Practice Science-Based Management

Capt Dylan Hubbard is President, Florida Guides Association and penned this editorial in the FGA's most recent newsletter... 

Your Florida Guides Association has recently updated our vision statement and purpose to make it extremely clear that we stand for and will continue fighting for science-based management in all aspects of our outdoor recreational management and conservation.

Here’s that purpose statement for 2023 and beyond for reference -

We are an association of professional guides advocating for conservation, best practices, and science-based management, while still maintaining our rights for proper recreational use of Florida's natural resources. 

We have unfortunately seen more and more frequently a move by many in multiple facets of conservation to being more subjective or opinion-based management approaches. We are seeing that with the manatees, pelicans, goliath grouper, and now a huge blow to federal waters for hire fishermen.

We must stand up for science-based approaches and make it clear that we do not want to see our natural resources managed by feelings and opinions rather than cold hard science that can stand up to a third-party peer review.

We are currently amid a potential complete closure of fishing access around certain artificial reef sites that a fishing club actually fundraised and placed off Palm Beach because a few dive charters are claiming that catch-and-release fishing is hurting the goliath grouper spawning aggregation sites! 

There’s no science and no consideration of what the hordes of divers down there all the time are doing to the aggregations. Simply some knee-jerk reactions to propose the closure of 1,000 yards to all fishing practices! That is the current proposal and it’s sickening. This sort of slippery slope and precedent that some feel-good opinion-based suppositions can be enough to completely close fishing access to a resource is extremely scary. This sets a dangerous precedent.

Then look at the current fiasco with pelicans and you get even more of an idea of what we are facing! Certain bird groups are calling for complete closures of a large portion of the largest and most popular fishing pier in the southeast and gear restrictions to the remaining portions based on some strong opinions.

We have luckily been able to make some huge strides in this issue and really have been successful in making some positive change. However, we are still seeing too much opinion and feelings being interjected on this issue.

During the recent FWC meeting, you can even hear someone in leadership essentially insinuate that they are hearing what fishermen are saying but they just love the pelicans more—Are you serious? So because pelicans are somehow more cute and cuddly they are somehow getting more consideration than logical, time-based, and scientific approaches being proffered by the fishing advocacy groups like FGA at these stakeholder meetings.

I won’t even get started on how this state is wasting nearly 30 million dollars annually feeding the manatees because we can’t keep seagrass alive due to water quality issues and instead of looking at manatee populations and the real issue of seagrass loss we are literally shipping in trucks of lettuce and employing hordes of staff to go feed these manatees. 

We see this in other facets of life too, just purely a lack of personal responsibility and more of a ‘what makes you feel better’ or what is ‘popular based on who screams the loudest’. As a group, we have to continue to set the proper example showing extreme personal responsibility and dedication to science-based management.

We take personal responsibility to mean that we are doing what is right for the right reasons. That is our goal stated clearly in our purpose statement, “We are an association of professional guides advocating for conservation, best practices, and science-based management, while still maintaining our rights for proper recreational use of Florida's natural resources.”

Best practices also come down to personal responsibility. Right? Let’s all keep grinding this year and pushing for science-based management and a renewed sense of personal responsibility to do the right thing.

Thank you for being a part of our Florida Guides Association, Get out there and crush it this spring break ya'll. I’m hoping everyone has a killer spring rush! Tight lines.

Capt Dylan Hubbard

President, FGA

NOTE: Please check out the website occasionally. If you notice any issues please contact our website

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Let The Winds Blow

 I was a bit concerned about today with forecasted winds getting up into the 20's. But at launch time the wind was only around 7-10, so we thought we could get in some fishing when I met Frank Barbera, his son-in-law Jim, and grandson Tommy down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. I had a "plan" and stuck to it and it paid off!

We first inched around to the Sawpit Creek boat ramp, and rather than do "slip floats" (which I'm no big fan of), we tossed jigs and live shrimp, up current, bouncing the bottom to deep, and it worked! The trio of anglers caught a few feisty Redfish, hooked a massive fish, then landed a respectable Blue fish. The wind still hadn't picked up so we ran up the Nassau River and stopped at a marsh drainage and fished it with the jigs, but to no avail.

After a long run up the Nassau we blew into a small creek  and fished a 6' deep edge with the jigs and boy did we catch some fish. All three teamed up to put fish in the boat - feisty Redfish, a Seatrout, then we began to inch up on the scale and get some Slots. Tommy expertly reeled in his share of fish and did double duty running the catch net to land his dad's fish. We ended up with probably 10-15 Redfish with four of them being of keeper size. 

As we headed back, we bucked the 20mph+ winds all the way to the ramp but we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Anyone Can Catch a Redfish

 Back south we went today when I met David Vide and his son Nathaniel out at the Goffinsville Park boat
ramp early.  The tide had been going out for about two hours but we made a quick run around to Seymores and set up tossing float rig up to a grassy point in hopes that we'd get a good drift with the current. It was kinda strange that we didn't have much current...and not much biting!

We then made a run down the Nassau to Spanish Drop, turned into the current (there was one here!) and worked the bank, tossing close the grass - we had no takers. But after moving up a couple of hundred yards to a drainage and switching to jigs and live shrimp, that did the trick. In fact, the "demo" cast produced a hookup which Nathaniel promptly reeled in. Then both he and David had hookups and landed a Seatrout. 

The tide had now been going out about three hours so we made a long run up  the Nassau and worked into a creek and began to work the edge with the jigs. Nathaniel got hot and put a couple of feisty Redfish in the boat, then both he and his dad caught Reds - we had a "double" a couple of times. Then as we worked up the bank Nathaniel hooked up and this one ripped some drag, then boiled, a bigger fish. Nathaniel played it perfectly and landed a nice 20" Slot Redfish. He went back to the same spot with a couple of casts and put another Slot Redfish in the boat. With our limit in the boat, we headed back to Nassauville.

Fishing a drainage, David hooked up deep and landed another Trout, then we finished up back around at Seymore's where they picked up another couple of feisty Reds. The breeze had picked up and had thankfully  blown the Sand Gnats off so as we headed back to the dock we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Rebound Day

We had a super slow day yesterday fishing south so when I talked to Bob Blalock last evening we voted to try north today! I met Bob up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park and with a loaded baitwell of live shrimp, mud  minnows, and a newly bought bag of Gulp baits, we headed north and west and eased in to the outside of Tyger to fish a drainage in hoped of catching some flounder. As usual, Bob was making excellent casts and when we didn't get any bites at the drainage, we drifted with the current, pitching to the bank on an outgoing tide. Again, not a nibble.

So we picked up and ran, up the Jolley, and around to the MOA where we set up deep, pitching forward into the current, and this did the trick. In short order Bob caught a hungry  Seatrout, then another, then another. one of which was of keeper size. Then he "hung" on the bottom, pulled it off, and BAM! He had a fish. This one ripped a little bit of drag and put a bend in the rod and when Bob boated it we measured it to be a 19" Slot Redfish (all fish caught today were released).

Our next stop was around at Bell River, fishing to the bank and letting our jigs bounce down the river
bottom.  Again, right off, Bob hooked up and landed a whiting, then we caught a good handful of fish - Seatrout, Black "puppy" Drum and Redfish. A couple of the Trout were of keeper size. 

The tide was just about to hit bottom so we made the long run back around to Tyger. We now fishing the first of an incoming tide. We had noted that a mud minnow had not caught a fish all day, but when we dragged one deep and a fish took it, boy was it a fish! This fish was digging deep and ripping drag - Bob saw it boil up and declared it a Redfish, but it was a few minutes before we could confirm it - a huge 27" (maybe a Slot, Maybe not), boy what a fish. We had done a good rebound from the previous day so as we headed back to the dock we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

North to South

 

We pretty much fished north to south today, starting up at Tyger Island. I had met Robert Smith and his fishing buddies Rex and Henry up at the Old Town Bait boat ramp and after easing out of Eagans Creek we hopped over to Tyger to take advantage of the first of an incoming tide. We worked along the bank tossing jigs and live shrimp and once we got to some logs, BAM! We had some fish hookups. Both Rex and Henry put some feisty Redfish in the boat, and at one time they had a 'double" on. 

Our next stop was down towards  the Shave bridge, fishing some docks and here, again, they had Redfish hookups. Most were in the 16-17" range but then Henry had a big bite and when his drag began to rip we knew it was a bigger fish. Henry did an excellent jog of keeping the fish away from the pilings (we lost a big one here a day or so ago to the pilings( and after a good battle, brought to the net a nice 24" Slot Redfish. 

Even further south we fished some rocks and again had a flurry of action. All three anglers put Redfish in the boat and Henry snagged a hungry Seatrout. After running down and thru Horsehead to some docks at Seymore's Pointe. Although the tide was still down and coming in, we had no real bites. We fished some rocks at Nassauville and finished up over near Jackstaff, tossing float rigs with the live shrimp where we gave some Bluefish sore jaws. We had had some good action early and it was a beautiful day so as we made the long run back to Eagans Creek we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Morning Full of Variety

 We had a foggy morning for most of the trip today. I had met Kimberly Manek and her friend Jeremy up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp and we headed down the river to fish some dock pilings on a tide that had been coming in for an hour. Jeremy got busy quick and put a handful of hungry Seatrout in the boat then both he and Kimberly reeled in some feisty Redfish.  We made our way over to Soap Creek and fished some oyster beds with the jigs but we had no takers. 

After a run up the Bell River we anchored and cast up current and this did the trick . Jeremy picked up a a couple of Trout out deep, one of which was of keeper size, then he hooked up and landed a hard fighting Sheepshead. Kimberly reeled in a couple of more Redfish then she hooked up and landed a Bull Whiting. We added another one of those shortly after that. 

We fished Snook Creek with floats then moved on down to Jolley Bank where Kimberly battled a huge Gar Fish to the boat, which we netted and photographed and release. Somewhere along here Jeremy boated a Skate, then as we worked along a grass bank Kimberly finished up the "variety show" with a keeper sized Flounder catch. And wouldn't you know it, as we headed back to the dock the fog began to lift and the sun came out, so we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

15 Minutes of Fame

 Kicking off the weekend early, I met Todd Johnson and his fishing buddy Patrick Davis up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp. We made a run down the intercoastal and found some structure to fish with jig and mud minnows on a tide that had been coming in for an hour or so. I think it was Patrick's first cast and as he let the jig bounce down the river bottom, it looked like he may be snagged but, BAM! Big Fish ON!  We were in for a battle but Patrick was up for the task. The big fish dug deep and Patrick kept the pressure on, working it up off the bottom - a Big Redfish - then it would dive deep. That happened a few times before we were able to get a net under it and land an oversized 28.5" Redfish! This fish pushed Patrick into First Place in the Anglers Mark 2022 Bragging Rights Tournament-Redfish Category. Boy what a fish!  We continued to fish that spot and shortly after it was 
Todd's turn to fight the big fish, which he expertly did, and landed a "Tourney" sized Red, 26.75" and boy was it a bull! Then  Patrick put a 24" Slot Red in the boat! Crazy huh?

We eventually moved down the way a bit - Patrick added a small Slot Red to the catch, then Todd hooked up and Big Fish On! Hah!  He battled it patiently, keeping the pressure on, and eventually landed a oversized 29" Redfish, to take the lead in the Anglers Mark 2022 Bragging Rights Tournament.....Redfish Category! Patrick's 15 minutes of fame, was over! Hah!  Scroll down the right side of this report for Bragging Rights standings. 

After making a run down the river we eased up in behind a dock and fished the pilings. Again, Patrick's first cast produced a big bite. This fish was big and pulling hard, but it was already around some pilings and eventually the line went tight and, BAP, fish off!  Todd caught and landed a feisty Redfish, then Patrick hooked up and landed another Slot Red. We picked up another couple of fish, then moved on. 

Switching to floats, we fished Soap Creek(no bites), Lanceford Creek(no bites), Bell River(no bites) then the outside of Tyger where Todd finally knocked the skunk off the floats with a feisty Redfish catch. After touring Cumberland Island to see some wild horses, we headed for the dock and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

The Bite Was Hot Early

 Well, the fish bite was OK early, but the Sand Gnat bite was really hot! But boy what a pretty day! I had met Mitch Vollmers, his dad Dale, and their friend Marvin Leininger down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early and as the sun came over the trees, we were heading up the intercoastal to turn north into the Nassau. We made the long run up to Broward Island with the intent of catching a tide that had been coming in for about an hour and half. Dale and Mitch were tossing live shrimp on a jig while Marvin tested some plastic grubs off the stern. Dale had the hot hand early and boated a hungry Seatrout to "knock the skunk off".  Mitch hauled in a feisty Redfish but when Dale had a strong hookup and that drag made the ripping noise we felt sure we had a "big one". And sure enough it boiled up - a tale-tale sign that this fish had some size to it. Dale played it patiently and after a good battle landed a nice Slot sized 23" Redfish. 

We worked that bank pretty good, picked up another Trout or two, one of which was right at 18", a respectable "keeper size", then we made another good run up the Nassau to dip into a shallow creek. If I had to have made a bet on where we would have caught fish today, it would have been along this bank, but although all three anglers were making excellent casts, we barely had a decent nibble. 

After moving back to Pumpkin Hill, we switched to fixed floats and fished a flooding shell bed. Here, we picked up another Seatrout.  On the way back to the ramp we stopped at Spanish Drop and worked a bank with the fixed floats and got another keeper sized Trout. Marvin was fishing the stern with a slip float, going a bit deeper and this did the trick when he hooked and landed a couple of nice Trout. And with that, we called it a day, another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

By The Numbers

 We had another nice morning today, albeit a bit windy as the day wore on. I had met Joe and Karen (Miller)(bannana girl)  Szkaradnik and Joe's brother John down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and we made a run uip the intercoastal, over thru Back River and around to Pumpkin Hill with plans to drift fixed floats down a flooding marsh line. It might of been Joe's first drift, or maybe the second when he hooked up and landed a hungry Seatrout. We had a another nibble or two but more takers, so we moved on. 

The next stop was a way up a creek off of the Nassau River where we turned into the current of an incoming tide and fished the bank with jigs and shrimp. We hadn't been fishing but for a few minutes when John, after making an excellent cast, hooked up and, Fish On!  John played it perfectly and battled it to the net to land a nice 20" Slot sized Redfish. We worked that bank pretty good - about 75 yards - and they were getting good casts, but didn't have much else until John hooked up with another feisty Redfish. 

After running back to the Christopher Creek area we fished jigs around some dock pilings and here it was Joe's turn to battle the big fish. When I heard him hookup and the drag rip we knew it was a big fish. Joe worked it to the boat patiently and soon landed a big 23" Slot Red, boy what a fish!

Our last stop was around at Seymore's Pointe, fishing float rig and Joe wrapped things up with a hungry Seatrout catch. We had caught just a few fish but had a couple of quality ones in the boat so as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida 

Teacher's Aid

I fished the Boehm party this morning - Frank Boehm and his friend Pat, Pat's son Matt and granddaughter Hailey, meeting them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp. The tide still had a couple of hours of coming in but it was high enough to run over to the outside of Tyger and fish fixed float rigs along the marsh grass. They had  a few nibbles and it was Pat who "knocked the skunk off" with a nice Seatrout catch. 

We ran thru Tyger, around to the Bell and set up fishing a point of grass with that incoming tide. These anglers were all getting good drifts but we had not a nibble. After running down the Bell, up into Lanceford, and in to Soap Creek, we again set up with the floats, drifting them long with the current. I think it was Pat again who picked up another Trout. 

Our next stop was around the corner and here we switched to jigs and shrimp. They were all getting nibbles deep but we found that we could go back to the float rig, tossed up near the shore, over some submerged oysters and get fish. Young Hailey hooked up and landed an "almost legal" Seatrout, then she had a good bite, set the hook and, Fish On! She worked it to the boat patiently and landed a keeper sized 18" Seatrout. Shortly after that she battled a feisty Redfish to the boat. 

We fished a grassy island down the way, then made a good run down the intercoastal to fish some structure on first of the outgoing tide. Hailey added another feisty Redfish to her catch total, then her Granddad Pat had a big hookup - I heard the drag rip and knew it was a big fish. Pat played it perfectly an after a hard fought battle, landed a nice 24" Slot Redfish.

After fishing one more spot up in Piney we headed back and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.