We Rallied at the End

 

If you could have asked for the most perfect day to be fishing, today would have been it! Clear skies, sunshine, just a bit cool, and only a slight breeze - it was a "Chamber of Commerce" type morning when I met Bob Kossman and John Raker on a "share trip" kind of day down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We made a long run up the intercoastal, into Back River and around to Pumpkin Hill to set up along a flooding shell bottom on a high and still incoming tide. John was on the bow and Bob was on the stern and they couldn't have had better drifts with their float rigs and live shrimp but all we could produce was a nibble here and there.

We moved around a point, fished it a bit, then dropped back to a flooded grassy island where John quickly "knocked the skunk off" with a hungry Seatrout catch. Whoop Whoop! Skunk off! We fished back around the corner, then made a run over to Seymore's Pointe and fished a large outflow and again, just nibbles. After running thru the marsh around to Jackstaff we fished another outflow thoroughly, but again to no avail. 

Back thru the marsh and down to Twin Creeks where we switched to jigs and shrimp. The duo of anglers didn't get any fish but Bob did have a strong bite right at the boat.

I was getting desperate so we decided to make the run up the Nassau to a small creek where we worked the bank with the jigs and it was a trip ending Rally!  John hooked up and landed a Seatrout, and at the same time Bob hooked up and battled a feisty Black "puppy" Drum. As we worked the bank John picked up a feisty Redfish, then another, then Bob had a a big bite and Fish On! He played it to the net and landed a Slot sized Redfish. We were almost ready to head back to the ramp when Bob had a hookup, a strange fight and sure enough, when he brought it to the net we had a keeper sized Flounder to round out a Grand Slam of Seatrout, Black Drum, Redfish and Flounder and as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.  

Slam In The Box

 I fished today with Mark Richardson, his son Braden and his friends Chris and Landon, meeting them up at the Old Town Bait and  Tackle ramp early. We made a run over to Lanceford Creek and fished some flooding oyster beds on a high and incoming tide with float rigs and live shrimp. Chris fairly quickly put a hungry Seatrout in the boat and shortly after that Braden had a strong hookup. This fish was "ripping drag" and I felt pretty sure it was going to be a big one, but it was  not to be. It was thrashing in some shallow water over the shell bed and BAP! Fish Off! Boy that hurts!

We fished a couple of areas there, picking up a couple of Trout by Landon and Chris, then Mark battled a hard fighting Bonnethead to the net for pictures and release. We moved on around to "Millie's Spot" and again caught a couple of Trout, one of which was of keeper size. 

We then made our way down the intercoastal and dipped into a creek and switched to jigs and shrimp. Chris picked up a Seatrout out deep, then Landon found a nice 16" Flounder at the mouth of a drainage. 

Back out  into the Intercoastal and down to some structure, fishing deep with the jigs, and in a cast or two Landon had a strong bite and Fish On! This was a big fish and was ripping drag and the fight was even more difficult when it got back into the current. But Landon was up to the task and patiently battled the big fish to the net, a nice 23" Slot sized Redfish which rounded out the team's Amelia Island Back Country Slam. And with that, we headed back to the ramp and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida 

Slam or Bragging Rights?

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

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

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

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

Best For Last

I did a "share-a-trip" today, pairing Bob Kossman and Dale Bullard as the anglers. We met up at Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp early and made a run up Lanceford, only to see that "our" spot was taken, so we turned back and fished the back side of Tyger with jigs and live shrimp. We worked the bank thoroughly and Dale did pick up a "almost legal" Flounder. 

After running up to the Jolley and fishing a flooded shell bank with float rigs and the shrimp, to no avail, we continued on around to Bell River and fished 2-3 docks, back to the jigs.  Dale had hung up once, handed it off to me, and when I gave it a tug it tugged back! I handed the rod back to Dale and he worked in an ugly 'ole Toadfish!

We then made the long run back to Fernandina and ended up almost back where we started, fishing the outside of Tyger and this did the trick. BAM! Bob hooked up and battled to the boat a fat feisty Redfish. From then on for about 30 minutes the duo were catching fish, one Redfish after the other, and once had a "double" hookup. Most were between 16"-17" but Bob did  manage a Slot Red. 

We had had a beautiful day, sunny, and only a slight breeze, but we caught fish there at the end so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Neck and Neck

 

I finished up my week today fishing with John Stettner and his fishing buddy Doug Wurster, meeting them out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp. The wind was already at 10mph and expected to get up to 14 and with a tide that had been coming in for a couple of hours, I was a little bit concerned that we'd struggle. But not to worry!  Our first stop was up at Broward Island, fishing a large runout and in short order the duo put a small "Slam" in the boat, John with a small Flounder and a Seatrout, Doug with a feisty Redfish. "2-1" John announced! So that was how it was going to be!

We worked down the bank of Broward and picked up a handful of Redfish and they stayed "neck and neck" in the fish count. At one time we thought a Bald Eagle was going to dive on one of the fish being fought to the boat! As the wind died we made a move, running further up the Nassau to dip into a creek and then we worked that bank.

They stayed fairly busy catching fish - small but feisty Redfish, then John had a strong hookup and it was a battle in that small creek!  He played it patiently as the drag ripped on multiple runs and eventually brought a bulky 25" Redfish to the boat, boy what a fish. They caught more Reds, then it was Doug's turn to fight the big fish. This fish ran to the boat and we thought it was off, then it would charger down stream and rip drag, then up stream and rip drag. But Doug stayed with it and landed a 20.5" Seatrout, the biggest of the year, and big enough to go on the "board" in the 2023 Anglers Mark Bragging Rights Tournament-Seatrout Category. 

We fished some more!  Doug added a Slot Red to the catch, and the duo added two more keeper sized (18") Seatrout. They also had 3 more small Flounder and a couple of Reds that were of keeper size. Our final stop was back at Christopher Creek, out of the wind, but we had no bites so we called it day. But was we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Morning Full of Variety

 We had a foggy morning for most of the trip today. I had met Kimberly Manek and her friend Jeremy up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp and we headed down the river to fish some dock pilings on a tide that had been coming in for an hour. Jeremy got busy quick and put a handful of hungry Seatrout in the boat then both he and Kimberly reeled in some feisty Redfish.  We made our way over to Soap Creek and fished some oyster beds with the jigs but we had no takers. 

After a run up the Bell River we anchored and cast up current and this did the trick . Jeremy picked up a a couple of Trout out deep, one of which was of keeper size, then he hooked up and landed a hard fighting Sheepshead. Kimberly reeled in a couple of more Redfish then she hooked up and landed a Bull Whiting. We added another one of those shortly after that. 

We fished Snook Creek with floats then moved on down to Jolley Bank where Kimberly battled a huge Gar Fish to the boat, which we netted and photographed and release. Somewhere along here Jeremy boated a Skate, then as we worked along a grass bank Kimberly finished up the "variety show" with a keeper sized Flounder catch. And wouldn't you know it, as we headed back to the dock the fog began to lift and the sun came out, so we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Don't Try This at Home

Crazy weather today...from yesterday's forecast it looked like we would be able to squeeze a trip in today but when I got up it showed a 9mph wind early, increasing to 17 increasing to 20 increasing to 23! And that it did!  But I "had a plan" when Dara and William Blalock walked up at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp and so, we went for it!

After a 10 minute run around Seymore's, thru Alligator and up the intercoastal a bit we set up fishing some structure with jigs and live shrimp and sheltered by a land mass, we were oblivious to any impending wind. Both Dara and William began to get fish and caught 6-8 small but feisty Redfish and one small Flounder.  We also had a Salt Marsh Mink sighting. When that bite slowed we eased on up the intercoastal and turned into a creek with a stretch of docks that I though would surely be out of the wind ....and the plan crumbled - there was already another boat fishing the spot. Dang it. 

We then ran south, back to Nassauville, and set up fishing between a couple of docks and William hooked up and landed Redfish and a Seatrout. We also had an Osprey and a Bald Eagle sighting.  After moving around to Seymore's we fished a couple of docks, out of the wind, but to no avail.   I thought that Broward Island may be blocking the SW wind which had increased to the 20's and when we got down there it was somewhat blocked for a while. Dara too advantage of that and put another Redfish in the boat. But then the wind shifted and was blowing right "down the pipe" which made for some difficult fishing. 

I had been thinking about hitting a small creek that I hadn't fished in a while but knew that the tide was already down a good bit and I rarely go anywhere shallow in my boat on a low outgoing tide, but you know, what would Kirby do? Go for it! So we made a 10 minute run and eased up into the creek and sure enough in some places I was getting a reading of less than two feet, and the tide still had to go our another 2 hours. But we made it to our destination and began pitching the bank with the jigs (the bank was only about 4' deep, and when we got to one downed log, William went in with his initial cast but got snagged and while he re-baiting Dara went in with a perfect cast and BAM! Fish On!  She played it perfectly and brought to the net a nice Redfish. For the next 20 minutes the duo caught fish, one after the other with three of them being of Slot size (all fish caught today were released). 

When the bite slowed we made a u-turn and puttered out of there - a few times I had to raise the engine and I could feel the hull skimming over mud - but we made it out and as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Great February Day of Fishing

Clear skies, little wind and a beautiful sunrise greeted us out at Goffinsville Park when I met Bob Blalock for a half day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. We made a short run around to some docks at Seymore's Pointe and fished it thoroughly on a mid tide, coming in, and actual had some bit of action, catching a good handful of hungry Seatrout, then a keeper sized Flounder.   We came back around to some docks at Nassauville and fished them. Here, Bob hooked up and landed a hungry Flounder and a feisty Redfish.

The tide was up with just a bit before it hit high so we crossed over and went down to Pumpkin Hill and fished float rigs over some flooded oysters, but only had a nibble. We then made our way up into Christopher Creek and fished the bend with jigs and live shrimp, but had no bites.

Our next stop, after a 10 minute run was down at Sawpit Creek, fishing jigs on the first of an outgoing tide. We had just a nibble or two, lost a couple of jigs on the rocks, then Bob had a strong hookup and, Fish On!  He played it perfectly, even with the wake thrown by a couple of passing yachts, and soon landed a nice 23" 10 spot slot sized Redfish. 

We fished further down the intercoastal, drifting floats, and picked up a handful of Bluefish to wrap up another great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida 

Foggy Morning Fishing at Amelia Island

 We had some fog! When I met Meghan and Matt Brennan and their two kids Derrick and Bianca down atSawpit Creek this morning I was thinking we may have to "putter" up the Nassau to get to our first spot. But as we got out into the intercoastal I could see we had about a 100 yards of visibility so I switched on the Nav lights and we ran! Note: that fog stayed with us all morning long!

Our first stop was up at Pumpkin Hill drifting float rigs and live shrimp on a tide that still had a couple of hours of coming in before it high tide. Meghan and Matt were doing the casting while Bianca and Derrick helped with the reeling. It didn't take too long before we had a bite and Meghan hooked up and landed a Flounder to "knock the skunk off".  The two anglers followed that up with a couple of hungry Seatrout catches.  We fished a couple of more areas in that location, then we made a run down the Nassau and fished between two docks along Nassauville.

I think it was first cast and Meghan had strong bite on the bottom fishing jigs and shrimp and Fish On! Meghan played it perfectly, worked it to the boat, and landed a big 18" Seatrout! Boy what a fish! (all fish caught today were released).  Just shortly after that, she had made a good cast to the same general location and BAM, another nice Seatrout brought in (with help from the kids). 

After running around the corner we fished a large drainage, letting our floats drift around the corner and across a submerged oyster bar. It was Matt's turn to find the hot spot. He caught 2-3 nice keeper sized Seatarout (with help from the kids).

Our last stop was over on the other side of Jackstaff and after running thru Horsehead we set up andfished some drainages. With no luck there we moved down at a point of grass and submerged sandbar and here Matt hooked up and landed another Flounder. Meghan topped it off with a Blue Crab catch. We had worked thru the fog, had some good catches of fish and as we made our way back to the dock we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Count'n Species

Back to work today, fishing with Robert Stetner and David Vice after meeting them out at Goffinsville Park early this morning. The tide still had about an hour and a half of going out so we made our way down the Nassau River and turned into the current to fish an exposed shell bed with live shrimp and jigs. Robert "knocked the skunk off" when went close to shore with a perfect cast and BAM, he had a hookup. Robert worked it to the boat patiently and landed a feisty Redfish. We worked that bank thoroughly and picked up a good handful of those smaller Reds, but Robert did add a Slot sized fish to the catch.

After moving up a bit David put a keeper sized Flounder in the boat (tossed back due to the closed season) then Robert battled a 4' Bonnethead to the boat for pictures and release. Moved up the river a bit more and got in to some more feisty Redfish. The duo of anglers also caught a few Seatrout, one of which was keeper size; they landed a Stingray and a couple of different versions of "baitstealers"

The tide had started back in so we fished some docks at Seymore's, had a big one on that threw the hook, then we headed down to Broward Island where we worked the bank with the jigs. Again, we found a few feisty Redfish, then it was David's turn for the strong hookup. He battled it expertly, let it run, worked it in, and eventually landed the biggest Red of the day, a nice 23" Slot fish.

We finished the day fishing back at Nassauville were these anglers added a small Black "puppy" Drum and a small Mangrove Snapper to the catch, then we headed back to the ramp, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.  

Out of Season

 

We went a little early today, before the sun came up, hoping to catch a tide lower and coming in. It didn't work. I had met Bob and William Blalock and their friend Brian out at Goffinsville just as the sky was lighting up and we made a short run over to Broward Island and fished it with jigs and live shrimp. Not. A. Bite. What's with that?

Our next stop was up Pumpkin Hill to some docks where we stuck with the  jigs and it was Brian who "knocked the skunk" off with a Seatrout catch.  We had a couple of more Trout along that stretch, then we moved down to some flooding oysters and switched to drift floats and shrimp and worked the bank. This worked pretty good - William found a corner of grass that produced a few Trout, one of which showed us a gaping maw as it shook it's head at the surface and thru the hook!

Back to Nassau we went and fished a point, and again, a few Seatrout (all of these Trout were 13-14", and

released). After making the run thru Horsehead and fishing the mouth of Jackstaff, we came back towards the dock and fished between some docks and here they put two nice Mangrove Snapper in the boat, then Brian hooked up and landed a keeper sized 17" Flounder (but out of season), then they put two more Flounder in the boat.  As it turned out we had caught a good handful of fish throughout the morning, but not a whole lot to brag about size-wise. Nevertheless, as we headed back we still counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florid. 

Flipped a Coin

 

We had a low tide early and I was trying to decide whether to fish dock pilings or Tyger Island so in my mind, I "flipped a coin" and went with the dock pilings. Glenn and Patti Langford were right on time so we headed over to some docks at Egans Creek and set up where the two could pitch jigs and live shrimp to the bases. Patti's first cast and BAM! Fish ON!  Her and Glenn traded catches, one after the other - most of them just shy of Slot sized, then Patti had a strong hookup and the fight was on! 

Patti played it expertly and after a good  battle landed a nice 22" Slot Redfish. They continued to pitch the dock - Glenn hauled in a feisty Black Drum, then Patti put an even bigger 23" Slot Redfish in the boat. They kept fishing, catching Reds, and Patti wrapped it up with one more 21" Slot fish (this one went back due to the new rules).

We motored over to small creek and drifted float rigs to a flooding oyster island and here the duo caught another Redfish and a small Flounder.  After running over to the Bell river we fished a grassy point and here Glenn picked up a Seatrout to round out their Amelia Island Back Country Grande Slam of Redfish,  Black Drum, Flounder and Seatrout.

After buzzing thru the cut to behind Tyger we switched back to jigs on the bottom with mud minnows and caught another Flounder, but not big enough to keep. We braved a wind that had picked up and ran up to the Jolley, fished some flooded grass with floats, landed another Trout, then we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Tulsa Time at Amelia Island

The closest I've gotten to Tulsa, Oklahoma is listening to Don Williams "Tulsa Time", but today I had a couple of anglers who had ties to the State and following it's motto paid off - Work Conquers All!

I had met Keith Mason and his fishing partner Michael down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning and we made a quick run up the intercoastal and then into the Nassau River and we pulled up at an exposed shell bank on a tide that had been coming in for about an hour. The two anglers began pitching jigs and mud minnows to the edge of the oysters. They had a few nibbles here and there then Keith outsmarted a hungry Flounder. After moving down the way to Twin Creeks, we stuck with the jigs and here Keith picked up another, "almost legal" Flounder. Then he had a strong hookup and the fish immediately boiled up by the shell bank - a Redfish for sure. Keith kept the pressure on and worked it to the boat. The fish thrashed and boiled but Keith was up to the task and brought to the net a nice 21" Slot Sized Redfish. 

We fished some docks at Seymore's Pointe to no avail, then move down to Nassauville where we picked up a good handful of keeper sized Mangrove Snapper.  Our next stop was down at Pumpkin Hill, drifting float rigs and the minnows on an incoming tide. The duo had a few "bumps", and had a couple of fish roll at their baits, but no takers.

After fishing some rocks at Seymore's we took the shortcut thru Horsehead and began working along a grass bank with the float rigs. Michael had been doing everything right but evidently had forgotten his lucky hat - until this stretch of fishing. He had made an excellent cast to a small point of grass and when his float disappeared he tightened down and let the circle hook set and, Fish On! Michael expertly reeled in a hungry Seatrout. Almost in the same area, but just to the left, he had a quick bite and put our 6th keeper Mangrove in the boat. And as we worked past a grassy island, again a pin point cast produced another "almost legal" Seatrout. Michael's good effort paid off and Conquered the Amelia Island back country so as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.  

Ladyfish Overload

 I wrapped my week up fishing with Jon Freund and his fishing buddy's Peter, Sandy, and Lewis - meeting them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. You could sum up the fishing trip with two sentences:

 1) We caught a bunch of fish                                                                                   2) There were a whole lot of Ladyfish caught!

Not that we didn't catch decent fish. These anglers put a couple of feisty Redfish in the boat, a couple of hungry Seatrout and made it a slam with a couple of "just under the mark" Flounder. They also battled Jack Crevalle, had a big (I mean huge) Toadfish to the boat, and boated a few Mangrove Snapper. But I don't know if I've ever seen so many Ladyfish!

We had run up the Nassau and fished some flooding shell bottoms with mud minnows under floats on the last of an incoming tide. We ended up fishing a number of spots along the Nassau on that last of the incoming, and then on the first of the outgoing tide. We had good action all morning long so as we headed back to the boat I counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

What Started As a Slow Day

 ...turned out to be a Fish Catch'n day here at Amelia Island! I had met Darryl and Tanya Gainsford down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning. We ran briefly up the intercoastal but turned into the Back River to make the short cut thru to the Nassau River. Once there, we found a flooded shell bank to drift float rigs and mud minnows on the first of an outgoing tide. Both anglers began getting bites, but they weren't takers - the float would disappear, they'd tighten up, but not takers.  Finally, Tanya hooked up and landed a fat Seatrout and that seemed to open the gates. They tangled with Ladyfish, caught a couple of small Jack Crevalle, and landed a couple of feisty Redfish.

We moved up the river and fished another flooded shell bottom on that outgoing tide, and again tinkered with some small but fun-to-catch fish. After moving around the corner and as we were about to leave, Darryl had a good hookup - he played it perfectly and when we saw the huge maw of a Trout mouth, we new it was a good fish! Darryl worked it to the net and landed a 20.5" beautiful Seatrout. (all fish caught today were released).

After running back down the Nassau we set  up at Twin Creeks, still fishing with the floats. I don't think we got a bite on those floats but after we switched to jigs and the minnows Darryl had a nice "thump", set the hook, and landed a (big to me and Tanya) 18" Flounder. Tanya followed that up with a feisty Redfish catch.

That spot worked pretty good so we moved down just a 100 yards and fished another large drainage and here the duo got in to a mess of Flounder. Both Tanya and Darryl reeled in the flat fish and put 4 more keeper sized fish in the boat. Again, we moved down, fished thru a drainage, and along some exposed shell beds. Tanya caught another feisty Red, then was we neared the end of that shell bank Darryl had a strong hook up and, Big Fish On!  It rolled up near the bank which signified "big Red" - and rolled up a couple of more times during the battle. Darryl couldn't have played it any better, patiently working it to the boat and the net to land a 23" Slot sized Redfish. 

We fished one more stretch, picked up another small but feisty Redfish, then headed in, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Gone Fish'n at Amelia Island

I picked up Robert Stetner and his fishing buddy David out at the Oyster Bay marina this morning and we made short trip around the corner to fish some docks at Lanceford Creek on a tide that still had about 2 hours of going out. No minnows at the bait shop today, so we went with live shrimp and sure enough, we were feeding the 'bait stealers".  The two anglers did team up to catch a couple of feisty Redfish and a small Sheepshead.

We then made the long run down Lanceford, around the outside of Tyger and over to the Jolley River were we set up fishing the "bank", tossing jigs and shrimp to the exposed oysters. We had a good flurry of catching those small, but feisty Redfish - one of those Reds had 15 spots - maybe it will be big enough by the time the Spot Tournament rolls around! David also put a Flounder in the boat to round out an Amelia Island Back Country Slam of Redfish, Sheepshead and Flounder.

After moving up the creek we fished the mouth of Snook Creek and we may have had one more Red there. We also had a couple of Croaker caught. Back down the Jolley we went and around to Tyger Island logs on an incoming tide. Feisty "rat" Reds must have been on the order form because, again, that's what we caught. And another small Flounder.

The final stop was on the outside of Tyger, now fishing a float rig. Every cast produced a "nibble", but no takers. But we had had some good action thru-out the morning so as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Granddads Anglers

 I wrapped my week up fishing out of Goffinsville Park this morning where I met Wayne Flanders and two of his adult grandsons, Jacob and Joshua. We made a short run, over to the back river and set up along side some exposed oyster beds on a tide that had been going out for 4-5 hours. As we worked the bank we could see all kinds of bait fish moving about, and once in a while, a bigger fish busting that bait. It didn't take long before all three anglers were getting bites. We had started off with live shrimp and were getting picked on every cast so we switched to some mud minnows and this did the trick. They caught small but feisty Redfish, a couple of Seatrout, and a couple of Catfish. We also had a couple of "big" takes- fish that ripped some drag, but unfortunately they came unplugged.

Our next stop was down the Nassau, fishing the last of an outgoing tide, working thru a large drainage. We caught a small Flounder there and when we got to the far end of a shell bank, it was feisty Redfish on almost every cast. Wayne figured it out and found that there was a submerged shell "reef" that came out from the shore and the fish were laying on the back side of it. We fished that stretch up and back for a good while, catching fish. Before we left we tossed the cast net and got a dozen or so nice finger mullet to replenish our bait. 

Both Joshua and Jacob were making excellent casts all day and it payed off.  We fished some dock pilings and picked up a couple of keeper sized Mangroves then ran down to Broward Island to fish the first of an incoming tide. To no avail. Not a real bites.  After running back to Nassauville, we fished a small drainage with jigs and everything else we had!  This trio of anglers added a good handful of keeper sized Mangroves and Jacob wrapped things up with a keeper sized 18" Flounder. As we headed back to the dock we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Nice Flounder and Big Trout

 

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

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

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

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

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

Family Day

I fished south again today with the Dees family, Josh and Jen and their two kids Benny and Karlynn. We
ran up the intercoastal to Jackstaff and fished a stretch of bank at almost dead low, pitching jigs and live shrimp. The "baitstealers" were out in full force and made it a challenge, but this family was up to the task. Benny hooked up and landed a hard fighting Jack Crevalle and Jen caught a keeper sized Mangrove Snapper.

We ran thru Horsehead and around to Spanish Drop on the Nassau and fished a stretch of shell beds on the first of an incoming tide. I was expecting fish but we fished a good 30 yards with no real bites. But when the fish started biting, boy did they start! All four family members were catching fish with Jen leading the charge, catching one feisty Redfish after another. They also had Jacks, Ladyfish, and a couple of small Flounder.

After moving back up the Nassau we worked another shell bank. The numbers weren't there but Jen did hook and catch a keeper sized Flounder. Our next stop was over between some docks at Nassauville. Again, things started slow but when the Mangrove Snapper started biting we were hooking regularly. Benny and Karlynn took turns netting fish, mom "coached us up" and Josh filled the box with the Mangrove Snapper. We went thru all our bait then called it a day and as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.  

Shotgun Start

 

After a weekend break I was back at it today, meeting down at Sawpit Creek Jason Palosaari, his son David, brother in law Patrick Tighe, and father in law Mike Tighe. We ran up the intercoastal, turned into the Nassau, and after a short run  pulled up at Spanish Drop and began fishing some exposed shell beds on the first of an incoming tide. I think the first "demo" cast I bombed, but the second one, as I handed it off to David, Fish On! And that's how it went for the first 45 minutes or so! David worked that fish in nicely - a feisty "Rat" Red, then all the anglers were fishing and catching fish. Mike hooked up and landed a feisty Red, then Jason hooked up and landed a feisty Red, then David had a strong bite - this was a bigger fish! He and his dad fought it patiently, battled it from bow to stern, and eventually landed a nice Slot sized Redfish. We continued to work that stretch and when I saw young David make a cast that landed out deep I was thinking, "not going to get much there", but boy was a I wrong! In just a short time David hooked up and, Fish On!  This fish was even bigger and again took him and his dad to the stern where they valiantly battled the fish and after a few strong runs, they brought to the net a 26 3/4" Tournament sized Redfish (all fish caught today were released). Boy what a fish!

Patrick had been at the stern this whole time steadfastly casting a fly rod, switching between flies every dozen or so casts. He was taking up the rear but finally he had a hookup, played it perfectly, and landed a hard fighting Jack Crevalle on the fly.  We fished on up to a large drainage where Mike caught and landed  hungry Flounder.

Our next stop was at some docks at Seymore's Pointe with jigs rods, to no avail, then fished the rocks at Nassauville with float rigs, again to no avail, then we moved down to some more docks and went back to the jigs. That did the trick. Mike, "the flounder guy" hooked up and landed a 17" Flounder and a then a Mangrove Snapper and Jason added an ugly Toadfish to the catch.

After making the run down to Pumpkin Hill we drifted float rigs along a flooding marsh line. The first stretch didn't pan out but the second stretch had Jason catching a big Jack Crevalle and David wrapping things up with two Catfish catches. The sun was up, we had caught a good variety of fish, so as we headed in we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.