Bragging Rights Blow Out

I fished this morning with the father and son duo, Wes and Wes Reinhardt, meeting them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp.  We made the quick run up to Seymore's Point and fished some docks on an outgoing tide with live shrimp under float rigs...to no avail. Not a real bite. We came around to the east side and fished some of the rocks and again, no fish, other than a handsized Sheepshead. 

The tide was getting low so we buzzed down to Broward Island and pitched jigs and shrimp and mud minnows and again, no real bites. Back to
the Goffinsville area we went and broke out some slip float rigs. Finally, the two anglers each hooked up and landed a hungry Seatrout. Although the skunk was off, I wasn't feeling too good about our catch total! 

The tide had changed so we headed back to Broward and this did the trick. First cast, BOOM! Redfish. Then for about an hour the two anglers were catching fish. When Wes Sr. had a hookup and the fish came towards the boat, we were thinking "rat red", but then it bulled down and the battle was on. I was clearing the deck, removing the jump seat and makin room for Wes because sure enough, the big fish took him from the bow, down the starboard side to the stern, across the stern, and back up to the bow. Boy what a fight! But Wes was up to the challenge and after a long fight, landed an oversized 32" Redfish which blew out the Anglers Mark Bragging Rights Tournament and seized first place in the Redfish Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings) After pictures it was released to swim off (and all fish caught today were released).

Then it was Wes jr's time to get hot. He boated a slot sized Redfish, a few smaller ones, and later added a keeper sized Flounder to his catch to round out his Amelia Island Back Country Slam of Seatrout, Redfish and Flounder.

Although the day started slow, the fish turned on and made for a great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.