Started Hot

We had a nice breezy morning today, just enough to keep it from getting hot. I had met David, Wanda and Charlie Morton up at Old Town Bait and Tackle on a tide that had been going out for about 2 hours. We eased out of Eagans Creek and made a short run over to Lanceford Creek to fish some dock pilings with jigs and live shrimp. Wanda "knocked the skunk off" after she had tossed a float rig over towards shore and let it drift over some oysters. Her float got "nibbled" all the way across and we thought sure it was a "bait stealer" but then BAM! Float Gone! Wanda tightened up and let the circle hook set and had a nice hookup. She played it patiently to the boat and landed a keeper sized Seatrout.

David and Charlie were fishing off the stern with the jigs and after Charlie had made a pinpoint cast up under the dock he had a strong bite and Big Fish On!  Charlie played it perfectly, let it run, lifted it up, let it run, then worked it in and landed a big 20" Black Drum, boy what a fish. Minutes later he landed a nice feisty Redfish, then a couple more of smaller Drum, another hand sized Redfish with 6 spots, then a hungry Seatrout. Charlie had the hot rod at that spot.

We made a long run back around Tyger, up to the Jolley and turned into the "bank" and fished it with jigs from the bow and float rig off the stern.  Again, Wanda kicked things off when she hooked up and landed a small Flounder. Charlie then got busy, picking up another keeper sized Seatrout then a small Flounder to round out an Amelia Island Grande Slam - Black Drum, Redfish, Seatrout and Flounder. On up the river he tangled with a Bonnethead Shark that eventually threw the hook. 

Around at the MOA we picked up a couple of Croaker, Wanda battled a Shark, then David brought a feisty Sheepshead to the boat. The bite had been better on the higher tide, which has been the norm the last few weeks, but we had caught fish, we had a few in the box, the weather was great so as we headed back to the rap we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florid.

Nine Fish Variety

 Another beautiful day, a smorgasbord of different back water fish caught: Redfish, Jack Crevalle, Black
Drum, Toad Fish, Sea Bass, Ladyfish, Shark, Flounder, and Seatrout. I had met Steve Locke and  his fishing buddies Jason and Scott out at Goffinsville Park boat ramp early this morning and we made a quick run down the Nassau to Spanish Drop and fished some exposed oysters right at the last of an outgoing tide. Justin got hot early and put a couple of feisty Redfish in the boat and a couple of Jacks were landed. 

We stopped at a dock at Seymore's Pointe and fished the pilings as the tide was starting in and here Scott got found his groove and landed a fat Sea Bass and a small Toad Fish. After running thru Horsehead and fishing the "bank" at Jackstaff things were kinda slow until the GPK upped the competition with Scott landing a Ladyfish to take the prize- then the trio got into some Redfish. Steve expertly battled a Slot Redfish to the net. We fished over at Poteat Pointe, to no avail, then made the run back thru Horsehead and down to Broward Island. We worked the bank slowly and Jason, after feeling that tale-tale "thump", set the hook and caught the only Flounder of the Day. Steve caught a small Bonnethead Shark off the stern then picked up his 2nd Slot Redfish.

We finished the day up at Pumpkin Hill with a couple of Seatrout catches, both caught on a float with live shrimp. We had a fairly busy day catching a variety of fish and with a couple of Slot Reds in the box, we headed back to the ramp and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Keep To Catch Ratio Pretty Good

Another pretty morning, thankfully -clear skies, mild temperature and just a slight breeze. I met Pete Nolan and his fishing buddy Jeff down at Sawpit Creek and with a baitwell full of live shrimp we made the run up the intracoastal, made a veer into Jackstaff and turned into the incoming current with plans to fish the "bank" with jigs. The tide had been coming in about an hour and the oyster shell were still showing. The duo began to pitch their casts up behind a oyster hump and it paid off - they hooked up with a couple of Slot sized Redfish. We worked down the  bank and picked up a couple of more Reds and began to cull those that we had in the box.  Jeff added a keeper Whiting to the catch - our "keep to catch ratio" was pretty high!

We made a short run over to Poteat Point and Pete almost immediately caught a Seatrout under a float rig, but that was about it. After running thru Horsehead and down to Spanish Drop we stuck with the floats and picked up a small but feisty Jack Crevalle and a high flying Ladyfish. There was a long and ferocious battle with a Bonnethead Shark that was brought to the boat for a "leader touch" and release.

After a run down to Pumpkin Hill produced another Ladyfish catch we wrapped things over at Seymore's Pointe hoping for Seatrout, but dealt a Catfish catch. It had been a beautiful day, we had started out strong, had a few keeper 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. 

The Kid

 Boy what a beautiful morning we had after a weekend of rain and last nights downpour. I had met Jeff and Cindy Patrick up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp early and after easing out of Eagans Creek we made a short run up to the outside of Tyger Island, turned into the current on a tide that had been coming in a few hours, and started tossing jig and live shrimp to the mud bank. It took a while and I was beginning to wonder, but then Jeff hooked up with a hard fighting and brought it to the boat. Luckily it was a bit productive - the duo caught a couple or three Reds along there a keeper sized Seatrout (all fish caught this morning were released), and a Flounder to round out a Slam. 

We fished Jolley "bank" for a bit with floats to no avail, then moved up to Tyger Cut and fished over a submerged shell bank. I think Jeff's first cast and drift produced another keeper sized Seatrout. He picked up another then both he and Cindy boated some small but feisty Bonnethead Sharks. After moving up to Snook Creek and fishing it a bit we ran back to the outside of Tyger to fish the first of an outgoing tide. Jeff battled briefly with (we think was) a shark but it's still heading north, with a float marker hanging out of its mouth.  We finished the morning over at Soap Creek drifting floats, then headed back, counting it as another beautiful morning fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

In basketball the call them a "ringer";  some call them a "secret weapon". But this afternoon we called him....The Kid. After a quick Bait Shop lunch, I made my way over to Oyster Bay and picked up Lee Warren, his grandson Noah, and their friend David Vice - we made a quick stop over at Lanceford Creek to fish some dock pilings on a tide that had been going out about 3 hours. David hooked up and handed off his rod to Noah to expertly reel in a hungry Seatrout, then a small but feisty Sea Bass. 

We made along run back down Lanceford then up the Bell to fish some more dock pilings. Here, Noah began making  his own casts and it paid off - he hooked  up a brough to the boat a hungry Seatrout and two croaking Croakers. We fished a 2nd dock them moved on. Our next stop was over in the Jolley River where we worked one shoreline with exposed oysters, to no avail.

But then we moved over to the MOA and fished those oyster mounds. Noah had a made an excellent cast off the stern, let it sink to the bottom, felt the "bump" and set the hook and BIG FISH ON! This fish was ripping drag and going deep and taking the line from starboard to port and back again. Lee was helping out with the rod lift while Noah worked it off the bottom with the reel and after long battle he landed  huge 27.5" Black Drum (on a size 1000 reel, 6'6'" rod), boy what a battle. Warred battled a Catfish to the boat before we moved on. 

After running back to Tyger Island, we fished the logs. Both Warren and David put Trout in the boat. Then again, Noah (The Kid) had another strong bite. That line was ripping out and the fish was heading north, but Noah, with Warren's help, kept the pressure on. It was a long battle and hard fought but the duo won it and soon boated a big 4' Bonnethead Shark. We were all worn out after that but as we headed back to the dock we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Eventful and Productive

 

What a great day! After meeting Roger and Tina Pickett down at Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning we headed up the intracoastal with dolphins rolling off to our port. Our first stop was up at Poteat Point and first cast produced a fish - Tina was on the rod to "knock the skunk off" when she expertly battled a big Jack Crevalle to the net. Both anglers got busy caching fish - more Jacks, a Ladyfish, a Seatrout and a couple of Redfish, one of which was in the Slot (all fish caught today were released). While we were fishing Tina heard a noise behind us and when we checked it out we saw a few Manatee surfacing not far off. 

We ran thru Horsehead and down to Back River and fished the outgoing tide and here they picked up a couple more Redfish. It seemed every Red that Roger caught had multiple spots with one having 16 - a sure money winner in any Spot Tournament.  We crossed the river and fished a stretch of grass and here Tina hooked up with one more Red. Around the corner we fished across a sandbar and finally got "skunked", but as I was going to lift the trolling motor to leave a Tripletail drifted right back to us - kinda cool to see.

We fished Littlefield with jigs for just a bit, then went around to Seymore's Point and fished some dock pilings where Roger nabbed another keeper sized Trout, then we made our way down to Spanish Drop. The duo added another Redfish to the catch total, then Roger wrapped things up nicely with a keeper sized Flounder, caught on a mud minnow. We had a good day of fishing, had seen some neat wildlife and so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

It Wasn't Meant To Be

 ...a combined report from Friday May 1st and today, May 5th, with the 60th Annual Shrimp Fest squeezed
in between! Friday I fished with Chris Pyle and his friends Byron and Nick, meeting them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We hit a number of spots fishing mostly floats and picked up Catfish, Ladyfish, Seatrout and Nick got his first Redfish. Chris battled a large Jack Crevalle that took him around the boat - he played it patiently to the net for photograph and release.

Today I fished with Bob and Jana Grimm, meeting them up at Old Town Bait and Tackle. We motored out of Eagans and made a run over to Lanceford Creek. Jana had a bit of action catching a small Black Sea Bass and a Toad fish but then she hooked up with something big. It wrapped almost immediately but Jana stayed patient and worked it out. We pulled the boat out into deeper water and the battle continued Jana fought it like a pro, letting it run, working it in, letting it run and she said she could feel it tiring, then BIP - the fish was off! It didn't break, it just came off. OUCH!

We hit a good number of other spots, fishing jigs and live shrimp most of the time and again - Toad Fish, Ladyfish, and Catfish. Jana did outsmart and hookup and land a keeper sized Sheepshead, photographed and released. Both days were beautiful, we had just a big of action, but heading back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Big Bertha Busts Bragging Rights

 We had the prettiest day all week - sunshine with a just a cloud now and then, not too hot, not too cool,
and just a faint amount of breeze to keep the bugs off. After meeting Rich Voelbel and his fishing partner Steve down at Sawpit Creek boat ramp we made our way up the Nassau and ran all the way up to Broward Island to fish the first of an incoming tide - ideal time to be there, but it didn't really pay off. We worked the bank with jigs and live shrimp and the duo of anglers were getting good casts but all we were getting were nibblers until Steve finally "knocked the skunk off" when he had a strong hookup out deep. He played the fish perfectly and fought it to the surface and landed a nice 19.25" Seatrout - they had their big fish of the day (we thought).  After moving back up north we fished a spot that we had already fished and Rich outsmarted a feisty Sheepshead and brought it to the boat. 

Running back down the Nassau and stopping at Twin Creeks, we switched to float rigs and Rich's first cast produced a high flying Ladyfish, then Steve picked up a hungry Seatrout way back along the grass. We then motored further down the river to Spanish Drop and worked that bank with the float rigs, to no avail.

We followed the tide back up the river to Pumpkin Hill and drifted  more marsh grass. Rich had something big roll on his bait but it didn't take. We drifted down another grass line where I felt sure we'd get fish but it was kinda slow until Rich made another cast and his float immediately went out of sight as soon as it hit and, Big Fish On!  This fish was digging deep and ripping some drag but Rich kept the pressure up and expertly fought it to the net - a big 23.75" Gator Trout - Big Bertha - and easily the biggest Trout on the Anglers Mark this year which moves Rich into first place in the 2025 Bragging Rights Tournament-Seatrout Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings). 

We fished on down the way and picked up a couple of more Trout or two, then hit a couple of more spots before heading back to the ramp, and as we skimmed over the glassy water, we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Pretty Day Aggravating Wind Fish Caught

 We had a beautiful day this morning but when I stepped out to get the boat ready the flags on the front of the house were blowing and I said "uh-oh". When I came back in to have a little breakfast I checked the weather again -"sunshine with wind holding steady at 12mph".  That's really not bad but just enough to be aggravating to casters who would be tossing float rigs most of the morning. 

I met Tim Hall up at Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp, and his guests who were visiting from Holland -Ruben and is two boys Joab and Eron. The tide had been coming in a few hours and after making our way out of Eagans Creek and up to the Jolly River and turning into the current along the "bank", the oysters were all covered up. We got the float rigs ready, baited with live shrimp and began working along the grass. That 12mph east wind made it difficult to keep the boat parallel and to toss into it. But these anglers were up to the ask and we fished it pretty good, and might have had one bite.

We then ran up the river, just past Snook Creek and again turned into the current. Now the wind was at our backs and we were getting good drifts, and it paid off. Ruben had made an excellent cast and as his float drifted with the incoming current, BAM! Fish On!  Ruben played it expertly and soon landed a nice feisty Redfish. We moved into Snook and fished some jigs and shrimp but had no luck. After running back down the Jolley, we anchored up current from Tyger Cut and this did the trick. All anglers got a bite on their float rigs, then Ruben, drifting down the right side had a hookup. He played it perfectly and landed a keeper sized Seatrout. Tim and Eron went down the other side and picked up another Trout. 

After running up the Jolley and into the Bell we fished in and around some docks with the jigs. They landed a small Toadfish and a small Croaker but then Ruben hooked up deep and played to the net another keeper sized Seatrout. We ran down the Jolley and up Lanceford Creek where we fished a large drainage. Both Ruben and Joab battled and landed Bonnethead Shark which were photographed and released. Eron and his dad teamed up to land one more keeper Trout. 

Our final stop was around at a grass patch fishing the dead high tide and here we did have a bit of action catching small Seatrout. We had had to deal with a bit of wind but it was a beautiful day and we had caught fish, had a few 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.

Chicago Boys Wrap The Week Up

 I finished up a great week of fishing yesterday fishing with an all-guys group from Chicago - Wes
Metheney,  his son Jack and friends PJ and Emmitt. We met down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early  and run up the Nassau to make our first stop at a large drainage at Seymore's Pointe. They were getting good drifts with their float rigs on the first of an outgoing tide but we had not a single real bite.

We ran thru Horsehead and over to Poteat Point and here we did get some action with PJ "knocking the skunk off" with a Seatrout catch. We caught a few along there then crossed over and fished an attractive area with a few grassy islands at the mouth of another drainage. This paid off with some more Trout catches  - Wes and Jack added to the catch, then Emmit had a strange bite, hooked it up, and landed a nice Flounder. PJ tangled with a big high flying Ladyfish which we boated and released.

After running back thru Horsehead we made our way down to Back River and fished a stretch of marsh grass with the floats then wrapped things up fishing Spanish Drop with jigs and live shrimp. Wes battled a couple of hard fighting Jack Crevalle to the net while Emmitt, fishing off the stern, landed another Trout. We had some beautiful weather, had caught some fish, so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island,Florida. 

A Few Surprises

 About when I think I've got fishing figured out I get surprised. This morning, after meeting Henry Ross, his sister Laura, and her husband Dennis down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp, we ran up the intracoastal, up the Nassau and set up on a large outflow to toss float rigs and live shrimp on the first of an outgoing tide. I would have bet a dollar that we'd get some Seatrout here, and I would have lost it. When Dennis' first cast was drifting across and viciously went under I knew it wasn't a Seatrout - the line was ripping across the water and the drag was singing. Dennis kept the pressure on and followed it around the boat, and then it dug deep. A big Redfish maybe? Dennis worked it up, let it run, worked it in, and soon brought to the net a big Jack Crevalle. We fished that stretch of water thoroughly and didn't get another real bite. 

After running thru Horsehead and over to Poteat Point we set up and began to toss up to some flooded grass and let those floats drift back. I thought for sure we'd get Seatrout out in the current, but Henry went over into some slower and water and BAM! Fish On! He played it patiently to the boat and landed a keeper sized Seatrout. He went back to the same spot and hooked up with another. We eased forward, pitching to the grass and letting it drift. Laura had a good cast forward up near a point of grass  but had no takers. Dennis cast forward and came by the same grass and BAM! Big Fish On!  Dennis fought this fish valiantly as it ripped drag and made a run out deep. He worked it in expertly and after a good battle landed a tournament sized 26.5" Redfish.

Both Henry and Laura pitched their floats forward to that same spot but got no action. Dennis made is cast and had another big hookup. This was also a good battle and when we saw the fish roll we knew it was another big Redfish. Dennis played it perfectly and landed a nice 25" Slot Redfish. Laura expertly landed a Seatrout and hard fighting Jack Crevalle and after Dennis battled a 4' Bonnethead Shark to the boat for pictures we moved on. 

We fished over in Jackstaff for a bit then ran back thru Horsehead and down to Back River where we set up with the float rigs, looking for more Redfish. It started slow, and they weren't Redfish, but  the trio had some good action catching hungry Seatrout, one after the other. Our final stop was down at Broward Island tossing jigs and shrimp. Dennis had to fight another big Bonnethead Shark to the boat, then Henry wrapped things up with a Redfish catch. We had some really nice weather, had caught big fish and had good action with Seatrout, so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.