Snapper Infestation

Boy what a beautiful morning we had today. I had met Grant Hollenbeck and his son Alex down at the south end boat ramp and as we made our first run down to Pumpkin Hill the sun was coming p behind a large cloud and made an awesome view! There was only a slight breeze so the water was like glass and when the two anglers made their first cast with float rigs and mud minnows, you ought to know it, fish on! Alex worked it in and landed a hungry Seatrout!  I thought, "here we go"! And they caught fish for a good while,
except they were small Mangrove Snapper! It was crazy how many were present. We worked a bank good and may have picked up another Trout or two, but a lot of the Snapper.

We were so close to Broward Island so we popped down there, even thought it was still a fairly high tide, going out. We worked the bank with jigs and minnows, caught another couple of Snapper and then Grant put a feisty Redfish in the boat.

Our next stop was back down the Nassau River at Spanish Drop and here things picked up. Grant was getting Seatrout out deep, just beyond a ripple, then Alex joined in -  making excellent casts to the

bank - and he too picked up a fish or two, one of which was a high flying Ladyfish. We bounced down the river and then eased along some exposed oysters and here we found a good handful of Redfish. Alex was working it good and landed a few, one after the other. Then Grant had a pretty strong bite and a hookup. He handed off to Alex who reeled in the biggest Snapper of the day! And with that, we called it, another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Crabbin for Fish

I was back up north today, fishing with Brooke Jordan, Mike, Jimmy and Christian under some overcast skies. We left the Dee Dee Bartels Park and headed over to Tiger Island, setting up outside at a grassy point and first cast, BOOM! We had a strong hookup. Jimmy was on the rod and worked in a nice keeper sized Seatrout! Now that's the way to start a day!

We were fishing live shrimp under floats on an outgoing tide and the action was pretty constant. Most fish weren't big but these anglers all caught fish - Redfish, Seatrout, Ladyfish, Mangrove Snapper and Bluefish. Young Christion was making excellent casts from the bow and landed a couple of Seatrout and a Red.  Before we left we filled the baitwell full of finger mullet (large fingers!) and then headed up to the Jolly River to fish the "bank". It was excellent conditions but the fish didn't cooperate until we reached a large marsh run out and Jimmy picked up a couple of Redfish.

Our next stop was up at the MOA and here Mike's rod heated up - he too caught a couple of Redfish. I had put out a few crab traps and one was here so Christian hauled it up and there was a big blue crab, a stone crab, and a stingray in it!  We picked up two more traps - one had two rays and the other was empty (we better not rely on crabbing for a living!) then we made one last stop at Tiger Island where the anglers wrapped up catching some rather sizable Croaker. And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Copper Top

Back to "work" today! Yesterday was called off due to rain. I met John Feelisi and his fishing partner Bill down at the south end boat ramp very early - 6:30am - and we headed NW with, NO bait! I had rigged some top water lures and we tossed out a minnow trap as we passed a pool, then we made our way up to Seymores Pointe and began to fish some flooded oyster beds on a tide that had been going out for a couple of hours.

Although the bite was not "on fire" John did pick up a feisty Jack Crevalle when it busted his mullet colored lure. Bill was tossing one of my Zara Spook Jr's - White w/ red head but he switched to a gold Rattletrap w/ an orange belly at the next stop at Spanish Drop and this did the trick. mHe was on fire! First, he tangled with some hard fighting Jack Crevalle's with a couple ripping drag, then he began to pickup Seatrout. He landed a couple of smalls, then a "keeper" size, then an even bigger Trout.  We bounced up and down the bank, cvaught a few fish then tossed a cast net and got some nice finger mullet.

Our next stop was back at Seymors Pointe, fishing the docks and both anglers put keeper sized Mangrove Snapper in the boat. They weren't very big, but they made 10"!

We ran down to Broward Island, fished a run out and in short order John landed a nice keeper sized Flounder. After one good hookup that was surely a Slot Red that found it's way into some limbs and broke off, we eased down the Island, working the bank. Before we left, John picked up another Mangrove, then went back to a sandy beach and BOOM! Fish On! He worked the light tackle patiently and after a good battle landed dark copper colored Slot Redish - boy was it pretty! Note the old injury, probably a Dolphin bite.

After a brief stop at Pumpkin Hill, we headed in and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Gator Country

I wrapped up my week fishing with the Cervino family - Nick and Tara and their daughters Lila and Julia. We met down at the Big  Talbot Island Park boat ramp early this morning and then made the long run down to Broward Island to take advantage of the first of an incoming tide. All four anglers were tossing jig and mud minnows and within seconds were getting bites from small but feisty Mangrove Snapper. Lila "knocked the skunk off" when she landed one of them then every one was putting a fish in the boat - here and there.

We were looking for bigger fish so we eased down the island and set up again, but found the Snapper must be everywhere. The water was calm and da-dump. daaadump, daaaaaaadump - there was a gator just off the bow keeping an eye on us! He stayed with us the entire time we fished that spot. Finally, Nick had  good bite, a hookup and after he patiently played it to the boat, he landed a nice keeper sized Flounder.

We left the Gator and Broward Island and headed down river to

Pumpkin Hill and began fishing some flooding oysters with float rigs and minnows. We had to work our way past some Snapper then these anglers began to get fish. Seatrout after Seatrout after Seatrout. Many were just a tad bit undersized. Tara added a lone Sand Trout then Nick tangled with two hard fighting Jack Crevalle.
Lila was making excellent casts and Julia had picked up a rod and was making her own casts, too. She also kept everyone supplied with bait!

We made one last stop back at Spanish Drop and Tara wrapped

things up with another Flounder catch. And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

 

Getting A Fish Here and There

We have surely been blessed with some beautiful mornings lately! And today was one of them. I met Steve Schaetzel, his son Tim and his future son-in-law Rob down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early and as we headed up the intercoastal there were dolphin rolling up as the sun came up. We made it up to Jackstaff, ran up a ways and then turned into the current to fish an incoming tide with jigs and mud minnows. As we worked the bank Tim "knocked the skunk off" when he landed a feisty Redfish. He followed that up
with a hard fighting Jack Crevalle, then Rob put another Red in the boat. They all three tangled with high flying Ladyfish before we pulled and made the run through Horsehead and around to the Nassau River.

Tide was up and the marsh grass was beginning to flood so we switched to float rigs and made our casts up near the grass, letting them drift naturally along the shoreline. After a bite here and there, Steve's float disappeared and, FISH ON! This was a bigger fish - one that ripped some drag and after putting up a good fight up near shore it headed deep and took Steve from bow to stern, port to starboard. He kept the pressure on and played it patiently. After  good battle, Steve landed a nice (and bigger) Jack Crevalle.

We made a stop at Seymore's Pointe and played cat and mouse with some small Mangrove Snapper then ran down to Pumpkin Hill and again, more small Mangrove Snapper. Our last stop was over at Christopher Creek where we worked some docks with the jigs again. After Rob and Tim put a couple of Snapper in the boat, Steve finished up with another feisty Redfish. And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Jack Invasion

What a great way to wrap a week up fishing with friends and neighbors Mark and Nilda Laurint and their son, Brent, visiting home from New York!  We  met down at the Big Talbot Island Park boat ramp and headed up the Nassau River, making the long run around to Pumpkin Hill to fish the first of an outgoing tide.  I had float rigs ready but I also had one topwater rig ready to go, too. The trio began fishing the marsh line and within a short minute, they were getting bites.

Nilda was the first to get on the board when her float disappeared - she was ready and quickly lifted the rod tip and set the circle hook.
She patiently worked it to the boat and landed a nice keeper sized Seatrout (all fish were released today). We worked along the bank and our presentations began to get attacked by hard fighting Jack Crevalle. Brent put a couple in the boat, Nilda added a couple, then Mark got in on the action. One of Brent's was on the topwater lure out in front of the boat. That's a great thrill to see a big fish nail that lure!

After a neat show of dolphin soaring out of the water behind the
boat, we headed back down the Nassau and worked some oyster  banks with minnows and jigs. Nilda had retired her rod to take in the beauty of the ecosystem but Mark and Brent worked the bank thoroughly.  They each added a handful of feisty Redfish to the catch, a couple of Trout, and Mark rounded out his Slam with a Flounder catch. They also tangled with Ladyfish and landed a few Mangrove Snapper.

We bounced down the Nassau, hitting spots, and added a few more fish until they just wouldn't bite anymore. And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Early Morning Top Water Action

We started todays trip low in bait - just what had left over from yesterday, but my guests, brothers Chris and Britt Daniel, also brought along a couple of rods, rigged with top water lures. We made the long run up the Nassau River (with a short pit stop to throw out a minnow trap) and made our way around to Pumpkin Hill with a plan to fish an a tide that had started out an hour or so ago.

Chris was tossing  a top water and Britt tossed one of my float rigs with a minnow and I think it was Britt's first cast and BOOM! Keeper sized Seatrout on!. We made another few pitches, picked up another Trout or two, then began to work the bank. They changed rods and when something big rolled up on bait behind us, Chris cast directly from bow, over the boat and behing the stern and BOOM! His lure was engulfed. He played it patiently and soon landed a hard fighting Jack Crevalle. The picked up another Trout on the lure, found a feisty Red or two, then we ran back down the Nassau River to fish Spanish Drop.

We had for bait: left over mud minnows, some finger mullet that we had cast for, and some barely-alive miniature Pogey's and I think all three put a fish in the boat. Working some now exposed oysters, the two brothers caught a few more Trout and Reds, a couple of small Mangrove Snapper, a keeper sized Flounder, and a Catfish. At our last stop they picked one more Trout letting their jig and finger mullet fall through the water column, and with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

A Bite On Every Cast

You just can't beat these beautiful days for fishing here at Amelia Island! I met Paul Amos and his girlfriend Laura down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and we headed up the Amelia River to make our first stop in at Jackstaff Creek. The tide had been going out for a couple of hours so we started off with jigs and mud minnows, tossing up current. In just a short time Laura had a hookup and landed a keeper sized Seatrout to "knock the skunk off" the boat! All fish caught today were released.

We worked up the bank and both Paul and Laura began to put fish in the boat. They landed a handful of Trout, a good handful of feisty Redfish, another keeper sized Trout by Paul, a Ladyfish, and a bunch of.....Bluecrab! The last few days they've been really aggressive and latch on to the minnow and hold on all the way into the boat! We have to pull them off forcibly.  Paul also caught a Flounder to round out his Amelia Island Back Country Slam.

We ran around to the Nassau River and down to the Spanish Drop area and again began fishing upcurrent. We were getting good bites and putting a whole bunch of fish in the boat. At one pointe Paul commented that he was getting a bite or a fish on almost every cast! More Reds and Trout and Mangrove Snapper and Jack Crevalle.

Our last stop was up the river, just past Bubblegum Reef. Although the bite had slowed, they put a couple of more Trout in the boat. Paul had at least two fish that ripped some serious drag before throwing the hook - it'll be another day when we catch those! And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Big Slot Redfish Highlights Day

I'm becoming a regular down at the Big Talbot Island Park boat launch! Today I met Michael Boone and two local anglers Rick and Don who all had agreed to "share" a trip, and it worked out great! We met at 7am and made our way up the intercoastal to dip in and begin fishing along the bank of Jackstaff, tossing jigs and mud minnows. It was somewhat of a slow start but when the fish began to bite, all three anglers began to put fish in the boat.

The bow seemed to be the hot spot and Don started it off, catching a  few feisty Redfish and a couple of Trout. He then put a good sized keeper Trout in the boat. Rick fought and landed a big Catfish, then all three were landing fish. We fished the bank slowly caught a few small Trout, then Michael added a multi-spotted Redfish. Throughout the day the anglers tangles with high flying Ladyfish. Multiple Blue Crab were landed! Hah! 

We ran through Horsehead and down to Spanish Drop and fished the exposed oysters during the last hour or so of a falling tide. Again, feisty Redfish, Trout and then Don put a nice 18" Flounder in the boat. We had lost count of how many of the feisty Reds we'd caught when Don had  strong bite and his drag ripped. I knew it was big when it stayed up near the bank and rolled once - a big Redfish! Don played it perfectly and after a long and patient battle, landed a big 24.5" Slot Redfish. Now that's a nice fish!

We bounced up to a runout, caught a few more reds and Trout, then finished off up near Bubblegum Reef before we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

Hot Finish

Back to work today after a short day off! I met Richard Heinsohn and his brother-in-law Chris out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp this morning and we made the quick run down to Broward Island to fish the last of an outgoing tide. We had a bait well full of mud minnows and an arsenal of jig rods. These two anglers started right off making excellent casts to the downed logs and it wasn't long before they had put a hungry Seatrout in the boat.

They added a feisty Redfish or two then Chris had a strange bump,

a heavy line, and a hookup. He patiently reeled in a keeper sized Flounder.  Although the island was looking "right", the bite just wasn't happening so we headed back down the river.

Our next stop was at Spanish Drop and here things began to pick up. The tide was still going out and Richard and Chris put Reds, Trout, Catfish and a hard fighting Jack Crevalle, - landed by Richard -in the boat. We worked that bank for a while, then moved up 500 yards and fished a marsh run-out, and repeated with multiple catches of fish. One of the Trout landed by Chris was right at 18" - a nice fish. All fish caught today were released.

When the tide stalled we made the short run up to Bubblgum Reef, fished it briefly with no luck, then bounced over to Seymour's Pointe to fish a couple of docks. We picked up a couple of Mangrove Snapper but not much else. The sun was getting up and it was getting "warm" but we had one last stop to make down at Pumpkin Hill.

Although the oyster we're still almost fully exposed, we switched to float rigs and tossed them up current. Again, a few Mangroves, but not much more until we set up on the shallower side of a grass point. Then things got hot. Both Richard and Chris began to catch Reds and Trout. The trick was to get the bait 4-6' from the bank and let it naturally drift along with the current, and BOOM! Fish On! What a great way to wrap up a day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida