Birthday Boy's First Fishing Trip

 

We entered a new era when Steve Locke treated his son Justin and grandson Landon to an Amelia Island Back Country fishing trip. It was Landon's first real fishing trip and today being his birthday, it was time to go fishing with the men!  I met them early out at Goffinsville Park and with a tide that still had about an hour to go out, we made a quick run over and thru Horsehead and turned into the outgoing current at Jackstaff "bank" and began to pitch jigs and live shrimp (the hot water evidently is making it difficult for the mud minnows' suppliers). In only minutes, young Landon had the first hookup, and he quickly battled a big high-flying Ladyfish to the boat - his first fish! "Paw" Steve then put in a lengthy battle with a large Bonnethead Shark which he expertly played to the boat for examination and release. Justin hooked up and landed a feisty Redfish. We moved up to a point and tossed the cast net for some finger mullet, then made the run back thru Horsehead and down the Nassau.

Pulling up at a large drainage, we stayed with the jigs. The trio picked up a couple of Flounder, one of which was of keeper size. Landon hauled in Stingray and a Catfish. We moved up to Twin Creeks when the tide started back in. Steve was on the bow and had a shot at the "ripple" and made good on it, hooking up and expertly playing a Slot Red to the boat. He caught a small Seatrout out deep then it was Justin's turn to fight a Slot Red to the boat. As he was battling that fish Landon, after making his own cast to the deep side, hooked up and landed another big Ladyfish.

Our last stop was back down at Spanish Drop where we caught a couple of small Flounder then Justin put a keeper Flounder in the boat. Unlike yesterday, we had a bit of breeze today and it made it bearable. Landon had made it the entire 4 hours, and we had a box of fish so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.