Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Setting Up For Flounder

 I went with my gut this morning, purchasing only Mud Minnows for our bait of choice, and rigged my
rods with a light 1/8oz jig with plans to fish the last of an incoming tide. We have been getting a lot of Mangrove Snapper on the shrimp, but almost every day getting a Flounder, without targeting them. So when I met Jon Edwards and  his dad Dale out at the Goffinsville Park early today we had a plan of hitting marsh run outs as the tide dropped. We ran over to just east of Spanish Drop and turned into the tide and began to fish. In short order Dale "knocked the skunk off" with a Flounder catch. He added a high flyting Ladyfish then Jon heated up and caught a handful of Flounder, two of them being of keeper size.  We fished a few of those runouts and picked up more Flounder, a couple of "rat" Reds, and some more Ladyfish. 

When the tide started back in we hit some docks at Seymore's Pointe and caught Mangrove Snapper, a couple of which were of keeper size. 

Our final stop was down at Broward Island, fishing the first of an incoming tide down there. My go-to spot didn't produce but Jon reminded me that a previous trip we had done pretty good at a run out down the way so we made the move and it was a good one. Again, we caught a handful of Flounder then Jon had a strong hookup and this one was ripping some drag. Jon played it perfectly and boated a nice Slot Sized Redfish. We fished until we ran out of minnows and with the sun being up and it getting pretty hot, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 



Monday, June 28, 2021

I'll Give Up My Switch

 

I fished with the Williams family this morning, Mark and Candi and their son Cash, meeting them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park early. We made a quick run around to the Tyger logs and began fishing with jigs and live shrimp on the first of an incoming tide - an ideal time to be there. But the fish didn't get the message. We worked all down the island and didn't get hardly a nibble but finally we had a good bite up between some logs and, Fish On! Young Cash was on the rod and he expertly reeled it in to the net - a nice 16" keeper sized Flounder.

We then ran around to the Jolley River and fished the "bank" with the jigs but


had no real bites so we move further up into the Jolley and switched to float rigs along some flooding oyster beds. Not getting a bite there, we moved into a large creek, anchored, and switched back to the jigs on the bottom and this did the trick. In just a few short minutes Mark's line began to sing as the drag ripped and, Big Fish On!  Mark played it exceptionally well, letting it run when it wanted to, but slowly working it in to the boat. After a good battle he landed a nice 3' long Bonnethead Shark. Just minutes later it was Cash's turn to feel that big fish run. He was holding up nicely but the fish broke off within a minute. After one more of those Shark bites, we moved on. 


Our next stop was over in Bell River. Here, Both Mark and Candi caught Mangrove Snapper, one of which was of keeper size. We had numerous bites there but no more takers. Our final stop was back closer to town. Mark battled another Shark briefly then Candi put a hungry Seatrout in the boat. 

Cash went from learning to cast to casting it "a mile" and made the comment that he might just consider giving up his "Switch" (game controller) for fishing! That in itself made for a great day to be out on the water and fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Friday, June 25, 2021

Before We Knew It We Had a Mess of Fish!

 Boy was it gloomy this morning! There were thunderclouds all around us but the wind was forecasted to hold steady at 11mph so we agreed...let's go fishing! I met Brad Lanier, his father-in-law Jeff, and brother-in-law Will down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early. We headed up the intercoastal, dipped into Jackstaff then eased on further up into a creek and set up tossing float rigs and live shrimp on a high and incoming tide. We didn't get even a nibble. But we crossed back over to Jackstaff, worked along a bank and began to get some bites. Jeff picked up a high flying Ladyfish then Brad had a really strong bite. He set the hook, kept the pressure on and brought to the net a Big 22.25" Seatrout, big enough to move Brad into 3rd place in the Anglers Mark 2021 Bragging Rights Tournament-Seatrout Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings). We continued to work that bank then it was Jeff's turn for the big fish battle. His fish took him deep, headed west, then took Jeff around the boat a few times. But Jeff was up to the task and subdued the fish, bringing a big 4' Bonnethead Shark to the boat for pictures and release. We wrapped stretch up when Brad had pitched a jig forward, hooked up and, surprisingly caught a big Black "puppy" Drum. 

After running thru Horsehead we went around Seymore's and headed down to Pumpkin Hill where we switched back to float rigs.  Brad found a keeper sized Flounder up in some spars marsh grass. Then trio tangled with a couple of Ladyfish then Will hooked up. He played the fish perfectly and as he was reeling in, Jeff hooked up - we had a double. Jeff's came in first, a hungry Seatrout, then Will brought his to the net - a nice keeper sized Seatrout. 

We moved around the corner and fished a grassy island and within minutes of casting Jeff put another, bigger, keeper sized Flounder in the boat. Then it was Will's turn to battle the big fish. He had made an excellent cast, got a good drift and BAM! The line began to sing as the big fish headed out of the shallows. Will kept his rod high the whole while and cleared all the submerged oysters then when the fish got deep Will kept the pressure on and played it perfectly. But, not unsual, the fish made a quick turn and, BAP, fish off! Whoa was us. 

If you're keeping track we had a huge Trout in the box, a big Black Drum, two keeper Flounder, andanother keeper Trout. But this trio of anglers weren't finished yet. We hit the "Mangrove Snapper" honey hole and limited out on Snapper. many of which were well over 12" in size. When we headed in we knew these guys would be eating good tonight so we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Thursday, June 24, 2021

From Jacks To Mangroves

 

We had overcast skies today with forecasted winds picking up into the teens but Thompson Kurrie and his group- his son Cord and his friend Thomas -were ready to fish. We met down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early and headed up the intercoastal, thru the Back River and around to Pumpkin Hill where we set up along side the flooding marsh with plans to toss float rigs and live shrimp. We had just made the "demo" cast when Thompson's son Cord had a strong hookup and, Fish On!  This was a big fish but Cord was up to the task and fought it valiantly. He worked it to the boat, let it make it's runs, worked it back, and eventually landed a big Jack Crevalle. 

We eased along that bank and fished it thoroughly, got some bites but no takers, then moved around the corner and fished another stretch. Here,  Thomas had a good bite, a good set, and a hookup. Thomas brought it expertly to the net and landed another feisty Jack Crevalle. 

After fishing up in Christopher Creek with jigs, we came back out, ran down to Seymore's Pointe and fished a large outflow, then moved around the corner and began to put keeper sized Mangrove Snapper in the boat.  The largest was just a tad bit over 12". That kept the trio busy for a while, then we finished up down the way catching a few more Mangrove on jigs. Even though it stayed overcast most of the day, and the wind had picked up, we still counted it as another great day to be out on the water and fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Wednesday, June 23, 2021

June Super Grande Slam

 

After I met Craig and Paige Hungerford and their adult "kids" Reese and Halley we left the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp under cloudy skies, but it wasn't forecasted to rain until later in the afternoon. The tide still had about 30 minutes left to come in so we headed over to Bell River and set up along side some flooded oyster beds and marsh grass. We were seeing some fish busting bait at ambush points and finally Craig had the hookup and catch to "knock the skunk off" with a nice keeper sized Flounder catch. (all fish caught today were released). The tide came to a standstill, we fished it a bit, then moved on. 

After running thru Tyger we eased around to the outside and fished a grassy point that was "guaranteed"  and sure enough it paid off. We had seen fishing tailing up in the grass - it wasn't a Redfish -then Reese hooked up and worked the fish to the boat - a feisty Black "puppy" Drum. As we netted that fish Paige had a strong bite. Her drag "ripped" a few times but she kept the pressure on and soon landed a Slot sized Redfish. The family

had a Slam of Flounder, Black Drum and Redfish. Then it was Halley's turn. We all saw her float slowly going under' Halley reeled up any slack and as the float headed west she set the hook and, Big Fish On!  She and her dad teamed up for a 9 minute drag ripping battle. They'd work the fish to the boat only to have it take off and strip line. But they were patient and slowly worked it to the boat and landed  big 3"+ Bonnethead Shark, boy what a battle!

We then fished further up Tyger, switching to jigs, and Reese caught and landed a Flounder of his own. Moving around to the Jolley River we eased along he bank, back to fishing float rigs and Craig picked up a fat Seatrout, making it a Grande Slam, then our final stop was around at Bell River where we switched back to jigs. Halley wrapped things up with a a Sheepshead catch which made it an Amelia Island Super Grande Slam - a great way to end a good fishing trip here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Tuesday, June 22, 2021

We Chipped Our Way to a Bag of Fish

 I was back to work today, fishing with Darrell Holcomb and his brother-in-law Jim, meeting them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early. We had a high tide that was just starting out when we arrived at Seymore's Pointe and began fishing with float rigs and live shrimp. Both anglers were getting excellent tosses and it paid off with some strong bites, but we didn't have a "take" until Darrell's float had disappeared with a vengeance - he set the hook and, Fish On!  Darrell played it perfectly and soon landed a nice 19.5" Slot sized Redfish to "knock the skunk off". We fished that area them moved back a bit and caught one small Mangrove Snapper.

After moving around the corner to the Mangrove Snapper "honey hole" both anglers began to get bites on the floats and shrimp combo. Once they got the hand of it they were putting on Mangrove after another in the boat. Most were undersized, but the duo managed to "box" eight nice ones, with the biggest being right at 12" that Jim landed. 


We ran down to Pumpkin Hill and fished a marsh bank. Jim had a serious fight with a Bluefish that he handily won, and as we were netting it Darrell hooked up and landed hungry Seatrout. After he went back to the bank we both saw something big swirl at his float, we waited, and BOOM! Float gone. The fish made a short run south then turned around and came back, then went under the boat, then ran west, then went under the boat...but thru it all Darrell kept the pressure on and eventually battled the beast to the net, a nice 3' Bonnethead Shark. After fishing Broward for a bit we ran back to Seymore's to get out of the rising wind.

Her Jim added one more keeper Mangrove to the box and wrapped things up with a Flounder catch which was a great was to end a good day to be out on the waters here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Friday, June 18, 2021

Heck of a Halibut

 

I wrapped my week up today fishing with Chris Sneed and his fishing buddy Chuck, meeting them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp. We had overcast skies, but no forecast for rain until possible late afternoon, and just a (very) slight breeze blowing. Our first stop was over on the outside of Tyger Island and the duo began pitching jigs and mud minnows to a marsh runout. I was expecting to maybe get a Flounder "bump" but it was a Seatrout that Chris picked up. He mentioned that he had never caught a Flounder and it'd be nice to do so (Stay Tuned!).

We then ran around to the Jolley Bank, fished the "bank", picked up a Croaker, then moved on up to Snook Creek where we got skunked. The tide was getting pretty low and as we pulled up to the MOA (Mother of All), there was a lot of movement, a bunch of bait, Sharks finning, and we even saw a "tail" that surely was a Redfish. But we had a bunch of bites but no takers. 

Our next stop was around at Bell River, fishing some dock pilings. We were flipping back and forth from live shrimp and mud minnows and here Chuck got hot and got some action. He hooked up and landed a feisty Black "puppy" Drum then he battled a nice Slot 20" Redfish to the net. The tide had hit bottom and was already coming back in back towards the ocean so we made along run.

I was heading south but decided to duck in at Piney Island and fish some docks. We made a few casts and Chuck added another Drum to his catch total. We continued South, down the intercoastal, thru Horsehead and around to Seymore's Pointe and fished some more docks. The duo caught a handful of Mangrove Snapper with two of them being of keeper size. After fishing another dock, we headed down to Broward Island and fished a good stretch. In a hundred yards of fishing we only got one bite. But boy, was it a good one!

Chris had pitched a "soggy" shrimp up to the bank, let it sink, and was slowly letting it fall down the bottom when he hung up. I said, "I think I've got a stick", as he drug it back to the boat. But then it began to pull back into the current and act like a fish. I was thinking, "he's got a knot of wood or an oyster", but then the it tugged like fish. Chris worked it up off the bottom and when it came to the surface we saw it was a HUGE Doormat of a Flounder!  Chris kept the pressure on, eased it towards the boat and I swooped in the the net! Boy What a Fish! We measured it to be 24.5", big enough to easily move into first place in the Angler Mark 2021 Bragging Rights Tournament-Flounder Category.(scroll down the right side of this report for standings).

We wrapped the day up back at Seymore's Pointe where we tossed float rigs to the rocks and caught our limit of Mangrove Snapper, a few of which measured at 12" - they're getting bigger! Then we headed north, counting it as another great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Thursday, June 17, 2021

Count and Double Count

 I had the pleasure of fishing with Alan Reeves again today - with COVID and life, it's been a few years. He brought along his "almost adult" kids, Bryan and Janaya and we met down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp for a half day of fishing. After running up the Nassau River we made our first stop at Spanish Drop and began to toss jigs and live shrimp and minnows to the exposed oysters. I think it was Bryan's first cast when he felt a "bump" and he hooked up. He expertly landed a hungry Flounder.

After working that bank and only getting a few nibbles, we move up to Athens Drop and fished it the same way. Janaya had no more than handed her rod off to her dad when he had a strong bite and, Fish On! Alan played it perfectly and landed a feisty Jack Crevalle. 

We then fished some docks at Seymore's Point and the trio began to put one Mangrove Snapper in the boat, one after the other.  I think we had about 7 that were of keeper size. We moved around the corner and set up with float rigs and fished some rocks and in


short time we were catching fish. Bryan came on strong and began to make pin point casts to the "sweet spot" and caught a number of fish. Not to be outdone, Janaya repositioned and began to match her brother in fish caught. Many of these Mangroves were of keeper size so I had to keep counting and double counting to make sure we did not exceed our limit, which we did. 

We left 'em biting and headed back to the ramp and counted it as  another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Wednesday, June 16, 2021

Lorna's Spot

 

I met Andy and Lorna Anderson out at Goffinsville Park this morning for a half day of fishing. They had supported the Amelia Island Guides Association's fishing tournament in 2019 by purchasing a gift certificate for a fishing trip, and we really appreciate it!

We ran over to some docks at Seymore's Pointe and began fishing with jigs and live shrimp and it wasn't long before Lorna zeroed in on "Lorna's Spot" and began to hookup with keeper sized Mangrove's. Andy squeeze her out a couple of times to catch a couple of his own. Lorna tangled with and landed a feisty Jack Crevalle before we moved on. 

Our next stop was down at Spanish Drop, still pitching the jigs on the last of an outgoing tide, but to no avail. We moved up to Athens Drop and here Andy got hot off the stern of the boat. Although the fish weren't edible, he caught and landed a Jack, Stingray, Catfish, Ladyfish, and then we did keep a nice Whiting he pulled in. 

We fished down at Broward Island on the first of an incoming tide which is an ideal tide, but the west wind was kicking up and and the water was murky and the fish didn't bite.  After coming back to Seymore's Pointe we set up with float rigs and limited out on Mangrove's, some of them right at 12", which made for a good mess of fish and a great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Tuesday, June 15, 2021

We Caught More Fish With The Last President

 I try my darndest to not get into politics when fishing on The Anglers Mark, and did pretty good today,but I had to laugh when my customer seemed to blame the slow fishing on the "current administration"!

I had met Mike and Lou Maguth up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park early and we headed over to Tiger Island to fish the logs on the first of an incoming tide - an ideal tide to fish those logs. We worked the bank with jigs and live shrimp, had a few nibbles, a few takes and "let-goes", then Mike hooked up and "knocked the skunk off" with a Flounder catch. Lou had a strong hookup that ripped the drag as it headed west - she played it perfectly but it "let go". I'm pretty sure it was a big Catfish as the leader had slime all over it. 

We then fished the outside of Tiger where Lou caught a Flounder with a jig and Mud minnow,  then up to Snook Creek in the Jolley where Lou tangled with, fought and landed a 2' Bonnethead Shark. 


After dropping Lou back to the dock Mike and I headed back to the outside of Tiger, fishing float rigs with live shrimp. Mike had a couple of good bites but no takes then we saw his float slowly ease under the surface - he tightened up, lifted the rod and set the circle hook, and, Fish On!. Mike was fishing his light tackle St. Croix rods paired with Shimano Stradic's and the fish was no match for him. He worked it to the boat and landed a nice 17" Black "puppy" Drum. 

We ran thru Horsehead, over to Lanceford and fished a couple of outflows. The sun was directly overhead, the heat was up, and the fish had taken a siesta, so we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.



Thursday, June 10, 2021

Drag Ripp'n Fun

 I wrapped my week up today fishing with John and Stacey Allan after I met them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We ran up the intercoastal then into the Nassau, and made our first stop at Spanish Drop, turning into the current of an incoming tide. Both anglers were pitching live shrimp or mud minnows to the bank with float rigs and getting good drifts.  About half way down the bank Stacey's float disappeared and her drag  began to sing. Riiiiiippppppp! The big fish headed west and BAP! Fish Off. While that was happening John's float disappeared, his drag ripped, and his fish headed east and BAP! Fish Off! Ouch.

We ran around to  Pumpkin Hill and drifted the floats there and it wasn't long before John put a keeper sized Flounder in the boat. Then Stacey tangled with a big Jack Crevalle, then she put a nice 17.5" Seatrout in the boat. All Trout were released today.  We fished a couple of banks at Pumpkin Hill, went down to Broward and fished some jigs, then ran back to Seymore's Pointe and switched back to float rigs. Here, John hooked up and landed

another Trout that was right at keeper size.

Needing some action, we moved around the corner and fished some rocks with the floats and sure enough, began to catch Mangrove Snapper, one after the other. They're getting bigger folks! We "culled' the smaller ones, even though they were of keeper size, and kept a few of the bigger ones (12"+) for their fish tacos!  We left 'em biting and headed in, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida 

Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Milestone Achieved On The Fly

 I've been catching Mangrove Snapper in the summer for years with live shrimp under a float or on a jig and when the Trout/Redfish/Flounder bite is slow I've been able to turn to the Mangrove's for an almost "guaranteed" bit of an action. Most times you can drift a shrimp by the "hotspot" and BAM!  You have a hookup. Then they tend to go into a frenzy and it's catching one after the other.  So I always wondered, "wouldn't it be neat to catch them on a fly rod?"

I've had multiple times where we were catching the Mangroves with shrimp under a float and have my guest toss a fly in with a fly rod and....nothing. Not a bite. At first I tried some of my sinking Shrimp patterns, but no takes. I tried fishing with some slow sinking Shrimp, but no takes. This was on different trips with multiple casters, many who could put it right in the "honey hole". But not a single Mangrove Snapper caught on the fly.

Today was the day! I had Mike and Jean DuBartell fishing with me early this morning. We had made the long run from Sawpit Creek boat ramp up the Nassau and around to Pumpkin Hill where we set up fishing float rigs along the flooding marsh grass. It wasn't long before Mike had put a hungry Seatrout in the boat.  Then the duo hooked up with a Shark that headed to Tallahassee, and kept going!

We came back and fished an outflow at Nassauville where we did get a couple of bites but nothing more than a slimly Catfish. We were in need of action so we went Mangrove hunting.  Drifting floats and shrimp it didn't take long for them to turn on and then both anglers were catching Snapper. Jean easily got the hang of it and  put one fish in the boat after another. These fish were a tad bit bigger, too, a couple measuring just over 12" - they put up a good fight. 

I had explained the fly fishing for Mangroves to Mike and he was up to the challenge. We went with a small, slow sinking shrimp pattern on a 10' leader. Mike was making an excellent presentation to the hot spot, but had no takers.  We then went with a small BB split shot about 20" up from the fly, made few casts and again, no takers. We then put a small shrimp on to the fly, made the cast and got bit!  Then we broke a big live shrimp in to, and smashed/smeared the juices all over the fly. I think it was Mikes first cast with the stinky fly and, BAM! Mangrove Snapper on! He played it perfectly and landed the first Mangrove on a fly I've ever had! Whooeee! Mike continued the "smash and cast" and hooked up with a number of the  Mangroves. Most of them were over 12" which made for a good fight on the fly rod.


Jean was steadily hauling in fish. We hit one more spot and caught a few of the Mangroveson jig and shrimp then headed in, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Tuesday, June 8, 2021

Big Fish and A Whole Bunch of Edibles

 We fished down south again today when I met Steve Frost and his wife Carron at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early. There was a big Red tailing right at the  ramp and I was torn between fishing right there or getting the trip started by running up to Pumpkin Hill. In my mind I tossed a coin and decided to go ahead and make the run and it turned out we landed on "heads".  After setting up along the flooding marsh grass the husband and wife duo of anglers began to drift float rigs with the current and in short order Steve had hooked up and landed a keeper sized Seatrout. He went back to the same spot, picked up a small Flounder, went back to the same spot and got a keeper sized Flounder. Then Carron had a strong bite and, Big Fish On!  Her drag was ripping and the fish zipped away, then it came back, stayed fairly shallow and we were thinking, "Big Redfish". But as she worked it patiently to the net we saw that it was a big Jack Crevalle - a beautiful fish, fun to catch, but not so good on a dinner plate.

We fished further down and as we eased up into a cove we

could see some wakes moving around and soon after Steve's float disappeared and he had a big fish too. He played it perfectly, worked it to the boat, and landed a nice 21.5" Slot Redfish with 11 Spots. Later he had an even bigger hookup and battled and landed a 4' Bonnethead Shark.

After fishing around the corner for a bit we came back to Seymore's Pointe, fished  a large outflow, then a marsh line, to no avail, then we moved around and fished some rocks with the floats and immediately began to catch keeper sized Mangrove Snapper - one after the other. I had to keep a running count to make sure we didn't go over our limit. These fish were a tad bit bigger than what we've been getting - some of them were up to 12".  We blew thru most of our shrimp, then move on.

Our final stop was down at Spanish Drop where we switched to jigs and mud minnows. We worked a large outflow then eased along a shell laden bank, pitching up near the shore and working it back slowly. When we reached a corner I was about to pull up and move but Carron had a bite and, Fish On! She played it beautifully, worked it to the boat patiently, and landed a Slot sized 21.75" Redfish - a good fish to wrap up a great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

Friday, June 4, 2021

Size Matters

 

I wrapped up my week today fishing with Mark Britt and his son Ryan, meeting them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp early, and we made the run up to Jolley River to make the "bank" our first stop. Boy were the conditions looking good - just a slight breeze, overcast skies, and a tide that had been going out for a couple of hours. But, nope, we struggled early. We worked along the bank tossing float rigs and live shrimp and really didn't get a bite that mattered.

I dropped back around the corner and pulled up to a marsh runout and the duo tossed jigs and mud minnows, to no avail. We then ran up the Jolley and fished Snook Creek, at first with the float rigs, then we switched to jigs and FINALLY, BAM! Mark had a bite, and boy was it a big one! The fish headed north and the braided line almost took Ryan's head off as he was standing on the stern, But he ducked under the line and the battle was on.  Mark came back to the stern and applied the pressure, fought the fish valiantly, and after a long battle, brought it to the surface to be boated, photographed, and released - a big 4 foot Bonnethead Shark.

We fished that bank a bit more, bounced over and fished another, then headed around to Bell River

where we set up current from a dock on the last hour or so of an outgoing tide. Almost immediately, we began to get bites. Ryan reeled in a Spot, then a small Mangrove Snapper then Mark put a keeper sized Mangrove in the boat. Ryan followed that up with a Sheepshead, then Mark caught one, then BOOM! Mark had a big bite. We thought it'd be a nice fish but it turned out to be a Really Nice Fish!  He fought it patiently, worked it to the boat, and we netted a big Oversized 30" Redfish. What a nice fish!

Shortly after that Ryan had the big bite. His fish stayed behind the boat but dug deep. Ryan was up to the task and fought it perectly, letting it run when it wanted to, but working it slowly in. We soon netted a nice 21.75" Sheepshead - the biggest of the year on The Anglers Mark and big enough to set the bench mark as First Place in the 2021 Bragging Rights Tournament-Sheepshead Category. (scroll down the right column for standings)


We wrapped up fishing some docks at Lanceford Creek on the first of an incoming tide and Mark wrapped it up with a "golden" catch of a Black "puppy" Drum which made for a great way to end a good day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Thursday, June 3, 2021

Win Some Lose Some

 The forecasted rains held off to the afternoon so I was able to meet Dennis Brizzi and Hal O'Dell out at Goffinsville for a day of fishing this morning.  We ran south on the Nassau River and fished a large marsh run out - the first time I had fished it- but only managed a high flying Ladyfish. After crossing the river to Pumpkin Hill we fished the edge with float rigs and live shrimp and even though we saw some good bait action, we had no luck. After motoring down to Broward Island, switching to jigs, we finally had a decent fish when Dennis hooked up and successfully fought to the net a feisty Redfish. After fishing the other end of the island for  just a bit, we moved on. 

Our next stop was back at some docks at Nassauville, tide going out, pitching jigs and shrimp and here it payed off. The two anglers began to hookup and land Mangrove Snapper with about 5 of them being of keeper size. We moved on down the way, fished some more dock pilings and here things heated up even more. We caught Mangrove Snappers, tossing back a good handful, but keeping more to reach the limit and then Hal tangled with some feisty Black Drum. He put a couple in the boat, but had one big one throw the hook. Dennis on the other hand, hooked up with two big fish, fought them valiantly, but had them break off on the barnacle encrusted dock pilings. He did put one keeper sized Drum in the boat. 

We had our limit of Mangrove Snapper in the box, had tangled with some big fish only to lose them but it was a great day out on the water so we counted it as a Win!

Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Making Memories With Rain, Minnows, Manatee, and Big Fish

 MANY MEN GO FISHING ALL OF THEIR LIVES WITHOUT KNOWING THAT IT IS NOT FISH THEY ARE AFTER -  Henry David Thoreau

Sometimes the fish don't cooperate on some of our fishing trips but when a young couple with a young angler get a chance to get out on the water and experience some of our "salt life", memories are made none-the-less.  Today I had Caleb and Callie Berryhill and their young daughter Molly meet me at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early. There was a 24% chance of rain but we felt sure we could get out and get some fishing in.

After a quick run up the Nassau we stopped and fished a handful of marsh run outs on an outgoing tide but had no real luck, other than a high flying Ladyfish that Callie hooked up and landed. We fished some docks at Nassauville and caught one or two or three small Mangrove Snapper, then we made a run to Broward Island, only to pull up short at Pumpkin Hill as a rain storm passed us by. But it didn't pass us and came right over the top of us, soaking Caleb and I as Callie and Molly attempted to shelter under a rain jacket a beach towel. After it passed, we ran down to Broward, fished it for a good bit, but had no real luck. But Caleb did spot a Manatee hanging out beside a submerged stump which is always pretty cool to see.


Molly had been playing with the mud minnows for most of the day and having a good time at it but the sun had come back out and was wearing on all of us. We backed up to some dock pilings at our last stop and played cat and mouse with Mangrove Snapper then finally, Caleb had the strong bite and, Big Fish On!  He applied the pressure and kept the fish away from the pilings, worked it out to deeper water, then patiently played it to the net - a Big 25.75" Slot Redfish, and boy was it thick!

We had had an eventful day, ended up with a big fish, saw a Manatee, so as we headed in, we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Tuesday, June 1, 2021

We Thought Flounder Were the Highlight


 I fished with the Williams family today, John and Mary Margaret and their young kids Hadden and Ruth, meeting them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning. We ran up the intercoastal and dipped into Jackstaff and began fishing the bank with jigs and live shrimp on a tide that still had a couple of more hours to hit bottom.  Trolling along eh bank, the anglers were making excellent casts, working the bottom, and even though we were seeing bait getting busted along the shore, we had no bites.

We buzzed thru Horsehead and headed back east to Spanish Drop and set up parallel to the bank. We had only fished a few minutes when John had a BUMP, and fish on!  He brought it patiently to the net and landed a nice 17" keeper sized Flounder. We worked that bank then moved up to another marsh runout. Fishing that, BUMP, and John had another keeper sized Flounder. We moved up to another marsh runout and, BUMP, John put another keeper Flounder in the boat.  He added one more that was just undersized, then caught a Seatrout before we moved on. 


Our next stop was at some docks in Nassauville, pitching to the pilings. Both Ruth and Hadden had bites, then after Mary Margaret had pitched up between some pilings, BAM, Big Fish On! Mary Margarte was cranking and the fish was digging deep , trying to get to the pilings but Mary Margaret kept the pressure on, worked it out to safety, then patiently played it to the net and landed a big 25.25" Slot Redfish, boy what a fish. We also put a keeper sized Mangrove Snapper in the boat. 

After running down to Broward Island with just minutes to spare, and trying to avoid a mutiny from the younger anglers, we fished deep and had one strong bite, a fight, and then the fish found the submerged tree and BAP! Fish Off. But we had a beautiful day and caught some nice fish so we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida