Jack in the Back (water)

 

Boy what a beautiful day today - it was in he high 60's when I launched at sunup and when it did come up there wasn't a cloud in the sky. Almost zero breeze did bring out the No-Seeums but we had spray for that! I met John Fredericks and his fishing buddy Dan Forsch down at Sawpit Creek boat ramp and we made a quick run up the intracoastal and into the Nassau to make our first stop at Spanish Drop with a tide that was about an hour shy of being low. The two anglers went with jigs and live shrimp and pitched the bank as we eased into the slacking current. We had a handful of nibbles, and actually two good bites that ripped some drag and bent a rod, but they didn't take until John hooked up and landed a keeper sized Sheepshead to knock the skunk off. 

We bumped down the bank, fishing drainages and had bites but no takers, so we moved on. Our next
stop was up the Nassau where we fished between two docks and here the action picked up. Dan got hot fishing off the stern and hooked and landed a handful of Seatrout, caught deep, with one of them being of keeper size. Then he had s strong hookup and this fish was fighting erratically and Dan stayed with it. He worked it in and landed a keeper sized Spanish Mackerel.  We've caught a few Spanish Mackerel over the years, but not many, in the back water. 

Our next stop was around at Seymore's Pointe where we pitched to some dock pilings - the trio fought and landed three Black "puppy" Drum, just undersized. Dan had one strong bite that wrapped around a piling and broke off, boy what a fish! We then motored down to Broward Island and fished a drainage waiting for the tide to turn down there and got some good action catching Seatrout deep again, and one of those was of keeper size.  We worked down the bank as the tide changed and both John and Dan put a Slot Red in the boat after expertly battling them to the net. We had slowly put a nice box of fish together so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Two Fat 24's

 

We had to creep thru the fob this morning, boy was it thick! I had met Doug Brossman and his fishing partner Hank Prolog down at Sawpit Creek, mid-morning, right at high tide. We had to ease up the intracoastal and up the Nassau to make our first stop up at Seymore's Pointe where we went with float rigs and live shrimp, pitched to a large drainage. I was somewhat encouraged, with the water temp at 60 degrees, the two anglers had some decent action catching Seatrout and a couple of small Blues. 

We then ran around the point and up the Nassau and drifted the floats over some shell beds, to no avail. Back down the river we came, to Twin Creeks, and again drifted the floats, with no luck. We briefly switched to jigs and the shrimp, had no bites, then came back up the river to fish between some docks at Nassauville and this did the trick with a handful of Seatrout catches. 

Down at Broward Island we fished deep with the jigs. Doug picked up a small Seatrout at a drainage, then we moved down the island, under the eye of the Bald Eagles and here we caught a couple of Redfish, one of which was in the slot.  After a good run up the Nassau we eased in to our final spot -the Super Duper Lucky Spot, and it fit the bill. The duo almost immediately began to get Redfish. They added four more Slot fish, with two of them measuring right at 24" and they also tossed back a handful of smaller "rat" Reds. Doug picked up a hard fighting keeper sized Black Drum to add to the catch total. 

The sun had come out and the fog was pretty much gone and we had some good action at a couple of spots so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amella Island, Florida. 

Grande Slam and Nasty Weather

 

It didn't rain on us this morning, it wasn't freezing cold like earlier in the week, but it was a little cool and the wind was the worst we had had all week, and it was overcast, making for a nasty looking day. But my guests - Craig and Christina Jones and their son Craig were up for the challenge and met me early down at Sawpit Creek boat ramp and with that NE wind blowing in our face, we headed up the intracoastal and up the Nassau River to the first stop at a large outflow at Seymore's Ponte where we began with float rigs and live shrimp, tossed up current to drift back with the outgoing tide. We didn't get any real bites there but we did claim two nibbles!

We came back around to Nassauville to the shelter of the lee and boy was it nice, and the fish cooperated! The trio had switched to jigs and the shrimp and in short order they were all hooking up with hungry Seatrout. Christina found a hot spot right near the boat and would feel the slight "bump" and would expertly give her rod a quick hook set and fish on! Craig the Younger was fishing off the stern and found a good handful of the Trout back there, along with a few feisty Bluefish. Craig the Senior was fishing off teh boy and getting his share of those Trout then he battled a feisty Black "puppy" Drum to the net. He did put one nice 17" Trout in the box. 

After running way up the Nassau we eased into a small Creek and worked the bank with jigs and this paid off with the Redfish. They caught a good handful of smaller but fun to catch Rat Reds  then Craig the Senior had a drag ripping hit and it was Big Fish On!  I was holding my breath thinking about the possibilities of that big fish getting into a log or tree branch but Craig kept the pressure on, worked it out and we soon netted a nice, bulky 26" Redfish, boy what a fish! Shortly after that Craig the Younger had a big bite off the stern and his battle was on! He played it expertly, letting it run when it wanted to, worked it in and landed another nice 21" Slot Red. 

We ended the day back over at Nassauville, the same spot as before, but out of the wind where Craig the Senior landed a feisty Sheepshead to round out a Grande Slam of Seatrout, Black Drum, Red Drum and Sheepshead, then we headed back to the ramp (with the wind at our backs) and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

We Caught a Bunch

 Another cold and sunny day greeted us up at Old Town Bait and Tackle this morning when I met Bob and William Blalock with plans to fish the last hour of an outgoing tide. We were right there in Eagans so we eased up the creek and found some docks to anchor up current and fish back into the pilings. It was a slow start but it was a good move. The duo pulled a couple of Redfish out from under the  dock, then we moved to the outside and pitched up in there again and boy did this pay off! They caught Redish - the fish did hit hard but they just picked the bait up with a subtle bite - you had to concentrate. There were a couple of small Slot Reds caught then Bob hooked up with what we thought was going to be  big Black Drum by the way it was digging deep, but after a patient battle, he brought to the surface a huge Redfish- we netted it and it measured right at 29.25" - big enough to move Bob into first place in the 2026 Bragging Rights Tournament-Redfish Category. 

The continued to pitch, and about the time I'd mention moving, BAM! Another big fish. Both anglers hauled in some really nice Black "puppy" Drum (all fish caught today were released). Then Bob had another strong bite and Fish ON!  As he fought the big fish William had a good bite, set the hook, and we had a Double! I didn't know which fish to net first! But William kept his in the water and after netting Bob's 25.5" Redfish, I went forward and netted Williams big Drum. The duo put a few more fish in the boat - Bob guestimated 15 fish, then we moved on. 

We fished the Tyger logs and William picked up one hungry Seatrout but the wind was kicking out of the south west which doesn't bode well, so we ran around to the Jolley, fished some oysters, then finished up over at Bell River. We were blocked from the wind with very pleasant fishing conditions, but the fish didn't cooperate, so we headed back to the dock and counted it as another great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Woulda Coulda

 Not once but Twice! That was how many Big fish were on, and off!  The day had started early, cold, but sunny out at Goffinsville Park where I met Bob Blalock, his two sons William and Robby, and Collin, the "Legend".  We were all bundled up as we ran down the river to the first stop where we opted to pitch jigs and live shrimp in some deep water by some docks. William "knocked the skunk off" when he hooked up and landed a keeper sized Seatrout. He followed that  up with a nice 17" Sheepshead to kick off that Category in the 2026 Bragging Rights Tournament. 

The tide still had about 30 minutes to go out so we headed down the Nassau and fished a drainage until the tide stopped. Then, back up to a dock at Seymore's Pointe where we pitched to the pilings on that first of an incoming tide. It wasn't long before Collin had a strong hookup, a BIG fish - he was playing it patiently as it dug deep. It did come to the surface once, a big Black Drum, then BIP, it threw the hook! That Woulda been a big fish! Collin went back to the same area and within a few minutes BAM! Another big fish on. We think this was a big Red because it ran thru the pilings, heading to Georgia - it caught on the pilings and BAP! Fish Off. If we Coulda got that fish in.....

But these anglers were not to be deterred. We fished down the docks for a bit, picked up a Seatrout, then pulled up and ran to Broward where we set up and tossed to the bank as the tide started in there. Here, they picked up a handful of Reds, a couple of which were in the Slot and we also got a Seatrout. Our last top was way  up the river and into a creek where we worked the bank and got another good handful of Redfish. A couple of those were in the Slot, one had 9 Spots, and we had a double hookup at one time. Robby also added another keeper sized Seatrout. Most of all these fish were released. We kept 2 for dinner!  The sun had finally warmed us up, we had some good action, so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Found a Hot Spot

 

Boy what a beautiful morning!  Getting out on the water, sun shining, mild temperatures, and wetting a line - you just can't beat it!  I met Craig Jones and his son Andrew down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning and we made our way up the Nassau River on a tide that had been coming in for about an hour. We ran to some docks to take advantage of that incoming tide and pitched jigs to some dock pilings. The bites were few and far between but Andrew did manage to "knock the skunk off" when he hooked up and landed a hungry Seatrout. 

We then ran down to Broward Island and fished the bank with the jigs. I had a good handful of small live
shrimp leftover from Thursday and I had bought a quart of fiddler crabs. Neither caught a fish at Broward!  There was a boat just south of us that we saw catch a couple of Reds, one of them slot - that's never a good 'look" for a fishing guide - to have someone catching fish  within sight! But we worked that bank good, then pulled anchor and ran way up the river (almost to Callahan) where we eased in a pitched the shrimp and fiddlers, and this did the trick.

Both Craig and Andrew began to catch fish - Redfish - they took turns hauling them in. I know we had at least 4 slot fish and a whole bunch of smaller Reds that we tossed back. Most were in one area and we milked the spot for a good hour and a half. We then came back down the Nassau, stopped at Littlefield for a bit, then finished up at Twin Creeks, fishing floats at the peak of he high tide. We had good weather, some good action, and a couple of 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. 

Back In Action With Some Slot Reds

 We're back! After a month and a half layoff, we were back fishing today, and with a few trips lined up in the next few days I should have some fishing reports.  Today I met Ed and Madonna AndrewLavage down at Sawpit Creek boat ramp - the tide had been coming in for a couple of hours but I thought it wouldn't hurt to make the run up the Nassau to Broward Island and pitch our jigs and live shrimp, and we did just that!  We had a little bit of fog as we ran but it was no hindrance and as we pulled up to the island there was not much of a breeze (we did break out the insect repellent later). Both anglers were getting good casts  btu se didn't get much more than a nibble. We eased down the bank, did the same, and again, not hardly a nibble. We moved down the island, passed the Bald Eagles, fished the bank and....not a nibble. Ouch. So much for a plan. 

We then made along run up the Nassau and eased into a secluded creek, turned into the current and worked back and this did the trick. Ed had the first hookup to knock the skunk off and he expertly played to the net a 17 and 15/16" barely undersized Redfish to the net. We eased along the bank, pitching to the deep edge and Ed noted that the fish weren't aggressive at all - he'd just tighten up, feel the weight, and set the hook. At one spot he picked  up 4 more Redfish, all of them in the Slot size, one of which had 14 spots(eventually released) and the biggest, a 26.25" fish, big enough to set the bar for 2026 Bragging Rights -Ed battled it expertly to the net. 

We came back down to Pumpkin Hill and fished float rigs and did get one hungry Seatrout, then we made our way down to Seymore's Pointe where the tide had started out -Madonna's Spot we called it. Just when I thought it was going to be a bust, Ed had his float disappear- he tightened up and let the circle hook set and Fish On!  Ed played Madonna's Redfish perfectly, let it run, worked it in, and soon landed another nice Slot Redfish, this one measuring a little over 24". Madonna followed that up with a nice fat Seatrout catch to get on the board. After fishing one more spot with the float rigs awe called it a day and headed back to the ramp, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

New Seatrout Regulations

 

(Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.) For immediate release: Feb. 4, 2026 Media contact: FWC Press Office, 850-488-4676, Media@MyFWC.com FWC approves holistic management approach for spotted seatrout At its February meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)  approved new management regions and  regulations for spotted seatrout as a part of FWC’s holistic regional management approach.  These new regulations will go into effect on April 1, 2026. The rule changes: Establish nine management regions for spotted seatrout. Establish regional regulations for recreational and commercial bag limits,slot limits and closed seasons. These regions and regulations are part of the FWC’s holistic management approach for  Florida's most popular inshore fisheries. This approach takes a more holistic view of the fishery by evaluating multiple metrics, including fishing, stakeholder experiences and environmental factors, at a smaller regional scale. It improves our understanding of regional differences in environmental conditions and stakeholder experiences and provides greater flexibility to address localized concerns. Panhandle Recreational Open season: March 1–Jan. 31. Closed season: February. Bag limit: Three fish per person. Slot limit: 15-19 inches. Over-slot allowance: One fish over-slot allowed per vessel or per person if fishing from shore. Commercial Open season: Jun. 1–Oct. 31. Closed season: 1–May 31. Bag limit: 50 fish (1 SPL);100 (≥2 SPLs). Slot limit: 15–24 inches. Big Bend Recreational Open season: Year-round. Closed season: None. Bag limit: Five fish per person. Slot limit: 15-19 inches. Over-slot allowance: One fish over-slot allowed per vessel or per person if fishing from shore. Commercial Open season: June 1–Oct. 31. Closed season: 1–May 31. Bag limit: 50 fish (1 SPL);100 (≥2 SPLs). Slot limit: 15–24 inches. Over-slot allowance: None.  Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay, Charlotte Harbor, Southwest, Southeast Recreational Open season: Year-round. Closed season: None. Bag limit: Three fish per person. Slot limit: 15-19 inches. Over-slot allowance: One fish over-slot allowed per vessel or per person if fishing from shore. Commercial Open season: June 1–Oct. 31. Closed season: 1–May 31. Bag limit: 50 fish (1 SPL);100 (≥2 SPLs). Slot limit: 15–24 inches. Over-slot allowance: None. Indian River Lagoon Recreational Open season: Jan.1–Oct. 31. Closed season: 1–Dec. 31. Bag limit: Two fish per person. Slot limit: 15-19 inches. Over-slot allowance: None. Commercial Open season: May 1–Sept. 30. Closed season: Oct. 1–April 30. Bag limit: 50 fish (1 SPL);100 (≥2 SPLs). Slot limit: 15–24 inches. Over-slot allowance: None. Northeast Recreational Open season: Year-round. Closed season: None. Bag limit: Three fish per person. Slot limit: 15-19 inches. Over-slot allowance: None. Commercial Open season: June 1–Nov. 30. Closed season: Dec. 1–May 31. Bag limit: 50 fish (1 SPL);100 (≥2 SPLs). Slot limit: 15–24 inches. Over-slot allowance: None. This innovative regional management strategy has been implemented for some of Florida’s most popular inshore species, including redfish and snook, and now spotted seatrout. This management approach has been met with strong support from stakeholders across the state. For the full Commission Meeting February 4-5 agenda and links to background reports, go to MyFWC.com/Commission and select “Commission Meetings.” For current spotted seatrout annual reviews, visit MyFWC.com/Marine and click on “Recreational Regulations” and “Spotted Seatrout.” These documents provide a summary of the management metrics in each new management region.

An Explosion of Fish Catching

 

Boy was it foggy this morning - as I was driving to the Sawpit Creek boat ramp I was concerned that we may have to just putter around to the bridge and fish until it lifted. But after launching we saw that we did have about a hundred yards of visibility, so after meeting Jason Ash and his college buddies Tom and Adam early, we made a cautious run up the intracoastal, and up the Nassau, all the way to Littlefield where we went with jigs and live shrimp in the last of an outgoing tide. The Baitstealers were out in force! They used 6-7 shrimp to catch one small Seatrout- we were blowing thru the bait quick to catch those few Trout, so we moved on.

Back down the Nassau, we pulled up at a drainage just as the tide was hitting bottom, fished it with the
jigs, to no avail, then we moved down to Spanish Drop and worked the exposed shell bank as the current began to shift. No bites at all. We then made our way back up river to Seymore's Pointe and fished a dock in hopes of a Black Drum but again, no real bites. I was beginning to wonder ....

Those docks looked so good we decided to work each one of them, easing in between them and pitching to the pilings. Tom hooked up and landed a nice keeper sized Seatrout, then Adam hooked and landed a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum (Adam was using some live fiddler crabs and they paid off for him). Off the stern, Jason began to catch Sandtrout/Weakfish and found a "honey hole" - he was boating one on every cast - Tom was pitching in under a boat and started hauling out Redfish, one after the other. Adam had probably the biggest hooked up but this fish was smart and wrapped itself around a pilings and BAP, broke off. They picked up two more keeper sized Black Drum, another keeper sized Seatrout, then Tom hooked and landed a nice 23" Slot Redfish - it was an explosion of fish catching!

We fished back at the original dock, all out of shrimp, but with a bucket of fiddlers. Adam had made an excellent cast and BAM! Fish On! He played it patiently to the net and landed a keeper sized Sheepshead to wrap things. They had put a "Super Grande Slam" in the boat - Seatrout, Weakfish, Red Drum, Black Drum and Sheepshead si as we headed back to the ramp, we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Two Slams In The Backwater at Amelia Island

 I was finally back at it today and it was a good one to be fishing! Although it was a bit foggy as we left
Eagans Creek, there was enough visibility to run at half speed. I had Met David and Ellen Capps up at Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp as the sun was coming up and with the tide just starting in, we made our first stop down the river to fish some structure. The tide hadn't really started moving yet and maybe that was why we didn't get much of nibble on our jigs and live shrimp offering. But the spot was in the "plan" and we had to try it as we passed it heading south. 

After running over the top; of Horsehead we pulled up at Seymore's Point and fished some dock pilings and this did the trick. Both anglers were fishing off the stern, pitching up to the pilings and letting the bait fall and it was Dave who "knocked the skunk off" when a Seatrout followed his bait and out and Dave hooked it up. Then Ellen had a strong bite and with the fish digging deep we knew she had a nice fish. Ellen fought it expertly to the net and landed a keeper sized Black "Puppy" Durm. Dave added a couple of more hungry Seatrout to his catch total, then it was he who had the big bite - his drag was ripping and his rod was bent deep - Dave played it patiently and slowly worked to the net a big Black "puppy" Drum. Ellen hooked and released another one of those Seatrout.

We made our around Seymore's and down to Broward where we set up on the first of the incoming tide - normally ideal - but there wasn't much action but after dropping back 40' Ellen hooked up. It was a good battle that Ellen won - she boated a feisty Redfish to round out her Amelia Island Back Country Slam of Drum, Seatrout and Redfish. We moved south down the island and picked up one more Seatrout, then we ran way up the Nassau and pulled into a creek and worked the bank - Dave was on the bow and made an excellent cast and it paid off with a Redfish catch - He had his Slam! Just a bit further he hooked up again and this one was a bit bigger, it was pulling drag and putting a bend in that rod. Dave worked it in and landed a nice Slot Sized Redfish. The duo added one more Redfish along that bank before we called it a day. We had had very little wind, no rain, just a few bugs, and had caught some fish with a few of them being keepers so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island,Florida.