First Red Big Red

We had a beautiful morning down at the Big Talbot Island boat ramp when I met Lisa Cooper and her son Brendan for a day of Amelia Island back country fishing.  We headed up the Amelia River then cut in to Jackstaff to fish the still flooded oysters with live shrimp under a float.  It was about he first or second cast when Lisa's float disappeared and FISH ON!  But no, FISH OFF!  But Brendan went in right afterwards and his float disappeard too!  This time he had a good hookup and after playing the fish patiently, landed an nice keeper sized Flounder!  We continued to fish the area and both anglers landed hungry Seatrout.  Our next stop was at the Twin Creeks in Nassau River and although it looked promising, we had no real bites.  We then fished a still flooded Bubblegum Reef and had a few bites but no real takers.  Our next stop was the logs of Broward Island.  The current was really rushing out due to a SW wind but these anglers persevered.  Brendan was really working the bank and when he got the hang of the bite, hooked up and landed a sneaky Sheepshead to garner his Amelia Island Back Country Slam.  But he wasn't finished!  We fished and fished the downed logs and although we were getting nibbles we just weren't getting fish.  As we were about to leave Brendan made a final cast to the bank and as he slowly worked it back, BAM! FISH ON!  And boy was it a fish.  He patiently worked the fish even as it made a run deep then got back in the current to it's advantage.  When it came to the surface we all saw that it was a Big Redfish!  Brendan slowly worked it in and eventually landed the oversized 29.5" Redfish!  That's the way to wrap up an Amelia Island back country fishing trip!