A Slam For The Boston Boys

 

Luckily we are having some great weather this week. The fish "catching" is not on fire, but I can almost feel it trying to heat up. Today I met Dick Conley and his visiting from Boston son-in-law Hugh, and grandsons John and Paddy, down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp mid-morning. We made the run up the intracoastal, up the Nassau, and made our way to our first stop at some docks at Seymore's Pointe where we commenced to pitch jigs and live shrimp to the pilings on the first of an incoming tide. Unfortunately, all we got were nibbles. We then made our way down to  Broward Island and fished under a juvenile Bald Eagle, but again, only nibbles. We then made our way north and fished the island on the first of an incoming tide and this did the trick - Hugh "knocked the skunk off" with a nice hungry Seatrout catch. He also had a bite, then snagged then he and John worked out and landed an ugly old Toad Fish! Dick added a Flounder to the catch before we moved on. 

We ran back down the river to Twin Creeks and began drifting float rigs and live shrimp over the shell bottom - I think first cast got a bite, then they picked up another fat Trout. Paddy was on the stern drifting long and it paid off - his float disappeared, he set the hook and, Fish On!  Paddy fought it valiantly to the boat and landed a Slot sized Redfish, boy what a fish., and it rounded out an Amelia Island Back Country Slam of  Seatrout, Flounder and Redfish. We fished down at Spanish Drop with the floats, then back up at Pumpkin Hill where we were watched diligently by one of the adult Bald Eagles. We had a beautiful day, had caught some fish, so as we headed back to the dock

we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Weather Swings

 

Yesterday we had high winds and dropping temperatures while today we had almost no wind, cooler, but real sunny- an ideal day. I met Henry Ross and his fishing crew Jon and Jeff, up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle ramp. We eased down Eagans Creek and made our way over to the river, then  up it to fish some docks on the first of incoming tide. We were getting good casts up into the pilings but the fish either not hungry or not there. We then made our way over to Tyger Island and fished the downed logs and this paid off. Henry "knocked the skunk off" when he hooked up and landed a nice keeper sized Flounder, caught out deep. Shortly after that Jon had a strong bite, his dragged ripped a bit and Fish On! Jon played it  perfectly and soon landed an nice slot Redfish. We eased along the island and Henry got hot, hooking and landing a couple of Flounder, one of which was of keeper size. 

We came out from behind the island and ran up to Jolley River where we made a stop on the outside ofSnook Creek. The anglers switched to float rigs and were getting good drifts when Jeff saw his float disappear and the battle was on! This fish was ripping some drag and I thought for sure it was going to be a nice Slot Redfish but as Jeff worked it to the surface we saw it was a huge Trout. Jeff eased it to the net and landed a big 21.5" Trout, a fish big enough to mover Jeff into 1st Place in the Anglers Mark 2026 Bragging Rights Tournament- Seatrout Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings). We moved back down the river to Tyger Cut and fished that with the floats and had a good flurry of Seatrout catches, one of which was of keeper size. 

Our final stop was on the outside of Tyger, fishing jigs, in hopes of some more Flounder. We didn't get them but Jeff did hookup and land a nice 1lb Whiting to go in the box. And with that, we headed back to the ramp, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Boy, Were We Wrong

 It was one of those "Chamber of Commerce" days with clear skies, sunshine, and only a slight breezewhen I met Jeff Key and his fiancé Sally down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning. The gnats were bad at the dock but after we made our way up the river we never saw them again. Our first stop was up at Pumpkin Hill where we drifted float rigs and live shrimp with the last of the incoming current and it didn't take long for Jeff to hookup and bring to the boat a nice keeper sized Seatrout. He caught a couple more smaller Trout then he had a good hookup, one that was ripping some drag - I called "small Redfish" but as Jeff worked it to the net he landed a big 19.5" oversized Seatrout - big enough to move Jeff in to 2nd Place in the 2026 Bragging Rights Tournament-Seatrout Category(scroll down the right side of this report for standings). But I wasn't done being wrong!

On another drift Jeff had a hard take and almost immediately a big dark form rolled up. Jeff and I called it a "Ray" while Sally called it a dolphin. It was ripping drag and digging deep and I thought for sure that, being a Ray, it would break off any minute. But Jeff kept the pressure on and fought it patiently -it rolled again but didn't actually show, but we new it was big! Jeff worked it around the stern of the boat, let it run, worked it closer, then I saw that it was a huge Redfish. After landing the fish we measured it (twice) as 27.5" - oversized but big enough to move Jeff into 2nd Place in the Redfish Category of the Bragging Rights Tournament! We added one more keeper Trout along here, and also had some small throw backs. 

We fished around a point and picked up another smaller Trout, then ran back to Seymore's Pointe where I just knew we'd be getting some more fish. Wrong again! We didn't get a real bite. Thru Horsehead we went and on the other side we set up and fished a drainage, to no avail. We went over and fished Poteat Point where Jeff did hookup and land another nice keeper sized Seatrout. Back over at Jackstaff we pulled up to fish a cut with jigs. The two anglers weren't getting any bites but then I saw Sally's rod bend and Fish On!  Sally played the fish expertly and slowly worked it up to the surface - a tale-tale sign- and sure enough as it came up we saw it was a nice Flounder. Sally brought it to the net and we measured it at 16.5", big enough to set the bar for 1st Place in the 2026 Anglers Mark Bragging Rights Tournament-Flounder Category. And shortly after that Jeff hooked and landed a smaller Flounder. 

We ran back thru Horsehead and down to Twin Creeks where we wrapped the trip up tossing jigs and minnows. We had some good fish in the boat, had thrown back some oversized ones, and had made a mark on the Bragging Rights board 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. 

Breakout Day

 The way the bite has been non-existent lately I was even more worried when I stepped out this morning
and saw an almost full moon. But I've been thinking that the bite has to turn sooner or later and why not today? When I met Steve Locke and his fishing buddies Jason and Todd out at Goffinsville Park I did give them the sad news of poor fishing lately, but they ignored it, thankfully! We made our first run down the Nassau and pulled up at some structure on a tide that had been coming in for about an hour and we went with jigs and live shrimp and minnows.

Todd was new to the boat but he didn't waste any time - he hooked up with a hard fighting fish and expertly landed a Slot Redfish. Steve hooked and landed a keeper sized Seatrout and Jason added a
feisty Redfish to the catch. Then it was Todd's turn again - he said it was "just a nibble" but when that drag started ripping he knew it was a Big Fish. That fish dug deep and headed south - Todd followed it to the stern of the boat keeping that pressure on it - he went from starboard to port and back again, working it up as it dug deep time and again. Finally, after a good battle, Todd brought to the net a nice 26" Slot Redfish, boy what a fish! We fished that stretch for a while, picking up another couple of smaller Reds, then we moved on.

Our next stop was way up the Nassau, where we pulled  into a small creek and worked the bank. We got a couple of small Reds then Jason hooked up and expertly battled a nice 5 spot Slot Red to the net. Steve then had the big battle - he was working in smaller confines as his fish ripped drag-I was worried that it would surely find a log to wrap itself, but Steve kept that pressure on and worked it out away from the bank and soon landed a fat 25" Slot Redfish, another big fish for the day!

Our final stop was back down at Seymore's Pointe as the tide was ebbing, fishing floats. All was quite until a strike almost snatched the rod out of Todd's hands. It ripped some drag a bit and I was thinking "small Redfish" but as he brought it to the boat we saw that it was a big Seatrout, one that measured right at 20.5",and with the new regulations, had to go back. But it was big enough to move Todd into first place in the 2026 Anglers Mark Bragging Rights Tournament-Seatrout Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings). After a few weeks of poor fishing, we had caught some quality fish today so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Under the Eagles Eye

I gotta be honest - It's kinda of a tale of two opposites: Absolutely beautiful weather, but terrible fish "caching" in the back waters, for the last couple of weeks. And today was no exception - clear skies, sunshine, very little wind (at first), but the fish have lockjaw. I had met Jimmy Miller and his two sons James and Henry down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early and we ran up the intracoastal, and up the Nassau to make our first stop at Spanish Drop where we went with float rigs and live shrimp. All three anglers were getting good casts and good drifts but we had no takers. We backed down the bank with the incoming tide and eventually switched to jigs and this did the trick when Jimmy hooked up and landed a nice keeper sized Seatrout - skunk off the boat!

We moved down to Twin Creeks and fished it with the float and jigs, then ran down to Pumpkin Hill
and fished it with the floats. At every stop we'd get what we thought were some good bites - the float would disappear but they must have not been big enough to hook. We ran down to Broward Island and fished the north end on that high and incoming tide, something I don't normally do, but I was trying to mix it up. When we pulled up we were treated to a pair of Bald Eagles watching over the fishing effort. Unfortunately they were left disappointed - we had no luck. 

We came back to Nassauville and fished between a couple of docks, then made our way around to Seymore's Pointe on the first of an outgoing tide. Fishing the floats - I think it was Henry's first cast and BAM! Big Fish On! I was thinking it was going to be a small Redfish - it ripped the drag a couple of times - Henry worked it and kept the pressure on as it dug deep under the boat - he worked it up and landed a nice 18.75" Seatrout - almost too big with the new regulations! Boy what a fish! We fished that area for a bit, then ran thru Horsehead and fished a drainage with the floats, then headed back to the ramp and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.  

But that Big One...

 Those "Chamber of Commerce" days just keep rolling on..just in time for the Spring Break visitors to enjoy their time here at Amelia Island. We had clear skies, mild temperatures and only a slight breeze (yes, the gnats were a problem) when I met Allison Olguin, her father Larry and her son Anderson up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp. We eased out of Eagans Creek and made a run over to the Bell River, ran up it a ways and then set up at a point on a tide that still had about an hour of coming in. Allison struck first when she hooked and landed a feisty Bluefish - it thrashed back to the boat all the way. We then made our way over to Lanceford Creek and fished a few spots (5 to be exact) and came away with only a few nibbles. 

After running down the intracoastal and dipping in behind Piney Island on a tide that had just started out, the action heated up a bit. Allison hooked an expertly landed a hungry Flounder, one of a few that we have caught the last couple of months. Then Anderson hauled in a foul hooked Stingray that made for a fun catch. Anderson was fishing jigs and live shrimp and being patient with letting it lay for a while, and it paid off, big time. Actually, too big! That fish hit his bait and immediately started running north, under a gangway, and between the floating dock and fixed dock - there was nothing we could do. It eventually ran that line alongside a piling and broke it off, and it's still heading north, boy what a fish!

But Anderson was not to be deterred. We ran further down the river and pulled up at some structure and stayed with the jigs and shrimp. In short order Andeeron had a hookup - he played it patiently and soon brought to the net a nice keeper sized Seatrout. And his grandfather followed that up with a Seatrout catch of his own. As we headed back to the dock we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

If you've read the last few reports you may be able to tell that the fish "catching" has been slow the last week or so. I checked my notes and LAST year the first of April we had some "banner" days of catching, so I think sooner or later it's going to pick up. We gotta keep fishing! 

Water Like Glass

 

Another beautiful day and....slow bite. Sunshine, mild temperatures and clear skies greeted John Raker and I when we met out at Goffinsville Park this morning and the sand gnats seemed to like it! But we got underway and we skimmed over water like a glass surface to get to our first stop around at Seymore's Pointe where we went with float rigs and live shrimp. We got off to a pretty good start -John hooked an expertly landed a couple of really nice keeper sized Seatrout to kick things off. He had a few other bites but they must have moved on, so we did too!

We fished down at Nassau Sound in a couple of spots, back up Poteat Point, in creeks off of Jackstaff, back over Nassauville, then down to Pumpkin Hill, in search of fish. John landed a couple of bait stealing Perch and a feisty Bluefish, but that was it for the day. Beautiful weather to be out on the water. We've just got to keep plugging at it and sooner or later the fish will begin to bite. But still, it was another great day to be out on the water fishing here at 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. 

Had to Work For 'em

 What a beautiful day!  We waited and went this afternoon - sunny skies, and it had warmed to shirtsleeves temperatures, and had just enough breeze to keep the gnats off. I met Eric Stevens and his fishing partner Gary out at Goffinsville Park and with a baitwell full of live shrimp, we left the dock and headed over to Seymore's Point and set up at a large drainage to fish float rigs and  the kicking shrimp. We were late. The outgoing tide had already gotten down to where our floats wouldn't float. But Eric, fishing off the stern, went long and did pick up a hungry Seatrout to "knock the skunk off". We had a couple of more bites but no takers, so we moved on. 

We fished down the Nassau, hitting a couple of spots with jigs and the shrimp but we had not real bites. After coming back up the river we stopped between two docks at Nassauville and stuck with the jigs. Eric picked up a small Bluefish while Gary expertly landed a Flounder that was just a smidge undersized. All fish caught today were released. After running down to Broward Island we fished a drainage, then the bank, then another stretch with the jigs - it was beautiful fishing the island, but we had no real bites. 

It was time to run to the SSHH (Super Secret Honey Hole) - way up the Nassau, boy what a run! The tide was outgoing and it was getting low already with 2 hours to the bottom. We worked along the bank, pitching to the logs and brush and BAM! Gary had a strong bite. He played it patiently, working it in, letting it run, and brought a nice Slot Redfish to the net. We had some action! Shortly after that Eric hauled a feisty Red in then he went back to a brush pile and BAM! Big Fish On! This fish was ripping drag and it was a while before we knew it was subdued. Eric played it expertly and eventually landed a big Slot Redfish. We worked along that stretch - Gary hooked and landed another Seatrout, then the duo added another Redfish. 

I noticed the water temperatures fluctuated between 60, 69 and 64 degrees, depending on where we were fishing. These anglers had to work for 'em, but we ended up with a few nice fish, 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. 

Grande Slam and Nasty Weather

 

It didn't rain on us this morning, it wasn't freezing cold like earlier in the week, but it was a little cool and the wind was the worst we had had all week, and it was overcast, making for a nasty looking day. But my guests - Craig and Christina Jones and their son Craig were up for the challenge and met me early down at Sawpit Creek boat ramp and with that NE wind blowing in our face, we headed up the intracoastal and up the Nassau River to the first stop at a large outflow at Seymore's Ponte where we began with float rigs and live shrimp, tossed up current to drift back with the outgoing tide. We didn't get any real bites there but we did claim two nibbles!

We came back around to Nassauville to the shelter of the lee and boy was it nice, and the fish cooperated! The trio had switched to jigs and the shrimp and in short order they were all hooking up with hungry Seatrout. Christina found a hot spot right near the boat and would feel the slight "bump" and would expertly give her rod a quick hook set and fish on! Craig the Younger was fishing off the stern and found a good handful of the Trout back there, along with a few feisty Bluefish. Craig the Senior was fishing off teh boy and getting his share of those Trout then he battled a feisty Black "puppy" Drum to the net. He did put one nice 17" Trout in the box. 

After running way up the Nassau we eased into a small Creek and worked the bank with jigs and this paid off with the Redfish. They caught a good handful of smaller but fun to catch Rat Reds  then Craig the Senior had a drag ripping hit and it was Big Fish On!  I was holding my breath thinking about the possibilities of that big fish getting into a log or tree branch but Craig kept the pressure on, worked it out and we soon netted a nice, bulky 26" Redfish, boy what a fish! Shortly after that Craig the Younger had a big bite off the stern and his battle was on! He played it expertly, letting it run when it wanted to, worked it in and landed another nice 21" Slot Red. 

We ended the day back over at Nassauville, the same spot as before, but out of the wind where Craig the Senior landed a feisty Sheepshead to round out a Grande Slam of Seatrout, Black Drum, Red Drum and Sheepshead, then we headed back to the ramp (with the wind at our backs) and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia 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. 

Woulda Coulda

 Not once but Twice! That was how many Big fish were on, and off!  The day had started early, cold, but sunny out at Goffinsville Park where I met Bob Blalock, his two sons William and Robby, and Collin, the "Legend".  We were all bundled up as we ran down the river to the first stop where we opted to pitch jigs and live shrimp in some deep water by some docks. William "knocked the skunk off" when he hooked up and landed a keeper sized Seatrout. He followed that  up with a nice 17" Sheepshead to kick off that Category in the 2026 Bragging Rights Tournament. 

The tide still had about 30 minutes to go out so we headed down the Nassau and fished a drainage until the tide stopped. Then, back up to a dock at Seymore's Pointe where we pitched to the pilings on that first of an incoming tide. It wasn't long before Collin had a strong hookup, a BIG fish - he was playing it patiently as it dug deep. It did come to the surface once, a big Black Drum, then BIP, it threw the hook! That Woulda been a big fish! Collin went back to the same area and within a few minutes BAM! Another big fish on. We think this was a big Red because it ran thru the pilings, heading to Georgia - it caught on the pilings and BAP! Fish Off. If we Coulda got that fish in.....

But these anglers were not to be deterred. We fished down the docks for a bit, picked up a Seatrout, then pulled up and ran to Broward where we set up and tossed to the bank as the tide started in there. Here, they picked up a handful of Reds, a couple of which were in the Slot and we also got a Seatrout. Our last top was way  up the river and into a creek where we worked the bank and got another good handful of Redfish. A couple of those were in the Slot, one had 9 Spots, and we had a double hookup at one time. Robby also added another keeper sized Seatrout. Most of all these fish were released. We kept 2 for dinner!  The sun had finally warmed us up, we had 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. 

Found a Hot Spot

 

Boy what a beautiful morning!  Getting out on the water, sun shining, mild temperatures, and wetting a line - you just can't beat it!  I met Craig Jones and his son Andrew down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning and we made our way up the Nassau River on a tide that had been coming in for about an hour. We ran to some docks to take advantage of that incoming tide and pitched jigs to some dock pilings. The bites were few and far between but Andrew did manage to "knock the skunk off" when he hooked up and landed a hungry Seatrout. 

We then ran down to Broward Island and fished the bank with the jigs. I had a good handful of small live
shrimp leftover from Thursday and I had bought a quart of fiddler crabs. Neither caught a fish at Broward!  There was a boat just south of us that we saw catch a couple of Reds, one of them slot - that's never a good 'look" for a fishing guide - to have someone catching fish  within sight! But we worked that bank good, then pulled anchor and ran way up the river (almost to Callahan) where we eased in a pitched the shrimp and fiddlers, and this did the trick.

Both Craig and Andrew began to catch fish - Redfish - they took turns hauling them in. I know we had at least 4 slot fish and a whole bunch of smaller Reds that we tossed back. Most were in one area and we milked the spot for a good hour and a half. We then came back down the Nassau, stopped at Littlefield for a bit, then finished up at Twin Creeks, fishing floats at the peak of he high tide. We had good weather, some good action, and a couple 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. 

Back In Action With Some Slot Reds

 We're back! After a month and a half layoff, we were back fishing today, and with a few trips lined up in the next few days I should have some fishing reports.  Today I met Ed and Madonna AndrewLavage down at Sawpit Creek boat ramp - the tide had been coming in for a couple of hours but I thought it wouldn't hurt to make the run up the Nassau to Broward Island and pitch our jigs and live shrimp, and we did just that!  We had a little bit of fog as we ran but it was no hindrance and as we pulled up to the island there was not much of a breeze (we did break out the insect repellent later). Both anglers were getting good casts  btu se didn't get much more than a nibble. We eased down the bank, did the same, and again, not hardly a nibble. We moved down the island, passed the Bald Eagles, fished the bank and....not a nibble. Ouch. So much for a plan. 

We then made along run up the Nassau and eased into a secluded creek, turned into the current and worked back and this did the trick. Ed had the first hookup to knock the skunk off and he expertly played to the net a 17 and 15/16" barely undersized Redfish to the net. We eased along the bank, pitching to the deep edge and Ed noted that the fish weren't aggressive at all - he'd just tighten up, feel the weight, and set the hook. At one spot he picked  up 4 more Redfish, all of them in the Slot size, one of which had 14 spots(eventually released) and the biggest, a 26.25" fish, big enough to set the bar for 2026 Bragging Rights -Ed battled it expertly to the net. 

We came back down to Pumpkin Hill and fished float rigs and did get one hungry Seatrout, then we made our way down to Seymore's Pointe where the tide had started out -Madonna's Spot we called it. Just when I thought it was going to be a bust, Ed had his float disappear- he tightened up and let the circle hook set and Fish On!  Ed played Madonna's Redfish perfectly, let it run, worked it in, and soon landed another nice Slot Redfish, this one measuring a little over 24". Madonna followed that up with a nice fat Seatrout catch to get on the board. After fishing one more spot with the float rigs awe called it a day and headed back to the ramp, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.