Redfish Were Biting so We Moved On?

 Boy, we have been blessed with some beautiful weather the last few weeks and today was more of the
same -clear skies, very little wind, and warming temperatures as the day progressed. I met Allen Webb down at Sawpit Creek boat ramp and we made a quick run up the Nassau to Seymore's Pointe to catch the first of an incoming tide. We set up current from some dock pilings and began to pitch jigs and live shrimp up underneath them and got bites right off. The fish were a little "nibbly" about it but Allen was able to snag a nice feisty Redfish, a hungry Seatrout, and a small Sea Bass out from there.

We then ran further up the Nassau and found some structure to fish and boy did this pay off!  Tossing to the bank and letting the incoming current bounce the bait down the bottom and BAM! We got fish! Allen was making excellent casts and hooked and landed Redfish. A few were in the 16"-17" size but he had one that would have been keeper right to the boat, but before I could net it, Fish Off! Ouch. But Allen was not to be deterred. We moved down a bit and went to the bank again and it was one Redfish after the other, with a nice keeper sized Slot Red thrown in. Allen also got his first Sheepshead to the net. We probably could have stayed there and caught those 17" Reds but we were blowing thru our bait, so we moved on, in hopes of bigger fish. Further down the way we caught another couple of feisty Redfish, then we moved on. 

After running down the Nassau, we stopped at Twin Creeks, a large drainage, then Spanish drop and fished that incoming tide - the oysters were already covered -but we had no real bites. Back up the Nassau we went where we set up at a point and drifted our floats snd this paid off, we were back in fish. Allen caught a good couple of handfuls of Seatrout, and battled three hard fighting Bluefish to the boat before we called it a day. Heading back to the ramp, with the sun shining, and the water like glass, we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Bigger Trout Moving In

 

The wind we had yesterday was gone today, boy what a beautiful day to be out fishing!  I met Gene Burk and his fishing buddy Steve Stark down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early - the tide had been going out a couple of hours - and we made our way up the intracoastal, all the way up to Poteat Point where we set up with float rigs and live shrimp. It wasn't "on fire" but we did get a handful of fish - Gene put a keeper sized Seatrout in the boat (released) and then he handily boated a Slot Redfish. Steve got on the board with a hard fighting Bluefish - a big one for here in the backwaters of north Florida.

We then ran thru the marsh of Horsehead and up the Nassau to a point at Back River and stuck with the floats. It started off slow but got fast and furious for a while!  Steve got into a groove tossing to the marsh grass and letting the current take his bait along the edge and BAM! Fish On!  He put a good handful of Redfish in the boat, two of them Slot sized and one of those that measured right at 23".  As we drifted back Gene got in on the action and boated a couple of Reds and hard fighting Jack Crevalle and a small Flounder.

Our next stop was back at Littlefield where we switched to jigs. Just when I thought we were going to get skunked Gene had a good "thump" - he set the hook expertly and worked in a keeper sized (but out of season) Flounder. He went back in and as he got out deep he had a strong take and Big Fish On!  Gene kept the pressure on and expertly played a big 22" Seatrout to the net, boy what a fish! Steve added another big 18" Trout to the catch and they caught one more keeper sized Trout. 

Our final stop, where I had expected to get all our action -fishing some drainages along the Nassau - did'nt pan out. But we had some great weather, some good fishing, and some 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.

A Couple of Monster Reds Caught

Note: The last few days we've had the last of an outgoing tide and we've been getting Redfish at drainages and "cuts" between oyster beds - handfuls of small Reds, but sometimes some slots, and today, two Oversized Reds. Throwing jigs and live shrimp.

This morning I met Scott Jones and his fishing team made up of Ann and Meridee, meeting them early up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp. We had a well full of live shrimp as we made our way out of Eagans Creek, then we made a quick run up to the Jolley River to "get away from it all". The oysters were just beginning to show so we went with float rigs first, tossed up to about 4' out from the shell, then letting them drift. We were getting nibbles here and there but didn't have any real takers, so we moved on.

That was the ticket. Our next stop, JC's, was at a bend in the river and the shell was exposed so we went with jigs and the shrimp and began to get fish, especially when we got up to a "cut" between some oysters that was draining water out of the marsh. The trio of anglers combined to catch small but feisty Redfish, a couple of Seatrout, a small Flounder, a couple of small Sea Bass, a Puffer Fish!, a Croaker, a Grunt and then.....BAM! Ann had made a good cast to the shell and when it hit she said there was no mistaken, it was a big fish!  Ann played it perfectly and kept that pressure on and fought the big fish and after a long battle, landed an Oversized 27.75" Redfish, boy what a fish. And shortly after that it was Scott's turn to battle the big fish. His fish was ripping drag and took him from the bow to the stern, from starboard to port and back again. Scott fought it patiently and eventually landed another Oversized 32.25" Redfish - big enough to move him into 3rd place in the Anglers Mark 2025 Bragging Rights Tournament-Redfish Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings).

We fished that area thoroughly, then crossed over and fished the MOA where we picked up a couple of fish, then we made our way back to Tyger Island and fished the logs. I learned a new way to modify something today -its' called the "Sandwich Technique".  First you offer a compliment, then some constructive criticism, then you sandwich that with another compliment. Well today Meridee wasn't catching much, but she was making some excellent casts; she needed to be a bit more aggressive, but she persevered  (with a good attitude) and finally hooked up and put a fish in the boat! The Sandwich!  Ha! We had a beautiful day, caught a good variety of fish, had a couple of massive ones, so as we headed back to the ramp we called it a great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida 

Flounder Girl

 We went early today to beat the heat and it worked out pretty good. I had met Allen and Lavern Webb up
at Old Town Bait and Tackle - they open at 6:00am - I was about 3rd in line- and as I was leaving there was a line out the door! Allen and Lavern and I pulled away from the dock at 6:30 and eased out of Eagans Creek and made a quick run up and around to the outside of Tyger. I went with mud minnows today, and they worked, kinda. Lavern had a quick hookup early and brought to the boat a nice Flounder for a quick boat-side release. After moving around the corner and working along Jolley "bank" Lavern had a good handful of Flounder catches and eventually got one that was of keepable size.

We fished a large drainage further up the Jolley, then moved on up to Snook Creek where Allen, fishing off the stern, had a good "thump" - he hooked it up and patiently brought to the boat a keeper sized Seatrout.

We fished the MOA at the last of an outgoing tide, then made the run back around to the Fernandina area, up Lanceford, and fished TM's spot. That sun had gotten up and it was getting hot but getting out early had paid off with a bit of action so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Switching to Jigs Did the Trick

 We had a beautiful morning today to wrap up the week before the holiday weekend when I met John Raker and his mother Betty out at Goffinsville Park boat ramp. We eased north and around Seymore's Pointe and tried some float rigs and live shrimp on a tide that had been going out for about an hour. Both Betty and John were getting excellent drifts - we had a few - but not a single nibble. We then ran thru Horsehead and over to Poteat Point and continued with the drifts. We worked the point, the grass line and the pockets and again, not a nibble. 

After fishing across the creek, again with no bites, we ran back thru Horsehead and down the Nassau to Twin Creeks, turned into the outgoing current, and began tossing jigs and the live shrimp. It didn't take long for this to produce. Betty had made an excellent cast, worked it just a bit and BAM! She had a strong hookup, battled it to the boat, and landed a feisty Redfish.  The duo picked up another small Red, a feisty Black "puppy" Drum then Betty had another big bite. This fish boiled a couple of times so we knew it was a bigger Redfish. She played it patiently, let the drag rip a few times, worked it in, and landed a nice 21" Slot Redfish. As we moved up the bank she had another strong bite, but this one took off like a freight train, leaving the shore and heading deep. Betty fought it from the starboard side to the port side, then fought it deep the brought it to the boat. I held the rod for a bit to make sure it was worn out good before we brought it into the boat for photograph and release.

Down the Nassau we moved and here the anglers hooked up and landed a couple of undersized Flounder. We fished Spanish Drop for a bit, fished Back River for a bit and other than a Catfish catch, that was it for the day. But we had a nice fish in the box and had beautiful weather so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Trout Makes The Slam

 I fished this morning with Eric Slavens, meeting him up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle ramp early. We
eased out of Eagans Creek and made our way over to the logs of Tyger Island to toss jigs and live shrimp on the first of an incoming tide. It wasn't long before Eric had a strong hookup and after playing the fish perfectly, he landed a nice feisty Redfish. We worked up and down the bank and Eric picked up two more of those Reds, and then we had an "almost legal" Flounder come to the net. 

We then made our way out and around Tyger and up to the Jolley River - running a good ways up in there to set up at a point of grass with the current splitting either side. Switching to floats made the difference. I think Eric's first and second drifts produced bites and on the third he had a hookup. I fought it patiently to the boat and landed a Seatrout to round out his Amelia Island Back Country Slam of Redfish, Flounder and Seatrout. We worked that point good and landed another handful of Trout, one of which was keeper size.

On down the river, just past Snook Creek, we turned into the current and worked back. We were casting in to the wind but when Eric got his float up near the grass he picked up a fish - more Trout and another of keeper size. After fishing Jolley "bank" for a stretch we realized that the tide had hit its peak and we weren't getting any bites. We ran back around to the outside of Tyger and caught the first of the outgoing tide there and this paid off with a few battles with some hard fighting Bluefish. 

It had been a beautiful day, we had stayed in the backwaters and had some action here and there so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

These Girls Were On Fire

 I fished early this morning, meeting Patrick Tighe and his daughters up at Old Town Bait and Tackle at
sunrise and after easing out of Eagans Creek we made our way up and around to the Jolley River. We set up tossing float rigs and live shrimp and within seconds, the girls were catching fish -Seatrout and Redfish and Seatrout and Seatrout and Redfish. They caught for at least an hour. There were a couple of Slot sized Reds and keeper sized Seatrout in the catch, but all fish caught today were released.

We moved up the river, fishing a large outflow, and again, they stayed busy catching Seatrout. After fishing Snook Creek for just a short time we made our way around the corner and fished a bend in the river along some oyster beds with jigs. As we worked along the bank we weren't getting any bites but as we reached a gap between some oysters, BAM! It was fish catching time!  All three anglers put Redfish in the boat and they caught umpteen Seatrout. It was crazy how many fish we caught!

The weather had warmed, the sun was shining and once again, as we headed back to the ramp, we counted it as another great day to be fishing  here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Shaking It Up

 We shook things up today and did something different - after meeting John Raker out at Goffinsville Park we headed east, out to Nassau Sound and found some structure to fish with jigs and mud minnows. I think it was John's 3rd cast when he hooked up and battled a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum to the net. The tide was still going out and we had good action until it hit bottom, catching a couple of Seatrout, one of which was of keeper size, and a good handful of Redfish 3 or 4 that were just a tad less than 18". John did have a big one on...it was ripping drag, he played it perfectly and had it almost within net reach and BAP! Fish Off! Ouch. 

I was thinking we'd really get some fish when that tide turned and started back in but all we got was pinfish and grunts! We ran over to the docks at Longpoint and fished a few of them for a bit and picked up one keeper sized Whiting then we moved on. 

Running back up the Nassau we made a stop at Spanish Drop and fished the shell bank. John had another good fish on that just threw the hook but he hung with it and worked that bank and after getting a good thump, set the hook and landed a nice 17" Flounder. But boy was it getting hot! We fished a large drainage where all kinds of bait was getting "popped", but had no bites. So we headed back to the ramp and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Flounder Sandwiches, Plural

 I fished the Barker boys, Jim and his son Harris, meeting them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early, and after running up the Nassau, we made a stop at Spanish Drop and fished the very last of an outgoing tide with jigs and live shrimp and mud minnows.  They worked that bank pretty good and did battle with a couple of Bonnethead Sharks. After moving up the river and fishing a large drainage they caught a handful of small but feisty Redfish, then Jim put a nice 17"+ keeper sized Flounder in the boat perfect for a couple of "Flounder Sandwiches".  When we moved on up to Twin Creeks we added another keeper Flounder and had a Manatee drive by.

Our next stop was down at Broward Island where the duo caught another keeper Flounder. Harris outsmarted a feisty Sheepshead and then they added a keeper sized Mangrove Snapper to the box. We fished Pumkin Hill and boated a small Black Tip Shark, added another Jack, and then caught a keeper sized Seatrout. 

After fishing Seymore's Pointe but only getting some hand sized Mangroves, we ran thru Horsehead, floated baits, to no avail, then switched back to jigs. After putting two Catfish in the boat Harris hooked and landed the fourth keeper Flounder. We wrapped things up over in the Nassau, then headed back to the ramp, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Birthday Bash on the Water

 I fished with the Stein girls today - Ellina, Emily, Liz and Erin - meeting them early down at the Sawpit
Creek boat ramp. In addition to getting a break and visiting Amelia Island, they were also helping Erin celebrate a birthday!  We ran up the intercoastal and turned into the Nassau and made our way up to Spanish Drop where we turned into the high, incoming tide and began to drift float rigs with live shrimp, and eventually mud minnows. I noted that the water temperature was 83.5 -still hot-still summer.

Sure enough, these lady anglers began to get bites and tangled with high flying Ladyfish, hard fighting Jack Crevalle, and we got to see a Bonnethead Shark track Erin's bait down and take it and, Fish On!  Erin played it expertly and reeled to the net the Shark which was photographed and released.

We ran down to Pumpkin Hill and fished a stretch and again had some good action catching feisty
Redfish, hungry Seatrout, Ladyfish, Jacks, a nice Mangrove Snapper, a big Bluefish, and a Croaker. We made a stop at Littlefields, switched to the jigs and caught a good handful of Mangrove Snapper, then made our way thru Horsehead, switched back to floats, and here Ellina picked up the biggest Redfish of the day, played it perfectly to the boat, and landed it for a photograph. 

We ended the day with a .....Needlefish catch! Hah! But as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida 

And More Trout

 Trout. They just keep coming. I had met the Dickens group, set up by Sparkle - her son David, son-in-law Domenic, grandson Chris and her brother Jack - early down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We made a short run up the Nassau River and turned into the incoming current at Spanish Drop and began to work the bank with float rigs and live shrimp on a tide that still had a couple of hours to hit high.  We worked along the bank, Jack and David fishing off the stern and drifting long while Chris and his dad Domenic took the stern. Although Jack and David did pick up a couple of Jacks and Ladyfish, the stern had the "game" fish - they hooked up and landed a couple of nice keeper sized Seatrout. Jack eventually joined them and landed a couple of those Trout, too. 

We moved down to Twin Creeks and fished it for a bit then made the run down to Pumpkin Hill and set up to drift long and this did the trick. Both David and Jack, still on the stern, picked up some good fish - Jacks and Ladyfish but Domenic sneaked in behind them and pulled out another keeper sizes Seatrout. After moving up to a point and fishing down the other side, Chris had a good drift, a hookup and expertly played to the boat the biggest Trout of the day. The group added another handful of small Trout, a couple of small Redfish, and another keeper sized Seatrout. 

We finished he day over at Poteat Cut, now fishing the very first of an outgoing

tide. The sun was up and boy was it getting hot but David hung in there and pulled out the "Big Fish", a 33" Bonnethead shark to take home the GPK! And with that, we headed back to the ramp and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Captain Lawrence Piper is a fishing guide in Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, Florida and is a 

 US Coast Guard licensed charter boat operator

Biggest Flounder For The Year

 

We had another Bragging Rights entry burst onto the scene today, the 2nd in consecutive days!  I had met Don Frank and his fishing partner Paul up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp and after making our way out of Eagans, we made a short run over and up to the Bell River where we set up to toss float rigs and live shrimp The tide still had about an hour or two to come in. Both anglers were getting good casts and good drifts and had a couple of nibbles and then Paul had a Shark bite that headed west, and kept going!

After moving around to the other side of a flooded oyster point and trying our luck there, we made the short run over to Lanceford Creek and fished a small drainage and here things picked up. Don was going up just beyond a point of grass with his cast and it paid off with two keeper sized Seatrout catches. Then Paul had a hookup and this one was pulling a bit harder and sure enough, after expertly playing it, he landed nice 18" Seatrout.

We then ran thru Tyger Basin around to the outside and set up fishing a point of grass as the tide started
out. The two anglers had a few nibbles but no takers but then we started seeing some rather large tails flapping at us!  I'm pretty sure they were Sheepshead. We got some good casts to them but they just wouldn't eat our shrimp. Then Don made an excellent cast right where they were tailing and when his float slowly went under I knew we had a nice fish. But this fish just stayed deep, didn't thrash much at all, and didn't make any hard runs so I was beginning to wonder and....when it came to the surface we saw that it was a Door Mat Flounder! After netting it and photographs we found that it was right at 20" which move Don securely into First Place in the Anglers Mark 2023 Bragging Rights Tournament-Flounder Category, boy what a fish! (scroll down the right side of this report for standings)

We fished up the Jolley River for a bit, had no real luck, but as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Same Fishing Hole

 I fished with Ross and Rob Gibbs today, meeting them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early., We made the run  up the intercoastal and dipped into Jackstaff, and into a smaller creek then set up outside a drainage on the first of an outgoing tide. This was the same exact spot where I fished yesterday and we had gotten a nice keeper sized Seatrout and I was thinking, "maybe again"!  And sure enough the guess paid off - Rob had his float rig with live shrimp disappear  and after he caught up to it, he lifted his rod and "fish on"!  Rob brought it to the net and landed a nice 18" Seatrout to start the day!

We had a couple of bites but no takers until Ross had a strong bite that started ripping drag and heading south and BAP!, Fish Off!  Then Rob hooked up and landed a small but feisty Jack Crevalle. We moved over to Poteat Cut and fished a stretch but had no luck, then we ran thru Horsehead and fished a large drainage there. We did have some bites but no takers so we moved down the Nassau. 

Our first stop was at Twin Creeks and here we switched to jigs and shrimp. Rob hooked up and landed a hungry Seatrout and when we moved own to another drainage, Ross hooked up and landed another.  We fished Spanish Drop for a bit then made another run, this time up the Nassau and into a little creek. The duo of anglers worked it thoroughly and although the conditions were perfect, we had  no bites. 

Back to Seymore's Pointe we came to fish some docks and here they sharpened their skills dueling with Mangrove Snapper. Some they won, and some they lost.  We made one final stop back at Sawpit  where they picked up a couple of baitstealers. Ross did have a good fish on for a bit, one that was putting a bend in the rod but it threw the hook to send us on our way. But as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

New Species ID'd at Amelia Island

 FINALLY!  The weather let up and we were able to get out and fish! Monday: Cancelled, Tuesday: Cancelled, Wednesday: Cancelled, Thursday: moved to Friday afternoon. And so we fished this morning when I met Jeff and Jinny Key up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp, and with a live well full of live shrimp, we made our way up the creek to fish some dock pilings on an outgoing tide. Although it wasn't "on fire" both anglers caught small Black "puppy" Drum and couple of hungry Seatrout. We had at least one big breakoff but then Jinny, after making an excellent cast to some submerged oyster's, had a strong bite and Big Fish On!  She played it perfectly and soon brought to the net a big 20" Seatrout, big enough to move into the 2nd place slot of the 2023 Anglers Mark Bragging Rights Tournament-Seatrout Category(scroll down the right side of this report for standings). Boy what a fish!

We then made the run up to Bell River and fished some more dock pilings. I think it was our first cast and Jinny had another big hookup. She fought it to the boat and landed the biggest Sheepshead of the year, one that measured at 16" and a fish to set the bar in the 2023 Anglers Mark Bragging Rights Tournament-Sheepshead Category!  Unfortunately the fish was renamed by Jinny a "Goathead" - possibly a new species in our backwater fishery.

After fishing a dock or two it was Jeff's turn to fight the big fish, tossing a jigs to the edge of dock he had a strong hookup and as it dug deep we knew it was a big fish. Jeff fought it valiantly and after a good battle landed a whopper of big Black "puppy" Drum.

We made a brief stop at the MOA, then made our way around to Tyger Island to fish the first of the incoming tide then headed back, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. Jeff and Jinny reported a great Blackened Black Drum meal from Kitchen 251 later in the day. 

Slam or Bragging Rights?

 I had to remind myself to look on the bright side this morning, knowing that there was no live shrimp to be had on or near the island. But I had my trolling motor back from the shop, I had some left over mud minnows,  I'd frozen some left over fresh shrimp from Friday, and I had a purchased pint of fiddler crabs...and the skies were clear, a beautiful sunrise awaited us, and the wind wasn't supposed to pick up until late morning!  I was meeting Ed Johnson, his old high school classmate Ken Coop, and angling buddy Don Smallwood out at Goffinsville Park. 

We made a short run down the Nassau to fish Spanish Drop, an exposed shell bed on the last of an outgoing tide. We worked that bank thoroughly, Ken tossing a jig with a mud minnow, Ed tossing a jig with fiddlers, and Don tossing a jig with "freshly frozen" shrimp. Not a bite. We moved up to a drainage and fished that but also to no avail. 

Our next stop was back at Nassaville, fishing Littlefield and although we had a nibble or two, we had no real bites. Back around Seymore's we fished a dock right at dead low, again, not a bite. We were getting skunked! But then we made the run down to Broward Island, still fishing the last of an outoing tide and as we worked the bank, Don, using the dead shrimp, hooked up deep with an almost legal Seatrout. We continued on, then moved up the island to fish the first of the incoming tide and again, Don had a hookup and landed an almost legal Flounder. He followed Ed in to one spot, right behind a stump, BAM! Another hookup. Don played it perfectly and brought to the boat his Amelia Island Back Country Slam, a feisty Redfish. 

The tide had been coming in for about an hour so we gambled and ran up into a creek, lifting the engine as we went in, and fished some downed logs. All three anglers were getting good casts to the 6' deep bend and finally it was Ken, still fishing the minnow, who had the hookup. This fish had some size - it ripped a bit of drag and came to the surface and thrashed, but Ken kept the pressure on and soon landed a big 19.5" Seatrout, big enough to kick off the 2023 Bragging Rights Seatrout Category (scroll down the right sid eof this report for details).  Although it had been a slow day, we had a slam and a "Braggable" fish, so as we headed back to the dock we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

What Does a Pirate Call a Long Fish? GaaaaarrrrFish!

Although we expected a beautiful morning today, and although it was a bit overcast for most of it, the sun did win out and it turned out to be as expected, beautiful!  I had met Derek Wilson and his fishing buddy Tim down at Sawpit Creek boat ramp and we made a good run up the intercoastal, up the Back River, and around to Pumpkin Hill and set up with fixed floats drifting a shell bottom on the last of an incoming tide. And the plan paid off! Both anglers almost immediately began to get bites and catch fish- Seatrout. They were getting excellent casts and excellent drifts and caught a good handful of Trout with a couple of them being of keeper size. Tim had a weird bite, lifted his rod and, Fish On! We could tell by the bend in the rod that this fish was big - it made a flash when it saw the boat and began to pull drag. Tim was up for the challenge and kept the pressure on and after a couple of those runs, brought to the net a big 'ole GaaarrrFish! We photographed and released it.  

We bounced around that area hitting a few spots on the very last of high tide - had a few nibbles, but no real takers, so we moved on.

Our next stop was around at Seymore's Point, fishing a large out flow with the floats, but again, no real bites. We moved down the way and switched to jigs and fished deep- had a few nibbles, but no takers, so, we moved on. Around at Nassauville we stuck with the jigs and did pick up another Seatrout.

After making a run up the Nassau we dipped into a small creek and began working the bank as the tide started out with the jigs, fishing structure as we went. I was beginning to wonder if the run was all for naught when Derek had a hookup and Fish On! He played it expertly and brought to the net a nice feisty Redfish. From then on it was on fire for a good bit with a "double" hookup for good measure. Just about every fish measured right at 17.5-17.75", so none in the Slotm but fun to catch, nonetheless. We fished down to the last shrimp and finished with a Redfish and as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Teacher's Aid

I fished the Boehm party this morning - Frank Boehm and his friend Pat, Pat's son Matt and granddaughter Hailey, meeting them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp. The tide still had a couple of hours of coming in but it was high enough to run over to the outside of Tyger and fish fixed float rigs along the marsh grass. They had  a few nibbles and it was Pat who "knocked the skunk off" with a nice Seatrout catch. 

We ran thru Tyger, around to the Bell and set up fishing a point of grass with that incoming tide. These anglers were all getting good drifts but we had not a nibble. After running down the Bell, up into Lanceford, and in to Soap Creek, we again set up with the floats, drifting them long with the current. I think it was Pat again who picked up another Trout. 

Our next stop was around the corner and here we switched to jigs and shrimp. They were all getting nibbles deep but we found that we could go back to the float rig, tossed up near the shore, over some submerged oysters and get fish. Young Hailey hooked up and landed an "almost legal" Seatrout, then she had a good bite, set the hook and, Fish On! She worked it to the boat patiently and landed a keeper sized 18" Seatrout. Shortly after that she battled a feisty Redfish to the boat. 

We fished a grassy island down the way, then made a good run down the intercoastal to fish some structure on first of the outgoing tide. Hailey added another feisty Redfish to her catch total, then her Granddad Pat had a big hookup - I heard the drag rip and knew it was a big fish. Pat played it perfectly an after a hard fought battle, landed a nice 24" Slot Redfish.

After fishing one more spot up in Piney we headed back and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.  

We Dodged a Storm

 When I meet Bob Blalock out at Goffinsville Park we were checking the weather radar because we could
see some ugly thunderstorms out over the ocean, and sure enough, they were creeping our way. So we left the dock, crossed the river, and fished a stretch of flooded shell bed with float rigs and mud minnows. It wasn't long before Bob was putting some small but feisty Redfish in the boat. Those storms were getting closer and wouldn't you know it, Bob hooked up with a bigger fish - one that pulled some drag and, Fish On!  Bob played it patiently, saw it roll up a couple of times, then brought it to the net - a slot sized Redfish. (all fish caught today were released). But it was beginning to sprinkle, the air turned cooler, and there were some flashes lighting the sky so we turned and ran!

After a thirty minute break back at Goffinsville, we went back to fishing, hitting the same spot, now with
oysters showing, and again caught a handful of feisty Redfish and a couple of Jack Crevalle. Our next stop was down at Spanish Drop where we worked up thru a large drainage, then along some shell beds with only some minor nibbles. But when we reached a corner where I knew there was a "bar" sticking out, Bob got busy again catching Redfish and Jacks. 

We hit a couple of more corners of shell beds, then ran to "Dara's Flounder Hole" in hopes to bump her fish from Bragging Rights, but it was to no avail. Bob did catch and land some nice sized Mangrove Snapper so as we headed back, we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Nice Flounder and Big Trout

 

I fished north today, meeting Sam Dworetzky and his fiancée Ashlee and her parents Bonnie and Phil up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park. We ran north and west and up to the Jolley River, turned into the current of a tide that had just started in, and started fishing back to the point with jigs an drive Shrimp. We found out pretty quick that the "baitstealers" were out in full force! The girls got off to a quick start though and caught a good handful of Croaker, a small Seatrout, and a good handful of small but feisty Redfish.

Just as we reached the point and were about to move on, Sam had gone forward with a cast, felt a good hard bump, and set the hook, and, Fish On!  Same brought it expertly to the net and landed a nice keeper sized 17" Seatrout.

We ran further up the Jolley, just past Snook Creek, turned again in to the
current, and worked back thru the creek mouth. Things were slow for just a but then we had a real good flurry of fish bites - small Redfish, Jack Crevalle, Ladyfish, then Phil, taking up a spot on the stern, had a "thump". He patiently brought it to the net and landed a keeper sized Flounder.  Then Sam went up to the creek mouth -I was watching the cast- and the minute it hit the water, BAM! A good bite and Fish On!  Sam played it perfectly and after a good battle brought a big 19" Seatrout to the net.

After running back down the Jolley and around to the outside of Tyger we set up at a big drainage and worked that bank for about 100 yards. Bonnie landed a small Flounder, Sam battled a big 4' Bonnethead Shark, then Phil "the Flounder guy" had another strange bite. He hooked it up and slowly reeled to the boat (where it went crazy) and landed another, even bigger, keeper sized Flounder.

Our final stop was around in Bell River, now drifting float rigs where Sam, Ashlee and Bonnie all caught some hungry Seatrout. The sun was up, it was getting hot, but as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Fish at Every Stop

 

It looks like the whole week is going to have pretty mornings, and today was one of them. I met Tommy Gray and his grandsons Alex and Henry down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We headed up the intercoastal and dipped into Jackstaff, then into a small creek and began tossing live shrimp under a float on a high tide that had just started out. Just like yesterday, it started slow - Henry had a hookup and brought to the boat hard fighting Jack Crevalle, then he landed a feisty Redfish. We eased along the bank and could see some large wakes and sure enough, Alex, after making an excellent cast to the grass, had his float slowly ease under. He tightened up his line, lifted his rod, and let the circle  hook do it's thing and, Fish On! Alex played it expertly, let it run when it wanted to, kept the pressure on, and soon landed a nice Slot Redfish. Then Henry had a strong hookup - another Big Fish one - he fought it to the boat and landed a nice 18" fat Seatrout. Then Alex hooked up  and battled another Slot Redfish to the boat.

I don't normally stay at one spot more than about 20-45 minutes but we were getting bites so we made another pass. Henry had a BIG bite, had him on for a while, then the fish tossed the hook - when Henry reeled it in we saw that the hook was bent! We picked up a few more feisty Reds, had few other big bites, caught some keeper Manrove Snapper, and when we left I noted that we had fished that spot for 1 hour and 45 minutes!

Our next stop was around at Seymore's Pointe where we stuck with the float rigs and played cat and mouse with some more Mangroves. All three anglers soon got the hand of it and boated another handful, some of which were of keeper size. Moving down the way, we fished between two docks and again - Mangrove Snapper and then Henry had a good bite and reeled in a keeper sized Flounder. We caught a good handful of smaller Flounder there, too.

The last stop was down at Spanish Drop and just when I thought the heat had run off all of the fish - BAM! The trio of anglers began to get hookups. Alex got hot on the bow of the boat and landed one feisty Redfish after another. Tommy was fishing off the stern and picking up Flounder and Jacks and Seatrout. Henry, fishing mid ship, began to catch the feisty Reds, then he had a good bite, set the hook, and Fish On! Henry kept the pressure on and fought a nice Slot Sized Redfish to the net, to wrap up another great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.