Finally Got Some Trout

 We had a beautiful day this  morning when I met Chuck Lindholm and his brother-in-law Paul up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp. We had a slight breeze as we headed down the river, up the Bell and hit our first spot at a flooded oyster bed on the last of an incoming tide.  Finally, we caught some Trout! It's been about 4 days since we had our last Trout but today we knocked that skunk off. Both Chuck and Paul had good hookups and landed Seatrout.

After running thru Tyger Basin and over to the outside of Tyger, we set up as the tide started out where Chuck picked up a Trout off the stern. We moved over to the other side of the creek, fished it a bit, but had no luck.

Our next stop was around at my neighbor Bill's spot and it paid off with another Trout catch. Next, on to Soap Creek, fishing the outflow then moving up to the "honey hole" where Paul put a high flying Ladyfish in the boat, then Chuck added a keeper sized Seatrout and then a keeper sized Flounder (all fish caught today

were released). 

I had thought about fishing up Lanceford but it was crazy crowded so we made the long run up the Bell where we switched to jigs and live shrimp. Both anglers snagged some Mangrove Snapper and Paul put a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum in the boat. The trout were back which helped make it another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Mangrove Snapper Fill The Bag

 

I fished with the Fitzgerald's again today, Gregg and Dannie, Guy and Ginnie, meeting them this morning down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We ran up the Nassau and made a quick stop at Spanish Drop to toss float rigs and live shrimp to the marsh grass just as the tide started out. 

The anglers were getting excellent casts and drifts, although the west wind seemed to be blowing right down the pipe and both Dannie and Ginnie had hookups with high flying Ladyfish that they handily brought to the boat.

We fished a large outflow up at Seymore's and picked up a couple of Mangrove Snapper which got met to thinking...if they're here, maybe they're at the "Mangrove Hole". So that was where our next stop was and sure enough, we began to get some bites on shrimp under the float rigs.  They're sneaky as they can be but we managed to put a few in the boat over the 10" mark. 

Our next stop was down the way, along some rocks at Nassauville but here we were able to go to jig rods. Gregg got the hot hand and started pulling Mangrove's in one after the other. Then all four anglers got in on the action and caught fish until we had a good mess of Mangroves in the box.

We fished some docks later with jigs as the tide got lower then made the run thru Horsehead and around to the mouth of Jackstaff. Unfortunately the wind was really howling now, and right down the river, but we hung with it, trying to fish out the day. Guy was taking up the stern, fishing to the bank with jig and shrimp and BAM! Big Fish On!  His drag was ripping and he was fighting the fish over his shoulder but he kept the pressure on and subdued the fish and brought to the net a nice 21" 8-Spot Slot Redfish to wrap up another great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida 

Working the Banks

There was an outgoing tide out at Goffinsville Park when I met Paul Genn and his neighbor Jim  early this morning but when we arrived down at Spanish Drop about half the bank was exposed with shell so we elected to work the bank with  jigs and live shrimp. The shell can be kinda of a pain but most times you can "bounch" the jig over the shell and have a chance at picking up a Redfish up close, then Seatrout out a little deeper, and that's what Jim did when he had a good bite, a hookup, and Fish On! He played it perfectly and brought to the net a nice feisty Redfish to "knock the skunk off". We worked that bank to it's end, moved up and fished a couple of more, then made a run.

Our next stop was down at Broward Island, fishing under the Bald Eagles, and working the logs with the jigs. Unfortunately the current was still ripping out up here and it was more trouble than the chances of getting a fish. After making a run back to Nassauville, we set up between two docks and almost immediately Jim had a hookup. After playing it to the boat he landed a keeper sized Mangrove Snapper. After catching that I tried my "Mangrove Hole" but we had no bites. Go figure. 

We moved around the corner and fished some docks on the first of an incoming tide, which seemed to be the trick. Our first hookup was big! The drag was ripping and I thought for sure it was going to get back thru the pilings. Jim was on the rod and fought it patiently and slowly brought it to the boat. The "net guy" (me) knocked him in the head the first swipe but was able to get him the next try and we landed a big 25.5" Slot Redfish. After that we were catching fish. Both Paul and Jim hauled in some feisty Black Drum then Jim had a good hookup and put another Redfish in the boat. Before we left we "layed up" beside the pilings, jigged down, and caught a small Flounder to wrap up another great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

15-16mph Winds But We Prevailed

 Boy what a beautiful morning to make use of your Christmas present! Brian Crawford's wife Eileen had set him up for a fishing trip for Christmas and he planned the trip for today and brought along his old college buddies, Ted and Scott. I met them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and although it was clear, cool, and sunny, the wind was kicking a bit. But we were ready to fish so we headed north and west, up the Nassau River and made our first stop at Spanish Drop to toss float rigs with live shrimp to the marsh grass on the first of an outgoing tide.  It was Scott who got hot early, boating a couple of Seatrout, one of which was of keeper size (released). Then Ted got in on the action and landed another hungry Trout.

We moved up a quarter mile, fished Twin Creeks but the 15mph wind was pushing our drifts off. We continued on up to Seymore's Pointe and fished between two docks, slightly shielded from the wind, but had no luck. 

Our next stop was around the corner and here the NE winds were blocked and it was like fishing on  pond! Brian decided to cash in on his Christmas present and after tossing a jig and shrimp up current, BAM! He had a strong hookup. This fish was pulling hard, ripping drag, but Brian kept the pressure on. I was thinking some sort of Drum but as Brian worked him to the surface we saw it was nice sized Jack Crevalle. Scott picked up a another Trout or two, then

Brian was back in action, BAM! Another big fish. This one was pulling deep and true to form, after Brian had expertly worked it to the boat, he landed 20" Black "puppy" Drum.  Ted was working up on the bow and hooked up and landed the biggest Seatrout of the day, a big 18"+ fish.  Not to be outdone, Brian, working the stern, had another big bite and, Big Fish On!  This one was really pulling deep and ripping drag, and then it got back in the current and it was a battle. But Brian was up to the task, played it patiently, and eventually landed an Oversized 31.5" Redfish, boy what a fish! This fish moves Brian into 2nd place in the Angler's Mark 2021 Bragging Rights Tournament -Redfish Category(scroll down the right side of this report for standings)

We ended the day back fishing some docks at Seymore's trying to stay out of the wind that had picked up a notch then we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Walleye Chop

 I was fishing today with Lee Riter, hailing from Wisconsin, and I met him up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park for a half day of fishing on an outgoing tide.  We made our first stop on the outside of Tyger Island, pitching jigs and mud minnows to a marsh runout but had no luck. We moved around to Jolley Bank, fished the oysters that were just getting exposed with float rigs and again, no bites. We move up to Snook Creek, switched back to jigs and here Lee "knocked the skunk off" with a nice Seatrout Catch. We fished a bit around the corner and moved on. 

Our next stop was over in Bell River, tossing jigs and minnows up current and letting them bounce with the current, to no avail We moved up to some docks and switched to some left over shrimp I had from yesterday and this did the trick. We began to get bites and then Lee had a good hookup, fought it patiently to the boat, and landed a feisty Sheepshead. We caught a handful of those (mine tended to be the smaller ones - you gotta be good!) then we made a long run back to Fernandina.

Our last stop was back at Tyger, fishing shrimp and jigs on the bottom on the first of an incoming tide. We had a strong hookup, and Fish On! Lee was playing it perfectly - the drag was ripping but Lee was keeping the pressure on, had him for a minute or two, then....gone. The hook came out. OUCH. But we weren't stymied. The wind had picked up and created a "Walleye Chop" and we caught some nice fish. Lee put a nice Black "puppy" Drum in the boat (big enough to begin to lose it's stripes), a big Weakfish, and a big Seatrout, which wrapped up an Amelia Island Grand Slam of Seatrout, Sheepshead, Black Drum and Weakfish and as we headed out, we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Two Slot Reds To Start The Day

 I fished with the Gandler family today, Brian and Laura and their adult sons Mike and Bill, meeting them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early. There wasn't a whole lot of breeze but the bugs weren't too bad as we made our first stop at Spanish Drop on the Nassau. The oysters were about half showing so we went with float rigs and live shrimp, tossed up near the bank. We could see bait and fish working the bank and it was only a matter of time before Brian had a hookup and, Fish On!  He played it perfectly and patiently worked it to the net to land a nice 20" Slot sized Redfish.

Mike had switched out to a jig and was fishing out the stern and he had a hookup. He was getting a good pull but he stayed with it and soon landed a feisty Bluefish. Up front, Bill had a hookup - another nice fish. We worked it to the boat and landed another 20+"  Redfish. 

We later fished the  docks at Seymores, then we motored down to Broward where Brian caught a hungry Seatrout. We fished back at Nassauville, then made a tour thru Horsehead to wrap up another great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Super Duper Amelia Island Back Country Grande Slam

 I fished south again today, meeting Bill Main down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp @ 10:am, dead lowtide. We made the short run up to Seymore's Pointe and fished some dock pilings and made quick work of getting the "skunk" off when Bill hooked up, played perfectly and landed a feisty Redfish and nice keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum, back-to-back. 

We fished another dock or two then headed down to Broward Island and set up as the tide started in down there. Bill got into a school of small Sheepshead and he out-sneaked most of them, landing a good handful of 10" fish.   We moved down the way, passing under a pair of eagles and fished another drop and here Bill boated a Flounder and a Seatrout to give him a Super Grande Slam of back water fish here at Amelia Island. But Bill wasn't done yet!

We came back to Nassauville, still fishing with jigs and dead shrimp(no live stuff today, other than some minnows I had left over from yesterday -stay tuned-they paid off!) Bill had tossed

his bait up current and had good drifts a number of times and I was about to give up on the spot when, BAM! He had a hookup. the fish was giving a good pull and I was thinking "big Trout" and when it came to the surface I said, "yep", but I was wrong. It was an nice 17" Weadfish and now Bill had a Super Duper Grande Slam! Hah! We continued to fish and found some hard bottom where we were getting bites and sure enough, BOOM! Big Fish On!  Bill played it patiently and soon landed a nice 18" keeper sized Black Drum.

We left that area, fished some flooded shell bottoms along the Nassau with float rigs and those live minnows and after fishing a couple of areas we were just about to leave when Bill had his float disappear. He lifted his rod, took up the slack and let the circle hook set itself and he had another nice fish on. After working it to the boat we netted a nice 17" Flounder. We wrapped it up after that and counted it another Super Duper day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

We Runned and Gunned

 I had the Barton crew again today, this time meeting Brad, and his friends Blake, and Blake down at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp. I had checked the weather and it was going to be a nice sunny day, but the wind was going to pick up later in the trip. Sure enough, it did.  Our first stop was way down at the jetties off of the south end of Amelia Island. We started on the outside, pitching jigs then worked our way around to the inside. Although it was not "rough" there were some serious rollers. All three anglers and myself tried our best to steady ourselves while pitching to the rocks and we did get some fish. I think it was Brad and Blake the younger who put into the boat some Bluefish, then we got a handful of Seatrout, one of which was of keeper size. 

We left the rollers, skirted Bird Island (or what used to be Bird Island) and pulled up into the mouth of Simpsons Creek, switching to float rigs and live shrimp, fishing the last of an incoming tide. We had a nibble or two then Brad had a strong hookup. We could tell it was bigger than a Trout, thought it was a Redfish, but it turned out to be a nice sized Spanish Mackerel.

Our next stop was up at the mouth of the Nassau River, again drifting float rigs and live shrimp, and now on an outgoing tide. We got a handful of Seatrout along that stretch. We continued on up into Jackstaff, fished a large outflow, then worked the creek bank, then headed on around to the Nassau River, stopping at Twin Creeks where we had such a good bite yesterday. Not so today. Although we did get a Trout or two, and a slimey Catfish, it was no where near the action the day before. 

Our final stop was down at Broward Island, fishing under a Bald Eagle, tossing jigs. The tide was still high here - we had a couple of nibbles, but no takers, so we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

We Lost a Pound to the Gnats

 Yes, it was another beautiful morning as the sun came up out at Goffinsville Park, but with absolutely no wind  the "no-See-ums" were out to get their pound of flesh!  I had met the better half of the Barton crew - Blake and his son Blake, and Will early and after a quick run over to Pumpkin Hill we were fishing - drifting float rigs and live shrimp down the marsh line on the last of an incoming tide.  Fairly quickly both of the Blakes had hookups and landed Seatrout, then Blake The Younger added another. We worked that area over good then made the run back to Seymore's Pointe as the tide started back out. 

After fishing  a large outflow, some dock pilings, then another marsh line with the floats, we made the run down to Twin Creeks and here the action heated up.  Will and  Blake The Older began to get hookups on Seatrout on the float rigs and young Blake having switched to a jig and shrimp, began to catch them too. Young Blake had been keeping "score" but he soon found that it was futile to keep up - we were catching Trout one after the other.

Our next stop was down at Spanish Drop. After fishing some outflows, we eased along a flooded shell bank. Blake the Older had also switched to a jig and shrimp and had made an excellent cast up to the bank and, BOOM! Fish On! Blake played it perfectly and after a good battle, landed a nice Slot sized 20" Redfish. The trio continued on to catch a few more Trout, and Blake The Younger added a Flounder to his catch.  A nice Whiting was added to the box before we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Good Variety Here at Amelia Island In March

I fished with Tom and Betty Lane Owensby this morning, meeting them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park
early with plans to fish a tide that had been coming in for about an hour. We made our first stop around at Tiger, fished the logs, and picked up a few fish. Tom reeled in a couple of sneaky Sheepshead and a feisty Redfish, and a minnow. No kidding - he tossed out a jig and shrimp and brought back a minnow that was smaller than his bait! Betty had a good hookup and landed a hungry Seatrout. 

We then ran around to the Jolley River and fished
the "bank" and it was Tom who had the pleasure of tangling with a big Gar Fish! Crazy. I thought it was a big Trout when it hit a shrimp under a float rg up in the shallows. After fishing Snook Creek for a bit, we continued on around to Bell River and switched back to jigs. Both Tom and Betty hooked up with some nice sized Seatrout and Betty reeled in big Whiting to wrap things up. And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Amelia Island Bait And Tackle Has New Home

 The next time you visit Amelia Island you just have to stop in and check out the new home of Amelia Island Bait and Tackle...and it won't be hard to find...it's just 4 doors down from the original location. Just walk down to the north end of the building and you'll find the spanking new store loaded with all the tackle, rods, reels, accessories and knowledge to help you catch more fish while visiting our island. And they've got a bunch of new angler shirts and hats to make you look good while you're fishing.  Need Ice? They've got it out front. Need bait? The new Bait Pod will be right out back, with some new fangled lights and air condition to keep the live bait kicking!  Pull your boat around back and come in the back door for all your tackle needs. Stop in and say hello to Nic and Lisa and Chris the next time you're in the area or need some bait and tackle. CLICK ON ANY PICTURE TO ENLARGE.

Heading South To Bubblegum Reef

 ....should be the title to a Buffet song!  When I met Fred Wammock up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park this afternoon the boat ramp was just crazy - and boats and kayaks and PWC's were buzzing around..so we decided to make the long run south to get away from it all. We made a brief stop behind Piney Island and fished some docks where Fred picked up a hungry Seatrout, then we continued on down the intercoastal to dip into Jackstaff. The tide was low and still going out as we worked the exposed shell bank with jigs and live shrimp but we didn't get a even a nibble. 

We ran thru Horsehead and around to the Nassau River and pulled up just shy of Bubblegum Reef with plans to drift floats and live shrimp along the exposed shell (yesterday we picked up a big Trout and Big Redfish in the same spot). But we didn't get much of a bite! We then pulled up to Bubblegum Reef and switched back to jigs and shrimp.

Fred had been making excellent casts all afternoon and his next pitch to the Reef proved to be on point and it paid off. He had a

"bump bump", set the hook and had a good battle with a nice keeper sized Sheepshead. We had a few more bites then we decided to ease to the outside of the Reef and set up current.

Dropping baits back proved to be the trick and led to a smorgasbord of fish bites. Fred reeled in another Sheepshead, then picked up a keeper sized Seatrout, then a keeper sized Mangrove Snapper, then he got into some nice Black "puppy" Drum - boating three that were of good size. He put one two more keeper sized Seatrout (the biggest was 16.5" before we moved on. 

Our last and final stop was down at Broward Island. The tide was right, the wind was blocked and boy was it beautiful!  Fred wrapped up with an Amelia Island Grand Slam by catching a feisty Redfish to go along with his Seatrout, Black Drum and Sheepshead. We headed back north and had a fly by by a majestic Bald Eagle and as we cruised back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Little bitty bite Little bitty bait and BIG fish

 

We had a beautiful morning today to fish with Jeff and Penney Parks. I met them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp mid morning to fish the first of an outgoing tide.  We made our first stop up the Nassau River where we fished float rigs and live shrimp. We had bites but no takers so we moved up the river a bit and did the same thing at Twin Creeks and this paid off. Penney found a "hot" spot and plucked a good handful of Seatrout out of there while Jeff cleaned up the rest.

Our next stop was up at some docks at Seymore's Pointe. We fished float rigs out an outflow then switched to jigs and shrimp to no avail. After making the run down to Broward our efforts paid off. Jeff was fishing a live shrimp on the bottom, letting the current sweep his bait

and he said, "I just had a little bitty bite..." and BOOM! Fish On!  The fight started out like a small fish but when it decided it was  caught, it grew up, ran deep and ripped the drag. We worked the boat out away from the logs and it then it was all Jeff applying the pressure. After a long battle and a lot of patience, Jeff landed a 29.75" Oversized Redfish, boy what a fish!  And shortly after that we picked up our first keeper Trout, 22' deep on the bottom.  Then Penney added a couple of keepers to the  box, fishing deep.  We fished the island pretty good, working the edge under the keen eye of a Bald Eagle, then made our final run.

Our last stop was back at "Bubblegum Reef" - we tried to fish the wreck but kept getting hung up so we eased back and drifted floats long along the now exposed shell bed. Penny had a good hookup, played it perfectly, and brought to the net the biggest Seatrout of the day - an 18" fish. Jeff followed her along the same edge with an "little bitty bait" - a "popcorn" shrimp - and had a hookup right along the shell -BAM- 
another big fish. We were hoping that this one would be in the slot but the longer he fought the more we knew that it too was going to be oversized and sure enough, after a good battle, Jeff landed another Oversized 28" Redfish!  We had to call it a day then, a great way to wrap up a good day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Wednesday and Thursday Trips

 I fished Wednesday morning with Chris Yarborough, his son Conner,  and his BIL Chris and nephew Magnus. We fished the outside of Tiger at a large runout with, jigs and live shrimp, but had no fish. We then  hit the Jolley, fished float rigs and live shrimp but again, no fish. After fishing Snook Creek to no avail, we ran to  Bell River, switched back to jigs and began to catch Seatrout deep! Birthday boy Conner got hot, an caught 6-7 Trout, while Magnus reeled in a "Bonus" fish, a Sheepshead, and then Seatrout. Later, Chris picked up a Trout. Conner coined a new slogan -  "Just Catch 'em"!

 

Yesterday afternoon I fished with Michael Boone and  his wife Ricki, meeting them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp. Our first stop was around at Tiger Island where Michael picked up a couple of Black "puppy" Drum and a feisty Redfish. Ricki tricked a sneaky perch to take her hook. We then fished the Jolley River with float rigs - had no real bites - then motored around to the Bell where we picked up a handful of Seatrout on jigs and live shrimp and 3" Storm shad baits.

This morning I fished south, meeting Lee and Emmett Kubersky down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We fished Seymore's Pointe a bit and picked up a Seatrout on a float rig, then fished some docks in Nassauville with jigs to no avail, then we ran back to Twin Creeks on the Nassau and had some good action catching Seatrout under the float as the tide was going out. Our next stop was down at Broward Island and boy did things "light up".  Our first cast produced a BIG bite and Fish On! Emmett was on the rod and he patiently fought it, working it in slowly as it made deep runs. Once in the net, the big Redfish measured at 26" - a fat "Tournament" sized Redfish. We went back to the same spot and BOOM! Bigger Fish on!  This fish stayed deep and ripped drag but Emmett was up to the task and eventually landed an Oversized 29.5" Redfish! And he wasn't done yet! Emmett caught and landed a nice 17" Seatrout (all fish caught today were released) and rounded out an Amelia Island Backcountry Slam with a Sheepshead catch.  And that wrapped a good two days of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida 

Perseverance And the Tide Flips The Switch

 After a terrible weekend of blowing winds, we were back to fishing today when I met Justin Palmore and
his son Will down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We made a short run up the Nassau and eased up to fish a shell bank as the tide still had a couple of  hours of going out. Both anglers were getting good casts up current with their jigs and live shrimp, but we had no takers. We moved up a quarter mile and fished a marsh run out and again, not a nibble. 

The tide had only an hour left of outgoing so we decided to fish some dock pilings with the jigs and shrimp. We were working the pilings good, getting a nibble here and there, but we had no fish. Ouch.

After making the run down to Broward we fished the last of the outgoing - no
bites. This was getting serious! Even the Bald Eagle perched in a dead pine was getting disappointed! We moved down the way as the tide turned, fished one area, moved to another and....somebody flipped a switch! BAM! Fish On! Justin worked it to the boat and landed a Slot Redfish. BAM! Big Fish On!  Will played it like a pro, worked it to the net, and landed a big "Tournament" sized Redfish - 26"!  BAM, another Slot Redfish. BAM, BIG FISH ON!  Justin fought it valiantly for what seemed like 20 minutes, brought it to the net -32" Oversized Redfish! This fish moved Justin in to first place in the Anglers Mark 2021 Bragging Rights Tournament-Redfish Category.   WHUMP! Will had a hookup deep, worked it in, and landed a nice 18" Seatrout. After that Will was in his "honey hole" and pulled out one 18" Seatrout after another. These fish moved Will into a tie for first place in the Anglers Mark 2021 Bragging Rights Tournament-Seatrout Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings) 

We threw back a handful of smaller fish, kept a handful of Slot Reds, and a good "mess" of Seatrout. It brought home - just keep on fishing 'cause you never know when the "switch" will flip and it will be another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Breakout Day

 With the fish bite being "down" the last week or so we needed a day like today. I had met Dave Burkhartand his fishing  buddies Ed and Robert out at Goffinsville Park on a dead low tide. After a short ride over to some docks, we set up current and tossed jigs and live shrimp. It didn't take long before we got some action!  Dave was fishing deepest with a jig and he pulled in a few hungry Seatrout then Robert hooked up and battled a nice keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum to the boat. Then all three of the anglers were catching fish - Drum up by the docks and Seatrout out deeper. After fishing a second dock where we caught more Drum (we had a total of 4 keepers), we moved on.

Our next stop was down at Broward Island. The tide had been coming in for an  hour or two but it was worth a shot and it paid off. Ed had gone to the bank and

let his jig fall slowly with the current when, BAM! Big Fish On! Ed played it patiently and kept the pressure on when the big fish went deep. After a good battle he boated an Oversized 27.5" Redfish,  boy what a fish!

As we moved down the bank we got into more Redfish. Ed put a Slot Red in the boat then Dave battled a big one, in and out of some tree limbs, but he prevailed and put another Slot Red in the boat. We added a couple of more smaller Reds them moved down the bank where Ed caught a small Flounder to round out an Amelia Island Back Country Grande Slam of Seatrout, Black Drum, Red Drum and Flounder.

We then moved up to Pumpkin Hill and drifted float rigs where we picked up

some Seatrout, one of which was of keeper size. After fishing some more docks back at Seymore's Pointe where we added a couple of more keeper sized Trout, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

I Jumped the Gun

 In my last report I mentioned that the fish bite was on the uptick. But boy was I wrong. We had two really slow days, yesterday and today - I didn't have much to write about yesterday! And today, I fished with the Risko family, Tami and Toby and their two kids Vivian and Simon and it was slow for most of the morning.  We met down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and ran up the Nassau and around to Broward Island. The tide had been coming in for about 2 hours but I thought for sure we'd get there in time for a bit of a bite. I was wrong. We worked the bank up and down and had nary a nibble. However, we did get to see a majestic Bald Eagle fly by.

We then fished Pumpkin Hill, both sides of the pointe, with float rigs and live shrimp, to no avail. Our next stop was around at Seymore's Pointe and here perseverance prevailed. Vivian was drifting a float out the back, along a grass line, and had a good nibble that took her Shrimp. She went back to the same area with a good drift and BAM, she had a hookup. Vivian played the fish perfectly to the net and landed a fat hungry Seatrout. 

After that she

zeroed in and was ready when she had another bite, and caught another one. 

Up on the bow we were drifting the grass when we saw our float slooooowwwllly go under. After tightening the line we had a hookup and, Fish On! This was a big fish - it was ripping drag and heading East. But Simon was on the rod and he kept the pressure up. Simon made his way to the stern and the deck was cleared and the battle ensued. The big fish made a couple of deep runs, ripping the drag as it went, but Simon was up to the task and patiently brought it to the net - a nice 26" Tournament Sized Slot Redfish. 

Once we were back to fishing Vivian went back to her "spot" and had another Trout hookup. Her dad Toby jumped in there and caught another one before the bite slowed. We then made the run thru Horsehead, fished one more area, then called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Pop Finds the Honey Holes

 We had another nice morning today, albeit a bit foggy when we started. I had met Zach Peyton, his son Tyler, and his father Bob out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp early and we crept thru the fog to our first stop over at Pumpkin Hill with plans to toss float rigs and live shrimp up near the marsh grass on a flooding tide. The trio of anglers were getting excellent drifts but all we got was a couple of nibbles. We fished further down that marsh line with the same results, then ran down to Broward Island and switched to jigs and shrimp. We fished both ends of the island on the last of an incoming tide but had the same results, no fish. 

Our next stop was back at Pumpkin Hill but around the corner, in search of a "honey hole" and it was "Pop" who found it. As he drifted his float by a grassy island his float disappeared and he had a hookup! Fish On!  Young Tyler was on the net and did an excellent job scooping up a nice Seatrout. Bob went back to the same area and had another hookup - the "skunk" was definitely off the boat. 

We then ran up into Christopher Creek and fished a bit with the jigs, then came back out and ran around to Seymore's Pointe, setting up at the mouth of a bay and drifting the floats. Bob had another hookup and reeled in a Trout ,then Zach got in on the action and caught one too, this one of keeper size (all fish caught today were released). Then Bob hooked up and with Tyler's help, they reeled in another keeper sized Trout. After another hookup, we moved on down a line of docks and fished floats and jigs.

Our last stop was down at Twin Creeks, fishing jigs, and we found one more Seatrout.  Young Tyler had helped with driving the boat, operating the trolling motor, netting fish, fetching bait, and releasing fish and he was casting his on spinning rod at the end of the trip. We headed in, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

23, 24 and 25

I fished again with the Soper Team - dad Larry and his sons Garrett and Dustin, but this time meeting them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp. Although the skies weren't as clear, the temperature was pleasant and we had a slight breeze that promise to keep the "no-see-ums" off!  We headed over to the outside of Tiger and fished float rigs along the flooded marsh line. Little did we know that it was going to be tough fishing today, but that first stop produced no bites. After moving over and fishing Manatee Cove with the floats and getting no bites, we moved on. 

Our next stop was over in the Bell River, fishing a pointe of grass, and again, no bites. Then around to Lanceford Creek to fish a seawall and a grassy island to no avail . Finally, after stopping at a dock and trying a jig and shrimp on a tide that had been falling for about an hour, we had a hookup!!  Dustin was on the rod and said the big fish slammed it!  He played it perfectly, even when the fish got up in the pilings, and he patiently worked out to a waiting net.

This nice Slot Red turned out to be 25" which added to their catch yesterday of a 23" Red and a 24" Red!

We moved around to Soap Creek where Garrett picked up a hungry Seatrout, then switch back to floats that produced nothing. Larry casually put a "baitstealer" in the boat before we called it a day, a rather slow one, but still a great day to be out on the water at Amelia island.