And Just Like That..

 Bragging Rights Busted. I had met Scott Carter and his son Benny up at Old Town Bait and Tackle this
afternoon on a tide that had been coming in for about an hour. We made our way over to Tyger Island and fished the logs with jigs and live shrimp. Benny "knocked the skunk off" early with a Slot Redfish catch then Scott had a good "thump" and a hookup. He fought it to the boat and I was thinking "another Redfish" but it was hugging the deep bottom. He worked it up and landed a huge 22.5" Flounder - still out of season, but big enough to move into first place in the Anglers Mark 2024 Bragging Rights Tournament -Flounder Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings). Boy what a fish!

We worked up and down the island and picked up a good handful of Seatrout -most caught out deep, and a few more Redfish, most caught up near the bank. We then made our way around to the Jolley River, turned into the current, and fished the "bank" with floats and live shrimp. They caught a good handful of Seatrout, and a couple of more Redfish (they ended the day with 2 Slot Reds and 3 keeper Trout). Scott battled a big Bonnethead Shark to the boat for photograph and release, and Benny hooked up and landed a Shark of his own. 

After running up the river we fished Snook Creek, caught a few Trout there, then moved back down to Tyer Cut. Benny stayed hot catching Seatrout, and they  added two more Shark to their catch total.  We were catching so many Seatrout I could sense some boredom coming on! The sun was heading down, there was only a slight breeze, the few clouds that we had had moved on, and as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Flounder Out of Season

 

It stayed dreary all day today - overcast, a bit windy, and somewhat cool. I had met William Blalock out at Goffinsville Park early and with it dark enough still to have the NAV lights on, we eased up river to fish Pumpkin Hill on a high and still incoming tide. I had hoped that we'd pick up some Seatrout - sometimes we do- but we had nary a bite all thru that last bit of tide.

We came back down the river and around to Seymore's Pointe and fished a large drainage, now with the tide going out and this did the trick. William was making excellent casts to a point of grass and began to get bites right off. He hooked few up an brought to the boat some fat keeper sized Mangrove Snapper. He found that he could drift a little longer and get Seatrout. The first nice one came off at the boat but William brought the next one to the net, a 17" keeper Trout. He added a few more smaller Trout and a few more Mangroves to get his limit, before we moved on. 

After running thru Horsehead and over to Poteat Pointe we drifted the grass and again picked up
Seatrout. Most of them were small but we did get another keeper to add to the box. Back over at Jackstaff "Bank" we found more Seatrout and a hard fighting Jack Crevalle and a feisty Redfish. We than ran back thru Horsehead and down to Back River and fished a bend and here we had some good action. "Hungry" Seatrout, then another of keeper size, another Jack Crevalle, and then, as William drifted his live shrimp close to the grass, he had a hookup. It wasn't fighting like the Redfish or the Trout or the Jack and we both guessed correctly - Flounder!  William expertly eased it to the boat and we netted a nice 18" fish. Unfortunately they are out of season so we photographed and released it. It may have been the next cast, or one or two afterwards when William had the same kind of bite, hooked it up, and brought to the net another big Flounder. 

We fished that spot out, used up all of our bait, then headed back to the ramp and counted it as another (albeit not so pretty) great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

She's On Her Way!

 Evidently Hurricane Helene is headed to Florida, hopefully passing us by as she hits over near
Tallahassee. But we were able to squeeze in one more fishing trip today when I met the Ahrens, Bryan and his sons Henry, down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We headed up the intercoastal, turned into the Nassau and made our way around to Back River where we set up to fish float rigs and live shrimp on a tide that had been going out a few hours - the oysters were just beginning to show.

All three anglers were getting good drifts up near the grass and it paid off - they began to get feisty Reds, one after the other - they put up a good battle and are fun to catch. I mentioned that every once in a while we'll get a keeper "Slot" fish and shortly after Oscar had a stronger than normal bite. He lifted  his rod and let the circle hook set and when it ripped some drag with thought it might be a bit bigger, and it was. Oscar played it perfectly and brought to the net a 18"+ Slot Redfish.  Not too long after that, after we had moved up to where he could toss between two oyster beds, Oscar and another big bite, this one was even bigger! Oscar played it patiently as it ran deep and back to the stern and after a good battle he landed a nice 24.5" Slot Red.

We eventually moved across the river and fished a big bend, letting the floats drift around it and again, we caught umpteen fiesty Reds. Bryan went long and picked up a couple of hungry Seatrout and when Henry followed him he picked up a small Flounder. There was a commotion up ahead of us so Henry moved to the bow, made a long toss forward and BAM! Big Fish On!  He fought it expertly, let it run, worked it in, let it run and eventually landed a beautiful golden copper 22" Slot Red - they had their limit!

After running down the Nassau we worked a large drainage with jigs and shrimp and caught more Reds, a Catfish, a couple of Jack Crevalle and then Oscar put a keeper sized Flounder in the boat. We fished a dock at Seymore's where Oscar added a Croaker to the catch, then we headed back to the ramp and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

What A Start

 After last week's high tides and slow fishing I have to admit I was a bit worried about today's fishing but I had to "council" myself - we had good weather forecasted and we had a good tide so we surely would catch fish!  I met William and Dara Blalock out at Goffinsville Park early and the forecast was correct - it was a beautiful morning. We made a very short run across river and set up on a wide bend to fish the last of an outgoing tide and as we pulled up we could see bait moving down the bank and getting busted. We had a live well full of Shrimp and a about two dozen finger mullet to "toss at 'em". 

Dara and William made their first casts and BAM! BAM! They began to get hookups. Feisty Redfish were gobbling their shrimp and we stayed catching for about an hour. We did try a couple of the mullet but they didn't seem to want them. We moved up and down the bank and the fish seemed to be in shallower water. Eventually the bite slowed and we moved on. 

Our next stop was down the Nassau where we eased up to a large drainage, switched to jigs, and fished the bottom. William was fishing a shrimp and Dara was fishing a finger mullet and when she felt a "bump" she let the fish have it for a second or two, set the hook and....we thought she had a fish...YES! Fish On!  Dara worked it to the boat patiently and landed a big 18" Flounder. Up on the bow, William switched to mullet and began to fish out deeper and when he got that tell-tell "bump", he set the hook and reeled in a hungry Seatrout. He stayed with that strategy and hauled in another one.  After Dara reeled in another Flounder, this one small, we moved on. 

After making our way up to some docks at Seymore's we fished the pilings. Right off William had a strong bite - he set the hook, had 'em on for just a bit and BAP! Fish off. Ouch. William did hook up and land couple of Mangrove Snapper, one of which was of keeper size. We then made our way down to Broward Island and fished the north end for a bit, then we moved down to the south end and began to work our way north. Just as we reached the "hot spot" Dara put a cast up to the edge of the bank (Note:she had another finger mullet on) and BAM! Right up next to the shore sat a big fish and it took her mullet (and hook) and began to rip some drag. Dara kept that pressure on - it boiled a couple of times and knew it was a big Red. It made it's way to some tree limbs but Dara pulled it out and worked it in and we netted a beautiful golden bronze 25" Slot Redfish, boy what a fish. The duo added another smaller Red to the catch total before we move on. 

We finished up drifting floats at Pumpkin Hill - William got his Slam when he put a feisty Black "puppy" Drum in the boat, then we headed back and called it another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

In Between The Storms

 

You've probably heard, "be careful what you wish for" - just a month ago we were begging for rain and now it seems someone forgot to turn the spigot off! And last night the forecast called for 47% chance of rain today so we thought we'd be getting wet if we fished, but we were going anyway! Luckily when I got up to get the boat ready the forecast had changed to just 15% chance and that held, we didn't get a drop while fishing. 

I had met David Prezzano and his fishing buddies Jay and Mike down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp with a live well full of shrimp, and before they got there, I had casted for a few dozen finger mullet. We ran over to the intercoastal, up it, and then turned into the Nassau and made our way up for a short bit before turning into the current on the first of an incoming tide. I noted that even though it had been only coming in for an hour, it was already covering the shell. All three anglers began tossing jigs and shrimp and in just a few minutes Mike "knocked the skunk off" when he hooked up and expertly landed a feisty Redfish. He followed that up with a golden colored Whiting catch. 

The trio of anglers caught a couple of small Seatrout, a Catfish, a couple of Jack Crevalle, one of which put up a good battle for David, then Jay had a strange "thump" and, Fish On!  Jay played it patiently, worked it to the boat and when it came to the surface, we saw that it was a big Flounder. He eased it slowly to the net and we brought to the boat a nice 18" Flounder, boy what a fish!

We then made our way down to Pumpkin Hill, fished a stretch with float rigs, then moved around to a point and drifted that. David had gotten a good cast that took his bait along the grass and BAM! Another Big Fish On!  He kept that tension on and worked in, let it run, worked it in and I was thinking "Redfish" but when David got it to the boat and netted, we saw that it was a 20.5" Gator Trout, boy what a fish!

Jay added one more keeper sized Seatrout to the box and although we had a few bites after that, we had no takers. That tide had gotten up to flood stage and the fish must have been up in the marsh. But we had caught some "picture worthy fish", had a few 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.

Oversized Red Slot Red Big Flounder

 I wrapped my week up fishing with Bill Redfield and his friends Elaine and Joel, meeting them out at Goffinville Park boat ramp. We had live shrimp, finger mullet, and a few mud minnows to fish with and they all caught fish. After leaving the ramp we ran over to Horsehead, thru it, and over to Poteat Point and set up to drift float rigs with the shrimp on a high outgoing tide. I think first cast produced a bite then we "knocked the skunk off" with a Seatrout catch. I was expecting some Redfish but we had none, but did get a small Jack and a high-flying Ladyfish. 

We moved back to fish Jackstaff "bank" and as I eased along with the trolling motor these anglers worked the bank good. Joel, fishing off the stern, had let his float "go long" and it paid off - he let the fish take his finger mullet, lifted to set the circle hook and, Big Fish On! This fish was ripping drag and went out deep - my first guess was a shark-but it wasn't a long run. Joel fought it patiently, up to the bow and back, and after a good battle landed an Oversized 29" Redfish, boy what a fish! We worked along there and got a couple of smaller Redfish and Joel battled a 3- shark to boatside, then we moved on.

Our next stop, after running back thru Horsehead, was over at Pumpkin Hill, drifting some now exposed oyster shell. We had a few bites but no takers. We made a short run across the mouth of  Back River and fished a bend in the marsh and this did the trick. Both Elaine and Joel picked up Slot Redfish "back in the ripple".  After motoring down the Nassau to Spanish Drop and working that bank, we moved up to a drainage and worked it with jigs and shrimp and minnows. Here, Joel had one of those odd "thumps", set the hook, and worked it slowly to the boat where we netted a big 18.5" Flounder.  We fished some docks up at Seymore's where Elaine put a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum n the boat. 

We tried float rigs at some rocks for Mangroves to no avail, then made a final run down to Broward Island. We could see Redfish busting bait along the shore but they wouldn't eat. Moving up to the "secret spot", we were able to get a small Sheepshead, then we had as strong bite - Bill was on the rod and he played it perfectly as the drag ripped. He worked it, let it run, worked it in, and soon landed the biggest Slot Red of the day, a nice 23" fish. And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishng here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Water Like Glass

 After a day off I was back fishing today, meeting the Johnson crew- Nathan and Hanna, Michael and Cole. We were leaving the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early, the water was like glass, and heading up the Nassau River, all the way around to Pumpkin Hill where we set up to fish float rigs with live shrimp, finger mullet, and a few mud minnows. It wasn't long before they were catching fish - small but feisty Redfish. Nathan and Hanna seemed to have the hot hand early and they could do no wrong. reeling one fish in after another.  Nathan finally had a strong pull, hooked it up, and patiently played a Slot Redfish to the net. 

We made a run back down the Nassau to a large drainage and switched to jigs. The "demo" cast produced a keeper whiting then they were all catching fish. It seemed that Michael and Cole gravitated to the jig setup - they both put Redfish in the boat, their perseverance paying off. The group added a handful of hungry Seatrout to their catch total, Hannah picked up a Black "puppy" Drum, Michael reeled in a keeper sized Flounder, and they all caught some Catfish and Jack Crevalle. 

We fished Spanish Drop and again caught some fish, but the bite was slowing down. After running thru Horsehead and over to Jackstaff "bank" we fished it again with the jigs, added a few more fish to the catch total, then headed back to the ramp, counting as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Baitfish Signals Good Bite

 There were tons of bait fish passing thru Sawpit when I launched this morning -finger mullet and some
small pogeys. I already had a baitwell full of live shrimp but I couldn't pass up tossing the net to supplement what we had and I'm glad we did!  I met Gregg Fitgerald and his mom Ginnie early and we ran up the intercoastal, up the Nassau, and pulled up at an exposed shell bed on a tide that still had a couple of more hours of going out. It wasn't long before both anglers were catching fish - feisty Redfish, one after the other. Gregg went out deep with couple of casts and picked up some hungry Seatrout. He also added a hard fighting Jack Crevalle to the catch total. 

We moved up a hundred yards and caught a couple more of the Reds, then Gregg hooked up and landed anice keeper sized Flounder. Then Ginnie followed that with one of her own, bigger, and caught on one of the finger mullet. Gregg had a good bump, set the hook and expertly landed a keeper sized Seatrout. We moved up another couple of hundred yards, caught another couple of Reds, one of which had zero spots!

The tide had slowed to a stop and so did the bite. We ran down to Nassauville and fished between two docks, to no avail, then we ran back down te Nassau, and then on thru Horsehead and over to Jackstaff "bank". Ginnie had the hot hand early and caught another few of those Redfish then she had one final hookup. She played it patiently and worked to the boat another nice keeper Flounder. We had had good action for most of the morning, had a few keepers in the box so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Isalnd, Florida.

Big Start Big Finish

 I fished with the Bailey boys, Douglas and his sons Anderson and Dylan and his father-in-law Glenan, meeting them down at Sawpit Creek boat ramp to wrap my week up. We headed out on a tide that had been going out for less than an hour, running up the intercoastal and around to Pompano Point where we set up with float rigs and live shrimp, with finger mullet in the live well as back up. 

We may have had a Ladyfish caught but then we definitely counted the "skunk off" when one of the crew landed a small but feisty Redfish. It seemed kinda slow, compared to yesterday - we had gotten a handful of those small Reds and a barely legal 19" Slot Red, and I was beginning to wonder, but then Dylan had made an excellent cast up between to twigs of sawgrass and BAM! Big Fish On! This fish was boiling and rolling and holding it's on, ripping drag and refusing to budge. But Dylan was up to the task, kept the pressure on, finally worked it out, let it run, worked it out, let it run, then worked it slowly to the boat to land a big 29" Oversized Redfish, boy what a fish!

The excitement had barely died down when Dylan went back to the same spot and BAM! Another big fish on!  He fought it valiantly - Glenan had a hookup off the stern that was ripping drag in the background, then was off - but Dylan's stayed on and he patiently brought to the net a nice 25" Slot Redfish. Then Anderson put a fish in the box- as he hooked up and fought it - I called "Redfish" but as it came to the boat we saw that it was a nice 18" Seatrout. Then Dylan hooked up and brought a 17" Trout to the net. All four anglers tangled with high flying Ladyfish and boated a couple of more small Redfish before we moved on. 

Over at Jackstaff "bank" we worked it slowly, easing into the current, tossing the floats, and here Glenan got in on the big fish action. He had a strong hookup and the fish headed west!  We all thought "shark" but just couldn't tell. Glenan fought it like a pro, went with up from stern to bow and back to bow and after a good battle landed a huge Jack Crevalle.  We then ran thru Horsehead and over to Pumpkin Hill, fished a stretch of still covered oysters, to no avail, then crossed the mouth of the river to fish a shallow bend and here the action heated up again. They added a good handful of those feisty Redfish to their catch total. 

After working Spanish Drop and picking up one more Redfish on a jig, we moved up to another drainage with plans to wrap things up. But this crew wasn't finished!  Anderson had gone to the shell lined bank with a cast and BAM! Immediately when it hit the water he was hooked up. He fought the big fish patiently and soon landed a nice 23" Slot Redfish. Anderson went back to the same spot, had a thump. and began to work it slowly in. We were speculating "oyster fish" up until it surfaced and then we saw that it was a huge Flounder!  Anderson slowly eased it in and we netted a big 20.5" Flounder, a fish big enough ot move Anderson into 3rd place in the Anglers Mark 2024 Bragging Rights Tournament-Flounder Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings).  We wrapped it up after that and headed back, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

The Elusive Big Earl

 I'm fishing out of Old Town Bait and Tackle all week due to trailer issues. I met Lewis Welch and his fishing partner Oscar up there this morning and we made a run over to the MOA again - I keep thinking that's it going to turn on - it didn't.  The duo did catch a couple of small Redfish on the last of an outgoing tide, but that was it. We bumped across the river and fished a bend with the jigs and mud minnows, working somem exposed oysters slowly. It took a while and I was beginning to wonder if this spot was going to be a bust but then BAM! They started catching fish. Small but feisty Reds were the order of the day, but then Oscar had a strong hookup, he set the hook, had his drag rip, then, Fish Off! Ouch. 

And that was when I learned about "Big Earl". Evidently he is big. And we just missed him.

Minutes later Lewis had a strong bite and this one ripped drag and boiled and we knew it was a nice
Redfish. Lewis fought it patiently, let it run, worked it in, let it run, and eventually landed a nice copper colored 23" Slot Redfish. It wasn't Earl, though.  Both Lewis and Oscar caught a good handful of smaller Reds there, a handful of fat but slightly under the keeper size Seatrout. Then, Oscar had one of those weird bites and after a second or two he set the hook and expertly brought to the net a keeper sized Flounder.  Lewis added one more Slot Red to the box. We were running low on mud minnows so we "left 'em biting" and came back down the river. 

We fished Jolley "bank" and picked up a another small Red and a Seatrout while I was cast netting for finger mullet, and had another near miss at Earl. We then bounced around to the outside of Tyger and fished the shallow bank and on the fist cast with one of the netted mullets, Lewis reeled in a small Flounder. We had a few misses at Earl along that stretch but evidently he is fairly elusive. 

We had had some good action earlier in the morning, had 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.

Tyger Beauty

t's always a treat to get to fish the outside of Tyger Island as the sun comes up - the sun shining on the
marsh grass and trees with birds roosting is so beautiful! That was our first stop after I picked up Kenny King and his friends John and Betty Raker.  After leaving the newly revamped Oyster Bay Marina, we headed down Lanceford, up the Bell and thru Tyger around to the outside and set up on a corner to toss float rigs- we had live mud minnows, shrimp and finger mullet as bait. 

The trio caught a hanful of fish there - Jacks and Pinfish, and feisty Redfish and Trout. We crossed over the river and fished the mouth of Manatee Creek, again with the float rigs and again we caught a handful fish. Betty was at the stern, her usual spot, and every once in a while she'd yell, "fish", and reel one in. John had made an excellent cast up tot he grass and let his bait drift right along the shore  - his float slowly went under, he tightened up and, Fish On!  John worked it slowly to the net to land a nice 18" keeper Flounder. Shortly after that, in almost the same spot, Kenny was getting a good drift and BAM! Bigger fish on!  He played it perfectly, rag ripping, and after a good battle landed a nice 19" Slot Redfish.

We then headed up to the Jolley, but stopped to work the river side of Tyger. They caught a Trout or two, a Jack or Two, and a Flounder. We continued on up and into the Jolley, stopping at Snook Creek where Kenny battled a 3' Bonnethead Shark to the boat for photograph and release. Back at Jolley "bank" we worked it good. Betty held up the stern, bringing in a couple of feisty Reds and a small Flounder while Kenny and John fished forwared. They added Reds and then Kenny brought the final keeper in to the  boat, another nice 16" Flounder. We had had a beautiful day, had gotten to fish some beautiful area, caught 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.

2nd Chance

 I was out at Goffinsville again this morning, fishing with David Vice and his buddy Roland. The sun had just come up as we left the dock and made our way down the Nassau River, thru Horsehead and over to Pompano Point with plans to fish float rigs with live mud minnows and a handful of finger mullet. The duo had a couple of bites then Roland hooked up and landed a nice 18" keeper Seatrout.  Roland was hot early - in addition to the trout he caught a feisty Redfish, a Jack, and a couple of Ladyfish. 

But when his float disappeared and his drag began to rip we knew he had a big one on!  Roland worked it patiently and ....Fish OFF! Ouch! Boy that hurts. But he got a 2nd chance!  Roland had made a good cast up to a grassy point and BAM! Big Fish On!  This fish dug deep up shallow, boiled a time or two, then came out deep and took Roland from the bow to the stern, around the engine, back around the engine, and back once more. He played it perfectly and eventually landed a big 26.75" tournament Redfish, boy what a fish!

After fishing up and down that stretch and getting a couple of more fish we made our way back over to Jackstaff "bank". I eased along the bank as they tossed their float rigs. David was a good host and had been "laying back" but here he stepped up to catch a few. After making a good cast just above a small drainage, he let his float drift back and after it slowly went under, he tightened up and let the circle hook set. Later he said it felt like an oyster but then it began to fight. David brought it to the net and landed a keeper sized Flounder. He continued his catching ways, catching a couple of more feisty Redfish. As we moved up the bank Roland got back in on the action and found a few small Reds along the bank, but then one took it and ripped drag - this one was a bit bigger. Roland expertly played it and brought it in -a nice 19" Slot Redfish

We fished a stretch of bank at Back River, between a couple of docks at Nassauville, then finished up at Penny's Point, all to no avail. But we had a good 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.
 

Counting Variety

 I was out at Goffinsville this morning meeting John Raker, his mother Betty, and his friend Kenny early for a day of back country fishing. We made a short run from the ramp over to Back River and set up alongside a marsh  bank as the tide flowed out and I felt sure we'd be catching fish soon. I just knew it. But no, we may have had a nibble here and there but definitely no takers, not one. 

We then ran thru Horsehead and around to Pompano Point and this stop made up for it. We began to get fish right off the bat - all three anglers were catching fish - small but feisty Redfish, then Kenny hooked up and battled what we thought was going to be a Redfish but it turned out to be a nice 18" keeper Seatrout. Betty was on the stern and every once in a while she'd yell, "Fish"!  She caught and landed Jack Crevalle, Redfish, Seatrout, Ladyfish and Catfish back there. 

We worked up and down the bank and found a few more Reds, then moved back to the original spot and caught a few more. After that we ran back thru Horsehead and down to a large drainage where again I thought we'd get fish, but nope. But we made the short run on down to Spanish Drop and here John put a Redfish in the boat. 

Our final stop was back up the river at what is now called "Penney's Point".  We set up alongside the sandbar and tossed float rigs over the bar, again Betty was on the stern.  After a good drift she hooked up and landed a feisty Redfish, then a keeper sized Flounder. Unfortunately the tide dropped out quicker than I expected. After moving out and drifting the bar John found a small Black Tip Shark on a float rig then we called it a day . As we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Penny's Slew

 I fished this morning with the Parks, Jeff and Penny, meeting them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early. We headed up the intercoastal, then up the Nassau, and around to Back River and set up fishing a stretch of  grass with the oysters just beginning to show on an outgoing tide. We had plenty of mudminnows and a few dozen live shrimp and they both caught fish. Penny got hot catching small but hungry Seatrout then both anglers caught some feisty Redfish. We could see some big wakes up in the shallows so we moved in and made some good casts but we had no takers. 

Moving back out we fished the bank again. There had been some commotion along the bank and when Jeff got a good drift, BAM! He float sunk under and, Fish On!  Jeff played it patiently and soon brought to the boat a Big 19" Flounder! Boy what a fish! After a handful of more small Reds, we moved on.  Our next stop was back down the river at Twin Creeks. Both anglers fished the floats, then switched to jigs, but we had no real bites. 

We moved down the river to a large drainage (I need to name this spot!) and here the action picked up again. The duo caught a handful of those feisty Reds before we moved on. As we had moved around I was keeping my eye on a spot that I knew had to be fished just a little bit before low tide. We headed there now and we were about too late! It was just on the back side of a point with a long sandbar showing. I had only fished it one time and the way it was set up was the current came round the point then crossed the bar and ran along side some oyster outcrops The first time I fished it my guest got a good drift and when his float reached the oysters, BAM!  Today, Penny was on the stern and after a good cast over the sandbar she got that good drift. I was about to give up  on it but when here float just passed the oyster bar, BAM! Fish On!  Penny played it perfectly, worked it up to the edge of the bar, and then drug the Slot Redfish over in 4" of water. How cool! But she wasn't finished - she also caught a Flounder and another feisty Redfish, bringing both over the bark in that shallow water. I could tell Penny was zoned in and had figured this spot out so I've named it "Penny's Slew"!

We eventually moved on, ran thru Horsehead, and fished Jacksaff "bank" where Jeff finished things off catching a handful of those feisty Reds, and another Flounder or two. We then headed back to the ramp and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Flounder Queen Returns

 I wrapped my week up fishing with Frank and Joanne Wytiaz, meeting them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We had a baitwell full of mud minnows and live shrimp and before we left I threw a cast net for a few dozen nice finger mullet. We then headed up the Nassau River and made our first stop at Spanish Drop and began working the bank. There was all kinds of bait action and fish busting the bait and the duo joined in, catching some feisty Redfish, Seatrout, Jacks and Catfish. 

We moved up the way and fished a large drainage and boy was the tide low! Again, they picked up small but feisty Reds, then Joanne, after making an excellent cast to the bank, hooked up with something different. She worked it to the boat and we netted a nice 18" Flounder - Joanne has been known to catch the big Flounder! Frank hooked up and landed a big Mangrove Snapper to go in to the box.

We fished some docks at Seymore's and added another big Snapper or two, Joanne battled a feisty Black "puppy" Drum to the net, another feisty Red was caught, then we moved on.  After a run down to Broward Island we worked the bank on the first of an incoming tide. They caught small Reds, another keeper Mangrove, then Joanne, true to her calling, hooked up and landed another 18" Flounder. 

After fishing a stretch of bank at Pumpkin Hill and adding a high flying Lady Fish to the catch total, we headed back to the ramp and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Po-tay-to's - Po- tah -to's

 

When I met Jeff Adams, his son Beau, and father-in-law Charlie up at Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp this morning I mentioned that I had live shrimp and mud minnows for bait and young Beau set me straight - Potayto's-Potahto's - it's all the same! And it pretty much was!

We eased out of Eagans Creek and made a run up the river, into the Jolley and all the round to the MOA and fished the first of an incoming tide. We debated whether Jeff's small perch catch counted as "knocking the skunk off" but when Beau hooked up and battled a big Catfish to the boat we knew that the skunk was surely off.  Jeff added a nice Whiting to the catch and they had a couple of Croakers caught, and another small Catfish.

We made our way back to the mouth of the Jolley, fished the "bank" and worked along it tossing the jigs and shrimp and minnows. The trio had a few good bites, no takers, but then Jeff, after making an excllent cast to the base of the oysters, had a hookup. This fish was ripping drag so we knew it had some size to it. He played it perfectly and after a good battle he laned a nice 21" Slot Redfish. 

Back up the Jolley we went and fished float rigs along a couple of banks, then we finished up fishing jits on the outside of Tyger. Both Charlie and Jeff landed Seatrout while Jeff put a couple of Flounder in the boat. We had caught a good handful of fish but as we finished up we could see a wall of rain and sure enough, we had to make our way thru it, but as we eased back into the dock we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Oversized Red Caps The Slam

 I fished this morning with Mathew Massey and his daughter Sutton, meeting them down at the Sawpit
Creek boat ramp. We made the short run up the intercoastal and into the Nassau before pulling up at a large drainage to toss jigs and mud minnows. First cast produced a pretty good cast and then both angles were catching fish. They landed a couple of small Flounder, two fat Seatrout and a couple of feisty Redfish to round out an Amelia Island back country Slam. It was only minutes before Sutton was casting and catching on her own.

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We then made our way down to Broward Island and stayed with the jigs. Sutton had made an excellent cast to a creek mouth and BAM! Big Fish On!  She played it perfectly and soon landed a big 18" Flounder (all fish caught today were released). They caught a couple of feisty Reds, then we moved up to the other end of the island where Matt put a big Mangrove Snapper in the boat. 

After fishing between two docks at Nassauville, to no avail, we ran thru Horsehead and fished Jackstaff "bank", switching to float rigs. First cast, BAM!  The float was gone. Matt worked to the boat the biggest Trout of the day.  We worked along there tossing the floats, caught a handful of high flying Ladyfish, then, after Matt had made a good cast up into the pocket and got a good drift going, Fish On!  And boy was it a big one!  Matt played expertly, letting that drag rip and when we saw a big boil up near the grass we knew it was a big Redfish. Matt worked it in, let it run, worked it in, and soon landed an Oversized 27.5" Redfish - the biggest Red I've had on the boat in a month! We photographed and released it. We fished over at Pompano Point for a bit, then headed back to the ramp and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Perseverance and Hard Work Pay Off

 I fished with the Burke group today, Marvin and Nicholas and Mason, meeting them out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp on a tide that had been going out for about an hour. We made a quick jump across the river to the corner of Back River and fished float rigs and live shrimp and minnows along a stretch of grass and I thought for sure we'd get a fish or two, but we got skunked. We did have a couple of nibbles but no takers.

We then ran down the Nassau and thru Horsehead and over to Pompano Point and set up with the floats and it was only minutes and this trio of anglers were hooking up. Marvin kicked it off when he hooked up and caught a hungry Seatrout, then Nicholas got in on the action and caught one, then both of them "doubled up" and caught Trout. Marvin added a small Catfish to the catch total before we moved on. The next stop was back behind us at Jackstaff where we worked the "bank".  Marvin caught and landed another, bigger, Catfish, then Nicholas had a strong hookup and, Fish On!  He stayed patient and worked it slowly to the boat, let it run when it needed to, ripping drag, but he kept the pressure on and eventually landed a keepers sized 19" Slot Redfish!

We worked along there and picked up a couple of small Reds, crossed over and fished a point with the

jigs, to no avail, then moved on. 

After running back thru Horsehead and down the Nassau to Spanish Drop we worked a bank and picked up a Red or two, then we moved up to a large drainage. Mason had been making good casts all day but he must have not worn his "Lucky Hat" because he had a couple of hookups but they threw the hook. I had been stressing "Optimism, Perseverance, and Positive Attitude" and it paid off - Mason finally had a good hookup and expertly brought to the boat a "just undersized" feisty Redfish, then he and Nicholas had a "double" hookup and both brought in a Redfish. Nickolas went to the outside of  (backside of?) of a partially submerged bar, had a "thump" and set the hook. We could tell it was a fish but it was  hanging heavy and sure enough, after patiently working it to the boat, we netted a nice 17" Flounder. 

Mason added a feisty Jack Crevalle to his catch total and Marvin added another Red or two to his then we headed back to the ramp and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Keeper Sized Fish

After a few days off, I was back fishing today with Garland Clark and his son Kris, meeting them down at Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning. We made a short run up the Nassau and pulled up at Spanish Drop and began fishing the edge with jigs and minnows and shrimp and finger mullet. Kris kicked it off pretty early when he battled a strong Jack Crevalle to the net for photo and release. After moving up to a large drainage and fishing the very first of an incoming tide and the action went wild!  

Kris got hot hooking up with one Flounder after another - we counted 5 or 6 with a few of those being in the keeper 15" range. Garland added a small but feisty Redfish to the catch, then Kris landed one too. Kris added a small but feisty Black "puppy" Drum to the catch total. After making our way up to some docks and fishing the pilings, we had a nice keeper sized Mangrove Snapper caught.

After that we headed down to Broward Island and fished the first of an incoming there. Kris had a strong hookup that stayed on for a few seconds and after we eased down a bit we caught more fish: Another keeper sized Flounder (#4), a Slot 19" Redfish (released), and a keeper sized Mangrove. Stopping back by some docks at Nassauville in hopes of getting  a few more Mangroves, Kris surprised us with a big bite. he played it perfectly and we were speculating "Redfish" but when it came to the surface we netted a big 20" Gator Trout! boy what a fish! Shortly after that Kris had a nother one of those tell-tell "thumps" - he worked it to the boat and landed a big 18" Flounder, keeper #5!

We finished the day over in Jackstaff working the bank with float rigs, then we headed back to the ramp counting it as another great day fishing the back waters of Amelia Island. 

Water Like Glass

 I met Len Pelletier, his son Scott, and grandson Kevin down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this
morning and as we cruised up the intercoastal the water was like glass it was so calm. We made our way up to Pompano Point and unlimbered the float rigs, baited with live shrimp and mud minnows that I had caught at the dock. The calm conditions didn't bode well for fish catching - we had only nibbles. After dropping back to Jackstaff, we worked a bank with the floats, again to no avail. We were an hour in to the trip and hadn't had a bite!

After running thru Horsehead and around to Seymore's Pointe we pulled up at some rocks and fished the floats and at least got into some action caching Mangrove Snapper. Kevin got the hot hand and pulled away in the fish catch count, and never looked back. But Scott, fishing a minnow had the strong hookup. This fish was ripping drag, dove under the boat, and dug deep. But Scott kept the pressure on, played it patiently, and soon brought to the net a nice 20" Slot Redfish. After getting a good handful of keeper sized Mangroves, we moved on. 

Our next stop was down at Twin Creeks where we switched to jigs and shrimp and minnows. Although we didn't get any fish there, as we worked the bank Kevin had that tell-tell "thump", he hooked it up and brought to the boat a 17" Flounder. After catching some perfect sized finger mullet we moved down to Spanish Drop worked it good, but then a heavy rain moved in on us - we could hear it coming across the marsh which was cool, but then we got soaked!  We made a run back to the ramp, outran the rain, and when we made it back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.