Flounder Getting Larger

Shonda Warner and her friend, Ed, were visiting Amelia Island, staying at the Elizabeth Pointe Lodge, and took in a couple of backcountry fishing trips on The Anglers Mark.  On Thursday morning we met at the Atlantic Seafood boat ramp early, headed up to the Jolley River and Snook Creek and fished the exposed oyster banks on the last of an outgoing tide.  The anglers started with 8w flyrods and #1 black Clouser's, casting to the base of the oysters.  Both had hookups and caught fish before the sun got high and they switched to spinning tackle.  Croakers, the ever present "baitstealers" of summer were in big supply, but the anglers persevered.  We moved to Jolley Bank as the tide started in and Ed had a good battle with a feisty Redfish.  The Sunday morning trip we again met at Atlantic Seafood but this time we headed down river to the Horsehead area and the mouth of Jackstaff Creek.  The tide was going out but the oysters were well exposed so the anglers tossed a jig/Gulp combo to the shallows.  It wasn't long before both anglers were getting good bites and Shonda picked up a nice Seatrout.  Later, she made an excellent cast to the mouth of a runout, felt a heavy bite, waited a few seconds, and set the hook, FISH ON!  She played the fish perfectly and we soon netted a nice 18"+ Flounder.  We hit a few spots in the Nassau River and as the tide began to turn, headed to Broward Island to fish the log strewn banks as the water came back in.  This turned out to be a good move, because it wasn't long before Shonda had a good strong bite and began her battle with a Redfish  When we landed the fish we saw that it was a beautiful dark copper color.  Shonda picked up another, larger Redfish, then Ed got in on the action and hooked up one, too.  He played it like a pro and we soon netted, photographed and released a nice Redfish.  The sun was up and the ride back was to be long, so we headed in, counting it as another great day to be on the water!