Fish Catching Morning at Amelia Island

I had Bob Blalock back for a morning of fishing here at Amelia Island,  but this time we met up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp and then headed over to Lanceford Creek to fish some flooded marsh grass just as the tide started it. Bob was tossing float rigs and mud minnows and making excellent casts but we had no nibbles at the first spot. We eased down the creek a bit and fished a grass island and it was only seconds after Bob's first cast and he had a  hookup, a hungry Seatrout. He went back to the area and this time the bite was a little stronger. There was some drag ripping and after playing it patiently, Bob reeled in a nice keeper sized Slot Redfish.
That was it for that spot, though!

We moved over to Soap Creek and fished a large marsh run out, staying with the float rigs, but had not bites. As we eased up the bank and passed "Bob's Oyster Island", sure enough we got some bites. Bob landed another Trout and then on another cast his float slowly disappeared and, Fish On! Bob worked it to the boat and landed a 21" Slot Redfish. We added a small Flounder before we moved on. We worked even further up Soap Creek, charting some new territory, and caught another Trout and the smallest Redfish either of us have seen caught on a hook!

Our next move was down at Pirates Woods where we fished some docks that were protected from the wind that had picked up. We landed another Trout or two,  a Jack, another Flounder, then had a brief encounter with a huge Stingray. But the tide had almost hit bottom and the bite had slowed, so we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Isalnd, Florida.

Windy Day Makes for A Challenge Fishing at Amelia Island

Although the sun was out and chance of rain was slim, the 10mph wind forecast seemed to be "off" jut a tad this morning. I had met Alex and Laura Winter, their son Brendan, and his friend Elizabeth down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and the wind was whipping. But these anglers were up for a challenge so we headed out, turning NW up the Nassau River with plans to fish a large outflow with float rigs and live shrimp.  That first spot didn't produce a single bite but we worked our way down some docks and here Brendan hooked up with a big 18" Seatrout and "knocked the skunk off"
when he expertly landed it.

We ran back to the Spanish Drop area and fished an oyster bank that was beginning to show on the outgoing tide. Alex put a feisty Jack Crevalle in the boat and when we moved up a ways, Brendan found a hungry Seatrout.

Our next stop was fishing some rocks at Seymore's Pointe and here it was Alex who mastered the art of catching a bait stealing Mangrove Snapper.   After running down the Nassau we fished some more oysters. But Seagulls were diving out behind us so Alex began to cast to them and sure enough, BAM! Fish On! He landed another Jack, a couple of keeper sized Bluefish (we tossed them back) and another Jack or two. Then Elizabeth, fishing a jig and shrimp to the bank, hooked up and landed another nice, keeper
sized Seatrout. 

We moved down to Broward Island but the wind was kicking up the silt so it was some tough fishing but Laura came thru when she hooked up and landed the final keeper sized Seatrout of the day. Although we had to battle the wind, the sun was out and it was a great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Masters of Fishing at Amelia Island

Leah Parker set up a back country fishing trip for her husband Tony to celebrate his achievement of earing a Masters Degree. We met up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park this morning and with the tide still a bit high, we made a run over to Soap Creek and fished a large marsh run out with live shrimp and float rigs. We got a nibble here and there then Tony hooked up and expertly played a nice Slot sized Redfish to the boat. Leah followed that up with a Seatrout catch and a rare Cigar Fish!

We eased around the corner and fished some docks and again, it was Tony who had the strong hookup up. This one turned out to be an even bigger Redfish. The duo also landed another Trout and a smaller Redfish.

The wind was picking up so we made the run back to Tiger Island and found refuge behind the trees and this worked out perfectly. Leah wrapped things up when she landed a hungry, keeper sized Seatrout on  a jig and shrimp combo. We made a quick tour of Cumberland Island, Fort Clinch and Old Town then headed in, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Birthday Trip Fishing at Amelia Island

Birthday guy Frank WYTIAZ and his wife Joanne treated themselves to an Amelia Island Back Country fishing trip this  morning when I met them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp. We headed up the river and made a quick stop on the outside of Tiger to try some jigs and mud minnows at a large marsh run out in hopes of catching a Flounder...but we had no bites.

We then bumped around to the Jolly River, fished the "bank" with float rigs and live shrimp, and here Joanne tangled with a couple of high flying Ladyfish, Frank put a hungry Seatrout in the boat, and then a big Bluefish struck Joanne's
bait and she expertly brought it to the boat. We fished further up the river at Snook Creek, then at the MOA, then made a run around to some docks at Bell River, fishing, but to no avail.

The tide had hit bottom so we made the long run back to Tiger Island and fished the logs and here we had some good action.  The duo landed a couple of Redfish, one of which was in the Slot. Frank put a Flounder in the boat and both he and Joanne caught a handful of  Black "puppy" Drum to round out their Amelia Island Back Country "Grande" Slam of Redfish, Seatrout, Flounder and Drum. It was a beautiful day and a great way to celebrate a birthday here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Big Redfish Fishing at Amelia Island

We had another outstandingly beautiful morning today when I picked up John Raker at the Oyster
Bay Marina. We made a quick jump over to Eagans Creek and fished some docks with mud minnows and live shrimp on jigs. The first dock didn't produce a fish but when we moved down a dock or two it wasn't long before John was hooking up with feisty Redfish. He put two or three in the boat, most being just a wee bit under the Slot limit, then he had a stronger hookup that was ripping some drag. John worked it out away for the dock pilings expertly and we soon netted the first Slot Red of the day. After getting a couple of more of the smaller fish,  plus a small Black "puppy" Drum, then a keeper sized Drum, we headed over to Tiger Island.

The wind was picking up as we made the run but when we got to the island it was blocked. We had the whole spot to ourselves and fished up and down the island as the tide turned and started in. Every once in a while John would have a hookup. More feity Reds, then a Slot size, then a keeper sized Flounder, another Drum, a small Seatrout, and then BOOM! Big fish on. As John's drag ripped the  big fish cam out deep and the battle was on. The fish tried to stay deep but John worked it to the top, it boiled, then dove, then eventually came to the net, a 28.5" oversized Redfish! After pictures we released it to swim off. John added one more Slot Redfish before we moved on, calling it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Mixed Bag Fishing at Amelia Island

The spring like weather continued today when I fished with Brian Roach,  his son Michael, and their friend Jonah. I met them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park and made a quick run over to Eagans Creek to fish some dock pilings on the very first of an incoming tide.  The fish catching started off slow at the first dock even though Jonah "knocked the skunk off" with a Seatrout catch, but when we moved to the second dock the fishing got hot! Brian found some Redfish parallel to some pilings. He hooked up with one or

two before the two younger anglers moved in and caught a few of their own. Most were just a tad bit undersized but Jonah did find one in the slot size. Michael added Black "puppy" Drum to the catch before we moved on.  (We were fishing with live shrimp and mud minnows(

 

Our next stop was around at Tiger Island, fishing the logs. Michael notched an Amelia Island Back Country Slam with a keeper sized Flounder catch and Brian added another feisty Redfish.

 

We made the run up to the Jolley River, fished the bank, and even though we were tossing float rigs into the wind, Michael hooked up and landed Seatrout. After running further up the river and setting up with the wind behind our back, we found some good sized slot Redfish along the flooding marsh grass. Jonah landed one nice Slot fish then Michael followed that up with his own. We had good action most of the day, the sun was out, the humidity was down, so we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Warm Water Brings Hot Fishing at Amelia Island

It looks like we're getting back to "work" this week - I've had a handful of bookings. Today I fished with Trey Dennard, his GF Maria, and her son Mario, meeting them out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp early this morning. The tide was still going out so we bumped down to Broward Island and fished jigs and live shrimp up between the logs. Although we didn't find any big Redfish, the trio did hookup and land a handful of hungry Seatrout and it was Mario who "knocked the skunk off" with the first one. Trey wrapped it up
with the biggest, a 17" keeper fish.   We moved down the way as the tide started back in and here Trey put a keeper sized Flounder in the boat (one that had a gig hole thru and thru) and the team also landed another Trout or two.

We buzzed over to Spanish drop and fished jigs and float rigs. Maria put another keeper sized Flounder, Trey added a Redfish that was just under the legal limit, then all three were tangling with high flying Ladyfish that were sweeping in and attaching their shrimp.

Our next stop was some docks at Seymore's Pointe where we had no real bites, then we wrapped things up back towards Goffinsville and put two 10" Mangrove Snapper in the boat, the first of the year - and indication the water is getting warmer here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Big Reds and Big Fish

I fished with lady angler Ameera Yousif this morning, launching at Sawpit Creek boat ramp early and heading up the Nassau River for a quick run to our first fishing spot in the Spanish Drop area. We should have known something was up - we began to get small bites right off, but no takers - so we were lulled to sleep when BOOM! Float Gone!  Ameera fought the fish patiently as it got back in the current and dug deep. But a couple of times it rolled up and flashed a huge tail and Ameera called it, "Big Redfish!" She worked it to the boat and landed a big Oversized 28.5" Redfish which we photographed and released.  We continued to fish that spot and it was some good action for a good
while. Ameera hooked up and landed her first Slot fish of the day, a 19" Red, then tangled with 2-3 big high flying Ladyfish. Then another Strong hookup - the drag was ripping and the rod was bent - but Ameera was up to the task and soon brought to the boat a big 25" Slot Redfish.  We added another one or two small Redfish to the catch, a small Seatrout (or two) and a small Jack Crevalle.

Our next stop was down at Pumpkin Hill. We had just eased into the shallow "pocket" and fished the current as it swept thru and BAM! Seatrout on! At the same time another float disappeared and this one was ripping drag. Ameera landed the trout then took the other rod and fought this big fish to the boat. It made a run or two then succumbed to the expert pressure as Ameera brought to the boat a 26.75", barely in the Slot, big Slot Redfish. We worked that area pretty good and finally put a couple of keeper sized Seatrout in the boat.

The final stop was back at Seymore's Pointe, still tossing float rigs with  mud minnows on the very last of an incoming tide. When Ameera's float disappeared we thought she may have hooked a freight train!  I wondered if maybe we had somehow loosened the drag earlier, but no, it was just a big fish! After a valiant fight, Ameera brought it to the boat and landed a big Jack Crevalle. She followed that up with a big Bluefish catch.  The sun was up, the humidity was down and the fish had been biting all morning so we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

          

Two For Three at Amelia Island Fishing

I was able to get out fishing Sunday morning with Clint and Jean Davis after meeting them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp on a tide that had been going out for about an hour. We made our first run up to the Jolley River to get away from the congestion and sure enough, it sure was peaceful up there!  Clint got his live shrimp under a float in the water first, but Jean's had only settled in before she had a strong bite - the float was gone! But it was a quick hit and took the bait with no catch. We worked along the shore line, tossing up current and when we reached a point of marsh grass Clint's float
disappeared and, Fish On!  Clint worked it slowly to the boat and knocked the skunk off with a nice 19" Slot sized, 11 spot Redfish.

We came back to the mouth of the Jolley, fished the "bank", then ran back up the Jolley to fish some now exposed oysters with jigs and live shrimp. Jean was fishing out of the stern and letting her jig bounce down the river bottom to deeper water and felt a few "bumps" before hooking up and reeling in a big 18" Seatrout.  We then made our way around to Bell River and fished some dock pilings.  Jean kept up the hot hand, catching a Flounder and a Sheepshead to round out the duos Amelia Island Back Country Grande Slam of Redfish, Seatrout, Flounder and Sheepshead. She also tangled with a big fish, had the hookup, but the wily fish made it's way to the dock pilings and broke us off.

It was a beautiful day, we had some fish in the  box, so we counted it as another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Recipe of The Month: Jazz Fest Crawfish (Shrimp) Monica

A friend of ours, Hugh John McDonald, visits New Orleans each year to attend the Jazz Festival and has always enjoyed a hearty plate of Crawfish Monica. He mentioned that he was going to be missing it this year with the COVID pandemic going on. It interested me, I googled it, and found a recipe at Crawfish.com that looked pretty good. I happened to have a pound or so of nice Mayport Shrimp so I used them instead....

Ingredients:
1)  Pint of half-and-half   

3/4  Cup of parmesan cheese
1)   Cup of whipping cream
5)   Chopped green onions
1/2  Cup butter
4     Chopped garlic cloves
1/2  Bunch of parsley
1)   Pound of crawfish tails with fast (I used 2lbs of Mayport Shrimp)
       Salt and pepper to taste
       Cayenne pepper to taste
       Tony Chachere's to taste (I used Konriko)
1)   Pound Rotini (you can substitute Fettucine)

Directions:
1)  Cook pasta according to the directions on the package
2)  Drain, rinse under cool water and drain again thoroughly.
3)  Melt butter in a large pot on medium high heat.
4)  Sauté onions, garlic, and parsley for about 3 minutes
5)  Add the crawfish and sauté for another 2 minutes
     (Here, if using shrimp, I would saute them for 2-3 minutes then remove them from the pot with
      plans to add them back in when all is mixed with the pasta. If we left them in, they'd cook for
     17 minutes using this recipe, which is too long to be cooking shrimp, in my opinion.)
6)  Combine half-and-half and cream into pot and reduce to medium heat for about 10 minutes.
7)  Add seasonings - Cayenned, Konriko, Salt and Pepper) and reduce heat to low and stir until the
     sauce thickens and becomes a little creamy.
8)  In a large bowl (or the pot), toss the cooked pasta, sauce (and shrimp of your using it instead of
     Crawfish).
9)  Cook over low heat for 5 minutes.
10) Add the parmesan cheese and stir

Serve immediately with French bread or garlic bread.  Pairs nicely with a dry white wine.