In Search of Trout

 

Boy, those beautiful mornings just keep rolling in! Today I met Garland Clark and his fishing buddy Dennis up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp - it was clear with only a slight breeze, and cool enough for long sleeves but no need for a jacket. We headed south down the intercoastal, skirted Fenandina and headed up the Bell River to make our first stop alongside a grassy point with a tide high and still coming in for a few hours. 

                                                               Both anglers were tossing

float rigs and live shrimp and it paid off when Dennis hooked up and "knocked the skunk off" with a nice Seatrout catch. Then Garland followed Dennis' float with his and hooked up with a keeper sized Seatrout. We worked that area pretty good and before we left Garland found another, even bigger, Seatrout that measured right at 18".

Our next stop was over in Lanceford Creek, fishing the mouth of a drainage and here Garland tangled with something big-it was ripping drag and bending the rod and..BAP! it found an oyster hump and broke off, OUCH! We went further up Lanceford and into Soap Creek and fished a bank with the floats and caught a handful of Seatrout. Dennis had the biggest one for a few seconds - it was thrashing and rolling- and, threw the hook! After continuing on up into Lanceford, we fished a grassy island, had some good nibbles, then Garland finally hooked one up and landed a keeper sized Sheepshead.

The tide had hit a standstill up in Lanceford so we made the run back to Bell, thru Tyger and around to the outside of Tyger to fish the first of an outgoing tide. We had baitstealers and Neeedlefish robbing us blind at the first spot so we crossed over and fished another stretch of grass. The duo caught a couple of Trout on the floats and we picked up one on a jig, fished deeper. We had had a beautiful day for fishing so as we headed in, we counted it as another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Couldn't Catch A Break

 I made the usual call to my wife on the way home from our fishing trip today (she likes to know I'm off the water) and gave her a brief fishing report for the day, "a bunch of junk fish, some small fish, a feisty Redfish, but then a tremendous battle and an oversized Redfish (by 1/8") and later some Mangrove Snapper, two of which were keepers, then a big 19" Flounder that would now be illegal to keep since October 15th".  And she said, "geez, the guy just couldn't catch a break!".

I had met Steve Wyatt and his fishing buddies Doug and Sam out a the Goffinsville Park early this morning and had a beautiful sunrise to greet us, and, a not so timid owl that came down to the dock as I waited. We made the short run down the Nassau and set up to fish Spanish Drop with float rigs and live shrimp and within seconds we were getting bites. The trio landed a few high flying Ladyfish, a hard fighting Jack Crevalle, a Catfish and then Doug hooked up and landed nice feisty Redfish.

After working that bank we dropped down the river and fished Twin Creeks for a bit with float rigs and jigs, had some nibbles but no takers, then we made another run. This time we stopped down at the mouth of Pumpkin Hill and drifted floats along the shore line. Again, we had nibbles but no takers. I released the I-Pilot "anchor" and we drifted back, fishing as we went. Along one stretch of grass a big fish rolled at Steve's bait but didn't take it! We drifted back another 20 feet and then Steve's float disappeared with a vengeance and, Big Fish On1 Steve said at

first he didn't think it was all that big but it began to rip drag and run deep towards the stern and then Doug made the call, "it might be oversized". Steve played it patiently to the boat, it made another run or two or three, then he brought it to the net - a Big Redfish that measured right at 27 1/8"! I measured it a few times but I just couldn't get it to shrink. so after a photograph, we released it to breed.

We fished Broward Island briefly, then Christopher Creek then wrapped up fishing some docks at Nassauville, jig and shrimp on the bottom. The trio of anglers played cat and mouse with Mangrove Snapper. In short order both Sam and Doug were hooking up and put a couple of keeper sized fish on the boat ( I could tell that we are on our last week or so of having Mangroves in numbers here) then Steve had a strange bite, set the hook and slowly worked in a......big 'ole Flounder that measured at 19". Unfortunately for Steve we are 5 days into a closed season on Flounder so it had to be released, OUCH! He just couldn't catch a break! But as we headed in we knew we had had a beautiful day for fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Weeding Thru The Ladyfish To Get Trout

I guess the Ladyfish are making one last run at it before the really cold weather gets here because we caught our fair share of them this morning! I had met Bruce Beauchamp and Dennis Schroeder down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp before sunup and we headed up the Back River and around to Pumpkin Hill and began drifting float rigs along a grass line on the last hour and a half of incoming tide. It wasn't long before we were getting bites...Dennis knocked the skunk off with a Seatrout catch then both he and Bruce were catching fish. Most of them were high flying Ladyfish but every once in a while they'd pick up a Seatrout.

We worked around the corner, fished a grassy island, then headed over to Seymore's Pointe just as the tide turned and started back out. There was a bunch of mullet on  the move but not much happening other than some Mangrove Snapper bites and catches.

After buzzing thru Horsehead we eased up into a creek and stayed with the float rigs. Bruce picked up a couple of Trout, had a strong bite up near some grass that broke off, then as we drifted back, Dennis had gone to the grass with a cast and had a good hookup. He brought it patiently to the boat and landed a nice 17" keeper sized Seatrout.

We came back thru Horsehead to the Nassau, down to Spanish Drop and fished a nice drainage, this time switching to jigs and shrimp, and here we had some good action catching a good handful of Seatrout on the bottom. When that slowed we moved down the way, stuck with the jigs, and again caught fish. Dennis was on the stern and found a good "honey hole" where he caught a number of Trout. As we moved up, Bruce went close to the bank and to a submerged shell bottom and BAM! A stronger bite. Bruce expertly worked it in and landed a nice feisty Redfish. A few minutes again, he duplicated that with another Redfish catch. 

It was a beautiful morning, we had caught some fish and as we headed in, we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Trout Time?

 Jason Ash was able to get away and get in some backcountry fishing here at Amelia Island today. I methim down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp before the sun came up and we headed up the intercoastal, thru the Back River and around to the mouth of Pumpkin Hill where we set up with float rigs and live shrimp. Jason drifted his rig close  to the grass on the very last of an incoming tide and got a bunch of nibbles but no takers and within a few minutes, the tide turned. We moved around the corner and that did the trick. Jason "went long" with a drift and it paid off with a keeper sized Seatrout catch. We worked along that bank and caught a few Trout, a feisty Jack Crevalle and two nasty Gar Fish!

We fished down at Broward Island, switching to jigs and minnows and caught a small Flounder then a Stingray.

After a short run back down the Nassau we made a stop at a marsh run out and continued with the jigs and  minnows and that was the ticket. We found that we could pitch up to the bank, let the outgoing current take our bait down the river bottom, wait for the "bump" and a short hookset would produce a Seatrout. We added a handful of keeper sized Trout to the catch. We added a Mangrove Snapper somewhere in there, too.

After moving up the  bank we fished a shell bed that dropped off deep. I thought we'd get the bite up close but it was out in deeper water where Jason hooked up and landed a feisty Redfish, this one with Seven Spots. We had an outstandingly beautiful morning and as we headed in we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Grande Slam on a Beautiful Morning at Amelia Island

Just when I think the days can't get any prettier, we have a beautiful one like we had this morning. I had met Jack Larini and his girl friend Alexa down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp under clear skies and we left the dock just as the sun was coming up over the horizon. After a short run up the intercoastal to dip into Jackstaff we were fishing with float rigs and live shrimp. In short order Jack's float disappeared, he tightened up, and fish on! Jack brought it to the boat expertly and landed a nice keeper sized Seatrout (all fish caught today were released). We fished that marsh run out for a bit and Jack added another Seatrout to his catch.

After crossing the creek we switched to jigs and shrimp and Alexa had just made her first cast when BAM, she had a hookup. She worked it to the boat and landed a Flounder (BTW, today starts the closed season on Flounder, thru November 30th). We continued along that bank for a bit, caught another

Trout, then moved on. 

We ran thru Horsehead, around to the Nassau, and checked a minnow trap (empty), then came back to some docks at Seymore's Pointe and fished the pilings with the jigs. Both anglers hooked up and landed a few Mangrove Snapper. Back down the Nassau we went, this time stopping at Twin Creeks. The tide was dropping and I thought for sure we'd have some action but, no, not much of anything.

Our next stop was even further down the Nassau, this time fishing a small outflow, dodging a crab trap and here it was like someone opened the barn doors! Jack found a nice Seatrout drop back behind the boat and began to catch fish., one after the other. It was almost if Alexa couldn't make a cast without catching a feisty Redfish. Then she had a strong bite and her drag began to rip and this one was a big one! As you can see in the video below, she landed the Black "puppy"  Drum despite the coaching she was getting from Jack and myself!  Every once in a while jack would get a toss in to Alexa's Redfish Spot and he'd pick up one, too. I think we stayed at that one spot for over an hour catching fish.

We fished one more spot down the river but the sun was getting up and we were in the mid-day doldrums so we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Illegal Tomorrow

 Another beautiful morning and awesome sunrise greeted us when I met Mark Dennis and his nephew James out at the Goffinsville Park.  We were loaded up with mud minnows and made a short run over to Pumpkin Hill and set up alongside some marsh grass on an outgoing tide. Mark began tossing his home made cork lure and James was on the stern drifting a float rig with the minnow - we worked it good but had not a nibble.  After moving around the corner and easing along another marsh line and this did the trick. James's float was drifting along then slowly began to go under, James tightened up his line, lifted this rod and set the hook and, fish on! James worked it to the boat and landed a keeper sized 17" Seatrout to knock the skunk off. We worked along that stretch for a bit and again, James's float slowly went under, and again, he set the hook and brought to the boat a feisty Redfish. Dennis had been fishing a DOA Shrimp lure, working it across some oysters and, BAM, he had a hookup. Dennis played it patiently and soon landed another feisty Redfish.

We then moved down to Broward Island to fish under the watchful eye of a pair of Bald Eagles. Mark was casting up into a drainage and  BAM! Big Fish On! Mark was being real patient as it ran long and deep, keeping the pressure on and was well on his way to landing this big fish and BIP, fish off, it came unhooked! OUCH!  We decided to fall back with the current, fishing some pockets and I was just about ready to leave when James's rod bent double and his drag began to rip - a big fish for sure! James was up to the task, stayed the course and after a good battle landed a 29" Oversized Redfish, boy what a fish!

Our next stop was down the Nassau, all the way to Spanish Drop, and here we switched to jigs and the minnows. In short order James had hooked up and landed a nice 18" Flounder, a fish that will be illegal to keep tomorrow! We worked across a drainage and as we got to some oysters both anglers began to catch Seatrout, a bit out from the bank. James found a Redfish up close to the bank, then both anglers dueled with high flying Ladyfish.  We hopped up the river a few times, picked up a Trout, then wrapped up the day fishing for Mangrove Snapper. We had tangled with Redfish and Seatrout and Flounder and as we headed in, we counted it as another great day  to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

First Flattie Then Big Flattie

 

Even though the temperature gets up into the low 80's by afternoon, the mornings have a little cool nip in the air. It was the same when I met Bob and Kathy Miller down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning.  We made the 15 minute run up the intercoastal and dipped into Jackstaff and began tossing jigs and mud minnows to the exposed oysters on a low and still outgoing tide. Both anglers were getting good casts as we worked along the bank. Bob had a strange "bump", set the hook, and reeled in his first Flounder ever. We worked that bank, had numerous nibbles, then crossed over to fish a sandbar pointe. Bob was tossing out deep while Kathy fished the bow and pointe and it was Bob who had the hookup again, this time a hungry Seatrout.

We then ran thru Horsehead and around to the Nassau and down to Spanish Drop and set up fishing a large outflow and boy was there a ton of bait. We eased along pitching those minnows, had a few nibbles, but it wasn't until we got alongside

a shell bank when the action picked up. Bob had a good bite, hooked up and reeled in a feisty Redfish then Kathy got on the board - she too had a Redfish.  Then both anglers were catching fish - Redfish, a few Seatrout, a Jack Crevalle, and some Ladyfish. We moved up the way and again had some good action catching fish. 

After sampling what some dock pilings had to offer (not much), we moved around to Nassauville and set up between two docks and pitched to the bank. We picked up a few Mangrove Snapper, one of which was of keeper size then Bob started reeling in a rock. But no! That rock was moving! Bob kept the pressure on and patiently brought it to the surface and to the net - a 21.25" Flounder, boy what a fish. It was a great way to wrap up a good day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Go With Minnows

 We had a nice morning greet us when I met Glenn and Patty Langford up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park asthe sun came up.  There was still about an hour of tide going out so we made a quick run over to Lanceford Creek and fished some dock pilings with jigs and live shrimp...and got pecked, pecked, and pecked - just baitstealers. After just a short time we moved back around to Soap Creek and fished an exposed oyster bed and here we had a bit of success - Glenn hooked up and landed a couple of feisty Redfish.

As the tide came to a standstill we ran back around Tyger Island and up in behind the trees and began pitching to the shore. Both anglers were making excellent casts but the "baitstealers" were ever present. Patty did hookup and land her first Flounder and later Glenn outsmarted a hungry Sheepshead and brought it to the net. 

We then ran back outside, up and around to the Jolley River and began fishing the "bank", back into the current. Again, a bunch of nibbles -luckily I had a handful of small mud minnows to supplement the shrimp- but Glenn did hookup and land a small Seatrout to round out a team Amelia Island Grande Slam of Redfish, Flounder, Sheepshead and Seatrout. At one time Glenn did catch a fish big enough to rip his drag. When it came out of the water I thought I saw "big Seatrout" but then it jumped again a time or two and we all knew it was a Ladyfish.

After fishing further up the Jolley with float rigs and minnows we hit our final stop around the corner in the upper Bell. Right off Glenn had a bump, set the hook, and caught and landed a Mangrove Snapper. We picked up a few more baitstealers before calling it a day. Tomorrow, if they got 'em, I'll be going with Minnows and maybe they'll stay on the hook longer! But we had some action, the weather was nice, so as we headed in we counted it as another great day to be out on the water her at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Soupy Morning

 

When I met Jeff and Jess Kamenski up at the Dee Dee Bartels boat ramp early this morning the fog had set in to form a "soup" for visibility. We eased way from the ramp with navigation lights on and made our way slowly down the intercoastal and up into Bell River. The plan was to fish live shrimp under float rigs for a bit until the tide got up and we could begin to look for tailing Reds in the grass.

After setting up along side a flooding point of oysters the two anglers began tossing their baits to the marsh grass and were getting good drifts and it paid off with catches of Seatrout, Ladyfish, and a few bait stealers. We then ran thru Tyger and around to the outside of the island and fished some more grass, again getting Seatrout. 

The tide had gotten up so we poked the bow into a likely flooded marsh and within minutes - there was a tail! Both Jess and I kept our eye on it while Jeff readied himself but it went under the

surface and never appeared again. We move around and checked out a number of flats and some of them looked just amazingly fishy, but we saw no more tails. 

As the tide turned we switched back to the floats, fished a grassy pointe, and picked up another Trout, a Croaker, and a Mangrove Snapper. Our last stop was up at "Jolley Bank", working along the edge and again found, you guessed it, Seatrout. Jeff had a couple of shots at some nice big Redfish - one ran thru a grassy island and broke off, the other one was on, played, brought to the boat, seen, and... threw the hook! Ouch.  I called it a "quirky" day, but maybe a better word would be eventful so we counted it as another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Veteran Fishing

 We launched out of Goffinsville today with a few cloudy skies and a rainstorm off in the distance, but we
didn't get wet a bit throughout the day. I had met Dennis Abercrombie and his 93yo father Jay early and as the sun came up we buzzed over to the mouth of Pumpkin Hill and began drifting live shrimp under float rigs on the last couple of hours of an incoming tide. The Ladyfish were out in force - we tangled with them for a while, then moved around the corner and here Dennis found a hot spot with some hungry Seatrout, and landed a few.  He also battled a hard fighting Jack Crevalle and a Bonnethead Shark to the net.

Our next stop was back around at Seymore's Pointe where we drifted floats around a point of grass. We had a few nibblers but no real takers. We then ran down to Twin Creeks and switched to jigs and here had a bit of action. Dennis had a strange bump, hooked it up, and landed a Flounder then both anglers had some strong bites, one break off, then Jay had a hookup and Big Fish On! this fish was ripping drag and heading west! But then it turned around, came back to us, dove under the boat, and laid deep. Jay worked it
patiently then Dennis tagged in and took over to slowly work the big fish to the boat and landed a nice 4'+ Bonnethead Shark, boy what a battle!

We fished some rocks with the float rigs at Seymore's Pointe to no avail, then moved down in between two docks and switched back to the jigs right as the tide was changing. We were r