I met Dennis Adams, his son-in-law Danial, and nephew Ben up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp and we eased out of Eagans and made the run north, into the wind) and around to the Jolley River.. Boy was it choppy! We ran up the Jolley and found a large drainage to drift float rigs and live shrimp on the outgoing tide, but had no bites. Further up the Jolley, at Snook Creek we switched to jigs and this paid off. All three anglers began to get fish. Young Ben found him a "honey hole" off to the side and caught a good handful of hungry Seatrout.
We then made our way around to the Bell River and stayed with the jigs and got good number of fish caught as that tide dropped - Seatrout, a small black drum, and a keeper sized Sheepshead. Our final stop was back at Lanceford Creek, fishing some docks. Although CM didn't pay off, we moved down a dock or two and BAM! Big Fish On! Daniel was on the rod and played it perfectly, working it out from the pilings and brought him to the net lively - I almost missed him he was so green! But after netting we measured it right at 25", a perfect Slot red to rap up another great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Wind and Cool Make for a Challenge
Saturday, March 16, 2024
Big Red Battled out From Dock Pilings
Kristen put a small Seabass in the boat and we had a small Trout catch before we moved on. Our next stop was back around at Nassauville where we tossed the jigs between two docks. The "demo" cast produced a Redfish bite that Kristen expertly brought to the boat. We also picked up a couple of more hungry Seatrout here. After fishing some exposed shell banks down at Spanish Drop, to no avail, we moved up a few hundred yards and found one more Seatrout, out deep.
Our final stop was down at Broward Island, working along the treelined bank. The first area we tried didn't produce anything, but 40' further down we got into a good Redfish bite. Kristen and Quinton took turns reeling in fish and a couple of times we had a "double" hookup - two Reds once, and a Red and Black "puppy" Drum a 2nd time. The added one skinny but Slot Red to the box then Kristen finished things up with another small Drum catch and a first of the season Mangrove Snapper.We had ended with a bank and had two nice Reds 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
Friday, March 15, 2024
Trout Carry The Afternoon
We then made the run up to the Jolley River and seeing another boater sitting on the spot I was heading to, we continued on around to the Bell and found some docks to fish. My demo cast with the jig produced a bite and from then on we were catching fish. We worked thru a bunch of smaller fish but Eric got his limit in keeper sized Seatrout, and we thru back a couple that were of legal size. Eric added a Redfish catch, a few Black Drum catches and a few "baitstealing" Perch.
The afternoon had started real slow with that high tide but as it started out we had begun to get fish and as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida
Barely Legal
I fished with the Langfords this morining, Glenn and Patti, meeting them up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp. We had the first of an incoming tide so we made our way over to Tyger Island and fished the logs. An incoming tide, no wind, and just a few bugs made for what I thought were ideal conditions, but the fish didn't cooperate with the plan. They did catch a Bluefish and a small Flounder before we moved on.
Our next stop was over at Lanceford Creek, fishing some docks, and this paid off. We worked a few different docks and picked up fish, caught on jigs and live shrimp. They put in the box two Redfish that measured a little over 18", a Seatrout that measured a little over 15", and a Black Drum that measured a little over 14" - all "Barely Legal", but keepers just the same. They also had a few more smaller Redfish caught.
We then fished the outside of Tyger in a couple of places with float rigs. We may have had a few bites, but no real takers. We had a handful of fish in the box and as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Fl.orida.
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Grande Slam For The Day
Fishing between two docks we didn't get too much action, but Mary did have a strange bite, a hookup, and patiently brought to the net a almost legal Flounder to round out her very on Grande Slam.
Our final stop was up the Nassau and into a Creek where we worked bank with logs. It was some finesse casting but they were up to it and caught a couple of Seatrout and Redfish. We had had a beautiful day and had pulled in some fish so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
Just a 40' Difference
We caught a few more fish then moved down the island and worked back, tossing the jigs, but had no more bites. Our next stop was over at some docks at Seymore's and here Karen added a small Seatrout to the catch, and John had his first action when he hooked up and landed a small Sea Bass. We then came around to Nassauville and fished a outflow and Karen added a small Flounder to her catch, giving her an Amelia Island, Back Country Slam.
We had had a beautiful day and had some nice catches so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida
Monday, March 11, 2024
Mover Over Bragging Rights
The tide had gotten up really high and we tried a couple of other spots but had no real bites so we headed back to the ramp and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island Florida.
Saturday, March 9, 2024
Trout Getting Bigger
We then ran up Lanceford Creek and got in between two docks and stayed with the floats and out of th wind, we caught fish. Both anglers had good hookups and brought to the boat a handful of Seatrout, the biggest being right at 18". We then moved around the corner and drifted back to a dock and caught another Trout. After easing over to a flooded grass patch, Jeremy managed his float along side it and picked up a couple of more Trout.
After running back down Lanceford, up the Bell, and cutting thru to Tyger we fished a large outflow with the floats, but had no luck.
Back thru Tyger Basin we went, over to the Bell, and then a long run up it to fish some docks. Kimberly got hot here, picking up one Seatrout after another off the stern. Then Jeremy went in closer to the bank and caught the first Redfish of the day. We bumped the boat in and fished a dock and caught 2-3 more Redfish. After dropping back and fishing another dock, to no avail, Kimeberly went to the bank with a cast and on the retrieve she had a "bump", set the hook, and caught and landed another big 18" Seatrout.We had avoided the wind for the most part, found Seatrout action here and there, had 8 soon-to-be-filets 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
Friday, March 8, 2024
Good Trout Bite Early
When the bite finally slowed, we ran thru Horsehead and over to Poteat Cut and fished a stretch but the wind in our face made it a bit difficult. We came back to Jackstaff and fished a run out but had no bites.
Back thru Horsehead we went and down to some docks at Nassauville and here Larry got hot fishing a jig deep. He picked up a handful of Trout, had a big fish rip drag and come off, then he hooked up and landed a big 18,5" Trout, big enough to kick off the 2024 Bragging Rights Tournament, Seatrout Category.(scroll down the right side of this report for standings).
We then fished Pumpkin Hill with the float rigs but had no luck then made our way up the Nassau and into a creek to fish the jigs. And here it was Bob's turn to get hot. He hooked up with a big fish that was ripping drag but it made its way under a log - we could feel it tugging and sawing back and forth when we pulled the line. We tried repositioning the boat, opening the bail, but to no avail - it finally broke off.
But Bob was not to be deterred - he hooked up and landed a nice 20" Slot Red (no pic- accidently dropped it over the side!), but then he saved me and caught and landed another Slot Red. We added one more feisty Red before we called it a a day. And as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Wednesday, March 6, 2024
Within A Half An Inch
I fished with John Fitch and his daughter Annie today, meeting them up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp early. We eased out of Eagans Creek and headed down the river to try and hit a spot before others got there! We made it! I set up alongside some structure and the duo began to toss jigs and live shrimp, letting it fall to the bottom, and then letting the current bounce it along the bottom. We hadn't been there long before we caught some feisty Redfish. But then BAM! a big bite and Fish On! Annie was on the rod and she patiently worked it, keeping the rod bent and pressure on. She worked it to the surface and after a good battle landed a bulky 25" Slot Redfish, boy what a fish!
We picked up a few more Reds there, including a "barely legal" 18" Slot, then we moved on. Our next stop was fishing some dock pilings and even though these anglers were making excellent casts, we had no real bites. Same for the next stop - perfect outgoing tide, fishing some dock pilings, no bites.
After making a long run up to Bell River we again fished between two docks with the jig and shrimp and this made the run worth it. They began to catch Seatrout and landed a good handful of them. John hooked up an landed a keeper sized Sheepshead, then caught another smaller one. We picked up a few more trout, then moved on.
Our last stop was around at Tyger, fishing the logs and I think it was first cast, we had a double hookup! Annie expertly reeled her's in, a feisty Red, but Johns was bigger. He fought it expertly and soon landed a 24.5" Slot Red, almost as big as Annie's. It was kinda crazy, but we fished for a good 30 minutes after that and didn't get a bite! But as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing ere at Amelia Island, Florida.
Tuesday, March 5, 2024
First Cast Jinx?
But after that we fished and fished and had only nibbles from the "bait stealers'. After trying another dock we found anglers fishing from the dock so we moved on. Our next stop was way up Bell River, fishing a bend in the river and here the "first fish jinx" was off! Both Dan and Robert caught Seatrout - a good handful of 14" fish but they also landed a couple of keepersize. We also had one or two "big" ones get off. They also caught a handful of smaller Black "puppy" Drum. We worked up and down that bend for a while, then moved.
A brief stop at the MOA, with oysters exposed, and the tide low and still going out, but again, no luck.Our final stop was around at Tyger, fishing the first of an incoming tide. Again, both anglers caught fish - feisty Reds, and then Dan put a nice 25" Slot in the boat. He also found what must have been a school of 10" Puppy Drum. We fished a downed tree - Dan had made an excellent cast, let it fall down by the limbs and BAM! Big Fish On! Dan worked it patiently and when it came to the surface we saw it was a big Sheepshead and when netted it measured right at 20" - big enough to move in to First Place in the 2024 Anglers Mark Bragging Rights Tournament, Sheepshead Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings).
We had gradually built up a nice box of fish so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Monday, March 4, 2024
Fog Makes it Difficult to Get Started
After running up to the Jolley we fished the MOA with the oysters still showing, had no luck, then continued around to Bell River and fished some docks. Joe outsmarted and landed a Sheepshead, and keeping with the "striped fish" theme, caught and landed a Puppy Drum. The trio added another feisty Red to the catch and another keeper sized Seatrout.
The fog had lifted and we were able to make the long run back to the ramp and as we eased down Eagans we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Saturday, March 2, 2024
Monster Red on Worst Weather Day
After moving down the bank even more and turning into the current, we fished back a ways and just as we were about to leave Patrick put a perfect sized 24" Slot Red in the boat.
Our next stop was up the Nassau, fishing a creek with the jigs. As we worked along the bank I began to wonder if this spot was going to "skunk" us. But once we found a tree to pitch under we found the "honey hole". Bam, Bam, Bam, Bam we caught fish. Todd put a keeper Slot fish in the boat and caught and landed a few more that were in the slot. Then Todd, trolling behind the boat, had a THUMP and then his rod bent and Fish On! Todd worked it patiently to the net and landed a nice 17" Flounder, big enough to kick off the Bragging Rights in that Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings).We were soaking wet, and had gnat bites all over our hands, but as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Triple Ouch and a Comeback
catch the first of an incoming tide we made a long run up the Nassau River to our first spot. I think it was the first cast when we had a Strong hookup - this fish was digging deep and ripping drag with no intention of coming to the boat, and it didn't - it thru the hook! Dang it. We went back to the same spot and within minutes the same thing happened - Big bite, strong run, drag ripping, digging deep, and the hook thrown again! Back to the same spot we went and ANOTHER big bite. This one dug deep and headed for a nearby obstruction. About when the line lined up, BAP! Fish Off! dang it times three!
But we kept fishing and picked up a couple of feisty Redfish from that same spot, then moved down the way. fished for a bit, then moved on. After making our way down the river and up a large creek we fished some docks with the jigs. Sean picked up a feisty Red right off, then he hooked up and landed a keeper sized Seatrout. We caught one more Red along that stretch and move on.
Back down the river and up a creek, we worked a bank slowly. Sean had made an excellent cast up to the bank and caught another smaller Red, then went back to the same area and hooked up with a bigger fish. He played it perfect and soon landed a Slot Redfish.
It was a beautiful day and we had managed to stay out of the wind except when running so when we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
The Legend Grows
at Goffinsville Park boat ramp as the sun came up and we motored quickly over to Broward Island and set up to fish a tide that had been coming in for a couple of hours. We quickly found that we'd have to deal with "bait stealers' all day, but Robbie did find a nice keeper sized Seatrout out deep.
We then ran further up the Nassau, dipped into a creek and fished jigs to a bank as the tide came in. This did the trick. All three anglers were catching fish, including the Legend. I believe we had 4 Slot Reds along with a some smaller ones. We then made our way around to the other side of Seymore's Point and fished float rigs on a high and outgoing tide. This paid off too - the caught a good handful of hungry Seatrout as their floats came across and oyster bed. We hit two more spots fishing the floats, but the tide was up and we had no action,
Today, as mentioned, we met up at Old Town, eased up the creek and found some dock pilings to fish on an incoming tide. Both Robbie and Colin worked thru some Redfish and weeded out a couple of smaller, Slot Redfish.
Our next stop was down the river, fishing some structure and boy did this pay off! Colin (The Legend) got off to a hot start and he put 2-3 feisty Redfish in the boat before Bob and Robbie could get unlimbered. Bob was on the bow and put a good handful of feisty Reds in the boat then Robbie went wild. He hooked up and played to the boat a Big 24" Slot Redfish, then followed that up with another big 23" Slot fish, then followed that up with a nice 17" Black "puppy" Drum.Thursday, February 22, 2024
The Reason I Don't Bet
Prettiest morning all week! Hardly any wind, sunshine, and only a bit cool when I met Steve Locke and his fishing buddy Jason up at the Old Town Boat and Tackle boat ramp this morning. We eased out of Eagans Creek and headed over to Tyger Island and I knew, I just KNEW that we were going to get in to some Redfish. If someone had asked, I'd of bet at least 5 dollars! Steve and Jason began tossing float rigs with live shrimp over to a grass line as the tide had just started out and unbelievably, we didn't get a nibble, not even a bite. I would have lost that bet!
We crossed over a creek and fished some more grass line, had no luck, then headed up the Jolley River, made a stop at a drainage and fished it with jigs, then on around to the Jolley and fished two stretches of marsh grass with the floats, and again, not a nibble. We were almost two hours in and we hadn't even seen a float bob.
Our next stop was up at Bell River where we switched to the jigs again and finally, Finally, we began to get some bites. We put a handful of Seatrout in the boat, one of which was of keeper size, then when that slowed we moved in closer and fished some dock pilings. First cast, BOOM! Redfish on. They pulled out a handful of Redfish, two of them being in the Slot and then they tinkered with bites that turned out to be Sheepshead. One was a bit small but one was a nice 16" keeper. That spot paid off with some good catches and a few fish in the box.
We fished a few more docks with the jigs, stopped back by the MOA, then headed back to the ramp, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Wednesday, February 21, 2024
Boehm Lowers The Boom
And shortly after that Jack hooked up with another big fish. He played it perfectly and soon landed a nice "right in the slot" 23" Redfish. He followed that up with another 18"+ Slot Red. We did pretty good there, adding a few more small but feisty Reds. I think Mark might have had the biggest one on of all but this fish hadn't gotten big without reason - we were in three feet of water and it must have dug down into the oysters and BAP, fish off. Ouch.
We made a run down the river and up Lanceford, fished a grass patch to no avail, then moved even further down the river to fish some structure. The first "demo" cast with jig and shrimp produced a feisty Red, then all four anglers were catching fish - Redfish. After Pat and Mark had put fish in the boat, Frank "BOOM" Boehm had another strong fish. This one was big . Way big. It was digging deep and ripping drag and digging even deeper and....it was off! Dang it! When Frank reeled up it hadn't broke off - the hook had bent! Crazy.Our last stop was back at Tyger fishing jigs and here Pat got hot with catching Seatrout down deep. Frank added one more Redfish before we called it a day, and as we headed back to the ramp we counted it a s another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Tuesday, February 20, 2024
Spot Two of Four Paid Off
We decided to make a long run way up in the Nassau to dip into a creek and fish that outgoing tide. We had probably fished about60 feet with no takers but then the duo began to get hookups to "knock the skunk off". They stayed busy catching one Redfish after another, a lot of smalls, a few that were just barely under 18", and we counted five that were in the Slot with the biggest being right at 22". That was a good stretch that made the day.
After running back to the Nassauville area we fished a drainage with the jigs, but again, only a small bite or two. Our final stop was back at Broward Island on the very last of that outgoing tide, and Auty was able to hookup and land the only Trout of the day. The weather had been absolutely awesome so as we headed ack to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, FloridaMonday, February 19, 2024
Young Angler Teaching Old Dogs New Tricks
Back to work after a long weekend off in Charleston, I met the Andreasen fishing party early up at Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp. It was Pat Andreasen, his son-in-law Bryan, grandson Mason, and friend Frank as we eased out up Eagans Creek and found some dock pilings to fish on a tide that had been coming out for a couple of hours. We weren't ready for the "demo" cast of live shrimp on a jig because right off, BAM! Big Fish On1 Before we know it, the fish was around a piling and off. Ouch.
But these anglers were not to be deterred. Young Mason put a couple or three feisty Redfish in the boat before the adult anglers could blink. Finally, granddad Pat, who was tossing a float rig up over some oysters picked up a couple of Seatrout, one of which was of keeper size, then he added a feisty Redfish to his catch.
We then ran down the Amelia River to fish some structure, casting to the edge and letting the jig fall down the river bottom. I was beginning to think that we may need to move when BAM! Pat hooked up and battled a big 25" Slot Red to the net. Then BAM! Mason was catching Redfish, one after the other. Then BAM! Pat hooked up and battled and landed a "Tournament" sized 26.75" Redfish. He and Mason had their number for a good while then Bryan finally joined in to put a Trout in the boat.
Our next stop was back up north, fishing deep with jigs and here we got in to some Seatrout. Frank had been "laying back" but he joined in to put some Trout in the boat. All four anglers were catching fish and added three more keeper sized Trout to the box. As time wound down, Mason took home the hardware, the coveted GPK! And as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Wednesday, February 14, 2024
Beautiful Day Outstanding Fishing
We all noticed that most of the fish were caught as the river bottom dropped off, in about 6' of water. The water temperature had warmed a bit since last week, up to 57 degrees. We caught fish for two hours and they caught their limit of Slot fish (1 apiece) and then we continued to count - we had about 6 Slot Reds there, the biggest being 24" . They also added two keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum to the catch.
When it finally slowed we ran down the Amelia River and fished some structure and here the trio picked up 2-3 small but feisty Redfish. Back up the river came, and around to Tyger Island, fishing the logs, and did find one more feisty Red.Our final stop was over on the outside of Tyger and with the tide up, we eased in to some shallow water and switched to float rigs and the shrimp. I was hoping for a Trout or two to wrap things up but was pleasantly surprised, they began to get Reds! Most of them were small but we counted another 4 Slot Reds caught, the biggest being 23". The sun was up, we had been shedding jackets, and we had a nice mess of fish in the boat so as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.