Slammed It at the End

 I fished with Jim Leshinski this morning, meeting him up at Old Town Bait and Tackle early and just as the tide had started in, we headed out of Egans Creek and made our way up to the Jolley River to escape the crowds. After running a ways up the Jolley we made our first stop at the MOA began to pitch jigs and live shrimp to the exposed oyster bars. We worked around them back to front, then back and there Jim had a strong thump - he set the hook and landed a nice Seatrout. He went back to the same location and within minutes he had another strong thump and this one put up a good fight. Jim worked it patiently to the boat and landed a nice 18" Seatrout. We fished across the bend at JC's spot, then ran back down the river and fished the "bank" with the jigs. Jim had a huge battle with a 20lb Bonnethead on that light outfit, and boated it for pictures and release -all fish caught today were released.

We came back to Snook Creek and fished that with float rigs and picked up a small Flounder then we
moved back down to Tyger Cut where we had some good action. Jim hooked and landed another couple of Trout, then went long to pick up a big 19"+ oversized Trout, then battled another 4' Bonnethead to the boat. Our final stop was around on the outside of Tyger where we worked along the flooded bank - Jim picked up two more Flounder, one of which was of keeper size, then he had a strong take and got some drag ripping before he landed an "almost legal" Redfish to round out his Amelia Island Back Country Slam. We had beautiful weather for the first three day of this week, had put some fish in the boat today, and so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

New Strategy Pays Off

 

After yesterday's dismal luck fishing Broward Island's downed logs we decided to go a different route and fish shell beds using jigs on the lower tides and float rigs on the higher tides, and it paid off with some good action!  I met John Raker, his mother Betty and their friend Kenny down at Sawpit Creek and after running up the intracoastal, turning up the Nassau River, we made our first stop at Spanish Drop and turned into the current. All three anglers were pitching jigs and live shrimp and about half way up the bank Kenny hit paydirt and hooked up and landed a nice feisty Redfish.  We moved down the bank to Twin Creeks and worked it good and here both Kenny put

two Slot Reds in the boat and Betty added one of her own - we had our limit! Along the way we battled Bonnethead Sharks, Jack Crevalle, a keeper sized Flounder, and high flying Ladyfish. 

We then ran down to Pumpkin Hill and went with float rigs and picked up a couple of Seatrout, battled some more Shark and Jacks and Ladyfish, then John battled a huge Redfish for a good while before it managed to break off. They added a small Black "puppy drum" to the catch total, too. Back up at Bubblegum Reef we worked the bank with the floats and here Kenny had his battle with a big Redfish and this one too figured how to throw the

hook. But we had had a beautiful day, had some nice fish in the box, so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Last Minute Big Red

 My computer power cord went out yesterday and I wasn't able to post the trip! I got another cord today so I'm back in business,  here's a brief report from yesterday...

I met Chris Sorah and his dad Ken down at Sawpit Creek on a beautiful early morning and we  made a long run up the Nassau and up to Broward Islands to catch the first of an incoming tide. Bad first pick. The conditions were outstanding - clear skies, almost zero breeze, and a slow incoming tide - you'd think we'd catch fish, right? We didn't have much of a nibble until finally, Ken "knocked the skunk off" when he hooked up and landed a 17 15/16" Redfish. We ran further up the river and dipped into a creek and fished some downed logs there and this time, not even a bite. The logs and islands just werent working. 

We then broke out the float rigs and drifted the flooding marsh grass at Pumpkin Hill and this did the trick. The duo picked up a handful of Seatrout with one of them being of keeper size. Chris had big fish on that I felt sure was a huge Seatrout - Chris played her perfectly but she threw the hook. Ouch. We moved down the way and fished a grassy finger that seems to produce big Trout on occasion and it didn't disappoint! On Chris's first drift, BAM! Big Fish ON! He worked it patiently to the boat and landed an oversized 19"+ Trout. 

We fished back down the Nassau and picked up a Jack or two, and had a big Shark fight, then as we
were about to wrap up Chris had his float disappear and that drag began to sing!  I keep being wrong - I thought for sure it was another Shark, but like Chris said, "it ran hard but not long" and sure enough, when he wore the fish out and brought it to the net - it was a bruiser of a 26" Redfish, boy what a fish, the biggest Red I've had in a while. And with that, we headed back to the ramp and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

After the Flood

 

We were off for a couple of days enduring some serious rainfall which was much needed - I talked to a friend that said he had 5" of rain at his house! But we had clear skies today after an early morning fog - I had met Walter Mann and his fishing partner Bobby down at Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We eased up the intracoastal, made a run up thru Middle River and around to Pumpkin Hill where we set up with float rigs and live shrimp to fish the very last of an incoming tide. Bobby "knocked the skunk off" early with a feisty Bluefish catch and later we picked  up a small Jack Crevalle. We fished around the corner for a bit, then headed over to Seymore's Pointe where we caught the first of an outgoing tide - boy they were getting good drifts, the land mass blocked the breeze and it was almost ideal, except the fish didn't cooperate!

We then ran thru Horsehead and over to Poteat Point where we worked along the bank. Walter had the hot spot off the stern where he hooked up and landed a handful of Seatrout, a couple of which were of keeper size. He also battled a big Bonnethead shark to the boat where we quick released it. Back over in Jackstaff we picked up a couple of more Jacks, then we finished the day up back in the Nassau. The water was muddy from all that rain and the fish weren't' real hungry, but we caught a few and the sun was out so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Recipe of the Month: Seafood Bake

 My wife and I found these two vintage Glasbake dishes in an antique booth at our recent Shrimp Festival and I've been thinking about some sort of "bake" to go in them ever since! I found this pretty easy recipe on the internet...

Blend of the Bayou —Ruby Williams, Bogalusa, Louisiana
 
TOTAL TIME: Prep: 20 min. 

Bake: 25 min.
YIELD: 8 servings.
 
 
Ingredients
 
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, cubed
4 tablespoons butter, divided
1 large onion, chopped
2 celery ribs, chopped
1 large green pepper, chopped
1 pound cooked medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 cans (6 ounces each) crabmeat, drained, flaked and cartilage removed
1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
3/4 cup cooked rice
1 jar (4-1/2 ounces) sliced mushrooms, drained
1 teaspoon garlic salt
3/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup crushed butter-flavored crackers (about 12 crackers)
 
Directions
 
1. Preheat oven to 350°. In a small saucepan, cook and stir cream cheese and 2 tablespoons butter over low heat until melted and smooth.
2. In a large cast-iron or other ovenproof skillet, saute onion, celery and green pepper in remaining butter until tender. Stir in shrimp, crab, soup, rice, mushrooms, garlic salt, pepper sauce, cayenne and cream cheese mixture.
3. Combine cheddar cheese and cracker crumbs; sprinkle over top. Bake, uncovered, until bubbly, 25-30 minutes.

Read more about vintage Glasbake, Pyrex and Fire King products HERE

See More Recipe's HERE

Quick Start and No Spot

 It's almost shorts weather - the high today was around 85 and I could tell it in my jeans. I had met Pete Nolan and his fishing buddy Jeff down at Sawpit Creek boat ramp early but we had to "putter" up the intracoastal due to the fog being so thick. But as we got further up the Nassau River we were able to crank it up and get to our first stop around at Middle River where we set up along a shoreline and drifted float rigs on a tide that had been going out for a couple of hours - the oysters were just beginning to show. It didn't take long and we were getting fish - Pete was drifting off the bow and picked up handful of hungry Seatrout. We then dropped back across the river mouth and fished another grass line and here Jeff was

out front and it paid off. He went up to some sparse grass with an excellent cast and there was no debate when that float disappeared. Jeff cranked down on the slack, lifted his rod and let the circle hook set and Fish On!  Jeff worked it patiently to the boat and landed a nice 20" Slot Redfish. Only a minute later, Pete went in to the same spot and BAM! He had a good hookup and expertly played it to the boat. This Red was almost identical in size to Jeff's but this one had zero spots! That's a sure winner in most Redfish Spot Tournaments! We were on a roll. Or so we thought.

Our next stop was down the Nassau where we fished a large drainage with jigs, but to no avail. Then we worked Spanish Drop where Jeff hauled in a Catfish. We fished rocks at Nassauville, dock pilings at Seymore's Pointe and exposed banks over in Jackstaff and caught some small Seabass, a Ladyfish, and a small Jack Crevalle. Although the gamefish didn't cooperate, the flog had cleared off, we had no wind, and a couple of fish in the box so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

We Worked Up To a Grand Slam

 

I wrapped my week up fishing with Mark Caldwell and his fishing buddies John and Don when I met them up at Old Town Bait and Tackle early this morning. We eased out of Eagans Creek and made a run over to Lanceford to fish some dock pilings on the last of an outgoing tide. The three anglers were pitching jigs and live shrimp to the pilings and getting good casts and we did pick up a couple of feisty Black "puppy" Drum. We then made our way back and around to the Tyger logs and worked the bank - Don hooked and landed a hungry Flounder, but after that we  had no real bites.

We then ran up to the Jolley River and turned into the bank and fished it with float rigs and the shrimp and this paid off - the trio tangled with a Ladyfish then John hooked and expertly battled a nice Slot sized Redfish to the boat - they had an Amelia Island Back Country Slam. We moved further up the river and fished at Snook Creek with the floats, then came back to Tyger Cut where they all joined in catching a few Seatrout to make it a Grande Slam. We ended the day around on the outside of Tyger and Mark wrapped things up battling a hard fighting Jack Crevalle to the boat. The day had been overcast all day, but the wind had held off, and we had some good action here and there so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

We Saved The Best For Last

 "We gotta work for 'em", is what I've been telling my guests when they step on the boat -we're catching some fish but they definitely aren't jumping in the boat! I met Gregg and Dannie Fitzgerald up at Old Town Bait and Tackle early this morning and after easing out of Eagans Creek we made a short run over to the Tyger logs to fish the first of an incoming tide in almost perfect conditions - the tide was right, we had very little wind, and it was just a bit overcast. Both anglers were making excellent casts with their jigs and live shrimp, pitching up between the logs and stumps, but the fish just werent' cooperating - Gregg did get a couple of palm sized Black "puppy" Drum. We then made the run out and around and up to the Jolley River and turned into the "bank" and worked those exposed oysters with the jigs but again, no real bites to brag about. 

We went further up Jolley to Snook Creek and worked those exposed oysters, but no luck. After coming back down the Jolly to Tyger Cut we pulled up with some oysters still showing, but we went to float rigs and the live shrimp and that did the trick. Gregg found that he could toss it out a ways and let his float drift into shore and BAM! he'd have a hookup. Both he and Dannie caught and landed 8-10 hungry male Seatrout - they were grunting! But Dannie did have one strong hookup that had her drag ripping - the big fish ran up current and thrashed at the surface - I was thinking it was a Bonnethead until then, then it ripped drag coming back to the boat as Dannie took up slack. She played it perfectly and brought it to the boat where I could have gaffed it but we were releasing anyway, and eventually it broke off. 

Our next stop was on the outside of Tyger where we went back to the jigs and worked the incoming current. Dannie was on the bow and hooked an landed a keeper sized Flounder, then she battle a Slot sized Redish and was doing a good job but the fish threw the hook! Ouch.  Further up the bank she hooked and landed another, bigger, Flounder while Gregg hauled in one more hungry Seatrout. The wind had held off, we had caught about 15 fish, and had a couple in the box so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Flounder in Horsehead

 

I was fishing out of Sawpit Creek again this morning, this time meeting Hank Prolog and his fishing buddies Harry and Fred. We left the dock early and made our way up the Nassau River and made our first stop at Spanish Drop on a tide that was almost hitting bottom - the trio of anglers were pitching jigs and live shrimp to the exposed shell bank, but I don't think we had a legitimate bite. We moved on up the river and fished a large drainage and again, no bites. The tide turned so we moved further up to Seymore's Pointe and fished some dock pilings where they picked up a few Pinfish, a couple of Jacks, and Fred landed a small Black Sea Bass. 

Our next stop was up at Broward Island, fishing with the Bald Eagles and here Hank hooked up and
expertly landed a feisty Redfish. We worked a few spots along the island and before we left Harry had a good hookup and he too landed a similar Redfish. We then made good run back down the Nassau, thru Horsehead and over to the mouth of Jackstaff where we worked the bank with float rigs. We had action along here - the tangled with high flying Ladyfish then Hank had his float slowly go under and he hooked it up. After a patient battle he brought to the net a keeper sized Flounder. And shortly after that Fred had the same bite - he brought it in expertly and landed another keeper sized Flounder - both fish were photographed and released.  Like the last few days, we had to work for our fish, but we've had some excellent weather, so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Lady's Rule The Flounder Bragging Rights Board

 Looks like we've got Chamber of Commerce weather this week -clear, cool, and sunny with only a slight breeze in the mornings. Today I met Alex and Laura Winter down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp (Goffinsville Park is closed) and we ran up the Nassau River to Seymore's Point with a plan to fish some dock pilings on the first of an incoming tide. It wasn't a good plan. I'm not sure if we even got a legitimate nibble on our jigs and live shrimp. We then ran down to Broward Island to catch the first of the incoming there and were greeted by the Bald Eagles who kept a watchful eye over our fishing efforts. I think I heard them laughing - we didn't get a bite until Alex finally "knocked the skunk off" when he hooked up and expertly played to the net a feisty Redfish. 

We then made our way back down the river to Spanish Drop and switched to float rigs and on the first drift BAM! Laura had a hookup. She worked it in patiently and as it came to the net we saw that it was a big Flounder - it measured right at 18" and big enough to move Laura into the Anglers Mark 2026 Bragging Rights Tournament-Flounder category. The sole occupants of that category are lady anglers! We had a good flurry of bites there - Laura picked up a 17" Seatrout and a couple of Ladyfish while Alex added a 16" Trout and battled to the boat a big 4' Bonnethead Shark. We finished up back at Pumpkin Hill drifting the floats then we headed back to the ramp, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.