They Ought To Call It Iron Man!

I just sent off a couple of Osprey CE Florida Fishing Products reels back for repair, refurbishment and cleaning and I got to thinking I'm still using one of the original Osprey's with no refurbishment needed.  I contacted Cael down at FFP to check the date of when I purchased that first pair of reels. One was a 2500 Osprey that I use on my 7' rods for float rigs and top water lures, and one was a 1000 Osprey that I use for on a 6'6" rod for jigs on the bottom. That 1000 is still going strong!

Cael let me know that I first purchased those in June of 2019!  I looked thru my records, did the math, and figured that I had fished that reel approximately 453 trips! Give or take a few trips. That's crazy. It has developed a nice patina and is still catching fish. See picture to right. I'm thinking about adding it to my "Vintage" fishing tackle collection!

When FFP came out with the Osprey CE's, I ordered six of them and installed them on all of my rods, replacing the Shimano Stradics I've used for years. As many of you know, my reels get severely abused - dropped on the deck, cranked while the drag is ripping, and on occasion, dipped in the river. That was a couple of years ago, at least, so the "newer" ones have 200-300 trips under their belt. 

Unfortunately I had to send two of the reels back recently (see dunking in the river) They hadn't lasted as long as that first one but they've more than passed my expectations on how long a reel should last before needing refurbishment. To send them back you complete a form and send it in with the reels. I don't know if they turn everyone's around as quick as they did mine, but I had them back in a short week. I was floored when I opened the box and found two "like new" reels. They were repaired and I could tell parts had been replaced. 

Each day after a finish a trip I rinse my rods and reels with fresh water. I take a long handled soft brush and dip it in a mixture of water and dish soap then wash the rods and reels thoroughly. I let them drip dry then turn them upside down and shake any excess water off before storing them for the next day. I've gotten in the habit of lubricating some of the exterior parts if I have to-restring the reels for whatever reason.

If you're wanting an alternative to those expensive Shimano Stradic reels, check out Florida Fishing
Products Osprey CE reels. Those 1000's? I don't have enough fingers and toes to count how many oversized Redfish have been caught on my boat (and released) with one of them!

Surf Fishing Tip's Welcomed

 We had the best "non windy" day today when I fished with Eddie Byrd, Bob Kossman, and David
Beauchamp. We all met down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp, after pealing off shoes to wade from deck to dock on a super high tide! After running up the intercoastal, thru the Back River, and around to Pumpkin Hill we set up alongside a very flooded marsh grass and began drifting float rigs and live shrimp long. In just minutes Bob had "knocked the skunk off" with a hungry Seatrout catch, then he followed that up when he landed a Bluefish.  Then Eddie "went long" and just past a grassy point his float went under with a vengeance and, Fish On!  He patiently brought it to the boat and net and landed a nice 17" Seatrout. David tangled with a high flying Ladyfish, the first of a good handful caught today.

We then made the run back to Seymore's Point and fished a large marsh drainage, drifting by a point of
grass, but had not a bite. We came back around and fished some rocks and here all three anglers played Cat-and-Mouse with Mangrove Snapper, and a handful of the Mangroves lost!

After running thru Horsehead we fished another drainage, picked up another Trout, then Eddie landed an "almost legal" Redfish, just shy of the 18". Back thru Horsehead we went and down to Spanish Drop for the final spot. Bob caught a hard fighting Jack Crevalle, David put a nice keeper sized Seatrout in the boat, then he battled a big Bonnethead Shark. This fish ran long and deep but David fought it patiently and eventually landed it for photograph and release. We had picked up some fish here and there, we hadn't had to fight the wind, so as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

It Had To Have Been The Green Bobber

Of  the three float rigs, 2 had orange bobbers and one had a green.  The green bobber caught the fish today. I had picked up Henry Ross and his neighbor and fishing buddy Rex at their dock at Crane Island early and we made the run north, all the way up to Bell River and around the back way to Tyger, then eased out front to fish the first of a very high outgoing tide with float rigs and live shrimp. The first stretch of flooded marsh grass didn't produce a bite but after we crossed over a creek and fished another stretch we got a few bites with the floats disappearing. Then, after Rex had a made pin  point cast to a grassy island his green float went under, he tightened up and let the circle hook do it's thing and  he had a hookup. He patiently brought to the boat and net a hungry Seatrout.  A few short minutes later, after going back to the same spot, Rex hooked up and battled to the boat a feisty Redfish.

We then buzzed back thru Tyger and around to Lanceford Creek, ran up it a ways, and fished a bulkhead then a grassy island with the floats, to no avail. We fished a few run outs up Soap Creek, them some docks back at Lanceford with jigs and shrimp, then we made a run south to Piney Island where we set up current from some docks with the jigs. Somewhere in that stretch Henry battled and netted a couple of high flying "poor man's tarpon" - the Ladyfish. 

We made one final stop, heading back to Crane Island, fishing a drainage and here Rex caught and landed a feisty Black Drum (garnering an Amelia Island Back Country Slam) and then he battled another, keeper sized Black Drum to the net, which we photographed and released. The wind had picked up the last hour or so of the trip which limited where we could fish, but as we wrapped day, we counted it as another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

We Had a Nice Back Country Slam

 It was a a prettier day today, than yesterday, but the winds were still forecasted to grow to 16-17mph by late morning. But the skies were clear, the sun was out, and we had a "window" to fish so I met Jack and Patsy Elgin down at the South End boat ramp and after running up the intercoastal, we dipped into Jackstaff and then in to a side creek to set up fishing with float rigs and live shrimp on a tide that had been going out for an hour or so. 

Right off the bat Patsy had a hookup and landed a high flying Ladyfish, the "poor girls Tarpon". We eased along the bank and when we reached a small drainage I commented to Jack that we had caught a good handful of nice Redfish at the mouth. He made a perfect cast and within seconds his float slowly slid under. He tightened his line and let the circle hook set and, Fish On!  Jack played it patiently and after a good battle landed a Slot sized 21" Redfish.

We then made a run thru Horsehead and down to Spanish Drop where we worked a flooded shell bank with the float rigs, to no avail. Just like yesterday, I switched Jack and Patsy to jigs and shrimp, but today it didn't work- no fish! We moved up to Twin Creeks and stayed with the jigs and in a short time Jack had a battle on his hands! I felt sure it was a big shark as it was headed to England! I hit full speed on the trolling motor and Jack took up the line as we "backed down" and when I stopped Jack applied the pressure and began to wear him out. But this Shark had other plans and with a quick turn of it's head, BAP! Fish Off! We motored back to Twin Creeks(we had drifted a 1/4 mile downstream) and again, within a minute or two, Patsy hooked up with a Shark. Hers wasn't as big but it was "just right". Patsy battled it valiantly and after a good fight she boated a 2 1/2" Shark.

We worked along the bank then and just before Athens Drop

Jack had a strong bite, set the hook, and expertly played to the boat another nice Redfish. 

The wind was beginning to kick up so we ran over to the Nassauville rocks and fished between a couple of docks. We had some good nibbles but no takers then finally, down deep, we had a good bite and a hookup. Jack brought to the boat a big 21" Seatrout. Then Patsy followed that up with a 17" Flounder to round out the couple's Amelia Island Back Country Slam of Redfish, Seatrout and Flounder.  We fished Seymore's Pointe with float rigs, them some docks around the corner but by now the wind was kicking us around pretty good, so we headed back and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Movement on the Bragging Rights Board

 

There was forecasted winds for today, but not so much early so we decided to try and squeeze a morning of fishing in. I had met Steve Locke and his fishing buddy Jason out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp and we headed straight to Spanish Drop to fish a high and outgoing tide with float rigs and live shrimp and they  produced......nothing - not a bite! But we were about to leave and I handed Steve a jig and shrimp combo "just to try it" before left and within seconds, BAM! He had a strong hookup and, Big Fish On! The way it was ripping drag I wondered if it was a Shark (we'd seen a couple up near the bank), but then I saw a "roll" and knew it was a big Redfish. Steve played it perfectly, from bow to stern and back, and eventually landed a big 29.5" Oversized Red - a fish big enough to squeeze in to first place in the Anglers Mark 2022 Bragging Rights Tournament - Redfish Category, boy what a fish. (scroll down the right side of this report for link to standings)

And While Steve was fighting his fish, Jason had a hookup - we had a "double". Jason patiently played his fish, held it in the

water while I netted Steve's, then we netted Jason's - a 21" Slot sized Redfish  From then on the duo were catching Reds. We lost count at 8 or 9 total, but two of those were of Slot size. Eventually we moved up the river and fished a large marsh runout, then further up the river and fished a shell "bump out", then moved on. 

Our next stop was up at some docks at Seymore's Pointe, fishing some dock pilings, to no avail. We moved around the corner and squeeze in between two docks and picked up a handful of Mangrove Snapper, a small Flounder, and a small Seatrout.

After fishing a stretch of shell at Pumpkin Hill we finished the day down at Broward Island, fishing under a juvenile Bald Eagle. After picking up a small Mangrove, Steve outsmarted and hooked up and landed a keeper sized Sheepshead. The wind was now really "kicking up" and we had some pretty serious swells, so we headed back, but with some nice fish in the box, we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Recipe of the Month: Belly Meat Chowder

 My friend and  fishing buddy Daniel Rhodes chastised me one day while I was cleaning fish. Normally I filet them, then cut the rib and belly meat out and toss it to the Seagulls. "Piper, don't be throwing away that belly meat". I've got to admit there is a lot of meat in that portion so now when I'm cleaning fish for customers I'll sometimes save it if they don't want it. I bring it home and either cook it that night or freeze it noted as "Belly Meat". It makes great Fish Chowder. I  threw this together as a recipe:

4-8 pieces of "Belly/Rib" meat. I prefer Redfish because the bones are bigger, but in this batch I used                                                             about 8 pieces of  Redfish and Seatrout

24oz bag of Honey Gold (small) potatoes, chopped

2  small stalks of celery, chopped

1/2 of a small onion, chopped

2 handfuls of frozen corn

1  link of Sausage (I used Nettles Old Grandad Hot), chopped

1-2 T bacon grease

2 T butter

1/2 C Heavy Whipping Cream

1/2 C milk

1 tsp  Konricko seasoning, 

In a skillet, heat the bacon grease and cook the sausage for a bit, then add the celery, onions and corn. Cook until the sausage is browned, the onions begin to go translucent, and the celery begins to soften. Turn off heat.

Fill a large pot half full with water. As  you bring it to boil, drop the Redfish/Trout belly meat in and it will cook fairly quickly. When it turns white, take it out and let it cool, then add the potatoes and begin to boil them. While the potatoes are cooking, open a beer, and de-bone the fish!  As mentioned, Redfish have bigger rib bones and are easier to feel. Cook the potatoes until you can stick a fork thru them. Turn the heat off, drain most of the water, leaving about a cup. 

Add the sausage/onion/celery/corn mixture.

Add the butter, Heavy Whipping Cream, Milk, and Seasoning (may need to add more to taste).

Stir, turn heat back on and bring to a boil. Once boiling, turn back down to simmer, cover, and cook for 30 minutes.

Flatties and a Slam

 I wrapped my week up today fishing south after launching at Goffinsville and meeting John Raker and his fishing buddy Kenny early. We made a quick run over to Spanish Drop with plans to fish some exposed shell beds with jigs and live shrimp on a tide that still had an hour to hit bottom. Kenny "knocked the skunk off" with a nice Flounder catch and shortly after John added one that went in the box at 17".

We then made a short stop at Bubblegum Reef where we had another small Flounder to the boat, then we jumped over to some docks and fished the first of an incoming with the jigs. We were in the right place at the right time where Kenny made short work of bagging an Amelia Island Back Country Slam - he put a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum in the boat then he added a keeper sized Seatrout.  We picked up a couple of more smaller Drum and then added to the box a good handful of Mangrove Snapper.

After moving around the corner we switched to float rigs to fish
some rocks and here the duo dueled with more Mangrove Snapper and almost reached their limit. Those Mangroves aren't real big(todays biggest was 12"), but you can keep 5 apiece and get some nice little fillets off for a fish fry or fish taco!

Our final stop was back at Spanish Drop, now fishing that incoming tide with float rigs. Kenny was on the stern and caught a hard fighting Jack Crevalle and a Ladyfish then John, fishing the bow, saw is float go slowly under. He tightened up the line, lifted his rod and let the circle hook set and, Fish On!  John played it patiently to the boat and landed another, even bigger, Flounder. After one more Ladyfish fight we called it a day and headed to the dock, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Getting Away From It All Today

 

Fishing north again today, I flipped a coin this morning - fish the docks up Lanceford or stay away from civilization. Heads one and after I picked up Craig and Paula Rutledge and their friend Brent, we headed over to fish the backside of Tyger on the first of an incoming tide. The trio of anglers were tossing jigs and live shrimp, letting it fall in the deep water, and retrieving it slowly. They were getting good casts but all we got were "nibbles", here and there. 

The sun was up and we had clear skies and a nice little breeze as we came out of Tyger and rounded around to the Jolley River where we set up fishing the "bank". Craig "knocked the skunk off" when he boated a small flounder then he hooked up and gallantly battled what I believe was a shark, but eventually it tired of playing with us, broke off, and went on it's way. He then had a good bite on his jig, up near the oyster banks, and Fish ON!  Craig played it expertly and soon landed a nice 21" Slot Redfish. Paula, fishing from the stern, had seen a swirl up near the bank, made her cast just to the side, let it sit and when her line tightened she set the hook and, Fish On! She patiently brought it to the boat and landed a beautiful Seatrout. 

We ran further up the river and fished Snook Creek thoroughly, to no avail. Our next stop was back around
at Tyger, now fishing the outside with float rigs and here Craig and Brent tangled with the high flying "poor mans Tarpon" - Ladyfish. Paula added another Seatrout catch to the board, then we moved on, stopping at a flooding point up Bell River, briefly, then we moved on.

Our final stop was up Lanceford Creek, then into Soap where we fished a flooded shell/grass island with float rigs. Craig had a float drifting between the island and the marsh and as the float slipped under Craig tightened up his line, lifted the rod and let the circle hook set and had another good fish on. He played it perfectly - I thought it was a small Red, but when brought it to the surface and to the net we saw that it was another 21" Slot sized Redfish, which made for a good way to wrap up a great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Jack Fight

 I fished north today, meeting Lee Riter up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park, and boy what a beautiful day it was. The water was like glass and it was still cool as sun came up over Ft. Clinch.  I wanted to "get away from it all" so we headed up and over to the Jolley River and fished the "bank" with jigs and live shrimp. Lee had brought one of his own rods, a 6' light spinner by St Croix, lined with 6lb test mono and he went with that to start. We had one good hookup that bent the hook and came off! Lee went back tot he bank with a live shrimp on one of my jigs and BAM! A strong hookup and Lee was in for a battle. He played the fish around the boat as I used the trolling motor to try and spin - I bet we went in a circle 4-5 times. This fish was digging deep but staying close to the shore and the boat and I thought for sure a big Red but when Lee finally expertly brought it to the surface, we netted a big Jack Crevalle, boy what a battle!

We fished that stretch, then further up at Snook Creek, then made our way around to Bell River and fished some docks. Although we had a few nibbles, we had no real takers.

Back towards Fernandina we set up alongside a flooding point and here had a bit of action. Lee picked up a couple of hungry Seatrout and a small Flounder, and we both had a good handful of bites that we missed. Our final stop was around on the outside of Tyger Island, fishing with Osprey's keeping a watch, then we headed back to the ramp, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Count 'em

Before the day was over we were trying to count up all the species we caught:  Sheepshead, Seatrout, Redfish, Croaker, Toad Fish, Ray, Shark, Mangrove Snapper, Weakfish, Ladyfish and Shark! I had met John Raker with his mother Betty and friend Kenny out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp early this morning and after making the short run over to Broward Island we set up under a pair of watchful Bald Eagles to fish a small drainage with jigs and live shrimp.  Kenny "knocked the skunk off" with a nice keeper sized Sheepshead catch, then John battled a huge, I mean HUGE, Stingray to the surface.  We fished up and down the bank for a bit then moved on. 

Back at some docks at Nassauville, again tossing the jig/shrimp combo,  the trio caught a Weakfish a Croaker,  and a couple of keeper sized Mangrove Snapper. We then fished Spanish Drop and caught the Toad fish and one of two Bonnethead Sharks then made the run back to Pumpkin Hill to fish float rigs. They hooked up with a couple of more Trout that eventually threw the hook. 

After running thru Horsehead we stayed with the floats and Betty picked up another Trout. Later, fishing the bank of Jackstaff, Kenny fought a HUGE oversized Redfish to the boat and John tangled with a high flying Ladyfish. It was an eventful day out on the water to say the least, so as we headed back we counted it as another great one to be out on the water and fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.