Pushing Thru On a Cold and Dreary Day

 

Although the late night winds died to nothing we were greeted with a cold, foggy and altogether dreary day when I met Jesse and Taylor Patrick up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park this morning. The newlyweds were eager to get out on our Amelia Island waters and we did just that by making our first run up to the Jolly River with plans to fish float rigs along the marsh grass with live shrimp as bait. These two anglers were getting excellent drifts but we had no takers, not even a nibble on a high and incoming tide. 

We moved up the river and did the same thing and we did have one Seatrout hook up which was brought to the boat. We moved in to Snook Creek and tried some jigs with shrimp but had  no luck so we moved on. Our next stop was around in Bell's River where we continued to fish with the jigs, tossed up near the bank and fished real slow. After about the third dock we struck pay dirt.. The fish were biting very softly but we had a hookup, Fish On! Taylor worked it to the boat and landed a nice Slot sized 19" NO SPOT Redfish - a Tournament winner for sure!

Then Jesse had a strong hookup. He played it patiently as it dug deep, but Jesse kept the pressure on and soon landed a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum (all fish caught today were released). Then back to Taylor - she had her jig hang on a oyster but when she pulled it off, BAM! Another hookup!  She expertly fought to the boat another nice Redfish.  Before we left Jesse hooked and landed a Sheepshead.

Our next stop was down the Bells River, back towards town, and back fishing the float rigs (to no avail). We made a stop at Tiger Island and picked up Whiting off the bottom before we hit one more spot with the float rigs. We could feel the rain coming so we pulled up and called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Fourteen and Three Quarter

 Wow! I think today was the prettiest we've had in two months! I had met Dennis Brizzi and Hal O'dell outat the Goffinsville Park boat ramp and I snapped this shot as the sun came up - not a cloud in the sky and only a slight breeze - 50 degree temperature!

We made a short run over to Pumpkin Hill as the tide had just started out and with both anglers tossing float rigs and live shrimp, we worked a marsh bank. Although they were making excellent casts and getting good (albeit slow)drifts, we had not takers. We moved around the corner and tried the same tactic, but to no avail.

After a brief trip down to Broward, we set  up fishing under a pair of majestic Bald Eagles and switched to jigs and the shrimp, fishing on bottom, and this did the trick. Dennis picked up a couple of 14" plus Seatrout then Hal got in on the action and boated  one after the other. I released the anchor on the trolling motor and drifted back, stopping on occasion, and the duo caught Trout - just barely under the limit size - at every stop.  Dennis went close to the bank with a cast and had a stronger hookup, this one pulling drag, and when he brought it to the net we saw that is was a nice feisty Redfish. Just a bit later he did the same thing, further down the island, and BOOM! Another Redfish on. This one measured out in the Slot. (All fish caught today were released).

Our next stop was back at some docks in Nassauville. The tide had dropped and

the oysters were begining to show and I felt sure we'd get some good fish. That's what I get for thinking! Although Dennis put a fe more Trout in the boat, we had no Drum, no Sheepshead, and no Reds.

We moved down to Spanish Drop and fished the exposed shell bank. Dennis landed another Trout and after Hal went to the bank his jig had just hit the water when, BAM! Fish On!  Hal played it patiently and soon landed another nice Redfish. We fished another shell bank up the way, added one more keeper sized Seatrout, then called it a day, another great one to be fishing there at Amelia Island, Florida.  

Making The Most Of It

               

We all agreed that the weather forecaster fooled us! I thought for sure this morning would be pleasant - maybe a bit overcast - but not too cold, not rainy, and not windy. Wrong was he. It was on the cool side and the breeze made it seem cooler and we had a misty rain for about he first hour - but we were fishing and this group of Joe and Karen Szkaradnik and their friend Bruce were up for it and we made the most of it. After leaving Sawpit Creek we headed up the Nassau River and made a stop at Spanish Drop to fish some exposed oysters on the very last of an outgoing tide. The trio was pitching jigs and live shrimp to the bank and after getting warmed up, they began to catch fish. The guys followed Karen's lead as she put Trout after Trout in the boat and the too began to hookup. All of the fish were in the 12"-14" range so we broke the cardinal rule, and move on. 

Our next stop was up at Athens Drop and again the trio landed a handful of Trout. But the tide had stopped and was beginning to come back in so we headed over to some docks at Seymore's Pointe and began to fish the pilings with the jigs and shrimp. Within a minute Karen had hooked up, Fish On! She played it perfectly and landed a nice 20" Black "puppy" Drum". Not to be outdone, the "boys" went in and caught Drum of their own. Most all of them were of keeper size. Then we had a couple of nice sized keeper sized Sheepshead brought to the boat. 

Our next stop was down at Broward Island. We were back in the wind but the rain had stopped. The boat was rocking from the wind and current but it didn't deter these anglers. Karen had made an excellent cast to the mouth of a marsh run out and BOOM! Big Fish On! When it boiled up I new it was Red. Karen kept the pressure on, worked it to the boat, and landed a nice 21.25" Slot sized Redfish. Moments later, it was Bruce's time for a fish fight. He'd gone to a little cove with a good cast and had a strong bite. The drag ripped but Bruce was ready and fought it to the boat to land another Slot sized Redfish. We had  a pair of Bald Eagles keeping an eye on us. 

We moved north and fished a bit and here Joe landed a feisty Sheepshead and another Seatrout. After fishing the rocks back at Nassauville for a while, we headed in, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Drum or Sheepshead?

I had my annual Fernandina Beach Fighting Pirates football team mate fishing trip this past Saturday - made up of myself, Daniel "Bubba" Rhodes, Tony French and Fred Dotson. We all met out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp on a chilly morning, but it was clear and a beautiful day! Tony and I had tallked about it on the way out to the boat ramp - we had the very first of an incoming tide - do we head over to Broward Island and fish the logs, or hit some dock pilings at Seymore's Pointe? We picked the pilings and headed that way - Good Call!

These anglers were making pinpoint casts to the pilings with jigs and live

shrimp, letting it fall, and keeping their lines tight and it wasn't long before Daniel "knocked the skunk off " when he hooked up with a rod-bending, drag ripping fish, Fish On! Daniel, the Michael Jordan of fishing, talked the fish all the way to the net and landed a big 20" Black "puppy" Drum. From then on, it was all gloves off! Daniel added a fish or two then Tony heated up and began to catch one right after the other. After a brief hazing period of keeping Fred up at the bow, we let him back to the stern and he began to hook up too. As the Black Drum bite slowed, Fred hooked up and landed a big 20" Sheepshead.

 

We were getting nibbles but no takers so when the Drum bite slowed we eased up to the dock and anchored to where we could drop some fiddler crabs down along side them. Again, the fish bite heated up until it was on fire! All four of us took a piling  or fished on one side of he other, and pulled out Sheepshead. I had never really done that but it was fun!

As the tide got up the bite slowed so we moved down to Athens Drop and fished jigs and shrimp to the shell beds. Somewhere in there Tony added a keeper sized Seartrout to the mix. We then ran down to Broward Island, fished a bit in the wind, then headed back to the shelter of Nassauville. We wrapped up the day fishing artificials, again catchinig some Trout, one of which was of keeper size. And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida 

Ice On The Deck and Smoke on the Water!

 There's nothing like launching the boat in 29 degree weather, but the sun coming up and Smoke on the Water!  I had met Tom Middleton and his fishing buddies Zach and young angler Noah out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp early and I had to warn them about ice on the deck, but boy what a beautiful day!  We made a quick run around to some docks at Seymore's Pointe. I was expecting some Black Drum to be caught on our jigs and shrimp but when Tom hooked up and landed a Seatrout, that must have set the tone for the day. Young Noah had made an excellent cast to the pilings and in short order had a hookup, and, Fish On! He worked it to the boat and landed the first "keeper" fish of the day!

After fishing that spot for a bit, we moved down the Nassau and fished Twin Creeks, sticking with the jigs and shrimp. Again, Tom found some Trout and landed a couple. We moved down a bit and again, Trout on the bottom, with a subtle bite. Noah switched back and forth from fishing and "coaching" and did an excellent job.

But the wind had picked up a bit so we ran back to Nassauville and fished some rocks. Here, all three anglers picked up some Trout, one of which was keeper size, then Tom had a strong bite, worked it in,a nd landed the first Redfish of the day. Not to be outdone, Noah had a hookup. He played it to the boat and landed the biggest Redfish of the day. Boy what a fish!

Our next stop was down at Pumpkin Hill, now fishing float rigs.  Again, we found a couple of Trout. Coach Noah helped out the other anglers by "spotting" their floats when the went under! Somewhere along there we put one more keeper sized Trout in the boat. We fished Broward Island again, back with the jigs, then we called it a day, another great, albeit cold one, to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

New Postcards Revealed!

 Over the years I've had some postcards produced and then I give them out to my customers, on occasion. I know that postcards are old fashioned but I've always thought it was cool that folks who traveled years ago would take the time to buy a postcard, jot a quick note, and send it off to their loved ones. Here's a couple that I had produced over the years:

While on vacation in  North Carolina this past September I found these old vintage 

postcards....

So I commissioned an artist to "Florida-ize" it! He first did a sketch...

Then we finalized it and had some cards printed. Here's the new postcards for 2021. Click on each to expand..

If I forget to give you some after you fish with me, REMIND ME!

Thanksgiving Week Wrap Up

 My final day of fishing for the week was today -  I've done 10 trips in 12 days and I'm ready for an extended break! My next booked trip is Monday November 30th, so check back in then! 

Today I fished with Chuck Benton and his son Tom and boy was it a pretty morning as the sun came up! We met out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp and quickly scooted over to Pumpkin Hill to fish some float rigs with live shrimp on a tide that had been going out for about 3 hours. The first stretch didn't produce a bite but we came back around a corner and as Chuck drifted  his bait long, BOOM!  He had a hookup. Chuck reeled it in patiently and landed a nice keeper sized Seatrout.

Our next stop was down at Broward Island, and as we eased along the tree line we spotted a magnificent Bald Eagle up in a dead pine tree. We set up at a large marsh run out, now pitching jigs and shrimp,  and fairly quickly Tom was on the board with a Seatrout catch. Minutes later he reeled a feisty Redfish. We drifted back a bit, set up off from some stumps. Chuck made an excellent cast, let it go to the bottom and, BAM! Big Fish On! This fish was ripping drag and when it got back into the current it made for a good battle. But Chuck was up to the task, worked it patiently to the boat, and landed a nice 24" Slot sized Redfish. I think we picked up one more Red before the wind picked up and really started kicking up the water. 

We buzzed back to Nassauville and found shelter out of the wind and fished the jigs to the rocks. It paid
off! Chuck found a honey hole of Trout and caught a good handful, one of which was of keeper size. Tom put a couple of hungry Mangrove Snapper, and a small Sea Bass in the boat, then had a strong hookup. This fish was digging deep but Tom kept the pressure on and worked it to the surface and landed keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum. 

Our final stop was around at some docks where Tom topped off the trip with a Stingray catch. The sun was out, not a cloud in the sky so we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Super Grande Slam Thanksgiving Week

 This father/daughters team of anglers met me early this morning down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp - Pete Nolan and  his daughters Tatum and Sydney - with plans to take in the beautiful day - the best so far in over a week!

We ran up the intercoastal and dipped into Jackstaff and fished an even smaller creek with float rigs and live shrimp, and got "skunked". We crossed the river and fished a bank of oysters and even though we didn't tear them up, Sidney did put a Seatrout in the boat.

After running thru Horsehead we made a quick stop at some docks at Seymore's Pointe and here we picked up another Trout, and Pete put a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum in the boat. Our next stop was down at Spanish Drop, fishing the shell beds and this paid off a bit - Tatum caught and landed a nice Slot Redfish. The trio of anglers landed another Redfish or two before we moved on. They had a Slam.

Our next stop was down at Broward Island. We fished a large marsh run out and with Tatum fishing off the stern, she found a Flounder to make it a Grande Slam. As we drifted back, about ready to move, Pete hooked up, fought valiantly, and landed a nice 18" Black Drum.  We moved down the way, about ready to call it day, when the bite really picked up!  They caught another keeper sized Seatrout, another Trout, and then Tatum caught and landed a Sheepshead to make it a Super Grande Slam!

 Then Sidney had a big bite and, Fish On! This one was ripping drag, but Sidney played it perfectly, then OH NO! Pete pointed out a huge submerged limb and sure enough, the big fish found its way around it. We tried to pull the line away from the limb but the boat was caught in the current and....the line came free and...Fish On! Sidney kept the pressure on and worked it to the boat and landed a Slot sized 24" Redfish, boy what a battle! And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

A Big One That Didn't Get Away

Yesterday we had a couple of big fish on but unfortunately they threw the hook. Today was not the case!

I had met Chandler and Phillip Bailey down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning, and under grey skies, we headed north and west with  plans to make our first stop at Spanish Drop and fish jigs and live shrimp with a tide that still had a couple of hours of going out. Both anglers were making excellent casts and even though we had a couple of bites, we had no real takers.

We moved on up to Twin Creeks, fished it a bit, then eased forward to Athens Drop and this paid off with a couple or three of some feisty Redfish catches, then a nice Slot sized Redfish.

The tide was almost at bottom so we ran up to Seymore's Pointe to fish the same dock yesterday where we caught a bunch of Black "puppy" Drum. We worked it pretty good with the jigs and shrimp but had no takers, not a single one! Crazy how that works.  After fishing around the corner (and out of the wind), we made a run.

This time it was down to Broward Island to fish a large marsh run out. The wind and tide was pushing the stern around and that's where Phillip set up. He had only made a cast or two when, BOOM! Big Fish On! I didn't think it was going to be real big(yesterday we caught two "Rats" in the same spot) but when this fish went deep and against the current, ripping drag, we knew it was big!  Phillip kept the pressure on and slowly worked it to the boat and landed a big, oversized 29"+ Redfish, boy what a fish!

Minutes later, he put another Slot fish in the boat. We moved down a bit and picked up two more Reds and a hungry Seatrout. After fishing back at Athens Drop on the incoming tide, to no avail, we headed in and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

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.