Huge Stingray Boated

Jerry Owens was visiting Amelia Island and arranged an Amelia Island backcountry fishing trip on The Anglers Mark yesterday with his niece, Andrea.  We left the South End boat ramp at 7am sharp and headed over to the docks at Longpointe to fish the last of an outgoing tide.  About half way through the troll, Jerry made a picture perfect cast up into the pilings and just as it hit the bottom he had a strong hookup.  As he cranked the reel he commented that it felt like a concrete block on the end of his line!  He fought the fish perfectly on the light tackle rig and we soon netted for inspection a huge Butterfly Stingray (ID courtesy of MOTE Marine in Tampa area).   We fished the Jackstaff area then Bubblegum Reef where Andrea caught her own Atlantic Stingray.  While fishing the docks of Seymor's Pointe the anglers picked up a few Rock Bass and even a small Grouper.  The breeze had brought in a fog of smoke from the fires so we called it a day, another great one to be on the water!