Bigger Trout Coming Shallower

I was down at the south end this morning, meeting Mills Gallivan early and running up the Nassau and into Christopher Creek to take advantage of the last of an incoming tide...and some wind blockage!  Mills started off tossing a fly, blind casting to some marsh grass, and even though he was making excellent casts, we had no real bites. We trolled the bank and switched to spin and live shrimp on a jig and this did the trick. Mills picked up a handful of hard fighting Redfish. After a couple of passes we came out of the
creek and ran back to the Seymore's Pointe area.

The tide was coming out of the marsh and we set up at a grassy pointe that was a perfect ambush spot and sure enough, the Seatrout were there. As long as Mills got a good drift we both expected a bite as his float came across some flooded oyster beds and, BOOM! Float down, fish on! Mills landed a good handful of Trout, many over 15, and a few over 17 (all fish were released today).  We thought we might try some other areas and maybe get some bigger Redfish so we moved on and fished some dock pilings with the jigs, but to  no avail. We left the protection of the land mass, got out into the wind and tried the floats again, but quickly realized that it was a bad move.

After fishing some more docks with the jig, and picking up one more Red, we called it a day, another great on to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Double Fat Trout

You could call today the "calm between the blow" - yesterday's fishing was really tough with the wind and tomorrow it's supposed to be blowing too, but today - hardly no wind and a beautiful day. Other than losing a pound or two to feeding the "no seeums"!  I had met Roy Carter and his friend Bob up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park early this morning at the very peak of an extremely high tide and we ran over to the outside of Tiger to try our hand at some float rigs and live shrimp as the water came out of the grass.

Both anglers were making excellent casts to the marsh grass and
even though we had a nibble now and them, we had no takers. We buzzed through Tiger, down the Bell, and up into Lanceford and found a small patch of grass to fish and this did the trick. Bob got hot early, boating a fat Seatrout to "knock the skunk" off, followed that up with another, then he had a strong hookup and, BIG FISH ON!  He played the big fish patiently and after a good battle, landed a nice 21.5" Seatrout!

Our next stop was up the Bell River where we switched to jigs and
shrimp and here Roy came alive. He patiently worked the jig on the bottom and found a good handful of small but hungry Trout.  We made one last stop around at Tiger (again) and although the tide was down really good and the conditions were great, we didn't have a whole lot of action until, BOOM! Roy had a strong hookup out deep. I called it a drum for sure but when Roy expertly brought it to the surface we saw that it was another 20+" Seatrout! These two big Trout landed Bob and Roy into 1st and 2nd place respectively in the 2018 Anglers Mark Bragging Rights Tourney-Seatrout Category.  Scroll down the right side of this report for standings. What a great way to wrap up another day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

We Ain't Skeered of No Wind!

Actually, the wind today was a real pain in the behind! It was forecasted to be about 10mph at launch time and rising to around 17 by the end of the trip. But when I called Rex Hogland we agreed that we'd get out there and do the best we could...and we did!  I had met Rex down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and we cruised up the Nassau River to make our first stop at some flooded marsh grass that had the wind driven current sweeping by a point. It may have been Rex's first drift when his float with dangling live
shrimp disappeared and, Skunk Off! A nice Seatrout. We continued to fish that point and picked up a few more Trout, then eased back between a couple of docks and caught another Trout or two - one of them was almost... spotless!

The wind was really kicking so we fished around the corner and got in behind a land mass which made it like fishing on a calm pond. Rex was making excellent casts to the bank and within a short time his float disappeared and BIG FISH ON! Rex played it perfectly,

thru deep run after deep run and eventually landed a big 25" Slot Redfish. Boy what a fish! He went back to his hot spot and just a short while later, BOOM! Another big fish. Once landed we measured it to 26.5" - a big fish in the Slot. Rex caught a couple of more smaller Slot fish, and a good handful of  "feisty" rat Reds.  When the bite slowed we worked up the bank and picked up another good handful of Reds

We tried one more time out in the wind and found that it was just too difficult to fish, so we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

One Big Redfish Fish After Another

Back to "work" today! And boy what a pretty day it was when I met Shane Sluga down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning. We had a clear skies and only a slight breeze as we headed up the Intercoastal and dipped in to Jackstaff and further into a creek. Shane was tossing a live shrimp under a float rig on a still high and outgoing tide and making excellent casts to the marsh grass - it was perfect conditions but we only had a small nibble or two.

We crossed over to fish another bank, switched to jigs and shrimp,
but still could not induce a bite. So we ran through Horsehead and around to some docks at Seymores Pointe and this did the trick. Fish the dock pilings!  On Shane's first cast, BOOM! Big fish on...it was ripping drag and was right up in the pilings. Shane tried to force it out but it was having none of it and BAP! Fish Off!  But Shane went right back in with an excellent cast and, BOOM! Big fish on!  He got a little more aggressive and pulled that fish out until it was away from the pilings then worked it patiently and soon

landed a 27+" oversized Redfish! Now that was a nice fish to "knock the skunk off"!  Shane went back in, landed a couple of  small but feisty Reds, then he had another rip dragging bite. This fish was big! Shane kept him from getting into the pilings, kept the pressure on, and soon landed another oversized Red, this one measuring right at 28.25". He continued to fish that spot, landed a couple of slot fish (all fish were released today), landed a good handful of the smaller, feisty Reds, then put a nice 17" keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum. He later rounded out his Slam with a keeper sized Flounder.  We worked the docks for a while, landed a couple

of more Reds, then headed down to Broward.

The current was running fairly swift when we got there so Shane tossed a 1/4oz jig up current and allowed the flow to bounce his jig back down the river bottom. In just a short time he hooked up and landed a fat 17" Seatrout to round out his Amelia Island Backcountry Grande Slam of Redfish, Black Drum, Flounder and Trout. We caught another Red or two, then called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Things Picked Up

We couldn't ask for any prettier weather to be out on the water here at Amelia Island. And with just a slight breeze, the sand gnats are held off!  I had met Bob Blalock and his brother and sister in laws -Tommy and Martha -out at the Goffinsville Park this morning and with the tide still going out we decided to fish some dock pilings first thing. We were using mud minnows and I think that may have suppressed the drum bite. The anglers were  making excellent casts and although the bite was slow, Martha knocked the skunk off with
a nice Redfish catch. Bob followed that up with a small Trout catch.

We bounced over to some exposed oysters, fished the edges and at one point saw and heard some Redfish feeding across an oyster peninsular. At one time we saw a big Redfish tail and boil, but we just couldn't get in range to even keep up with their movement. The tide was about to hit bottom so we made a move, and boy was it a good move!

We ran down to Broward Island and fished the logs - the tide was still going out but we caught some fish. Martha put a very large Trout in the boat, an followed that up with another keeper sized one. Then Bob got in on the action and landed a Slot Redfish. Tommy finally had a strong hookup but after  brief battle it found its way under a log and BAP! Fish off. Ouch. We worked along the bank, picked up a few more fish, then moved further up the island as the tide started back in. We caught some smaller fish then Tommy had a bite and, BIG FISH ON! Luckily, this fish came out deep and all Tommy had to do was keep the pressure on, which he did perfectly. The big fish ran deep and long a few times but Tommy was up to the task and eventually landed a big, 26.5" "tournament" sized Redfish - this fish had some "shoulders"!

We continued to fish and Martha added another keeper sized Trout then Bob, using a Temptation Bait fluke, landed a very large Seatrout. Although the day started slow it finished big and made for another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

In-De-FENCE-able good catching day

Wow what a pretty morning we had today! Zach Peyton and I launched up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp early this morning and the water was like glass. We left the dock and skimmed across the river to make Tiger Island our first stop. The tide had just started in so we began tossing jigs and live shrimp to the pockets and it didn't take long before we were hooking up. Zach quickly knocked the skunk off with a nice feisty Redfish catch then we were both landing fish. We had a few that "pulled the hook" and I kinda wonder if those weren't Sheepshead. A couple of them were

big enogh to force their way away from the boat and into the downed limbs.

But we had enough action to make up for it and after a good handful of the smaller Reds, Zach landed a nice keeper sized Slot fish. We worked the bank thoroughly, landed a small Black "puppy" Drum, then headed back to Eagans Creek to fish some dock pilings. It was somewhat strange - we had no bites (other than baitstealers) but when we moved to the other side of the dock we began to pick up fish.  Again, a very good flurry of Redfish catches, and one or two that broke off on the pilings, then we landed a nice keeper sized Black Drum.

When that bite slowed we made the run up Bell River, fished some more docks, then made one last stop in the Jolley to fish some float rigs along a  now flooded oyster bank. Zack picked up another Redfish and I landed a small Seatrout. And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

Low and Incoming The Best

We got a jump on the low and incoming tide this morning when I met Alan Woodcox and his buddy Willy out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp. When you launch there your ready to fish within minutes! We made the first stop around at some docks at Seymore's Pointe. The guys started tossing jigs with live shrimp to the dock pilings and it didn't take long before Willy had a strong hookup and, Fish On! But this was a smart fish and it immediately wrapped around a piling and....Fish Off! Ouch! But Willy went right back to
the spot and hooked up again. He landed a couple of nice Redfish with one of them of keeper size. Alan was fishing deeper and put a Seatrout in the boat.

We fished a couple of more docks then bounced around to fish some rocks back towards the ramp. This was deep water but we had switched to float rigs with 3" leaders-they had to be right up near the rocks and it did the trick. Both anglers landed feisty Redfish, another was a nice 20" Slot fish, then Willy put a big 26" Slot fish in the boat. 

When the bite slowed we made a run down to Broward Island and fished the downed logs. The bite had slowed but we still had a handful of Reds and a couple of Trout caught. After fishing some flooding ouster beds we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Hot February Fishing Leads to Grande Slam

I fished again with Frank Boehm, his buddy Jack Severson and their friend Tom, this tome meeting them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. It was fogged in when we left the ramp but we took our time and eased up the Intercoastal, turned into the Nassau and made our way around to Broward Island to catch the first of an incoming tide. We baited up our "Walleye Rocker" jigs with live shrimp - these jigs have extremely good hooks, are brightly painted, and are streamlined to bounce over bottom structure - and it wasn't long before we were catching fish. Jack was catching Redfish on the

bow, Tom was catching Redfish on the stern, and they both added a Seatrout and a Black "puppy" Drum to garner an Amelia Island Back Country Slam.

We worked the bank for a good 75 yards and boated a handful of Reds with a few of them being of keeper size. One of the Trout was a keeper. We were joined by two majestic Bald Eagles.  Our next stop was back at Seymore's Pointe. Frank had been holding back, letting the other guys enjoy their day, but finally he decided to join

in and put a couple of nice Reds in the boat along with another Trout. Tom added a keeper sized Black Drum.

We moved around the corner, fished some rocks with float rigs and live shrimp and on the first cast Tom had a hookup. He landed it expertly and we saw that it was a keeper sized Flounder, the first of the year for the Anglers Mark (and a Grande Slam for these anglers) then Frank landed a feisty Redfish. Jack was fishing the stern with a slip float, a tad bit deeper, and finally it disappeared beneath the surface. Jack tightened up and when the drag began to sing I thought that maybe his drag was too loose. This fish was pulling hard! But Jack kept the pressure on, fought it patiently, and soon landed an oversized 30" Redfish, a fish that places him squarely tied for first place in the Anglers Mark 2018 Bragging Rights Tournament (scroll down the right side of this report for standings).  Boy what a fish!

We moved on, now that the tide was almost high, and ran back to Christopher Creek, passing an Osprey on the way. We caught a handful of feisty Reds then Jack had another strong bite on the jig and shrimp and, Fish ON!  He fought it perfectly and after a good battle, landed another oversized 27.25" Redfish. Now that's the way to wrap up another great fishing trip here at Amelia Island, Florida.

We Thought The First One Was Big

Finally! A beautiful morning! After a couple of days of nasty weather, this morning was picture perfect when I met Eric Brooks up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp. It was right at high tide when we left the dock and headed over to the outside of Tiger with some float rigs and live shrimp. We made our first stop at some flooded oysters and worked the grass line in hopes for a cruising Redfish or hungry Trout. Not a nibble. We crossed over the creek and fished another marsh line thoroughly, tossing up current and
letting the bait drift naturally along the bank and again, no bites.

We began to make a run through Tiger and even though the tide was still really high, we made a pit stop at the logs thinking we could give them a brief shot. I pin pointed Eric where to cast and he did so perfectly..."left of the stump"! It didn't take long and BOOM! Big fish on!  Eric must have been living right because he was way up amongst the roots but he worked the big fish out, kept the pressure on, and landed a nice 25" Slot Redfish! Now that's the way to knock the skunk off the boat!

After getting some pictures he went back to the same spot and again, it didn't take long, Bigger fish on! This one ripped drag just like the first one but it was determined not to come to the boat. But Eric was up to the challenge and after a good battle landed an oversized 27.5" Red. Now that's a nice fish. We released it after getting some pictures and it swam lazily to the bottom. This fish eased Eric into third place in the 2018 Anglers Mark Bragging Rights Tournament-Redfish Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings).

We caught a handful more of Reds but most were in the 17" size range and then we added a nice 16" Seatrout. When things slowed we ran over to Lanceford, fished some dock pilings, and Eric picked up one more feisty Redfish.  Our final stop was up Bell River where we found we could toss our jig and live shrimp up current, let it go to the bottom, and then just keep the slack out of it and wait for the tap, tap, tap - set the hook and bring another Trout to the boat. It was a beautiful day and we wrapped it up catching Speckled (and sometimes Spotted) Seatrout and counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

From Gloom To Glory

The forecast last night called for cloudy skies but that was an understatement.  I  met Doug Mackle, Stan Jackson and their buddy Matt up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park this morning and the air was so thick with moisture I couldn't wear my glasses! But we were all bundled pretty well so we headed down the river and into the Bell with plans to fish some flooded oysters beds with float rigs and live shrimp. The anglers were making excellent casts to the marsh grass but we had  no real takers.

We ran around to the mouth of Lanceford and fished a grassy island
and even though we did have a nibble, we had actual bites. The tide had been going out for a while so we headed over to Eagans Creek and found some docks to fish. after working three or four with jigs and shrimp and no luck, we finally hit on one that had fish.

Doug got things started when he hooked up with a nice fish and after expertly playing the fish, he landed a slot Redfish. Then all three anglers got in on the action and we forgot about the gloomy weather!  Matt put a fish in the boat, another Slot, then Stan landed another, this one the biggest at 21.5". We caught a good 8-10 Reds and a couple of hungry Seatrout. Although the day started out really slow and gloomy, we ended it on a high note and all was well, making it another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.