Wrapping up 2021 with a Grandfather, son, and grandson trip

 Where've I been?  Today was the only trip I fished in December!  I've been doing boat/trailer/trolling motor repairs AND building a storage shed. On the boat, I had the bow repaired, and a few new coats applied to the keel. I also cleaned out some old caulk where the gas tank was installed last year and put a nice, pretty bead down. I also replaced the flares, fire extinguisher and scrap leader container. Then I cleaned the whole inside, hatches and all!

The trailer had a bunk broken so I replaced that and then changed out the carpet on most of the bunks. The bow roller was what was causing the bow to get "chewed up", so I replaced that. One tire had a slow leak so I replaced it with a new one and repaired the old one for a spare. The right side trailer lights have been out for 4-5months so I doped that out and repaired it.

I was reminded the other day that my trolling motor had been acting up since last August!  I had dropped it off to Fish307 JAX and Christina overhauled the mechanical parts internally. I also purchased a new battery for the remote, cleaned the contacts and installed it. It purred today fishing!

I'm well on my way to having a nice 10'x20' shed built. It's framed up, house wrapped and dried in with felt paper, windows installed, storage shelving set up, rod racks installed. Roofing and wiring are planned for next week. Unfortunately the doors are on back order with the (next) estimated date of delivery January 17th, which means I can't complete the trim or begin the siding. Ouch.   

So I've been "out of pocket" this  month, but today I was able to get out out on the water with the Averbuch's - Mark, his son Jared, and grandson Max. We met down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and headed up the intercoastal to dip in to Jackstaff then a side creek and set up at a large marsh drainage, fishing with float rigs and live shrimp on a tide that had been going out for about an hour.

It didn't take long before Mark hooked up and landed a small but hungry Seatrout to "knock the skunk off". We eased along a small grassy island with all three anglers making excellent casts and getting good drifts. Mark went up to another couple of small drainage's and when his float disappeared he resisted the urge to give it a hard set, but instead lifted and made contact, and, Fish On! I could tell right off that it was a nice fish by the way it dug deep and sure enough it finally realized it was hooked and took off, ripping drag as it went. That's when Max stepped in to help out - Mark handed off the rod and young Max played the big fish perfectly, keeping the pressure on and working it slowly to the boat. After a good battle he subdued the beast and brought it to the net - a nice Oversized 28" Redfish, boy what a fish.

We crossed the creek and fished a good stretch of bank with the floats, then we switched to jigs, had no luck, and moved on. After running thru Horsehead we made a stop at some docks over at Seymore's Pointe with plans to pitch to the pilings. All three were getting nibbles and finally it was Jared who had the big hookup. He got it out from the pilings then handed it off to Max who patiently brought it in - a big 18" Black "puppy" Drum. Just minutes later, after having made an excellent cast, Max hooked up with another nice fish. He played it to the boat and landed a 16" keeper sized Black Drum. 

Our next stop was around at some docks at Nassauville. Here, both Jared and Max landed Seatrout fishing deep, and a couple were of keeper size. We fished down at Broward Island and picked up a couple of small Trout, again in fairly deep water. Our final stop was back at Spanish Drop, fishing some shell banks with the jigs. Jared had just made a beautiful cast to the bank, about, two feet off of the shell and it paid off. BAM! He had a hookup. He expertly played it to the net and landed a keeper sized 18" Redfish. Although we only caught one fish along there, it was a good one and a great way to wrap up a day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Recipe of the Month: Seafood Dip

 

Seafood Dip

8oz    can crab meat

1.5lb  medium peeled, deveined local shrimp

          Konricko seasoning

1/8   Cup chopped green onion

¼      Cup chopped celery

12oz  (1.5package) cream cheese

8oz  container sour cream

1 tsp  Franks hot sauce

1 tsp  Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp  lemon juice

Peel and devein shrimp.  Toss in Konricko seasoning and brown in skillet.

Chop up shrimp into small nuggets. Chop celery and green onion. Mix all ingredients in bowl.

Taste and add Konricko, hot sauce, or Worcestershire as needed.

Let chill in refrigerator. Serve with crackers.

We Had A Temperature Drop

 It was in the mid 40's when I launched this morning, clear skies and a 10mph wind that was forecasted to pick up as the day went on. I met Tom Hutchens, his brother Bob, and their friend Kevin down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and we headed up the Nassau River and down to Broward Island to take advantage of the first of an incoming tide...and the 10 mph wind!  The trio of anglers were pitching jigs and live shrimp to the bank and it wasn't long before we began to get some fish. Tom "knocked the skunk off with a nice, keeper sized Seatrout catch then Bob hooked up with some strong fish, and landed two 18" Black "puppy" Drum. We had another Trout or two before we moved down the island and fished under a Bald Eagle for a bit. No luck there, we moved on.

Our next stop was up at some docks at Seymore's Pointe but the wind had picked up and made for some difficult fishing. We came back around to the Nassauville side and we were sheltered from the wind, but the fish didn't cooperate! 

After moving back up the Nassau we fished the mouth of Pumpkin Hill. Thewind was really whipping but this trio of anglers made do. We drifted with the wind and current and picked up Trout. Kevin got in on the action and caught a good handful of Trout to ease into contention of the "most fish caught". Although none of these Trout were of keeper size, it was a testament to these anglers perseverance to hang in there and catch some fish. Even with the wind it was a beautiful day so as we headed in we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Worthwhile Braving The Nasty Weather

 

It was drizzling rain when I launched yesterday. A dreary fog had set in and as I tied the boat up the rain increased enough to where I was scrambling for a rain jacket and I ended up sitting under the cabana until Freya Phillips and Ray pulled up. They had come prepared, with both wearing rains suites, head to toe, and it being Ray's birthday, we were going fishing one way or the other!  So off we went and after making our first run up and into the Jolley River, we eased back into the tide that had been coming in for a few hours and began tossing float rigs with live shrimp. And the rain stopped and never rained again!

We worked the entire bank for about 30 minutes and we didn't get even a nibble. Not a bite, which I thought was strange. After running further up the Jolley we worked another bank and fairly quickly Ray "knocked the skunk off" with a hungry Seatrout catch.  I thought we might pick up a few more, but no. Then Ray saw a "tail" up in a pocket behind us so we dropped back and fished it. Freya was fishing within 6 feet of the boat when here float slowly went under. She tightened up the line, lifted her rod tip, and BAM! Her line began ripping out as her rod tip bent over, Big Fish On!  Freya was on the bow but made here way back to the stern and luckily the big fish made for deeper water. Freya fought it from port to starboard and back again a few times. Just when we could see the float come to the surface the fish would dig deep again, ripping drag. But finally, Freya, who was getting double coached, brought the fish to the surface and landed an Oversized 32" Redfish which we photographed and released. This fish put Freya in third place in the Anglers Mark Bragging Rights Tournament-Redfish Category(scroll down the right side of this report for standings) Boy what a fish!

We fished the outside of Tyger in a couple of places to no avail, then motored thru Tyger and fished over in the Bell. Here, we got into some action. Both anglers caught Seatrout, one after another for a good bit. They were in the 12"-14.5" range, fun to catch, but all released. Our final stop was over in Soap Creek. We had a few bites as the tide turned and started back out, then we headed in, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

We Found 'Em

 I wrapped  up my week fishing with Glenn and Patti Langford this morning. We had met down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early,  under cloudy skies, but warmer temperatures than the last few days. We made a long run up the intercoastal, over thru the Back River, into the Nassau, and down to Broward Island. It was a high and incoming tide but I wanted to try fishing the island deep. Both anglers were tossing jigs and live shrimp to the bank, letting it fall down the bottom, and waited for the "bump". Patti "knocked the skunk off" when she had a strong hookup. She played it perfectly and landed a feisty Redfish. I though, "oh boy, here we go!"  But nope, not another real bite. We moved down the island, passing a pair of Bald Eagles, and fished another stretch of the island, to no avail.

We motored back up the river and fished a shallow stretch of flooding bank, now floating live shrimp over the shell bottom and BAM! We had one hookup after another!  It was almost every drift. Many of the Seatrout were 14-14.5" in length but we put a good handful of keeper sized Seatrout in the boat. Glenn had a

good drift going, right up beside the grass and when a fish took his bait with a vengeance and his drag ripped, we knew he had a bigger fish. Glenn fought it patiently as it boiled up a couple of times (Redfish) and then he brought it to the net, a 20" Slot Sized Redfish. After briefly fishing a grassy island we moved on.

Our next stop was back at Seymore's Pointe where we drifted live shrimp under a float along a couple of grass lines. Although we had a couple of good "takes', we landed no fish. After motoring down the Nassau, we fished the mouth of  Twin Creeks, switching back to jigs. Patti hooked up quickly with another Seatrout. We landed a couple of more Trout as we worked the bank, then we headed in, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Trout Game

 

What beautiful weather we're having here at Amelia Island this week, and today was no different with clear skies, sunshine, and flat water! I met fishing buddies Tom Gaslin and Steve Foss out at Goffinsville Park early and we made a short run over to the mouth of Pumpkin Hill and set up along a stretch of flooding marsh grass with plans to toss float rigs and live shrimp to the bank and drift them long with the current, and we did just that, and it paid off. Both anglers found that there was a "honey hole" back there and they caught hungry Seatrout, one after the other. We moved down the bank a bit and Steve again went long and again found Seatrout. When you're drifting long sometimes you build up a bunch of slack and it becomes a game when that float disappears- you have to slap the bail shut, crank like crazy to catch up and then lift the rod to have the circle hook set. You win some you lose some.

We move around the corner and again found Seatrout up by a grass patch. Our next stop was at a large marsh drainage back at Seymore's Pointe. The duo found that they could toss their float up beyond a grassy pointe, let it drift around the corner and, BAM. Trout bite. We jumped around the dock and fished the grass line and here Tom got hot and picked up another handful of Trout, one of which was of keeper size. 

Our next stop was down the Nassau, again fishing a marsh drainage with jigs and shrimp, but we only picked up one small Seatrout. Moving further down to Spanish Drop, we worked some submerged shell banks, drifting with the current. We were almost ready to make another move when Steve had a strong bite, one that ripped his drag. He played it perfectly and landed a nice feisty Redfish. He picked up two more of those Reds and one of them made it into the Slot. 

Our final stop was back at some docks at Seymore's Pointe. We fished the pilings with the jigs and shrimp, had some nibbles, but not takers. We then worked along the docks, tossing jigs and picked up another Trout or two, then aa nice  18" Black "puppy" Drum. It had been a gorgeous day, we had some good fish catching action, so as we headed in, we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

First Fish. Ever.

 Just when I thought we couldn't have had a prettier day on the water, we had today!  I had met Doug and Sandy Massey up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp early and we headed over to the outside of Tyger with the sun just up, hardly a breeze, and a brisk temperature to start the morning off. We eased up to a grass line and began tossing float rigs and live shrimp. We had a couple of quick bites early but no real takers. I notice a guy off to the north tossing a jig with some kinda of bait and he was nailing fish! Go figure.

After fishing across the creek along another grass line to no avail, we moved on. We made the run thru Tyger, around to the Bell, over to Lanceford and up into Soap Creek and pulled up to a large marsh drainage. I think it was Doug's first cast and BAM! The skunk was off! He reeled in a nice Seatrout. We worked that area pretty good and then it was Sandy's turn to hookup. She played it perfectly and reeled in another Seatrout - her fish fish caught ever! Now that's success! Both anglers caught more Trout and both caught feisty Redfish.

Our next stop was back up Lanceford where we stayed with the float rigs. We fished it briefly but had not bites, and moved on. We tried some dock pilings and this did the trick. In just a few minutes we were catching fish: Sheepshead, Flounder, Black Drum, and Redfish. A few of the Drum were of keeper size, we kept one but threw a few keeper sized fish back, then Doug had a strong hookup and this one was ripping drag. Doug kept the pressure on and expertly brought it to the net - a Slot sized 22" Redfish.

We left 'em biting  and another angler pulled in as we were leaving so as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Surprise Surprise!

 I was back to work today after help put on our fishing Tournament over the weekend and boy was it a pretty day to be fishing! I met Dave Burkhart and his fishing buddies Robert and Ed up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp and we then headed south down the intercoastal and then dipped into Lanceford Creek to pull up to a marsh runout on a high and incoming tide.

I was feeling pretty confident that we'd be catching fish today after a great week last week and then some good catches coming in to the tournament Saturday, but after fishing that first spot with float rigs and live shrimp for 15 minutes and not getting a nibble, I had a gnawing feeling that this might be the day that we might get "skunked". 

We ran further up into Lansford, turned into Soap and set up at another marsh drainage, fished it for a bit (no bites), then eased along the bank working it with each cast. Finally, these anglers began to get some bites then they caught a few Seatrout, one of which was of keeper size. We moved on around to some docks off of Lanceford and switched to jigs and this did the trick. Dave and Robert hooked up and brought to the boat some keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum and Ed outsmarted four (yes four) Sheepshead! Then Dave went deep, to 15' of water, and had a strong bite and a battle ensued. He played it perfectly and eventually landed a 22" Slot Sized Redfish. Robert also put two undersized and out of season Flounder in the boat, and released.

Our next stop was up Bell River and I think the first cast with a jig produced a Seatrout. Then they were all catching, with a couple of more being of keeper size, and the biggest, right at 17", caught by Ed. Robert went to some structure and had his shrimp picked up and then his drag began to rip, Fish On! This was crazy. The fish ran hard up the river, then down the river, then up the river, then down the river. It kinda boiled up behind the boat and we all thought for sure it was big Redfish but when it finally came to the surface we saw that it was a Striped Bass (and Ed correctly identified it as a Hybrid). The first Striped Bass ever on my boat! Boy what a fish!

We fished Jolley "bank" for a bit, tangled with another big fish, then headed in, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Veterans Day Blow Out

 We had another beautiful day when I met Dennis Ambercrombie and his dad Jay, a Veteran and an
angler. Little did we know that today would be one of those "banner" days, and it couldn't have come at a better time with today being Veterans Day! We made a short run from Goffinsvill Park down the Nassau River and set up at a marsh run out. The two anglers baited up and were fishing that drainage with about an hour left of an outgoing tide. I had turned my back to do something and BAM, Jay had a bite on that first cast and we were in for a battle! Jay played it patiently (watch the below video) - it took well over 6 minutes, but he was up to the task and eventually boated a Oversized 32.5" Redfish, a fish big enough to move him into 2nd Place in the Anglers Mark 2021 Bragging Rights Tournament - Redfish Category (scroll down the right side of this report and click on Bragging Rights to see standings). Boy what fish! While he was fighting the Red Dennis had a hookup and landed a hungry Seatrout!

We continued to fish that spot for a good 30 minutes and Jay was on fire catching  Seatrout out the back of the boat. We then moved down to Spanish Drop and fished some exposed shell banks. Jay picked up more Trout off the stern while Dennis found a couple of feisty Redfish.  After that we worked along some shell banks, pitching jigs and shrimp on the very last of the tide until it hit dead bottom. 

Our next stop was up at some docks at Seymore's Pointe and now the tide was coming in and it made a difference. Jay was fishing the stern and hooked up and landed a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum (all fish caught today were released), then Dennis followed that up with a Drum catch of his own. Then Jay had a slight "bump", set the hook, and reeled in a keeper sized Sheepshead! We had a good, brief flurry at that spot. We ran down along Nassauville and made one more stop and picked up a few more Trout and a small Sea Bass. 

The final stop was down at Broward Island and boy was it hot! Right off the bat, Jay began to catch keeper sized Seatrout, most all of them out deep in 20' of water. They picked up a small Red or two then after Dennis had made a good cast to a "beach", BAM! The minute it hit the water he had a big fish on. Jay expertly played the fish, kept the pressure on, and slowly worked it to the surface. I was thinking< "Big Red" but when it came up we saw that it was a huge Flounder! Dennis kept that line tight and eventually we netted a 23.35" Flounder, and we had another Abercrombie slide in to the Bragging Rights Tournament, this one big enough to move in to a tie for 2nd Place in the Flounder Category. Another great fish!

We fished that spot until we ran out of bait, catching one Seatrout after the other. I remember commenting that IF they had been keeping fish, they surely would have hit their limit! As we headed back to the dock we counted it as another  great day of catching here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Last of the Outgoing, First of the Incoming

 

We had another beautiful day today when I met Mark Smith and his future neighbor Dan down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. The skies were clear and the sun was just coming up as we made the run up the Nassau River and around to Broward Island to set up at a large marsh run out with plans to pitch jigs and live shrimp. Dan was on the bow fishing the run out while Mark was on the stern pitching to a small cove and it as Mark who "knocked the skunk off" with a feisty Redfish catch. We worked along that bank and had a pretty good stretch of "fish catching" - the two anglers caught a good handful of Seatrout with a couple of them being of keeper size, then Mark put a Slot sized Redfish in the boat. We worked about half the island but the tide had come to a standstill, so we made a move.

Dan stayed on the bow, fishing the jig, and hooked up with a keeper sized Weakfish then Mark caught and landed another Slot Red, then he had a strong hookup and this big fish stayed on the bottom, Fish On!  Mark played it patiently and slowly

worked it up, then it dove deep again making the drag sing. He worked it up again only to have it make more deep runs, but Mark was up to the task and eventually landed an Oversized 29" Redfish, boy what a fish!

We came back to Nassauville, stayed with the jigs, and here they picked up another Redfish, then Mark landed a 15"+ Flounder, big enough normally, but with a closed season, it went back to live another day!

Our final stop was down at Twin Creeks. Both Mark and Dan caught Seatrout drifting floats, then a feisty Redfish. We moved down to Spanish Drop and finished the day catching small but fun to catch Seatrout. As we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Good Move

 Although the storm passed thru over the weekend it left lingering winds thru Monday so Karen and Jerry Thompson and I decided to move the trip to this afternoon, and it was a good move. We only had a slight breeze blowing and the sun was shining bright which made for a very pleasant afternoon on the water hre at Amelia Island. We made  quick run over to the outside of Tyger to fish a marsh line as the tide started out. I thought we were really going to take off when Jerry hooked up and landed a fat, keeper sized Seatrout right off the bat. But bites after that were few and far between. We fished there then crossed the creek and fished another couple of spots but to no avail.

Our next stop was up at the Jolley River, fishing a stretch of bank and here Jerry got hot and caught a handful of Seatrout. We worked up and down that bank and picked up Trout. Karen got in on the action and landed her first fish, a Seatrout.

We moved up the river, staying with the float rigs and here Jerry had a strong bite, one that ripped some drag. He kept the pressure on and worked in a nice keeper sized Redfish.   

Our final stop was around at Bell River, fishing some docks with jigs. Karen was on he bow and began to hookup with Seatrout. Jerry, at the stern, found one back by some dock pilings.  We move down the river a bit and pitched to an old boat ramp and here we found two or three Redfish. It had been a beautiful day and we had caught some nice fish so as we headed in we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Big Tides Didn't Affect The Fishing

 With a big NE storm that passed thru this past weekend, coupled with some "King" Tides, it was all over the news about Front Street flooding. When I launched this morning old dead marsh grass was piled up at the top of the boat ramp at Dee Dee Bartels, and one floating ramp was damaged from the high water.

I met Steve Locke and his fishing buddy Jason early with a tide that had been low at 5:30am, so it had been coming in for almost two hours. We ran up to the Jolley River, turned into the current and deployed some float rigs and live shrimp, working along a bank with the oysters already covered up. We fished for 30 minutes without a nibble and I was beginning to wonder if it might be nice to see a "baitstealer" when Jason hooked up and landed a nice 17" keeper sized Seatrout. He then drifted long off the stern and began to pick up Trout, one after the other, and graciously offered to have Steve come back and join in, which he did. Both anglers caught Trout, one after the other, and most of them were 10-15' from the bank. 

Jason was getting another good drift when his float disappeared, he lifted the rod and set the hook and
this was a bigger fish. He played it patiently  and after a good battle brought to the net a big 20.5" Sheepshead, a fish that puts him squarely in to 2nd place in the Anglers Mark 2021 Bragging Rights Tournament-Sheepshead Category(scroll down the right side of this report for standings).

We eventually ran up the Jolly to Snook Creek and fished that bank and this was hot, too. Both anglers caught Redfish with a few of them being of keeper size. They also added another few keeper sized Seatrout.

Our next stop was on the outside of Tyger which didn't pan out, then we ran thru the creek and over to the Bell and set up alongside a grassy pointe where we picked up two more Seatrout. But the bite had slowed considerably and after one more spot we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Nor Easter Coming

 I thought we were due for another beautiful day today and as it stared out it was just that, clear and not too windy. But boy were we in for a blow as the day went on! I had met Greg Raecker up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park before sun up with plans to try some fly fishing mixed in with spin so we headed over to Tyger Island and checked a handful of spots out for tailing Redfish as the sun was coming up. Although the water was plenty high enough, we only saw one tail and that was just for a brief moment. 

So Greg set up at the stern of the boat and blind casted in shallow water for Seatrout with a shrimp pattern. That can get real tiring quick, so we

switched to live shrimp under a float and that did the trick. Greg "knocked the skunk off" with a keeper sized Seatrout catch. We worked along a grass line and picked up another keeper Trout.  After crossing over the creek and fishing the float rig we found that the wind had picked up a bit, so we decided to make a run over to Lanceford Creek and find some shelter.

We fished up in Lanceford with the fly gear and spin gear and boy was it perfect conditions -sunny and zero wind! But the fish didn't cooperate, we didn't get a bite fishing a stretch of grass, and then "Millie's Spot".

Our next stop was over in Soap Creek and now the tide was going out. In quick succession, Greg put three Seatrout in the boat. We eased up to a small oyster/grass island running parallel to the bank and Greg's first cast produced a feisty Redfish. He went back to the same spot and had a another, bigger bite. This one was ripping drag and staying up at the bank. I knew there was an oyster outcrop between us and the fish and sure enough, the fish found it and, BAP! Fish Off!  But Greg went back, this time on the outside of the island and picked up another Trout, then went back to the "honey hole" and caught another Redfish. 

By this time it had become overcast and the wind had really picked up. We headed back to the dock, bucking the wind and the waves, but we had squeezed in some good fishing so we counted it as another great day to be out on the water here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Pompano In The Backwater

 

I fished south today, meeting Joe and Karen Szkardnik and their fishing buddy Bruce down at the Sawpit Creek boa ramp early for a backwater day of fishing here at Amelia Island. We made our longest run up the intercoastal, turned left into the Back River and run over to the mouth of Pumpkin Hill to set up fishing with float rigs on the very last of an incoming tide. Karen had the hot hand first when she found a couple of hungry Seatrout long, past a grassy island. 

We eased around the corner and fished a grassy island, picked up another Trout or two, then Joe tangled with a Bonnethead Shark which we photographed and released, then he added a Bluefish to the box. Our next stop was back at Seymore's Pointe, fishing just north of a dock as the tide had started out and here Bruce got on the board with another Seatrout catch.  We fished between a couple of docks, drifting the grass, then move on. 

Our next stop was down at the Spanish Drop area and here we switched to jigs. Bruce found a feisty Redfish then Karen hooked up with something big that boiled as it was hooked, then headed north. Karen's drag was ripping as she inched to the bow of the boat then, BAP! Fish off! Ouch. But Karen was not to be deterred, pitched her jig up into the mouth of a run out, let it bounce down the bottom and had a hookup. When it flashed near the surface I guessed "Jack Crevalle" but when I netted it I saw it was a keeper sized Pompano - the first ever I've had caught on the Anglers Mark!

We moved down the way and fished a stretch where the shell was beginning to show and here we had our hottest action of the day. Karen and Joe began hooking up with feisty Redfish, then Joe put a Slot sized Red in the boat. Karen landed a Whiting. Then it was Bruce's turn for a big fish. He had a strong bite, set the hook, and expertly played to the net a nice 24" Slot Redfish, boy what a fish!

We finished the day back at Seymore's Pointe, had a few bites, caught a Mangrove and a Perch, then called it day and as  we headed back to the ramp, we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Cool and Crisp

We had a  beautiful cool and crisp morning when I met Tom and Mary Lou Stergios up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park. I launched in the dock, saw a lit up shrimp boat motor by, then Tom and Mary Lou and I pulled out from the dock as the sun came up. We made a quick jump over to Tyger Island and set up alongside a grassy point as the tide swept by. In short order Tom had a good hookup on his float rig and live shrimp and he expertly landed a nice feisty Redfish. Mary Lou was fishing off the stern and she followed that up with a nice landing of a keeper sized Seatrout (all fish caught today were released). We worked along that bank for a bit, tangled with a couple of Ladyfish, then crossed the creek and fished another stretch, to no avail.

After fishing a run out on the outside of Tyger with a jig and shrimp, we continued on around to Jolley "bank" and went back to the float rigs. The duo of anglers again caught a few hungry Seatrout. We ran further up the Jolley and fished Snook Creek and this was the hottest spot of the morning. Both anglers caught Redfish with a couple of them being just in the Slot range. They
also caught Seatrout. Most of them were just under the 15" limit, but boy were they fat!

We fished on around the corner then continued on around to Bell River and fished some docks with jigs. I was expecting maybe a Black Drum but we had none bite, but we did pick up another Seatrout. It was an absolutely beautiful day and as we cruised back thru the Bell and to the dock we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

A Good Flurry

 I fished again today with Bob Blalock who had along as his guests his in-laws Tommy and Martha. We left the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp as the sun was coming up behind us and headed over to Tyger Island to try our hand at fishing the logs on the first of an incoming tide. All three anglers were getting good casts as as we worked the bank. We picked up a handful of "bait stealers" before Bob finally put a barely legal Seatrout in the boat. 

We then made the long run outside of Tyger, down to the Bell, up into Lanceford and then we eased in to Soap Creek with plans to fish an exposed oyster bed. Bob and Wanda stayed with the jig and shrimp combo but Tommy switched to a float and drifted long out of the stern. Tommy found a hot spot back there and caught one, two, three Seatrout one after the other.  But Bob and Martha were getting good

casts and they found a good flurry of action, catching feisty Redfish on each cast. After working that bank until they quit biting we moved on. 

Our next stop was down at some docks on Lanceford and I think it was the first cast to the pilings when we had a hookup. Martha was on the rod and she expertly played another nice Redfish to the net.  The bait stealers moved in and we moved on. 

We stopped at BM3, a marsh drainage and fished the mouth with float rigs and in no time Bob hooked up and brought to the boat another keeper sized Seatrout-the biggest Trout of the day. After fishing a flooding oyster point at Bell River, then some more flooding shell on the outside of Tyger, we headed back across the river and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

Georgia Florida Football And Fishing

 Most of my guests this week are in town for the annual Georgia-Florida football game being held inJacksonville Saturday. But today, my two guest anglers were here just for a few days of relaxation and some back water fishing. It just so happened that one pulled for those mangy Dawgs, and one pulled for the mighty Gators! I had met Tom Mathews and his longtime buddy up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp early with a forecast of clear skies but increasing winds on a tide that had just started back in. We made a short run over to Tyger Island, slipped in behind it and began fishing the logs with jigs and live shrimp. We had  some nibbles then Tom hooked up and landed a nice keeper sized Sheepshead(all fish caught today were released). They caught a couple of Mangrove Snapper along that stretch then we moved on.

Our next stop was over at Lanceford Creek, fishing some dock pilings as the tide came in and this paid off. Gary kicked it off when he hooked up out deep and brought to the boat a fat Seatrout. Then both anglers were catching Redfish, a couple of
which were right at keeper size. They also caught Mangroves and another Sheepshead to add to the catch.

We moved around to Soap Creek and switched to float rigs, drifting live shrimp or mud minnows back behind the stern, thru a shute. Tom "went long" and when we couldn't find his float, he lifted the rod tip, set the hook, and had a fish on. He expertly brought it to the boat and landed a hungry Seatrout. He went back to the same place and this time when his float went under we thought we had a big Trout. Tom played it patiently and brought it to the net - a small Bonnethead Shark!

We fished further up Lanceford at a couple of spots but had not real bites but as we headed back to the dock we counted it as another great day top be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

The Rain Couldn't Keep Us Away

 

It was pitch dark and raining when I launched this morning out at Goffinsville Park and when Bob and William Blalock pulled up in their truck we all agreed to wait it out for a few minutes, which turned in to about 45 minutes. But the rain finally quit, we dried the seats off, and headed over to Broward Island to fish the first of an incoming tide, and I think the wait actually paid off. 

In only a few casts both anglers were hooking up. William hauled in a 23" Slot Redfish then his dad did the same, another 23" Redfish. They caught a couple of small ones then William had a strong bite, his rod bent and his drag ripped and, Big Fish On!  William played it patiently and eventually landed a nice Oversized 29" Redfish.  The bite slowed so we headed to the south end of the island and fished back, working a jig and shrimp up near the logs and stumps. We had bites, but no real takers. We tried the "honey hole" before we left and BAM, Bob

caught a another Slot Redfish. Our next stop was down the Nassau at Spanish Drop. I thought we were back on them when Bob caught a feisty Redfish, but after that it was Jacks, Catfish and a Croaker.

We finished up the day back at the mouth of Pumpkin Hill and here William found two hungry Seatrout down alongside a bank, and later he picked up a feisty Redfish. Bob added to the box with a keeper sized Mangrove and a "big enough" Croaker. (FYI of he four Slot Redfish caught, only one was kept for dinner) We had started out strong, and although we fished under cloudy skies,  as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing her at Amelia Island, Florida.

Long Snouted Fish

 We wrapped the week up yesterday, fishing with Jag Gholson and his longtime friend David after I had
met them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp. We had a tide that had been coming in for a few hours so we headed up and over to the Jolley River and turned into the current and fished the "bank". I could see right off that these anglers could fish as they were making excellent casts to the flooding marsh grass. It took a stretch but as we neared the mouth they began to get bites and hooked up with a handful of Seatrout. 

Our next stop was up at Snook Creek, fishing the bank. We had nibbles, picked up a couple of bait stealers, and moved on. After buzzing back to Tyger, thru the basin, and around to Bell River we set up alongside a flooding point and began to drift our float
rigs and live shrimp.  They caught a Trout or two then Jag had something promising - big and pulling deep. We were all speculating on what it was when he brought to the surface a 3' Gar Fish, OUCH!

We then ran over to Lanceford Creek, fished the mouth of a marsh drainage, had no luck, then continued on up and into Soap Creek where we worked a bank thoroughly. Not much happening, so we ran further up Lanceford, fished a grassy Island, had some nibbles, and continued on.

Back on the outside of Tyger to fish the first of an outgoing tide and that paid off. Jag was drifting long out of the stern and had a good bite, a hookup, and landed a nice keeper sized Seatrout. The duo played cat and mouse with Needlefish then Jag had the final nice fish of the day, a feisty Redfish.

We had had to deal with baitstealing Pinfish, Perch, Catfish, Garfish, and Needlefish but we had a bit of action here and there and it was a beautiful day so as we headed in we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

In Search of Trout

 

Boy, those beautiful mornings just keep rolling in! Today I met Garland Clark and his fishing buddy Dennis up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp - it was clear with only a slight breeze, and cool enough for long sleeves but no need for a jacket. We headed south down the intercoastal, skirted Fenandina and headed up the Bell River to make our first stop alongside a grassy point with a tide high and still coming in for a few hours. 

                                                               Both anglers were tossing

float rigs and live shrimp and it paid off when Dennis hooked up and "knocked the skunk off" with a nice Seatrout catch. Then Garland followed Dennis' float with his and hooked up with a keeper sized Seatrout. We worked that area pretty good and before we left Garland found another, even bigger, Seatrout that measured right at 18".

Our next stop was over in Lanceford Creek, fishing the mouth of a drainage and here Garland tangled with something big-it was ripping drag and bending the rod and..BAP! it found an oyster hump and broke off, OUCH! We went further up Lanceford and into Soap Creek and fished a bank with the floats and caught a handful of Seatrout. Dennis had the biggest one for a few seconds - it was thrashing and rolling- and, threw the hook! After continuing on up into Lanceford, we fished a grassy island, had some good nibbles, then Garland finally hooked one up and landed a keeper sized Sheepshead.

The tide had hit a standstill up in Lanceford so we made the run back to Bell, thru Tyger and around to the outside of Tyger to fish the first of an outgoing tide. We had baitstealers and Neeedlefish robbing us blind at the first spot so we crossed over and fished another stretch of grass. The duo caught a couple of Trout on the floats and we picked up one on a jig, fished deeper. We had had a beautiful day for fishing so as we headed in, we counted it as another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Couldn't Catch A Break

 I made the usual call to my wife on the way home from our fishing trip today (she likes to know I'm off the water) and gave her a brief fishing report for the day, "a bunch of junk fish, some small fish, a feisty Redfish, but then a tremendous battle and an oversized Redfish (by 1/8") and later some Mangrove Snapper, two of which were keepers, then a big 19" Flounder that would now be illegal to keep since October 15th".  And she said, "geez, the guy just couldn't catch a break!".

I had met Steve Wyatt and his fishing buddies Doug and Sam out a the Goffinsville Park early this morning and had a beautiful sunrise to greet us, and, a not so timid owl that came down to the dock as I waited. We made the short run down the Nassau and set up to fish Spanish Drop with float rigs and live shrimp and within seconds we were getting bites. The trio landed a few high flying Ladyfish, a hard fighting Jack Crevalle, a Catfish and then Doug hooked up and landed nice feisty Redfish.

After working that bank we dropped down the river and fished Twin Creeks for a bit with float rigs and jigs, had some nibbles but no takers, then we made another run. This time we stopped down at the mouth of Pumpkin Hill and drifted floats along the shore line. Again, we had nibbles but no takers. I released the I-Pilot "anchor" and we drifted back, fishing as we went. Along one stretch of grass a big fish rolled at Steve's bait but didn't take it! We drifted back another 20 feet and then Steve's float disappeared with a vengeance and, Big Fish On1 Steve said at

first he didn't think it was all that big but it began to rip drag and run deep towards the stern and then Doug made the call, "it might be oversized". Steve played it patiently to the boat, it made another run or two or three, then he brought it to the net - a Big Redfish that measured right at 27 1/8"! I measured it a few times but I just couldn't get it to shrink. so after a photograph, we released it to breed.

We fished Broward Island briefly, then Christopher Creek then wrapped up fishing some docks at Nassauville, jig and shrimp on the bottom. The trio of anglers played cat and mouse with Mangrove Snapper. In short order both Sam and Doug were hooking up and put a couple of keeper sized fish on the boat ( I could tell that we are on our last week or so of having Mangroves in numbers here) then Steve had a strange bite, set the hook and slowly worked in a......big 'ole Flounder that measured at 19". Unfortunately for Steve we are 5 days into a closed season on Flounder so it had to be released, OUCH! He just couldn't catch a break! But as we headed in we knew we had had a beautiful day for fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Weeding Thru The Ladyfish To Get Trout

I guess the Ladyfish are making one last run at it before the really cold weather gets here because we caught our fair share of them this morning! I had met Bruce Beauchamp and Dennis Schroeder down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp before sunup and we headed up the Back River and around to Pumpkin Hill and began drifting float rigs along a grass line on the last hour and a half of incoming tide. It wasn't long before we were getting bites...Dennis knocked the skunk off with a Seatrout catch then both he and Bruce were catching fish. Most of them were high flying Ladyfish but every once in a while they'd pick up a Seatrout.

We worked around the corner, fished a grassy island, then headed over to Seymore's Pointe just as the tide turned and started back out. There was a bunch of mullet on  the move but not much happening other than some Mangrove Snapper bites and catches.

After buzzing thru Horsehead we eased up into a creek and stayed with the float rigs. Bruce picked up a couple of Trout, had a strong bite up near some grass that broke off, then as we drifted back, Dennis had gone to the grass with a cast and had a good hookup. He brought it patiently to the boat and landed a nice 17" keeper sized Seatrout.

We came back thru Horsehead to the Nassau, down to Spanish Drop and fished a nice drainage, this time switching to jigs and shrimp, and here we had some good action catching a good handful of Seatrout on the bottom. When that slowed we moved down the way, stuck with the jigs, and again caught fish. Dennis was on the stern and found a good "honey hole" where he caught a number of Trout. As we moved up, Bruce went close to the bank and to a submerged shell bottom and BAM! A stronger bite. Bruce expertly worked it in and landed a nice feisty Redfish. A few minutes again, he duplicated that with another Redfish catch. 

It was a beautiful morning, we had caught some fish and as we headed in, we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Trout Time?

 Jason Ash was able to get away and get in some backcountry fishing here at Amelia Island today. I methim down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp before the sun came up and we headed up the intercoastal, thru the Back River and around to the mouth of Pumpkin Hill where we set up with float rigs and live shrimp. Jason drifted his rig close  to the grass on the very last of an incoming tide and got a bunch of nibbles but no takers and within a few minutes, the tide turned. We moved around the corner and that did the trick. Jason "went long" with a drift and it paid off with a keeper sized Seatrout catch. We worked along that bank and caught a few Trout, a feisty Jack Crevalle and two nasty Gar Fish!

We fished down at Broward Island, switching to jigs and minnows and caught a small Flounder then a Stingray.

After a short run back down the Nassau we made a stop at a marsh run out and continued with the jigs and  minnows and that was the ticket. We found that we could pitch up to the bank, let the outgoing current take our bait down the river bottom, wait for the "bump" and a short hookset would produce a Seatrout. We added a handful of keeper sized Trout to the catch. We added a Mangrove Snapper somewhere in there, too.

After moving up the  bank we fished a shell bed that dropped off deep. I thought we'd get the bite up close but it was out in deeper water where Jason hooked up and landed a feisty Redfish, this one with Seven Spots. We had an outstandingly beautiful morning and as we headed in we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Grande Slam on a Beautiful Morning at Amelia Island

Just when I think the days can't get any prettier, we have a beautiful one like we had this morning. I had met Jack Larini and his girl friend Alexa down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp under clear skies and we left the dock just as the sun was coming up over the horizon. After a short run up the intercoastal to dip into Jackstaff we were fishing with float rigs and live shrimp. In short order Jack's float disappeared, he tightened up, and fish on! Jack brought it to the boat expertly and landed a nice keeper sized Seatrout (all fish caught today were released). We fished that marsh run out for a bit and Jack added another Seatrout to his catch.

After crossing the creek we switched to jigs and shrimp and Alexa had just made her first cast when BAM, she had a hookup. She worked it to the boat and landed a Flounder (BTW, today starts the closed season on Flounder, thru November 30th). We continued along that bank for a bit, caught another

Trout, then moved on. 

We ran thru Horsehead, around to the Nassau, and checked a minnow trap (empty), then came back to some docks at Seymore's Pointe and fished the pilings with the jigs. Both anglers hooked up and landed a few Mangrove Snapper. Back down the Nassau we went, this time stopping at Twin Creeks. The tide was dropping and I thought for sure we'd have some action but, no, not much of anything.

Our next stop was even further down the Nassau, this time fishing a small outflow, dodging a crab trap and here it was like someone opened the barn doors! Jack found a nice Seatrout drop back behind the boat and began to catch fish., one after the other. It was almost if Alexa couldn't make a cast without catching a feisty Redfish. Then she had a strong bite and her drag began to rip and this one was a big one! As you can see in the video below, she landed the Black "puppy"  Drum despite the coaching she was getting from Jack and myself!  Every once in a while jack would get a toss in to Alexa's Redfish Spot and he'd pick up one, too. I think we stayed at that one spot for over an hour catching fish.

We fished one more spot down the river but the sun was getting up and we were in the mid-day doldrums so we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.