Heck of a Halibut

 

I wrapped my week up today fishing with Chris Sneed and his fishing buddy Chuck, meeting them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp. We had overcast skies, but no forecast for rain until possible late afternoon, and just a (very) slight breeze blowing. Our first stop was over on the outside of Tyger Island and the duo began pitching jigs and mud minnows to a marsh runout. I was expecting to maybe get a Flounder "bump" but it was a Seatrout that Chris picked up. He mentioned that he had never caught a Flounder and it'd be nice to do so (Stay Tuned!).

We then ran around to the Jolley Bank, fished the "bank", picked up a Croaker, then moved on up to Snook Creek where we got skunked. The tide was getting pretty low and as we pulled up to the MOA (Mother of All), there was a lot of movement, a bunch of bait, Sharks finning, and we even saw a "tail" that surely was a Redfish. But we had a bunch of bites but no takers. 

Our next stop was around at Bell River, fishing some dock pilings. We were flipping back and forth from live shrimp and mud minnows and here Chuck got hot and got some action. He hooked up and landed a feisty Black "puppy" Drum then he battled a nice Slot 20" Redfish to the net. The tide had hit bottom and was already coming back in back towards the ocean so we made along run.

I was heading south but decided to duck in at Piney Island and fish some docks. We made a few casts and Chuck added another Drum to his catch total. We continued South, down the intercoastal, thru Horsehead and around to Seymore's Pointe and fished some more docks. The duo caught a handful of Mangrove Snapper with two of them being of keeper size. After fishing another dock, we headed down to Broward Island and fished a good stretch. In a hundred yards of fishing we only got one bite. But boy, was it a good one!

Chris had pitched a "soggy" shrimp up to the bank, let it sink, and was slowly letting it fall down the bottom when he hung up. I said, "I think I've got a stick", as he drug it back to the boat. But then it began to pull back into the current and act like a fish. I was thinking, "he's got a knot of wood or an oyster", but then the it tugged like fish. Chris worked it up off the bottom and when it came to the surface we saw it was a HUGE Doormat of a Flounder!  Chris kept the pressure on, eased it towards the boat and I swooped in the the net! Boy What a Fish! We measured it to be 24.5", big enough to easily move into first place in the Angler Mark 2021 Bragging Rights Tournament-Flounder Category.(scroll down the right side of this report for standings).

We wrapped the day up back at Seymore's Pointe where we tossed float rigs to the rocks and caught our limit of Mangrove Snapper, a few of which measured at 12" - they're getting bigger! Then we headed north, counting it as another great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Count and Double Count

 I had the pleasure of fishing with Alan Reeves again today - with COVID and life, it's been a few years. He brought along his "almost adult" kids, Bryan and Janaya and we met down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp for a half day of fishing. After running up the Nassau River we made our first stop at Spanish Drop and began to toss jigs and live shrimp and minnows to the exposed oysters. I think it was Bryan's first cast when he felt a "bump" and he hooked up. He expertly landed a hungry Flounder.

After working that bank and only getting a few nibbles, we move up to Athens Drop and fished it the same way. Janaya had no more than handed her rod off to her dad when he had a strong bite and, Fish On! Alan played it perfectly and landed a feisty Jack Crevalle. 

We then fished some docks at Seymore's Point and the trio began to put one Mangrove Snapper in the boat, one after the other.  I think we had about 7 that were of keeper size. We moved around the corner and set up with float rigs and fished some rocks and in

short time we were catching fish. Bryan came on strong and began to make pin point casts to the "sweet spot" and caught a number of fish. Not to be outdone, Janaya repositioned and began to match her brother in fish caught. Many of these Mangroves were of keeper size so I had to keep counting and double counting to make sure we did not exceed our limit, which we did. 

We left 'em biting and headed back to the ramp and counted it as  another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Lorna's Spot

 

I met Andy and Lorna Anderson out at Goffinsville Park this morning for a half day of fishing. They had supported the Amelia Island Guides Association's fishing tournament in 2019 by purchasing a gift certificate for a fishing trip, and we really appreciate it!

We ran over to some docks at Seymore's Pointe and began fishing with jigs and live shrimp and it wasn't long before Lorna zeroed in on "Lorna's Spot" and began to hookup with keeper sized Mangrove's. Andy squeeze her out a couple of times to catch a couple of his own. Lorna tangled with and landed a feisty Jack Crevalle before we moved on. 

Our next stop was down at Spanish Drop, still pitching the jigs on the last of an outgoing tide, but to no avail. We moved up to Athens Drop and here Andy got hot off the stern of the boat. Although the fish weren't edible, he caught and landed a Jack, Stingray, Catfish, Ladyfish, and then we did keep a nice Whiting he pulled in. 

We fished down at Broward Island on the first of an incoming tide which is an ideal tide, but the west wind was kicking up and and the water was murky and the fish didn't bite.  After coming back to Seymore's Pointe we set up with float rigs and limited out on Mangrove's, some of them right at 12", which made for a good mess of fish and a great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

We Caught More Fish With The Last President

 I try my darndest to not get into politics when fishing on The Anglers Mark, and did pretty good today,but I had to laugh when my customer seemed to blame the slow fishing on the "current administration"!

I had met Mike and Lou Maguth up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park early and we headed over to Tiger Island to fish the logs on the first of an incoming tide - an ideal tide to fish those logs. We worked the bank with jigs and live shrimp, had a few nibbles, a few takes and "let-goes", then Mike hooked up and "knocked the skunk off" with a Flounder catch. Lou had a strong hookup that ripped the drag as it headed west - she played it perfectly but it "let go". I'm pretty sure it was a big Catfish as the leader had slime all over it. 

We then fished the outside of Tiger where Lou caught a Flounder with a jig and Mud minnow,  then up to Snook Creek in the Jolley where Lou tangled with, fought and landed a 2' Bonnethead Shark. 

After dropping Lou back to the dock Mike and I headed back to the outside of Tiger, fishing float rigs with live shrimp. Mike had a couple of good bites but no takes then we saw his float slowly ease under the surface - he tightened up, lifted the rod and set the circle hook, and, Fish On!. Mike was fishing his light tackle St. Croix rods paired with Shimano Stradic's and the fish was no match for him. He worked it to the boat and landed a nice 17" Black "puppy" Drum. 

We ran thru Horsehead, over to Lanceford and fished a couple of outflows. The sun was directly overhead, the heat was up, and the fish had taken a siesta, so we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Drag Ripp'n Fun

 I wrapped my week up today fishing with John and Stacey Allan after I met them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We ran up the intercoastal then into the Nassau, and made our first stop at Spanish Drop, turning into the current of an incoming tide. Both anglers were pitching live shrimp or mud minnows to the bank with float rigs and getting good drifts.  About half way down the bank Stacey's float disappeared and her drag  began to sing. Riiiiiippppppp! The big fish headed west and BAP! Fish Off. While that was happening John's float disappeared, his drag ripped, and his fish headed east and BAP! Fish Off! Ouch.

We ran around to  Pumpkin Hill and drifted the floats there and it wasn't long before John put a keeper sized Flounder in the boat. Then Stacey tangled with a big Jack Crevalle, then she put a nice 17.5" Seatrout in the boat. All Trout were released today.  We fished a couple of banks at Pumpkin Hill, went down to Broward and fished some jigs, then ran back to Seymore's Pointe and switched back to float rigs. Here, John hooked up and landed

another Trout that was right at keeper size.

Needing some action, we moved around the corner and fished some rocks with the floats and sure enough, began to catch Mangrove Snapper, one after the other. They're getting bigger folks! We "culled' the smaller ones, even though they were of keeper size, and kept a few of the bigger ones (12"+) for their fish tacos!  We left 'em biting and headed in, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida 

Milestone Achieved On The Fly

 I've been catching Mangrove Snapper in the summer for years with live shrimp under a float or on a jig and when the Trout/Redfish/Flounder bite is slow I've been able to turn to the Mangrove's for an almost "guaranteed" bit of an action. Most times you can drift a shrimp by the "hotspot" and BAM!  You have a hookup. Then they tend to go into a frenzy and it's catching one after the other.  So I always wondered, "wouldn't it be neat to catch them on a fly rod?"

I've had multiple times where we were catching the Mangroves with shrimp under a float and have my guest toss a fly in with a fly rod and....nothing. Not a bite. At first I tried some of my sinking Shrimp patterns, but no takes. I tried fishing with some slow sinking Shrimp, but no takes. This was on different trips with multiple casters, many who could put it right in the "honey hole". But not a single Mangrove Snapper caught on the fly.

Today was the day! I had Mike and Jean DuBartell fishing with me early this morning. We had made the long run from Sawpit Creek boat ramp up the Nassau and around to Pumpkin Hill where we set up fishing float rigs along the flooding marsh grass. It wasn't long before Mike had put a hungry Seatrout in the boat.  Then the duo hooked up with a Shark that headed to Tallahassee, and kept going!

We came back and fished an outflow at Nassauville where we did get a couple of bites but nothing more than a slimly Catfish. We were in need of action so we went Mangrove hunting.  Drifting floats and shrimp it didn't take long for them to turn on and then both anglers were catching Snapper. Jean easily got the hang of it and  put one fish in the boat after another. These fish were a tad bit bigger, too, a couple measuring just over 12" - they put up a good fight. 

I had explained the fly fishing for Mangroves to Mike and he was up to the challenge. We went with a small, slow sinking shrimp pattern on a 10' leader. Mike was making an excellent presentation to the hot spot, but had no takers.  We then went with a small BB split shot about 20" up from the fly, made few casts and again, no takers. We then put a small shrimp on to the fly, made the cast and got bit!  Then we broke a big live shrimp in to, and smashed/smeared the juices all over the fly. I think it was Mikes first cast with the stinky fly and, BAM! Mangrove Snapper on! He played it perfectly and landed the first Mangrove on a fly I've ever had! Whooeee! Mike continued the "smash and cast" and hooked up with a number of the  Mangroves. Most of them were over 12" which made for a good fight on the fly rod.

Jean was steadily hauling in fish. We hit one more spot and caught a few of the Mangroveson jig and shrimp then headed in, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Big Fish and A Whole Bunch of Edibles

 We fished down south again today when I met Steve Frost and his wife Carron at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early. There was a big Red tailing right at the  ramp and I was torn between fishing right there or getting the trip started by running up to Pumpkin Hill. In my mind I tossed a coin and decided to go ahead and make the run and it turned out we landed on "heads".  After setting up along the flooding marsh grass the husband and wife duo of anglers began to drift float rigs with the current and in short order Steve had hooked up and landed a keeper sized Seatrout. He went back to the same spot, picked up a small Flounder, went back to the same spot and got a keeper sized Flounder. Then Carron had a strong bite and, Big Fish On!  Her drag was ripping and the fish zipped away, then it came back, stayed fairly shallow and we were thinking, "Big Redfish". But as she worked it patiently to the net we saw that it was a big Jack Crevalle - a beautiful fish, fun to catch, but not so good on a dinner plate.

We fished further down and as we eased up into a cove we

could see some wakes moving around and soon after Steve's float disappeared and he had a big fish too. He played it perfectly, worked it to the boat, and landed a nice 21.5" Slot Redfish with 11 Spots. Later he had an even bigger hookup and battled and landed a 4' Bonnethead Shark.

After fishing around the corner for a bit we came back to Seymore's Pointe, fished  a large outflow, then a marsh line, to no avail, then we moved around and fished some rocks with the floats and immediately began to catch keeper sized Mangrove Snapper - one after the other. I had to keep a running count to make sure we didn't go over our limit. These fish were a tad bit bigger than what we've been getting - some of them were up to 12".  We blew thru most of our shrimp, then move on.

Our final stop was down at Spanish Drop where we switched to jigs and mud minnows. We worked a large outflow then eased along a shell laden bank, pitching up near the shore and working it back slowly. When we reached a corner I was about to pull up and move but Carron had a bite and, Fish On! She played it beautifully, worked it to the boat patiently, and landed a Slot sized 21.75" Redfish - a good fish to wrap up a great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

Size Matters

 

I wrapped up my week today fishing with Mark Britt and his son Ryan, meeting them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp early, and we made the run up to Jolley River to make the "bank" our first stop. Boy were the conditions looking good - just a slight breeze, overcast skies, and a tide that had been going out for a couple of hours. But, nope, we struggled early. We worked along the bank tossing float rigs and live shrimp and really didn't get a bite that mattered.

I dropped back around the corner and pulled up to a marsh runout and the duo tossed jigs and mud minnows, to no avail. We then ran up the Jolley and fished Snook Creek, at first with the float rigs, then we switched to jigs and FINALLY, BAM! Mark had a bite, and boy was it a big one! The fish headed north and the braided line almost took Ryan's head off as he was standing on the stern, But he ducked under the line and the battle was on.  Mark came back to the stern and applied the pressure, fought the fish valiantly, and after a long battle, brought it to the surface to be boated, photographed, and released - a big 4 foot Bonnethead Shark.

We fished that bank a bit more, bounced over and fished another, then headed around to Bell River

where we set up current from a dock on the last hour or so of an outgoing tide. Almost immediately, we began to get bites. Ryan reeled in a Spot, then a small Mangrove Snapper then Mark put a keeper sized Mangrove in the boat. Ryan followed that up with a Sheepshead, then Mark caught one, then BOOM! Mark had a big bite. We thought it'd be a nice fish but it turned out to be a Really Nice Fish!  He fought it patiently, worked it to the boat, and we netted a big Oversized 30" Redfish. What a nice fish!

Shortly after that Ryan had the big bite. His fish stayed behind the boat but dug deep. Ryan was up to the task and fought it perectly, letting it run when it wanted to, but working it slowly in. We soon netted a nice 21.75" Sheepshead - the biggest of the year on The Anglers Mark and big enough to set the bench mark as First Place in the 2021 Bragging Rights Tournament-Sheepshead Category. (scroll down the right column for standings)

We wrapped up fishing some docks at Lanceford Creek on the first of an incoming tide and Mark wrapped it up with a "golden" catch of a Black "puppy" Drum which made for a great way to end a good day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Win Some Lose Some

 The forecasted rains held off to the afternoon so I was able to meet Dennis Brizzi and Hal O'Dell out at Goffinsville for a day of fishing this morning.  We ran south on the Nassau River and fished a large marsh run out - the first time I had fished it- but only managed a high flying Ladyfish. After crossing the river to Pumpkin Hill we fished the edge with float rigs and live shrimp and even though we saw some good bait action, we had no luck. After motoring down to Broward Island, switching to jigs, we finally had a decent fish when Dennis hooked up and successfully fought to the net a feisty Redfish. After fishing the other end of the island for  just a bit, we moved on. 

Our next stop was back at some docks at Nassauville, tide going out, pitching jigs and shrimp and here it payed off. The two anglers began to hookup and land Mangrove Snapper with about 5 of them being of keeper size. We moved on down the way, fished some more dock pilings and here things heated up even more. We caught Mangrove Snappers, tossing back a good handful, but keeping more to reach the limit and then Hal tangled with some feisty Black Drum. He put a couple in the boat, but had one big one throw the hook. Dennis on the other hand, hooked up with two big fish, fought them valiantly, but had them break off on the barnacle encrusted dock pilings. He did put one keeper sized Drum in the boat. 

We had our limit of Mangrove Snapper in the box, had tangled with some big fish only to lose them but it was a great day out on the water so we counted it as a Win!

Making Memories With Rain, Minnows, Manatee, and Big Fish

 MANY MEN GO FISHING ALL OF THEIR LIVES WITHOUT KNOWING THAT IT IS NOT FISH THEY ARE AFTER -  Henry David Thoreau

Sometimes the fish don't cooperate on some of our fishing trips but when a young couple with a young angler get a chance to get out on the water and experience some of our "salt life", memories are made none-the-less.  Today I had Caleb and Callie Berryhill and their young daughter Molly meet me at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early. There was a 24% chance of rain but we felt sure we could get out and get some fishing in.

After a quick run up the Nassau we stopped and fished a handful of marsh run outs on an outgoing tide but had no real luck, other than a high flying Ladyfish that Callie hooked up and landed. We fished some docks at Nassauville and caught one or two or three small Mangrove Snapper, then we made a run to Broward Island, only to pull up short at Pumpkin Hill as a rain storm passed us by. But it didn't pass us and came right over the top of us, soaking Caleb and I as Callie and Molly attempted to shelter under a rain jacket a beach towel. After it passed, we ran down to Broward, fished it for a good bit, but had no real luck. But Caleb did spot a Manatee hanging out beside a submerged stump which is always pretty cool to see.

Molly had been playing with the mud minnows for most of the day and having a good time at it but the sun had come back out and was wearing on all of us. We backed up to some dock pilings at our last stop and played cat and mouse with Mangrove Snapper then finally, Caleb had the strong bite and, Big Fish On!  He applied the pressure and kept the fish away from the pilings, worked it out to deeper water, then patiently played it to the net - a Big 25.75" Slot Redfish, and boy was it thick!

We had had an eventful day, ended up with a big fish, saw a Manatee, so as we headed in, we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.