I fished south again today with the Dees family, Josh and Jen and their two kids Benny and Karlynn. We ran up the intercoastal to Jackstaff and fished a stretch of bank at almost dead low, pitching jigs and live shrimp. The "baitstealers" were out in full force and made it a challenge, but this family was up to the task. Benny hooked up and landed a hard fighting Jack Crevalle and Jen caught a keeper sized Mangrove Snapper.
We ran thru Horsehead and around to Spanish Drop on the Nassau and fished a stretch of shell beds on the first of an incoming tide. I was expecting fish but we fished a good 30 yards with no real bites. But when the fish started biting, boy did they start! All four family members were catching fish with Jen leading the charge, catching one feisty Redfish after another. They also had Jacks, Ladyfish, and a couple of small Flounder.
After moving back up the Nassau we worked another shell bank. The numbers weren't there but Jen did hook and catch a keeper sized Flounder. Our next stop was over between some docks at Nassauville. Again, things started slow but when the Mangrove Snapper started biting we were hooking regularly. Benny and Karlynn took turns netting fish, mom "coached us up" and Josh filled the box with the Mangrove Snapper. We went thru all our bait then called it a day and as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
After a weekend break I was back at it today, meeting down at Sawpit Creek Jason Palosaari, his son David, brother in law Patrick Tighe, and father in law Mike Tighe. We ran up the intercoastal, turned into the Nassau, and after a short run pulled up at Spanish Drop and began fishing some exposed shell beds on the first of an incoming tide. I think the first "demo" cast I bombed, but the second one, as I handed it off to David, Fish On! And that's how it went for the first 45 minutes or so! David worked that fish in nicely - a feisty "Rat" Red, then all the anglers were fishing and catching fish. Mike hooked up and landed a feisty Red, then Jason hooked up and landed a feisty Red, then David had a strong bite - this was a bigger fish! He and his dad fought it patiently, battled it from bow to stern, and eventually landed a nice Slot sized Redfish. We continued to work that stretch and when I saw young David make a cast that landed out deep I was thinking, "not going to get much there", but boy was a I wrong! In just a short time David hooked up and, Fish On! This fish was even bigger and again took him and his dad to the stern where they valiantly battled the fish and after a few strong runs, they brought to the net a 26 3/4" Tournament sized Redfish (all fish caught today were released). Boy what a fish!
Patrick had been at the stern this whole time steadfastly casting a fly rod, switching between flies every dozen or so casts. He was taking up the rear but finally he had a hookup, played it perfectly, and landed a hard fighting Jack Crevalle on the fly. We fished on up to a large drainage where Mike caught and landed hungry Flounder.
Our next stop was at some docks at Seymore's Pointe with jigs rods, to no avail, then fished the rocks at Nassauville with float rigs, again to no avail, then we moved down to some more docks and went back to the jigs. That did the trick. Mike, "the flounder guy" hooked up and landed a 17" Flounder and a then a Mangrove Snapper and Jason added an ugly Toadfish to the catch.
After making the run down to Pumpkin Hill we drifted float rigs along a flooding marsh line. The first stretch didn't pan out but the second stretch had Jason catching a big Jack Crevalle and David wrapping things up with two Catfish catches. The sun was up, we had caught a good variety of fish, so as we headed in we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Luckily those thunderstorms are holding off until late afternoon's. Today met Sean and Kathy Higginson and their son Judah down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp - we had clear morning skies that greeted us. After running up the intercoastal and into the Nassau, we made our first stop at Spanish Drop to fish a large marsh drainage, and then a shell bed. I gave Kathy and Judah a quick tutorial to refresh their casting and in just a short time, Kathy had a hookup on her jig and live shrimp. She patiently brought to the boat a nice Flounder. Shortly after that Sean hooked up and brought another Flounder to the boat. We eased along that bank and as we worked along that shell bed Judah had a "bump", set the hook, and had hookup. As he fought it to the boat Kathy hooked up and we had a "double". Both anglers landed their catch -Judah a Seatrout and Kathy a feisty Redfish.
We moved up the river to Twin Creeks, fished it for a bit, then made a run over to some docks at Nassauville. It didn't take but a few minutes for me to see that this just wasn't going to work - the current, albeit almost dead low, was still ripping and any cast to the bank would result in a sweep into some dock pilings. So we moved on, making our next stop around at Seymore's Pointe.
Again, Kathy had gone in with the first cast and it paid off with a tremendous bite -Big Fish On! But this fish was already up in the pilings and ripping drag, it pulled further thru and, BAP! Fish Off! Ouch! But these anglers weren't to be deterred - they went back to the pilings and began to catch keeper sized Mangrove Snapper (all fish caught today were released). Eventually some small ones moved in so we moved on.
Our next stop was down at Broward Island, fishing deep with the jigs with a tide still going out. We drifted with the current, working the bank and Kathy, who seemed to have the hot hand all day, hooked and reeled in a nice Mangrove then she caught and expertly landed a nice 18" Seatrout.
It was getting hot but we wanted to make at least one more stop so we went back to where the big fish broke off, fishing some dock pilings. We didn't catch any big Reds but we did get a few more Mangroves. Judah had made an excellent cast, felt the "bump", set the hook and, Fish On! This fish seemed to be pulling harder than one of the Mangroves and sure enough, when Judah landed it, it was TWO Manroves - he had caught two fish on one hookup - a first for the Anglers Mark! And that made for a good way to wrap up a great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
My first trip back from "bad engine nightmare"! I met Len Pelletiere and his grandson Scott down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early and we headed up the intercoastal, turned west into Back River and cut around to the mouth of Pumpkin Hill to set up fishing with float rigs and live shrimp on a high and incoming tide.
First drift, BAM! We had a fish on! Young Scott was on the rod and he quickly dispatched the fight with a expert landing of a Jack Crevalle. We drifted that stretch for a bit and Scott caught a Catfish and a hungry Seatrout. After moving around the corner Scott had made an excellent cast to a grassy island. His float drifted out and just before retrieving it, he had a bite and a hookup. When the fish headed east knew it was a Shark. Scott followed it to the stern of the boat, then back to midship, then back to the stern before we netted a hard fighting Bonnethead Shark.
We buzzed back to Seymore's Pointe, fished a large runout and here we picked up a good handful of keeper sized Mangrove Snapper, then we fished back around at Nassaville and again put some Snapper in the boat. After buzzing thru Horsehead and fishing a drainage and picking up one more Jack, we came back to the Nassau and fished a couple of drainages there.
Scott ended up catching another Seatrout, another keeper sized Manrove, and then he put a feisty Flounder in the boat to rap up another great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
I was out to Goffinsville Park today where I met Dennis Abercrombie and his dad Jay. We had a clear, sunny morning and a tide that was just hitting dead low as we headed up the Nassau River with plans to fish Broward Island. Our first stop was down at the south end where we tossed jigs and live shrimp. We worked a large drainage for a bit, then dropped down the island and here Jay "knocked the skunk off" with a nice Flounder catch.
The tide began to turn and come back in so we moved down to the north end and fished deep with the jigs. Jay had made an excellent cast to the up current side of a stump and a he let it fall down the river bottom I saw the line go tight - Jay set the hook and, Fish On! Jay played it perfectly and after a good battle he wore out and landed a nice Slot sized Redfish (all fish caught today were released).
We came back to Seymore's Pointe and fished some dock pilings and here Jay outsmarted some rather big, keeper sized Mangrove Snapper. We fished down at Spanish Drop with float rigs and the duo of anglers caught Jack Crevalle, Ladyfish, a Catfish, and Jay battled a 12lb Bonnethead, which he landed and I gave a quick release. Dropping back up the river we continued to catch a fish here and there - Jacks and Ladyfish.
Our next stop was between some docks at Nassauville, fishing with jigs and live shrimp. We had Mangrove bites but the highlight fish was a nice Flounder that Dennis hooked up and landed. Our final stop was back at Pumpkin Hill, fishing floats, and we wrapped up the day with a large Bonnethead Shark that Dennis fought and landed. We had caught a good variety, but surprisingly, no Seatrout, but with the action we had, we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Back at it after a relaxing Memorial Day weekend, I met the Cordill family -Bryan and Leigh and their "birthday girl" Anna Beth - up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp. As I was launching the boat, I was gifted with a Doe deer sighting off the side of the ramp! When the Cordill's arrived we headed north and west and over to the Jolley River, turned into the current and fished the "bank" with live shrimp under floats on a tide that had been coming in a few hours. The trio had a some nibbles here and there then Bryan's float disappeared with a vengeance and Fish On! At first it headed toward the grass and I was thinking "big Redfish" but then it headed north, then west, ripping drag as it went. Bryan followed it from the stern to the bow then fought it off the port side. The big fish went deep and hugged the bottom and we both agreed, "Shark"! Bryan played it patiently and after a long battle on light tackle, boated a 4' Bonnethead Shark.
We moved further up the Jolley and turned into a bank and here Bryan picked up a hungry Seatrout, then it was Leigh's turn to fight the big fish. She had a good drift going along the flooded marsh grass then her float slowly eased under. Leigh tightened up her line, lifted the rod tip and let the circle hook do its job - She had a hookup! This fish stayed up near the bank, then boiled so we knew it was a Redfish. Leigh expertly played the fish and soon landed a 20" Slot Sized Redfish.
Back towards the mouth, again fishing a flooded bank, it was Ann Beth's turn to fight a fish - this one a high flying Ladyfish. Anna Beth kept the pressure on and worked it to the net and landed it. We fished the outside of Tyger with no real bites, then we fished over at Bell where we had a bite or two, but no takers, then we fished up in Lanceford. Anna Beth had gone in with a cast to a creek mouth - a small drainage - just beyond a crab trap float and when her float disappeared she lifted and had the fish on, but Oh No! - it wrapped around the float! We eased up and got the line around the float and Anna Beth landed another hungry Seatrout. Minutes later, working the bank, Leigh hooked up and landed a keeper sized Seatrout to wrap things up. As we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
It's crazy how one day you have outstanding fishing (yesterday) and the very next it falls off to be a grind to catch a fish! Today I met Dennis Abercrombie and his dad Jay out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp. Again, it was a beautiful day, just a tad bit cool, and not much wind to begin with. We ran around and fished a larger outflow at Seymore's Pointe, and did have one hookup but a "shake off", then no real bites. We buzzed thru Horsehead and fished some pockets of grass on an outgoing tide with float rigs but got nary a nibble. We also fished the bank of Jackstaff for a bit with jigs and live shrimp to no avail.
We went the short route thru the marsh and then down to Twin Creeks, staying with the jigs. No fish. Our next stop was down at Spanish Drop. We had fished about 3/4 of a long shell bank when finally, BAM! Jay was hooked up. He said he felt the fish 'bump" it a couple of times and he set the hook hard, Fish On! Jay was up for a battle - the first fish of the day, and he played it perfectly. The big fish got behind the boat and into the fast moving current but Jay held fast, stayed patient, and eventually landed a nice 24" Slot sized Redfish, boy what a battle!
Our next stop was up at Nassauville, fishing between two docks. We had caught a good handful of Seatrout here yesterday, but today? Not a bite. We moved around and fished another dock and here Jay landed a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum and a feisty Redfish. We stopped back by the previous dock to see if the change in tide made a difference and did pick up one more Seatrout. Although the fish caught quantity had been low, the quality had been good so as was we headed in we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
When you have a little guy's first "big boy" fishing trip you have to hope that the weather, bugs, and fish cooperate. And today they did! I had met Scott Williams and his 5 year old Russell, along with grandad Bert down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning. The tide had been going out about two hours when we left the dock and as we headed up the intercoastal, the water was like glass, the sun was out and the skies were clear. We eased into the mouth of Jackstaff, inched further up a creek, and set up at a large marsh drainage to pitch float rigs and live shrimp. In just a short time we had a hookup and young Russell reeled in the first fish of the day!
We eased along that bank, getting shallower and shallower and we could see big wakes moving in and out of the grass and oysters. Bert had gone in closed, snagged a couple of times, but went back again and BAM! Big Fish On! Bert played it expertly and soon landed a nice Slot sized Redfish. We continued to work the bank and BAM! Another nice Slot Redfish!
After running thru Horsehead and down to the Spanish Drop area we fished some oyster banks anddrainages, picked up a small Flounder, then Russell - he was casting on his own now - hooked up and reeled in a magnificent Catfish. Later, we fished some docks at Seymore's Pointe, then moved down to Nassauville and fished "Russell's Spot" and here things really heated up. Scott found a "honey hole" and kept going back to it, pulling one Seatrout out after another. There were a good handful that were of keeper size (one we though for sure was a Red the way it was fighting). The trio also caught three more Flounder (12-13").
We finished the day down at Spanish Drop, fishing an exposed shell bed. Just when I thought the fish were on "seista", BAM! Scott had strong bite, and REALLY BIG fish on! He played it perfectly, had all the pressure on, but it was not to be - the hook was thrown. Minutes later, Bert had the same thing happen, BAM! Big fish on, a good battle, and a thrown hook. They did salvage a hungry Seatrout catch during that fight.
We had beautiful weather, for most part the bugs stayed away, and we had some good action so as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
I was awakened a few times last night with thunder, lightening and rain and when the alarm went off at 5:45am the rain was coming down steady. I dressed, made a cup of coffee, then waited for a lull to run to the truck and grab a rain coat. The whole time I was getting the boat unwrapped and rods loaded it rained, so much so that I had to come in and change pants and shoes - they were soaked. But the forecast called for all of that to pass by 7am so I pulled out, headed for the bait shop, then meet Gary Elder and his fishing crew, Karen and Jim down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp.
We ran up the intercoastal, turned into the Nassau, and made our first stop at Spanish Drop, pitching jigs' and live shrimp to and exposed shell bank. All three anglers were working their baits expertly, but we could tell the water was super muddy from the rain run off. We moved up a ways, fished a large drainage, then move on.
Our next stop was up between some docks at Littlefield Creek. I couldn't believe what I was seeing! The creek was pouring out and I commented it looked like one of those streams up in north Georgia. . But the back side of the creek looked good and eventually Gary picked up a nice keeper sized Seatrout. We then ran around Seymore's Pointe and fished some dock pilings. I think it was Gary's first cast and BAM! Big Fish On! I wished him luck - that big fish was digging deep and staying up in the pilings. Gary was patient as he could be but when you see that line "lock" down, you know what is about to happen, and sure enough, BAP! Big Fish Off! OUCH!
The forecast had called for increasing SW winds but hey hadn't materialized so we made the run down to Broward Island, south, fishing under the Bald Eagles, working the baits up near the logs, and fineally, Karen had a good hookup and landed another, bigger, keeper sized Trout. And just minutes later, that predicted wind came. It was really blowing so we picked up and ran back to Seymores, fished a few docks, then headed back, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida
The last few days we've had some good fishing conditions the first hour or so but then the wind picks up and makes it a challenge. We had the same trend today but not so much as to deter our fishing! I had met Rhett and Cam and their sons Holt and Landon down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning and we made a quick run up the intercoastal, into the Nassau and made our first stop at Spanish Drop and began working an exposed shell bed with jigs and live shrimp on the last of an outgoing tide. It didn't take long before Cam hooked up and boated a hungry Flounder. Shortly after that Rhett had gone to the shell with an excellent cast and BAM! Big Fish On! He played it patiently, fought iit out into the current, then slowly brought it to the net - a nice fat 23" Slot Size Redfish.
We made our next stop up between some docks at Goffinsville. Cam had pitched up behind some dock pilings, had a "bump", set the hook, and, Fish On! He brought it to the boat and landed a keeper sized 17" Seatrout. He picked up another Trout or two out of the same spot. After moving around the point, we fished some more dock pilings. Cam put a couple of more Trout in the boat, fishing deep from the bow, Rhett pulled a feisty Redfish out from the pilings, then Landon hooked up and landed a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum.
Our next stop was down at Broward Island. Right off the bat, Rhett put a hungry Trout in the boat, but that was all to be had. We came back to Nassauville, fished the same docks, but this time on an incoming tide, and Landon got hot with a Flounder catch and a Seatrout Catch.
I can't say enough about how much I was impressed with the two young anglers on the boat. Both Holt and Landon were so very much respectful - from their firm handshake to start off the trip to their good attitudes and polite manners. They were both making excellent casts and making good effort the entire trip. They're going to make excellent anglers as they grow up.
We finished the trip fishing float rigs and live shrimp over in Jackstaff but I think the fish had taken a "siesta" so we pulled up the trolling motor and headed in, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
We tried to squeeze in a fishing trip this morning - winds were forecasted to be about 7mph at start time but rising to an unfishable 17mph by quitting time! I met JR and Donna Shiver and JR's brother Greg out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp early. We still had a few minutes of an outgoing tide so we eased down the rocks at Nassauville and fished between a couple of docks with jigs and live shrimp. It didn't take long for JR to "knock the skunk off" when he hooked up and landed a big 19" Seatrout. He followed that up with another keeper sized Trout and a couple of throw backs.
After buzzing around the corner and fished some dock pilings, sticking with the jigs. I thought for sure we'd get a Drum or Red but when JR had another hookup, he brought to the boat another keeper sized Trout!
Sure enough, the wind was picking up, so we made the run down to Broward Island, passing a pair of Bald Eagles, and
began to fish a nice marsh drainage. We didn't get any real bites so we started working the shore line and now it was Donna's turn to get the nice fish. She had gone in near a long with an excellent cast and BAM! Fish On! Donna played it patiently and after a good battle landed a nice 24" Slot Redfish - a beautiful deep copper colored fish.
We were out of the wind and the tide was still a bit low so we elected to fish the logs. Greg was providing running commentary while JR and Donna fished. JR put a feisty Redfish in the boat, then we switched to float rigs and live shrimp. The duo of anglers were really working their casts and JR had just made a good one, letting his float drift up near a limb when he saw it Bob. Then Bob, Bob -he tightened up his line, lifted his rod and, BIG FISH ON! JR expertly worked the fish out from the logs and then it was a battle. The fish bulled deep a few times, then got in the current and made it fight. But JR was up to the task and eventually subdued the beast, landing an Oversized 28" Redfish. Boy what a fish. We wrapped up the day there, fishing floats up near the logs and then headed in, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Be careful what you wish for! I'm always hoping that we won't have to deal with the wind and boy did it lay down nicely this morning! We had clear skies, calm waters and almost no wind when I met Nate Aron, his wife Brittany, and his stepfather Gil up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park. Being a Saturday, I wanted to get away from the crowd so we headed over to the Jolley River and turned back into the incoming current to begin tossing float rigs and live shrimp to the flooded oyster shell. Aaron did tangle with a big Gar fish, but we had not takers, and we begin to loose blood from the swarm of No See-Ums! We tired every flavor of insect repellent I had then we cranked and ran!
Our next stop was up the river at Snook Creek, fishing the floats. Although we had a not takers, we did have a bite or two. We then buzzed thru the Jolley, around to the Bell and began fishing between dock pilings on a high and still incoming tide. Nate and Brittany had switched to jigs and shrimp and finally, Nate had a hookup and landed a hungry Seatrout.
After making the run down the Bell back towards town, we pulled up at a flooding oyster pointe and drifted float rigs again. Gil was being real patient, drifting long, and when his float disappeared he lifted his rod and let the circle hook set, then patiently brought to the boat a feisty Seatrout.
We fished Soap Creek, sticking with the float rigs at the top off the tide and Aaron found another Trout to catch after Brittany had chummed it up! After fishing Lanceford for a bit, we headed in. The wind had picked up a bit and blown off the gnats so as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be out on the water fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida
After a big wind yesterday, it calmed around midnight and it made for a beautiful fishing day for today. Although still just a bit cool, it warmed to a nice, balmy day of fishing. I met Ed Johnson and his fishing buddies Ken and Don down at Sawpit Creek boat ramp early and we ran up the intercoastal and dipped into Jackstaff, passing a pair of Bald Eagles resting a shell bed. We set up at a large marsh run out and began casting float rigs and live shrimp. It took a few minutes but finally we "knocked the skunk off" with a few hungry Seatrout catches. Before we left, Don had a strong hookup and his drag began to rip, the line heading east. It didn't slow down for a bit and I guessed, "shark", and if so, it would be the first of the year on the Anglers Mark. Don played it patiently and after a good battle we saw, sure enough, a shark fin. We boated it, dehooked, and released it.
We ran thru Horsehead around to a large outflow and fished with the float rigs, but had no luck. We then motored down the Nassau and set up into the current at Spanish Drop. The trio of anglers picked up some Seatrout, with one that Ken caught being of keeper size. Then, after Ed had made a good cast up near the bank, his float almost immediately disappeared and, Fish On! We didn't think there was much to this fish for a little while, but we should have known - it stayed up by the bank even though Ed was applying soime pressure. I realized that this was a big fish about the time it got back in the current then it was Game On! But Ed was up to the task and played it expertly (Ed was the Nassau Sportsfishing Angler of the Year last year). The big fish stayed deep for a while, and when Ed worked it to the boat it would bull away, but eventually it wore out and came to the net, a 26 15/16" thick Redfish, boy what a fish!
We worked that bank thoroughly and picked up a handful of smaller "rat" Reds, then moved up the river and fished another run out, then further up to fish Twin Creeks. Just north of there Ken hooked up and landed keeper sized Flounder on a jig and shrimp.
Our final stop was over at some rocks at Nassauville, fishing jigs dropping down a sloped river bottom. Ed hooked up and landed a keeper Trout then Don had a strong bite and put the biggest Trout in the boat, another keeper. We had had some excellent weather and some good action so as we headed in we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
I wasn't really expecting a Flounder catch on the first drift this morning but that's what we got. I had met Matt Husa and his kids 9yo Divya and 5yo Kian down at the south end boat ramp early, and as the full moon disappeared over the trees, we headed up the intercoastal, cut thru Middle River and made it around to Pumpkin Hill with plans to drift live shrimp under floats on a tide that still had a couple of hours to hit high.
Matt and Kian had taken the stern, drifting long, but Divya was on the bow and had a good drift going along the marsh grass on her first cast. When her float slowly went under she got her bail shut and began cranking - she had a hookup! Divya worked it to the boat and landed hungry 12" Flounder! And just a drift or two later, in the same spot, she had another hookup. She brought this one to the boat, also, and it measured just a tad bit under 14".
Matt and Kian had been working the stern and they teamed up to hookup and land a feisty Bluefish. We moved and fished the
point, then moved down another bank and fished some grassy islands and here Divya caught and landed a Seatrout. Matt also hooked up and landed a keeper sized Seatrout. After fishing back around the corner, we made the run down to Broward Island and fished jigs on the bottom on the very last of the high tide, not ideal. But we did get to see the Bald Eagles while were down there.
After a run back to Seymore's Pointe we set up at a grassy point and here the action picked up a bit. Both Divya and Matt/Kian team were getting bites and landing Seatrout. Then Matt had a strong bite and this one ripped some drag out-a bigger fish. Matt played it patiently and after a good battle landed a 17" keeper sized Seatrout.
We ran thru Horsehead to the mouth of Jackstaff, turned into a creek, and fished a large outflow and again had few bites, then wrapped up pitching jigs along the bank in Jackstaff, then headed in, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
It rained all morning yesterday so I kept an eye on my Weather app to see what was in store for us to do an afternoon trip. As I pulled up to the bait shop at noon the skies were still ugly with dark clouds but the forecast called for clearing. I met Barb and Dennis Lockard up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park at 1pm and we headed over to Soap Creek with plans to fish float rigs and live shrimp as the tide fell. It had been going out for a few hours so I knew we wouldn't be on the floats for long!
Barb had the hot hand early. Dennis had gotten a good bite that stole his shrimp and Barb's float was following his on a long drift so she let it keep going and BAM! She had a hookup. After expertly reeling it in she landed a nice hungry Seatrout. We found that spot paid off a couple of times. We had a bite or two and Barb landed another Seatrout.
After moving up about 30 yards we fished some exposed oysters, first with the floats, then we switched to jigs and
shrimp. The switch paid off for Barb. She had made a close cast to the oysters and had a hung a bit, but when it came off, BOOM! She had a strong bite. This fish fought a bit more and sure enough, when she landed it, we saw it was a feisty Redfish.
Our next stop was over in Lanceford Creek, fishing some dock pilings. We had a bite or two but no takers. As we drifted outside of a dock, back towards a shell bank, Dennis went in close and finally had a the hookup he was looking for. Dennis played it perfectly and brought to the net another feisty Redfish.
We fished along Lanceford for a bit, waiting for the tide to hit bottom, then made the run around to Tyger Island. We worked up and down the island, pitching jigs to pockets among the stumps. The skies had cleared, the sun was out, and it had turned out to be a beautiful day. Dennis picked up three more Redfish and had a "double" on the third when Barb landed one of her own.
The day had started out gloomy but had ended well so as we headed in we counted it as another great day to be out on the water and fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Boy was it pretty this morning when I came over the south end bridge to drop the boat at Sawpit Creek boat ramp. There was a bit of excitement first - a guy waved me down and said the transport boat that ran employees out to the dredge was bringing in an injured worker and ambulances were on the way. Sure enough, here came two fire trucks and an ambulance. They got the fellow off the boat and into the ambulance and off they went. I was able to get launched and be ready for when the Berquist family arrived - Evan and Laura and their kids Tim and Sasha.
We made the long run up and around to the Broward Island in hopes of fishing the first of an incoming tide, but it was well up already. But these anglers were ready to fish and began tossing jigs and live shrimp to the bank, letting it go to the bottom, and then letting the current take it along. We had a fished a bit and finally had a nibble and a hookup. Laura was on the rod and expertly brought tot he boat a feisty Sheepshead.
After easing down the island we found a spot to fish under a Bald Eagle and here it was Evan's turn to have the hookup which he played to the boat and landed - a hungry Seatrout. We moved down the way, had some nibbles, then moved on.
Our next stop was back at some docks at Seymore's Pointe. We were getting good casts to the dock pilings and were getting nibbles. I thought maybe more Sheepshead but then Evan snagged one and it turned out to be a baitstealing Perch. We moved on. After fishing some docks over along Nassauville, to no avail, we made the short run down to Pumpkin Hill. The tide was up, so we switched to float rigs and the live shrimp. By now, Tim was baiting all the hooks and Sasha was in charge of the net. Laura was getting a good drift and had her float disappear but it got her bait. Evan drifted thru but had not luck then Laura came back thru and BAM! This time she was ready, lifted her rod and set the hook. She worked it to the boat patiently and landed another nice Seatrout. Tim had an "eagle eye" and spotted porpoises all around us.
We fished Spanish Drop briefly but the tide had gotten really high and we had no luck, but as we headed in, the sun was shining, the temperature had warmed, so we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Where've I been? Today was the only trip I fished in December! I've been doing boat/trailer/trolling motor repairs AND building a storage shed. On the boat, I had the bow repaired, and a few new coats applied to the keel. I also cleaned out some old caulk where the gas tank was installed last year and put a nice, pretty bead down. I also replaced the flares, fire extinguisher and scrap leader container. Then I cleaned the whole inside, hatches and all!
The trailer had a bunk broken so I replaced that and then changed out the carpet on most of the bunks. The bow roller was what was causing the bow to get "chewed up", so I replaced that. One tire had a slow leak so I replaced it with a new one and repaired the old one for a spare. The right side trailer lights have been out for 4-5months so I doped that out and repaired it.
I was reminded the other day that my trolling motor had been acting up since last August! I had dropped it off to Fish307 JAX and Christina overhauled the mechanical parts internally. I also purchased a new battery for the remote, cleaned the contacts and installed it. It purred today fishing!
I'm well on my way to having a nice 10'x20' shed built. It's framed up, house wrapped and dried in with felt paper, windows installed, storage shelving set up, rod racks installed. Roofing and wiring are planned for next week. Unfortunately the doors are on back order with the (next) estimated date of delivery January 17th, which means I can't complete the trim or begin the siding. Ouch.
So I've been "out of pocket" this month, but today I was able to get out out on the water with the Averbuch's - Mark, his son Jared, and grandson Max. We met down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and headed up the intercoastal to dip in to Jackstaff then a side creek and set up at a large marsh drainage, fishing with float rigs and live shrimp on a tide that had been going out for about an hour.
It didn't take long before Mark hooked up and landed a small but hungry Seatrout to "knock the skunk off". We eased along a small grassy island with all three anglers making excellent casts and getting good drifts. Mark went up to another couple of small drainage's and when his float disappeared he resisted the urge to give it a hard set, but instead lifted and made contact, and, Fish On! I could tell right off that it was a nice fish by the way it dug deep and sure enough it finally realized it was hooked and took off, ripping drag as it went. That's when Max stepped in to help out - Mark handed off the rod and young Max played the big fish perfectly, keeping the pressure on and working it slowly to the boat. After a good battle he subdued the beast and brought it to the net - a nice Oversized 28" Redfish, boy what a fish.
We crossed the creek and fished a good stretch of bank with the floats, then we switched to jigs, had no luck, and moved on. After running thru Horsehead we made a stop at some docks over at Seymore's Pointe with plans to pitch to the pilings. All three were getting nibbles and finally it was Jared who had the big hookup. He got it out from the pilings then handed it off to Max who patiently brought it in - a big 18" Black "puppy" Drum. Just minutes later, after having made an excellent cast, Max hooked up with another nice fish. He played it to the boat and landed a 16" keeper sized Black Drum.
Our next stop was around at some docks at Nassauville. Here, both Jared and Max landed Seatrout fishing deep, and a couple were of keeper size. We fished down at Broward Island and picked up a couple of small Trout, again in fairly deep water. Our final stop was back at Spanish Drop, fishing some shell banks with the jigs. Jared had just made a beautiful cast to the bank, about, two feet off of the shell and it paid off. BAM! He had a hookup. He expertly played it to the net and landed a keeper sized 18" Redfish. Although we only caught one fish along there, it was a good one and a great way to wrap up a day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
We had another beautiful day today when I met Mark Smith and his future neighbor Dan down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. The skies were clear and the sun was just coming up as we made the run up the Nassau River and around to Broward Island to set up at a large marsh run out with plans to pitch jigs and live shrimp. Dan was on the bow fishing the run out while Mark was on the stern pitching to a small cove and it as Mark who "knocked the skunk off" with a feisty Redfish catch. We worked along that bank and had a pretty good stretch of "fish catching" - the two anglers caught a good handful of Seatrout with a couple of them being of keeper size, then Mark put a Slot sized Redfish in the boat. We worked about half the island but the tide had come to a standstill, so we made a move.
Dan stayed on the bow, fishing the jig, and hooked up with a keeper sized Weakfish then Mark caught and landed another Slot Red, then he had a strong hookup and this big fish stayed on the bottom, Fish On! Mark played it patiently and slowly
worked it up, then it dove deep again making the drag sing. He worked it up again only to have it make more deep runs, but Mark was up to the task and eventually landed an Oversized 29" Redfish, boy what a fish!
We came back to Nassauville, stayed with the jigs, and here they picked up another Redfish, then Mark landed a 15"+ Flounder, big enough normally, but with a closed season, it went back to live another day!
Our final stop was down at Twin Creeks. Both Mark and Dan caught Seatrout drifting floats, then a feisty Redfish. We moved down to Spanish Drop and finished the day catching small but fun to catch Seatrout. As we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Although the storm passed thru over the weekend it left lingering winds thru Monday so Karen and Jerry Thompson and I decided to move the trip to this afternoon, and it was a good move. We only had a slight breeze blowing and the sun was shining bright which made for a very pleasant afternoon on the water hre at Amelia Island. We made quick run over to the outside of Tyger to fish a marsh line as the tide started out. I thought we were really going to take off when Jerry hooked up and landed a fat, keeper sized Seatrout right off the bat. But bites after that were few and far between. We fished there then crossed the creek and fished another couple of spots but to no avail.
Our next stop was up at the Jolley River, fishing a stretch of bank and here Jerry got hot and caught a handful of Seatrout. We worked up and down that bank and picked up Trout. Karen got in on the action and landed her first fish, a Seatrout.
We moved up the river, staying with the float rigs and here Jerry had a strong bite, one that ripped some drag. He kept the pressure on and worked in a nice keeper sized Redfish.
Our final stop was around at Bell River, fishing some docks with jigs. Karen was on he bow and began to hookup with Seatrout. Jerry, at the stern, found one back by some dock pilings. We move down the river a bit and pitched to an old boat ramp and here we found two or three Redfish. It had been a beautiful day and we had caught some nice fish so as we headed in we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Jason Ash was able to get away and get in some backcountry fishing here at Amelia Island today. I methim down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp before the sun came up and we headed up the intercoastal, thru the Back River and around to the mouth of Pumpkin Hill where we set up with float rigs and live shrimp. Jason drifted his rig close to the grass on the very last of an incoming tide and got a bunch of nibbles but no takers and within a few minutes, the tide turned. We moved around the corner and that did the trick. Jason "went long" with a drift and it paid off with a keeper sized Seatrout catch. We worked along that bank and caught a few Trout, a feisty Jack Crevalle and two nasty Gar Fish!
We fished down at Broward Island, switching to jigs and minnows and caught a small Flounder then a Stingray.
After a short run back down the Nassau we made a stop at a marsh run out and continued with the jigs and minnows and that was the ticket. We found that we could pitch up to the bank, let the outgoing current take our bait down the river bottom, wait for the "bump" and a short hookset would produce a Seatrout. We added a handful of keeper sized Trout to the catch. We added a Mangrove Snapper somewhere in there, too.
After moving up the bank we fished a shell bed that dropped off deep. I thought we'd get the bite up close but it was out in deeper water where Jason hooked up and landed a feisty Redfish, this one with Seven Spots. We had an outstandingly beautiful morning and as we headed in we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
