One Big Redfish Fish After Another

Back to "work" today! And boy what a pretty day it was when I met Shane Sluga down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning. We had a clear skies and only a slight breeze as we headed up the Intercoastal and dipped in to Jackstaff and further into a creek. Shane was tossing a live shrimp under a float rig on a still high and outgoing tide and making excellent casts to the marsh grass - it was perfect conditions but we only had a small nibble or two.

We crossed over to fish another bank, switched to jigs and shrimp,
but still could not induce a bite. So we ran through Horsehead and around to some docks at Seymores Pointe and this did the trick. Fish the dock pilings!  On Shane's first cast, BOOM! Big fish on...it was ripping drag and was right up in the pilings. Shane tried to force it out but it was having none of it and BAP! Fish Off!  But Shane went right back in with an excellent cast and, BOOM! Big fish on!  He got a little more aggressive and pulled that fish out until it was away from the pilings then worked it patiently and soon

landed a 27+" oversized Redfish! Now that was a nice fish to "knock the skunk off"!  Shane went back in, landed a couple of  small but feisty Reds, then he had another rip dragging bite. This fish was big! Shane kept him from getting into the pilings, kept the pressure on, and soon landed another oversized Red, this one measuring right at 28.25". He continued to fish that spot, landed a couple of slot fish (all fish were released today), landed a good handful of the smaller, feisty Reds, then put a nice 17" keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum. He later rounded out his Slam with a keeper sized Flounder.  We worked the docks for a while, landed a couple

of more Reds, then headed down to Broward.

The current was running fairly swift when we got there so Shane tossed a 1/4oz jig up current and allowed the flow to bounce his jig back down the river bottom. In just a short time he hooked up and landed a fat 17" Seatrout to round out his Amelia Island Backcountry Grande Slam of Redfish, Black Drum, Flounder and Trout. We caught another Red or two, then called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Things Picked Up

We couldn't ask for any prettier weather to be out on the water here at Amelia Island. And with just a slight breeze, the sand gnats are held off!  I had met Bob Blalock and his brother and sister in laws -Tommy and Martha -out at the Goffinsville Park this morning and with the tide still going out we decided to fish some dock pilings first thing. We were using mud minnows and I think that may have suppressed the drum bite. The anglers were  making excellent casts and although the bite was slow, Martha knocked the skunk off with
a nice Redfish catch. Bob followed that up with a small Trout catch.

We bounced over to some exposed oysters, fished the edges and at one point saw and heard some Redfish feeding across an oyster peninsular. At one time we saw a big Redfish tail and boil, but we just couldn't get in range to even keep up with their movement. The tide was about to hit bottom so we made a move, and boy was it a good move!

We ran down to Broward Island and fished the logs - the tide was still going out but we caught some fish. Martha put a very large Trout in the boat, an followed that up with another keeper sized one. Then Bob got in on the action and landed a Slot Redfish. Tommy finally had a strong hookup but after  brief battle it found its way under a log and BAP! Fish off. Ouch. We worked along the bank, picked up a few more fish, then moved further up the island as the tide started back in. We caught some smaller fish then Tommy had a bite and, BIG FISH ON! Luckily, this fish came out deep and all Tommy had to do was keep the pressure on, which he did perfectly. The big fish ran deep and long a few times but Tommy was up to the task and eventually landed a big, 26.5" "tournament" sized Redfish - this fish had some "shoulders"!

We continued to fish and Martha added another keeper sized Trout then Bob, using a Temptation Bait fluke, landed a very large Seatrout. Although the day started slow it finished big and made for another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

In-De-FENCE-able good catching day

Wow what a pretty morning we had today! Zach Peyton and I launched up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp early this morning and the water was like glass. We left the dock and skimmed across the river to make Tiger Island our first stop. The tide had just started in so we began tossing jigs and live shrimp to the pockets and it didn't take long before we were hooking up. Zach quickly knocked the skunk off with a nice feisty Redfish catch then we were both landing fish. We had a few that "pulled the hook" and I kinda wonder if those weren't Sheepshead. A couple of them were

big enogh to force their way away from the boat and into the downed limbs.

But we had enough action to make up for it and after a good handful of the smaller Reds, Zach landed a nice keeper sized Slot fish. We worked the bank thoroughly, landed a small Black "puppy" Drum, then headed back to Eagans Creek to fish some dock pilings. It was somewhat strange - we had no bites (other than baitstealers) but when we moved to the other side of the dock we began to pick up fish.  Again, a very good flurry of Redfish catches, and one or two that broke off on the pilings, then we landed a nice keeper sized Black Drum.

When that bite slowed we made the run up Bell River, fished some more docks, then made one last stop in the Jolley to fish some float rigs along a  now flooded oyster bank. Zack picked up another Redfish and I landed a small Seatrout. And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

Low and Incoming The Best

We got a jump on the low and incoming tide this morning when I met Alan Woodcox and his buddy Willy out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp. When you launch there your ready to fish within minutes! We made the first stop around at some docks at Seymore's Pointe. The guys started tossing jigs with live shrimp to the dock pilings and it didn't take long before Willy had a strong hookup and, Fish On! But this was a smart fish and it immediately wrapped around a piling and....Fish Off! Ouch! But Willy went right back to
the spot and hooked up again. He landed a couple of nice Redfish with one of them of keeper size. Alan was fishing deeper and put a Seatrout in the boat.

We fished a couple of more docks then bounced around to fish some rocks back towards the ramp. This was deep water but we had switched to float rigs with 3" leaders-they had to be right up near the rocks and it did the trick. Both anglers landed feisty Redfish, another was a nice 20" Slot fish, then Willy put a big 26" Slot fish in the boat. 

When the bite slowed we made a run down to Broward Island and fished the downed logs. The bite had slowed but we still had a handful of Reds and a couple of Trout caught. After fishing some flooding ouster beds we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Hot February Fishing Leads to Grande Slam

I fished again with Frank Boehm, his buddy Jack Severson and their friend Tom, this tome meeting them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. It was fogged in when we left the ramp but we took our time and eased up the Intercoastal, turned into the Nassau and made our way around to Broward Island to catch the first of an incoming tide. We baited up our "Walleye Rocker" jigs with live shrimp - these jigs have extremely good hooks, are brightly painted, and are streamlined to bounce over bottom structure - and it wasn't long before we were catching fish. Jack was catching Redfish on the

bow, Tom was catching Redfish on the stern, and they both added a Seatrout and a Black "puppy" Drum to garner an Amelia Island Back Country Slam.

We worked the bank for a good 75 yards and boated a handful of Reds with a few of them being of keeper size. One of the Trout was a keeper. We were joined by two majestic Bald Eagles.  Our next stop was back at Seymore's Pointe. Frank had been holding back, letting the other guys enjoy their day, but finally he decided to join

in and put a couple of nice Reds in the boat along with another Trout. Tom added a keeper sized Black Drum.

We moved around the corner, fished some rocks with float rigs and live shrimp and on the first cast Tom had a hookup. He landed it expertly and we saw that it was a keeper sized Flounder, the first of the year for the Anglers Mark (and a Grande Slam for these anglers) then Frank landed a feisty Redfish. Jack was fishing the stern with a slip float, a tad bit deeper, and finally it disappeared beneath the surface. Jack tightened up and when the drag began to sing I thought that maybe his drag was too loose. This fish was pulling hard! But Jack kept the pressure on, fought it patiently, and soon landed an oversized 30" Redfish, a fish that places him squarely tied for first place in the Anglers Mark 2018 Bragging Rights Tournament (scroll down the right side of this report for standings).  Boy what a fish!

We moved on, now that the tide was almost high, and ran back to Christopher Creek, passing an Osprey on the way. We caught a handful of feisty Reds then Jack had another strong bite on the jig and shrimp and, Fish ON!  He fought it perfectly and after a good battle, landed another oversized 27.25" Redfish. Now that's the way to wrap up another great fishing trip here at Amelia Island, Florida.

We Thought The First One Was Big

Finally! A beautiful morning! After a couple of days of nasty weather, this morning was picture perfect when I met Eric Brooks up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp. It was right at high tide when we left the dock and headed over to the outside of Tiger with some float rigs and live shrimp. We made our first stop at some flooded oysters and worked the grass line in hopes for a cruising Redfish or hungry Trout. Not a nibble. We crossed over the creek and fished another marsh line thoroughly, tossing up current and
letting the bait drift naturally along the bank and again, no bites.

We began to make a run through Tiger and even though the tide was still really high, we made a pit stop at the logs thinking we could give them a brief shot. I pin pointed Eric where to cast and he did so perfectly..."left of the stump"! It didn't take long and BOOM! Big fish on!  Eric must have been living right because he was way up amongst the roots but he worked the big fish out, kept the pressure on, and landed a nice 25" Slot Redfish! Now that's the way to knock the skunk off the boat!

After getting some pictures he went back to the same spot and again, it didn't take long, Bigger fish on! This one ripped drag just like the first one but it was determined not to come to the boat. But Eric was up to the challenge and after a good battle landed an oversized 27.5" Red. Now that's a nice fish. We released it after getting some pictures and it swam lazily to the bottom. This fish eased Eric into third place in the 2018 Anglers Mark Bragging Rights Tournament-Redfish Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings).

We caught a handful more of Reds but most were in the 17" size range and then we added a nice 16" Seatrout. When things slowed we ran over to Lanceford, fished some dock pilings, and Eric picked up one more feisty Redfish.  Our final stop was up Bell River where we found we could toss our jig and live shrimp up current, let it go to the bottom, and then just keep the slack out of it and wait for the tap, tap, tap - set the hook and bring another Trout to the boat. It was a beautiful day and we wrapped it up catching Speckled (and sometimes Spotted) Seatrout and counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

From Gloom To Glory

The forecast last night called for cloudy skies but that was an understatement.  I  met Doug Mackle, Stan Jackson and their buddy Matt up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park this morning and the air was so thick with moisture I couldn't wear my glasses! But we were all bundled pretty well so we headed down the river and into the Bell with plans to fish some flooded oysters beds with float rigs and live shrimp. The anglers were making excellent casts to the marsh grass but we had  no real takers.

We ran around to the mouth of Lanceford and fished a grassy island
and even though we did have a nibble, we had actual bites. The tide had been going out for a while so we headed over to Eagans Creek and found some docks to fish. after working three or four with jigs and shrimp and no luck, we finally hit on one that had fish.

Doug got things started when he hooked up with a nice fish and after expertly playing the fish, he landed a slot Redfish. Then all three anglers got in on the action and we forgot about the gloomy weather!  Matt put a fish in the boat, another Slot, then Stan landed another, this one the biggest at 21.5". We caught a good 8-10 Reds and a couple of hungry Seatrout. Although the day started out really slow and gloomy, we ended it on a high note and all was well, making it another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

If You Wanna Catch A Seatrout

You're almost guaranteed to catch a Seatrout of you get out and fish these days. I had three straight trips this weekend, including today, where we had good catches of Trout. Today, I met Doug and Ramona Leische and their cousin Mark up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp, early. We made a run over to Lanceford Creek and fished the edges of docks with 1/4 oz jigs and live shrimp (Doug was tossing a fly w/intermediate line, for the love of it!) on the first of an outgoing tide. After tossing the jig/shrimp combo up current,
first cast, boom! Fish On!  Ramona worked it in slowly and landed a keeper sized Seatrout! Now that's the way to start a trip! Later, Ramono put a small but hard fighting Black "puppy" Drum in the boat. 

We fished up and down the docks, tossing to the bank, letting it fall slowly down the rive bottom and had good action catching a number of Seatrout, most just undersized, but we had another keeper along the way.

Doug was one of the better fly casters that I've had on the boat lately and he worked his sinking line diligently. As it turned out, Doug was a retired fly-guide who has fished Idaho, Alaska, Florida, and many points in between. While comparing stories we both realized that we had met Joan Wulff, an icon in the fly fishing community. Ramona shared a photo of Doug in his younger years that he had taken with Joan and Lee Wulff.

After working the docks thoroughly, we ran up to the Jolley River, fished some now exposed oysters but had no real bites. We made our way around to Tiger and joined two more boats fishing the bank. As I set the anchor, here came two more boats - it was a Sunday Boat Show!  Mark had made an excellent cast and it wasn't long before he had a hookup and landed a nice feisty Redfish. It must have telegraphed out that experienced anglers were in the area because that was the last fish we caught for the day! After working the island, a long bank with deep water, and then some more oyster beds, we called it day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

Grabbing Sheepshead Bragging Rights

I fished this afternoon too, this time with Dennis and Barb Lockard, and leaving out of the Sawpit ramp. The morning fog had lifted and it was turning out to be a beautiful day. We ran up the Nassau River and straight to Broward Island to catch the first of an incoming tide. Dennis was on the bow fishing the first pocket with a jig and live shrimp and wasn't having much success when he felt a light bump, set the hook, and FISH ON! This fish went deep and was ripping drag but Dennis kept the pressure on. I thought for sure, "Redfish", the way it was pulling but as Dennis fought it to
the surface we saw that it was a really nice sized Sheepshead. Dennis worked it expertly to the net and we landed  big 19.5" Sheepshead, the biggest of the year on the Anglers Mark, and set the standard for the 2018 Bragging Rights Tournament (scroll down the right side of this report for standings). We continued to fish the bank and began to pick up some Seatrout, fairly regularly with a couple being of keeper size.

When the bite slowed we made the run back to Seymore's Pointe
and fished  some dock pilings. Although the bite wasn't on fire, the two angles did pick up a few Seatrout.

Our final stop was in Christopher Creek. It only took a few minutes and Dennis had put feisty Redfish in the boat. We worked our way around a bend, found another Red, then it was Barbara's turn to fight a big fish. We'd had a good hookup and this fish was intent on getting tangled in some structure but Barb kept the pressure on and soon landed a Slot sized 22" Redfish.  He/she must have put out the alert because that was the last fish we caught for the rest of the trip! But the skies had cleared, the sun was out, and we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

Fishing In A Fog

Boy was it foggy this morning! I had met Tanya McDermott and her friend Donald down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and visibility wasn't but about 50 yards so we inched our way out of Sawpit and up the intercoastal to make our first stop along a bank in Jackstaff. I had both anglers tossing float rigs with live shrimp in hopes that maybe we'd find a Redfish along the bank but we only had one nibble.

We ran through Horsehead and around to Seymore's Pointe and set up stream from some dock pilings and Donald "knocked the skunk" off when he landed a hungry Seatrout then a fat Redfish. We dropped back and fished another dock and here Tanya had the hot hand, landing a couple of nice Trout.

Our next stop was down at Pumpkin Hill and here we again worked some oysters beds where the mud flats were draining but to no avail. Our final stop was down at Broward Island, fishing the logs, and as the fog lifted, both anglers found fish. They landed  a good  handful of Seatrout and handful of feisty Redfish. Although we started out in a god, we had good action later and it turned out to be a great day to be out on the water here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Mixing In Some Fly Casting and Fishing

I also fished yesterday afternoon, this time meeting Doug and Joan Paul down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We had a little bit of everything - fly gear with floating lines, fly gear with intermediate lines, and spinning gear set up for jigs and float rigs! We made our first and longest run up the Nassau River and around to Christopher Creek where we were sheltered from the SE wind which made for some perfect fly casting conditions.

Doug set up on the bow with a 7w outfit strung up with WFF line

and a "Troy James" brown bug. He was making some good casts to the marsh grass that I new had a shell bottom edging it. We worked that bank then switched to an 8w rod/reel lined with intermediate line and baited with a small chartreuse and pink Clouser. We worked the docks and rocks, letting the line sink and drag the clouser down thru the water column.

For the most part, Doug was working on his cast and his line handling skills and quickly picked up the concept of using a roll cast to get the sunk line back to the top of the water and then make his back cast. We worked up and down the bank then Joan decided to try her hand with the spin gear and a live shrimp. She was making excellent casts which soon paid off with a couple of bites and brief hookups.

We ran around to some docks at Seymore's Pointe and fishing from stern, worked dome dock pilings with the fly rod and jig/shrimp.  After not getting bites, Joan completely ignored my instructions and went to the bank with a cast and promptly hooked up and landed a nice feisty Redfish! This never fails to happen. Later, at another dock, she hooked up and landed a fat but hungry Seatrout.

We had a good day of casting and fishing and being on the water so we counted it as great to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

He Had The Touch

Finally, back at it today!  I fished this morning with Frank Boehm and his buddies Jack and Darrel Severson, meeting them first thing up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park and heading north and west to give the Tiger Islands a shot at the very bottom of a low tide. We worked the pockets with live shrimp and "Ozzie Jigs" tossed to the bank and fished slowly back. It didn't take long before Darrel had a hookup and BOOM! First fish in the boat, a nice keeper sized Seatrout. I thought, "here we go!". But it was slow going after that, even after
the tide turned and started back in - we had some bites but no takers.

We made the run around to Lanceford Creek and fished Oyster Bay dock  on that incoming tide. The guys were making excellent casts but again, no takers. After briefly fishing some oyster beds we found some docks with deeper water and this did the trick.

We found that we could toss the jig up near the dock, let it go to the
bottom then bounce slowly down the river bottom and after soft "bump", set the hook and , fish on! Jack seemed to have perfected the hang of it as he was "on fire". But both Darrel and Frank caught fish too. Darrel hooked up with a feisty Redfish and then Jack put a 10" Black "puppy" Drum in the boat.

Most of the Trout were in the 14" range but we did have a couple that were of keeper size. Although it was a tad bit windy we were able to find some areas to fish that had land mass blocking the breeze and it turned out to be another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

Just Go To A Different Dock

The temperatures dropped last night and when I met Roger Pickett and his fishing buddy David down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp the air temp was still in the 40's. But the skies were clear and the sun was coming up and it felt like it was going to be a good day...and it was! We ran up the Nassau River, straight to some docks at Seymore's Pointe, and began to fish jigs and live shrimp to the pilings. Although the guys were making excellent casts, dropping their presentation at the pilings and letting it fall to the bottom, we had no real bites after hitting two sides of one dock. We moved on to another and that did the trick. In no time at all, both
anglers were catching fish. As long as they got their baits up near the pilings they'd usually get a hookup on some feisty Redfish.

When things finally slowed we moved on down the line and fished another dock. But this one didn't have the magic and after fishing Bubblegum Reef briefly, we went around the corner and fished some rocks with float rigs and live shrimp, getting the presentation right up near the rocks. Again, it only took minutes and BOOM!
Big Fish On! David was on the rod and he patiently played the fish, letting it run deep and rip the drag. But after a good battle, David brought to the net a nice 26" Slot Redfish. (All fish were released today). Roger followed that  up with a 27" Red then both he and David had a double hookup and both of them landed Slot sized fish. Once they were released the two angler went back to the rocks and BOOM! Another big fish on! Roger worked hard to keep the fish out of the pilings and once he had him out he kept the pressure on. It was along fight on light tackle, but patience paid off when Roger landed a big 30" oversized Red- big enough to kick off the 2018 Anglers Mark Bragging Rights Tournament, 1st place in the Redfish category!  The two anglers picked up a couple of more Reds and Roger added a feisty Sheepshead before we made a run down to Broward Island, getting there just in time for the first of an incoming tide.

Broward wasn't on fire but the two anglers did pick up a couple of more Reds; David added a keeper sized Seatrout and Roger followed that up with one of his on. David had what may have been the biggest fish on the day on, but after battling the fish out from the bank, it must have found an old log to swim under. The line went tight and locked down, a sure sign of the fish wrapping around something and then BAP! Big fish off! But both anglers had caught a bunch of fish so we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Great Start After Bad Weather

Although the river was socked in with fog as we started out this morning, Bob Blalock and I both had a feeling we might have some good fishing today. We met out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp and after leaving the dock, crept through the fog, all the way down to Broward Island. After I got the boat locked in on anchor, Bob made his first cast up along side a downed log and...BOOM! Redfish on! Now that's the way to start a fishing trip. Bob was fishing with a 1/4oz jig and live shrimp and making excellent casts to the logs and it paid off. We picked up 3-4 small Reds then a nice keeper sized 17" Seatrout.


As things slowed we moved up the bank, working the logs and when Bob hooked up again and his drag began to rip we new this was a bigger fish, and boy was it! The fish ran deep and under the boat - I was too busy filming but eventually moved the boat to catch up to the fish. Bob worked it patiently and soon landed an oversized 28.5" Redfish (the biggest of the year - and it kicks off  the 2018 Anglers Mark Bragging Rights Tournament). We continued to fish and shortly after Bob put a 25.5" Slot fish in the boat, then a 20" Slot fish and I added a 19.5" Slot Red. 

When things finally slowed we ran back and around to Seymore's Pointe and fished some docks, picking up another feisty Redfish. The sun was getting up and the day had turned out really beautiful and we had one more stop to make, this one back at Christopher Creek. Bob pitched up between some docks and pulled out on Red then further around found one more Red up near a small stump. And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Recipe of the Month: Mom's Sausage Balls

2lbs          Ground Jimmy Dean Hot Sausage       

1 1/2 C     Bisquick
2 C           Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
1/2 t         Onion Salt
3  Tbsp    water

Mix all ingredients together. Spray baking pan (one that has sides) with cooking spray.
Wet your fingers and roll sausage mix into 1" balls and place on sheet. Cook for 15-20 minutes at
375 degrees.  Check the balls at 15 minutes and reposition pan if needed to get an even cook. Cook until browned.

Sunshine And The Fish Bite

We wrapped up the year today with another cold one! But we had very little wind and with layers, it was nice...once the sun came out! I had met Allen and Lavern Webb up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp and after the quick safety orientation, we eased north and west to the outside of Tiger with plans to fish float rigs and live shrimp on the first of an outgoing tide. Crazy how just a month changes things...we had no real bites although the conditions were perfect for at least Seatrout. I'm guessing the water is now way too
cool for shallow water fishing.

Even though I dislike fishing the logs on a high tide, we were right there so we bounced around and began fishing jigs and shrimp deep, guestimating where the logs were. We got hung a few times on submerged branches, but it wasn't too bad. We'd had cloudy skies from sun up until about 9am but when the clouds dispersed the sun was warming and.....the fish began to bite. The two anglers began to hookup and catch Redfish, one after the other. Most were just a tad bit too short, but eventually Allen put a keeper sized Slot fish in the boat. We had at least two more that probably were legal but the were so close we didn't want to chance it.

We fished up and down the bank, camping out at Tiger Island and each time we moved we'd pickup a fish. most were Redfish but Laverne found a hungry Seatrout and we also had one small Black "puippy" Drum -an Amelia Island, Backcountry Slam of Redfish, Seatrout and Sheepshead. It probably had more to do with the tide getting down, but we all commented on how the fish began to bite once the sun came out. We weren't complaining and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Black And Red

I sure am glad I had that new North Face Tri Season jacket on this morning! Along with a few other layers. I had met Dale Bullard and his brother Danny down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and when we ran up the intercoastal I was all zipped up and balakava/knit cap and glove clad - and was very comfortable on that first run which is always a "cool" one. We made that stop in a side creek off of  Jackstaff and with a high and outgoing tide, began to toss live shrimp under some float rigs.

( I've been using some Matrix floats that I picked up from Academy

Sports  that seem to be made of denser foam which means they'll hold up better and cast further. They also use a flexible wire similar to the Bomber brand which keeps them from bending out of shape. One small detail that I like is a small washer between the float and bottom brass beads. The Cajun Thunder and Bomber floats don't have the little washer and over a period of time, the beads will "smush" up into the float.)

It didn't take long before Dale had put a keeper size Seatrout in the boat, but after fishing that spot and another, we had no more real bites, so we ran through Horsehead and around to some docks at Seymore's Pointe and began fishing jigs and shrimp tossed to the pilings. We had a good flurry of Seatrout catches then Danny seemed to have a bite. I'd of bet money that he had a big 'ole clump of oysters but Danny insisted it was a fish, and a big one! Sure enough, it was just big and wanted to stay on the bottom. Buy Danny worked it up patiently and soon landed a nice 20"+ Black Drum, boy what a fish!  We hit a few more docks, picked up a couple of feisty Redfish, then ran down to Broward Island to fish some logs.

I had hardly gotten the Minnkota on anchor and Danny hadn't even baited up yet as Dale made a good cast forward into the current. He said it had not sunk but a bit when, BOOM! FISH ON! It was a big one, too.  Dale played it perfectly  and as it got back in the current, he kept the pressure on, and after a good  battle, landed a 22.5" Slot sized Redfish. We picked up a couple of more smaller fish, bounced up and down the island, landed another Slot Red, then made one more stop back at some docks at Seymore's to add one more big Black "puppy" Drum to the box. We had to work for them today, but these two anglers made it happen and ended up with a nice mess of fish, so we called it another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Double Honey Hole

I thought for sure the cold and nasty weather would clear up this morning...NOT! But my guest anglers were  up for fishing and fishing we did! I had met Adam Alfrey,  his daughter Rose Marie and the two grandfathers Randy and Bill down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and we headed up the Nassau River to set up along side some exposed oyster shell on an outgoing tide. The 4 anglers were tossing jigs and shrimp up current and when Adam put a small Trout in the boat, I thought, "here we go"! But there weren't a
whole lot more, maybe one or two, caught along that stretch.

We ran further up the river to some docks at Seymore's Pointe and fished back to the pilings. Adam had the hot rod early and began to put one after the other Seatrout in the boat. Young Rose Marie joined him and she too began to catch fish. We bounced around to the other side and both Adam and Bill caught a couple of fat Weakfish, one of which was 17".

After moving further down a few docks we found a nice spot that was holding some Redfish. They had to cast to a certain spot but when the did, BOOM! Redfish on. Most were in the 16-17.5" range, but Rose Marie did put a nice Slot fish in the boat. When that slowed we ran down to Broward Island and here things got hot. The tide was at the very bottom, still going out, which made it just right to fish the downed logs. We found one "honey hole" right off - Randy worked it good and landed a good handful of Reds, Rose Marie began to follow him in and she too caught a few Reds, then Bill joined in. As that spot slowed, Bill found another spot just up the way within casting distance and it was just as loaded as fish as the first spot. Adam squeezed and caught his share of fish - again, most just a tad short, but we did land a few more that were in the Slot size, one that was up to 20". We fished it until we ran out of bait then called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Redfish On Every Cast

Foggier today than yesterday! When I met Bob Blalock up at the Dee Dee Bartels park I already had my navigation and stern lights on and we crept away from the boat ramp, taking it easy out thru the channel and around to Tiger Island. We eased up to some flooded oysters and began tossing live shrimp under a float with a short leader and....BAM, Redfish on! I think Bob had more stamina than I did and he needed it - he was getting a fish or a bite on every cast! It was crazy. Most of the Redfish were short but as we moved around we began to get into some bigger, 20" Slot sized fish. Two
hours later I looked at my watch and we were still catching fish.  It seemed like when the tide changed and started out was when the fish bite began to slow.

We bounced over and fished a large creek mouth on the first of an outgoing tide, then ran up to the Jolley River to fish a spot that had been hot from yesterday's trip. However, the conditions were a tad bit different and although Bob did put a feisty Black "puppy" Drum in the boat, there wasn't much going on.

We continued on around to the Bell River and set up off from some docks and switched to jigs and shrimp, tossed to the shore line, and fished slowly back. This did the trick. Bob found some fish and put a good handful of Seatrout in the boat. We did find one that was of keeper size. We worked in and out of the docks, caught another Trout or two, then headed in, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Foggy Morning Fish Catching Bonanaza

The radio announcer was warning about the fog as I trailered my boat to the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp this morning and sure enough, when I launched, there was fog causing a tad bit of visibility issues. But my navigation lights and stern light were working and when Jim Barron, his son David, and grandsons Wyatt and Walker walked up we were ready to get out on the mirror like water and get some fishing in!

It was a short jump over to Tiger Island and with a high and incoming tide, we found some flooded oysters to toss live shrimp under floats to. In short order Wyatt had a hookup and landed a feisty Redfish. Then it was almost bedlam! All anglers were hooking up! Walker had a big one on - you could tell when it ripped drag and boiled up out by the marsh grass - it was going to do it's best not to come to the boat. But Walker worked it patiently and after a good battle, landed a nice 24" Slot Redfish. Both David and his dad Jim were putting fish in the boat then it was Wyatt's turn to
fight the big fish. These Reds were fat and had some "shoulders", but Wyatt played it perfectly and he too landed a 24" Slot fish. We worked up and down the bait, sometimes having "double" hookups, and caught a good umpteen Redfish.

When the bite finally slowed we made the run through Tiger and around to Bell and set up at a grassy point as the tide began to change.Walker and Wyatt found a hot spot for hungry Seatrout and landed a good handful of them. We came back to the outside of Tiger and now the tide was really moving out. I think we landed one or two Seatrout then we made one final run, and a good final run it was!

Whenever I catch fish at a certain spot I always ask myself, "why here?"  Well, we had fairly deep water, flooded oysters up near the bank, a large creek flowing out, and a back eddy happening. We got into some more Redfish and it was every angler for themselves! We put 8-10 Slot Redfish in the boat, another good handful of small ones, a few Trout, and a small Black "puppy" Drum. Then Wyatt wrapped things up when he hooked, fought, and landed the biggest fish of the day, a 27.5" Oversized Redfish! Now that's the way to wrap up another great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.