Grande Slam on a Great Day

What a beautiful morning to start the week here at Amelia Island, Florida! I met John Cipriani and Dean Miller out at the Goffinsville Park with the tide still going out but due to hit bottom within the hour so we made a bee-line for  Broward Island and set up off of the tree tops with plans to fish with jigs and live shrimp. The Redfish were busting bait all along the bank and it wasn't long before they were busting John and Dean's baits too!  We began to catch one Redfish after the other and then picked up a good handful of Seatrout, too.  Dean added a Flounder to round out his  "Slam" early then John had a
strong bite and the battle was on!  He played the big fish patiently, kept the pressure on, and soon landed a 26" "Tournament" Slot Redfish, boy what a fish!

We fished that spot thoroughly, then moved down the island and picked up a couple of fish before we made the run back to Seymore's Pointe and picked a dock to fish. One side didn't produce but he other one did! Both John and Dean both put some Black "puppy" Drum in the boat to garner their "Grande Slam" for the day and they also had a feisty Redfish to go along with the catch.

Our next stop was down at Spanish Drop and here John picked up a couple of Reds and then a Trout. Our final stop was back at Pumpkin Hill and just when I thought we'd get "skunked" on this one, Dean had something roll on his bait, take it with a vengeance and then it was off to deep water. Dean kept the pressure on and let the light tackle rod do the work as the fish took him to the bow then it fought from one side of the boat to the other. But Dean was up to the task and eventually landed a nice 4' Bonnethead Shark, boy what a battle. And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

Grass Patches

I fished again this morning with the Blalock fishing team William and Bob, meeting this time out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp. With just a short jump over to Pumpkin Hill, we were fishing in a matter of minutes. Both Bob and William were set up fishing live shrimp under floats on a high and still incoming tide. Although our first spot produced nothing but nibbles, we eased forward 50 yards and began to catch fish. Bob had the hot hand early and picked up 2-3 keeper sized Trout behind a small grassy island.

We eased around a point and drifted down the bank, pitching to the grass, and when we got to
another couple of stand-alone grass patches, BOOM!  We began to catch fish. It was only about 3' deep and I knew there were oyster beds underneath the water. Bob had landed a fish or two and William had yet to "get on the board" when his float went by a patch of grass and slowly went under. William set the hook and the fish went crazy!  It fought and splashed and jumped all the way to the boat but William easily landed the biggest fish of the day, a nice 21" fat Seatrout (all fish caught today were released). Boy what a fish! After getting few more fish there we made the short run over to Christopher Creek.

As we worked some dock pilings with jigs and live shrimp,  William stayed hot, catching a feisty Redfish and a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum. Bob had a good bite that thru the hook then he had a huge bite - one that ripped drag and stayed put...and thru the hook, ouch! 

We fished some docks at Seymore's Pointe then switched to some jigs and plastic grubs and we did pick one more Trout before we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

Herculean Effort

It was a dark and gloomy....morning...but the winds of the last two days had died down and the rain was offshore so Bob and William Blalock and I headed out from the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp and over to the outside of Tiger Island to fish the last of a high and incoming tide. Bob was tossing live shrimp under a float and William was pitching a topwater Zara Spook Jr (red head, white body). The two anglers worked the grass line - Bob got a bunch of nibbles and William had zero "pops" until finally, BOOM! He had a vicious strike, a hookup, and skunk off the boat with a nice Seatrout. But there just
weren't any fish to be had.

We ran thru Tiger Basin and around to Bell River and set up at a point of grass and this did the trick Both anglers were fishing the float rigs and they began to get a Seatrout here, and a Seatrout there. And another Trout. And another Trout. They gradually began to build a good "mess 'o fish". 

After running over and then up into the Lanceford Creek, we found nice grass patch to fish and again, the duo put fish in the boat with every once in a while one being a keeper sized fish. We also picked up a first couple of Reds there as the tide started out.

Our final stop was over in Soap Creek and things got crazy in a hurry! Both William and Bob put fish in the boat - Trout and Red's, then Bob had a strong hookup...but it was on the other side if a grassy island, and as it turned out, on the other side of an oyster bed! The fish ran up a slew then buried itself in the grass and stuck. We moved in closer with the boat and Bob leaned out and pulled the fish loose and the battle was on again. After a herculean effort, Bob worked the fish to the boat and landed a nice 24" Slot Redfish.

We ran out of live bait catching fish then switched to artificials and continued to catch fish. Bob was using a natural colored/chartreuse tail weighted shrimp under his float and William caught fish on a rootbeer grub with chartreuse tail and also a black spoon with rootbeer grub, all of which made for a great way to end a day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Trout Flurry Early

We had a beautiful morning today when I met Pete Nolan and his friends Victor and Sherif down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We made the short run up the intercoastal to dip into Jackstaff Creek and then went a tad bit further up into the marsh. The three anglers were tossing float rigs and live shrimp under floats to the marsh grass on a high and outgoing tide and it didn't take long for them to begin to get hookups. Pete started it off with a Trout catch then all three anglers were getting fish. Most of the fish were Seatrout, but Sherif put a couple of hard fighting Bluefish in the boat.

When things slowed down we dropped back to the mouth of Jackstaff and fished that shell bank and again, we got plenty of smaller but hungry Seatrout.  We also had a couple of feisty Redfish caught then Sherif hooked up with something and big and the battle was on. By the way it ran deep, and like a freight train, I guessed that it was a shark, and after a tremendous battle, I was proved correct. Sherif worked it to the boat a patiently and soon landed a nice 4' Shark.

We fished some docks at Seymore's Pointe to no avail, then ran down to Spanish Drop and even though we hand some slow action, Victor managed to find us a nice Redfish. We finished up fishing at Broward Island tossing jigs and shrimp and finger mullet then we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

 

Amelia Island Super Grande Slam...and Perch

After some nasty days of weather I was back fishing today, meeting Billy Redfield, his dad Bill, and uncle Cliff up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park early with plans to fish the outgoing tide. We made the run around to and up into the Jolley River, making our first stop at Snook Creek. The three anglers began making their casts with float rigs and live shrimp up to the still flooded marsh grass and it only took a minute or two before all three were putting Redfish in the boat. As long as we were up near the grass with our casts, Boom!
Redfish. We worked that bank thoroughly, then moved on down the way and picked up another fish or two, and then the baitstealing Perch moved in.

Our next stop was back at Jolley Bank but even though these anglers were making excellent casts we had no real takers so we ran back up the Jolley to the MOA and switched to jigs. Again, just baitstealing Perch. You gotta be good to catch a little fish!

We were up that way so we continued on around to the docks at Bell River and set up current from the pilings and did this did the trick. Billy had made a pinpoint cast to a "stob", let it sit, and BOOM! Nice Redfish on! He worked it out from the pilings then patiently played it to the net and landed Slot 23" Redfish, boy what a nice fish!  We continued to work the docks and the three anglers put Seatrout, a keeper sized Sheepshead, and a feisty Black "puppy" Drum in the boat. And some Perch.

Our final stop was way back at Tiger Island and here we wrapped things up with another couple of Redfish catches and to top it off, a Flounder catch that gave us a Super Grande Slam. What a way to wrap up a great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

We Got The Slot Reds

I fished this morning -another beautiful one - with Dut Leblanc and his son-in-law Stephen, meeting them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp as the sun came up over the horizon. We made a quick run up the Nassau River and made our first stop along some exposed oysters on an outgoing tide. Crazy how one day can make a difference - yesterday morning we fished the same spot with the same bait and just tore up the small but feisty Redfish. Today - not a single Red, but these two anglers were not deterred and began to get Seatrout, bouncing their  jigs and shrimp down the river bottom. Most were just undersized but finally Stephen put a keeper in the boat.

We moved further up the way, fished a large run out, and again, Seatrout but no Redfish. Crazy. After fishing some docks at Seymore's Pointe with no real bites, we made the run down to Broward Island and fished the jigs deep, and it paid off. I had caught some finger mullet and it was this that Stephen had a huge bite and, Fish On! He played it patiently to the boat an landed a nice 21" Slot Redfish. Both Dut and Stephen picked up a couple of more smaller Reds before we worked our way down the island. We got a bite here and there - Dut had a huge bite and as he worked it to the boat - it let go!  We could see the teeth marks on his mullet but it didn't get the hook!

As we dropped back to the original spot before we left the island, Stephen had another good it, set the hook, and successfully fought to the boat another 21" Slot Redfish. We fished the rocks at Seymore's where Dut tangled with a big high flying Ladyfish, then fished the oysters at Spanish Drop one  more time before calling it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Three Way Tie

We've got a three way tie in the Anglers Mark 2018 Bragging Rights Tournament - Flounder Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings). I had met Tim Parker, his brother Brian, and son Wes out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp and we immediately made the short run down the Nassau River, heading east, and made a stop at some exposed oysters shells in the Spanish Drop area. The tide had been going out a few hours and the trio began tossing live shrimp up to the edge of the shell and almost
instantly began to get fish. They caught one feisty Redfish after the other and added a couple of hungry Trout, too.

We moved up the way and fished a large marsh run out and again, it was a great fish catch'n time. We found that if we kept the boat out a ways we tended to hookup Seatrout out deeper as our jig bounced the bottom. After making a quick stop at some docks at Seymore's Pointe where Wes added a Black "puppy" Drum to the mix (and garnered an Amelia Island Back Country Slam), we moved on
down to Broward Island. And again, more feisty Redfish.  We worked the bank thoroughly and eventually moved along a mud flat. Brian had a strong bite and looked like he was working in a concrete block - but it began to fight back!  Brian played it patiently and soon landed a 22" Doormat Flounder -which tied him for first in the Anglers Mark Bragging Rights Tournament! Boy what a fish!

82 Years of Experience

You can't beat the Fall fishing weather here at Amelia Island, Florida!  I met Bart Hough and his
father-in-law Albert down at the Dee Dee Bartels Park early yesterday morning and we made the long run around to Broward Island to fish the very last few minutes of an outgoing tide and the start of the incoming. The "demo" cast produced a bite and Albert worked in a nice feisty Redfish to start the day!

From then on it was catching fish! And big fish!  Albert put an oversized 30" Red in the boat then followed that up with a Slot 23" Red and then a Slot 26.75" Red!  Bart got in on the action and
began to catch Redfish, too. We worked that area for about an hour. Bart landed a couple of keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum before we moved on.

We fished some docks at Seyomore's Pointe and then wrapped up fishing at Spanish Drop. Here, Albert boated a 21" Seatrout and battled a 4' long Bonnethead Shark to the boat for pictures and release. The duo ended up taking home a nice bag of fish for dinner and it made for a great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Making a Day Out Of It

 

I pulled out of Sawpit Creek Friday around noon and headed north and after "re-baiting",  met the Hanna group - Jack and Motsy and their friends Glenn and Jan up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park. They had spent the morning playing golf and walking the beach and wanted to make a day out of it fishing the backwaters of Amelia Island.  We made or first stop at the Jolley River "bank" on a high and outgoing tide fishing live shrimp over the oysters and began to put one Redfish in the boat after another. All four anglers caught
fish on this beautiful afternoon. They also had Seatrout, Black Drum, Sheepshead and more.We wrapped up the day fishing the treetops of Tiger, then made it back to the dock with a couple of nice Slot sized Redfish.

 

Three Guys Fishing

I fished Friday morning with Howard McClure and his two longtime fishing buddies Brian and Joe, meeting them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We made the run up to the Broward Island/Horsehead/Spanish Drop area and fished with live shrimp on the first of an incoming tide. The fish bite is really coming on strong! In addition to a whole bunch of smaller fish, the trio boated a couple of Slot reds, a handful of keeper Seatrout, a couple of keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum and a big 19" Sheepeshead, which put Brian tied for 2nd place in the Anglers Mark 2018

 
 

Bragging Rights Tournament (scroll down the right side of this report for standings)  Boy what a beautiful day and a great fishing trip here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Fishing For Rabbits

WhooWhoo! What a pretty day we had for fishing the back waters of Amelia Island! I met Bud O'dell and his longtime friend Fred Hough down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp on a high and outgoing tide and we made a quick run up the Nassau River, stopping at a flooded shell bank along the river - Spanish Drop area. The two anglers started tossing float rigs up current, drifting their live shrimp along the edge and BOOM! Fish On! BOOM! Fish On!...that's how it went for almost an hour of fishing. They were catching feisty Redfish and hungry Seatrout, with a Ladyfish and Jack Crevalle thrown in for
fun.

When the bite finally slowed we moved on up to fish some docks at Seymore's Pointe. I had fished the same dock yesterday and we only picked up one Redfish and a small Snapper, but we had a better quantity show up today. Both Bud and Fred put a few Black "puppy" Drum in the boat that measured right at legal - we could have debated with the Game and Fish guy, but you know how that goes - so we tossed them back. We had picked up some finger mullet before we left the last spot and Bud hooked up and caught a nice Seatrout on one of the mullet.

Our final stop was down at Broward Island, again, the same spot as yesterday where my guests put a nice slot Red in the boat, but have something big pull lose later. Fred had hit the mark with his cast, kept the line tight, and we both saw something bumping his bait.  Fred gave it a second or two and then set the hook, UMPH! and Big Fish ON!  Fred played it perfectly, keeping that pressure on, and after a good battle landed a big 22" Doormat Flounder, big enough to tie him for the lead in the Anglers Mark 2018 Bragging Rights Tournament-Flounder category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings). And note, the minute the pressure came off the line when it was in the net, the hook popped right out!

We fished a few spots along Broward and picked up another handful of Redfish, then we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Saving The Best For Last

I was back to work today, meeting Daniel and Savannah Mullins down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning. We headed up the intercoastal and then into Jackstaff with plans to fish that first bank with jigs and live shrimp as the Rosette Spoonbills ate their breakfast along the bank. Both anglers started right off making excellent casts, working the bank slowly but they had to fend off "baitstealers", one after the other, after the other - what a pain! Although they both tangled with high flying Ladyfish, we had no other real bites.

Our next stop, after running thru Horsehead, was
down at Spanish Drop, fishing a large marsh run out. Here, Daniel did manage to "knock the skunk off" when he hooked up deep and landed a nice Seatrout. We moved down 100 yards, fished another shell bank, then headed back to Seymore's Pointe to fish some dock pilings. Both Daniel and Savannah were making pin point casts, working it hard, and it paid off when Daniel caught a feisty Redfish...but that was it. Tough fishing! But these anglers were game and here to have a good time. We had beautiful weather and another hour or so of fishing, so we headed south, down to Broward Island and began fishing the logs.

This did the trick! Savannah had a strong bite, she set the hook, and Fish On. She worked it patiently tot he boat and soon landed a nice feisty Redfish. Then Daniel got in on the action, hooked up and caught a Red, then both anglers were catching fish.  We worked the island pretty good, then just as the trip was about to wrap up, BOOM! Big Fish On!  Daniel was on the rod - he fought it from bow to stern then, keeping the pressure on, worked it slowly  to the boat. It made a couple of deep runs but it was no match for this experienced angler and he soon brought it to Savannah's waiting net - a 23" Slot Redfish!  Now that's the way to wrap up a great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Mixing Work With Play

We had a Snack Food convention in town and a few of us in the Amelia Island Guides Association got to take some of them out fishing on the back waters of Amelia Island yesterday afternoon. I had Mark and Tonya on my boat and we had a great time!  Our first stop was up the Lanceford Creek, fishing "Millies Spot" and again, just like this morning, first cast produced a fish. Tonya was on the rod and she worked it in expertly and landed her first Redfish. Now that's the way to start a fishing trip!  From then on for about an hour we were catching fish. Mark put a couple of keeper sized Seatrout in the boat then
he had a strange bite, set the hook and brought to the net a keeper sized Sheepshead! (all fish caught today were released).  Tonya and Mark were neck and neck in the fish catch count.

Our next stop was on the outside of Tiger, fishing an outgoing tide with float rigs and here the duo picked up a couple of Seatrout before the tide got too low to fish it.

We then made the long run back thru Tiger and around to the Jolley, stopped to fish the "bank" and after trolling for just a bit Mark had a strong hookup!  You could tell Mark had caught fish before because he played this big fish perfectly and soon landed a nice Slot sized Redfish.  We fished further up the Jolley, picked up another Redfish or two, then called it day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Birthday Fun Fishing

Yesterday morning I met Paul Leavy, his son Grayson, and brother-in-law Joe for Grayson's birthday fishing trip!  We left the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp early and shot across to Tiger Island and fished the tree tops with jigs and live shrimp and wouldn't you know it...first cast, Boom! Fish on!  Grayson was on the rod and he worked it patiently to the boat, knocking the "skunk off" in fine fashion!  We had a good flurry of action for a good while, catching smaller Reds, then Paul had a stronger hookup and boated a keeper sized Slot Redfish. Grayson added keeper sized Flounder to the

catch.

We ran out and around to the outside of Tiger, set up at a marsh run out, and here Joe got on the board with a couple of Seatrout catches - giving the trio an Amelia Island Back Country Slam.
We fished the "bank" of the Jolley briefly with float rigs but after Grayson mentioned that he'd like a Shark catch, we went further up in to the Jolley and into Snook Creek. I put a heavier leader on one of the Shimano 2500 outfit and in a short time Grayson had the hookup he was looking for. He played the big fish patiently and
after a good battle, landed a 4'+ Bonnethead which we photographed and released.  Paul put a nice Redfish in the boat shortly after that.

Our next stop was back around at the Bell River and here Joe got hot with the float rig, catching a handful of hungry Seatrout. Grayson stuck with the jig rod up on the bow, tossing deep and picked up a couple of Weakfish which made my day. We had good action most of the morning and it made for a great birthday celebration fishing trip here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Fish'n For Ham

Dale and Kay Bullard usually bring me a couple of their outstandingly delicious ham sandwiches when the fish with me here at Amelia Island, and today was more of the same! These aren't "out of the package" ham sandwiches, these are sure enough true Honey Baked ham sandwiches, and homemade!  But there is that tad bit of pressure to make sure they catch some decent fish!

We met early this morning up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp and made a 10 minute run over and into the Jolly River and then up to "Snook Creek" to begin fishing with jigs and live
shrimp Both Dale and Kay honed their skills trying to pick off small Croaker and pin fish that were stealing their bait. The tide was coming in and almost covering the oysters so we switched to float rigs and continued to work the marsh grass...to no avail.

After coming back towards the mouth of the river we set up just south of a mud/oyster flat drainage and this did the trick. First, Dale had a strong hookup - we both saw the wake boil out of there, but the fish must have wrapped the wire stem of the float around an oyster because it broke!  Shortly after that Kay had  good bite - it didn't take - but it came back and BOOM! Big Fish On!  Kay fought it expertly and battle it from the shoreline to out deep and from starboard to port, always keeping the pressure on, and soon brought it to Dale's waiting net - a big 25" Slot Red, and boy was it thick!

Only a few minutes later we had another good bite - another Slot Redfish on. This time it was Dale on the rod and he worked it patiently to the boat and waiting net. This one measured right at 20".  We picked up a couple of hungry Seatrout then made a move back to the outside of Tiger. The mullet were coming back in drovers and fish were busting them and finally, Kay got one to take shrimp and had a hookup. She reeled it in and tallied a 18" Seatrout.

We fished Bell River where Dale caught another keeper Trout then he put a keeper sized Flounder in the boat - they got a Slam! We finished the day back on the outside of Tiger. By this time our shrimp had died but it didn't seem to matter. The two anglers caught and released 4-5 more Trout before we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Keeper Sized Trout Kinda Day

We had a beautiful morning when Walter Cochran and I left the Sawpit Creek boat ramp this morning with the sun peaking over the south end of Amelia Island. We headed up the intercoastal and dipped into Jackstaff and began fishing the bank with float rigs and live shrimp on an incoming tide. The float rigs just weren't working though so we switched to jigs and this did the trick!  Walter began to get hookups  and landed a few feisty Redfish and then some Seatrout, one of which was of keeper size - (all fish caught today were released).

After running thru Horsehead we fished some

docks at Seymore's Pointe, picked up a nice sized Croaker, then moved on down towards Spanish Drop and fished a large run-out. Walter was making excellent casts and we worked the bank thoroughly. We tangled with a Ladyfish and picked up another Trout before we moved on.

Our final stop was down at Pumpkin Hill. The tide had been coming in for a while, was almost high, so we switched back to the float rigs. We were fishing in about 3.5 foot of water around some grassy islands and after Walter put his float in a perfect spot, let it drift, BOOM!  Nice Trout on! He continued to work that area and, BOOM! Bigger Trout on!  He went back to the area and BOOM! Biggest Trout on!  The float rigs finally payed off and it ended up making for a great way to wrap up a fishing trip here at Amelia Island, Florida.

When It Rains It Pours

It's amazing how quickly a rain storm moves across the water! But more on that later!  I met the Ahrens family early this morning up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp, Brian and Jenifer and their two sons Henry and Oscar. We made a short jump across the river from the ramp and fished a submerged oyster bar on a high and incoming tide. The anglers were tossing float rigs with live shrimp and making excellent casts but we had no takers, other than "baitstealers". 

Further around Tiger we set up and it was young Henry that "knocked the skunk off" when
he hooked up and expertly reeled in a hard fighting Blue Fish. After we had crossed a creek and fished a point of grass, Brian put a keeper sized Seatrout in the boat. (All fish caught today were released). We then made the run thru Tiger Basin and around to Bell River and set up alongside some flooding marsh grass and here all of the anglers had action, catching hungry Seatrout.

The tide was just about to start out so our next stop was over in Lanceford Creek. And once that tide started out we had plenty of bites and a whole bunch of catches!  Henry quickly earned the name "Redfish King" after he hooked up, and in an epic battle, landed a big 25" Slot sized Redfish - with his dad on the net! Later, he found a hot spot and caught one feisty Redfish after the other.

I noticed that there was a rain storm headed our way and we discussed "running for it" but decided to stay, and boy did we get drenched!  But these anglers were game and after we went back to fishing Brian and Oscar began to catch Seatrout with Oscar "Big Trout Guy" putting  the biggest in the boat for the day. Then he had a strong hookup and as his drag sang I saw a Shark flash by, Fish On!  Oscar worked it to the boat to be netted, photographed, and released.  This whole time Jenifer was getting pictures and helping out around the boat, a big help to the Captain. We fished until we ran out of bait, then called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

A Little Fall In The Air

After I met Steve Elmore and his brother-in-law Jason down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp this
morning, we headed up the intercoastal and I could fill just a slight "nip" in the air - Fall is on the way!  We eased into Jackstaff and moved further up into a creek and set up outside an out flow to toss float rigs and live shrimp. Although we had a nibble or two then Steve "knocked the skunk" off when he landed a hungry Seatrout.

We moved across the creek and worked a marsh line with the float rigs and both anglers tangled with some high flying Ladyfish but that was it. After running thru Horsehead we fished a marshy point and a dock at Seymore's but again,  no real bites.

Our next stop was down the Nassau River at Spanish Drop and here we had an uptick in action. Both Steve and Jason had switched to jigs and shrimp and minnows and after a few casts to a marsh runout, Steve had a strong bite and, Fish On! We could tell it had some size by the way the drag was ripping - the fish took Steve from the bow to the stern and from starboard to port, but Steve kept the pressure on, played it patiently and with Jason on the net, brought a nice 20" Slot Redfish to the boat.

And shortly after that it was Jason's turn with a big fish. His was REALLY ripping drag and when it headed for deep water, and kept going, I guessed "Bonnethead". It's really difficult to land a 4' shark on my light Shimano 1000's but Jason was up to the task. He stayed  patient, worked 'em in, and landed a the big shark for pictures and release.

We fished a couple of those banks and then some more docks at Seymore's, and landed a couple of more Reds, a Stingray, a small Sea Bass, and a couple of "baitstealers", then we called it day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Slot Red to Start the Day

We ignored the weather forecast that predicted a 45% chance of rain this morning and met up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp early. It was Chris Moscoso and his cousin Rob, back for some Amelia Island back country fishing on the Angler's Mark. We ran across to the outside of Tiger and set up along some marsh grass and fished float rigs over oysters with mud minnows. I don't think we had been there more than few minutes when Chris had a hookup and, Fish On!  He played it perfectly on his light tackle spin gear and soon landed a nice 23" Slot sized Redfish. Now that's the was to start a fishing
trip!  But the rest of the stretch produced no real bites, so we crossed the river and fished another marsh line. We had a few nibbles here and there, but no takers so we pulled up and  made the run up to the Jolley River.

Our first stop was along the "bank" and even though these two anglers were making excellent casts, we just weren't getting the bites. I think the tide was till to high. We buzzed up the river and fished a large marsh run out and may have caught a Redfish or two. After working further up the bank, Rob had a huge bite. He kept the pressure on, and held on! The drag was ripping and Rod was doing everything right but is was not to be.  BINK, the big fish was gone - it threw the hook. Ouch. But the tide had fallen, the oysters were exposed and the fish bite turned on with a vengeance. Both anglers were putting Redfish in the boat, one after the other, and they added a couple of small but hungry Seatrout. Rob hooked up and landed another Slot Redfish. (All fish caught today were released).

When things slowed we made the run around to Tiger Island and fished the "tree tops" with jigs and minnows and both Chris and Rob caught keeper sized Flounder, again, both released.  Once the tide had started out and the oysters were exposed was when  most of the fish were caught today, and it made for a great one to be out on the water here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Fun Amelia Island Fishing

We had a beautiful morning today when I met Adam and Patty Garner up at the north end boat ramp and we made quick time getting north and west over to the outside of Tiger Island with a plan to fish the outgoing tide with float rigs and minnows and a handful of live shrimp.

Patty was fishing the shrimp at the stern of the boat and she was the first to strike (and maybe the 2nd and 3rd!) - she hooked up and landed  some hungry Seatrout. We worked along the bank, began to snag bottom with our hooks, then moved on, making our next run up to the Jolley River to fish a large marsh run out. Here, both

Adam and Patty had good hookups with feisty Redfish and handily brought them to the boat.  We worked that bank thoroughly, then ran back to the mouth of the Jolley to fish the "bank" and here we had some good Redfish action. Both anglers put fish in the boat.

You would have thought we were touring the Jolley because our next stop was back up the river and on to the MOA where we broke out the jig rods, now fishing exclusively minnows, but we had no luck. The MOA (Mother of All) is slowly becoming NOT the MOA.

Our next and final stop was back at Tiger Island. The sun was up, the breeze was blocked, but we did manage to put another Red or two in the boat and then a keeper sized Flounder (released). After touring the south end of Cumberland Island and Fort Clinch, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Fish Catch'n Day

Whooo Whooo! It was a fish catch'n day today! I had met Bryan and Janet Roach and their son Michael down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early and we made the run up the intercoastal and into Jackstaff to fish an outgoing tide with live shrimp under floats. I think the first three of four casts produced Seatrout! Most were just undersized until young Michael put a keeper sized one in the boat. We had a good flurry of catching and when it slowed we eased on down the bank and caught more Trout and a handful of Ladyfish. When Janet hooked up with something big enough to rip the drag
we were thinking "Slot Redfish", but no, it was a fun-to-catch big Jack Crevalle!

We ran thru Horsehead, made a stop at some docks at Seymore's, long enough for Michael to put a Redfish in the boat (his first?) then we continued on down to the Spanish Drop area of the Nassau and set up along some now exposed oysters. Janet got hot when she landed a few Redfish of her own then Michael caught one that was
just a tad bit undersized, but the biggest he'd ever caught, then he and his dad teamed up to get a "double" catch of Redfish.

Our next stop was down at Broward Island and although the bite wasn't so great, we did pick up a few fish.  We buzzed back to just east of Twin Creeks and here the Trout bite was on fire. Bryan got things started and kept it going by catching a good handful of the Trout, then Janet joined in and caught a few, too.   We went back to the Spanish Drop spot and now fished it with jigs and basically put Redfish in the boat until we ran out of bait! Now that's a great way to wrap up a fun fishing trip here at Amelia Island, Florida.

GoPro Debut

There were dark and stormy skies....when I met Bob Blalock up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp this morning, but luckily they were offshore and stayed offshore!  I had been playing with a GoPro camera for the last few days, shooting videos in my back yard and home, but I just had to bite  the bullet and get it out on the water and see how I could make use.   Bob was in the service and one of his jobs was to shoot video so he was a prime candidate to be the "star" of my first movie!

We made the quick run over to Lanceford Creek on the first of an incoming tide and set up 50 feet from some dock pilings. Bob's first cast produced a bite and his second produced a fish - a nice feisty Redfish. I think he got bites on almost all of his casts and he landed a handful of those small but fun-to-catch Reds. We moved around the dock and her the "baitstealers" took over so we picked up and ran back to Tiger Island.

The fish bite was kind slow but we found one spot where Bob hooked up and landed a keeper sized Trout and later, after we had worked up and down the bank, Bob hooked up and landed a keeper sized Flounder from the same spot!  We then ran to the outside of Tiger and fished large marsh run out to no avail, then continued on to the Jolley River and again, no real bites.

Our final stop was back at Bell River and even though we were getting excellent drifts with float rigs and live shrimp, we had no takers until finally, BOOM! We had a bite, the float disappeared, and fish on!  Bob worked it patiently to the  boat and landed another keeper sized Seatrout. We had started strong, had a long lull, but finished good so we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

We Found a Couple of Strays

There wasn't a lick of breeze when I launched out at Broward Island this morning. I had met Bob Blalock and we had plans to fish the first of the incoming tide so we motored down to Broward Island and set up to toss jigs and live shrimp. Bob's second cast produced a feisty Redfish and from then on he was catching fish, and I joined in, too!  We both caught two handfuls of the small but fun-to-catch Reds, and we added a couple of Trout and Sheepshead to the mix, too.

We decided to break one of the rules of fishing - leave fish to find fish- but we moved on down the way, and again, we were catching. More Reds, a few Trout, and a couple of Sheepshead. Finally, after Bob had made a pinpoint cast to a niche, BOOM! Bigger fish on. As you can see in the below video, Bob played him perfectly, took him around the engine, and soon landed a nice Slot Redfish.

Our next stop was back towards the ramp where we switched to float rigs, but we had no real bites. We moved further down the
river and as we were free lining the float back in the current we had good bite, and Big Fish On!  Bob kept the pressure on, fought it to the boat, and landed another Slot Redfish. I think that was the only fish we caught in that spot!

Our last area to fish was even further down the Nassau, near Spanish Drop, and we did have one good hookup on the now high tide (and flooding) but it threw the hook. After tangling with some large Ladyfish, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.