Good Times Fishing

It's always great to get to fish with old high school friends and today I had the pleasure of fishing with Chuck Lynch, his father Buddy, and his son-in-law Matt. We met early up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp and made a quick run over to Bell River to fish the last of an incoming tide with live shrimp under floats. It didn't take long and we were getting hookups - Seatrout that were just a tad bit undersized, but fun to catch. Although we saw Reds tailing up by the grass, we had no takers from them.

After running thru Tiger we pulled in on the outside of the Island
and boy were things hopping! There was a Sheepshead tailing by some sparse grass and on down the line a big 'ole Redfish tail was flopping around. The trio "got to it" and started catching fish! Chuck had a strong hookup - one that was ripping drag - but this fish didn't get big by being dumb! It pulled right under the boat and down into the oysters and BAP! Fish off! But Chuck went back to the grass and pulled out a nice feisty Redfish. Matt stayed on fire the entire trip. He put the first 3-4 "keepers" in the boat. First a big

bull Whiting, then a 17" Flounder. We worked the bank thoroughly and caught a couple of small Reds and Trout.

We made a pit stop at a large marsh run out and pitched some jigs and mud minnows on the now outgoing tide. but had no luck. Our next stop was way up the Jolley River and again Matt came thru when he hooked up and landed a big 22" Slot Redfish. After battling a 4' Shark on light tackle we made our way along the bank. Somewhere along there we caught a Black "puppy" Drum  and another Red or two.

Jolley Bank was looking good so we eased along it. The oysters still were not showing so we stayed with float rigs. Matt put another Slot Red in the boat and Chuck added a keeper sized Seatrout. We had some good bites along the way and landed another couple of feisty Reds.

Our final stop was back at Tiger, fishing the logs, and here Buddy got on the board with a Redfish catch of his own. It was a great day to get out on the water and do some fishing with friends and family here at Amelia Island, Florida.

No Mangrove's Yet

After a good day off I was back to "work" today, meeting Jim Kotopka and his buddy Mike down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We buzzed up the river and made our first stop off a feeder creek of the intercoastal and fished with float rigs and live shrimp. Although we had a small shark irritate our bait, he wouldn't take it. We ran thru the marsh and made a stop over at Seymore's Pointe where Jim "knocked the skunk off" by quickly landing a feisty Redfish.

After fishing that spot a while we moved down
the Nassau River to fish some marsh runouts on the outgoing tide. We had stayed with float rigs but the minute Mike switched to a jig, he picked up a hungry Seatrout!  We had some strong bites that broke the leader at the 2nd runout but it was the 3rd that heated things up. Jim picked up a couple of fish quick - a feisty Redfish then a hard fighting Jack Crevalle then Mike had good bite, his drag began to sing and, Fish On! Mike played it perfectly and after a good battle landed a 22" Slot sized Redfish. Only seconds later they both had hookups - we had a double - and they both reeled in some nice Reds.

The tide had gotten down so we went back to Seymore's to fish some dock pilings and here Jim found a "honey hole" loaded with Black "puppy" Drum.  The fish were only 12-13.5" in size, but were fun to catch. Mike was able to inch over and pick up a few Drum of his own. We moved over one dock and found a keeper sized Flounder out deep, which was a bit unusual.

Our last stop was at my traditional Mangrove Snapper hole but they still haven't made it in yet, so we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Grande Slam Keepers

We could tell that it was a tad bit cooler this morning (nowhere near cold, just cooler) and with some cloud cover it made for a very pleasant fishing morning. I met Jeff and Penny Parks down at the south end ramp and we ran up the intercoastal to dip into Jackstaff and then even further up into a creek. Both anglers were tossing float rigs on a high and outgoing tide and even though all three of us spotted a tailing Redfish up near the marsh grass, we had not takers.

After dropping back to fish the mouth of Jackstaff, we worked the bank thoroughly, we

Penny manning the stern and fishing a float rig while Jeff took the bow and tossed a jig and shrimp. Again, no takers. But after we had crossed the creek and fished a submerged sandbar, and after Penny had switched to a jig herself, she had a hookup. She worked the fish patiently to the boat and landed a nice keeper sized Seatrout.

We ran thru Horsehead and around to some docks and set up-current from the pilings. Penny and Jeff were both dropping their jigs up near the pilings and it paid off. First, Jeff had a strong bite and, Fish On!  It was a ripping drag and digging deep but Jeff kept the pressure on and slowly worked it to the net, a nice 22" Black "puppy" Drum. Then the duo landed a couple of Redfish, one of them being in the Slot, then Penny reeled in a fat keeper sized Flounder, giving them an Amelia Island Grande Slam of Seatrout, Redfish, Black Drum and Flounder.

Our next stop was some rocks over at Seymore's Pointe but we had not luck so we ran down to Broward Island and fished the logs on the last of an outgoing tide. We wrapped the trip up catching three small Redfish, another Black Drum and a Seatrout. It was a great way to finish up a good day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Great Fishing Sandwiched In

You just can't beat this "Chamber of Commerce" type morning weather we've been having! Today I met Jeff and Penny Parks up at the north end. The tide had been going out for a few hours so we made a quick run up and around to the outside of Tiger Island with plans to fish a nice marsh run out with jigs and live shrimp. Both anglers started off making excellent casts, fished them slow, but we had not takers.

We bounced around and into the Jolley River, fished some just-exposed oysters with float rigs and live shrimp and boy did things heat
up! Penny got things going when she hooked up and landed a feisty Redfish then both anglers were catching fish, and nice ones at that!  Jeff was fishing the stern and letting his bail stay open, he was able to get a good, long drift along the shoreline and, BOOM! Fish On! A Slot Redfish. Penny was fishing the bow and tossing up current to get her drift and, BOOM! Fish On!  A Slot Redfish. We ended up culling a couple of the smaller ones after we reached our limit.

Then Jeff had another strong bite, a hookup, and he commented that the fish was shaking it's head, a tad bit different feel than the Redfish. Sure
enough, Jeff landed a big 19.5" Seatrout. We caught and released couple of undersized Reds, an undersized Black "puppy" Drum then when the bite fell off, we moved on up into the Jolley. There was plenty of bait action at the MOA, but we had not takers.

The tide had hit bottom back nearer Fernandina so we ran back and fished the logs of Tiger. It was perfect conditions, the right tide, but the sun was up and the heat was on! Penny did hookup with the only Flounder of the day, but true to its nature, it thru the hook right at boatside.

Although the fishing was slow early and late, we had some really good action in between, so we counted as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

Slam Time

I had the Thomas boys fishing with me today - Clay and his three sons Carter, Grady and Logan. We met down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and headed up the Nassau River under clear skies, just a slight breeze and with an outgoing tide. The oyster shells were just beginning to show when we made our first stop at Twin Creeks and all four anglers began to toss float rigs baited with live shrimp up current and across the mouths of the outflow, getting good, natural drifts. But it was to no avail. We had no real bites.

We dropped back and fished a stretch of shells and here young
Logan "knocked the skunk off" when he hooked up and tangled with a "poor man's Tarpon" - a Ladyfish. I normally say it was "high flying" but I don't think it jumped once!  We moved up 75 yards, fished another outflow, then decided to continue west and fish some docks at Seymore's Pointe, and this did the trick.

Everybody was catching fish! I think they all landed at least one Black "puppy" Drum, with Grady leading the way, then Carter had

a strong hookup, his drag ripped, and Fish ON!  He played the big fish patiently and soon landed a big Jack Crevalle. Clay followed that up with another big Jack of his own. All totaled, we had a good handful of the Puppy Drum, but all were just a tad bit undersized.

Our final stop was down at Broward Island and we fished almost the entire stretch. Clay and Carter landed some small Redfish, then Clay and Grady had a double hookup. Each played their fish perfectly and landed them. Clay had a hungry Seatrout and Grady had a Redfish that was just smidgen undersized so both were tossed back.  With the Black Drum, Seatrout, and Redfish, they had an Amelia Island Back Country Slam. Finally, Clay had a good hookup and we could tell this was a bigger fish. He worked it to the boat and Grady netted the nice 18" keeper sized Seatrout.

We had a lot of action and it was such a beautiful day, we counted it as another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Saving The Best For Last

The winds died down to almost nothing this morning which made for a great day to get two young anglers out on the Amelia Island back waters. I met Jody Miller and his two young sons Wyatt and William up at the Dee Dee Bartels park boat ramp. After a brief safety orientation, we ran up and around to the backside of Tiger with plans to fish the logs on a first of an incoming tide. It was ideal conditions and these anglers were fishing their jigs and live shrimp expertly, but we had no takers, other than a puny pinfish! Crazy! I would have thought we would have had some nice fish, but that's fishing!

We ran up to the Jolley River, all the way up to Snook Creek, and fished some exposed oyster beds with float rigs and live shrimp and again, no real bites. We dropped back to the mouth of the Jolley, fished a large marsh run out, and I think it was Jody's first cast - his float slowly disappeared and he had a hookup. With the help of his crew, they successfully reeled in a nice 18.5" Flounder, big enough to land them in first place in the Anglers Mark 2018 Bragging Rights Tournament - Flounder Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings).  We fished on up the bank, had  few nibbles, but no takers.

Our next stop was back around at Tiger, thru Tiger basin, and around to Bell River, again fishing with float rigs. Wyatt picked up a feisty Bonnethead Shark here, but other than that, no real bites.

The final stop was back at the outside of Tiger and with 15 minutes to go in the trip, the fish "catching" heated up considerably! Jody  began to hookup with Seatrout, one after the other. His two young anglers jumped in and helped reel a few in, net a few, release a few and we caught fish until we ran out of bait. Although the first handful of Trout were "shorts", they seemed to get bigger as the catching went on with a few making it into the keeper sized range. It was a great way to wrap up a nice fishing trip here at Amelia Island, Florida.

The Difference A Day Makes

Saturday I had some experienced anglers and we had a really good day of fish "catching". Yesterday I had the same two guys and we struggled to put a fish in the boat. Today I had a group -Grandad and his older grandkids - and we fished the same spots and had another really good day of fish catching! Crazy!

I had met Allen Richardson and his grandkids Anna Claire and Walker down at the south end ramp and we headed up the Nassau River to make a first quick stop at an oyster lined bank on the last

of an outgoing tide.  All three anglers were making excellent casts...but we had just nibbles.  We moved up a ways, fished a large marsh runout and again, just nibbles.

Our next stop was up at some docks at Seymore's Pointe and this made all the difference. Once this trio started hooking up we had non-stop action for about an hour. They all three put Black "puppy" Drum in the boat with one or two being right at keeper size (all fish caught today were released) and then Walker landed a couple of Slot sized Redfish.  When the bite finally slowed, we ran down to

Broward Island.

The tide was still going out up here and not much was biting until both Anna Claire and Walker went to the same spot. Walker pulled out a nice keeper sized Sheepshead and Anna Claire hooked up too...had a good fight...the drag ripped...and fish off! Ouch.   We dropped back to Seymore's Pointe, fished some rocks to no avail, then ran around to Jackstaff.

We were working the bank slowly on an incoming tide and it was Anna Claire who struck first. Her float had disappeared, she lifted the rod and set the hook and, FISH ON! Anna Claire worked the fish patiently to the boat and landed another nice Slot Redfish. Then Walker hooked up and he too landed a nice Red, the biggest of the day. Then Anna Claire was back at it. After an excellent cast to bank, again her float disappeared, and again, another Slot Redfish was landed.

We wrapped things up when Walker and Allen teamed up to subdue a huge Stingray, which we photographed and released.  After a slow day yesterday, today was a great one to be out fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Recipe of the Month: Coconut Glazed Shrimp Kabobs

On occasion I get professional chef's on the boat fishing with me and I always pick their brain for good recipe's. The first of May I had Trace Hayes a chef, past restaurant owner, and now, renown food photographer fish with me and when asked if he had any special way to cook seafood, he rattled off his special glaze that he coats his fish/shrimp in and broils them. Here it is!

 

1/2 cup Creme de Coconut (Available at liquor store and some grocery stores)

1/3 cup mayonnaise 
Juice from 2 1/2 limes 
Mix slowly into mayonnaise and creme de coconut

Add

1/3 cup chopped cilantro 
Glaze fish while it is cooking over broiler or grill
Save some for the table!

The taste should be

1/3 -1/3-1/3 and all flavors should complement each other. Adjust accordingly.

Stormed Out

I fished again with Daniel and Paul Tillotson this morning, this time meeting them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We had a tremendous storm cell that passed over NE Florida last night and it dropped a ton of rain and left cloudy skies today. We ran up the Nassau River and stopped at some docks at Seymore's to fish the pilings on a tide that was still going out. The two anglers were tossing jigs and live shrimp and making excellent casts, but all we got was nibbles.

We moved around to another dock, fished the bank with float rigs, had some bites, then Daniel hooked up and, Fish on! He played it patiently to the net and landed a nice Slot sized Redfish. After fishing for a while and only getting nibbles, we made the run down to Broward Island. With a 9mph West wind blowing it seemed to be keeping the tide from coming back in. We had switched back to jigs, fished them deep and slow, but again, just nibbles. After fishing Pumpkin Hill briefly with floats, we ran back to Seymore's Pointe and picked up a hard fighting Black "puppy" Drum. One more stop over in Jackstaff produced nothing but.. nibbles...so we called it a day, rather slow, but still, a great day to be out on the water here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Hot Then Cold Then Hot

I had the pleasure of fishing with Daniel Tillotson and his adult son Paul again, meeting them up at the north end boat ramp early this morning. We took advantage of the first of an incoming tide and ran around to fish the logs of Tiger. It was a good move! We were fishing jigs and live shrimp for the most part and Daniel got things started when he hooked up and landed a feisty Redfish, then Paul followed that up with two Slot Sized Reds. Daniel finished the spot with a nice 18" keeper sized Flounder - this one caught on a mud minnow - wouldn't you know it!

We left and headed up to the Jolley River, fished the "bank" and had.....zero bites! Ouch.
Continuing on, we made a stop at the edges of Snook Creek. This edge was really looking good, but again, no bites, until finally, Paul's float went under, he hooked up, and landed a keeper sized Seatrout.

We buzzed back towards the island, ran thru Tiger and over to Bell River and fished some flooding oysters beds. Daniel had a huge bite, a good battle, one that ripped his drag and I felt sure it was a BIG Redfish but it got all the way on the other side of the oysters and sure enough, the 15# braid was sliced. Fish Off!  But Daniel kept fishing the "hot spot" and he soon landed the biggest Slot Red of the day, and followed that up with another keeper sized Seatrout.

Our last spot was back near the boat ramp. Paul did battle with a big Bonnethead Shark then Daniel wrapped things up by putting the biggest Seatrout in the boat. We were also treated to a big Ray sighting!  It was a beautiful day for father and son to meet up at Amelia Island and get out on the water for some great fishing.