Early Bird Get's The Fish

 The last couple of days there has been a trend of catching fish early on that first of a high and outgoing
tide and that trend held today. I had met Wes Metheney and his son Jack down at Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning - the gnats wanted to carry me off as I waited for them to arrive, but as we ran up the intracoastal I saw that we now had a breeze and it stuck with us the rest of the day, and blew those bugs off. We made our first stop up at Poteat Point and it was a good call - first cast Jack was hooked up and he expertly landed a nice Seatrout. The duo caught a few of those Trout, drifting floats and live shrimp then Wes had strong hookup. I had seen his float drifting along and it got "bumped", then it slowly went under. Wes caught up the line, let the circle hook set and, Fish On!  This fish was ripping drag and running south but Wes kept the pressure on - he fought it to the net and landed a nice 21" Slot Redfish. 

We picked up another Trout or two then ran thru Horsehead and over to Back River and set up drifting those floats along some now exposed oysters. The duo caught a good handful of Seatrout, Redfish and a couple of Flounder. We crossed over the river and pitched across a sandbar and drifted, to no avail. After fishing Twin Creeks for a bit with floats and jigs, we ran up to some docks at Seymore's and worked the pilings with jigs and live shrimp. This paid off with a strong hookup. Jack was on the rod and gave it a good battle, fought the fish to the net and landed another nice Slot Redfish. After running back thru Horsehead we fished a large drainage, then a sand spit before we headed back to the ramp, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Early Action

I went back south today to fish with Glenn and Patti Lanford. We met down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp
and quickly got under way  - the No SeeUms were about to carry us off! But luckily, as we ran up the river, the breeze picked up and they were never an issue for the rest of the morning. The tide had been going out for about two hours as we eased up to our first stop across from Goffinsville Park and the two anglers began to toss float rigs baited with live shrimp. We worked up and down the bank and they caught a good handful of Seatrout and Redfish. They weren't real big but at least one of the Reds was in the Slot. It was nice to have good action early and not have any "skunk" to worry about!

We ended up hitting 5-6 more spots during the morning and picked up a Trout here and there, had a drag ripping breakoff, caught a couple of small but feisty Black "puppy" Drum, and then hooked and landed a couple of feisty Reds. The sun had shone all day, there was a slight breeze to keep the gnats off, we had some good action early, so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

There was a guy having difficult getting his boat backed in, we came up with a solution!

A Menagerie of Fish

 Menagerie: A collection of wild animals kept in captivity. Yes, they were wild animals (fish), but they
weren't in captivity - we caught them wild. Maybe a Conglomeration? Conglomeration: a number of different things, parts, or items that are grouped together; collection. There were a bunch of different things (fish),  but they were alive and well. Maybe a smorgasbord?  Smorgasbord: a wide range of something; a variety. 

We caught a bunch of different species -a menagerie, a conglomeration, a smorgasboard when I fished this morning with Allen Webb. We met early up at Old Town Bait and Tackle - there was very little wind and the bugs were out a bit as we eased out of Eagans Creek and made our way over to Soap Creek to try our hand at some top water lure tossing. Allen was getting good casts and good action but we had no takers. We then eased further down Lanceford and fished some dock pilings with jigs and live shrimp with just an hour or so of an outgoing tide left and here we boated a feisty Sting Ray and a small Sea Bass.

After a long run up the Bell River and sticking with the jigs, fishing deep, Allen hooked up and landed a hungry Seatrout. On further around and into the Jolley we fished some exposed oysters and here Allen landed a keeper sized Seatrout, then a small Bonnethead, then a larger Bonnethead Shark. We bumped over to the MOA and worked it pretty good. A good bite had us all excited when it dug deep but it turned out to be a mang8y old Catfish. We fished the Tyger logs for a bit, to no avail, then wrapped things up back at the Jolley, tossing a float rig and live shrimp. .We had a beautiful day out on the water, had some drag ripping action with the Shark and had a Trout sandwich in the box so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Larry, Curly and Moe

These guys need their own U-tube Channel-they'd go viral. I met David Vice and his two friends in from California - Dave and John - out at Goffinsville Park boat ramp as the sun was coming up. We had very little breeze and clear skies as we made our way down the Nassau River to set up fishing at Spanish Drop on the last hour of an outgoing tide. All three anglers were tossing jigs and live shrimp to the exposed shell bank and within minutes they were catching fish. We had a couple of Seatrout caught, a big Blue Fish, and a nice feisty Redfish. The trash talk started out slow, subtle and gentle, but it built to fast, furious and brutal as the day wore on. 

We moved up to a large drainage and fished it as the tide hit bottom, then made a run down to Broward Island where I expected big things after yesterday but we were disappointed.  David did pick up a keeper Seatrout out deep then he put a keeper Flounder in the boat. Both of these fish were released later.  After running up the river further and dipping into a creek and working the bank, Dave hooked up and landed a small Black "puppy" Drum, but that was it. Again, somewhat disappointed in the catch along there. 

After running back to the mouth of Pumpkin Hill we switched to float rigs and drifted live shrimp with the current. The trio of anglers had been keeping a loose count of fish (and crabs) that they had caught and were close to even in their totals and then we got busy catching fish. Most of the catches were up near the bank - they landed a couple of Slot Redfish, a couple of Black "puppy" Drum,  and Seatrout. The trash talk came on strong and I thought I was watching one of those black and white re-runs of Larry, Moe and and Curly as they positioned themselves and their floats for the best drift. When it was all over they each had caught about 6 fish each and with a good "mess" in the box, we headed back to the ramp and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Flashed By a Bald Eagle

 We had a beautiful morning today when I met Jeff and Jinny Key down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp.
Clear, sunny skies and just enough breeze to keep the bugs off! We made our way over to the intracoastal then up the Nassau River to fish our first spot between some docks at Nassauville. I think we were about an hour late - the tide was at a standstill and so was the fish bite - we had no luck.

We then made our way down to Broward Island and pitched jigs and live shrimp as the tide started back in. Jeff found a nice "honey hole" off the stern of the boat and in short order began filling the box with Seatrout, Redfish and Sheepshead. He also rounded out an Amelia Island Backcountry Grande Slam when he put a small Black "puppy" Drum in the boat. This one spot was paying off  - just as we would think the bite had stopped, BAM! Fish On!  I was fishing a little bit and at least twice we had "double" hookups. Jeff would reel his in and I would net it, trying to keep pressure on my fish, then I'd hand the rod off and Jeff would finish him off. It was about this time we had a beautiful Bald Eagle flash by us, diving on a fish. 

We fished north of the island for a bit then made our way up river and into a creek where Jeff worked the bank diligently. He hooked up and landed 4 more Redfish, one of which was keeper size, and I think the biggest fish of the day found its way around a log and broke off. We had some great action, some beautiful weather, a Bald Eagle fly by so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Two Swimming Deer, Two Bald Eagles, Four Trout

 What a beautiful morning it was when I met Doug Mackle and his granddaughter Montana up at the Old
Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp. Clear skies, just a slight bit cool, and the sun coming up over the State Park. We eased out of Eagans Creek and as we did so Montana spotted to doe deer swimming across the creek, heading from the Pogey Plant over to Old Town. Cool!

We made our first run over to behind Tyger Island and fished the logs on a tide that had been coming in for a couple of hours. We must have been late because we didn't have what we could have called a real nibble. We then came out and headed up to the Jolley River where I turned into the current along the "bank". We worked along it good with float rigs and live shrimp. Finally, the "skunk was off" when Montana hooked up and battled to the boat a hard fighting Jack Crevalle. 

On up the Jolley we made a stop at Tyger Cut and drifted the float rigs again. We had a couple of bites then hooked up and landed a nice keeper sized Seatrout. Further up the Jolley, at Snook Creek, we eased along that bank and here Doug had a good fight with a feisty Redfish. While fishing, we spotted two beautiful Bald Eagles working the marsh, and roosting on an old root system.

Around at the Bell River we switched to jigs and this paid off with two more Trout catches, both of which were of keeper size. The biggest was right at 18" long. We fished back at Lanceford Creek and added the 4th keeper Trout to the cooler, then we finished up fishing up Soap Creek to wrap things up. We had seen deer and Bald Eagles and had a few fish in the box so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Working Up a Grande Slam

 I wrapped my week up fishing with Rick Payne and his fishing buddy Pedro, meeting them up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp early this morning. We eased out of Eagans Creek and made our way up and around to the Jolley River where we turned into the current along the "bank" and worked back tossing float rigs and live shrimp on the last of an incoming tide. Not much action along there, we may have had a bite or two. 

We then moved down to Tyger cut and fished the point, drifting with a current that was almost at a standstill, and again, not much happening. Further up the river, just past Snook Creek, we worked the bank as the tide came to a standstill. Pedro was on the stern and fishing long and it paid off when he hooked up and landed a nice keeper sized Seatrout to "knock the skunk off".

After coming back to the outside of Tyger we set up and fished the first of an outgoing tide. I was expecting big things but was soundly disappointed. But as we eased around the corner of some grass, Rick had made a good cast up alongside it and when his float slowly went under, he tightened up and let the circle hook set. This fish was pulling deep and not running much and sure enough, when Rick brought it to the net he had a nice Flounder. They also picked up one Bluefish here that was busting bait.

We then ran thru Tyger, over to the Bell, then down the intercoastal were we set up alongside some rocks.The duo caught a handful of Seatrout (one of which was of keeper size) and Pedro hooked up and battled a feisty Redfish to the boat to round out their Amelia Island Back Country Slam of Seatrout, Flounder and Redfish. After hitting one more dock up behind Piney Island Pedro topped off a "Grande" Slam when he reeled in a keeper sized Sheepshead. We had started slow but had some good action later so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Oversized Redfish, Finally

 

We had a beautiful sunrise today when I met Steve Locke and his son Justin out at Goffinsville Park this morning. I mentioned to Steve that we were getting some nice Trout and a few small Slot Redfish but we hadn't been getting nay BIG ones. Right. We made a quick run down the river and around to Seymore's Pointe where I thought we'd get some Seatrout on float rigs and shrimp on the first of an outgoing tide. I was wrong - we only had one bite, but no takers. We ran thru Horsehead and over to Poteat Point and here the duo got a few Seatrout. Justin had one take his bait and pulled a bit of drag and after a successful battle Justin landed a nice 17" keeper sized Trout. We eased up the bank and fished a pocket with those float rigs. Steve had made a good cast but the sun was right in our eyes - he peered past the glare and saw his float drift in to the grass and BAM! Fish On!  Steve worked 'em out, let the drag rip, then patiently played a nice 20" Slot Red to the net. Just like I had mentioned, "we're getting Slot Reds, but they're not real big".

We fished across the river there with the floats, then ran back up into Jackstaff and fished a drainage, both to no avail. After running back thru Horsehead and down to Twin Creeks we set up and tossed the floats. Not much action, so we switched to jigs and this did the trick. Justin was on the bow and picked up a Slam within 5 minutes - a Seatrout, a Red Drum, and a Black Drum. We moved down the river to a drainage and stuck with the jigs and it was the right call. Justin caught a couple of smaller Reds, then Steve, pitching to a submerged oyster bed, hooked up and landed a feisty Redfish. He went back to the same spot and BAM! Big Fish ripping. This fish was big! I was worried about a crab pot/rope being in the way but Steve worked it out into deeper water where it was safe. He slowly lifted his rod, then let the big fish run, then slowly worked it in, then let it run. The fish ran deep and behind us and got in the current and Steve stayed patient and gradually brought to the net an Oversized 30.5" Redfish, boy what a fish.

Moving down to Spanish Drop we worked back into the current and here Justin got hot tossing his jigs/shrimp to the shell bank. He caught a good handful of Redfish and a few Seatrout as the jigs fell down that shell into deeper water. Steve switched back to a float rig and went long and picked up a Trout. After fishing a few spots along Nassaville we called it a day and heading back to the ramp. we counted ita s another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Easy. Easy!

 Boy what a front that was that came thru last night as the Mighty Gators brought home their 3rd NCAA Basketball Championship! We had thunder, lighting and a steady downpour for ....at least 10 minutes, but it caused the temperature to drop a good 20 degrees from the previous day. I met David Barrow and his two sons Cole and Knox up at Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp and I was back in jeans and a jacket for the day. We eased out of Egans Creek and made the run over to Soap Creek and fished a large outflow on the first of an outgoing tide, thinking that there may be a few Seatrout hanging out, but no, no fish.

We worked along the grassy bank and all three anglers were getting good casts and drifts. Knox had made one with his float rig up to a point of grass and when his float disappeared he tightened in the line and let the circle hook set and Fish On! Knox had some place to be because he was cranking him in quick and I was coaching "Easy. Easy!", but despite my coaching Knox brought to the net a nice 20" Slot sized Redfish - the "skunk was off".

We then made our  way around to behind Piney Island and fished some dock pilings - a spot that had paid off the last two trips, but we had no real bites up  under the dock and out in the creek. Our next stop was down the intracoastal fishing some structure and this did the trick. The trio of anglers caught a good handful of Redfish, one of which was in the Slot, and they boated a handful of Seatrout, one which was over 20".  We moved forward a bit and again boated Redfish (two were in the Slot, one had to go back) and more Seatrout. 

After running down to Seymore's Pointe and fishing a dock that produced a Stingray, a Seabass, and a Stone Crab, we moved around to Nassauville and picked up another couple of Trout to round out 3 for the box. We had to battle some wind today but we found a few spots that were fishable, and with a few fish in the live well, we made the long run back and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

The Trout Just Keep Coming

 I was back to work today, fishing with the Bailey family -David and Allyson and their son John David. We met early up at Old Town Bait and Tackel knowing that the wind was going to be blowing just a bit, and increasing as the day progressed, and it did. Our first stop was down the intracoastal and after dipping into a small creek David and Allyson fished off the stern to some dock pilings. Altough they did have a nibble or two, it was John David off the starboard side who "knocked the skunk off" when he boated and landed a couple of Seatrout, one of which was of keeper size. 

We then came out of that creek and ran down to some structure and fished deep. David got on the board when he hooked up and patiently battled to the boat another keeper sized Trout and while he was doing that Allyson hooked up and got here's right to the boat for a "quick release". We eased further up some rocks and again, caught keeper Trout, one of which was just over 20" - they had their big fish. We might have picked up two or three fish there but when we dropped back to the original spot, BAM! They got a good flurry of fish catching. A handful of more Trout and then both David and John David battled and landed a Slot Redfish. Allyson contributed to the pot when she hooked up and expertly landed a big 18" Trout. 

After coming back to Fernandina then running way up the Bell River we fished some docks and again found Seatrout deep. I began to count fish to make sure we didn't go over our limit! After adding a couple of more keepers we made our way around to the Jolley River and fished the MOA briefly before heading back to the ramp. We had avoided the wind all morning, had a good box of fish in the boat so we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

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