flounder in the boat.

Daniel had been working diligently on his cast and was making some real good ones and it paid off. He too put a feisty Redfish in the boat.  Walter wrapped that spot up when he caught a keeper sized Seatrout on a free lined mud minnow - just a hook. Our last stop was around behind Tiger, fishing the logs with very few bites, but we did pull one more Jack out of the water and with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

30 Plus Fish

For three weeks now I've been able to answer the question, "Are you catching fish?" with a resounding YES! But there's not a whole lot of size to them. The same held true for today's fishing trip with Joanne and Steve Shap and their two grandkids Raymond and Lilly. I picked them up at the Oyster Bay Yacht Club and we motored around to Bell River to fish an oyster outcrop on an outgoing tide  - the oysters were already showing.  We were pitching float rigs and mud minnows but had no bites at all.

After running thru Tiger and around to the outside of the island, we again setup along some oyster beds and BAM! We started catching fish. Young Raymond was on fire, catching one feisty Redfish after the other. Joanne joined in and she too was putting fish in the boat with the help from Lilly. Steve picked up a couple if he could squeeze in a cast to the hot spot. These anglers also caught a few hard fighting Jack Crevalle and then Raymond had a good bite and this fish seemed bigger, and it was! He played it perfectly and soon landed a nice 17" Flounder.

Lilly had taken over First Mate duties and was hand delivering mud minnows when needed. She also was best Net Girl, netting the feisty Reds as they came to the boat. The bite eventually slowed so we ran around and up to the Jolley River, switched to jigs and added another handful of Redfish to the catch.   We made a brief stop at the MOA, caught a nice Catfish, then made our final stop across the river where Raymond finished up with a hungry Seatrout to round out his personal Amelia Island Back Country Slam of Redfish, Flounder and Seatrout. And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Last Cast: BOOM!

Although the weather report called for a high percentage of rain around mid day, we felt like we could get a half day of fishing in, so I met Cathey Grossman and  her friend Diane down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning and we headed up the Nassau River to make our first stop along the river with an outgoing tide. The oysters were already exposed so we went with jigs and minnows.

Both anglers were making excellent casts and it didn't take long

before we began to put fish in the boat. An wouldn't you know it, when Cathey hooked up, we knew it was a good fish by the way the drag was ripping. She played it patiently and soon landed a nice 21" Slot sized Redfish. From then on, both her and Diane caught fish - mostly small, but feisty fun-to-catch Redfish. Cathey also put a hard fighting Jack Crevalle in the boat.

We moved up river and continued to fish with the jigs and caught another handful of Reds. Our next stop was at some docks at

Seymore's Pointe and we added a couple of Mangrove Snapper to the catch before Cathey had another strong bite and FISH ON! But this fish was smart and made it's way into the pilings. Cathey kept the pressure on, then released the pressure, then tightened back up again and pulled the big fish away from the pilings. She kept the pressure on and soon landed a bigger 22" Slot Redfish.

We made a brief stop at Pumpkin Hill then made our way down to Broward Island and fished some logs. There was a bunch of bait being busted up near the bank but we had no takers until we called "last cast" and wouldn't you know it, Diane had a good bite. This fish was fighting hard and came to the surface and thrashed but Diane played it perfectly and eventually landed a fat 18" Seatrout, wrapping up another great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

The Fat Lady Sang

I was able to trailer my trailer boat today after getting my trailer repaired at Allens Pro Trailer Service out in Yulee. They did a great job and it was great to get back to my routine! I met Dennis Brown and his two sons Jeb and Sam up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park and boat ramp and we headed out early, running to the Tiger logs to fish the last 30 minutes of an outgoing tide.  These guys can fish!  I think the only jig we lost was one that I threw over a stump. They were tossing jigs and mud minnows and

although the catching wasn't on fire, they did pick up a good handful of small but feisty Redfish. Sam started it off, picking up two fish right away. Jeb landed a couple and once in a while their dad added a fish.  They were keeping an informal score and for most of the day, Jeb held "first place" in the quantity of catch, Sam was in a close second, and dad anchored the rear.

When the tide changed we ran up to the Jolley River and fished the

"bank" and again, the catching wasn't on fire but we caught fish. They added a couple of Jack Crevalle, a handful of small Mangrove Snapper, then all three put some keeper sized Flounder in the boat. Jeb added a fourth Flounder before we left.

Our next stop was up at the MOA and right off they began to catch fish. We had some big bites - Dennis put two big Catfish in the boat and Sam added another big one. We landed a small Sea Bass somewhere in there, a couple of hungry Trout, and another Red or two.  We bounced around to Snook Creek. Dennis and Jeb switched to float rigs while Sam stayed with the jig and it looked like the two young anglers were going to take the "big fish" catch of the day with Sam's big Catfish and a big Ladyfish that Jeb landed. But whoa was them. The Fat Lady was warming up when Dennis's float disappeared and, BOOM! Big Fish On! The Fat Lady began to sing.  You can always tell when it's a big Redfish when it tries to stay up near the oysters, rolls a time or two, then digs deep, ripping drag. Dennis kept the pressure on and slowly worked it to the boat, and after a good battle, landed a nice 24" Slot Redfish. Now that's the way to wrap up a great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

This Lady Can Fish!

We had the whole family out today, the Arnett family - David and Kim and their two daughters Abby and Bethany. We met at the Eagans Creek boat ramp and headed straight up to the Jolley River with a few clouds overhead to block the sun most of the day. Our first stop was at Jolly Bank, fishing jigs and mud minnows on the very first of an incoming tide. The bite started off "on fire" - all anglers were getting bites and landing fish.

Abby and Kim were on the bow and were catching feisty Redfish

and hungry Seatrout while David and Bethany were adding to the catch, too. About half way up that stretch the bite fell off somewhat, unlike yesterday where we caught fish all along. But these anglers perseverance paid off because Kim had a strong bite and this fish bent her rod and ripped the drag, FISH ON! She played it perfectly and soon landed a nice 22" Seatrout! This also put Kim in third place in the Anglers Mark 2017 Bragging Rights Tournament - Seatrout Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings)  Not that's a nice fish!

We ran up and around to the MOA and here the fishing got weird! The family caught a couple of big Catfish, a Redfish, a Seatrout and

then David put a Stingray in the boat. Crazy. We moved around to Snook Creek, switched to float rigs, and didn't have much luck until.....BOOM!  Kim's float disappeared and again, BIG FISH ON! This fish stayed up near the bank, rolled, and ripped drag. We knew right off that it was a big Redfish. Kim kept the pressure on and slowly worked the big fish to the net. David scooped it up and they landed a Slot sized 23" Redfish!

We made one last stop on the outside of Tiger and Abby got hot catching keeper sized Flounder. Then Bethany joined in and she too expertly landed a keeper sized Flounder. We made one quick stop at the mouth of Tiger to check out some Manatee that have been hanging out, then headed in, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Big Flounder Big Trout

Dennis Brizzi and his fish'n buddy Hal were back at Amelia Island today and I met them up at the Eagans Creek boat ramp early with plans to fish the very first of an incoming tide. Today, we ran straight to the Jolley River, turned into the slow incoming current, and began tossing jigs and mud minnows to some exposed oysters. I love it when a plan comes together!

These two anglers put one fish after the other in the boat, so much so that within an hour I was beginning to wonder if our bait would

hold out!  They caught small but feisty Redfish, Seatrout, and one high flying Ladyfish. The catching was fast and furious with a couple of "double" hookups. Finally, one of the Trout that Dennis caught turned out to be a nice 16" keeper size.

The bite was so good we turned around and did it again! This time we didn't catch so much but Hal did put two very nice 19" Flounder in the boat. We ran up the Jolley and switched to float rigs as the oysters were now covered. Not much was happening until we got a grass point where the incoming current split and after Dennis's first cast, BOOM! Big fish on! He worked it patiently to the boat, the drag ripping, and after a good battle landed a big 20" Seatrout. The duo picked up a couple of more Trout there before we moved on.

Our final stop was around on the outside of Tiger and we wrapped the day up with a couple of Seatrout, a Jack Crevalle and one more Flounder that "self released" at the boat. And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Everything But the Ktichen Sink

Thank goodness we have great weather these summer days so that we can get all the booked trips in! I met Ivan and Peggy Jaskinia up at the Eagans Creek boat ramp early this morning (after spotting a manatee AND an alligator near my slip) and we headed over to the logs of Tiger to try our luck with mud minnows and jigs on a low and incoming tide. Ivan and  Peggy worked the bank expertly but we had very few bites, one was a large Ladyfish (caught) until Ivan picked up a couple of small but feisty Redfish and a keeper sized Mangrove Snapper.  We fished it thoroughly then headed on, taking

it easy thru the cut to be on the lookout for the ever present Manatee.

We ran up to the Jolley River, turned into the incoming tide and went with float rigs and the minnows. I think we may have picked up one or two Trout along the way and a small Flounder. After running further up the Jolley and fishing  a now flooded marsh line the two anglers began to pick up fish. They had a "double" hookup of hungry Seatrout, one of which was right at 18", a keeper size, and then they had a couple of more Trout. Peggy hooked up, battled, and landed  a rare keeper sized Spanish Mackerel, then she added a hard fighting Bluefish to the catch.

Ivan wad fishing the bank closely and letting his float drift the marsh line with his bail open when it slowly disappeared. He lifted the rod tip slowly, set the hook, and FISH ON! This fish was big and it was so far back I thought surely Ivan would get spooled so we gave chase with the trolling motor and Ivan quickly took in line. Once we got close, Ivan kept the pressure on. The big fish rolled a few times up near the oysters but it was to no avail. After a good battle, Ivan landed a big, oversized 28.75" Redfish, with six spots! Boy what a fish!

We made one last stop out side of Tiger. Peggy caught another keeper sized Seatrout and a Flounder. Ivan added another Flounder, then wrapped things up with a good fight with a Jack Crevalle. And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.