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.

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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.

Illegal Tomorrow

 Another beautiful morning and awesome sunrise greeted us when I met Mark Dennis and his nephew James out at the Goffinsville Park.  We were loaded up with mud minnows and made a short run over to Pumpkin Hill and set up alongside some marsh grass on an outgoing tide. Mark began tossing his home made cork lure and James was on the stern drifting a float rig with the minnow - we worked it good but had not a nibble.  After moving around the corner and easing along another marsh line and this did the trick. James's float was drifting along then slowly began to go under, James tightened up his line, lifted this rod and set the hook and, fish on! James worked it to the boat and landed a keeper sized 17" Seatrout to knock the skunk off. We worked along that stretch for a bit and again, James's float slowly went under, and again, he set the hook and brought to the boat a feisty Redfish. Dennis had been fishing a DOA Shrimp lure, working it across some oysters and, BAM, he had a hookup. Dennis played it patiently and soon landed another feisty Redfish.

We then moved down to Broward Island to fish under the watchful eye of a pair of Bald Eagles. Mark was casting up into a drainage and  BAM! Big Fish On! Mark was being real patient as it ran long and deep, keeping the pressure on and was well on his way to landing this big fish and BIP, fish off, it came unhooked! OUCH!  We decided to fall back with the current, fishing some pockets and I was just about ready to leave when James's rod bent double and his drag began to rip - a big fish for sure! James was up to the task, stayed the course and after a good battle landed a 29" Oversized Redfish, boy what a fish!

Our next stop was down the Nassau, all the way to Spanish Drop, and here we switched to jigs and the minnows. In short order James had hooked up and landed a nice 18" Flounder, a fish that will be illegal to keep tomorrow! We worked across a drainage and as we got to some oysters both anglers began to catch Seatrout, a bit out from the bank. James found a Redfish up close to the bank, then both anglers dueled with high flying Ladyfish.  We hopped up the river a few times, picked up a Trout, then wrapped up the day fishing for Mangrove Snapper. We had tangled with Redfish and Seatrout and Flounder and as we headed in, we counted it as another great day  to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

First Flattie Then Big Flattie

 

Even though the temperature gets up into the low 80's by afternoon, the mornings have a little cool nip in the air. It was the same when I met Bob and Kathy Miller down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning.  We made the 15 minute run up the intercoastal and dipped into Jackstaff and began tossing jigs and mud minnows to the exposed oysters on a low and still outgoing tide. Both anglers were getting good casts as we worked along the bank. Bob had a strange "bump", set the hook, and reeled in his first Flounder ever. We worked that bank, had numerous nibbles, then crossed over to fish a sandbar pointe. Bob was tossing out deep while Kathy fished the bow and pointe and it was Bob who had the hookup again, this time a hungry Seatrout.

We then ran thru Horsehead and around to the Nassau and down to Spanish Drop and set up fishing a large outflow and boy was there a ton of bait. We eased along pitching those minnows, had a few nibbles, but it wasn't until we got alongside

a shell bank when the action picked up. Bob had a good bite, hooked up and reeled in a feisty Redfish then Kathy got on the board - she too had a Redfish.  Then both anglers were catching fish - Redfish, a few Seatrout, a Jack Crevalle, and some Ladyfish. We moved up the way and again had some good action catching fish. 

After sampling what some dock pilings had to offer (not much), we moved around to Nassauville and set up between two docks and pitched to the bank. We picked up a few Mangrove Snapper, one of which was of keeper size then Bob started reeling in a rock. But no! That rock was moving! Bob kept the pressure on and patiently brought it to the surface and to the net - a 21.25" Flounder, boy what a fish. It was a great way to wrap up a good day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Go With Minnows

 We had a nice morning greet us when I met Glenn and Patty Langford up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park asthe sun came up.  There was still about an hour of tide going out so we made a quick run over to Lanceford Creek and fished some dock pilings with jigs and live shrimp...and got pecked, pecked, and pecked - just baitstealers. After just a short time we moved back around to Soap Creek and fished an exposed oyster bed and here we had a bit of success - Glenn hooked up and landed a couple of feisty Redfish.

As the tide came to a standstill we ran back around Tyger Island and up in behind the trees and began pitching to the shore. Both anglers were making excellent casts but the "baitstealers" were ever present. Patty did hookup and land her first Flounder and later Glenn outsmarted a hungry Sheepshead and brought it to the net. 

We then ran back outside, up and around to the Jolley River and began fishing the "bank", back into the current. Again, a bunch of nibbles -luckily I had a handful of small mud minnows to supplement the shrimp- but Glenn did hookup and land a small Seatrout to round out a team Amelia Island Grande Slam of Redfish, Flounder, Sheepshead and Seatrout. At one time Glenn did catch a fish big enough to rip his drag. When it came out of the water I thought I saw "big Seatrout" but then it jumped again a time or two and we all knew it was a Ladyfish.

After fishing further up the Jolley with float rigs and minnows we hit our final stop around the corner in the upper Bell. Right off Glenn had a bump, set the hook, and caught and landed a Mangrove Snapper. We picked up a few more baitstealers before calling it a day. Tomorrow, if they got 'em, I'll be going with Minnows and maybe they'll stay on the hook longer! But we had some action, the weather was nice, so as we headed in we counted it as another great day to be out on the water her at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Soupy Morning

 

When I met Jeff and Jess Kamenski up at the Dee Dee Bartels boat ramp early this morning the fog had set in to form a "soup" for visibility. We eased way from the ramp with navigation lights on and made our way slowly down the intercoastal and up into Bell River. The plan was to fish live shrimp under float rigs for a bit until the tide got up and we could begin to look for tailing Reds in the grass.

After setting up along side a flooding point of oysters the two anglers began tossing their baits to the marsh grass and were getting good drifts and it paid off with catches of Seatrout, Ladyfish, and a few bait stealers. We then ran thru Tyger and around to the outside of the island and fished some more grass, again getting Seatrout. 

The tide had gotten up so we poked the bow into a likely flooded marsh and within minutes - there was a tail! Both Jess and I kept our eye on it while Jeff readied himself but it went under the

surface and never appeared again. We move around and checked out a number of flats and some of them looked just amazingly fishy, but we saw no more tails. 

As the tide turned we switched back to the floats, fished a grassy pointe, and picked up another Trout, a Croaker, and a Mangrove Snapper. Our last stop was up at "Jolley Bank", working along the edge and again found, you guessed it, Seatrout. Jeff had a couple of shots at some nice big Redfish - one ran thru a grassy island and broke off, the other one was on, played, brought to the boat, seen, and... threw the hook! Ouch.  I called it a "quirky" day, but maybe a better word would be eventful so we counted it as another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Action Packed

 

We kicked the week off today with an action packed day of catching. I had met Dale Bullard and his fishing buddy Bernard Thompson down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early and as we headed up the intercoastal we could just see the sun peaking over the horizon. We made our way up Back River, into the Nassau, and over to the mouth of Pumpkin Hill and set up drifting float rigs and live shrimp. From the start, the two anglers were getting bites. There were a number of Ladyfish, a couple of Seatrout and a couple of Redfish caught. And once in a while a Jack Crevalle. We fished that stretch, moved down and fished, then moved back up and again caught some fish.

After easing around the corner Bernard quickly picked up a Seatrout then Dale had a good hookup and put a keeper sized 17" Trout in the boat. We then made the run back to the Seymore Pointe area, fished a large drainage and here Bernard dueled with a couple of Mangrove Snapper and an 'ole Catfish.

We then ran down to Twin Creeks, where again, Bernard picked up a Seatrout, then we moved down to Spanish Drop, a supposedly "honey hole" and as it turned out, the duo wrapped things up catching a few feisty Redfish. Although we didn't have any massive fish, we had some good Redfish fights, and had action going on most of the trip so as we headed in we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

We Found a Hot Spot

 I wrapped  my week up today fishing with the Ahrens family, Brian and Jennifer and their two anglers Henry and Oscar. I met them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early and we headed up the intercoastal as the sun came up. After turning in to Jackstaff then dipping in to an even smaller creek we set up at a large outflow, baited up live shrimp on float rigs and tossed them out and....BAM! Fish On! Oscar was on the rod and ready, hooked 'em  up and reeled in a nice feisty Redfish to start the day. Minutes later Brian hooked up and brought to the net a hungry Seatrout then Henry followed suit with a Trout of his own, fishing off the stern of the boat. 

We eased back into Jackstaff, worked along the bank with jigs and shrimp, lost a few shrimp to bait stealers, then moved on. After running thru Horsehead we fished a dock for just a minute or two but what breeze we had was blocked by the land mass and the "no-see-ums" were feasting on. With great reluctance, we pulled up and skedaddled!

Our next stop was down at Spanish Drop, working along and exposed oyster bank. We were having very little action, other than a baitstealer now and then but when we reached the end of the shell bed things heated up. Brian was on the bow and was "slaying" the feisty Redfish. Then Henry had a strong hookup and by the way it was pulling we knew he had a big one. Henry expertly played it to the boat and landed a big 20.5" Seatrout, boy what a fish! Oscar landed another Redfish, Jennifer brought one to the boat, Brian continued to hookup and land, then Henry, camping out at the stern, hand another good bite. He played it patiently and soon landed a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum.

The sun was up, we were getting low on bait, but we decided to make one
more run, this time down nto Broward Island. After getting the trolling motor anchored they began to pitch jigs to the bank and here Brian rounded out an Amelia Island Grande Slam by catching a Flounder. We started off great and ended up getting some nice fish so as we headed in we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Making Progress

You just can't ask for better weather to be fishing here at Amelia Island. It's in the high 60's when we launch and gets up to the mid 80's by the time we return to the dock and each day there has a been a light breeze to keep the bugs off.  I met Tim and Laura Wolfe down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and we headed up the intercoastal and as we turned the corner at the first channel marker, the sun was just coming up. We made the short run, dipped in to Jackstaff and began fishing an exposed oyster bank with jigs and live shrimp.  We had just fished a short way when Laura hooked up, and Tim did too - we had a double! They both brought their fish to the boat - Laura's was a nice Whiting and Tim's was a hungry Flounder. It was then that Laura reminded me that she didn't catch a fish with me last year, so we had made some progress!

We continued along that stretch and Tim hooked up and landed a feisty Redfish. We then crossed over and fished a pointe that had a sandbar coming out to us and here Tim found some Seatrout out deep. Both he and Laura found that they could pitch up current, let their jig go to the bottom, keep the line tight and BAM! They'd have a hookup. They caught a good handful of Seatrout there, the biggest measuring at 14 3/4".

After running thru Horsehead we made a quick stop at a dock at Seymore's Pointe, stern to the pilings. The duo played cat and mouse with the Mangroves, won a few of the battles, and put a couple of keeper sized fish in the box. We then headed down to Broward Island and set up to fish a large marsh run out. Big fish were busting bait all up and down the bank. We fished it pretty good, picked up a couple of Mangroves, then Tim put another Redfish in the boat. We worked the island for a bit and picked up another couple of Mangroves, but not the big fish we were hoping for. 

Our final stop was down at Spanish Drop working the oysters again, and here Laura added a Jack Crevalle to her catch total.  But the sun was up, we were down to our last bait, so we called it a day. Although we didn't have any huge fish, Laura had lost count of the number of fish she had caught so as we headed in, we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.