We Worked Up To a Grand Slam

 

I wrapped my week up fishing with Mark Caldwell and his fishing buddies John and Don when I met them up at Old Town Bait and Tackle early this morning. We eased out of Eagans Creek and made a run over to Lanceford to fish some dock pilings on the last of an outgoing tide. The three anglers were pitching jigs and live shrimp to the pilings and getting good casts and we did pick up a couple of feisty Black "puppy" Drum. We then made our way back and around to the Tyger logs and worked the bank - Don hooked and landed a hungry Flounder, but after that we  had no real bites.

We then ran up to the Jolley River and turned into the bank and fished it with float rigs and the shrimp and this paid off - the trio tangled with a Ladyfish then John hooked and expertly battled a nice Slot sized Redfish to the boat - they had an Amelia Island Back Country Slam. We moved further up the river and fished at Snook Creek with the floats, then came back to Tyger Cut where they all joined in catching a few Seatrout to make it a Grande Slam. We ended the day around on the outside of Tyger and Mark wrapped things up battling a hard fighting Jack Crevalle to the boat. The day had been overcast all day, but the wind had held off, and we had some good action here and there so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

We Saved The Best For Last

 "We gotta work for 'em", is what I've been telling my guests when they step on the boat -we're catching some fish but they definitely aren't jumping in the boat! I met Gregg and Dannie Fitzgerald up at Old Town Bait and Tackle early this morning and after easing out of Eagans Creek we made a short run over to the Tyger logs to fish the first of an incoming tide in almost perfect conditions - the tide was right, we had very little wind, and it was just a bit overcast. Both anglers were making excellent casts with their jigs and live shrimp, pitching up between the logs and stumps, but the fish just werent' cooperating - Gregg did get a couple of palm sized Black "puppy" Drum. We then made the run out and around and up to the Jolley River and turned into the "bank" and worked those exposed oysters with the jigs but again, no real bites to brag about. 

We went further up Jolley to Snook Creek and worked those exposed oysters, but no luck. After coming back down the Jolly to Tyger Cut we pulled up with some oysters still showing, but we went to float rigs and the live shrimp and that did the trick. Gregg found that he could toss it out a ways and let his float drift into shore and BAM! he'd have a hookup. Both he and Dannie caught and landed 8-10 hungry male Seatrout - they were grunting! But Dannie did have one strong hookup that had her drag ripping - the big fish ran up current and thrashed at the surface - I was thinking it was a Bonnethead until then, then it ripped drag coming back to the boat as Dannie took up slack. She played it perfectly and brought it to the boat where I could have gaffed it but we were releasing anyway, and eventually it broke off. 

Our next stop was on the outside of Tyger where we went back to the jigs and worked the incoming current. Dannie was on the bow and hooked an landed a keeper sized Flounder, then she battle a Slot sized Redish and was doing a good job but the fish threw the hook! Ouch.  Further up the bank she hooked and landed another, bigger, Flounder while Gregg hauled in one more hungry Seatrout. The wind had held off, we had caught about 15 fish, and had a couple 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. 

Flounder in Horsehead

 

I was fishing out of Sawpit Creek again this morning, this time meeting Hank Prolog and his fishing buddies Harry and Fred. We left the dock early and made our way up the Nassau River and made our first stop at Spanish Drop on a tide that was almost hitting bottom - the trio of anglers were pitching jigs and live shrimp to the exposed shell bank, but I don't think we had a legitimate bite. We moved on up the river and fished a large drainage and again, no bites. The tide turned so we moved further up to Seymore's Pointe and fished some dock pilings where they picked up a few Pinfish, a couple of Jacks, and Fred landed a small Black Sea Bass. 

Our next stop was up at Broward Island, fishing with the Bald Eagles and here Hank hooked up and
expertly landed a feisty Redfish. We worked a few spots along the island and before we left Harry had a good hookup and he too landed a similar Redfish. We then made good run back down the Nassau, thru Horsehead and over to the mouth of Jackstaff where we worked the bank with float rigs. We had action along here - the tangled with high flying Ladyfish then Hank had his float slowly go under and he hooked it up. After a patient battle he brought to the net a keeper sized Flounder. And shortly after that Fred had the same bite - he brought it in expertly and landed another keeper sized Flounder - both fish were photographed and released.  Like the last few days, we had to work for our fish, but we've had some excellent weather, so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Lady's Rule The Flounder Bragging Rights Board

 Looks like we've got Chamber of Commerce weather this week -clear, cool, and sunny with only a slight breeze in the mornings. Today I met Alex and Laura Winter down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp (Goffinsville Park is closed) and we ran up the Nassau River to Seymore's Point with a plan to fish some dock pilings on the first of an incoming tide. It wasn't a good plan. I'm not sure if we even got a legitimate nibble on our jigs and live shrimp. We then ran down to Broward Island to catch the first of the incoming there and were greeted by the Bald Eagles who kept a watchful eye over our fishing efforts. I think I heard them laughing - we didn't get a bite until Alex finally "knocked the skunk off" when he hooked up and expertly played to the net a feisty Redfish. 

We then made our way back down the river to Spanish Drop and switched to float rigs and on the first drift BAM! Laura had a hookup. She worked it in patiently and as it came to the net we saw that it was a big Flounder - it measured right at 18" and big enough to move Laura into the Anglers Mark 2026 Bragging Rights Tournament-Flounder category. The sole occupants of that category are lady anglers! We had a good flurry of bites there - Laura picked up a 17" Seatrout and a couple of Ladyfish while Alex added a 16" Trout and battled to the boat a big 4' Bonnethead Shark. We finished up back at Pumpkin Hill drifting the floats then we headed back to the ramp, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

First Shark* of the Year and Trout Flurry

 

We had a beautiful day to kick off the week today - clear skies and only a bit of wind. After picking up Gary Yasuda, his son Allen, and David Vice out at Oyster Bay, we made the run over to the Tyger logs and fished jigs and live shrimp to the bank on a tide that had been coming in for a couple of hours. We didnt' get a whole lot of bites, but Gary did "knock the skunk off" with a hungry Flounder bite-first fish of the day! We then ran around to the Jolly River and fished the "bank" with float rigs and the shrimp but didn't get much more than a nibble. After running up the Jolley to Snook Creek we worked that bank for a bit, then dipped inside and switched back to the jigs.

This did the trick when David hooked up with a strong fish - he was fishing on the bow but the fish took him around the stern, back up to the bow, then back to the stern. David played him expertly and after a good battle landed the first Shark* of the year - a 4 footer!

We drifted up the creek while I reset the trolling motor remote and while I was doing that David and Allen doubled teamed a hungry Seatrout to the net. We made our way back down the river and fished Tyger Cut with the floats and I believe it was first

cast and BAM! We had a hookup - a hungry Seatrout. Then all three anglers were catching fish - we had one "double" brough to the net and had another one hooked up. David found three nice keeper sized Trout in that bunch - both Gary and Allen contributed to the catch with Seatrout landings. We'd had a beautiful day, caught a good handful 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. 

Float Hot or Jig Hot?

 It looks like I wrapped my week up before our annual Shrimp Fest, fishing with Harry Purnell and his
fishing partner Terry. We met down at Sawpit Creek boat ramp early and headed up the intracoastal, then up the Middle River and around to Pumpkin Hill to catch the last of an incoming tide. I had high hopes for this spot, knowing that some big Trout had been biting lately, and after Terry hooked and landed a Trout on his first or second drift, I was feeling good about the choice. BUT, so much for that - both anglers were getting good drifts along the flooding bank - we tried two other banks in that area, but no more fish. After motoring back to Seyomores Pointe and fishing a large drainage on the first of an outgoing tide, to no avail, we cut thru Horsehead and over to Poteat Point and stayed with the float rigs. Here, Teddy, fishing off the stern, hooked and battle a huge Ladyfish to the net, then he went back in and had a good bite  - he let the circle hook set and Fish On!  Teddy played it perfectly and soon landed a big 18" Seatrout.  He added a couple of smaller Trout to his catch on that float rig.

Harry was fishing the same runs with his float but the fish were ignoring his bait! We made a move over to Jackstaff and fished a flooded sand bar, this time switching to jigs, and this made the difference for Harry - he felt a hard thump on the bottom, hooked it up, and brought another large Seatrout to the net. He was "on the board". After running back thru Horsehead and down to Littlefield we stayed with the jigs. Harry was fishing off the stern and caught a hard fighting Jack Crevalle - the first of the year, and after we moved over to Twin Creeks he hooked and landed a "barely not legal" Flounder - it was 13.75" - nice but just a tad too short. We had to work for our fish today, but we had two nice fat Trout 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, Florda.

Win Some and Lose Some With Big Trout Today

 The weather was a but "grungier" this morning, misting when I picked up David Vice and his fishing
partner Greg over at Oyster Bay early. We headed back down Lanceford Creek and made our way up Bell and thru Tyger to make our first stop on the outside of Tyger to fish float rigs and live shrimp on the first of an outgoing tide. That first spot didn't produced, not a bite but after we crossed over the creek and began pitching we got bites right off. The duo of anglers landed a couple of small Seatrout, then David tangled with the first Ladyfish of the year, and boy were they big - I mistakenly called one a a small "Tarpon"- it looked like it had some girth and was high flying. Then David hooked up and battled a (now) oversized Seatrout to the net, measuring at 19.25", boy what a nice fish. 

We then made the run up to the Jolly River and worked the "bank" with the float rigs. It was Greg's turn to have the big battle - this fish took the live shrimp and ran, ripping drag. I was thinking "slot Redfish" as Greg battled it - but as he brought it to the boat we saw that it was a huge Seatrout. It made a couple of dashes and as I went to dip the net it made one last surge and "BAP", fish off! Ouch. We moved up the Jolley and fished a couple of spots, - Greg hooked and landed a hungry Flounder - then made our way over to the Bell River and switched to jigs. David had a strong "thump" under the boat and he expertly played a nice 20.25" to the net. This fish moved David into 3rd Place in the Anglers Mark 2026 Bragging Rights Tournament-Seatrout Category. We ended the day fishing some dock pilings and here both Greg and David caught Black "puppy" Drum and Sheepshead to round out their Amelia Island Back Country Grande Slam of Seatrout, Flounder, Black Drum and Sheepshead. As we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Do Your Work!

 

What a great week we are having - the weather is great and the fish catching seems to be picking up. Today I met David Bolton up at his place on Lanceford Creek and along with his grandkids Ruth and Michael, we made our way back around the corner to try some jig fishing up under some dock pilings on a tide that was going out and still had an hour or so of hitting bottom.  It didn't take long - we had a strong hookup and it was BIG! That fish followed the current up under the dock and kept going and with a BAP!, it was gone! But these anglers were not to be deterred. We went back under the dock with a cast and Ruth was on the rod and BAM! She had a good hookup. Ruth was tenacious - she worked it out with a vengeance and....the Michael had a hookup - we had a Double! It was pandemonium! Ruth played her fish experltty and soon landed a nice keeper sized Black Drum.  Then all the attention turned to Michael who was valiantly fighting his fish - he played it patiently and brought to the net a nice Slot sized Redfish. David and I were out of breath!

We got the fish photographed, measured and in the live well, and baited up again, and Ruth handed me
the rod to cast and said, "do you work"! Hah! But the commotion of those big fish battles must have turned them off -we didn't get another bite. We then headed down the creek to the intracoastal, then down the river to fish some structure and again, we were met with some disappointment.  We hadn't been fishing for just a few minutes when Michael had another strong bite and this one was ripping some serious drag - all he could do was hold on until Poppa got up there to help him then they both were holding on unti lthe fish got into some pilings and broke off. It was Anglers 2,  Fish 2 on the score board. Michael hooked and battled a big Catfish to the net to make it Anglers 3, Fish 2.  We continued down the intracoastal and dipped into Jackstaff and set up fishing a sandy point with the jigs, but had no real bites. After running thru Horsehead we pulled up at a dock and made some casts, and the fish pulled ahead!  David had a good bite right off and the drag was ripping, and the fish kept going - Ouch. Then, I had tossed a bait up to the pilings and again, a strong bite. It too was ripping drag and I was calling for Michael to come help but we couldn't do anything with it - the fish wrapped around the pilings and broke off. Double Ouch. It was not Anglers 3 and Fish 4!

We made our way down to Broward Island and fished the edge pretty  good on the last of the outgoing tide. Although we were getting nibbles here and there we didn't get any real bites until Ruth felt a slight "bump" - she set the hook expertly and fought to the surface a nice keeper sized Flounder to tie up the "Fish Bowl" 4-to-4!   We had a "slam" in the box, had eaten a few snacks, and 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. 

A Slam For The Boston Boys

 

Luckily we are having some great weather this week. The fish "catching" is not on fire, but I can almost feel it trying to heat up. Today I met Dick Conley and his visiting from Boston son-in-law Hugh, and grandsons John and Paddy, down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp mid-morning. We made the run up the intracoastal, up the Nassau, and made our way to our first stop at some docks at Seymore's Pointe where we commenced to pitch jigs and live shrimp to the pilings on the first of an incoming tide. Unfortunately, all we got were nibbles. We then made our way down to  Broward Island and fished under a juvenile Bald Eagle, but again, only nibbles. We then made our way north and fished the island on the first of an incoming tide and this did the trick - Hugh "knocked the skunk off" with a nice hungry Seatrout catch. He also had a bite, then snagged then he and John worked out and landed an ugly old Toad Fish! Dick added a Flounder to the catch before we moved on. 

We ran back down the river to Twin Creeks and began drifting float rigs and live shrimp over the shell bottom - I think first cast got a bite, then they picked up another fat Trout. Paddy was on the stern drifting long and it paid off - his float disappeared, he set the hook and, Fish On!  Paddy fought it valiantly to the boat and landed a Slot sized Redfish, boy what a fish., and it rounded out an Amelia Island Back Country Slam of  Seatrout, Flounder and Redfish. We fished down at Spanish Drop with the floats, then back up at Pumpkin Hill where we were watched diligently by one of the adult Bald Eagles. We had a beautiful day, had caught some fish, so as we headed back to the dock

we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Weather Swings

 

Yesterday we had high winds and dropping temperatures while today we had almost no wind, cooler, but real sunny- an ideal day. I met Henry Ross and his fishing crew Jon and Jeff, up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle ramp. We eased down Eagans Creek and made our way over to the river, then  up it to fish some docks on the first of incoming tide. We were getting good casts up into the pilings but the fish either not hungry or not there. We then made our way over to Tyger Island and fished the downed logs and this paid off. Henry "knocked the skunk off" when he hooked up and landed a nice keeper sized Flounder, caught out deep. Shortly after that Jon had a strong bite, his dragged ripped a bit and Fish On! Jon played it  perfectly and soon landed an nice slot Redfish. We eased along the island and Henry got hot, hooking and landing a couple of Flounder, one of which was of keeper size. 

We came out from behind the island and ran up to Jolley River where we made a stop on the outside ofSnook Creek. The anglers switched to float rigs and were getting good drifts when Jeff saw his float disappear and the battle was on! This fish was ripping some drag and I thought for sure it was going to be a nice Slot Redfish but as Jeff worked it to the surface we saw it was a huge Trout. Jeff eased it to the net and landed a big 21.5" Trout, a fish big enough to mover Jeff into 1st Place in the Anglers Mark 2026 Bragging Rights Tournament- Seatrout Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings). We moved back down the river to Tyger Cut and fished that with the floats and had a good flurry of Seatrout catches, one of which was of keeper size. 

Our final stop was on the outside of Tyger, fishing jigs, in hopes of some more Flounder. We didn't get them but Jeff did hookup and land a nice 1lb Whiting to go in the box. And with that, we headed back to the ramp, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Boy, Were We Wrong

 It was one of those "Chamber of Commerce" days with clear skies, sunshine, and only a slight breezewhen I met Jeff Key and his fiancé Sally down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning. The gnats were bad at the dock but after we made our way up the river we never saw them again. Our first stop was up at Pumpkin Hill where we drifted float rigs and live shrimp with the last of the incoming current and it didn't take long for Jeff to hookup and bring to the boat a nice keeper sized Seatrout. He caught a couple more smaller Trout then he had a good hookup, one that was ripping some drag - I called "small Redfish" but as Jeff worked it to the net he landed a big 19.5" oversized Seatrout - big enough to move Jeff in to 2nd Place in the 2026 Bragging Rights Tournament-Seatrout Category(scroll down the right side of this report for standings). But I wasn't done being wrong!

On another drift Jeff had a hard take and almost immediately a big dark form rolled up. Jeff and I called it a "Ray" while Sally called it a dolphin. It was ripping drag and digging deep and I thought for sure that, being a Ray, it would break off any minute. But Jeff kept the pressure on and fought it patiently -it rolled again but didn't actually show, but we new it was big! Jeff worked it around the stern of the boat, let it run, worked it closer, then I saw that it was a huge Redfish. After landing the fish we measured it (twice) as 27.5" - oversized but big enough to move Jeff into 2nd Place in the Redfish Category of the Bragging Rights Tournament! We added one more keeper Trout along here, and also had some small throw backs. 

We fished around a point and picked up another smaller Trout, then ran back to Seymore's Pointe where I just knew we'd be getting some more fish. Wrong again! We didn't get a real bite. Thru Horsehead we went and on the other side we set up and fished a drainage, to no avail. We went over and fished Poteat Point where Jeff did hookup and land another nice keeper sized Seatrout. Back over at Jackstaff we pulled up to fish a cut with jigs. The two anglers weren't getting any bites but then I saw Sally's rod bend and Fish On!  Sally played the fish expertly and slowly worked it up to the surface - a tale-tale sign- and sure enough as it came up we saw it was a nice Flounder. Sally brought it to the net and we measured it at 16.5", big enough to set the bar for 1st Place in the 2026 Anglers Mark Bragging Rights Tournament-Flounder Category. And shortly after that Jeff hooked and landed a smaller Flounder. 

We ran back thru Horsehead and down to Twin Creeks where we wrapped the trip up tossing jigs and minnows. We had some good fish in the boat, had thrown back some oversized ones, and had made a mark on the Bragging Rights board so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

But that Big One...

 Those "Chamber of Commerce" days just keep rolling on..just in time for the Spring Break visitors to enjoy their time here at Amelia Island. We had clear skies, mild temperatures and only a slight breeze (yes, the gnats were a problem) when I met Allison Olguin, her father Larry and her son Anderson up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp. We eased out of Eagans Creek and made a run over to the Bell River, ran up it a ways and then set up at a point on a tide that still had about an hour of coming in. Allison struck first when she hooked and landed a feisty Bluefish - it thrashed back to the boat all the way. We then made our way over to Lanceford Creek and fished a few spots (5 to be exact) and came away with only a few nibbles. 

After running down the intracoastal and dipping in behind Piney Island on a tide that had just started out, the action heated up a bit. Allison hooked an expertly landed a hungry Flounder, one of a few that we have caught the last couple of months. Then Anderson hauled in a foul hooked Stingray that made for a fun catch. Anderson was fishing jigs and live shrimp and being patient with letting it lay for a while, and it paid off, big time. Actually, too big! That fish hit his bait and immediately started running north, under a gangway, and between the floating dock and fixed dock - there was nothing we could do. It eventually ran that line alongside a piling and broke it off, and it's still heading north, boy what a fish!

But Anderson was not to be deterred. We ran further down the river and pulled up at some structure and stayed with the jigs and shrimp. In short order Andeeron had a hookup - he played it patiently and soon brought to the net a nice keeper sized Seatrout. And his grandfather followed that up with a Seatrout catch of his own. As we headed back to the dock we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

If you've read the last few reports you may be able to tell that the fish "catching" has been slow the last week or so. I checked my notes and LAST year the first of April we had some "banner" days of catching, so I think sooner or later it's going to pick up. We gotta keep fishing! 

Had to Work For 'em

 What a beautiful day!  We waited and went this afternoon - sunny skies, and it had warmed to shirtsleeves temperatures, and had just enough breeze to keep the gnats off. I met Eric Stevens and his fishing partner Gary out at Goffinsville Park and with a baitwell full of live shrimp, we left the dock and headed over to Seymore's Point and set up at a large drainage to fish float rigs and  the kicking shrimp. We were late. The outgoing tide had already gotten down to where our floats wouldn't float. But Eric, fishing off the stern, went long and did pick up a hungry Seatrout to "knock the skunk off". We had a couple of more bites but no takers, so we moved on. 

We fished down the Nassau, hitting a couple of spots with jigs and the shrimp but we had not real bites. After coming back up the river we stopped between two docks at Nassauville and stuck with the jigs. Eric picked up a small Bluefish while Gary expertly landed a Flounder that was just a smidge undersized. All fish caught today were released. After running down to Broward Island we fished a drainage, then the bank, then another stretch with the jigs - it was beautiful fishing the island, but we had no real bites. 

It was time to run to the SSHH (Super Secret Honey Hole) - way up the Nassau, boy what a run! The tide was outgoing and it was getting low already with 2 hours to the bottom. We worked along the bank, pitching to the logs and brush and BAM! Gary had a strong bite. He played it patiently, working it in, letting it run, and brought a nice Slot Redfish to the net. We had some action! Shortly after that Eric hauled a feisty Red in then he went back to a brush pile and BAM! Big Fish On! This fish was ripping drag and it was a while before we knew it was subdued. Eric played it expertly and eventually landed a big Slot Redfish. We worked along that stretch - Gary hooked and landed another Seatrout, then the duo added another Redfish. 

I noticed the water temperatures fluctuated between 60, 69 and 64 degrees, depending on where we were fishing. These anglers had to work for 'em, but we ended up with a few nice fish, so as we headed back to the ramp, we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

We Cruised To a Good Finish

 Another beautiful morning greeted us down at Sawpit Creek boat ramp when I met the "Crane Island Boys" -Dick Conley, David Gray, Henry Ross and his son Stephen. The gnats were swarming us at the ramp but after that initial run they weren't too bad. We eased up to Spanish Drop and worked the exposed shell bank on a tide that still had about an hour to hit bottom, tossing jigs and live shrimp - we worked that bank thoroughly but didn't get much more than a nibble. We then moved up the river a couple of hundred yards and hadn't been there more than a few minutes when David, fishing on the bow, had a hookup out deep and Big Fish On! That drag was ripping! The rest of the guys cleared out as he came from the bow to the stern and fought the big fish to a standstill, then brought it to the net - an Oversized 27.25" Redfish, boy what a fish! We moved further up the river to Twin Creeks and tossed it to and again, David had the hookup. This fish was ripping drag but after that Oversized fish it was no match for David and he expertly played the 20" Slot fish to the net.

Our next stop was up at Littlefield where we fished deep. Stephen and his dad were on the stern and
they had the hot rods here. They both put a handful of Seatrout in the boat, one or two which were of keeper size, then Stephen battled a deep digging Black "puppy" Drum, and won the battle to land the keeper fish. We then made our way around to Seymore's Pointe and fished some dock pilings as the tide started back in. At those pilings I think the only fish caught was another nice keeper sized Black Drum by Stephen, but David caught a Trout or two out deep. We then worked along the some docks, pitching as we went and got another Trout or two with some keepers mixed in.

The final stop was down at Broward Island where the CIB's caught another handful of Trout, a couple of small Reds, and Dick rounded out the "Super Grand Slam" by catching a small Flounder (the first I've seen in months) and a Sheepshead, added to the Black Drum, Redfish and Seatrout for the Super Grand Slam. We had started slow but built to a good finish and had a good mess of 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. 

Wrapping Up The Old Year With Some Great Fishing

 We wrapped up 2025 yesterday with some great fishing - although it was a bit cool at 35 degrees as we
left the Sawpit boat launch!  I had met Mark Averbuch, his son Jared and grandson Max early to get a fishing trip in the last day of the year - we ran up the intracoastal, then up the Nassau to make our first stop up at Seymor's Point - I lost my knit cap on the way and paid for it with a cold forehead those first few runs! Although the bite was not "one fire" as we drifted float rigs and live shrimp at a large drainage but Mark, fishing off the stern, did get the "skunk" off when he hooked and landed a hungry Seatrout then battled a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum to the boat. All fish caught today were released.

We knew the wind would be blowing all morning at 10mph, with gusts, so we had made a plan to try and stay in behind a land mass to get our fishing in, and the plan worked, although we did have run thru the wind to get to where we were going. Our next stop was around at Littlefield where we pitched jigs and the shrimp and all three anglers began to get fish. They found that they had to fish those jigs sloooowww and when they felt a "bump", set the hook. Most were Seatrout just below the size limit but we did have a couple that would have met the size limit. Both Mark and grandson Max hauled in a Flounder each that were right at keeper size. The "baitstealers" began out-competing for our bait though, so we moved on.

After a long run up the Nassau we turned into a small creek and fished a log lined bank and here we found some Redfish. You got to work that bank its full stretch - I was expecting some bites where we started but as we got to the opposite end they began to hookup. I guestimated they caught 10 Redfish, most being right at 17 7/8", but we did get one that was right at 19". The sun had really warmed things up and we'd had pretty good action all morning so as we headed back to the ramp we counted is another great day to wrap up the year fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Came for the Catching

 I hope everyone had a great and Merry Christmas!  I was back fishing today with William and Dara
Blalock and boy what a crazy morning it was! Old Town Bait had run out of shrimp just as a I was pulling up so I made my way back south to Amelia Island Bait and Tackle and it seemed everyone with a boat was going fishing today - it was a zoo! But the staff at AIBT handled it with skilled efficiency - I was back on the road and back to Old Town to launch and meet the Blalock's. We eased out of Eagans Creek and made a run all the way up the Bell River where we pulled up at some docks and fished jigs and live shrimp deep on he first of an incoming tide. The duo had to weed thru the baitstealers but they put a good handful of Seatrout in the boat - most all were right at 14".  William hooked up and landed a feisty Sheepshead around one dock. We bounced down the docks and caught more Seatrout and one of them was of keeper sized, photographed and released.

We then motored over into the Jolley River and fished some still exposed shell beds with the jigs, then moved down to Tyger Cut and switched to floats. Both spots didn't produce a bite. On around the outside of Tyger, we worked the bank with jigs, William on the bow tossing forward while Dara worked the stern, fishing backwards and as Dara said, "she came for the catching" - she landed a good handful of Seatrout and an "almost legal" Flounder. 

We fished over at Bell River with the floats, Soap Creek with the floats where William landed the only Trout, then wrapped things up around the corner in Lanceford. The sun had shone all day, it had warmed nicely, and we had some good Trout action so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Hug'n The Bank

After seeing the weather forecast last night I figured we'd be hug'n the bank today to keep out of the wind It wasn't expected to be too bad - up to 14mph but enough to make things interesting. I met Bob Kossman down at Sawpit Creek early and we made a run up the intracoastal, then up the Back River and around to Pumpkin Hill where we set up with float rigs and live shrimp on a tide that had about 30 minutes to hit high.  That current was still creeping in as Bob tossed to the grass, opened his bail, and let it drift. It didnt' take but a drift or two and BAM! Fish ON! Bob cranked, and the fish swam to us, and he cranked and it swap to us and when it realized it was about to be landed it turned and ran and, Fish Off! Ouch! We fished that stetch for a while, fished around the corner for a bit, then moved on - no more takers. 

I had been stalling, waiting for the tide to change back at Seymore's Pointe, so as we eased up to a drainage there, sure enough, the tide was coming out. Bob was working that current and it paid off - it wasn't "on fire" but he caught fish, nice fish, slow and steady. He put a few keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum in the boat, a handful of small but feisty Redfish, then a couple of Slot Redfish and a couple of Seatrout. Bob kept a few fish but threw back a couple of "keeper sized" fish.  Those Black Drum sure do pull!

We came back around Seymore's and down to Littlefield and went to jigs and the shrimp and like yesterday, caught Seatrout until we got tired of catching them. 99 percent were 14" but we did have one that was keepable - we tossed it back. But we did get a keeper sized Flounder. That West wind was blowing - we hugged that land mass, went back around to Seymore's and tried out hand at fishing the traditional Trout "slip floats" with some success. -we caught a handful of feisty Bluefish. DAVID NEASE/TANDY MORTON, if you are reading this, both Bob and I are not sold on the slip float technique - I'd rather be pitching a jig! But with that said, it was still a great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Two Trips on a Beautiful Day at Amelia Island

 These will be short - it's getting late and I've got a trip early tomorrow...

I fished with Cal early today, meeting him out at Goffinsville Park boat ramp for a fishing trip and then a tour of the area - he's a new property owner and wanted to check the river out. We hit Twin Creeks down the Nassau and drifted floats with the current - Cal caught on to the game early and knocked the rust off his cast in no time. We had no bites, just nibbles, so we moved on. Over at Pumpkin Hill we hit paydirt.

Cal was getting excellent drifts and it paid off. He began to get keeper sized Seatrout, one of which was right at 20" - all fish caught on this trip were released. We caught a good number of fish before we moved on to the tour - we visited Broward Island, Seymore's Point, ran thru Horsehead and over to the Intracoastal, then down to Nassau Sound and the bridges before making our way back up the Nassau and to Goffinsville Park. It was a great day to be out fishing and touring the waters of Amelia Island. 

This afternoon I fished with John Raker and his mother Betty, after having a lunch of cold pizza!  It was an afternoon of quality over quantity! The tide was going out so we motored across the way to Back River  and found an outflow to fish - John caught a small Redfish and Betty picked up a small Trout. Over at Twin Creeks we went to jigs, didn't get much, so moved down to a drainage where Betty perfected the "Betty Twirl" - a technique where she spins in the rear seat, brings the rod over her head, and the battle is back on! She expertly landed a bulky 25" Slot Redfish! Back at Nassauville John hooked up and landed a nice 19" Flounder (out of season) and down at Broward he followed that up with another Flounder, this one right at 16". We finished up the day north of Broward, working a bank. John caught a feisty Redfish and then a hungry Seatrout then Betty finished things up with another Slot Redfish, this one measuring at 23". We had some good fish caught this afternoon so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Grand Slam Would Have Been in The Box If Not For...

 Boy what a beautiful morning! I met Bob Kossman and his friend Shelly down at Sawpit Creek early this morning - that time change makes it perfect for these cool mornings. We ran up the intracoastal, turned up the Back River and made our way around to Pumpkin Hill - set up today where the sun's glare wasn't so much in our eyes and it paid off. We had a good Trout bite - most of them undersized, but I think we did get one keeper sized. We moved around the corner, drifted our live shrimp on that last of an incoming tide, and had another couple of Trout caught. We then moved up the Nassau and fished a "pocket" with the float rigs and just as the tide came to a halt, BAM! Big Fish On! Bob was on the rod and fought it valiantly. It was ripping drag up in the shallows but then it came to the boat and Bob had to quickly take th slack up, then it ran under the boat and it was nip and tuck there for a while. But Bob stayed with it and eventually boated a 7-spot 25" bulky Slot Redfish. Boy what a battle!

We then made our way down the Nassau and around Seymores Point and set up at a large drainage. I was hoping for the best - this spot has NOT been producing, but today was an exception. Shelly picked up a keeper sized Seatrout after a good drift, then she hooked up and battled a hard fighting keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum to the boat, which made it an Amelia Island Back Country Slam for the boat. We tossed back a handful of smaller Seatrout before we moved on. 

After running thru Horsehead and over to Poteat Point we drifted that stretch of grass with the floats and caught another couple of Trout, one of which was of keeper size.  Back over at Jackstaff we finally switched to the jigs but didn't get much, other than a small Ray. Our last stop was back over in the Nassau River, specifically Twin Creeks and here we had a good flurry of Trout catches and then Shelly boated the first Flounder of the day-14" but out of season, but still it made for a Grande Slam!  We had sunny skies, the wind never was a real issue, and we had a good mess 'o 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. 

Trout Splash

 I fished Friday to wrap the week up - it was a bit cool when I met Willam and Dara Blalock out at
Goffinsville Park. We made a good run down the Nassau and thru Horsehead and over to Poteat Point to make our first stop and I'm glad I had my heavier North Face on!  The tide was still up so we went with float rigs and worked the grass. Not much was happening but Dara did pick a up a feisty Redfish to "knock the skunk off".  We came back to Jackstaff and pitched to a large outflow. Dara said she saw some movement up in a pocket of grass, made a cast and missed, but she quickly went back to it and BAM!  Another feisty Redfish was caught.

The wind wasn't real strong but it was blowing almost 10 and with it being cool it was a little
uncomfortable. So we ran back thru Horsehead and began to work some docks at Seymore's. I'd pull in and let them fish the docks on either side of us, back out, moved down a dock and do it again. We were on about the 5th dock when William, after having made a great cast up into the pilings, had a strong "thump" and he had a hookup. He worked it at and played it tot he net to land a nice 20" Seatrout. Before I could get it unhooked Dara was hooked up. She brought in another keeper Trout and then for a while they were catching and landing Seatrout.  I was huffing and puffing before it was over with!  They finished with five keeper Trout in the box. 

We moved down the Nassau and fished some drainages with jigs and shrimp and minnows. Dara hauled in a sizable Flounder (out of season) and William battled a what was probably a big Redfish for a good few minutes before it threw the hook. OUCH!  It will have to be caught another day! The sun was up, 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.