It was kinda "cool" this morning when I launched - my truck thermometer showed 34 degrees, but there was almost no wind and the skies were clear. I had met Bob Kossman down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early and I while I was waiting on Bob to walk up I talked to two bank fishermen and they said they'd already picked up a few Seatrout on artificial grubs they were tossing. But Bob and I made the run up the Nassau River, around to some docks, and began pitching live shrimp on jigs. We fished it pretty good, had just a nibble or two, but no takers, so we moved back down the Nassau and fished some exposed oysters on the very last of an outgoing tide. Bob did hookup and land one nice sized Whiting to "knock the skunk off".
Our next stop was at some docks at Seymore's Pointe. We weren't getting any real bites until all at once, BAM! Bob had a strong hookup and it was Fish On! This fish was ripping drag and had no plans of coming to the boat, but Bob kept the pressure on and eventually subdued and landed a big 22" Black "puppy" Drum, boy what a fish, and boy what a battle!
We moved down a dock or two and began pitching up under an old decrepit dock and soon we were catching an landing a good handful of feisty Redfish, one of which was of keeper size. I think every single fish came out of a 2 square foot spot!
After making the run down the Nassau to Broward Island we set up and began fishing our jigs up to the bank, letting them go to the bottom then as the current took them deeper, BAM! Hookup. Bob found a "honey hole" and landed a few keeper sized Seatarout to garner his Amelia Island Back Country Slam of Redfish, Black Drum, and Seatrout. We fished further South for a bit and found another school of the Seatrout. These were small but fun to catch so as we wrapped it up, we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
I had Virginia and Paul meet me at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp just a bit earlier than we had planned - the weather forecast called for winds going from 7mph to 17mph while we fished! Our first run was over to Lanceford Creek to try and catch the lower of an incoming tide but alas, we must have been too late because we didn't hardly get a nibble on our jigs and shrimp combo tossed to the dock pilings.
But after we moved around Soap Creek Paul found a "honey hole" and was able to toss a float rig up above it, let it drift, and hookup with some hungry Seatrout. We motored back around and further up Lanceford, fished two spots but sure enough, the south wind was beginning to pick up so we moved on.
After easing thru the back cut along Pirates Woods we came backinto the Bell and set up outside some more docks, still pitching the jigs. Virginia got on the board with a nice Trout catch, then Paul had a hookkup. We moved up a dock and caught another one (all of these were in the 13-14 1/2" range).
Some dolphin were feeding in the next slot so we bypassed them, fished a bit, and when the dolphin left, we dropped back. I was somewhat surprised that the dolphin hadn't run the fish out of there but from the first cast we were catching fish, one after the other. At one time we had a "double" hookup with both Paul and Virginia landing fish. It was steady catching for as long as we wanted, but I knew the wind was going to be bad when we got out into open water so we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
We had a high tide today when I met Roger Pickett and his fishing partner David. I met them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp and we headed over to the outside of Tiger Island and set up to fish Cajun Thunder float rigs with live shrimp, up by the marsh grass. Both anglers were making excellent casts as we worked the bank, but we had no takers. We then ran around and fished some marsh in Soap Creek to no avail. The tide was still up when we worked our way over into Lanceford Creek and again, no fish! I was beginning to wonder.
After making a short run back to Eagans Creek, the tide had fallen a bit so we switched to jigs and shrimp and with the lower tide, this did the trick. David had a strong hookup and worked to the boat a nice feisty Redfish. He picked up another or two, then we had a Black Drum bite and Roger brought it to the boat - a keeper. We continued to fish that dock as the tide drop and did pretty good, catching feisty Reds, a couple of the "puppy" Drum, and Roger added a Seatrout to the mix. When things slowed we moved around to the other side and the move paid off. The duo landed a couple of the smaller Redfish, then David reeled in a keeper. Then he had a strong hookup and, Fish On! We could tell this fish was big - the drag was ripping and it was hanging on the bottom. But David was up to the challenge and subdued the fish and landed a big 23" 6lb+ Drum, boy what a fish!
We tried another dock for just a bit, then made the long run over to Bell River and up to some docks. We stayed with the jigs and shrimp and had a good flurry of Seatrout catches, all in the 14" range. When we ran low on bait we tried some artificial jigs and they caught fish too. Although we didn't get any Trout keepers, Roger and Dave each had an Amelia Island Back Country Slam of Redfish, Seatrout and Black Drum so we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Although it was a tad bit gloomy today when I met Philip and Al down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp, thewind was holding steady at 10mph and it was forecast to get up into the high 60's today. The tide had been falling for about an hour as we headed up the Nassau River to make our first stop at a large outflow. Both anglers began tossing jigs and live shrimp up current and working it slowly back along the river bottom. Philip "knocked the skunk off" fairly quickly when he hooked up and landed a couple of hungry Seatrout.
We moved up the way a couple of times, fishing outflows, and picking up a Trout or two at each spot. Al had got in on the action and put a couple in the net, fishing off the stern.
Our next stop was up at some docks at Seymore's Pointe, fishing the pilings where I sure we'd get some Black Drum, but we fished to no avail. We moved down and fished a 2nd dock and this paid off with 2 nice feisty Redfish that Philip put in the boat.
After looping around Seymore's we rand down a ways and got in between two docks that had a drop off from 15' to 27'. This move paid off and "upped our average". Philip began hooking up with Trout up on the bow and Al found a couple of Weadfish out deep, both of them of keeper size. He also picked up a couple of Trout back there.
We finished up the day down at Broward Island, still fishing an outgoing tide, but had no real luck. But the sun had come out a couple of times, we were out on the water, so we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
You know you've got the best daughter when she gifts you with a back country fishing trip on the Anglers
Mark! Paul and Elaine Wozny received a Christmas gift certificate and they cashed it in today and boy what a pretty morning it was! As the sun came up we headed over to Seymore's Pointe to fish some dock pilings with jigs and live shrimp. Although the bite was slow on the last of an outgoing tide, Elaine was hot with her fish catching! She picked up a couple of hungry Seatrout, then a nice 18" keeper one, then she found a feisty Redfish to rip some drag on her reel.
We ran down to Broward Island just as the tide was supposed to hit dead low and here Paul got in on the action, landing a few Sheepshead and another Trout. We hit a couple of spots there but never found our big Redfish, but again, it was a beautiful morning.
Our next stop was back at some docks in Nassauville, now fishing the incoming
tide. We were pitching up between two docks, letting the jig go to the bottom and slowly letting it fall down the river bottom and BOOM! Seatrout on. Paul was working it thoroughly and caught a good handful, one of which was of keeper size. Right at "last call" Elaine had a hookup and put a keeper Weakfish in the boat to wrap up another great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
It was a tad bit cooler this morning, but clear and only a slight breeze, which made for an absolutely beautiful day. And to top it off, the fish bite was on fire! I had met William and Bob Blalock out at Goffinsville Park and we made our coldest run down to Broward Island to fish with jigs and live shrimp on the last couple of hours of an outgoing tide. My first stop didn't produce much but as we drifted back with the current the two anglers began to pick up fish. They caught a good handful of Redfish, a couple of which were in the Slot, but were released to see another day. Bob also put a big Black "puppy" Drum in the boat and William had a keeper sized Seatrout.
Our next stop was back at Nassauville -we fished a deep spot that I had had success at but not today! At William's suggestion, we moved up to one of our old "honey holes" and BAM! It was lights out. He and Bob both began to catch one Seatrout after the other. Most of the Trout were 14-14 3/4" in length, but they did get a couple of more keepers. Then Bob had a strong hookup and put another nice Black Drum in the boat, then he had weird bite, a hookup, and landed a big 18" Sheepshead. We caught 'em (Trout) until we got tired of catch'n 'em!
Our next stop was around at some docks at Seymore's Pointe. The tide had just started back in and it didn't take long before we were catching fish. They put a few more Slot sized Redfish in the boat, then another big Drum. We moved a dock down and BOOM! Multiple catches of feisty Redfish. We tried to guess how many fish we had caught but couldn't, so we estimated 40 plus! Boy what a day! Another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
A beautiful sunrise coming up over Amelia Island greeted us on a cool (32 degrees) morning when I met Chuck and Marca Benton and their daughter Kristin our at Goffinsville Park. But we were all bundled up in layers and I had my "baclava" wrapped around my neck as we headed north and around to Seymore's Pointe to with plans to fish some dock pilings on a tide that had been coming in for about an hour. The trio of anglers began pitching jigs and live shrimp to the pilings and it wasn't long before their efforts paid off.
Kristin was first on the board with a strong hookup - she had felt the "bump" set
the hook, and FISH ON! Kristin played it perfectly, took here time, and soon landed a nice 18" Black "puppy" Drum. I think she put one or two more in the boat before her Dad got in on the action and he began to catch fish. Then it was Marca's turn - she hooked up and landed a nice keeper sized Drum, too. Before long we had a good boxful of Drum. When the bite slowed we eased up to the pilings to try our hand at some Sheepshead "drops". I thought we were going to get skunked but then Chuck hooked up. He fought the fish valiantly under the dock and brought it to the net....a nice feisty Redfish!
Our next stop was down at Broward Island. We were still tossing the jig and shrimp combo. Chuck got hot off the stern and put a few Redfish in the boat, two of which were in the Slot. Kristen set the hook on a Seatrout to make it an Amelia Island Back Country Slam, then Chuck found a keeper sized Sheepshead make it a "Grande Slam". Marca had set aside her rod to warm her hands up but she contributed immensely by "coaching them up".
We fished the rocks back at Nassauville, had a bite or two, then wrapped up the day fishing the now flooding marsh grass with float rigs. The sun was up and we had warmed a bit and we had a boxful of fish so we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Although the late night winds died to nothing we were greeted with a cold, foggy and altogether dreary day when I met Jesse and Taylor Patrick up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park this morning. The newlyweds were eager to get out on our Amelia Island waters and we did just that by making our first run up to the Jolly River with plans to fish float rigs along the marsh grass with live shrimp as bait. These two anglers were getting excellent drifts but we had no takers, not even a nibble on a high and incoming tide.
We moved up the river and did the same thing and we did have one Seatrout hook up which was brought to the boat. We moved in to Snook Creek and tried some jigs with shrimp but had no luck so we moved on. Our next stop was around in Bell's River where we continued to fish with the jigs, tossed up near the bank and fished real slow. After about the third dock we struck pay dirt.. The fish were biting very softly but we had a hookup, Fish On! Taylor worked it to the boat and landed a nice Slot sized 19" NO SPOT Redfish - a Tournament winner for sure!
Then Jesse had a strong hookup. He played it patiently as it dug deep, but Jesse kept the pressure on and soon landed a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum (all fish caught today were released). Then back to Taylor - she had her jig hang on a oyster but when she pulled it off, BAM! Another hookup! She expertly fought to the boat another nice Redfish. Before we left Jesse hooked and landed a Sheepshead.
Our next stop was down the Bells River, back towards town, and back fishing the float rigs (to no avail). We made a stop at Tiger Island and picked up Whiting off the bottom before we hit one more spot with the float rigs. We could feel the rain coming so we pulled up and called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
My final day of fishing for the week was today - I've done 10 trips in 12 days and I'm ready for an extended break! My next booked trip is Monday November 30th, so check back in then!
Today I fished with Chuck Benton and his son Tom and boy was it a pretty morning as the sun came up! We met out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp and quickly scooted over to Pumpkin Hill to fish some float rigs with live shrimp on a tide that had been going out for about 3 hours. The first stretch didn't produce a bite but we came back around a corner and as Chuck drifted his bait long, BOOM! He had a hookup. Chuck reeled it in patiently and landed a nice keeper sized Seatrout.
Our next stop was down at Broward Island, and as we eased along the tree line we spotted a magnificent Bald Eagle up in a dead pine tree. We set up at a large marsh run out, now pitching jigs and shrimp, and fairly quickly Tom was on the board with a Seatrout catch. Minutes later he reeled a feisty Redfish. We drifted back a bit, set up off from some stumps. Chuck made an excellent cast, let it go to the bottom and, BAM! Big Fish On! This fish was ripping drag and when it got back into the current it made for a good battle. But Chuck was up to the task, worked it patiently to the boat, and landed a nice 24" Slot sized Redfish. I think we picked up one more Red before the wind picked up and really started kicking up the water.
We buzzed back to Nassauville and found shelter out of the wind and fished the jigs to the rocks. It paid off! Chuck found a honey hole of Trout and caught a good handful, one of which was of keeper size. Tom put a couple of hungry Mangrove Snapper, and a small Sea Bass in the boat, then had a strong hookup. This fish was digging deep but Tom kept the pressure on and worked it to the surface and landed keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum.
Our final stop was around at some docks where Tom topped off the trip with a Stingray catch. The sun was out, not a cloud in the sky so we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
This father/daughters team of anglers met me early this morning down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp - Pete Nolan and his daughters Tatum and Sydney - with plans to take in the beautiful day - the best so far in over a week!
We ran up the intercoastal and dipped into Jackstaff and fished an even smaller creek with float rigs and live shrimp, and got "skunked". We crossed the river and fished a bank of oysters and even though we didn't tear them up, Sidney did put a Seatrout in the boat.
After running thru Horsehead we made a quick stop at some docks at Seymore's Pointe and here we picked up another Trout, and Pete put a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum in the boat. Our next stop was down at Spanish Drop, fishing the shell beds and this paid off a bit - Tatum caught and landed a nice Slot Redfish. The trio of anglers landed another Redfish or two before we moved on. They had a Slam.
Our next stop was down at Broward Island. We fished a large marsh run out and with Tatum fishing off the stern, she found a Flounder to make it a Grande Slam. As we drifted back, about ready to move, Pete hooked up, fought valiantly, and landed a nice 18" Black Drum. We moved down the way, about ready to call it day, when the bite really picked up! They caught another keeper sized Seatrout, another Trout, and then Tatum caught and landed a Sheepshead to make it a Super Grande Slam!
Then Sidney had a big bite and, Fish On! This one was ripping drag, but Sidney played it perfectly, then OH NO! Pete pointed out a huge submerged limb and sure enough, the big fish found its way around it. We tried to pull the line away from the limb but the boat was caught in the current and....the line came free and...Fish On! Sidney kept the pressure on and worked it to the boat and landed a Slot sized 24" Redfish, boy what a battle! And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Finally, a cool morning that we had today! On the way to the boat ramp I noticed that the temperature was in the high 40's which would make for a beautiful day to be out on the water here at Amelia Island, Florida. I met Clint Davis and his friend Jim and Mary Jo down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and we made a brisk run up the Nassau River to fish some docks at Seymore's Pointe with jigs and live shrimp. The tide had been coming in for 3 hours and I hoped that we could get some fish under that dock but the water was already high and I had "thought wrong". We fished another dock with only a nibble here and there - other than huge Mantis Shrimp that Mary Jo caught, then we moved on.
Our next stop was down at Twin Creeks, fishing some float rigs on the high and incoming tide. Jim got a good drift down the marsh line and "knocked the skunk off" when he caught and landed a nice hungry Seatrout. We fished there then moved on down to Spanish Drop and fished a bit with the floats and even the jigs, but to no avail.
After a brief run down to Pumpkin Hill we set up with the wind to our backs
and were able to get perfect drifts and Rule #4 paid off! All three anglers began to catch fish. Clint put a keeper sized Seatrout in the boat and shortly after Mary Jo had a hookup and, Fish On! She worked it to the boat and had a BIG Trout right......at.....the.....stern.....and......Fish Off! Ouch! That was a nice fish! Then was Jim's turn - whatever hit his live shrimp was Big. It ripped drag going south, then Jim slowed it down (or it took a rest), then it took off again, ripping drag, and it kept going taking the hook with it. We'll never know but it was surely a big Redfish. It could have been a shark but we haven't caught a shark in months. Redfish. We moved won a bit and fished a shallower area and again put a good handful of Trout in the boat.
After fishing up Pumpkin Hill, over in Christopher Creek, then over in Jackstaff we finally realized that the water was just too high, so we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida
Boy what a beautiful sunrise we had today when I met Jon Edwards and his father Dale out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp. As the sun came up over Amelia Island we eased away from the dock and made a quick run around Seymore's Pointe with plans to fish some dock pilings with jigs and shrimp. I thought for sure we'd pick up a Black "puppy" Drum or a Redfish, but all we got were a couple of Mangrove Snapper that Dale out foxed and caught.
We then ran down the Nassau, towards the bridge, and made a stop at Spanish Drop to fish the very last of an outgoing tide. Here, our fortunes changed. We had switched to mud minnows, still pitching jigs, and the duo began to hookup. Jon put a keeper sized Seatrout in the boat then both anglers tangled with and landed feisty Redfish. Dale put a small Flounder in the boat then Jon had a strong hookup, the drag ripped, and Fish On! Jon played it patiently and after a good battle landed a nice Slot sized 21.5" Redfish. He also put a keeper sized Whiting in the
boat.
Our next stop, after an eight minute run, was down at Broward Island. We passed a Bald Eagle under way and made a stop at a large marsh run out. Jon was on the bow fishing to the run out while Dale was at the stern fishing some logs. Dale had the first hookup - Big Fish On! and he played it expertly to the boat - but then Jon had a big bite. He thought it might be a Drum the way it was hugging the bottom. I netted Dale's Slot 22.5" Redfish then moved forward to net Jon's Big Flounder, one that measured right at 22.25" - boy what a fish. This fish moved Jon into a tie for 2nd place in the Anglers Mark 2020 Bragging Rights Tournament -Flounder Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings). After high fives and pictures the duo when back to fishing and only minutes later Jon hooked up again, another big 21.5" Flounder - two in row!
We fished the north end of the island when the tide changed and got one feisty Red, then fished Pumpkin Hill where Jon caught another Trout and a Mangrove before we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
With a 50% chance of rain forecast for today my guests and I had decided to take the chance and get out fishing today. I met Paul Clark and his fishing buddy Steve up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park early and headed over to Tiger Island to fish the logs on a tide that had been coming in for about an hour. Although we didn't tear them up, we did catch a couple of hungry Seatrout and a few feisty Redfish, a couple of which were right under the Slot size. We were fishing with jigs and live shrimp and minnows - the bait stealers are still here, so we gradually gravitated to the minnows more and more.
After making the run up to the Jolley River, we eased in and fished the "bank", sticking with the jigs, but had no real bites. We then ran further up the river, just past Snook Creek, and switched to float rigs and minnows. We slowly worked the oysters as the tide came in and just when Steve had a made a perfect cast up near the oysters we both saw his float ease under - Steve took up his slack and lifted the rod firmly to let the circle set and, Fish On! We could tell that this fish was big
because the drag was ripping and the fish was heading south! But Steve kept the pressure on and slowly worked it to the waiting net - a fish that turned out to be a 25.5" upper Slot Redfish, boy what a fish!
We came back around to Tiger, ran thru the marsh, and over to Bell River where we set up on a point of grass with the tide flooding over a big oyster bar. We weren't getting any bites but after one of our minnows drifted into a small pocket, BOOM! Big Fish On! Unfortunately the fish ran across the bar, around the corner, and is still going! We drifted some marsh after that and Paul hooked up and landed a nice Seatrout.
Our last stops were over in Lanceford Creek fishing a real high tide. We hit a couple of spots with no real bites then called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
As you can see, as the sun rose over Goffinsville Park we were headed for a beautiful day! I had met Bob and Cindy Hice and Steve and Joy Hastings early and we made a quick jump across the river with plans to fish the far bank with float rigs and mud minnows. That first stop, even though these anglers were getting excellent drifts, produced zero bites. We moved further down the Nassau River and fished past Pumpkin Hill and here we did get some false starts with oyster shell catches, but then some real fish! Steve had a strong hookup and had it boat side when a nice fish threw the hook. But he went back in and pulled out a nice hungry Seatrout.
We moved around the pointe and fished a flooded grassy island and again Steve picked up a couple of Seatrout. There was a little cove that I advised Steve to pitch to the back of, which he did with an excellent cast, but he had not a nibble. When he switched to the other side of the boat Cindy cast to the area, just shy of some sparse grass, and BOOM! Big fish on! This fish took off and was ripping drag and heading deep and I thought
for sure, "Big Redfish". Then the fish started back to the marsh grass but Cindy kept the pressure on and worked it expertly to the boat. When I saw it flash to the boat I saw a Huge Tripletail! We netted the fish and measured it at 22.25" and weighed it at 9lbs - a fish tied for the biggest Tripletail ever landed on the Anglers Mark and one of only 7 caught on my boat in 16 years! Boy what a fish!
Seymore's Pointe was our next stop and here Steve, and Cyndi and Bob all tangled with and landed some Mangrove Snapper. We ran through Horsehead and fished the mouth of Jackstaff and picked up another Trout or two, then came back to Spanish Drop and fished jigs on the bottom. Bob added another Trout and both Cindy and Steve added Redfish to the catch. Most of the trip Joy acted as assistant videographer, coach and mentor to the other three anglers. With only one "keeper" in the boat we headed in and after that big 'ole Tripletail was cleaned, it filled up a gallon bag which made for another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida
Finally, back to some beautiful days out on the water! I met Nick and Penny Tenpenny up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp early this morning and we had the sun coming up on a beautiful clear day. We ran over and up into Lanceford Creek, then into Soap and set up at a large marsh run out with plans to toss float rigs and live shrimp. It didn't take long before Penny "knocked the skunk off" with a nice keeper sized Seatrout (the keeper fish we caught today were donated to a disabled veteran neighbor). We fished that area thoroughly, had some bites here and there but no real takers, then we moved on.
Our next stop was over at some dock son Lanceford, fishing jigs and minnows and shrimp. The "baitstealers" had me hopping baiting hooks but we had no real bites so on we went. The oysters were beginning to show and as we were passing BM's hot spot I pulled up and we gave it a try. Nick had made an excellent cast to the shells with a float rig and when it disappeared he gently lifted his rod, set the hook and had a nice
feisty Redfish catch. The duo followed that up with another, bigger, keeper sized Redfish, then another smaller Trout or two.
We then made the long run north, back past Tiger and around to the Jolley River where we pulled up and fished the "bank", to no avail. After running further up the river to Snook Creek we switched back to jigs and here Nick put a couple of more hungry Seatrout in the boat. We fished further up the river, had no real luck and were about to call it day but the MOA was right there beckoning so we decided to make one more stop. Fishing jigs and minnows, both Penney and Nick were making excellent casts. Nick and I could see a fish tailing up in the "pool" so we eased up and fished the mouth of the horseshoe. Nick went in with a good cast to the mouth, let it fall and felt a gentle "bump". When the big fish bumped it again Nick set the hook and, BIG Fish On! This fish was ripping drag on the Florida Fishing Products size 1000CE reel but boy was it smooth! Nick worked it away from the oysters then the fish went deep, ripping drag as it went, then it got back into the current. I let off the anchor on the Minnkota I-pilot and let the current take us along with the fish. After a good battle Nick landed a big Oversized 29.5" Redfish - boy what a way to wrap up a day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Well, it sure wasn't a "Chamber of Commerce" type of day out there fishing today! When I met Paul
Tenarvitz, his sister Sharon and her husband Ed up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park. We were the only trailer in the parking lot and the skies were misting rain and it stayed with us for most of the trip. But these folks hailed from Wisconsin and this kind of weather was a walk in the park for them!
The NE wind was also an issue so I had a plan to run to different spots where we might be sheltered. The first was over behind Tiger where we fished jigs and live shrimp on the bottom and picked up a few baitstealing Mangrove Snapper and Croaker. We ran thru Tiger and fished in the Bell but had no real bites.
After fishing near Rayonier pipeline we ran down to Piney Island and fished some docks, again to no avail. Back up to Lanceford and into Soap Creek, this
time drifting floats on the last of an incoming tide and here we had our best action all morning. Both Paul and Ed put some hungry Seatrout in the boat while Sharon "coached 'em up". Our final stop was on further up Lanceford, fishing a grassy island. The tide was up, the wind was up, and the sprinkle was coming down, so we called it a day and because we were fishing, another great one here at A
We had another beautiful day this morning, clear cool and sunny. I had met Steve Locke and his fishing partner Jason Deig up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp. I had planned to head over to Jolley River and fish the last couple of hours of an incoming tide, but there was NW breeze blowing that seemed just a bit stronger than the 8mph that was forecasted. So we headed south and into the Bell River, ran west, and set up along side a flooding oyster patch. Both anglers were tossing float rigs baited with live shrimp. Steve "knocked the skunk" off when he boated a hungry Seatrout, then he followed that up with a couple of more. After fishing the other side of the mound, we moved on.
Our next stop was around to the outside of Tiger Island, again fishing the float rigs. The first area produced no real bites so we moved across to "Manatee Cove" and here we got into some more small but hungry Trout.
Back thru Tiger we went, down the Bell, up the Lanceford and into Soap Creek. The tide was stillcoming in and again, we found small Trout. Some where along there Jason had gotten on the board with some good catches. We fished further down Lanceford and when it appeared the tide had changed we moved further up the creek. There was a family out in the yard with a cute 3 year old girl and as they were watching us fish the young lady tugged on her puppy's tail. We all got a kick out of it but as we were watching Jason realized that his float was gone! He reeled up his slack, set the hook and, Fish On! We knew right off that it was of size because the drag was ripping. Jason had an audience and he didn't disappoint - he worked it patiently to the boat and landed a nice 21.5" Slot Redfish.
We backed out of there and fished a grassy island as the tide was easing out. Steve made an excellent cast, let his float drift close and, BOOM! Another big fish on! Steve played it perfectly and brought to the net another Slot Red, this one measuring right at 22.5". We fished that island pretty good and picked up a couple of "rat" Reds and battled another big one, but this time it won and broke the hook off!
Our final stop was back at Soap Creek. Another grassy island had been exposed with the outgoing tide. We had just pulled up - I don't think Jason had time to even bait up - when Steve went in with a cast and BAM! Big Fish On! This fish fight was a battle but Steve was up for it - he'd had some practice earlier - and he soon netted the biggest fish of the day, a 25" Slot Redfish.
Although most of the day was spent catching 14" Seatrout, the last 45 minutes sure made for some great fishing, and with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
We had a front move thru last night that brought lots of rain, big winds, and cooler temperatures. When I stepped out this morning it was about 10-12 degrees cooler than yesterday - right at about 61. But the forecast called for just a bit of wind left over and sunny skies so when I met Tim and Laura Wolfe down at the south end boat ramp early this morning they were raring to go. We ran up thru Middle River and around to Pumpkin Hill and began to fish with float rigs and live shrimp, tossed up near the grass and left to drift naturally along the bank. That first spot didn't produce anything but bait-stealing nibbles so we moved down a bit. Here, Tim, who was taking up the stern, had let his float and bait drift close to some small grass islands and when the float went under he was ready, set the hook, and brought to the boat a feisty Redfish.
We moved around and into Pumpkin and fished a couple of more grassy island. We thought we had spotted a Redfish roll up behind us as we were in a shallow flat but after Tim hooked up and easily brought a big fish to the boat we saw that it was an ugly Gar fish!
Our next stop was over at Christopher Creek, now fishing jigs on the bottom. We worked the docks and rocks and banks and both anglers were making excellent casts but we had no takers. After making a short run over to Seymore's Pointe we set up outside a grassy point as the tide changed and started out and again, not takers.
I had begun to get a bad feeling that the previous night's front was affecting the fish bite because even the bait stealers were taking a break! But we kept on fishing! We ran down to Spanish Drop, worked that bank with float rigs, then switched back to the jigs, and Tim put another feisty Redfish in the boat. Back to the docks we went, now fishing the jigs, but to no avail. Back to Twin Creeks to squeeze in just a few more minutes and, BAM! Big Fish On! Tim had a hookup on a jig and mud minnow. He played it perfectly but we both noticed that the big fish never made a decent run. I think that change in the weather had him confused! Tim was patient, worked it to the boat, and we netted a nice 25" Slot Redfish. Only minutes later Tim had another hookup and brought in a nice keeper sized Trout.
Although we didn't catch a lot of fish, our "keeper to catch ratio" was pretty good and with the nice weather, it made for another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
I fished with the Lancaster team today, Justice and Chase and Mark, meeting them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early as the sun rose. We made the long run thru Middle River and around to Pumpkin Hill and set up alongside some flooded marsh grass with the tide expected to hit high in just 30 minutes. Chase was on the bow, Justice in the middle and Mark took up the stern - and the stern was where all the action was. Mark was letting his float rig drift with the current and picked up a handful of fish - Trout, Jack Crevalle, and Mangrove Snapper.
We eased along and worked in and out of the little pockets and then Chase got on the board with a Trout catch. He later picked up a feisty Redfish. We buzzed around the corner into Pumpkin and worked up to some grassy islands where Mark hooked up - he thought he may have had an oyster, but this one pulled back. He worked it thru some grass
and brought to the net a nice 17" keeper Flounder. Just as we netted it Chase put another Redfish in the boat. There had been a fog set in for a bit and it seemed we caught most of our fish before the fog lifted!
Our next stop was around at Seymore's Pointe, fishing the corner of some grass as the tide started out and here Chase picked up a couple of Mangrove Snapper and a hard fighting Jack Crevalle. We ran down the Nassau and worked along some now exposed oysters, tossing jigs and live shrimp and mud minnows, to no avail.
We went back to some docks at Seymore's, stuck with the jigs and played cat and mouse with some Snapper. But finally we had strong hookup, Fish On! Justice graciously offered the rod to Chase who battled the big fish out from the dock pilings - that fish made a couple of runs to the pilings but Chase applied the pressure at the right time, and worked it out. After a good fight he landed a Slot sized 22" Redfish.
After running thru Horsehead and fishing briefly over at the mouth of Jackstaff we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
I fished with Michael Boone today, meeting him down at the south end boat ramp early and boy what a pretty morning it was! I just couldn't get over it! We ran up the Nassau River and made a stop at the Spanish Drop area. The tide was going out but the oysters were still covered so we went with float rigs. I had live shrimp and minnows in the well so we went with shrimp first. Michael was tossing to the marsh grass and getting good drifts and we got a number of "nibbles" but no takers for a good bit. But then things turned on and we were catching fish!
Michael hooked up and landed some hungry Seatrout, then some feisty Redfish - a good handful of them - then we had a strong bite and this one was bigger! Michael worked it patiently to the boat and soon landed a nice 24" Slot Redfish. After pictures (and admiration) we released it - all fish caught today were released. He also caught and landed a couple of Jack Crevalle along that stretch, not to mention an aggravating Pinfish.
We moved up the way to Athens Drop and here we found a couple of more feisty Redfish that were right at the Slot size. When Michael though he had a clump of grass he reeled it to the boat but it turned out to be a small Flounder - but a Slam none-the-less!
Our next stop was up at the docks of Seymore's and although the mullet were in huge numbers, we only managed a couple of Mangrove Snapper. After fishing Broward Island briefly (and seeing a Bald Eagle), we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
NOTE: Almost every fish caught today was on a mud minnow
