Black Drum Bonanaza

 We were out at Goffinsville this morning as the sun rose and even though we had some cloudy skies and rain showers off in the distance, I had three anglers ready to go fishing, and that we did!  I had met Kenneth McQueen and his fishing buddies Eddie and Bryan (The Coach) early and we made a quick run down to Broward Island to fish a marsh run out on the last hour of an outgoing tide with jigs and live shrimp and....BAM! Fish on the first cast!  Eddie worked it to the boat and landed a nice keeper sized Flounder.  Then he and Kenneth teamed up to catch and land two feisty Redfish. We worked that bank for a bit then moved on. 

After a run back to Seymore's Pointe we set up at some dock pilings as the tide started back in. It didn't take long before the Drum Bonanza began! All three anglers began to catch fish, one Black "puppy" Drum, right after another. Eddie hooked up and landed one, then Kenneth, then Bryan got on the board and from then it was "all she wrote". The trio added a couple of small Seatrout, one of which was of keeper size, and caught more Drum until "Coach" got tired of catching!

Our next stop was down at Athens Drop and although the bite had slowed, both

Eddie and Kenneth put a keeper sized Redfish in the boat.  We fished that stretch down to Twin Creeks, caught a Trout or two, then finished up down at Spanish Drop tossing float rigs and mud minnows. All told, we probably caught 30-35 fish for the day, had a box full for eating,  lost a couple of big ones, threw back a good handful of small ones and as we headed in we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

 

Super Slam

We were pleasantly surprised to see that the winds had calmed a bit this morning when I met Beckie and Richard down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. After dealing with the  high winds and rain yesterday, it was like a holiday! We ran up the Nassau River to some docks at Seymore's Point and fished the dock pilings with jigs and live shrimp. Both anglers were making excellent casts and it didn't take long for it to pay off. Beckie "knocked the skunk off" when she had a strong hookup. This fish was pulling hard but Becky kept the pressure on and landed a nice keeper sized 20" Black "puppy" Drum, boy what a fish. After photographs it was released (all fish caught today were released).  Richard got in on the action with a Seatrout catch then Beckie reeled in a feisty Redfish and added a Seatrout to round out an Amelia Island Back Country Slam. After dueling with bait stealing Perch and Grunts, we moved on.

Our next stop was down at Broward Island. We fished the north end first and here Beckie caught and landed a keeper sized 18" Sheepshead to make it a "Grande" Slam then after we moved down the way she picked up a keeper sized 16" Flounder to make it a "Super" Grande Slam! Crazy!

The NE wind had picked up so we moved back to Nassauville, fished some rocks, and Richard put another bulky Redfish in the boat, still fishing the jig and shrimp, and Beckie  reeled in a hungry Mangrove Snapper on a float rig and live shrimp. 

We thought we'd try fishing back out in the open so we ran to Twin Creeks and went with the float rigs. Here, Richard got hot, getting good drifts that paid off with Seatrout catches, one after the other and, Beckie added a few of her own.. The tide had gotten up and we were at midday and as bite slowed, we called it a day,. another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Wind Blown

 

We already knew that the forecast called for 12-13mph winds but when we got to the boat ramp this morning it was blowing 15-16 and increasing! But brothers Mark, John, and Kevin Adams were game to get out on the water so we made a plan to hit spots where we would be somewhat sheltered.

The first one was  around at Eagans Creek - Mark and Kevin were tossing jigs and live shrimp up current to the bank and John was fishing a slip float out back. Mark had a couple of good bites and had one "ripping drag" for a bit but it thru the hook. Shortly after that Kevin hooked up and landed a hard fighting Black "puppy" Drum. 

We then ran down to Lanceford Creek and up into Soap and set up fishing fixed floats up near the shore. All three anglers were getting good drifts but with the current and a stiff wind, the fish didn't even have time to think about biting a bait as the float rigs blew by.

Our next stop was around on the back side of Black Rock and after fishing a small grassy island to no avail, and battered by the wind, we moved around into some real shelter, boy was it peaceful! With a change in  conditions we picked up some good fish. Mark landed a nice feisty Redfish and then a Trout while Kevin and John tallied some Trout catches. 

We could see rain coming around the corner and that, coupled with a long ride back right into the wind, prompted us to call it a day, and even though the weather was not so great, it was a good day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

The Trout

 Finally, a cool  morning that we had today! On the way to the boat ramp I noticed that the temperature
was in the high 40's which would make for a beautiful day to be out on the water here at Amelia Island, Florida.  I met Clint Davis and his friend Jim and Mary Jo down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and we made a brisk run up the Nassau River to fish some docks at Seymore's Pointe with jigs and live shrimp. The tide had been coming in for 3 hours and I hoped that we could get some fish under that dock but the water was already high and I had "thought wrong".  We fished another dock with only a nibble here and there - other than huge Mantis Shrimp that Mary Jo caught, then we moved on.

Our next stop was down at Twin Creeks, fishing some float rigs on the high and incoming tide. Jim got a good drift down the marsh line and "knocked the skunk off" when he caught and landed a nice hungry Seatrout. We fished there then moved on down to Spanish Drop and fished a bit with the floats and even the jigs, but to no avail. 

After a brief run down to Pumpkin Hill we set up with the wind to our backs

and were able to get perfect drifts and Rule #4 paid off!  All three anglers began to catch fish. Clint put a keeper sized Seatrout in the boat and shortly after Mary Jo had a hookup and, Fish On! She worked it to the boat and had a BIG Trout right......at.....the.....stern.....and......Fish Off!  Ouch! That was a nice fish!  Then was Jim's turn - whatever hit his live shrimp was Big. It ripped drag going south, then Jim slowed it down (or it took a rest), then it took off again, ripping drag, and it kept going taking the hook with it. We'll never know but it was surely a big Redfish. It could have been a shark but we haven't caught a shark in months. Redfish.   We moved won a bit and fished a shallower area and again put a good handful of Trout in the boat. 

After fishing up Pumpkin Hill,  over in Christopher Creek, then over in Jackstaff we finally realized that the water was just too high, so we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida 

Gotta Squeeze The Tail

We had another beautiful day today!  I had met Alex and Laura Winter out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp with plans to celebrate Laura's birthday with a Amelia Island back country fishing trip! We made a short run over to the Pumpkin Hill on a high tide that was still coming in. The two anglers went with the float rigs and it didn't take long before Laura had "knocked the skunk off" when she caught and landed a hungry Seatrout. We all thought "here we go" but that was about it. But we moved down just a bit and set up in a little cove and began to catch more Trout, one or two were of "keeper" size.

We then moved around the corner and fished a flooded grassy island and again had good luck catching Trout. Laura put the biggest in  the boat, one that measured just shy of 17".

Our next stop was around at a large outflow near some docks at Seymore's Pointe. The tide had started out here - we were still using float rigs- but we didn't have a single bite. We fished a

short stretch of marsh grass in between two docks, then moved on.

After running thru Horsehead to the mouth of Jackstaff, then up in a creek, we stayed with the floats and worked a bank, but again,  no real bites.

Our last stretch of bank we fished we switched to 1/8oz jigs and baited them both with live shrimp or mud minnows and this did the trick. Laura was on the bow and Alex was on the stern and they both began to hookup with Seatrout, and caught them pretty regularly. One of those was of keeper size. Just as I was thinking what we'd go another day without a Redfish, BOOM! We had a hookup!  Later Alex said that he had tossed his bait up near the shore, kept his line tight, and when he felt the fish "bumping" it, he set the hook, and Fish On!  We knew right off that this was a big fish. It was ripping drag and heading East! But Alex kept the pressure on, played it perfectly as it went around the engine, then brought it to the net. 

There was some debate as to whether it might make it into the Slot but after squeezing the tail it put the fish well over 28" so after some photographs it was released to swim away.  We continued working the bank, caught another couple of Trout, battled with one more big fish that eventually thru the hook, then we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Let the Sun Shine!

 Finally! What a beautiful day! I had met Hank and Pam Holbrook up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp early this morning and before long the sun was shining which made for an outstanding day to be out on the water. We skipped across to the outside of Tiger and fished the very last of a (very) high incoming tide with float rigs and live shrimp. We had no bites there so we ran thru Tiger, made a pit stop to see if we could see any "tails" then continued on in to Bell River where we set up near a large flooded oyster flat and this did the trick. 

Pam did us the favor and "knocked the skunk off" when she hooked up and landed a nice keeper sized Seatrout (all fish caught today were released) then we had some good action, catching Trout on the float rigs. Hank joined in and landed a good handful himself.

We ran down the Bell and up the Lanceford to fish "Millie's" Spot and this paid off, too. Pam caught a Trout and Hank tangled with the biggest fish of the day...this one was pulling some drag, but it
was not to be...it thru the hook to be caught another day.

After bouncing back to Soap Creek we set up at a large marsh run out and this had some action, too. The duo caught a handful of Seatrout to keep things going. After working the bank a bit we came back out and fished BM's Spot but had no luck. I thought that was a bit unusual because we usually pick up a fish there most visits. After fishing some oysters along the Bell with jigs and shrimp and minnows, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

We Weathered The Storm

 

After a week of nasty weather as tropical storm Eta crept thru we were finally able to get out today here at Amelia Island. I fished with Rick Cardinal and his son Zac and met them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp. Although we had some skies that were still overcast,  the high winds had dissipated to almost nothing. We eased over to outside of Tiger Island and set up fishing float rigs and live shrimp.  Although we had a bite here and there, we had no takers so we moved across the creek and continued our search. Zac put a handful of bait stealers in the boat  but that was it so we moved on.

After a brief stop in Bell River we made the run over to Lanceford Creek. Rick was drifting a minnow with the current and let his bait drift up next to a small grass patch and BOOM! He had a hookup! Rick played it patiently to the boat and landed a nice Slot Redfish. We moved on around to Soap Creek, stuck with the float rigs, and picked up a couple of hungry Seatrout and a couple of feisty Redfish.

We then made a long run around to and up the Bell River to fish some docks with jigs.  Zac got hot and picked up a couple of Trout, then Rick reeled in a feisty Red and a Mangrove Snapper. But it was Zac who hooked up with the big one. He was fishing fairly deep when he felt a "bump" and set the hook -Fish On! Zac worked it to the boat expertly and landed a nice  22" Slot Redfish.

 After a brief stop in Jolley we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Just Enough To Make it A Day

 I fished the last two days with Georgia fans, down for the big game, and boy did we have to work for the fish! Both days dawned with cloudy skies and a breeze that was forecasted to increase to a blow. Sure enough, the forecast was right!  Wednesday I fished with William Blalock and we launched out of Goffinsville Park. We made our first run over to the Spanish Drop area and began pitching jigs and minnows to the bank. We picked up a couple of Trout doing that and that's how the morning went - a Trout here and there with none over 14 1/2".

Yesterday I fished with Brian Roach, William, and their buddy Mark, meeting them up at the Dee Dee Bartels park boat ramp. We ran over to behind Tiger thinking we'd be out of the breeze and it was slightly blocked. Brain knocked the skunk off with a small Seatrout catch, then William picked up a small Flounder. So the work began!

We made a long run around to Lanceford Creek and fished a dock or two with the jigs and live Shrimp. The shrimp were

getting nibbles, but no takers, until Brian hooked up with something big. He worked to ti the boat and landed a nice 20" Black "puppy" Drum. All keeper sized fish caught today were released.

After moving down the creek and fishing a small grassy patch and a bulkhead with float rigs, to no avail, we moved on. Our next stop was up Soap Creek and boy the wind and current was really kicking. Even with that, these anglers had some good drifts, right thru the "honey hole", but no takers.

As we were passing by Rayonier's retention pond I noticed that the wind was blocked a bit so we stopped and fished and this turned out to be the hottest spot of the day! All three anglers caught those 14" Seatrout then Brian hooked up and landed a nice 17" Flounder, again, photographed and released. 

Our next and final stop was around at Piney Island, anchored out of the wind and fishing between two docks. Brian and William were on the bow fishing jigs to the pilings while Mark and I were fishing the grass edge with float rigs. We were getting pretty good drifts and after a slight "jiggle" of the float something big took the minnow and, BOOM, Fish On!  Mark was on the rod and played it patiently to the net - a big 18 1/2" Seatrout - the best Trout we've had in weeks. Mark went back to the grass and had another quick hookup. This Trout turned out to be another of keeper size which made for a great way to wrap up a Georgia/Florida fishing trip here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Team Patty

When I talked to Mike Sheffer last night the forecast called for clear skies after a cold front was to blow thru during the night, and winds at around 11mph. But when I reached the Dee Dee Bartels boat ramp this morning the wind was whipping at about 16mph. I ended up launching over at Leaders and Sinkers on Eagans Creek and when Mike, his wife Patty, and Mike's brother Rod got there we headed out. 

The plan was to try and find places to fish out of the wind. We first ran over to Lanceford Creek, then up into Soap and set up along the marsh grass as the high tide continued in. The trio of anglers were tossing float rigs and mud minnows and making excellent casts but we didn't have much luck, other than one Perch that Mike hooked up and reeled in. 

We eased around Lanceford and found an area perfectly sheltered from the NW wind, but we had no bites. After fishing

some dock pilings at the next stop, again with no luck, we made the run back down Lanceford, up thru Bell and Tiger Basin and around to the outside of Tiger, and this paid off. 

Patty had made an excellent cast to some sparse grass - she waited patiently and when she saw the float disappear, she tightened her line and set the hook! Patty worked to the net a nice fat Speckled Seatrout. She went back to the same general area with a pinpoint cast and, BOOM! Bigger Fish On! This one was ripping some drag and sure enough, as Patty brought it to the net, we saw that it was a Slot sized Redfish. Team Patty was off to a good start!

Shortly afterwards Rob hauled in a long Needlefish to get on the Board and this was all it took. Our next stop across the creek was where Rob got hot - hooking up with a hungry Seatrout, then a feisty Redfish. When Rob switched to a jig he caught a small Cigar fish. 

Our last stop was further around Tiger where we fished for a few minutes to no avail, then we headed we did a quick tour of Cumberland Island and Fort Clinch then headed in, counting it as another great day to be out on the water here at Amelia Island, Florida

Jumped On 'Em Early

 We had what it think is going to be the prettiest day of the week today. I had met Sharon and Durant Fleming up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park and we had clear skies and not even a breeze to blow the no-seeums away! We made  short hop over to the outside of Tiger Island and set up fishing with float rigs and mud minnows on a tide was at the very top. It was Sharon who "knocked the skunk off" when she quickly hooked up and landed a fat Seatrout, then she went right back in and hooked up another one - this one of keeper size (all fish caught today were released).

We eased along that same bank and could see some activity up near some sparse grass. Durant had made an excellent cast, had something tug off his minnow then Sharon went in and BOOM! Big Fish ON!

Boy what a fish - A nice 25" Slot sized Redfish, Sharon's first ever!

We crossed the way, picked up a couple of Seatrout, then made the

run around to Jolly River and fished the "bank". Again, we had bites early and the duo added to their Seatrout catch, and Sharon added to her species count with a wayward Bluefish landing. After fishing a couple of spots up the Jolley, we made a run back around and up to Lanceford.

The first spot didn't produce but when we worked our way up into Soap Creek we had some luck. Durant put a good sized Seatrout in the boat - the biggest of the day - then both he and Sharon landed some feisty Redfish. Overall, it was a good day of fishing, a good day of catching, and another great one to be out on the water here at Amelia Island, Florida.