One Big Slot

 I was back to work today, fishing with a father/daughter team, Mark and Morgan Runyans. I met them  early down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and we made the run up the intercoastal, thru the Back River and around to the Nassau where we set up with float rigs and live shrimp on a high tide that had been going out for about 2 hours. The first "demo" cast produced a feisty Redfish and from then on we were catching fish. 

Both Morgan and Mark caught a handful of those juvenile Redfish and then they added a couple of high flying Ladyfish. We moved up and down the bank, picking up fish as we went. Then, as we moved up the bank a 2nd time Mark, after making an excellent cast to the bank, had his float disappear and, Fish On!  This fish wasn't coming in like the smaller Reds and when it boiled up at the bank we knew it was a big Redfish. Mark kept the pressure on and patiently worked it to the boat and after a good battle landed a nice 24" Slot Sized Redfish. We moved up further and Morgan had a nice hookup and landed a fat Seatrout, the first of the day.

Our next stop was further down the Nassau where we set up outside of a large marsh drainage, but nothing much was biting. We moved further down and fished another drainage, then a shell bed that was just beginning to show. Here Mark put a couple of Reds in the boat, then it was Morgan turn to fight the big fish. Here's took the bait and ran deep, ripping drag along the way. But Morgan was up to the task, applied the pressure, and followed the fish from bow to stern. After a good fight she brought to the net a big Jack Crevalle.

We fished some docks at Seymore's Pointe, had a few nibbles, caught a couple of small Mangroves, and had one big fish break us off on the dock pilings. Around the corner we switched to float rigs and picked up a couple more small Mangroves, then we finished the day down at Nassauville fishing the jigs where the duo picked up a keeper sized Mangrove. We had a had a big start, caught fish at most spots, and as we headed back we counted as another great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.