Sun Down Moon Up

 I did an afternoon trip today, fishing with Bill Chadwick and his fishing buddy Paul, and after meeting them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp. There wasn't much wind at all, we had sunny skies, and it was a perfect afternoon to be out on the water. We ran up and over to behind Tyger and fished the logs, working the bank with jigs and live shrimp on a tide that only had 30 minutes to hit bottom. 

These two anglers were making excellent casts and it paid off - they picked up a couple of Seatrout and a couple of feisty Redfish. One of the Seatrout measured at 17". We worked up and down the bank twice, then made the run up to the Jolley River where we turned into the incoming current and stayed with the jigs.

 Paul picked up a small Flounder along this stretch.  After running further up the river we again turned into the current but switched to float rigs and the live shrimp. After numerous bites and no takers, we figured out we were feeding the "baitstealers". 

Our next stop was around at the docks on Bell River, switching  back to jigs, and here we picked up another feisty Redfish. Back towards Fernandina we fished a flooding shell bed, to no avail, then made the run over to Soap Creek where we went back to the floats. The sun was going down and we noticed an almost full moon coming up and wouldn't you know, the fish bite picked up. This duo of anglers caught a good handful of hungry Seatrout, one after the other. But it was on the verge of getting dark so we headed back in and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida 

On Golden Marsh

 Wow! What a pretty morning we had today! I had met Bob Kossman and Bruce Beauchamp down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and as we ran up the river we had some fog issues but as we eased in to Jackstaff it cleared and we set up to fish off of a side creek with float rigs and live shrimp. As the sun came up it gave the marsh grass a beautiful golden glow. We worked that area back and forth and picked up a couple of hungry Seatrout.

After running thru the marsh we made our way down to Twin Creeks again tossed the float rigs. We had no bites there but then we eased along the bank, tossing to the marsh grass. Bruce had a strong hookup, one that "ripped some drag" - he played it expertly and after a good fight landed a nice 21" Slot Redfish. We fished on, and in just a few feet Bob had the strong bite. This fish was big!  You can always tell when the fish stays up by the bank for a while, refusing to budge. But Bob kept the pressure on, worked it out into the deeper water, then played it patiently and eventually subdued an oversized 28.25" Redfish, boy what a fish!

We then made our way back to the Seymore's Pointe area and fished a large drainage with the float rigs. Both anglers were getting excellent casts and it paid off - they would toss it up above a grassy pointe, let it drift around the corner and across a submerged shell bed and BAM! Fish On!  We caught a good handful of Seatrout with a few of them being of keeper size, but all tossed back. 

Our next stop was down to the mouth of Back River, fishing a shell bank on the outgoing tide. We had no bites, but I know I saw at least two big fish "roll" along the grass. Our final stop was down at Spanish Drop then we made our way back to the boat ramp and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Is Florida Fishing Going Woke?

 

December 1, 2022

*Capt Hubbard,

We traded Emails a couple of months ago in reference to my blog post RE: the FWC commissions last minute amendment to the FWC staff’s proposed Redfish rules for NE Florida.  As noted in the post, I was somewhat  aggravated that the Commission chose to make a change to the recommendations – recommendations that Staff had arrived at after a year and half of research, studies, a Summit, and multiple workshops. In a nut shell, my attitude towards the FWC has become a bit jaded.

I realize that somehow time has caught up with me – I’m now one of the “old timers” and my thoughts on fishing, keeping of fish, and overall conservation may not align as much with the younger generation.  That said, I don’t like to kill a whole bunch of fish – I subtly encourage my customers to throw them back, but I don’t begrudge a recreational angler to keep a few for dinner. I do feel like the times of “loading the cooler” to feed the neighborhood are long gone, as well they should be.

Plain and simple, I go by the rules set by the FWC. And again, if there is any hesitation from one of my customers to keep or release a fish, I encourage them to release it. I recently “fired” a customer that pressured me to keep an illegal fish.

 I’ve had a growing un-ease in my belly that our industry is being taken over by the “woke”, tree-hugging crowd. Here at Amelia Island, a number of folks have moved in over the last 10 years and they seem to be die-hard environmentalist/conservationist, or at best, ambivalent towards fishing.  The island is becoming more and more anti-boater and anti-anglers. Our boat ramp at the City Marina is in danger of being closed, our county boat ramps are in need of repair. Heck, the City built frigging Pentanque courts in the boat trailer parking lot!

Like I said, I go by the FWC rules. But I’ve always wondered if their research may be tainted by conservationists bias-all I can do is hope that they are “honorable” scientists and will do the right thing. I was pleased to hear one of the scientists at the Summit note that the “NE Florida Redfish stock was doing good”.  I was all on board with the NE Florida rule changes and prepped my customers with notices 2-Redfish per person, 4 per boat max.  Why would the Commissioners base their decision to change that recommendation on the sentiment of a handful of people that poured their heart out at the Commission meeting? My gut tells me the FWC is gauging public sentiment to base their decisions, rather than what the science tells them.  I think they gauged wrong, but “conservation” is what they are hearing. I feel that there are adverse ramifications to we guides and all Florida anglers.

I’m a bit concerned that the FWC Commissioners may be “in bed” with the conservation groups. Those groups have raised a lot of money and have a lot of influence. Again, all of us think we’re conservation minded but what do we as Guides/Charter boat captains do when that public sentiment that the FWC is basing their rules on goes even further? What if there’s a push to ban boats with gasoline engines? What if they want to enforce speed limits off shore? What if they want to institute complete catch and release? What if they want to close the boat ramps? What if they make the rules so onerous that no one wants to fish?  As you know, they’re already doing some of this in Florida. How far do we let them go before we push back?

Just this week there was an news article about Whole Foods banning Maine caught lobsters. A move that affected the entire state industry. In 20 years will Floridians be cut out of fishing?

FYI I fished three times this week, Mon-Wed.  On Monday we fished one spot and we  were there for 2 hours. We guestimated we caught 40 Redfish, most of them “rats”, but 8 of them were in the Slot. My customers kept their limit (2).   On Tuesday we fished and caught only Trout and a Flounder - zero Redfish-not a one. Yesterday we fished a spot, and again caught over 40 Redfish. Most of them were “rats”, but the 12yo young lady on the boat counted the slots – 12 slots. They kept their limit (4).  When I was listening the video of the Commission meeting and heard some of the folks state that “they couldn’t catch a redfish” and “the Redfish stock is down”  I was thinking, “you know, it depends on the day, the tide, the time of year, the spot, the bait,  the experience of the angler, and the skill level” ‘ Some days you catch them. Some days you don’t. For the Commissioners to base their decisions on those testimonies was just…baloney.

My membership with the Florida Guides Association is based on how I think ya’ll are addressing these concerns. If I think you are getting too “buddy buddy” with the conservation groups and the FWC, then I’ll probably drop the membership. I understand that we need to work with them. I just don’t think our interests are 100% in line with the direction they are heading.

Sincerely,

Capt. Lawrence Piper

Mayhem From The Get Go

 I met Adam Alfrey, his daughter Rose Marie, his father Randy and father-in-law Bill up at Dee Dee Bartels Park this morning early. The tide was right at bottom so we eased around to Egans Creek, ran up it a ways, and found a dock to fish the pilings just as the tide stared in. My "demo" cast produced a bite, a hookup, one which Rose Marie expertly reeled in, and from then on, it was Redfish Mayhem! These anglers caught one, right after another - many times having double and triple hookups - I was almost out of breath getting fished netted, de-hooked, measured, and back in the water. Luckily, they pitched in and helped - if I was busy measuring a fish they'd grab the net and bring one to the boat.

We fished for a little over two hours that one spot. Most of the Reds were small "feisty" fish, but we'd pick up a slot now and then. After reaching our limit we continued to county the "Slot" fish and got up to 12 as we threw them back. Each angler also caught a Black "puppy" Drum and Rose Marie put a keeper sized Seatrout in the boat. 

It finally slowed down so we made a run over to and up the Bell River where we set up fishing jigs and live shrimp up current. We caught about 5 Seatrout here and two of those were of keeper size.  Our final stop was around at the Jolly and here Adam caught a Seatrout on a float rig to keep the "no-skunk-at-any-spot" record going. We had had an outstanding morning and as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida 

Trout Topper

 I fished with Glenn and Patti Langford on a beautiful crisp morning today, meeting them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early. We headed up the Nassau River and stopped off at some exposed oyster beds on a dead low tide. The two anglers tossed jigs and live shrimp and it was Patti, fishing on the bow, who 'knocked the skunk off" with a nice keeper sized Seatrout catch.  We worked that bank thoroughly, had some nibbles, but no more takers, and moved on. 

Our next stop was up at some docks at Seymore's Pointe. The conditions were perfect - a low and incoming tide, and we had bites, but we were only able to get a couple of small Seabass. We then ran down to Broward Island and set up as the tide was starting to come in there. Patti had one of those strange bites, a strange fight, and sure enough, she brought to the net a nice keeper sized Flounder, but not keep-able until the season opens December 1st. Patti also added  a keeper sized Whiting to the box. 

We worked up and down that bank, fishing under the watchful eye of a Bald Eagle, then Glenn, after making an excellent cast to the drop off, had a hookup. This fish was putting up a fight, ripping just a bit of drag, but not enough for it to be a big Redfish. Glenn played it patiently and soon landed a big Seatrout.  He had a 2.6lb Trout entered in the NSFA's "fish of the month" tournament and he hoped that this one  might top it so we crossed our fingers...and kept on fishing!

Our next stop was up Pumpkin Hill, all the way up to the docks. We fished the docks with jigs then switched to float rigs later around some flooding grass but had not luck. But we had caught a few fish, and a few keepers so as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

One After Another

 

Yesterday I fished with Gregg and Dannie Fitzgerald out of Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We fished some docks at Nassauville where I was sure we'd have good success using jigs and live shrimp,  but all we picked up were a couple of Sea Bass and a "bait stealer". We then fished the Nassau River, tossing the jigs, but to no avail. But when we switched to float rigs we began to get some fish. The duo caught a couple of feisty Redfish and a good handful of Seatrout, one of which was of keeper size.

Today Dannie decided to stay home for some rest but Gregg brought along his father and his partner Ginnie and I met them at the Old Town Bait Shop ramp. We had a west wind still blowing so a quickly crossed over the intercoastal, hugged Tyger Island north and found some flooded marsh grass to fish with float rigs and live shrimp. But we had  no bites. We crossed over a creek and fished some more grass, and again, no bites. 

After running thru Tyger, around to the Bell and up Landsford we found a grassy island where Guy finally "knocked the skunk off" with a feisty Redfish catch. We fished that spot some more, moved over to a couple of more grassy islands, had some nibbles, then made a short run back to Soap Creek. There, we fished a large outflow with the floats, again, no bites, then we worked the bank for a bit, and again, no bites.  What the heck?

So we made the run back to Egans Creek, and found some dock pilings to fish, switching to jigs and the shrimp. The "demo" cast produced a bite - we hooked up and Ginnie reeled in a Redfish. And from then on....it was one fish hookup after another!  Rat Red, Rat Red, Rat Red, Slot Red, Rat Red, Slot Red, Rat Red, Rat Red, Rat Red, Black Drum, Rat Red, Black Drum, Rat Red, Rat Red, Slot Red, BIG REd, Rat Red, Slot Red, Rat Red, Black Drum, Flounder, Slot Red, Slot Red, Rat Red, Rat Red -- We would have had to have a "clicker" to count them. But we did count the Slot fish and ended up with at least 10( there might have been a few that I didn't measure that were right at the 18" mark). We had numerous "double" hookups and ended the day with Guy and his Dad reeling in double Slot Redfish. As we eased back to the dock we counted it as another GREAT day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Foggy Morning Fishing at Amelia Island

 We had some fog! When I met Meghan and Matt Brennan and their two kids Derrick and Bianca down atSawpit Creek this morning I was thinking we may have to "putter" up the Nassau to get to our first spot. But as we got out into the intercoastal I could see we had about a 100 yards of visibility so I switched on the Nav lights and we ran! Note: that fog stayed with us all morning long!

Our first stop was up at Pumpkin Hill drifting float rigs and live shrimp on a tide that still had a couple of hours of coming in before it high tide. Meghan and Matt were doing the casting while Bianca and Derrick helped with the reeling. It didn't take too long before we had a bite and Meghan hooked up and landed a Flounder to "knock the skunk off".  The two anglers followed that up with a couple of hungry Seatrout catches.  We fished a couple of more areas in that location, then we made a run down the Nassau and fished between two docks along Nassauville.

I think it was first cast and Meghan had strong bite on the bottom fishing jigs and shrimp and Fish On! Meghan played it perfectly, worked it to the boat, and landed a big 18" Seatrout! Boy what a fish! (all fish caught today were released).  Just shortly after that, she had made a good cast to the same general location and BAM, another nice Seatrout brought in (with help from the kids). 

After running around the corner we fished a large drainage, letting our floats drift around the corner and across a submerged oyster bar. It was Matt's turn to find the hot spot. He caught 2-3 nice keeper sized Seatarout (with help from the kids).

Our last stop was over on the other side of Jackstaff and after running thru Horsehead we set up andfished some drainages. With no luck there we moved down at a point of grass and submerged sandbar and here Matt hooked up and landed another Flounder. Meghan topped it off with a Blue Crab catch. We had worked thru the fog, had some good catches of fish and as we made our way back to the dock we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

First Cast Production

 

We had a temperature drop! When I launched this morning it was in the low 40's, and the 10mph wind made it seem even colder!  But the skies were clear and the forecast called for sunny all day so when I met Paul Lombardi down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp we felt pretty good about a fishing trip.  I had talked to some shore anglers after I launched and they were picking up Seatrout on DOA shrimp, white with chartreuse tails(see video here) and one advised me to try the bride pilings before we left the area.

So Paul and I eased around there, turned into the current, and I tied on a white DOA (didn't have one with the chartreus tail) and Paul made his first cast up current, let it go to the bottom, kept his line tight, and began to let the current bounce it along the bottom and...BAM! He head a hookup!  Paul worked it to the boat patiently and landed a nice keeper sized 17" Seatrout - not a bad way to start the day!

Unfortunately that was the only fish we got there although we did get some bumps here and there. We left and headed up the intercoastal, turned west into the Nassau, and made our way up to an exposed shell bank on a tide that still had a couple of hours of going out. Paul worked the bank with live shrimp and jigs, only getting "bumps" and taps, then we moved up a couple of hundred yards and here we caught a couple of small Seatrout.

Our next stop was at some docks at Seymore's Pointe, fishing on almost a slack tide, but we got there in time for Paul to pull two keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum out, and a small but feisty Redfish. We eased around the corner and fished some rocks at Nassauville and here we caught a handful of small Mangrove Snapper, then a couple of small Seatrout, then we had a "bump" and a take and, Fish On!  Paul fought it expertly as it dug deep and stayed on the bottom and we began to speculate that it was a big Stingray, hoped that it was a huge Flounder, and finally settled in to wait as Paul worked it up from the bottom. As it came to the surface we saw that it was a large Redfish!  After netting the fish we measured it right at 26" - a big Slot Redfish!

The final stop was down at Broward Island, fishing the very last of an
outgoing tide, and this turned out to be the most productive spot of the day. We caught 7-8 feisty Redfish, a couple of small Seatrout, and then Paul rounded out his Amelia Island Grande Slam with a keeper sized Sheepshead catch. We had had some good catches, the sun was up, and the day was warming so as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Super Duper Amelia Island Grande Slam

 

I had worn a undershirt under my fishing shirt this morning and as I was getting the boat ready I was already thinking about shedding one of them.  But I didn't. And as I launched the boat out at Goffinsville Park I was thinking about maybe going without a jacket and was 50 foot away from the truck when I thought, "naaa, better grab a jacket".  Then I met Steve Locke and his fishing buddy Jason and after just a few  minutes fishing I was getting that jacket on and zipping it up tight! The temperature was dropping and the wind was picking up! We all noted that the water was a bit muddy but in short order Steve "knocked the skunk off" with a feisty Redfish catch and in just a few more minutes Jason had a strong hookup and Big Fish On! We knew it was a big one when the drag kept ripping and the big fish thrashed up near the bank - more so than most. But Jason kept the pressure on and expertly battled it to the boat and landed a thick 25" Slot sized Redfish,

We moved up the river and fished a couple of drainages then made our way to some docks at
Seymore'sPoint. Both anglers were making excellent casts to the base of the pilings and it paid off. Steve had a strong bite and worked a big Black "puppy" Drum out, then they tagged team a good handful of the Drum to the boat and into the box.  They added a keeper sized Seatrout to make it a "Slam", then added a keeper sized Sheepshead to make it a "Grand Slam"!

After running down the Nassau to Broward Island Jason picked up two Flounder, one of which was of keeper size (but tossed back due to the season closure) - a fish that rounded out a "Super Grand Slam", then we wrapped things up back at the rocks of Nassauville where Steve hauled in a fat keeper sized Weakfish  which made it a "Super Duper Grand Slam"! And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Barely Legal

 

Finally, back to fishing after a week off due to the hurricane and then the winds! But when I looked at the weather forecast last night it called for winds beginning at 10mph and rising to 15 before the trip would be over. When I talked to Garland Clark on the phone he sounded like he was ready to fish so I made a "plan" in my head as to where we could fish as the trip progressed. I met him and his two sons Chris and Scott down at Sawpit Creek boat ramp under grey skies and a brisk wind and we headed up the intercoastal, turned up the Nassau, and found a shell bank to fish on the first of an incoming tide. We worked a bank about 30 yards long and it was the "experienced guy" Garland, who knocked the skunk off with a hungry Seatrout catch.

Our next stop was up at some docks at Seymore's Pointe and here we got into some good fish, fishing jigs and live shrimp. Scott had had a few nibbles and on about the third one he set the hook quickly and when his rod bent we knew it was a nice fish. Scott played it perfectly and soon landed a keeper sized Sheepshead. Shortly after that Garland had a similar hookup and as he brought it to the boat we saw the stripes...but this one was a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum.  And Chris added a small Mangrove Snapper to the catch. 

After fishing float rigs at the rocks at Nassauville with no bites at all, and just as we were about to leave, Chris's float slowly went under and, Fish On! Chris played it perfectly, had his drag rip a couple of times, then brought to the boat a Slot sized Redfish - we had a "slam" in the boat.

We ran down to Broward island where Scott and Chris added a few more Seatrout to the catch, then we moved down the island where Chris picked up another Redfish after a good toss to the bank. Moving back up to Pumpkin Hill we fished a stretch of flooded marsh grass, drifting floats long. Scott had vacated  the run and Garland drifted his in next and BOOM! Fish On! We had a little bit of "diversity" during the battle but we overcame and Garland landed a "barely legal" Slot sized Redfish.

Our final stop was back at Nassauville, fishing between two docks and here the trio of anglers weeded thru some Mangrove Snappers to get a nice keeper and Chris wrapped it up with a feisty Redfish catch. And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.