The "No-Doubters" Went In The Box

 We had a beautiful day to begin with today - a nice breeze and the water was like glass. I had met JeffAdams,his son Bo and his FIL Charlie down at Sawpit Creek early and after making a good run up the Nassau River to the mouth of Back River we set up with float rigs and mud minnows on a tide that had been going out for a few hours - the oysters were showing pretty good.  Jeff was on the bow and set the pace by catching a small but feisty Redfish, a hungry Seatrout, and a high-flying Ladyfish. Charlier was drifting long off the stern and it paid off when he too picked up a couple of Seatrout and then Bo got in on the action After fishing a grass line across the mouth of the river, to no avail, we moved on.

After running thru Horsehead and over to the mouth of Jackstaff we set up on a point where I thought for sure we'd get some Flounder by offering the jigs and minnows, but I thought wrong - not a bite. But we dropped back along the sandy point and fished the outside edges of the bar and this did the trick. Bo hooked up and landed a big Seatrout - a "No Doubter" when it came to measuring - the first fish in the box His grandfather was holding up the stern of the boat and found his own little "honey hole" of Seatrout - he caught a good handful a couple of which were keepers, and one of them was for sure a "No Doubter" - it measured right at 18".  Jeff kept the bow warm and hooked up a couple of Trout, too.

We ran back thru Horsehead and fished down the Nassau, first at Twin Creeks, then at a nice drainage -there was plenty of bait action but we had no real bites. We theorized that the heat was taking its toll on the fish  bite! But our last stop up at Pumpkin Hill paid off. Jeff had the hot hand here - he was fishing out from the shore and drifting a bit longer and landed hungry Trout, then a Ladyfish, then had his hook cut off, then he hooked and expertly played a nice Black Tip Shark to the boat. But boy was it getting hot! We had a mess of fish in the box and had some decent action throughout the morning so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

A Fish So Big It Warranted A New Bragging Rights Category

 I knew that the Bragging Rights standings couldn't hold - we've had some big fish caught this year but
none of the Categories were headed by sizes that usually win for the year so I knew that sooner or later we'd get a big one. But first, we had a big one caught that I've never categorized - the big Black Drum. I think I've left it out because we could fish for those monsters in April and May and get 40,50, 60 pounders which would be tough to beat. But today we did get a 16 pound drum on my size 1000 reel and boy was it a battle!

I had met Fred and Chad Wammock up at Old Town Bait and Tackle early and we made along run up the Bell River to fish a deep bend with jigs and live shrimp on the last of an outgoing tide. I was looking for Seatrout and the spot didn't disappoint - the duo caught a good handful of them, one of which was of keeper size. . They also picked up a couple of Catfish so when Fred had a strong bite that was digging deep hard I thought for sure it was just going to be a massive Catfish, dang it. Fred stayed with it and patiently wore the big fish out and eventually worked it up where we saw it was a huge Black Drum - so big that we couldn't even call it a "puppy" Drum! It measured 31" and weighed 16lbs on my Boga. I created a "Special Appearance" on my Anglers Mark 2026 Bragging Rights Board just for this fish! Scroll down the right side of this report for standings. 

We then made our way around to the Jolley River and fished the MOA, but didn't have much luck there. After crossing over to JC's spot we did better. Much better. We hadn't fished the exposed shell long when it was Chad's turn to have the big battle. This fish was ripping line and when it rolled a couple of times we new it was a big Redfish and boy was it. Chad stayed with it and worked it in patiently and soon landed a 32.25" Redfish, which tops the Bragging Rights Board for Redfish caught this year. 

We fished down at the Jolley Bank where the duo picked up another keeper Trout and a keeper Black "puppy" Drum. After dropping back and fishing Tyger Point with floats and getting another Trout or two, we ended the day back at Tyger logs where they topped off the day by catching a hungry Flounder for a Grande Slam - Seatrout, Redfish, Black Drum, and Flounder. We had a beautiful day, had s few fish in the box, had caught some big fish for memories and so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

We Worked Up To a Grand Slam

 

I wrapped my week up fishing with Mark Caldwell and his fishing buddies John and Don when I met them up at Old Town Bait and Tackle early this morning. We eased out of Eagans Creek and made a run over to Lanceford to fish some dock pilings on the last of an outgoing tide. The three anglers were pitching jigs and live shrimp to the pilings and getting good casts and we did pick up a couple of feisty Black "puppy" Drum. We then made our way back and around to the Tyger logs and worked the bank - Don hooked and landed a hungry Flounder, but after that we  had no real bites.

We then ran up to the Jolley River and turned into the bank and fished it with float rigs and the shrimp and this paid off - the trio tangled with a Ladyfish then John hooked and expertly battled a nice Slot sized Redfish to the boat - they had an Amelia Island Back Country Slam. We moved further up the river and fished at Snook Creek with the floats, then came back to Tyger Cut where they all joined in catching a few Seatrout to make it a Grande Slam. We ended the day around on the outside of Tyger and Mark wrapped things up battling a hard fighting Jack Crevalle to the boat. The day had been overcast all day, but the wind had held off, and we had some good action here and there so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Boy That Was Some Wind!

 

Monday, Cancelled. Tuesday, Cancelled. Wednesday, Cancelled. Thursday, Cancelled. That was some crazy wind we had all week, but today it "calmed down" to 12mph at launch hour, rising to 16mph by the end of the trip. But my guests, visiting from (the windy city, go figure) Chicago were game to go fishing today, and so was I, so we met down at Sawpit Creek boat ramp, feeling Lonesome, Ornery, and Mean (not really - that's an old Waylon song) and we headed up the Nassau to make our first stop at a drainage near Spanish Drop. All four anglers were getting good casts and were working their jig and shrimp slowly on a tide that had been going out for a few hours, but we had no luck, other than a few nibbles from some baitstealers. We eased up the river and fished Twin Creeks with thsoe jigs rods and again, no real bites. Our next stop was over at Nassauville, fishing between two docks and boy was it nice - the land mass blocked the wind and made for easy fishing - it really looked good, but again, no bites. 

We then made a long run up the Nassau to a small creek and after arriving we worked along the bank. It was young Marty who "knocked the skunk off" when he hooked up and expertly played to the boat and nice feisty Redfish. We continued to ease down the bank and then it was Wes's turn to fight a good fish, and boy was this a good one - it was ripping drag and making runs and we knew for sure it was in the "Slot' - Wes kept that pressure on , worked it in, let it run, worked it in, and soon landed a nice 24.25" Slot Redfish. We hit a few more spots along there, fishing with a menagerie of birds - Red Winged Black Birds,, Herons, Egrets, etc. then we came out of there and made our way back down the river to Seymore's Pointe.

Fishing the incoming tide now, but exposed to the 16mph winds, it was tough! But these guys persevered. We ended up working down the dock line, buffeted by the wind, but it paid off - they had a hookup - Jack was on the rod- he fought it valiantly and brought to the net a nice fat Seatrout to round out their Amelia Island Back Country Slam of Black Drum, Red Drum and Seatrout.  The wind curtailed fishing at some of the sports I would normally like to fish, but we did get a few nice  ones so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here aat Amelia Island, Florida. 

March Madness Down To The Wire

 We had a beautiful morning today to kick off the week! I met David Vice and Robert Stettner up at Old
Town Bait and Tackle on a tide that had just hit high - the sun was up, we had clear skies, and only a slight breeze to keep the gnats off. After easing out of Eagans we made a run over to the outside of Tyger and fished a marsh line with float rigs and live shrimp as the tide started out. These anglers were getting good casts and good drifts but the fish didn't cooperate. We ran out and around and up to the Jolley and fished the "bank" and I think it was Roberts first cast when he had his float disappear and Fish On!  Robert worked it to the boat and landed a hungry Seatrout to "knock the skunk off".  We worked that bank, moved up to Tyger Cut and fished it with the floats, had just a nibble or two, then moved on up to Snook Creek where we eased inside and tossed jigs for a bit. 

Our next stop was around at Bell River where we fished some docks with the jigs and here Robert got hot - he caught and landed a feisty Black "puppy" Drum, a Sheepshead, and a Seabass. We worked up the river, pitching the jigs and David got on the board when he hooked and expertly played a couple of Seatrout. We made our way back towards Amelia, ran up Lanceford and into Soap and went back to the floats. David had pitched up behind an oyster island and as it drifted back it went under and David hooked it up. We were down to the wire in the "fish catch total" as March is wrapping up! As we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be out on the water and fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Beautiful day, tough fishing

 

I attended the NSFA social the other night and comparing notes with other anglers, the consensus was the "catching" has been slow lately, and today was no exception. Luckily I had some guests with good attitudes and happy to be out on the water here at Amelia Island. I had met brothers Don and John Muzursky down at Sawpit (after a winding drive taking a detour around the construction at Buccaneer Trail) and we headed up the intracoastal on a beautiful morning - pleasant temperatures, complete sunshine, and just a slight breeze. Our first stop was at a drainage on the Nassau where we went with jgis and live shrimp, pitched to the bank to let the current bump it along the bottom. We may have had a nibble or two, but that was it. We backed down the river to Spanish Drop and stayed with the jigs, tossing to the now exposed shell bank on a tide that had been going out a few hours, but again, only nibbles. 

Our next stop was up to Nassauville where we eased in between two docks to fish the shallow, then deep drop off. Don, fishing of the stern, had let his jig and shrimp fall out deep and when he felt a good thump he set the hook expertly and Fish On! Don worked it to the net patiently and landed a hungry Seatrout to "knock the skunk off". We then ran way up the river to small creek where I've been getting some Redfish - I could almost guarantee it - but I'm glad I didn't today! These guys worked the bank thoroughly - I joined in for a few casts and we worked it good, but not a real single bite, ouch! Back down to Broward Island we went and fished it in two or there areas with the jigs, and again, not a real bite that we could say was a fish.

The final stop was back around at Seymore's Pointe on the first of an incoming tide, and this did the
trick! Don hooked up and landed a plump Sea Bass then John got on the board when he found a hot spot of Black "puppy" Drum. He said the bite was very faint, just a nibble, and he'd have to set the hook, catching a good handful of them. Luckily, we had ended the day with a little bit of action and it was such a pretty day, as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Foggy Start

 

We had some serious fog out there this morning! I had met Don Walters and Alex Bournias up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle at sunrise but we had to "putter" most of the way down the intracoastal to get to our first spot - we could see about 50 yards. But when we got to a likely looking dock on a tide that still had a couple of hours for it to hit bottom. Both anglers were getting good casts up between the pilings but all we were getting were the tap tap of small fish then finally BAM! Alex had a big fish on and luckily it came out as he applied the pressure then it ripped drag digging deep. Alex worked it up, pulled it to the outside and played it to the net, landing a nice 24.5" Slot Redfish - the "skunk was off!"  

Don went in and hooked and landed another feisty Redfish then he had not one but two big fish take his bait, charge back under the dock and eventually break off, OUCH! He also hooked an battled a nice Black "puppy" Drum to the net.  We then made a run further down the river to fish some rocks with the jigs and live shrimp and even though the bite wasn't there, Alex did pick up a hungry Seatrout. We fished some docks up behind Piney Island and had a nice Trout on for a bit, then we finished up over behind Tyger Island where the duo rounded out an Amelia Island Back Country Grand Slam by catching a keeper sized Sheepshead. The fog had finally lifted, the sun was out, and we had a couple of nice fish in the box so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

We Cruised To a Good Finish

 Another beautiful morning greeted us down at Sawpit Creek boat ramp when I met the "Crane Island Boys" -Dick Conley, David Gray, Henry Ross and his son Stephen. The gnats were swarming us at the ramp but after that initial run they weren't too bad. We eased up to Spanish Drop and worked the exposed shell bank on a tide that still had about an hour to hit bottom, tossing jigs and live shrimp - we worked that bank thoroughly but didn't get much more than a nibble. We then moved up the river a couple of hundred yards and hadn't been there more than a few minutes when David, fishing on the bow, had a hookup out deep and Big Fish On! That drag was ripping! The rest of the guys cleared out as he came from the bow to the stern and fought the big fish to a standstill, then brought it to the net - an Oversized 27.25" Redfish, boy what a fish! We moved further up the river to Twin Creeks and tossed it to and again, David had the hookup. This fish was ripping drag but after that Oversized fish it was no match for David and he expertly played the 20" Slot fish to the net.

Our next stop was up at Littlefield where we fished deep. Stephen and his dad were on the stern and
they had the hot rods here. They both put a handful of Seatrout in the boat, one or two which were of keeper size, then Stephen battled a deep digging Black "puppy" Drum, and won the battle to land the keeper fish. We then made our way around to Seymore's Pointe and fished some dock pilings as the tide started back in. At those pilings I think the only fish caught was another nice keeper sized Black Drum by Stephen, but David caught a Trout or two out deep. We then worked along the some docks, pitching as we went and got another Trout or two with some keepers mixed in.

The final stop was down at Broward Island where the CIB's caught another handful of Trout, a couple of small Reds, and Dick rounded out the "Super Grand Slam" by catching a small Flounder (the first I've seen in months) and a Sheepshead, added to the Black Drum, Redfish and Seatrout for the Super Grand Slam. We had started slow but built to a good finish and had a good mess of fish in the box so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Jack in the Back (water)

 

Boy what a beautiful day today - it was in he high 60's when I launched at sunup and when it did come up there wasn't a cloud in the sky. Almost zero breeze did bring out the No-Seeums but we had spray for that! I met John Fredericks and his fishing buddy Dan Forsch down at Sawpit Creek boat ramp and we made a quick run up the intracoastal and into the Nassau to make our first stop at Spanish Drop with a tide that was about an hour shy of being low. The two anglers went with jigs and live shrimp and pitched the bank as we eased into the slacking current. We had a handful of nibbles, and actually two good bites that ripped some drag and bent a rod, but they didn't take until John hooked up and landed a keeper sized Sheepshead to knock the skunk off. 

We bumped down the bank, fishing drainages and had bites but no takers, so we moved on. Our next
stop was up the Nassau where we fished between two docks and here the action picked up. Dan got hot fishing off the stern and hooked and landed a handful of Seatrout, caught deep, with one of them being of keeper size. Then he had s strong hookup and this fish was fighting erratically and Dan stayed with it. He worked it in and landed a keeper sized Spanish Mackerel.  We've caught a few Spanish Mackerel over the years, but not many, in the back water. 

Our next stop was around at Seymore's Pointe where we pitched to some dock pilings - the trio fought and landed three Black "puppy" Drum, just undersized. Dan had one strong bite that wrapped around a piling and broke off, boy what a fish! We then motored down to Broward Island and fished a drainage waiting for the tide to turn down there and got some good action catching Seatrout deep again, and one of those was of keeper size.  We worked down the bank as the tide changed and both John and Dan put a Slot Red in the boat after expertly battling them to the net. We had slowly put a nice box of fish together so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Two Fat 24's

 

We had to creep thru the fob this morning, boy was it thick! I had met Doug Brossman and his fishing partner Hank Prolog down at Sawpit Creek, mid-morning, right at high tide. We had to ease up the intracoastal and up the Nassau to make our first stop up at Seymore's Pointe where we went with float rigs and live shrimp, pitched to a large drainage. I was somewhat encouraged, with the water temp at 60 degrees, the two anglers had some decent action catching Seatrout and a couple of small Blues. 

We then ran around the point and up the Nassau and drifted the floats over some shell beds, to no avail. Back down the river we came, to Twin Creeks, and again drifted the floats, with no luck. We briefly switched to jigs and the shrimp, had no bites, then came back up the river to fish between some docks at Nassauville and this did the trick with a handful of Seatrout catches. 

Down at Broward Island we fished deep with the jigs. Doug picked up a small Seatrout at a drainage, then we moved down the island, under the eye of the Bald Eagles and here we caught a couple of Redfish, one of which was in the slot.  After a good run up the Nassau we eased in to our final spot -the Super Duper Lucky Spot, and it fit the bill. The duo almost immediately began to get Redfish. They added four more Slot fish, with two of them measuring right at 24" and they also tossed back a handful of smaller "rat" Reds. Doug picked up a hard fighting keeper sized Black Drum to add to the catch total. 

The sun had come out and the fog was pretty much gone and we had some good action at a couple of spots so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amella Island, Florida. 

We Caught a Bunch

 Another cold and sunny day greeted us up at Old Town Bait and Tackle this morning when I met Bob and William Blalock with plans to fish the last hour of an outgoing tide. We were right there in Eagans so we eased up the creek and found some docks to anchor up current and fish back into the pilings. It was a slow start but it was a good move. The duo pulled a couple of Redfish out from under the  dock, then we moved to the outside and pitched up in there again and boy did this pay off! They caught Redish - the fish did hit hard but they just picked the bait up with a subtle bite - you had to concentrate. There were a couple of small Slot Reds caught then Bob hooked up with what we thought was going to be  big Black Drum by the way it was digging deep, but after a patient battle, he brought to the surface a huge Redfish- we netted it and it measured right at 29.25" - big enough to move Bob into first place in the 2026 Bragging Rights Tournament-Redfish Category. 

The continued to pitch, and about the time I'd mention moving, BAM! Another big fish. Both anglers hauled in some really nice Black "puppy" Drum (all fish caught today were released). Then Bob had another strong bite and Fish ON!  As he fought the big fish William had a good bite, set the hook, and we had a Double! I didn't know which fish to net first! But William kept his in the water and after netting Bob's 25.5" Redfish, I went forward and netted Williams big Drum. The duo put a few more fish in the boat - Bob guestimated 15 fish, then we moved on. 

We fished the Tyger logs and William picked up one hungry Seatrout but the wind was kicking out of the south west which doesn't bode well, so we ran around to the Jolley, fished some oysters, then finished up over at Bell River. We were blocked from the wind with very pleasant fishing conditions, but the fish didn't cooperate, so we headed back to the dock and counted it as another great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

An Explosion of Fish Catching

 

Boy was it foggy this morning - as I was driving to the Sawpit Creek boat ramp I was concerned that we may have to just putter around to the bridge and fish until it lifted. But after launching we saw that we did have about a hundred yards of visibility, so after meeting Jason Ash and his college buddies Tom and Adam early, we made a cautious run up the intracoastal, and up the Nassau, all the way to Littlefield where we went with jigs and live shrimp in the last of an outgoing tide. The Baitstealers were out in force! They used 6-7 shrimp to catch one small Seatrout- we were blowing thru the bait quick to catch those few Trout, so we moved on.

Back down the Nassau, we pulled up at a drainage just as the tide was hitting bottom, fished it with the
jigs, to no avail, then we moved down to Spanish Drop and worked the exposed shell bank as the current began to shift. No bites at all. We then made our way back up river to Seymore's Pointe and fished a dock in hopes of a Black Drum but again, no real bites. I was beginning to wonder ....

Those docks looked so good we decided to work each one of them, easing in between them and pitching to the pilings. Tom hooked up and landed a nice keeper sized Seatrout, then Adam hooked and landed a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum (Adam was using some live fiddler crabs and they paid off for him). Off the stern, Jason began to catch Sandtrout/Weakfish and found a "honey hole" - he was boating one on every cast - Tom was pitching in under a boat and started hauling out Redfish, one after the other. Adam had probably the biggest hooked up but this fish was smart and wrapped itself around a pilings and BAP, broke off. They picked up two more keeper sized Black Drum, another keeper sized Seatrout, then Tom hooked and landed a nice 23" Slot Redfish - it was an explosion of fish catching!

We fished back at the original dock, all out of shrimp, but with a bucket of fiddlers. Adam had made an excellent cast and BAM! Fish On! He played it patiently to the net and landed a keeper sized Sheepshead to wrap things. They had put a "Super Grande Slam" in the boat - Seatrout, Weakfish, Red Drum, Black Drum and Sheepshead si as we headed back to the ramp, we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Two Slams In The Backwater at Amelia Island

 I was finally back at it today and it was a good one to be fishing! Although it was a bit foggy as we left
Eagans Creek, there was enough visibility to run at half speed. I had Met David and Ellen Capps up at Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp as the sun was coming up and with the tide just starting in, we made our first stop down the river to fish some structure. The tide hadn't really started moving yet and maybe that was why we didn't get much of nibble on our jigs and live shrimp offering. But the spot was in the "plan" and we had to try it as we passed it heading south. 

After running over the top; of Horsehead we pulled up at Seymore's Point and fished some dock pilings and this did the trick. Both anglers were fishing off the stern, pitching up to the pilings and letting the bait fall and it was Dave who "knocked the skunk off" when a Seatrout followed his bait and out and Dave hooked it up. Then Ellen had a strong bite and with the fish digging deep we knew she had a nice fish. Ellen fought it expertly to the net and landed a keeper sized Black "Puppy" Durm. Dave added a couple of more hungry Seatrout to his catch total, then it was he who had the big bite - his drag was ripping and his rod was bent deep - Dave played it patiently and slowly worked to the net a big Black "puppy" Drum. Ellen hooked and released another one of those Seatrout.

We made our around Seymore's and down to Broward where we set up on the first of the incoming tide - normally ideal - but there wasn't much action but after dropping back 40' Ellen hooked up. It was a good battle that Ellen won - she boated a feisty Redfish to round out her Amelia Island Back Country Slam of Drum, Seatrout and Redfish. We moved south down the island and picked up one more Seatrout, then we ran way up the Nassau and pulled into a creek and worked the bank - Dave was on the bow and made an excellent cast and it paid off with a Redfish catch - He had his Slam! Just a bit further he hooked up again and this one was a bit bigger, it was pulling drag and putting a bend in that rod. Dave worked it in and landed a nice Slot Sized Redfish. The duo added one more Redfish along that bank before we called it a day. We had had very little wind, no rain, just a few bugs, and had caught some fish with a few of them being keepers so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island,Florida. 

Wrapping Up The Old Year With Some Great Fishing

 We wrapped up 2025 yesterday with some great fishing - although it was a bit cool at 35 degrees as we
left the Sawpit boat launch!  I had met Mark Averbuch, his son Jared and grandson Max early to get a fishing trip in the last day of the year - we ran up the intracoastal, then up the Nassau to make our first stop up at Seymor's Point - I lost my knit cap on the way and paid for it with a cold forehead those first few runs! Although the bite was not "one fire" as we drifted float rigs and live shrimp at a large drainage but Mark, fishing off the stern, did get the "skunk" off when he hooked and landed a hungry Seatrout then battled a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum to the boat. All fish caught today were released.

We knew the wind would be blowing all morning at 10mph, with gusts, so we had made a plan to try and stay in behind a land mass to get our fishing in, and the plan worked, although we did have run thru the wind to get to where we were going. Our next stop was around at Littlefield where we pitched jigs and the shrimp and all three anglers began to get fish. They found that they had to fish those jigs sloooowww and when they felt a "bump", set the hook. Most were Seatrout just below the size limit but we did have a couple that would have met the size limit. Both Mark and grandson Max hauled in a Flounder each that were right at keeper size. The "baitstealers" began out-competing for our bait though, so we moved on.

After a long run up the Nassau we turned into a small creek and fished a log lined bank and here we found some Redfish. You got to work that bank its full stretch - I was expecting some bites where we started but as we got to the opposite end they began to hookup. I guestimated they caught 10 Redfish, most being right at 17 7/8", but we did get one that was right at 19". The sun had really warmed things up and we'd had pretty good action all morning so as we headed back to the ramp we counted is another great day to wrap up the year fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Christmas Came Early

 After a howling windy day yesterday, today was "picture perfect" - zero winds, and sunshine when I met William and Dara Blalock out at Goffinsivlle Park. The sun had just come up, the tide had started in about an hour earlier, so we made short run up the Nassau River to try our luck with jigs and live shrimp at Broward Island. These two anglers are always getting good casts and today was  no exception - they were tossing their jigs baited with live shrimp to the bank and letting that incoming current bounce the bati down the river bottom, and it paid off!  Dara hooked up off the stern and expertly reeled in a hungry Seatrout - the skunk was off!  We worked along the bank for a bit and picked up a handful of Trout, two of which were of keeper size. We moved down to the other end, fished under the Eagles, and picked up another Trout or two, and  one feisty Sheepshead.

Our next stop was way up the river where we found a small creek to dip into and work a shallow bank. Right off, Dara hooked up and landed the first Redfish of the day, then William went in behind a tree hanging over the creek and BAM! He hooked up, then Dara hooked up, we had a "double". They both landed Redfish. We worked along and had another Double hookup or two, then they landed a few Slot sized Reds, then we hit another spot where they put more feisty Reds in the boat It was worth the run  up there!

Back down at the mouth of Pumpkin Hill we switched to float rigs and drifted the bank, on each side of the point, but got not much more than a nibble. Back down the Nassau and around to Seymore's Pointe -we set up on a large drainage and drifted the floats. The tide was just trying to start out and it was slow for a bit, then the duo caught a few feisty Redfish. Then Dara had strong bite and this one was ripping drag. I was worried that it would dig down deep across a visible oyster bed in front of us but she worked it across and landed a bulky 23" Slot Red.  William got in on the action when he battled to the boat a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum. We had made a cast and dropped the rod into a rod holder when William yelled "fish" - that rod was bent over and ripping drag. Dara scooped it up and battled another 23" Slot Red to the net. Boy what a beautiful day, and we topped it off with an early Christmas present of a box full of good eating fish, so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.  

The Eighties Are Killing It

 Get up outa that Easy Chair!  Yesterday I had an 83-year old fishing with me and today, another 83-year
old fished on the Anglers  Mark - Betty Raker and her young son John. We met out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp early on a tide that had just hit high. We made our way around to Seymore's Point and fished a large drainage with float rigs as that current started out. It started off slow but every now and then we got a bite. Betty started it off with a big battle - she fought and expertly landed a nice 17" Black "puppy" Drum, then she and John both hooked and landed a handful of feisty Redfish. After John landed another Drum, Betty hooked up and battled another keeper sized Drum to the net. 

We ran thru Horsehead and fished a point with jigs, deep, and here Betty brought to the net a small Flounder  - she had her Amelia Island Back Country Slam! We moved around to Poteat Point and fished floats and first cast John hooked an landed a hungry Seatrout - the had a Grande Slam! Back thru Horsehead we went and down to Nassauville, fishing between some docks with jigs, and we stayed busy catching hungry Seatrout - we guestimated about 18 fish caught, all in the 14.5" range, but one was of keeper size. 

Down at Broward we fished jigs deep and John did find one lone Seatrout, and back at Back River he caught another Trout. Most of the spots we fished today produced at least one fish, some produced a handful, some produced a lot, and the rain had held off so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Zero to Sixty in about an Hour

 Finally, back to work today! And boy what a pretty day it was - sunshine, a bit cool, and no wind, water like glass! I met Frank and Joanne Wytiaz down at Sawpit Creek boat ramp this morning and we proceeded up the intracoastal, turned into the Nassau, and made a short run up to Spanish Drop where we started tossing jigs and live shrimp on a tide that still had a couple of hours of going out. That water was already way down- we could see banks of oysters that I haven't seen in a while, and I was expecting good fishing to kick things off. Boy was I wrong! We worked that first bank and only had a few nibbles, then moved up to a drainage and worked it - as we approached fish "blew out" of there - big wakes and I thought for sure we'd get a couple, but no, not a bite. We then moved up to Twin Creeks and worked that drainage as the tide began to hit bottom and finally Joanne "knocked the skunk off" with a nice feisty Redfish catch. 

We then ran further up the Nassau and fished some docks -the tide was still going out here - and fishing deeper, it paid off. The duo began to get Seatrout catches, one after the other, most in the 14" range, but every once in a while they would get a "keeper" sized Trout. We probably could have stayed there and caught fish but the tide had changed and had started back in and I had a spot in mind so we pulled up and made a short run. We backed the stern up to some pilings and began pitching to them and BAM! Fish On! Joanne had a good fish that was putting up a fight - she played it patiently and soon landed a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum. And from then it was a flurry of action, catching those puppy Drum. A couple were up in the 20" size and about to lose their stripes. We ended up with 6 keeper Drum at that spot, and tossed back a handful of smaller ones.

Down the River we went to fish some structure on the first of an incoming tide. Joanne had the first
hookup but as the fish ripped drag, off it came. But Frank went in there and in short order had the strong hookup -he battled it expertly, letting it run, working it in, letting it run, and then he worked to the net a nice 25" Slot Redfish. We dropped back a little bit and continued ot fish and the duo hauled in another keeper sized Trout, another huge Black Drum, a couple of small but feisty Redfish, a nice keeper sized Sheepshead, and a small Flounder. We had started slow but boy did things take off when that tide changed, so as we headed back to the ramp with a big box of fish we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

It Snowballed

 

A little bit cooler today - 46 heading to the ramp this morning, but clear skies and sunshine for  3/4 of the trip. I met Gregg and Dannie Fitzgerald out at Goffinsville Park as the sun was coming up and with a tide that still had a long hour of coming in, we ran down the Nassau to Twin Creeks and tossed float rigs with live shrimp to the flooded grass line. Dannie was on the stern and she made good use of her drifts, picking up a good handful of hungry Seatrout, most in the 14" range. We then ran back up the Nassau to Pumpkin Hill and drifted the floats and again put those small Trout in the boat until finally, Gregg hooked up and landed a barely legal 15" Trout. But it was legal - I measured it three times!

We then came back to the Seymores Pointe area and fished a large drainage and this really kicked things off. The duo caught Seatrout, almost one after the other, but a couple were up to 17".  Dannie had to tangle with a school of Bluefish, which were fun to catch but we tossed them back. We then dropped down the grass line a bit and again caught fish. Gregg put a handful of small but feisty Redfish in the boat, another 17" Trout while Dannie tried out a jigs fished on the bottom. When that area slowed we moved back up to the original spot and this paid off again! Dannie hooked an landed a nice 16" Black "puppy" Drum, then she expertly battled another big Slot Redfish to the net. They added another couple of keeper Trout before we moved on.

Further down the Nassau we went with jigs and the live shrimp, bumping them on the bottom, and got another handful of small Seatrout. The clouds had rolled in but we had fish in the box, some good action, so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Thankful the Fish Were Biting!

 Hoping everyone has a great Thanksgiving holiday!

Mabry stepped on the boat hoping that we'd catch at least a few fish today, and little did she know that we would have a banner day!  I met her, her father Stephen, her aunt Tessa, and her soon-to-be uncle Andy out at Goffinsville Park this morning right at low tide and by the time we got around to our first stop it had begun to creep in. The fish bite wasn't "on fire" like I had expected but we did get a couple of good fish - I think it was Tessa's 2nd or third cast and BAM! Her drag was ripping. Tessa hung with it, battled it valiantly, and soon brought to the net a nice keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum. We soon found out that Stephen and Mabry had teamed up - Stephen would do the "hooking" and Mabry would do the reeling - he hooked up and she fought to the net a hungry Seatrout. We bounced up the river, fishing some dock pilings and here Andy got on the board - he had a good bite, set the hook expertly and in short order brought to the net a feisty Redfish.

Mabry didn't even need that help down at the next spot - the "super secret" one -we had just pulled up
and the whole crew was catching fish. Mabry had a strong bite and at first we didn't think it was such a big fish. She battled it as it ripped drag, worked it up, let it run, worked it up and then we saw that it was a BIG Redfish. Before the fish knew what had ahold of him, Mabry brought it to the net - a nice 26" Redfish! Stephen followed that up with another good hookup - he kept this one to himself and battled it patiently as it came out from the bank and around behind the engine. He stayed with it, wore it out, and landed another big Slot Redfish. At that spot and within 50 feet we caught fish, almost one after another and hit their 4 fish limit, then went over it -I counted 7 Slot Redfish caught!

Mabry, I think, was wore out. We dropped down the way and  worked a bank with the jigs and live shrimp and although it wasn't fast and furious we did have good action catching those feisty Redfish. At one time she did get back on the rod and her and her aunt Tessa teamed up for a "double" hookup of Redfish. Over at Pumpkin Hill we switched to float rigs, drifted with the current, and got another couple of small Trout and a couple of Bluefish. Stephen battled a Bonnethead shark for a bit before it broke off, Tessa battled a Bonnethead before it found its way to a crab pot rope and broke off, but Andy clinched it when he hooked up with a shark and showed it "what for" - he battled it to the boat  and landed a nice 3" fish - the biggest of the day- we photographed and released it. 

Mabry was hungry and it was time to go! We had a nice box of fish, had some really nice weather so as
we headed back to the ramp and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Redemption at Amelia Island

 

The last time I fished with this guy I got the uneasy feeling that he wouldn't be back. But he was back today, with a vengeance. I had met David Vice, Lee Warren and their buddy Gary out at Goffinsville Park early this morning on a tide that still had about 45 minutes of coming in. We headed over to Pumpkin Hill and set up to drift floats (bobbers) long with that incoming current. It didn't take long before we were getting Trout bites, then Lee hooked up and it was Big Fish On! He was up by the grass and it paid off - this fish was ripping drag and Lee was in for a long battle. I fished with Lee last month and unfortunately he only managed to catch one fish, a 6" baitstealer. He was doing everything right, it just wasn't his day. But this morning, he had a big fish on and he was playing it patiently as it dug deep, running from shallow to deep, then David yelled, "Fish ON!" and we had a double! I was going from stern to bow with the net trying to determine who was getting closest first and eventually I was able to net Lee's big Slot Redfish - I dumped him on the deck then moved forward to net David's Slot Red -two fish in the box!

We fished that stretch for a good while and Gary proved adept at getting those hungry Seatrout to the
net. We tallied up at the end of the trip and it was unanimous that Gary had caught the most. After moving up to a point and fishing down the other side and landing another good handful of  Trout, and one more Slot Redfish, and then a hard fighting Bonnethead Shark, we moved on. Our next stop was over at Seymore's Pointe and here we caught a good handful of Seatrout, then we ran thru Horsehead and over to Poteat Point where we caught more Trout, and more Trout and more Trout - most between 13" and 14.75", but we did manage two keeper Trout. 

Our final stop was back at Seymore's Point fishing some dock pilings. Lee added another feisty Redfish to his catch total and David put a nice sized Black "puppy" Drum in the box. It had been a beautiful day, we had caught a ton of fish, we had a few in the box, so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. Check out this "double Redfish" battle...