We Scoured The Bottom

 I was back to work today, fishing north after meeting Sal and Ginney Dickinson up at Old Town Bait and
Tackle early this morning. We had clear skies, no real rain predicted, and winds increasing to 12 mph as the day wore on. We made our first run over to Lanceford Creek and fished a large drainage, then a slim island of grass with float rigs and live shrimp, but only had a nibble, if you could call it that. After moving back down Lanceford we set up at another drainage and after a few casts Sal "knocked the skunk off" when he hooked up and expertly landed a nice keeper sized Seatrout. 

We then made the run up the Bell River and when we got up-river we fished between some docks. The duo hauled in a few Catfish, then Ginney hooked and landed a small Sea Bass. After easing closer and fishing back to the dock pilings Sal hooked and landed the ugliest fish of the day, a Toad Fish. We dropped back a few docks and fished them with the jigs and shrimp and found a small Black "puppy" Drum to bite.

Our next stop was around in the Jolley where we went back to float rigs for a bit, then back up the Jolley where we worked an exposed oyster bank with the jigs. Here we landed another couple of Black Drum and tangled with a high flying Ladyfish. Back down the Jolley we pulled up at the "Bank" and fished it pretty good with those jigs and here we had a bit of excitement - Ginney had a strong take that started ripping drag, heading down river. It was all Ginney could do to keep that rod bent - she followed the fish from the bow back to the stern and fought it from there. After a good, patient battle, she brought to the boat a big 4' Bonnethead Shark that we photographed and released.  My plan was to work the outside of Tyger for Flounder as the last stop but as we rounded the corner we were in white caps so we made our way in behind Tyger Island and fished the logs on that last of the outgoing tide. The duo were getting good casts but we had no takers so we headed back to the ramp and counted it as another great day to be out fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

A Fish So Big It Warranted A New Bragging Rights Category

 I knew that the Bragging Rights standings couldn't hold - we've had some big fish caught this year but
none of the Categories were headed by sizes that usually win for the year so I knew that sooner or later we'd get a big one. But first, we had a big one caught that I've never categorized - the big Black Drum. I think I've left it out because we could fish for those monsters in April and May and get 40,50, 60 pounders which would be tough to beat. But today we did get a 16 pound drum on my size 1000 reel and boy was it a battle!

I had met Fred and Chad Wammock up at Old Town Bait and Tackle early and we made along run up the Bell River to fish a deep bend with jigs and live shrimp on the last of an outgoing tide. I was looking for Seatrout and the spot didn't disappoint - the duo caught a good handful of them, one of which was of keeper size. . They also picked up a couple of Catfish so when Fred had a strong bite that was digging deep hard I thought for sure it was just going to be a massive Catfish, dang it. Fred stayed with it and patiently wore the big fish out and eventually worked it up where we saw it was a huge Black Drum - so big that we couldn't even call it a "puppy" Drum! It measured 31" and weighed 16lbs on my Boga. I created a "Special Appearance" on my Anglers Mark 2026 Bragging Rights Board just for this fish! Scroll down the right side of this report for standings. 

We then made our way around to the Jolley River and fished the MOA, but didn't have much luck there. After crossing over to JC's spot we did better. Much better. We hadn't fished the exposed shell long when it was Chad's turn to have the big battle. This fish was ripping line and when it rolled a couple of times we new it was a big Redfish and boy was it. Chad stayed with it and worked it in patiently and soon landed a 32.25" Redfish, which tops the Bragging Rights Board for Redfish caught this year. 

We fished down at the Jolley Bank where the duo picked up another keeper Trout and a keeper Black "puppy" Drum. After dropping back and fishing Tyger Point with floats and getting another Trout or two, we ended the day back at Tyger logs where they topped off the day by catching a hungry Flounder for a Grande Slam - Seatrout, Redfish, Black Drum, and Flounder. We had a beautiful day, had s few fish in the box, had caught some big fish for memories and so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Scuttlebutt: Sawpit Boat Ramp Again In Dire Straits

 I'm not sure if I make my point clear in the video - I don't have a prepared script. In a nutshell, you'd think from all the news reports about our State of Florida's thriving economy that State could at least maintain the assets that they have, much less provide decent facility for we boaters to access the water. Those access's are severely limited in our area - the Fernandina City marina is hindered by its poor location,  traffic and parking issues. The County's Goffinsville Park is closed for 9-12 months due to poor planning and engineering. The County's Dee Dee Bartels Park is dangerous to your boat and guests due to boat wakes, and once again, the Big Talbot Island State Park ramp at Sawpit is going to pot.

Rolling To A Good Week

 After running up Lanceford to Oyster Bay, I picked up Kenny King, John Raker and John's mother Betty
at their dock then we made a long run back down Lanceford, up the Bell and around to the Jolley to make our first stop at the MOA just as the tide started back in. We were fishing jigs and shrimp and in short order Kenny had hooked and landed two Seatrout, one of which was of keeper size. Betty, fishing off the stern in her customary chair, had a nice strong bite right under the boat -she battled it to the surface and landed an angry Catfish. Betty also had a long battle with a big Bonnethead Shark - she and John teamed up on it and landed it for pictures and release. 

We moved across the river and fished a bend of oysters where John picked up a feisty Redfish and a small Sea Bass. Kenny added a small Croaker to the catch list. We then ran down the Jolley and fished the "bank" and towards the mouth both Kenny and John hooked and landed Redfish, one being in the Slot. We went back up the river to Snook Creek and switched to floats. John went up into the mouth of the creek and quickly caught a Seatrout while Kenny put a small Flounder in the boat. 

We ended the day on the outside of Tyger and it was a pretty good ending. Kenny's first or second cast into the mouth of a drainage produced a keeper sized Flounder, then they caught another one or two, then as we eased up the bank Betty had a good hookup and landed another keeper sized Flounder. Another Seatrout was caught then John had a drag ripping bite - he worked it in patiently and landed the biggest Red of the day, a nice 21" Slot fish. It had been a beautiful day, we had a  nice box of fish, so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida 

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.