I wrapped my week up fishing out of Goffinsville Park this morning where I met Wayne Flanders and two of his adult grandsons, Jacob and Joshua. We made a short run, over to the back river and set up along side some exposed oyster beds on a tide that had been going out for 4-5 hours. As we worked the bank we could see all kinds of bait fish moving about, and once in a while, a bigger fish busting that bait. It didn't take long before all three anglers were getting bites. We had started off with live shrimp and were getting picked on every cast so we switched to some mud minnows and this did the trick. They caught small but feisty Redfish, a couple of Seatrout, and a couple of Catfish. We also had a couple of "big" takes- fish that ripped some drag, but unfortunately they came unplugged.
Our next stop was down the Nassau, fishing the last of an outgoing tide, working thru a large drainage. We caught a small Flounder there and when we got to the far end of a shell bank, it was feisty Redfish on almost every cast. Wayne figured it out and found that there was a submerged shell "reef" that came out from the shore and the fish were laying on the back side of it. We fished that stretch up and back for a good while, catching fish. Before we left we tossed the cast net and got a dozen or so nice finger mullet to replenish our bait.
Both Joshua and Jacob were making excellent casts all day and it payed off. We fished some dock pilings and picked up a couple of keeper sized Mangroves then ran down to Broward Island to fish the first of an incoming tide. To no avail. Not a real bites. After running back to Nassauville, we fished a small drainage with jigs and everything else we had! This trio of anglers added a good handful of keeper sized Mangroves and Jacob wrapped things up with a keeper sized 18" Flounder. As we headed back to the dock we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
I fished north today, meeting Sam Dworetzky and his fiancée Ashlee and her parents Bonnie and Phil up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park. We ran north and west and up to the Jolley River, turned into the current of a tide that had just started in, and started fishing back to the point with jigs an drive Shrimp. We found out pretty quick that the "baitstealers" were out in full force! The girls got off to a quick start though and caught a good handful of Croaker, a small Seatrout, and a good handful of small but feisty Redfish.
Just as we reached the point and were about to move on, Sam had gone forward with a cast, felt a good hard bump, and set the hook, and, Fish On! Same brought it expertly to the net and landed a nice keeper sized 17" Seatrout.
We ran further up the Jolley, just past Snook Creek, turned again in to the current, and worked back thru the creek mouth. Things were slow for just a but then we had a real good flurry of fish bites - small Redfish, Jack Crevalle, Ladyfish, then Phil, taking up a spot on the stern, had a "thump". He patiently brought it to the net and landed a keeper sized Flounder. Then Sam went up to the creek mouth -I was watching the cast- and the minute it hit the water, BAM! A good bite and Fish On! Sam played it perfectly and after a good battle brought a big 19" Seatrout to the net.
After running back down the Jolley and around to the outside of Tyger we set up at a big drainage and worked that bank for about 100 yards. Bonnie landed a small Flounder, Sam battled a big 4' Bonnethead Shark, then Phil "the Flounder guy" had another strange bite. He hooked it up and slowly reeled to the boat (where it went crazy) and landed another, even bigger, keeper sized Flounder.
Our final stop was around in Bell River, now drifting float rigs where Sam, Ashlee and Bonnie all caught some hungry Seatrout. The sun was up, it was getting hot, but as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
I fished south again today with the Dees family, Josh and Jen and their two kids Benny and Karlynn. We ran up the intercoastal to Jackstaff and fished a stretch of bank at almost dead low, pitching jigs and live shrimp. The "baitstealers" were out in full force and made it a challenge, but this family was up to the task. Benny hooked up and landed a hard fighting Jack Crevalle and Jen caught a keeper sized Mangrove Snapper.
We ran thru Horsehead and around to Spanish Drop on the Nassau and fished a stretch of shell beds on the first of an incoming tide. I was expecting fish but we fished a good 30 yards with no real bites. But when the fish started biting, boy did they start! All four family members were catching fish with Jen leading the charge, catching one feisty Redfish after another. They also had Jacks, Ladyfish, and a couple of small Flounder.
After moving back up the Nassau we worked another shell bank. The numbers weren't there but Jen did hook and catch a keeper sized Flounder. Our next stop was over between some docks at Nassauville. Again, things started slow but when the Mangrove Snapper started biting we were hooking regularly. Benny and Karlynn took turns netting fish, mom "coached us up" and Josh filled the box with the Mangrove Snapper. We went thru all our bait then called it a day and as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
After a weekend break I was back at it today, meeting down at Sawpit Creek Jason Palosaari, his son David, brother in law Patrick Tighe, and father in law Mike Tighe. We ran up the intercoastal, turned into the Nassau, and after a short run pulled up at Spanish Drop and began fishing some exposed shell beds on the first of an incoming tide. I think the first "demo" cast I bombed, but the second one, as I handed it off to David, Fish On! And that's how it went for the first 45 minutes or so! David worked that fish in nicely - a feisty "Rat" Red, then all the anglers were fishing and catching fish. Mike hooked up and landed a feisty Red, then Jason hooked up and landed a feisty Red, then David had a strong bite - this was a bigger fish! He and his dad fought it patiently, battled it from bow to stern, and eventually landed a nice Slot sized Redfish. We continued to work that stretch and when I saw young David make a cast that landed out deep I was thinking, "not going to get much there", but boy was a I wrong! In just a short time David hooked up and, Fish On! This fish was even bigger and again took him and his dad to the stern where they valiantly battled the fish and after a few strong runs, they brought to the net a 26 3/4" Tournament sized Redfish (all fish caught today were released). Boy what a fish!
Patrick had been at the stern this whole time steadfastly casting a fly rod, switching between flies every dozen or so casts. He was taking up the rear but finally he had a hookup, played it perfectly, and landed a hard fighting Jack Crevalle on the fly. We fished on up to a large drainage where Mike caught and landed hungry Flounder.
Our next stop was at some docks at Seymore's Pointe with jigs rods, to no avail, then fished the rocks at Nassauville with float rigs, again to no avail, then we moved down to some more docks and went back to the jigs. That did the trick. Mike, "the flounder guy" hooked up and landed a 17" Flounder and a then a Mangrove Snapper and Jason added an ugly Toadfish to the catch.
After making the run down to Pumpkin Hill we drifted float rigs along a flooding marsh line. The first stretch didn't pan out but the second stretch had Jason catching a big Jack Crevalle and David wrapping things up with two Catfish catches. The sun was up, we had caught a good variety of fish, so as we headed in we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
While my engine was out I was able to work on a few journals and finish them up. You can click on the image to enlarge them. Click Here for more examples.
I wrapped my week up today fishing with John Raker and his friend Kenny King, meeting them out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp early. The tide had been coming in for about two hours but I wanted to try Broward Island, being that we were right there. We ran down there and set up on that incoming tide and the duo of anglers began tossing shrimp and jigs to the bank and letting them fall down the river bottom. We didn't get what I was hoping for - a big bite, but John did hookup and land a Croaker. Ouch.
After making a run down the Nassau we made it down to Spanish Drop and began working a bank that had the shell already covered. Both Kenny and John tangled with some hard fighting Jack Crevalle, found another Croaker and finally John had a strange bite, set the hook, and reeled in a keeper sized Flounder -"skunk" off the boat!
We moved back up the river and switched to float rigs and here Kenny was in for the big battle. Hisfloat disappeared and his drag began to rip and the big fish headed west, then came back to the boat, then dug deep for the battle. But Kenny was up to the challenge, kept the pressure on, and eventually landed a big 4' Bonnethead Shark.
Then it was John's turn to battle the Shark. Both of his we speculated that it might be a big Redfish in that they didn't make the long, drag ripping runs. Maybe they knew it was to no avail? John brought both of the big Shark to the boat for pictures and release.
Back up the river we went, stopping at Pumpkin Hill and drifting floats along a flooded grass bank. They were getting some good nibbles and finally John hooked up and landed a keeper sized Seatrout, and then a small (small) Flounder. Kenny added a nice sized Mangrove Snapper to the box.
We were running low on time but luckily the tide was just changing so we moved back down the river to my new Super Secret Spot! This week alone we had caught 4 Oversized Redfish, in addition to 4 Slot sized Redfish at this spot and I was hoping that today we'd add some more. Both John and Kenny were getting good drifts and some good bites right off the bat, but no takers. I switched them to mud minnows hoping that would help but, no takers. John had went to the live well and picked out the biggest Shrimp left - there were only about a dozen. He made a good cast to the bank - it stuck on a submerged oyster shell, but when he tugged it off it slowly went back under. John tightened up and let the circle hook do it's thing and, Big Fish On! It made such a long, hard, drag ripping run that we were thinking it was another shark - but then we saw it boil up in the shallows and knew that it was a big Redfish. John was patient with the fish, played it perfectly and after a long battle, landed Oversized Redfish #5 - one that measured right at 32", and big enough to move John into first place in the Anglers Mark 2022 Bragging Rights Tournament -Redfish Category(scroll down the right side of this report for standings).
And we weren't finished! We only had a few shrimp left so we kept fishing and were down to the last shrimp and minnow and John had the same thing happen - his bait hung on an oyster, came off and BAM! Fish On! After a good battle John landed a Slot sized 23" Redfish! Five Oversized Reds and Five Slot Reds at the same spot this week. Now that's the way to wrap up a great fishing trip here at Amelia Island, Florida.
I was up north this morning - the first time in quite a while. I met Hope McCall and her two sons Bekk and Knox early, with clear, sunny skies to greet us. We headed north and west and over to Jolly Rive and set up along the "bank" and began to fish float rigs and live shrimp. The trio of anglers landed a Croaker and a couple of hard fighting Jack Crevalle.
We moved further up the river and worked another stretch and here Bekk hooked up and landed a nice Black "puppy" Drum. Knox had a strong bite -his line ripped and BAP, the whole leader was gone! It was a big one! After running back to Tyger Island we fished a stretch and here Bekk hooked up, after drifting long, and landed a keeper sized Mangrove Snapper.
After running thru Tyger and around to Bell River and setting up at a grassy point, it was Knox's turn to get on the board when he caught and landed a hungry Seatrout. We then went up the Lanceford, dipped into Soap. and worked a grass line. We had one float off a grassy point and when it slowly went under, the hook was set and, Fish On! Bekk was on the rod and he worked it in patiently and after a good battle landed a really nice 17" Sheepshead - the biggest of the year, and big enough to top the category in the Anglers Mark 2022 Bragging Rights Tournament(scroll down the right side of the report for standings).
We then fished some docks over at Lanceford and picked up a feisty Redfish (a Grande Slam), then a small Flounder - a Super Grande Slam of Seatrout, Black Drum, Sheepshead, Red Drum and Flounder. It was getting hot and as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
I fished with the Hill trio today -Rob and his adult sons Alex and Robert -meeting them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early. We headed up the intercoastal, turned up the Nassau, and made our first stop at Spanish Drop. We were tossing float rigs and live shrimp to the flooded marsh grass on a high and incoming tide.
We worked along that first bank and in just a few minutes when Rob hooked up and landed a keeper sized Seatrout to "knock the skunk off" then Alex had a hook up and battled a hard fighting Jack Crevalle to the boat. Later he had made a good cast to a pointe of grass, saw his float slowly go under, set the hook, and reeled in a hungry Flounder.
A
fter a run further up the Nassau we pulled up at another grass bank and drifted our floats long with the incoming current. These anglers stayed pretty busy catching smaller fish, then Rob fought a big Jack to the boat then Alex had a strong bite and, Fish On! This fish was digging deep but then came back to the grass line and rolled and we knew - nice Redfish! Alex played it perfectly and after a good battle landed 21" Slot sized Redfish. We worked that area really good - fishing a pointe, fishing some grass islands, then we moved on.
Our next stop was along a grassy bank, the oysters still covered on a now outgoing tide. They got some good drifts but no takers then all of sudden we had Fish On! One rod went off and the big fish began to rip drag, heading north. Alex was on the rod and keeping the pressure on and....BAM! Rob had a big hookup - we had a "double" both anglers were battling big fish and it was Pandemonium! They were having to duck under each other, cross their lines, cross back, go to the bow, go to the stern, work around the trolling motor, work around the stern, all the time with their drags ripping! But it all worked out - Alex landed his first - a 28.5" oversized Redfish, then Rob landed his, a 29" oversized Red. We quickly snapped pictures and released them. Boy what a battle!
Our last stop was back at Seymore's Pointe where we rounded out the day catching Mangrove Snapper, with a good handful of them being of keeper size. As we headed back to the dock we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
They only come around once in a while but when you have one of those Banner Days, you have to make the best of it, and that's what this trio of anglers did today. I had met Jay Mathews and two of his adult kids Will and Becky down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early. The tide was still coming in, especially way up near Broward Island. so we made the run up the intercoastal, turned west and cut thru Back River and made our way around to Pumpkin Hill where we set up drifting float rigs and live shrimp with the incoming current. It only took a few minutes and we were on fish! This trio caught one fish after the other - fat keeper sized Seatrout, hard fighting Jack Crevalle, Ladyfish, more Trout, more Jacks, Flounder, and more Ladyfish. I think we were there for an hour and a half!
We finally moved around and fished some grassy patches and here Becky, after making an excellent cast, hooked up, battled and landed a nice Slot Redfish. Will followed that up with a hookup and battle with a large Bonnethead Shark.
I had planned to head over to Jackstaff where we did pretty good yesterday but as we were passing a spot that I have had my eye on, I pulled up, turned into the current and we again went with the float rigs, drifted up by the grass. I knew that there was plenty of oyster shell submerged and we had the first of an outgoing tide and....BAM! They began to catch Redfish. All three anglers put Slot sized fish in the baot - Will, then Becky, then Jay. They kept going back to the same spot - BAM! Fish On! Will had a hookup and this one was BIG - it was ripping drag and heading north, so much so that we speculated it might be another Shark. But it came back, went to the shoreline, and finally boiled - Big Redfish. Will played it perfectly and after a long battle, landed a oversized 30" Redfish! This fish moved Will into First Place n the 2022 Anglers Mark Bragging Rights Tournament - Redfish Category. (scroll down the right side of this report for standings).
Not minutes later it was Becky's turn for the big fish. After hooking up her fish too ran like a freight train. But Becky applied the pressure and slowly worked it in, fought it thru multiple runs to the bottom, worked it up and after a good battle landed another oversized 28.25" Redfish, boy what a fish! We added one more Slot Redfish to the catch and had a good handful of smaller "feisty" Redfish. caught.
After a brief stop down at Spanish Drop we headed back to the ramp and counted it as an outstanding day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
It looks like the whole week is going to have pretty mornings, and today was one of them. I met Tommy Gray and his grandsons Alex and Henry down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We headed up the intercoastal and dipped into Jackstaff, then into a small creek and began tossing live shrimp under a float on a high tide that had just started out. Just like yesterday, it started slow - Henry had a hookup and brought to the boat hard fighting Jack Crevalle, then he landed a feisty Redfish. We eased along the bank and could see some large wakes and sure enough, Alex, after making an excellent cast to the grass, had his float slowly ease under. He tightened up his line, lifted his rod, and let the circle hook do it's thing and, Fish On! Alex played it expertly, let it run when it wanted to, kept the pressure on, and soon landed a nice Slot Redfish. Then Henry had a strong hookup - another Big Fish one - he fought it to the boat and landed a nice 18" fat Seatrout. Then Alex hooked up and battled another Slot Redfish to the boat.
I don't normally stay at one spot more than about 20-45 minutes but we were getting bites so we made another pass. Henry had a BIG bite, had him on for a while, then the fish tossed the hook - when Henry reeled it in we saw that the hook was bent! We picked up a few more feisty Reds, had few other big bites, caught some keeper Manrove Snapper, and when we left I noted that we had fished that spot for 1 hour and 45 minutes!
Our next stop was around at Seymore's Pointe where we stuck with the float rigs and played cat and mouse with some more Mangroves. All three anglers soon got the hand of it and boated another handful, some of which were of keeper size. Moving down the way, we fished between two docks and again - Mangrove Snapper and then Henry had a good bite and reeled in a keeper sized Flounder. We caught a good handful of smaller Flounder there, too.
The last stop was down at Spanish Drop and just when I thought the heat had run off all of the fish - BAM! The trio of anglers began to get hookups. Alex got hot on the bow of the boat and landed one feisty Redfish after another. Tommy was fishing off the stern and picking up Flounder and Jacks and Seatrout. Henry, fishing mid ship, began to catch the feisty Reds, then he had a good bite, set the hook, and Fish On! Henry kept the pressure on and fought a nice Slot Sized Redfish to the net, to wrap up another great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
