Tied For First

I thought it was the biggest Redfish of the year but when I got in I saw that it was tied for first for the biggest Red! Not bad, though! 

I had met the Minnesota boys - Jack Severson, Frank Boehn and Jack's son Joe and daughter-in-law Alicia down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this misty morning and we made a quick run over to the Longpointe docks where we had picked up a couple of keeper Seatrout the other day. But the Trout didn't cooperate today so we continued on up the Nassau River and made a stop at a marsh run out, pitching jigs and live shrimp up current and letting it slide down the

river bottom with the current....to no avail.

Our next stop was up at some dock at Seymore's Pointe. We fished one dock with jigs on the last of an outgoing tide - didn't get any bites - then moved down to the next one. FINALLY, young Joe hooked up and knocked the skunk off the boat, landing a keeper size Black Drum. He quickly followed that up with a feisty Redfish catch. Then Jack put a hungry Seatrout in the boat, so we had a brief flurry of fish catching.

We made the run down to Broward Island, stuck with jigs, and picked up a Trout here and there. Frank put one in the boat, Jack caught one on a plastic grub, and Alicia nailed a small Perch.  We eased down the island and set up to the very last of the outgoing tide with these anglers making excellent casts but the bite was non existent. I had just noted that maybe we should moving on when Joe hooked up and FISH ON!  And a big fish it was!  Joe kept the pressure on and worked it out from  the bank and away from the logs. Once he got it out it dug deep and got back into the current and it was an epic battle to see who gave in first. But Joe was up to the task, played the big fish patiently and eventually brought it to the Frank's waiting net. It turned out to be a 30.75" oversize Redfish, big enough to tie for first place in the Angler's Mark 2020 Bragging Rights Tournament - Redfish Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings). Boy what a fish! We took some photo's and released it unharmed.

Our last stop was along the rocks of Nassauville - the tide hadn't quite turned yet - we got no real bites- so we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Let The Wind Blow

We cancelled yesterday's trips, morning and afternoon, due to the foul weather. It was cold, windy, and rainy and none of us wanted to be out there. But today was forecasted to be clear, sunny, and even a bit warmer with the only drawback, a big one, the wind would be blowing 14-18mph which would make for some tough fishing.

But Mike Petro and his fishing buddies were game so we met down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and made our first stop over at the Longpointe docks to take advantage of the land
mass blocking the stiff NE wind.  The two anglers up on the bow were tossing jigs and live shrimp up to the pilings while two were drifting traditional trout rigs - slip floats fished deep and it was Mitch who knocked the skunk off when his float disappeared with a vengeance, Fish On!  Mitch worked to the boat and landed a nice keeper sized Seatrout.  Jay followed that up with one of his own, fishing the slip float with a shrimp down deep.





We then made a run up the Nassau River and

stopped at Spanish Drop for a brief period while we tossed jigs and shrimp to the exposed oysters on the very last of an incoming tide, then we moved on up the river to some docks at Seymore's Pointe. Here, Mike got the hot rod when he hooked up, battled, and experlty landed a big Black "puppy" Drum.  He then hooked up and landed a keeper sized Trout, then followed that up with a keeper sized Weakfish.  We had a couple of small Red's and Trout along that stretch, too.



After making the run down to Broward Island to take advantage of the first of an incoming tide, we found that the 18mph NE wind and the incoming tide were just too much for comfortable fishing so we came back to the shelter of Nassauville and went back to drifting shrimp deep under a float - to no avail. But we moved up a ways, found a little cove and pitched jigs with the shrimp and minnows. Mike, Jay and Mitch both found some feisty Redfish then Tim got hot and reeled in an "almost legal" 9-spot  Redfish then he landed the biggest Seatrout of the day, one that measured 19.5".  And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Running With The Tides

We had another beautiful morning today when I met Frank Boehm nd his fishing buddies Jack and Randy up at the DeeDee Bartels Park boat ramp.  We made a brisk run over to Lanceford Creek and began fishing with jigs and live shrimp on a tide that had been going out a few hours. the anglers were making excellent casts to some dock pilings but we had no takers at that first dock. After moving down a ways, Jack knocked the skuk off when he landed a feisty Redfish.

Although the tide was right for this spot, the bite was slow so we made the long run up Bell River
to try our hand fishing deeper water, still on the outgoing tide. It was Randy's turn to shine as he "taught lessons" on how to catch hungry Seatrout down on the bottom. He landed a good handful then both Frank and Jack got in on the catching. Randy also hooked up with a sneaky Sheepshead.

Our next stop was around at the MOA in the Jolley River, but the MOA wasn't, so we moved on to the mouth of the Jolley and fished "the bank" briefly, to no avail. As we were leaving our friendly Coast Guard waylaid us and gave us a safety check which we passed with flying colors.

Our final stop was around at Tiger Island to catch the first of an incoming tide. after fishing just a few minutes Frank had a strong bite and BOOM! Big fish on, Frank battled it valiantly and soon landed a nice 24.5" Slot Redfish.  Then they all began to hookup with Reds - feisty and fun to catch, then Jack wrapped things up with a Seatrout that measured right at 19" which made for a great way to end a good day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Chamber of Commerce Day Oversized Redfish...and Trout, Trout, Trout!

The wind finally died down and even though it was a tad bit cool this morning, the sun was out and there wasn't a cloud in the sky when I met Kevin and Bridgette Chambley down at the south end ramp. We headed up the Nassau River and made a run straight to some docks with plans to fish the last few hours of an incoming tide.  These two anglers were making excellent casts to the base of the pilings at that first stop but we had zero luck with the fish bite.

We moved down a dock, then down to another, and finally found a good handful of feisty
Redfish. Both Brittney and Kevin hooked up and reeled in a couple apiece. The same at the next dock, this time Brittney was pitching up into a boat slip and pulled out a couple of Reds, then at the next dock she found a wayward Flounder, unusual for this time of year -keeper sized but small so we tossed it back.

Our next stop was around at some rocks at Seymore's Pointe, drifting float rigs with live shrimp but we didn't have a nibble. We then ran down to just south of Pumkin Hill, switched back to the jigs and shrimp, had no luck, and continued on down to Broward Island. We fished the "honey hole" to no avail, then dropped back and began to pickup Seatrout. The first one was of keeper size, but from then on they were all just under 15".  We had fun catching those then as the tide began to slack, we moved down the way and set up just as it turned and, BOOM! Big fish on!

Kevin was on the rod and this fish was ripping drag - finally a big fish!  Kevin took his time, played it patiently, worked it around the trolling motor, let it run, then worked it slowly to the net - a big oversized 30.75" Redfish - big enough to move Kevin into first place in the Angler's Mark 2020 Bragging Rights Tournament -Redfish Category. (scroll down the right side of this report for standings)

We had no more Reds after that, but Bridgette and Kevin soon found that they could fish their jigs and shrimp slowly on the bottom and pick up keeper sized Trout at 25' deep. We added seven more keeper Trout, threw back a good handful of smaller ones, then counted it a "Chamber of Commerce" great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Cold and Windy and Hot Fishing

We had postponed todays trip from last week due to high winds and even though we still had a little wind, and some cool temperatures, it was manageable so I met Allen and Laverne Webb up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park early this morning. We made a quick run over to Eagans Creek and began fishing some dock pilings on the last of an outgoing tide with jigs and live shrimp, and a few left over mud minnows. The first dock we fished we barely even got a nibble. I couldn't believe we didn't have a decent bite. But we moved down the way just a bit and boy did that pay off!

These two anglers began hooking up with Redfish and it was a bonanza of fish catching for over an hour. They boated 5 Slot sized Redfish with the biggest measuring to 26.5" and they caught threw back umpteen small but feisty Redfish. They also added 2-3 Black "puppy" Drum with the biggest measuring at 16".  We were out of the wind and we couldn't have asked for a better day for fishing, and fish catching!

The bite finally slowed so we moved down another dock or two and picked up a couple of more feisty Redfish, then we made the run over to the backside of Tiger Island. Again, the fish bite was awesome!  They added one more Slot sized Redfish, a keeper sized Seatrout, a few more undersized Trout, and a handful of feisty Reds. It was another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Frisky Redfish

We had a beautiful clear cold morning today when I met Bob Blalock out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp. We made a quick run over to Broward Island and got out the jig rods; the bait shop had no live shrimp today so we went with mud minnows, something I haven't used in months, and it had me concerned just a bit. But on Bob's first cast he felt a "bump" but thought surely it was the bottom and when he reeled it in his minnow was gone. He made second cast, let it settle and BOOM! Big Fish On! However, at first we both thought it was small but then it began to dig deep and go long! The tide was
coming in moving fairly strong and the fish got back in the current and it was a struggle. Neither of us could believe how long and hard this fish fought. But Bob was up to the task and after a long battle, brought it to the net - a big oversized 30.25" Redfish. After a quick photo we released it and it swam off strongly with an attitude! 

But that was the only fish we got there! We moved down the island and picked up one small Seatrout then ran around to Pumkin Hill and switched to float rigs and minnows and fished some shallows, to no avail. Our next stop was down the Middle River, fishing some flooding
pockets in the marsh but again, no fish. Had we used up all of our mojo?

We ran back to Nassau River and slipped into a small creek and went back to jigs. After fishing a curve in the river with not a single bite I was beginning to think that one big Red was going to be the highlight of the day. But then Bob made a cast up into a shallow "cove" and BAM! Hooked up. This Redfish was putting up another ferocious fight. He played it patiently to the boat and landed a nice 22" Slot Red. Bob worked that area thoroughly and BAM! Another Slot Red. He went back and BAM! ANOTHER Slot Red. BAM!  Another Slot Red - this one at 26".  BAM, another Slot Red.  We kept count and in addition to the oversized fish early that morning, Bob boated 8 Slot Reds, two that were undersized, and that early small Trout.  The sun was up, the temps had warmed, and it had turned out to be another great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Learn To Build Your Own Custom Rod

By Don Hughes

 

During the weekend of 9/5/2019, I traveled down to Orlando with my wife to custom build a basic fishing rod at a class run by master rod builders employed by Mud Hole Custom Tackle.  It had been more than 10 years since Capt. Piper, Foy Maloy and myself drove to Oviedo, FL to take the same class at the Mud Hole store and warehouse.  I decided to retake the class because I forgot most of what I learned and I plan to build some additional rods at my home.

The 2009 class was held in one day and enrolled 18 students with three instructors.  This year, there were 38 students and six instructors for the one and a half day class that was held at a Holiday Inn.  Mud Hole has since opened a new facility and will be holding their Orlando classes at their new modern site.  The cost was $199 (include $100 worth of materials) instead of $99 in 2009, but the extra half day was worth it.  We finished our rods on day one. Instruction during the second day consisted of special customization demonstrations. 

 

Learning how to build a rod is a fun experience.  It is more expensive than buying a manufactured rod from a tackle or big box store, but it gives you the opportunity to customize.  Once you learn the basics, you can then try marbling, decorative wrapping, creating unique cork handles, and incorporate basic weaving and custom inlays.  As my instructor stated, “you don’t always catch fish, but you can always look good with a custom rod!”

If you are disciplined, crafty, and a self-starter you can teach yourself how to build a rod by watching instructional videos, etc.  I have included a couple of links to rod building videos.  One is from 1939 (Click Here) and the other is a recent one (Click Here).  It is amazing how far the technology has advanced.  Experienced rod builders can build a rod very quickly as one of our instructors built 5 rods during the morning of our first day while we were 1/2 way through building our single rod.  

There are several rod building supply companies across the country.  Mud Hole is the closest and I have found their videos to be top notch and their customer service to be great.  My rod (photo attached) resides in Tarpon Springs as I gifted it to my oldest brother.  I am looking forward to incorporate marbling in my next project.

Don Hughes is a recreational fisherman and a non-guide member of the Amelia Island Guides Association.  After 30 years of service, he retired, in 2014, from Florida State College at Jacksonville.  During his last 20 years at the college, he served as the Executive Director of the Betty P. Cook Nassau Center in Yulee.  One of his first fishing memories is ice fishing with his father in upstate New York.  He has volunteered extensively in Nassau County and currently coordinates adult recreational ping pong for the City of Fernandina Beach and serves on the Community Advisory Committee for the Nassau Pride ABA basketball team which plays home games at Yulee High School.

Hard Start Leads to Big Finish

After a good blow yesterday we were back at it today, fishing with Ron and Jan Oblen and their son Ed. We me met up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp for a mid morning start to catch the first of an outgoing tide and after making  a run over to Lanceford Creek, the trio began tossing live shrimp under a Cajun Thunder float to a marsh grass line. They were making excellent casts but the fish just didn't cooperate!  We moved out a ways and fished a grassy island, and again, had the same results.
Darn it!  We buzzed back to Soap Creek and fished a large runout that usually produces Trout on the outgoing tide, but again, nothing!

Although the tide was still fairly high, we decided to try our luck at some dock pilings. I was setting Ron and Jan up with some jig rods, but Ed decided to stay with his float rig and tossed it up near the shore and BOOM! Fish on! Ed worked it patiently to the boat and landed our first fish to "knock the skunk" off, and the icing on the
cake was that it was of keeper size!  Ed stayed with the float and continued to catch Seatrout shallow, one after the other. Some were of keeper size and some were just a tad short and went back.

Meanwhile, the two "jiggers' finally began to hookup. Jan caught a nice 16" Black "puppy" Drum then both here and Ed reeled in some "feisty" Redfish. Jan added another keeper sized Drum, then Ed decided to try the jig. On the first cast he had a strong bite, a hookup, and fought and landed a Slot Sized 20" Redfish. He

followed that up with a 18" Black Drum.  After he went back to the float rig, Ed landed the biggest Trout of the day - one that measured 19".  A couple of occasions we had "double hookups" which always make for an exciting time.!

We eventually made the long run over and up the Bell River and with all three anglers tossing jigs now, they all found some hungry Seatrout down on the bottom in about 12' of water.

Our final stop was back at Tiger Island logs and I think it was Ed's first cast and, BOOM! biggest fish of the day on!  He worked it to the boat and landed the final Slot Red - one that measured at 22".  We also spotted a neat Salt Marsh Mink fishing the same waters, which made for a great way to wrap up a fun fishing trip here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Can't Beat it For January

The Angler's Mark rides again! After a month in the shop getting a new gas tank installed, I did my first trip this morning, meeting Dennis Brizzi and Hal O'dell out at the Goffinsville Park early. The tide was going out- had been for a few hours - so we made our first run down the Nassau River to the Spanish Drop area.  The two anglers were pitching jigs and live shrimp to some exposed oysters and it was Hal who "knocked the skunk off" when he hooked up and landed a feisty Redfish.

But after fishing 2-3 spots along that bank we had no more real bites so we made the short hop
up to some docks at Seymore's Pointe.  The tide was getting down and the dock pilings were looking good and sure enough, the move paid off. Dennis hooked up with a big enough fish that ripped his drag and didn't want to come to the boat. He kept the pressure on, kept it from breaking off on the pilings and boat hull, and brought to the net a big 20" Black "puppy" Drum.  We had a few nibbles but no more fish so we moved down a couple of docks, set up and caught another small Drum, a small Seatrout, and a couple of feisty Redfish. We then moved back to the original dock! Yep, it paid off!

It was Hal this time who had the big hookup. He patiently fought it to the boat and landed another big 22" Black Drum. He followed that up with another keeper sized Drum.

Our next stop was down towards Pumpkin Hill where we had some strong bites and put another Trout and Red in the boat.  We finished up at Broward Island with a few Redfish caught, a few Trout caught, and one keeper Trout added by Dennis to wrap up a really pleasant day to be out on the water here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Comparing Notes

I've talked to a couple of other Captains at the bait shop and at the dock and we all agreed that fish catch'n has been kinda tough the last couple of days. I think with the full moon, higher morning tides and a quirky weather pattern, the fish have hunkered down!  But nevertheless, when you've got a day off, you go fishing!

I met Chris Elmore and his fishing partner Billy over at the Amelia Island Marina yesterday morning early and after we puttered out the trench we headed north, all the way up to the outside of Tiger Island. We were fishing float
rigs shallow with live shrimp on a 3' leader and had zero bites - not even a nibble. We moved over and fished a marsh run out and got the same results. After running thru Tiger and over to the Bell River we set up on a pointe of grass where the conditions were just ideal, but again, not a nibble!

So we decided to make the long run up Bell to Pirates Woods and fish some docks and this paid off when we switched to jigs and shrimp and got down on the bottom. Working thru the "baitstealing" perch, these anglers were able to pick up a couple of Seatrout and a couple of Black "puppy" Drum. We worked those docks pretty good, then headed back to Lanceford Creek.

We went back to the float rig and Billy had a bite almost immediately, then shortly after that Chris hooked up with a keeper sized Seatrout (all fish caught today were released).  But that was it! After fishing a grass patch to no avail, we moved around by Oyster Bay and fished a runout, again, not a nibble. We made one last stop back towards the marina and going back to the jig was the trick . Chris and Billy teamed up to put 4 feisty Redfish in the boat which helped top off another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.