And Then There Was a Big Fish

I fished south today, meeting the Smith family - Mark and Angie and sons Winston and Zach down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning. We ran up the intercoastal and then in to Jackstaff, turned, and fished the incoming tide with float rigs and live shrimp. We were getting bites here and there and finally Angie "knocked the skunk off" with a feisty Jack Crevalle catch. We had a couple of good "takes' along that bank but they broke our 15# leaders.

After buzzing thru Horsehead we fished some docks with jigs and shrimp at Seymores  but had no bites then we eased down the Nassau to Spanish drop and began working a flooded shell bank. Mark picked up another hard fighting Jack Crevalle then after Zach had made an excellent cast to the grass line, BOOM! Big Fish on!  Zach played it perfectly and after a good battle landed a nice 24.5" Slot Redfish!  We continued to work that bank and BOOM!  Winston had been fishing jig up near a point of grass and I thought for sure he had a big Flounder on. The fish went deep and stayed deep, then took Winston around the engine, but he kept the pressure on and soon landed a 19.5" Seatrout.

We headed down to Pumkin Hill and fished a couple of spots. Just as we were about to leave Mark hooked up and landed another keeper sized Seatrout to wrap up another great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Feisty Fish

Boy was it a hot one again today! We're needing to schedule our trips early morning and try and beat the heat. Today I met the Davis family again - Carl and Sherrie and their daughter Hannah - this time meeting up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park. We made the run up to Jolley River and fished the "bank" with mud minnows under floats on a  high and incoming tide.  Although we had few nibbles we had no takers. After moving up the river a bit to the "Stick" Sherrie had a huge bite - one that ripped drag and went deep - but thru the hook! Ouch. Carl later "knocked the skunk off" with a nice Seatrout catch.

We came back and fished the outside of Tiger and this did the trick for some action. All three anglers hooked up and landed some hard fighting Bluefish. We moved around to Bell River and picked up a couple of more Trout before ending up over in Lanceford Creek. Sherrie fought a high flying Ladyfish to the boat then had a Redfish roll on her bait, come back and take it. Sherrie worked fought it for a second or two but this one thru the hook too!  Not 10 yards from that spot Carl hooked up and landed the final fish of the day, a nice feisty Redfish which wrapped up another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Nice Trout Big Slot Red

These anglers travelled a long way to fish the back waters of Amelia Island! I met Russ Kessel who had his son Noah and friends Zach and Brayden up at the north end ramp and with just an hour and half of an incoming tide left, we headed over to the Jolley River and set up fishing the "bank" with float rigs and live shrimp, and minnows.  Although we didn't have a whole lot of action, Noah did "knock the skunk off" with a seatrout catch.  After moving down way to the "stick" we had only been fishing for a bit when I heard Russ's drag begin to rip..Big Fish On!  Luckily this fish went deep and as good as Russ was playing him, I felt confident that he was "in the net". Sure enough, after some good, drag ripping runs, Noah netted his dad's 26.5" big Slot Redfish!

We came back and fished the outside of Tiger and had minimal bites at the first spot, but after crossing a creek things heated up pretty good. Noah and Brayden were fishing the bow and got into some hungry Seatrout then Noah put a nice 18" Trout in the boat.  Zach got on the board with the first and only Flounder of the day catch.

After re-supplying with bait (we burned thru the live shrimp with "baitstealers", we ran up Lanceford Creek and fished the first of an outgoing tide at a marsh run out and it paid off. All four anglers were catching fish - we had some nice Trout, then some bigger Trout, then both Brayden and Zach tangled with some high flying Ladyfish. After one more spot where Noah boated a feisty Redfish, we called it a day, another great one for fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Another Amelia Island Slam

Boy it was a hot one today! We did have a slight breeze but it wasn't much! I had met Carl and Sherrie Davis and their daughter Hannah down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and after we had made the run up the Nassau River to fish the Pumpkin Hill area we settled in to fish float rigs and mud minnows. We had a few good bites and finally Sherrie "knocked the skunk off" when she hooked up and landed a fat Seatrout.  Later, Hannah added one to the catch.

We fished some docks at Seymore's Pointe then tried our hand down at Spanish Drop. Sherrie fought and landed a hard fighting Jack Crevalle then Carl got on the board. He was fishing floating a minnow up near the bank when BOOM! Fish ON! Carl's drag was zigging but he kept the pressure on, worked it to the boat and landed a Redfish that was right at Slot Size.

Our final stop was around at Jackstaff and here Hannah wrapped things up when she caught a Flounder to round out the family team's Amelia Island Back Country Slam which made for a great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

Slam For The Fry Pan

I fished with Greg and Kim Adams today, meeting them down at he Sawpit Creek boat ramp. Our initial run was a long run - up to Pumpkin Hill to take advantage of a high and outgoing tide. These anglers were tossing fixed float rigs and mud minnows on circle hooks and making excellent casts. We had a few bites then Greg "knocked the skunk off" with a Seatrout catch.  We fished Pumpkin Hill and then down towards Broward but had no more real bites.

Our next stop was back at Twin Creeks and here we switched to jigs and the minnows. Kim was fishing out a bit and this did the trick when she
hooked up and landed a nice Trout. We moved down to another run out and BOOM! Fish On! Kim worked it to the boat patiently and landed a 17" keeper sized Flounder. We moved down a bit more and BOOM! Kim's drag was ripping! She fought the fish valiantly and expertly landed a 19" Slot Redfish. Later, Greg put a feisty Red in the boat.

After running thru Horsehead we fished a sandbar pointe and here Greg hooked up and landed a keeper sized Seatrout. We had a few more Trout then wrapped the day up with a huge Catfish bite! It was  a beautiful day and a great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

Jack On A Fly

Thursday I fished with Rick Keyes, his sister Christen, and her son Ryan, meeting them down at the south end ramp. We made the short run up the intercoastal and dipped in to a creek off of Jackstaff to fish an outgoing tide. Ryan was on the bow fishing a fixed float rig with mud minnows while Rick was at the stern tossing a fly rod.  We worked a large runout for a while, then up the bank, but had no real bites.  We then backed out to Jackstaff and fished a bank of oysters.

Ryan switched to a jig and minnow setup and promptly hooked up with a small Flounder to “knock the skunk off”. He later boated a fat Seatrout fishing the point of a sandbar. Rick was making excellent casts and getting good loops and had a “bump” now and then but had no takers.

We buzzed thru Horsehead, fished a dock at Seymore’s Pointe (and got to see some close-up manatee’s) then ran down to Spanish Drop. Ryan picked up a couple of feisty Redfish then Rick’s perseverance paid off! He had a hard bite and a hookup on the fly and stripped it in slowly to the boat, landing a hard fighting Jack Crevalle.

We fished one more spot at Spanish and Ryan landed another Flounder, then we wrapped things up down at Broward Island. It was another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Fun Family Fishing

I fished with the Hinote family on Wednesday, meeting them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp. Along with Tommy and Cindy we had their two sons Bennett and Aiden. We made a short run over to Eagans Creek and fished just north of some docks and did pretty good, catching a handful of small but feisty Redfish. Then we eased around to another set of docks and here things heated up just as we were about to leave. Tommy was fishing deep with a jig and minnow and after he felt a “bump” he set the hook and had a pretty good fish on. Tommy played it perfectly and soon landed a nice 18” Seatrout. Then both Bennett and Aiden got in on the action catching those Trout out in deeper water.  Before we left, Bennett had a strong bite and when his drag began to rip I knew it was a bigger fish. He played it perfectly and his dad netted a nice 20” Slot Redfish.

We made the run up the Bell River and fished some docks there. Bennett landed a small Flounder (to give him an Amelia Island Back Country Slam) and a small Croaker.  Our next stop was around at the MOA. There wasn’t much action until Aiden pitched a float rig up by the oysters – his float disappeared, and being ever alert, Aiden set the hook and reeled in a nice keeper sized Flounder. 

Our next and final stop was around at Jolly “bank”. Tommy was fishing a jig off the  bow while the two young anglers fished float rigs. Tommy began to get into some small but fun-to-catch Reds, then Aiden reeled in a Red (to give him an Amelia Island Back Country Slam). Bennett had switched back to the jig and it paid off with a Redfish catch of his own. We fished down to the last mud minnow and “left ‘em biting” so as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Good Week of Fishing after Engine Troubles

I spent about two agonizing weeks down with engine troubles but I was able to get back on the water this past Monday for a full week of fishing and we had some pretty good days out on the water. When asked, I tell people that we're catching fish and we're catching some good fish. We're not having one of those "banner days" where you just get bite after bite after bite, but we've managed to put together some nice trips and had a good time out on the water.


On Monday I fished with Mason Bishop and his buddy Brad and picked up some nice Seatrout fishing a high and still incoming tide. We dipped into Christopher Creek and Mason put a nice Slot Redfish in the boat. That high incoming tide has always been tough for me but I'm figuring it out!

The next day the tide was high just one hour later. Len Pelletier had his son Scott and grandson Kevin visiting. We met down at the South end at Sawpit Creek and fished mostly float rigs with shrimp and minnows. Young Kevin picked up a really nice Seatrout in addition to others.





I met Dennis and Carol West up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park on

Wednesday and we had a really good day of catching Seatrout on those higher tides.  You need to be up close to the grass, preferably drifting your bait over oysters and hit those ambush points.






I didn't fish on the 4th of July! I've got to where I don't fish any of
the holidays - the boat ramp is crazy enough as it is!  On Friday I met Dennis and Alicia Penick, their son Parker, and nephew Jack down at the south end. Having a later high tide seemed to help the fish catching! Parker got hot early, catching some nice Trout then Dan picked up a Slot Red over some shell. Jack made a pinpoint
cast to a marsh runout, we saw the fish take the bait, and BOOM! Big Fish on! Jack played it perfectly but that fish had dug it's nose down into the oysters and eventually, BAP! fish off! But Jack persevered and came back an picked up a nice Trout later in the trip.







We wrapped the week up yesterday with some BIG fish! I had met James and Meagan Broom up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park and after making our fist stop over at Tiger Island where Meagan "knocked the  skunk off" with a Flounder catch, we made our way up to the Jolley River and fished the "bank". The duo caught a Trout, fishing jigs and minnows, then James had a strong bite and, Fish On!  It was ripping drag and I was thinking Redfish but when I saw it flash in the water I saw that it was a big Seatrout. James played it perfectly and soon landed a 21.5
each fish.  Just a tad bit later, BOOM! Bigger fish on!  This one went deep, ripped drag, stayed deep, and took some patience. But James was up to the task and battled a stout 26.5" "tournament Redfish" to the net, boy what fish. The duo later put a couple of keeper sized Flounder in the boat and Meagan wrapped things up with a keeper sized Seatrout.

Good Fish Bite Wraps The Week Up

I fished with Mike and Louise (Lou) Maguth this morning, meeting them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp early. We had a heavy breeze blowing out of the south west so we headed over to Lanceford Creek with plans to fish a large outflow on the first of an outgoing tide. The two anglers began with float rigs and live shrimp. Even though the first cast produced a high flying Ladyfish, we didn't have any other real bites so we worked up the bank for a bit. There was a lot of bait action and I thought for sure we'd pick up a fish, but no - no fish. We dropped back and fished the first runout where
we had started - the tide had dropped just a bit - and this paid off. Lou hooked up and landed a nice 19" Seatrout, then she put another keeper sized Trout in the boat.

We moved around and fished some dock pilings and just when I thought it was to no avail - BOOM! Fish on!  Lou (the classiest dressed angler I've ever had on my boat) hooked up, battled and landed a big 24" Black Puppy Drum. Then she put another one in the boat. I was beginning to think Mike had just come along for the ride but I guess he decided to get busy - he caught a nice 22" Slot Redfish, then a keeper sized Black Drum, then another, bigger Slot Redfish. Before it was over they had landed 3 keeper sized Seatrout, 3 Slot sized Redfish, and 3 keeper sized Black Drum - and tossed back some smaller fish.

Things finally slowed so we made the long run around to the Jolley River and fished the "bank" Mike put one feisty Red in the boat then both anglers did battle with some 3' long Bonnethead Shark.

The Anglers Mark is going in the shop tomorrow for it's 100 hour service so it was a great way to wrap up a week of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Rain'n Fish

I fished with the Park boys - Grandad George, his son Matt, and grandson Joseph today, meeting them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park early this morning for a half day of fishing. We made the short run down to Lanceford Creek and set  up outside a nice run out on a tide that had been going out for a few hours - the oysters were already showing. It may have been the first cast, maybe the second when young Joseph hooked up and "knocked the skunk off" with a nice Seatrout catch on a float rig with live shrimp as bait.  We had a few more Seatrout caught but although the bait fish were making a commotion, we had no other fish.

We moved around and fished some dock pilings and this did the trick. Matt was fishing out of the stern and that seemed to be the spot - he hooked up and expertly landed  an nice keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum.

Grandpa George lurked and.....

Matt put a keeper Seatrout in the boat, then another keeper Puppy Drum, then another keeper Trout...then George hooked up and, Fish On!  He played it perfectly and soon landed a nice 23" Slot Redfish.  We also caught and released a couple of smaller Reds.

The tide had hit bottom so we pulled up the trolling motor and made the run back to Tiger Island to catch that incoming current. Although we didn't get much here we did pick up a feisty Redfish.

With just minutes left in the trip, we decided to make the short run up to the Jolley River and boy did this pay off- even though a couple of rain showers came thru. The trio combined to land two keeper sized Flounder- George landed one that was 18" to squeeze in to 2nd place in the Anglers Mark 2019 Bragging Rights Tournament-Flounder Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings), then he hooked up and landed a nice22" Slot Red- this one had some "shoulders" and put up a harder fight than his earlier 23"er.  Matt was on the net, Josephe was "coaching" so it was a team effort to land the fish and make it another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.