Hot Start Early

Fishing with the Scott family this morning, Justin and Julie and their sons Porter and Noah, aftermeeting them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We had run up the Nassau River and made a quick stop at Spanish Drop to begin pitching live shrimp on jigs to the oysters that were beginning to show on an outgoing tide. It didn't take long before they were hooking up with feisty Redfish. Noah got it started with a catch then Porter, then Justin. We had a handful of those before Porter, on the bow, had a stronger hookup and, Fish ON!  Porter played it perfectly and fought it from the starboard side to the port, wore it out, and landed a nice 21" Slot sized
Redfish.  Julie took over the video duties while I netted the fish!  The fishing was so good we fished a bit of that stretch again and Justin added a keeper sized Flounder to the catch and then Porter put a keeper sized Seatrout in the boat.  Justin landed another keeper Flounder to top the box off.

We ran up to Seymore's Pointe and fished some docks, landed a small Mangrove Snapper then ran down to Pumpkin Hill and fished oysters. We fished the logs at Broward Island, the rocks back at Seymore's Pointe and the shell in Jackstaff but all we could do was feed the nibblers. It had been a good start for the day, we had some wonderful weather, so we still counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Mixed Bag Makes a Mess 'O Fish Here at Amelia Island

We had an absolutely beautiful day that greeted us when I met Ben Windle and his fishing buddy Brad down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. The sun was just coming up, we had a good breeze and not a cloud in the sky as we headed up the Nassau River to make our first stop along some exposed oysters on the last of an outgoing tide. The duo were pitching live shrimp on jigs to a marsh run out and in minutes, they both had Flounder hookups that they brought to the boat.  We also picked up a couple of feisty Redfish along the oyster beds. We fished a couple of those runouts then moved on up to fish some docks at Seymore's.

After picking up a small Mangrove and small Black Drum, we moved around to fish some rocks and here things really lit up. We caught one Mangrove Snapper after another with a few of them being of keeper size, the biggest being about 13" in length.  Although they're not real big, if you get a good
handful those palm sized filet's can be really good eating!

We run down to Broward Island after that, had at least two good hookups that released at boat side then we moved up to Pumpkin Hill to drift some floats over some shell bottom. This did the trick for the big fish - Ben hooked up, battled expertly, and landed a big 26.75" Slot sized Redfish.

The entire day we tangled with high flying Ladyfish and we wrapped the day up back along the Nassau at Spanish Drop when Brad battled two hard fighting Jack Crevalle, Ben put another Slot Red in the boat, and we had a couple of Croaker catches. It was getting hot but as we headed in, we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Two Big Reds in the Nassau

I was again fishing out of Sawpit Creek this morning, this time with Paul Deluca, his son Cole and
their friend Sean. We met early and headed up the intercoastal to dip into Jackstaff and begin fishing the exposed oysters with jigs and live shrimp on the very last of an outgoing tide. We worked up the creek, pitching to the bank, had a few nibbles, then Sean "knocked the skunk off" when he hooked up, battled, and landed a nice 3' Bonnethead Shark. Cole had a good hookup at a large marsh run out but the fish ran directly to the boat, under it, and BAP! Fish off!

We then ran thru Horsehead and around to some docks to fish the piers with the jigs and shrimp. Sean caught a nice keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum (all fish caught today were released) and Cole put a feisty Mangrove Snapper in the boat.



After moving around
the corner to fish some rocks, the fish "catching" lit up and was on fire. All four anglers found the
hot spot and began to pull one Mangrove Snapper after another out of the "honey hole". The Snapper are BACK!  Many of these were 12-13" and would make some great fish filet's for a fry - again-all were released to be caught another day. When we tired of catching fish (crazy, huh?)  We moved on.

The next stop was down at Broward Island, fishing the first of an incoming. Fishing, not catching. I've about decided to give up on these islands for a while.








We moved north to Pumpkin Hill. Now drifting floats, both Sean and Cole hooked up and landed some high flying Ladyfish, then Cole had his float disappear, he hooked up, played it perfectly, and landed a nice feisty Redfish. Then it was Paul's turn for a Redfish. He was drifting his float up
close and each time his bait caught on the bottom he'd pull it off and, BOOM! Big Fish On! This fish boiled a couple of times up near shore -a Big Redfish - then finally worked its way out deep. But the crabbers have the bank lined with traps and floats and sure enough Paul's fish wrapped the line around the float. Luckily, that braided  line is strong so we inched back to the float, flipped it over the line, and, Fish (back) On! Paul expertly played the fish and brought it to the boat, an Oversized 29" Redfish - boy what a fish.

After fishing down the bank a bit, we moved back to where we started and again, BOOM! Big Fish On! Paul had another one. This time Paul was able to bring it out past the crab traps, play it like a pro, and land a 26 15/16" Tournament Sized Redfish - another nice fish. With two big Reds landed in the last 20 minutes of the trip, it was a great way to wrap up an outstanding fishing trip here at Amelia Island, Florida.

 

Drum City

I fished with Bob Blalock this morning, meeting him out at Goffinsville Park early with plans to fish the back waters of Amelia Island. We headed  north from the ramp to fish a particular dock but the owner was out doing some exercises so we kept on going as not to disturb him!  We picked another dock and Bob began tossing jigs and live shrimp to the pilings - he got a few nibbles but no takers - then, BOOM! He had a hookup. Bob played it to the boat and landed a nice18" Black "puppy" Drum. Fishing the pilings with shrimp paid off. Bob landed a good handful of the Drum, a couple of more "keeper" sized, some of which he threw  back. He also picked up some Croaker, some small Mangrove Snapper, a small Sheepshead, and a couple of small Seatrout.

We eased back around the corner and the exerciser was gone so we set up off of some rocks and began floating shrimp along the edge and began to get bites. You had to be on your toes but the Mangrove Snapper were feeding and Bob put 5 nice 12-13" fish in the boat before we moved on to find bigger fish.

Our next stop was down at Broward Island, fishing the first of an incoming tide, an ideal tide to be there. But the fish didn't get the message!  Bob landed a couple of small Mangrove's and a small Flounder but that was it. We made a final stop up at Pumpkin Hill, fishing the float rigs. We picked up a small Redfish then one drift we both saw something "pop" the float. Seconds later the float disappeared, Bob tightened up and the hook set and, Fish ON! He worked it patiently to the boat - we were thinking "Redfish" but when it came to the net we saw it was a large 22" Seatrout, big enough to move Bob into a 2nd place tie in the Anglers Mark 2020 Bragging Rights Tournament -Seatrout Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings). That was a great fish to wrap up the day - a great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Croaker Croaker Croaker

I fished with the Hynote crew - Tom and his son Bennett, and his brother-in-law Chris and his daughter Briana, meeting them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp early this morning. We made a long run up and into the Jolley River to an exposed oyster bank on a low and incoming tide - a place that I had done really well a week ago on a similar tide. All four anglers were tossing jigs and live shrimp and making excellent casts. They were all getting bites but no real takers. Finally, Bennett hooked up and reeled in a Croaker. Then Briana did the same, reeling in an even bigger Croaker. The anglers caught and landed a good handful of those - I don't think the Reds and Trout and Flounder even had a chance!

We ran back to the mouth of the Jolley and fished the "bank" and here Briana hooked up and landed a feisty Redfish, then we landed another. Chris got on the board with a Seatrout catch before we moved back up the river. We fished up at Snook Creek with float rigs, then came back north. As we eased up to a pocket, Briana had made an excellent cast up between two grassy islands and BOOM! Fish on! She fought it valiantly but the fish cut the line on some oysters. Ouch. Then Tom had the same thing happen, BOOM! Big Fish on!  Then, BAP! fish off!  Boy oh boy. Finally, Bennett stepped up, hooked up,  and brought to the boat a nice 24" Slot sized Redfish

Our next stop was around to the outside of Tiger where we landed a small Seatrout or two, then we finished up over at Bell River, again with a Trout catch. The wind had picked up, the storm clouds were rolling in, so we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

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Oversized Red Kicks It Off

I wrapped my week up fishing with the Caul's, Jason and his son Tommy, meeting them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We ran north and west and up the Middle River and made a stop half way up to fish some pockets with live shrimp under floats on the last of an incoming tide. I don't think we even had a nibble.

We continued on around to Pumpkin Hill and set up alongside a flooding marsh line, shallow with shell underneath. Jason was fishing the bow and Tommy took up the stern, drifting his float long down the grass and....BOOM! The float disappeared, Tommy tightened up and set the hook and, Fish On!  Boy what a fish. This one was big, ripping drag and boiling up and digging deep. But Tommy kept the pressure on, taking the fish(or maybe the fish was taking Tommy) from the stern to the bow and from Starboard to Port and back to the stern. After a long battle, Tommy landed a
big Oversized 28" Redfish - a good fish to "knock the skunk off" and get the day started!  Jason battled a hard fighting Jack Crevalle to the net then Tommy put a hungry Seatrout in the boat.

Fishing further down Jason had made a good toss up into a "cove" and as it drifted across, BOOM! Another big fish. Jason played it perfectly and patiently and after a good battle landed a 26 and 15/16" Tournament Sized Redfish, boy what a fish.   We an island around the corner, had no luck, then moved on.

Our next stop was up in Christopher Creek, this time tossing jigs and live Shrimp.  Jason had made a perfect cast to the grass and within seconds he had a hookup. This one was a nice fish too - ripping drag and digging deep. But Jason worked it to the boat and landed another Slot Redfish.

As we were passing Seymore's Pointe we stopped and fished some rocks and it paid off. Tommy got hot again and landed a good handful of Mangrove Snapper. After fishing Twin Creeks with jigs for a  bit, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Wake Up Call

I fished today with father and son team Ken and Jaxon Kerr, meeting them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early for a half day of fishing the backwaters of Amelia Island. We ran up the Middle River and around to Pumpkin Hill, set up at a grassy island, and tossed float rigs with live shrimp on the last of an incoming tide. All we got was a couple of nibbles.

We moved around and cruised a grass line, pitching as we went and still, no real bites. But finally, Jason's float disappeared and after he caught up his slack he set the hook and had a good strong fish on. Jason played it perfectly, worked it around the stern and back, and eventually landed a hard fighting Jack Crevalle. The fish had caught us sleeping but we were awake now!  Only minutes later Jason followed that up with a keeper sized Seatrout and Ken reeled in a beautiful Blue Crab!

Our next stop was back at Seymore's Pointe where we fished
a marsh drainage, then we moved in and fished some dock pilings. Ken hooked up and landed a Mangrove Snapper and we then added another keeper sized Seatrout.

Our final stops were down Twin Creeks, then at Spanish Drop. After landing an ugly 'ole Toad Fish, Ken felt a "bump", hooked up and landed a keeper sized Flounder then Jason tangled with a high flying Ladyfish that quickly threw the hook. We'd had a good breeze all day that kept the heat down but with the sun up it was still getting hot so we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Catch'n Eaters Here At Amelia Island, Florida

It seemed just a tad bit cooler this morning when I met the Williams family -John and Mary Margaret and their two young anglers Hadden and Ruth, down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We had clear skies and nice breeze blowing as we headed west and up the Middle River and over to Pumpkin Hill to set up at a grassy island to begin pitching live shrimp under floats. We had a nibble here and there and when John hooked up I thought we might have a decent fish but it was just a short Mangrove Snapper - not the "Eater" that Hadden was looking for!

We move around the corner and down a ways and not the tide was starting out. I think John's first cast to the backside of a small drainage produced a bite and, Fish ON!  John and Hadden worked it patiently to the boat and landed a nice 22" Slot sized "Eater" Redfish! We eased down that bank and again John had a hookup. This fish was big and ripping drag and running deep. It took John from the bow to the stern where we had a standoff for a while before John was able to work it to the boat and land an oversized 27"+ Redfish - good for pictures and release.  We continued to fish and after John had put a keeper sized Seatrout in the boat, he hooked up and landed another big fish. He and Hadden fought it valiantly and soon brought to the net a "Tournament Size" 26.75" Slot fish, boy what a fish.

After a short pit stop at Goffinsville we ran down to Twin Creeks, fished with jigs and shrimp and mud minnows and here the family put a nice 3' Bonnethead Shark in the boat, a couple of Jack Crevalle, a keeper sized Flounder, a small Flounder, and Mary Margaret got on the board with an exciting Stingray catch. Somewhere there was a pretty Blue Crab caught!  Ruth was helping out giving encouragement to all the anglers.

We finished up at Spanish drop with one more keeper sized Flounder catch before we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Celebrating Fathers Day

They had to put it off for a week, but Dave and his dad Mike got to "celebrate" Father's Day today fishing the back waters of Amelia Island. I met them out at Goffinsville Park early and we headed over to Pumpkin Hill to fish a tide that had been going out for a couple of hours. It was still high enough to fish some float rigs up near the marsh so we baited up some live shrimp and eased along the bank. It didn't take long and Mike had a strong hookup and this one headed deep, ripping drag as it went. I guessed it right -  Shark - but it was still a good fight and woke all three of us up! We fished a few spots here and there then made a run.

Our next stop was down at Spanish Drop, working along a bank after switching to jigs and shrimp. We picked up a couple of Seatrout and Dave hooked up and landed a feisty Redfish. We fished a couple of runouts and found a couple of hungry Seatrout at each.

We made our way up to some docks at Seymore's Pointe and
things heated up a bit here. We had a couple of small Black "puppy" Drum  caught, then we had a good hookup and Mike worked to the boat a keeper sizes Sheepshead. Dave battled a Redfish to the boat, the biggest of the day, but just undersized.  We worked our way down Seymore's and fished a small cove in the rock bulkhead. I think it was Mike's first cast and Boom! Something hit it hard on the way down. Mike worked it patiently to the boat and landed a nice keeper sized Flounder. After catching a couple of Toad fish, we moved on!

Our final stop was down at Broward Island, still fishing an outgoing tide that was being pushed by the West wind, and even though these two anglers were making excellent casts, we had no real bites, so we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.