We Saved The Best For Last

 "We gotta work for 'em", is what I've been telling my guests when they step on the boat -we're catching some fish but they definitely aren't jumping in the boat! I met Gregg and Dannie Fitzgerald up at Old Town Bait and Tackle early this morning and after easing out of Eagans Creek we made a short run over to the Tyger logs to fish the first of an incoming tide in almost perfect conditions - the tide was right, we had very little wind, and it was just a bit overcast. Both anglers were making excellent casts with their jigs and live shrimp, pitching up between the logs and stumps, but the fish just werent' cooperating - Gregg did get a couple of palm sized Black "puppy" Drum. We then made the run out and around and up to the Jolley River and turned into the "bank" and worked those exposed oysters with the jigs but again, no real bites to brag about. 

We went further up Jolley to Snook Creek and worked those exposed oysters, but no luck. After coming back down the Jolly to Tyger Cut we pulled up with some oysters still showing, but we went to float rigs and the live shrimp and that did the trick. Gregg found that he could toss it out a ways and let his float drift into shore and BAM! he'd have a hookup. Both he and Dannie caught and landed 8-10 hungry male Seatrout - they were grunting! But Dannie did have one strong hookup that had her drag ripping - the big fish ran up current and thrashed at the surface - I was thinking it was a Bonnethead until then, then it ripped drag coming back to the boat as Dannie took up slack. She played it perfectly and brought it to the boat where I could have gaffed it but we were releasing anyway, and eventually it broke off. 

Our next stop was on the outside of Tyger where we went back to the jigs and worked the incoming current. Dannie was on the bow and hooked an landed a keeper sized Flounder, then she battle a Slot sized Redish and was doing a good job but the fish threw the hook! Ouch.  Further up the bank she hooked and landed another, bigger, Flounder while Gregg hauled in one more hungry Seatrout. The wind had held off, we had caught about 15 fish, and had a couple 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. 

Flounder in Horsehead

 

I was fishing out of Sawpit Creek again this morning, this time meeting Hank Prolog and his fishing buddies Harry and Fred. We left the dock early and made our way up the Nassau River and made our first stop at Spanish Drop on a tide that was almost hitting bottom - the trio of anglers were pitching jigs and live shrimp to the exposed shell bank, but I don't think we had a legitimate bite. We moved on up the river and fished a large drainage and again, no bites. The tide turned so we moved further up to Seymore's Pointe and fished some dock pilings where they picked up a few Pinfish, a couple of Jacks, and Fred landed a small Black Sea Bass. 

Our next stop was up at Broward Island, fishing with the Bald Eagles and here Hank hooked up and
expertly landed a feisty Redfish. We worked a few spots along the island and before we left Harry had a good hookup and he too landed a similar Redfish. We then made good run back down the Nassau, thru Horsehead and over to the mouth of Jackstaff where we worked the bank with float rigs. We had action along here - the tangled with high flying Ladyfish then Hank had his float slowly go under and he hooked it up. After a patient battle he brought to the net a keeper sized Flounder. And shortly after that Fred had the same bite - he brought it in expertly and landed another keeper sized Flounder - both fish were photographed and released.  Like the last few days, we had to work for our fish, but we've had some excellent weather, so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Lady's Rule The Flounder Bragging Rights Board

 Looks like we've got Chamber of Commerce weather this week -clear, cool, and sunny with only a slight breeze in the mornings. Today I met Alex and Laura Winter down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp (Goffinsville Park is closed) and we ran up the Nassau River to Seymore's Point with a plan to fish some dock pilings on the first of an incoming tide. It wasn't a good plan. I'm not sure if we even got a legitimate nibble on our jigs and live shrimp. We then ran down to Broward Island to catch the first of the incoming there and were greeted by the Bald Eagles who kept a watchful eye over our fishing efforts. I think I heard them laughing - we didn't get a bite until Alex finally "knocked the skunk off" when he hooked up and expertly played to the net a feisty Redfish. 

We then made our way back down the river to Spanish Drop and switched to float rigs and on the first drift BAM! Laura had a hookup. She worked it in patiently and as it came to the net we saw that it was a big Flounder - it measured right at 18" and big enough to move Laura into the Anglers Mark 2026 Bragging Rights Tournament-Flounder category. The sole occupants of that category are lady anglers! We had a good flurry of bites there - Laura picked up a 17" Seatrout and a couple of Ladyfish while Alex added a 16" Trout and battled to the boat a big 4' Bonnethead Shark. We finished up back at Pumpkin Hill drifting the floats then we headed back to the ramp, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

First Shark* of the Year and Trout Flurry

 

We had a beautiful day to kick off the week today - clear skies and only a bit of wind. After picking up Gary Yasuda, his son Allen, and David Vice out at Oyster Bay, we made the run over to the Tyger logs and fished jigs and live shrimp to the bank on a tide that had been coming in for a couple of hours. We didnt' get a whole lot of bites, but Gary did "knock the skunk off" with a hungry Flounder bite-first fish of the day! We then ran around to the Jolly River and fished the "bank" with float rigs and the shrimp but didn't get much more than a nibble. After running up the Jolley to Snook Creek we worked that bank for a bit, then dipped inside and switched back to the jigs.

This did the trick when David hooked up with a strong fish - he was fishing on the bow but the fish took him around the stern, back up to the bow, then back to the stern. David played him expertly and after a good battle landed the first Shark* of the year - a 4 footer!

We drifted up the creek while I reset the trolling motor remote and while I was doing that David and Allen doubled teamed a hungry Seatrout to the net. We made our way back down the river and fished Tyger Cut with the floats and I believe it was first

cast and BAM! We had a hookup - a hungry Seatrout. Then all three anglers were catching fish - we had one "double" brough to the net and had another one hooked up. David found three nice keeper sized Trout in that bunch - both Gary and Allen contributed to the catch with Seatrout landings. We'd had a beautiful day, caught a good handful of fish, so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Float Hot or Jig Hot?

 It looks like I wrapped my week up before our annual Shrimp Fest, fishing with Harry Purnell and his
fishing partner Terry. We met down at Sawpit Creek boat ramp early and headed up the intracoastal, then up the Middle River and around to Pumpkin Hill to catch the last of an incoming tide. I had high hopes for this spot, knowing that some big Trout had been biting lately, and after Terry hooked and landed a Trout on his first or second drift, I was feeling good about the choice. BUT, so much for that - both anglers were getting good drifts along the flooding bank - we tried two other banks in that area, but no more fish. After motoring back to Seyomores Pointe and fishing a large drainage on the first of an outgoing tide, to no avail, we cut thru Horsehead and over to Poteat Point and stayed with the float rigs. Here, Teddy, fishing off the stern, hooked and battle a huge Ladyfish to the net, then he went back in and had a good bite  - he let the circle hook set and Fish On!  Teddy played it perfectly and soon landed a big 18" Seatrout.  He added a couple of smaller Trout to his catch on that float rig.

Harry was fishing the same runs with his float but the fish were ignoring his bait! We made a move over to Jackstaff and fished a flooded sand bar, this time switching to jigs, and this made the difference for Harry - he felt a hard thump on the bottom, hooked it up, and brought another large Seatrout to the net. He was "on the board". After running back thru Horsehead and down to Littlefield we stayed with the jigs. Harry was fishing off the stern and caught a hard fighting Jack Crevalle - the first of the year, and after we moved over to Twin Creeks he hooked and landed a "barely not legal" Flounder - it was 13.75" - nice but just a tad too short. We had to work for our fish today, but we had two nice fat Trout 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, Florda.

Win Some and Lose Some With Big Trout Today

 The weather was a but "grungier" this morning, misting when I picked up David Vice and his fishing
partner Greg over at Oyster Bay early. We headed back down Lanceford Creek and made our way up Bell and thru Tyger to make our first stop on the outside of Tyger to fish float rigs and live shrimp on the first of an outgoing tide. That first spot didn't produced, not a bite but after we crossed over the creek and began pitching we got bites right off. The duo of anglers landed a couple of small Seatrout, then David tangled with the first Ladyfish of the year, and boy were they big - I mistakenly called one a a small "Tarpon"- it looked like it had some girth and was high flying. Then David hooked up and battled a (now) oversized Seatrout to the net, measuring at 19.25", boy what a nice fish. 

We then made the run up to the Jolly River and worked the "bank" with the float rigs. It was Greg's turn to have the big battle - this fish took the live shrimp and ran, ripping drag. I was thinking "slot Redfish" as Greg battled it - but as he brought it to the boat we saw that it was a huge Seatrout. It made a couple of dashes and as I went to dip the net it made one last surge and "BAP", fish off! Ouch. We moved up the Jolley and fished a couple of spots, - Greg hooked and landed a hungry Flounder - then made our way over to the Bell River and switched to jigs. David had a strong "thump" under the boat and he expertly played a nice 20.25" to the net. This fish moved David into 3rd Place in the Anglers Mark 2026 Bragging Rights Tournament-Seatrout Category. We ended the day fishing some dock pilings and here both Greg and David caught Black "puppy" Drum and Sheepshead to round out their Amelia Island Back Country Grande Slam of Seatrout, Flounder, Black Drum and Sheepshead. As we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Things Ought To Be Kicking Off

 ...but not today! The water temperature is over 70 now in the backwater, I'm starting to see bait and
bonnetheads, and saw our first Roseatte Spoonbills yesterday - the fish bite is surely going to turn on just any day. But today we struggled a bit to even get bites. I had met Josh Jenkins down at Sawpit Creek on a beautiful morning and after running up the Nassau River we made our first stop at the mouth of Middle River with plans to drift the floats with live shrimp on a tide that had been going out a few hours. Josh got a few bites but nothing big enough to take the hook. We came back down the Nassau to a drainage and fished it with jigs and shrimp and we weren't getting much action until finally we had a good bite and Fish On!  Josh was on the rod - he kept the rod up and pressure on as it dug deep - the fish took him from the bow down the starboard side, across the stern to port and here Josh played it expertly to wear the fish out and landed a nice 22" Slot Redfish. We noted that the fish was "pale" from being near the ocean. 

We fished Spanish Drop for a bit with the  igs and Twin Creeks for a bit, then made our way back up the Nassau to fish at Lilttlefield with the jigs, We added a hungry Seatrout and a small Flounder to the catch before we moved around to Seymore's Pointe where we fished some dock pilings. We didn't get much but Josh did outsmart a big Pinfish. Our final stop was down at Broward Island where we fished the last of an outgoing tide - we had nibbles but not takers. We did see Osprey's, some dolphin, and a Bald Eagle and we had a some nice Redfish filet's 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

Do Your Work!

 

What a great week we are having - the weather is great and the fish catching seems to be picking up. Today I met David Bolton up at his place on Lanceford Creek and along with his grandkids Ruth and Michael, we made our way back around the corner to try some jig fishing up under some dock pilings on a tide that was going out and still had an hour or so of hitting bottom.  It didn't take long - we had a strong hookup and it was BIG! That fish followed the current up under the dock and kept going and with a BAP!, it was gone! But these anglers were not to be deterred. We went back under the dock with a cast and Ruth was on the rod and BAM! She had a good hookup. Ruth was tenacious - she worked it out with a vengeance and....the Michael had a hookup - we had a Double! It was pandemonium! Ruth played her fish experltty and soon landed a nice keeper sized Black Drum.  Then all the attention turned to Michael who was valiantly fighting his fish - he played it patiently and brought to the net a nice Slot sized Redfish. David and I were out of breath!

We got the fish photographed, measured and in the live well, and baited up again, and Ruth handed me
the rod to cast and said, "do you work"! Hah! But the commotion of those big fish battles must have turned them off -we didn't get another bite. We then headed down the creek to the intracoastal, then down the river to fish some structure and again, we were met with some disappointment.  We hadn't been fishing for just a few minutes when Michael had another strong bite and this one was ripping some serious drag - all he could do was hold on until Poppa got up there to help him then they both were holding on unti lthe fish got into some pilings and broke off. It was Anglers 2,  Fish 2 on the score board. Michael hooked and battled a big Catfish to the net to make it Anglers 3, Fish 2.  We continued down the intracoastal and dipped into Jackstaff and set up fishing a sandy point with the jigs, but had no real bites. After running thru Horsehead we pulled up at a dock and made some casts, and the fish pulled ahead!  David had a good bite right off and the drag was ripping, and the fish kept going - Ouch. Then, I had tossed a bait up to the pilings and again, a strong bite. It too was ripping drag and I was calling for Michael to come help but we couldn't do anything with it - the fish wrapped around the pilings and broke off. Double Ouch. It was not Anglers 3 and Fish 4!

We made our way down to Broward Island and fished the edge pretty  good on the last of the outgoing tide. Although we were getting nibbles here and there we didn't get any real bites until Ruth felt a slight "bump" - she set the hook expertly and fought to the surface a nice keeper sized Flounder to tie up the "Fish Bowl" 4-to-4!   We had a "slam" in the box, had eaten a few snacks, and had a beautiful day, so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

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.