Tide Change

I fished with Todd Voelker and his fishing buddy Phil, meeting them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp this morning.  The tide had been going out for a few hours and as we eased in to Jackstaff the oysters were already showing along the banks. Todd began tossing a float rig with live shrimp up current and to the bank while Phil flung a fly rod off the stern, first with topwater gurgler pattern, then with an intermediate sinking line and Clouser.  Todd did get a bite or two on the live shrimp but Phil had no hits on the fly.

We buzzed thru Horsehead and fished some docks briefly with both anglers fishing jigs and live shrimp up near the pilings. Again, we had some nibbles but no takers.

Our next stop was down at Broward Island and it was the very last of the outgoing.  Pitching jigs, we began to get some fish. Phil landed a feisty Redfish to knock the skunk off, then Todd put a fat female Trout in the boat (all fish caught today were released). The duo added a couple of more keeper sized Trout, some smaller ones, and a couple of more Reds. The tide had hit rock bottom and the bite slowed but when Todd's line tightened up, he set the hook and, Fish ON!  I advised Todd that this fish could be bigger than what it appeared, and sure enough, I was right! The big fish dug deep and ripped drag, but Todd kept the pressure on. We eased the boat out deep and took our time. Todd patiently worked it to the surface and landed a big, oversized 28.25" Redfish - the third biggest I've had on the boat this year, placing Todd in the 2019 Bragging Rights Tournament (scroll down the right side of this report for standings).

We continued to fish the area and shortly after we had a "double hookup" of Redfish, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.