Found Some Reds

 

I wrapped my week up fishing with the Dannenfelser's -David and Michele. We met up at Old Town Bait and Tackle and eased out of Eagans Creek early to make our first run over to Bell River where we set up at a point and drifted float rigs. David had a bite right off but it didn't take, then we worked up and down the edge, seeing multiple fish boil and tail up in the shallows, but they wouldn't eat. Before we left David did manage to get one hungry Trout up near the grass.

We then ran around to Lanceford and fished a deep bend between two docks and this did the trick with both anglers getting some Trout and Michele adding a Bluefish to the catch. One of these Trout was of keeper size but all fish caught today were released. Down a ways, at a grass patch, we circle it tossing the floats. There was a lot of bait action up in the grass but we had no takers until David hooked up and landed another Trout. After fishing Bolton's Bulkhead we moved on. 

Over at Soap Creek we worked the edge of the grass on the very last of that incoming tide, and first of the outgoing and again, caught a Trout. After running back down Lanceford, up the Bell and thru Tyger we set up on the outside of the island to fish the first of an outgoing and here we had a bit of action. The duo both caught Redfish which put up a pretty good battle. Michele added another Bluefish to her catch before we crossed the creek and picked up one more Seatrout. The sun never really came out today, but the water was calm, there was enough breeze to keep the bugs off, so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

The First Three Were Keepers

 We did a "share-a-trip" today putting Bob Kossman and Frank Wytiaz together for a fun morning of
fishing the back waters of Amelia Island (message me to be added to the "share-a-trip" group). We met down at Sawpit Creek this morning and run up the Nassau to make our first stop at a large outflow to toss float rigs and live shrimp on the first of an outgoing tide. It only took minutes and they were catching fish. The first three fish were keeper sized Seatrout - the biggest being about 17". These guys didn't miss many - we caught a handful of smaller but fun to catch Trout. 

We then ran thru Horsehead and over to Poteat Point and here Bob, fishing off the stern, caught a couple of smaller Trout. We bounced across the creek and fished some water flowing a few grass islands and this did the trick with another couple of Trout catches. Back at Jackstaff, fishing another outflow, Frank hooked up with another couple of Trout. We fished Jackstaff "bank" but there was no cooperation along there. 

After running back thru Horsehead and down to Backriver we set up and fished a shell bank as the shell began to show. Not much was happening until Bob had a strong hookup. He played it patiently and landed a feisty Redfish. Further up the river at the mouth of Pumpkin Hill we worked the bank with the float rigs. When we got to a couple of patches of grass Bob was drifting long and found a couple of more Trout back in a "riffle". Our last stop was fishing some dock pilings back at Seymore's Pointe before we headed back in and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Trout Were the Main Fare

 We had a beautiful morning today when I met the Husa family -Matt and Ruchika and their two kids Divya and Kian down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We made a good run up the intracoastal, then up the Nassau to Seymore's Pointe where we set up and tossed float rigs to a grassy point at a large outflow. This did the trick - the family almost immediately began to get bites - those floats were going under!  They won some and lost some - Matt and Kian hauled in one together then Divya and Ruchika hooked up and landed a couple. Ruchika added a  Bluefish to her catch total. A couple of those Trout were of keeper size. 

We then ran thru Horsehead and over to Poteat Point and although it wasn't on fire, they did get another Trout. We bounced back thru Jackstaff and fished a creek and here Matt got hot - he landed a nice fat keeper sized Seatrout, then tangled with another. Back thru Horsehead we went and down to Nassauville to fish with jigs deep between a couple of docks. Divya added another Trout to the catch and she also caught a Perch deep. 

We fished down the dock line, tossing the jigs and it was Matt who had a strong hookup. I could see the fish flash and it was a feisty Redfish with a bunch of spots -12 total. This angling family had a few fresh fish in the box, we had 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. 

What A Wrap Up

 I fished today again with Andy and Jennifer Aberle, meeting them out at their home and riding along in their Pathfinder to try and find some fish! We stopped real close by and tossed float rigs with live shrimp to a large outflow on a high and outgoing tide but I was somewhat surprised to see hardly any current flowing -we had no luck.

We then ran thru Horsehead and over to Pompano Point and set up again with the floats and here we did have a bit of current and that paid off with a couple of  Seatrout catches. Continuing on up the intracoastal we made as stop and fished some structure with jigs and live shrimp. There were a bunch of baitstealers and only one Trout. After making the run up into behind Piney Island we set up current from some dock pilings and pitched to them, but to no avail. I was beginning to worry. 

Our next stop, further up the Intracoastal paid off, though. Jennifer was getting excellent casts up into some dock pilings and fishing it good - Andy was fishing off the outside. Jennifer had the first hookup, she played it perfectly and brought to the net a nice keeper sized Seatrout. Meanwhile, Andy had a strong bite out deep. It was ripping drag and in danger of getting tangled in the pilings. Andy worked the boat out, kept the pressure on the fish, then fought it to the net, a big 20" Black "puppy" Drum. 

After getting the fish measured, photographed and in the box, Andy went back to the same spot and BAM! Big Fish On!  I was thinking we were in a Black Drum "honey hole" but when this fish came to the surface we saw it was a large Slot Redfish. Andy played it patiently and landed it. He went back to the same spot and had another strong hookup -another Slot Red - they had their limit! 

We fished down a dock or two, then came back to the "hot spot" where Jennifer got in on the Big Fish action. She had made a great cast, fished it slow, and had the hookup. Jennifer fought the fish to the surface and the net - another Slot Red which we photographed and released. We had to hit 5 spots but the final one paid off so as we headed back to their dock we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

The Boyz Were Catching

 

I kicked off the week fishing with the Hutchins family - Matt and Laura and their two sons Garrett and Carter. We met early down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and headed up the intracoastal to make our way to Poteat Point and break out float rigs and live shrimp on a tide that had been going out for about 2 hours. It only took a minute before those floats were going down! I noted the water temperature was almost 64 and it seemed to turn the small Trout on. Garrett and Carter took turns reeling in Seatrout at that first spot. We did ease forward just a bit and got a couple of more further up.

We then ran thru Horsehead and down to Spanish Drop and switched to jigs and shrimp. The anglers had a few nibbles but no real takers. We moved up to fish a large drainage but again, nibbles but no takers. Our next stop was over at Nassauville, fishing between two docks.  The baitstealers were prolific but we did manage another Trout. Back around at Seymore's we fished some dock pilings and this did the trick. Matt found a nice Black "puppy" Drum then he and Garrett took turns hooking up with the Drum. Carter was on the net and did an outstanding job pulling them in to the boat. They also added a couple of feisty Redfish to their catch total. 

Our final stop was down at Broward Island, fishing under a Bald Eagle. The current was really ripping but Matt did manage to get one more Trout out of the deep. We had stayed busy at a couple of spots reeling in fish so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Trout Were the Game

 I fished yesterday morning with Greg Fritzgerald. When I got up and stepped outside to get the boat ready I was hit with a gust of wind - I went back inside and double checked the weather! It was forecasted to be windy, right on the bubble, but it was going to be a beautiful day so I went on with the "plan" - meet Greg at Sawpit Creek, run up to Nassauville and fish the docks out of the NW wind. And that's what we did!

That first stop started things off right - Greg was tossing jigs and live shrimp on the last hour or so of an outgoing tide and he caught a good handful of Seatrout. He said he was getting just a faint "bump" - he'd tighten his line and set the hook. Many were undersized but he had a couple that were of keeper size. he also put two keeper sized Weakfish in the boat. 

We worked up and down Nassauville fishing in pleasant "pond like" conditions. Every now and then we'd find a dock that produced a handful of Trout. Greg perfected the hookup and didn't miss many. He added to his catch total and keeper total, enough so that we had reached his limit and were tossing 15"+ fish back. One of those keepers was a "Gator" - when he hooked it up I was thinking, "finally, a Redfish" - but I was wrong. Greg played it perfectly, worked it up off the bottom, let it run, worked it in and landed a big 20" Trout, the biggest of the year and worth Bragging Rights for a while!

We fished down the Nassau for the last 45 minutes of the trip and Greg did finally find his Redfish, a feisty one that measured just undersized. We had went out this morning with a plan and it had paid off with some comfortable fishing, some good action, and a few 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.  

Private Waters? Trophy Trout!

 

The weather cooperated with our plans to fish today - it was looking "iffy" earlier in the week but as we got closer today it appeared the winds and rain would hold off until after out trip. I met Don Walters and his longtime friends and fishing buddies Alex and Bruce down at Sawpit Creek early and we headed up the Intracoastal and then into the Nassau to make our way up to Nassauville to make our first stop at a couple of docks to fish the last of an outgoing tide with jigs and live shrimp. The "baitstealers" were on fire! We may have gotten a Trout there but most of the bites were the little perch - good practice for hooking up but not what we wanted!

We then bounced around to fish some Seymore's Pointe dock pilings - worked one, then eased along
and pitched to others. This paid off when Bruce, fishing off the stern, had a strong hookup and boated a nice feisty Redfish. We stayed on the outside of the docks, pitching forward, and the trio caught a good handful of small but hungry Seatrout.

After making the run down to Broward we worked the bank pretty good, but again, a ton of baitstealers -maybe a trout or two. We then made that long run up the Nassau to dip into a creek and fished the first of an incoming tide. Unfortunately that forecasted wind was right on time and it was really blowing into us. But it didn't deter these anglers - Bruce again found a good hookup off the stern - this one was ripping a bit of drag and sure enough, when landed, it measured in the Slot - our first keeper! We fished on down the bank and found a "honey hole" of fish. These weren't "private waters" but it sure was nice to get a good flurry of fish. Don hooked up and landed a nice 17" Seatrout, then Alex followed that up with a big 19" Trout. Then all three were catching Redfish. Two of those fish measured right at 17 3/4" and had to go back but as we worded down the bank Don found another Red that fit into the Slot. We had a good bit of action with smaller fish early, topped it off with some keeper fish later, so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Slowly Got a Slam

 What a beautiful day we had today! I met Glenn and Patti Langford up at Old Town Bait and Tackle early and after easing out of Eagans we made our way over to Lanceford Creek to try and fish some docks but when we got there it seemed like we were a bit late for a "convention" of other Guides. We did fish one dock for a bit and Patti "knocked the skunk off when she hooked up and landed a small Black "puppy" Drum. We moved on. Our next stop was back at Soap Creek where we again tossed jigs and live shrimp to some dock pilings on a lower and incoming tide. I was beginning to think that this spot was going to be a dud when Patti made an excellent cast up into the pilings - she had a hookup and fish on!  Patti played it perfectly and brought it to the net - a nice keeper sized Sheepshead.

We then made the run around to Tyger Island, getting there a bit later than I like but it still paid off. Both Glenn and Patti caught a few Redfish, one of which was of keeper size. They also added a Seatrout catch to their bag total. They actually had a "Grande Slam" of Drum, Sheepshead, Redfish and Trout. . We worked down the island and back up, not getting much, until we got back to where we started and picked up another couple of Redfish, two measuring right at 17 3/4", and also a small Flounder.(Super Grande Slam).

After running back around to the outside of Tyger we fished along the marsh bank with jigs for just a bit, to no avail. We then made the long run over to Bell River and fished jigs deep. Glenn put a keeper sized Seatrout in the boat and Patti had one to the boat that would have been the biggest Trout of the day but alas, it threw the hook right at the boat. Ouch. It had been a beautiful day, we had 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. 

Fishing In Style

 Today I fished with Andy and Jennifer Aberle, meeting them out at Semore's Pointe and launching in their beautiful 25' Pathfinder, boy what a fishing machine! We eased around the corner, made a short run down thru Nassauville and set up to fish jigs and live shrimp on a tide that was just starting in. I was hoping to catch the "last of an outgoing" but we made do. Both Andy and Jennifer were getting excellent casts - they both had tossed up behind some dock pilings Andy hooked up a with nice fish and expertly played it to the boat to land a nice 17" Seatrout. Jennifer almost immediately followed that up with a Trout catch of here own. The duo added another Trout or two before we moved on. 

We made our way down to Broward Island and set up to fish the first of an incoming tide. We didn't get any huge fish but we did have a smorgusboard of small er fish - Black "puppy Drum", a couple of Sheepshead, a Catfish and a Perch or two. 

We drifted float rigs up at Pumpkin Hill, down each side of the pointe, then finished up fishindg some dock pilings back at Seymore's. It was a beautifly day, we had some action, so as Andy eased the boat back on to the lift we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Wisconsin Boys Catching Some Fish!

 I wrapped my week up and it was a beautiful day to do it! I met Peter Brown and his Wisconsin fishing buddies Shawn and Jeff - down at Sawpit as the full moon set. We ran up the Nassau, all the way to Broward Island and the water was slick as ice, not a rippled. We set up at the island and tossed jigs and live shrimp on a tide that already been coming in for about 2.5 hours, but we made it in time. That first stop didn't produce but we eased down about 50' and that did the trick - Shawn "knocked the skunk off" when he hooked up and landed a hungry Seatrout. He built a commanding lead in the "fish catch total", catching one Trout after another.  We worked down and up that bank and added a good handful of Seatrout to the catch. 

After running way up the Nassau we dipped into a small creek and worked the bank and boy did this pay off. All three anglers began to get Redfish -Shawn on the bow, Peter in the middle and Jeff off the stern. These fish were just undersized but real feisty and fun to catch. Then it got even better!  They hooked up with four Slot sized fish -that fourth being over the limit and was released. They also added another Trout catch or two.

We then came back and fished Pumpkin Hill, switching to float rigs and drifting long. Shawn was up on the bow and handicapped trying to fish backwards but he made it work and caught some more Trout. We fished a large drainage at Seymore's Pointe, had no real bites, then ran thru Horsehead to troll along Jackstaff "bank" and here the trio wrapped up the day with one more Seatrout catch. We had beautiful sunny skies, almost no wind, and the temperature had warmed enough to shed jackets and with fish in the box, as we headed back, we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Bar Setting Trout

 I had the Mathe Fishing Team this morning, Jerry, his son Greg and grandson Henry. We met down at
Sawpit late morning with the sun already up and clear skies to greet us on a high tide that was just about to start out up at Nassauville. And that's where we made our first run to, easing up at a large drainage to break out some float rigs and live shrimp. I think first cast got a bite, 2nd cast got a bite, and on the third, Henry had a strong hookup. He was cranking it in and it was fighting back but Henry had the best of it and soon landed a 19.75" Seatrout - the biggest of the year and good enough to kick off the Anglers Mark 2025 Bragging Rights Tournament -Seatrout Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings).

The trio picked up a couple of more Trout, floating their baits over submerged oysters, then Greg had the big bite. I was hoping it was another big Trout but it was just as good - a hard fighting Redfish. We then ran thru Horsehead and over to Poteat Point where Jerry got on the board with a Seatrout catch. After working a bank thoroughly there, we crossed over and fished a beautiful outflow, but to no avail. Back thru Horsehead we came and up to Back River Point where we drifted the floats, but again, no bites. 

We then made the tactical decision to switch to jigs and fish deep and this paid off, Fishing between two docks with the jigs, Henry padded his lead on the catch total, getting another Trout or two. We finished the day down at Broward, fishing under a Bald Eagle. We got another Red there and another Trout before we headed back to the ramp, and we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Catching Dinner

 We're having a beautiful week of weather this week and today was no exception when I met John
Fredericks and his fishing buddy Dan up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp. We eased out of Eagans Creek then made the run over to the outside of Tyger Island and set up with float rigs and live shrimp with plans to fish the marsh grass as the tide started out. Both John and Dan were getting good casts and good drifts but we didn't get a bite.

We bounced around Tyger, moving up towards Jolley and fished a large drainage with jigs and shrimp and again, no bites. We then ran up the Jolley to Snook Creek, eased inside, drifted floats out the back to no avail, then tossed jigs across the creek, again to no avail - no real bites.

If you've followed the last few days of fishing reports you may have seen that this has been the norm - no fish for the first couple of spots. But following Rule #4 - "if you're not catching fish, MOVE" - that's what we did - we made the run around to Bell River and anchored out from some docks and tossed the jigs up-current  and let the jigs bounce down the bottom and this did the trick. Dan, fishing off the stern picked up a couple of Seatrout and a small Black "puppy" Drum. And when we moved up a couple of docks John got in on the action and caught a few of those hungry Trout. We dropped back about 4 docks and fished the pilings and this strategy paid off when Dan hooked up and expertly played to the net a keeper sized Black Drum. 

We then made the long run back to Amelia, ran down the Intracoastal and found some more docks to fish. I was expecting Redfish but John found some Seatrout out in the middle of the creek. He landed a good handful, one of which was of keeper size and there were at least three that were just 1/16" shy of being legal - we tossed those back. Our final stop was further down the Intracoastal, fishing  deep and on the first cast John hooked up and landed another keeper Trout. That was the only fish we caught there! But these two anglers had some fish in the box for dinner so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Rock Fish at Amelia?

 

Although it was a bit cool to start out with the day ended up being beautiful and the temps warmed nicely to make for some comfortable fish catching! I had met David Vice and his fishing buddy's Gary and Lee out at Oyster Bay dock early and we made a long run back down the Lanceford, up the Bell and thru Tyger basin around to the outside of Tyger to set up and toss float rigs with live shrimp on a tide that had just started out. We had not a bite. No luck at all.

We then made our way over to Eagans Creek and set up current from some dock pilings and it didn't take long before these guys were catching some fish. Lee got hot early and put a couple of Redfish in the boat, one of which was Slot size, and David picked up a Trout out deep. We then made our way over to Lanceford Creek and fished a grass patch, then a bulkhead with the floats and again, no bites. Those float rigs fished in shallow water are just not producing!

After making the run back down Lanceford and then down the intercoastal we made our way to another set of docks Kee got hot again and pulled a couple of Reds out from underneath, and David, fishing off the  bow, worked a drainage and caught a good handful of Seatrout, two were of keeper size. Then Lee, who had been quite for most of the morning, began to get hookups. He put a couple of feisty Redfish in the boat and a few of those Seatrout. Between him and David, they caught bunch of those Trout that measured 14 7/8" .

David worked those dock pilings again and BAM! Big Fish On!  This fish was putting up a crazy battle and digging deep and ripping drag. I was thinking the battle looked different and sure enough, when David brought it to the boat we saw that it was a 23.5" hybrid Striper, boy what a fish. This is only the 2nd Striper landed on my boat in the 18+ years of guiding. But then topped that fish when he battled and brought to the net, a big 25" Slot Redfish. Gary wrapped things with another couple of Seatrout catches before we headed back to the dock and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Big Fish Right Off The Bat

 

I wrapped my week up fishing with Murray Bonitt and his son Dan and friend Gavin...and some dude named Darron that nobody knew. We met early down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp under cloudy skies but we had very little wind (but enough to keep the gnats away) so as we headed up the Nassau River we had high hopes of catching some fish. I haven't fished the shell beds in a long while but they were exposed on a tide that had been going out a few hours so as we approached Spanish Drop we decided to give it at try - we'd be pitching jigs and live shrimp to those oysters. Gavin and Dan were up at the bow while Murray manned the stern. We had been fishing for about 10 minutes when Murray put an excellent cast up near the oysters and he had a big hookup, Fish On!  This fish was ripping drag and when I saw it wasn't wanting to come in I knew it had some size to it, and then it rolled and I knew it was a big Redfish. Murray played it perfectly, worked it in, wore it out, and soon landed a nice 24" Slot Redfish - first fish of the day!

We worked that bank thoroughly then made a run the Nassau and fished a large drainage with the jigs.
Here, Dan got on the board with a couple of Seatrout catches and Murray added a couple, too. That Darron guy picked up a Baitstealer.

Our next stop was down at Broward Island and here the "catching" picked up. The trio caught a good handful of fish. Gavin had persevered, stuck with it, and picked up a few hungry Seatrout. Dan caught Trout and a couple of feisty Redfish, and Murray added a few more fish to the catch total. We had had only a light sprinkle from the forecasted Sunday rains, had caught some good fish, so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.   

Oversized One, Two and Three

 That was some wind we had the last two days. 20mph plus winds so I was off. Carol and I walked the dog downtown and then down to the Marina and boy was it ugly out there! But those winds dropped last night and this morning greeted us with only 3mph, sunny and cool temperatures in the high 40's, boy what a pretty day! I met Dick Conley and his crew, David Gray and Henry Ross, down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early on a low and still outgoing tide. We eased around to the Sawpit bridge, anchored with the I=Pilot and David and Dick began drifting slip floats out the back baited up with live shrimp. They had a good number of drifts and did see some action - both hooked and landed legal sized Weakfish. (All fish caught today were released). Henry was  up on the bow tossing a DOA shrimp and picked up the loan Seatrout at that spot.

We then ran up the Intracoastal, up the Nassau and made our way to a drainage between two docks, where I thought it would be a sure thing to catch Seatrout. Dick and David were fishing jigs and live shrimp, Henry stayed with the DOA and...we didn't get a real bite. Ouch. We then ran down to Broward Island to fish it on the last of an outgoing. Here, we did get some action. All three anglers caught Seatrout tossing jigs or the DOA. Actually, the DOA produced pretty good. Throwing the shrimp though, David and Dick caught a feisty Redfish each. But then David had a strong bite, one that dug deep and ripped that drag. I must losing my touch - I didn't think it was going to be HUGE - "just" a nice Slot Red. But David proved me wrong. He worked it in patiently, brought it to the net, and landed an Oversized 30.75" Redfish. 

As we eased down the bank, drifting with the current, these three anglers put a good mess of Seatrout in the boat. There were a handful of keeper size, but we tossed them back. Then it was Dick's turn to battle the big fish. He had tossed up into a shadow, hooked up, and BAM! Big Fish On! Dick played it expertly - kept the pressure on, let it run, worked it in, let it run, worked it in, and eventually landed another Oversized Red that measured right at 28".  Boy what a fish!

We came back to fish a dock at Seymore's Pointe where Henry quickly put a Seatrout in the boat, but we were looking for Drum or Reds so we moved on. The final stop was at Spanish Drop, fishing some shell beds with the jigs and shrimp. Just when I thought the fish had had enough, Dick had made a coast up behind a shell bar and BAM!. There went the drag ripping again!  Another Big Fish on!  Dick battled it valiantly and soon worked in another Oversized Red, this one measuring in at 29". What a great way to wrap up a fishing trip! e had had beautiful weather and had put some big fish in the boat so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

A Little Bit of Everything

 I last fished with Dennis Fritz, his wife Adele, and their visiting friends Jon and Jessica, meeting themdown at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We were supposed to go early but when the alarm went off and I got up it was pouring rain! Luckily this group was able to go later so we postponed the trip until 11am. After the "safety orientation" we eased just around the corner to anchor up current from the old Sawpit Bridge. I had the ladies drifting Slip Floats out the stern, back towards the pilings, baited with live shrimp. Dennis and Jon were off the Starboard side tossing jigs and live shrimp up current. Both Adele and Jessica were getting good drifts and let their floats slip right beside the pilings, but they had no takers. But surprisingly, Dennis had a good bite, set the hook, and brought to the boat a nice feisty Redfish. 

We then made the long run up the Nassau River and made our way over to some docks in Nassauville. All four anglers switched to jigs and shrimp and this paid off - they all began to hookup and land hungry Seatrout. They kept me busy! Most of these fish were in the 14.5" range, just under sized, but caught in 20-25' of water. 

After a run down to Broward Island and a Bald Eagle sighting, we fished the deep waters off of the island and picked up a couple of Trout and a Redfish or two. We then ran way up the Nassau and dipped into a creek and fished the deeper bank. This did the trick. This group landed another couple of Redfish and a Black "puppy" Drum to round out their Amelia Island Back Country Slam of

Redfish, Seatrout and Drum. We had sunny skies for most of the day(after the morning rain), and very light winds - the temperature warmed enough so that we were shedding layers. If not for the "no-seeums" it would have been another outstanding day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

If We Were On A Deserted Island...

 we'd of ate pretty good! I met Glenn and Patti Lanford mid morning today with plans to fish the last of an outgoing tide, first of an incoming. We ran up the intra-coastal, up the Nassau and made our way to a large runout where we pitched jigs and live shrimp. I wouldn't call it "on fire" but we caught a good handful of hungry Seatrout - they all ranged in the 14-12" range. If we were on a deserted island and that was what we were catching we would have ate pretty good!  We moved around and fished some docks at Seymore's Pointe but had no real bites.

After fishing right at Seymores Point for just a bit(Glenn hooked up and landed a feisty Redfish), we made the run down to Broward Island. Although a couple f spots were taken(that's Saturday fishing) we made our way down the island and set up into the current. Here, Patti came alive and began to catch Seatrout. She put a good handful in the boat, then Glenn joined in and caught a few. One of these was of keeper size. They also landed another Redfish and we added a Whiting to the catch total. 

We had caught a "mess o fish" but only one or two were of keeper size. But the sun was out and as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Got Trout?

Long John weather!  Low mid 30's with wind forecasted to be 14-16 mph (they were right!)  I met Gene Burk and is nephew Aiden down at Sawpit this morning with those conditions, but we did have sunny skies all day, so we made the most of it. Our first stop was around at the bridge where we drifted slip float (trout) rigs deep back to the bridge pilings. I was a bit surprised when we caught Bluefish instead of Trout! We moved on. We made a long run up the Nassau River, into the wind and boy was it cold! But when we reached Nassauville the wind was blocked and we had comfortable conditions to toss jigs and live shrimp on the last hour or so of the outgoing tide. There must have been a Trout convention going on down there in 25' water because Gene and Aiden caught Seatrout, one after the other. Most were in the 14" range but every once in a while they'd put one of keeper size in the boat. The biggest, caught by Gene, was right at 17".  We probably could have stayed there and caught those Trout but we had a few in the box, so we moved on. 

We ran down to Broward Island and fished a choppy last of an outgoing tide. Fishing deep with the jigs Aiden hooked up and caught a handful of Seatrout. We moved north and fished a bit but had no luck so we moved on. 

After a long run up the Nassau we dipped into a creek and worked a bank with jigs. It wasn't "on fire" but the duo tallied 7 Redfish caught. Aiden landed the biggest, an 18" Slot fish that added to their dinner plans!  We had caught bookoodles of fish, had sunny skies, so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

 

Bragging Times Two

 

What a cold, windy and dreary day it was that greeted us when David Vice and his fishing Team Gary and Allen met me out at Goffinsville Park this morning.  For me, it was a toss up whether to try and fish today with winds forecasted to get up to 16mph. But I had a Plan! So we met and made a long run up and thru Horsehead, into the intra-coastal and up the river to make our first stop at a nice drainage in hopes of getting some Drum or Reds on the last of an outgoing tide - but we didn't have a bite on our jigs and live shrimp.  We ran further up the river and into a creek behind Piney Island and fished it for a bit but again, we had not a bite. I was beginning to think my "Plan" wasn't a very good one. 

We decided to come back towards the ramp and found a couple of docks we could fish with the jigs and this did the trick. Gary had the first reel bite but it didn't take, then Allen, after making an excellent cast, hooked up and expertly reeled in a hungry Seatrout. to "knock the skunk off".  From then on, we were caching fish, most all of them deep in 25-30' of water. We caught so many I was beginning to think we'd run out of bait. Gary got the hang of it and caught and landed a number of the Trout, a couple of which were of keeper size. He also put a keeper Weakfish in the boat. David, fishing off of the bow, caught one Trout after the other, with a keeper or two. He also put a keeper Whiting in the boat. 

Thinking that we may have a shot at some Drum, we ran up to Seymore's Pointe and fished some
pilings but we were back to no bites. We then made our way down to Broward Island just as the tide hit bottom. David got hot on the stern and brought in a Trout. He went back to the same spot and BAM! Fish On!  It was ripping a bit of drag and I mistakenly called "small Redfish", but boy was I wrong! Once that fish got out deep it began to "dig" and then ripped line up current, then back, then dug deep, then ran again. When David got it to the surface we saw that it was a huge Redfish. David played it perfectly, letting it run then working in, over and over, until he was able to ease him into the net to land a 1st Place standing in the Anglers Mark 2025 Bragging Rights Tournament with a 32" Redfish. Boy what a fish!. 

From the same hole we had another hookup. Gary was on the rod this time- he fought it valiantly and brought it up from the bottom. It was fighting a bit "weird" and sure enough when Gary got it to the net we saw that it was a very nice 18" Sheepshead, big enough to kick off the Bragging Rights Sheepshead Category with a 1st place position. (scroll down the right side of this report for standings). Not minutes later young Allen worked in and landed the only Slot Redfish of the day-  a nice 20" fish. The trio of anglers caught another handful of Seatrout, two of which were of keeper size(those and the big Sheepshead were released - they had enough for dinner). We fished until the bait was gone then we headed back to the ramp can counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Beating The Drum

 

Oh what a pretty day we had today! It was kinda cool but only a "two layer" day, and the sun was out with no real wind- the water early was like glass. I had met Henry Ross and his son-in-law Devon down at Sawpit Creek boat ramp and we made our way  up the intracoastal and then up the Nassau River to fish a dock at Seymore's Point on the very first of an incoming tide. As it turned out, we may have been early. Both anglers were making excellent casts to the pilings but we had not a single bite, not a one. We eased around teh corner to Nassauville and fished an outlet with a deeper drop off and this did the trick. Devon got hot early, I think it was his first cast and he had a hookup and played to the net a hungry Seatrout. He followed that up in quick order with a couple of more catches. Henry got things going and caught a hanful of the Trout too. Out of the 10 or 12 that we caught, one was of keeper size. 

We then made our way down to Broward Island and fished the first of an incoming there. Again, Devon got hot - he caught a couple of small Redfish, then had a strong bite and as his drag ripped, we had a big Fish On!  Devon played it perfectly, let it run worked it in, let it run and finally brought to the net a nice keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum. The duo added a few more fish before we moved down about 40'. Again, they picked up a couple of smaller Redfish and a Trout or two. We then moved further down, turned nto the current and worked back and caught more Reds, a keeper sized Sheepshead, and a Trout or two. Before we left the area we decided to fish are first spot one more time, now that the tide was really coming in and it paid off. Devon added a nice 20" Slot Redfish to his catch total and Henry battled a big Black Drum to the net. He had a " Bragging Rights" Sheepshead to the surface but it shook the hook before I could get it netted. Net man has to be quicker!

After making the long run up the Nassau and dipping into a creek we worked it thoroughly and it paid off with another 8-10 Redfish caught, one of which was in the Slot. Although the first spot didn't produce, the rest did and we caught a "mess o' fish" so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.