New Spot One Fish

 It seemed like every time we moved to a new spot we either got a fish or had a bite. But only one!  I had met Mike and Linda McClane and their granddaughter Gabby up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park early this morning and we then ran up and around to the Jolley River and turned into the low incoming tide and began pitching live shrimp and jigs to the exposed oysters. We had a nibble here and there then Linda hooked up and "knocked the skunk off" with a nice keeper sized Seatrout catch. Mike tangled with a high flying Ladyfish and Gabby had a small Flounder to the boat before it threw the hook. 

We ran further up the Jolley and worked along some oysters. Gabby had her eye on a point of oysters and after making an excellent cast she had a strong bite and a hookup, Fish On! Gabby played it perfectly and after a good battle landed a 20" Slot sized Redfish. After finishing that stretch we moved on. 

Our next stop was back on the outside of Tyger where we fished a large drainage, then worked along a bank for a bit, still pitching jigs/shrimp, but to no avail. After running thru Tyger we cut into Bell River and set up alongside a flooding point. In short time, Mike, who was drifting "long" had his float disappear. He tightened up and let the circle hook do its job, and he had a hookup. He quickly reeled it in and landed another keeper sized Seatrout. And that was that! No more fish there.

After running over to Lanceford we eased up to another drainage (BM spot1).
Linda was drifting a float on the other side of a barely submerged oyster bed and wouldn't you know it. she had a big bight. This fish was ripping drag and heading up into the drainage- there's a good chance it was a big Redfish, but the line was going right over the oysters and BAP! Fish Off! Ouch!

We fished Soap Creek for just a few minutes but had only a nibble so we headed back to the dock, but with a few fish in the box, we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Eventful Day

We had another gorgeous fishing day out on the water here at Amelia Island. I had met Bob Blalock and his fishing team made up of brother and sister-in-law Tom and Martha up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp early. We had a tide that had been coming in for a few hours and I wanted to fish some flooding oyster banks so we headed up to the Jolley River and turned into the "bank" to cast float rigs and live shrimp. We worked along that entire bank, the trio of anglers making excellent casts, and I don't think we had much more than a nibble, if that. Crazy.

I had passed a nice drainage on the outside of Tyger and had thought it would be a good day to fish it so we moved back around to it and switched to jigs  on the bottom. That particular drainage didn't produce a fish but as we eased along the shore line, heading back to Fernandina, we began to pick up fish.

 Bob "knocked the skunk off" and brought in a Seatrout then Martha, who had switched back float, had a strong hookup, and a after a good battle, successfully brought to the net a feisty Redfish.  Tom had a "Tap", set the hook, and landed a keeper sized Seatrout(all fish caught today were released), then Bob followed that up with a keeper sized Flounder. We worked that shoreline all the way around to Tyger Creek - catching Ladyfish, a Jack Crevalle, another keeper sized Seatrout, a smaller Redfish. At one point we saw some wakes up in a drainage, beyond a grassy island. Tom put his float and live shrimp over into a pocket and sure enough, BAM! He had a hookup. Although we would liked to have a bigger fish, this one was just the right size to pull over a shell bar and through some grass! Tom landed a nice feisty Redfish. 

We eventually ran thru Tyger and around to Bell and set up along a grassy point and fished the very(very) last of the incoming tide, which I believe shut down the fish bite. But we fished on, working along a grassy line. Bob saw a big wake move off from the grass and minutes later, after Martha had made a pinpoint cast to the spot, her float disappeared with a vengeance and her drag began to rip, Big Fish On! Bob and Tom got their line out of the water and soon we were out in the river battling the big fish. Martha was doing great, working the fish slowly to the boat, but alas, it made a sharp dive and, BAP, fish off! We felt comfortable the way it fought it was a Shark.

After hitting one more spot on the outside of Tyger we called it a day and counted it as another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Wind Continues to be an Issue

OK! ENOUGH!   All week we've had to contend with the wind and today was no different. I mean, you just can't beat the clear skies, mild temperatures, and a LITTLE bit of wind to knock the bugs off, but the weeklong trend continued today, Very breezy at launch time and increasing to aggravation level by mid morning. The key is trying to find a bank or land mass to get in behind that is not affected by the wind.

I met Henry Ross and his fishing buddy Chick down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early and we ran up the intercoastal and then up the Nassau and made a quick stop along a shell lined bank at Spanish Drop. In retrospect, we should have worked that bank for a mile. We were seeing some movement along the shore and at one point, Chick, on the bow, had cast towards it and sure enough had a good bite and a hookup. He played it patiently and "knocked the skunk off" with a nice Redfish catch.  After fishing that bank we bounced around a duo of anglers drifting the bank towards us and ran up and fished between a couple of docks at Nassauville. The current was swirling and these anglers were getting good casts, but, not a bite.

We fished some dock pilings around at Seymore's Pointe, jigs and shrimp, last of outgoing tide, and did get a few nibbles, and finally a feisty Sheepshead catch.

Our final stop was down at Broward Island and we worked it pretty good. Unfortunately the wind was now coming out of the north and blowing right down the "pipe", which made it tough. We stuck it out, fished south, then north, then in the middle, and finally wrapped things up with one more Redfish catch. 

Although the wind made for some tough fishing, the weather was beautiful otherwise, we were out on the water, so we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

First Ladyfish of the year

 I normally don't look at the weather report but one day at a time, especially when I'm running 6 days of the week, so when I mentioned the wind at the bait shop to another guide the first of this week and he said, "it's going to be like that all week",  I just couldn't believe it. I should have! Once again, today, forecasted winds were above 10mph to begin with (not so bad), but increasing into the teens, which can be a pain. Almost always you can find a spot, maybe two, to get out of it, but if the fish aren't cooperating at that particular spot, then your stuck with either a), some boring fishing, or b) getting out into the wind and doing your best!

I had met Paul O'brien and his fishing buddy Dane down at the Saawpit Creek boat ramp early and with that wind coming out of the east, it was very pleasant, but when we rounded into the mouth of the Nassau River we could tell that we had a bit of a blow. But when we eased up to our first spot at Spanish Drop to fish an exposed shell bank with jigs and shrimp and minnows, the marsh was blocking the wind and the two anglers began to pitch. We worked along that bank with no real bites but finally, after Dane had gone to the bank with an excellent cast, BAM! He had a strong hookup and the fight was on! Dane played it patiently and eventually brought to the boat a nice Slot sized Redfish. We continued along that stretch and just minutes later Dane tangled with a fairly large Ladyfish, the first of the year on the Anglers Mark.  He hooked up and landed a hungry Seatrout and then another, bigger Ladyfish.

Our next stop was up at some docks at Seymore's Pointe, fishing the jigs and shrimp. That east wind was pushing the water and I think it was just too muddy - we had no bites.

After a run down to Broward Island we fished south for a bit until the tide changed then move back to the other end. We had some good "takes', some rods bent, some drag ripped, and had two nice fish come off. But  these two anglers stuck with it and Paul got on the board when he outsmarted a keeper sized Sheapshead and brought it to the net. 

We fished back at Nassauville, picked up a small Flounder,  then ran thru Horsehead and drifted float rigs for the first time of the day. On the final drift the float took off sideways along the grass. After hooking up, Paul was on the rod and worked it in expertly to land a feisty Redfish which made for a perfect way to wrap up a great day of fishing out on the water here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Made to Order

 

When you have a little guy's first "big boy" fishing trip you have to hope that the weather, bugs, and fish cooperate. And today they did! I had met Scott Williams and his 5 year old Russell, along with grandad Bert down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning. The tide had been going out about two hours when we left the dock and as we headed up the intercoastal, the water was like glass, the sun was out and the skies were clear. We eased into the mouth of Jackstaff, inched further up a creek, and set up at a large marsh drainage to pitch float rigs and live shrimp. In just a short time we had a hookup and young Russell reeled in the first fish of the day!

We eased along that bank, getting shallower and shallower and we could see big wakes moving in and out of the grass and oysters. Bert had gone in closed, snagged a couple of times, but went back again and BAM! Big Fish On!  Bert played it expertly and soon landed a nice Slot sized Redfish. We continued to work the bank and BAM! Another nice Slot Redfish! 

After running thru Horsehead and down to the Spanish Drop area we fished some oyster banks anddrainages, picked up a small Flounder, then Russell - he was casting on his own now - hooked up and reeled in a magnificent Catfish. Later, we fished some docks at Seymore's Pointe, then moved down to Nassauville and fished "Russell's Spot" and here things really heated  up. Scott found a "honey hole" and kept going back to it, pulling one Seatrout out after another. There were a good handful that were of keeper size (one we though for sure was a Red the way it was fighting). The trio also caught three more Flounder (12-13").

We finished the day down at Spanish Drop, fishing an exposed shell bed. Just when I thought the fish were on "seista", BAM! Scott had strong bite, and REALLY BIG fish on! He played it perfectly, had all the pressure on, but it was not to be - the hook was thrown. Minutes later, Bert had the same thing happen, BAM! Big fish on, a good battle, and a thrown hook. They did salvage a hungry Seatrout catch during that fight. 

We had beautiful weather, for most part the bugs stayed away, and we had some good action so as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Bob, Bob, Bob, gone!

 

We tried to squeeze in a fishing trip this morning - winds were forecasted to be about 7mph at start time but rising to an unfishable 17mph by quitting time! I met JR and Donna Shiver and JR's brother Greg out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp early. We still had a few minutes of an outgoing tide so we eased down the rocks at Nassauville and fished between a couple of docks with jigs and live shrimp. It didn't take long for JR to "knock the skunk off" when he hooked up and landed a big 19" Seatrout. He followed that up with another keeper sized Trout and a couple of throw backs.

After buzzing around the corner and fished some dock pilings, sticking with the jigs. I thought for sure we'd get a Drum or Red but when JR had another hookup, he brought to the boat another keeper sized Trout!

Sure enough, the wind was picking up, so we made the run down to Broward Island, passing a pair of Bald Eagles, and

began to fish a nice marsh drainage. We didn't get any real bites so we started working the shore line and now it was Donna's turn to get the nice fish. She had gone in near a long with an excellent cast and BAM! Fish On! Donna played it patiently and after a good battle landed a nice 24" Slot Redfish - a beautiful deep copper colored fish.

We were out of the wind and the tide was still a bit low so we elected to fish the logs. Greg was providing running commentary while JR and Donna fished. JR put a feisty Redfish in the boat, then we switched to float rigs and live shrimp. The duo of anglers were really working their casts and JR had just made a good one, letting his float drift up near a limb when he saw it Bob. Then Bob, Bob -he tightened up his line, lifted his rod and, BIG FISH ON! JR expertly worked the fish out from the logs and then it was a battle. The fish bulled deep a few times, then got in the current and made it fight. But JR was up to the task and eventually subdued the beast, landing an Oversized 28" Redfish. Boy what a fish. We wrapped up the day there, fishing floats up near the logs and then headed in, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Back To Back Flounder

 I wasn't really expecting a Flounder catch on the first drift this morning but that's what we got. I had met Matt Husa and his kids 9yo Divya and 5yo Kian down at the south end boat ramp early, and as the full moon disappeared over the trees, we headed up the intercoastal, cut thru Middle River and made it around to Pumpkin Hill with plans to drift live shrimp under floats on a tide that still had a couple of hours to hit high. 

Matt and Kian had taken the stern, drifting long, but Divya was on the bow and had a good drift going along the marsh grass on her first cast. When her float slowly went under she got her bail shut and began cranking - she had a hookup! Divya worked it to the boat and landed hungry 12" Flounder!  And just a drift or two later, in the same spot, she had another hookup. She brought this one to the boat, also, and it measured just a tad bit under 14". 

Matt and Kian had been working the stern and they teamed up to hookup and land a feisty Bluefish. We moved and fished the

point, then moved down another bank and fished some grassy islands and here Divya caught and landed a Seatrout.  Matt also hooked up and landed a keeper sized Seatrout. After fishing back around the corner, we made  the run down to Broward Island and fished jigs on the bottom on the very last of the high tide, not ideal. But we did get to see the Bald Eagles while were down there.

After a run back to Seymore's Pointe we set up at a grassy point and here the action picked up a bit. Both Divya and Matt/Kian team were getting bites and landing Seatrout. Then Matt had a strong bite and this one ripped some drag out-a bigger fish. Matt played it patiently and after a good battle landed a 17" keeper sized Seatrout. 

We ran thru Horsehead to the mouth of Jackstaff, turned into a creek, and fished a large outflow and again had few bites, then wrapped up pitching jigs along the bank in Jackstaff, then headed in, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Another Big Redfish Battle

 

After that slow day yesterday Bob Blalock and I decided to try south and met out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp early this morning. The tide was going out with a couple of hours to go so we eased down the Nassauville rocks and set up between two docks to fish jigs and live "lobster" shrimp- tossing them up current and letting them bounce down the river bottom with the current. We had a few good bites and Bob landed a couple of hungry Seatrout. 

We then ran down the Nassau, towards the bridge and then turned into the still outgoing current and fished Athens Drop. We had clear skies, no wind, and plenty of Sand Gnats, but no real bites. We moved further down the Nassau and began to work back alongside a shell lined bank. Bob was making excellent casts and working it slow but, no bites. He had part of his shrimp torn off on an oyster and we were just about to move and he made one more cast, out deep in about 10' of water and BAM! A strong hookup. The fish came right back to the boat

and Bob was cranking in slack then the fish ran towards the bank and began to rip drag - another Big Redfish! Bob played it perfectly and patiently worked it in (see video below) and eventually landed a 27.5" Oversized Redfish - boy what a

battle !

Our next stop was up at Bubblegum Reef -we eased along with the trolling motor until it found us. We dropped our jigs and shrimp down around the reef and had a few nibbles, lost a few jigs, then moved on. Just a short hop and we were over at some docks at Seymore's and here we picked up a Slot sized 6-spot Redfish (released), but no other significant bites.

After buzzing down to Broward Island we fished the first of an incoming tide. The wind had  picked  up just a bit and blew away the gnats. Bob caught and landed a handful of feisty Redfish. Then we moved down the way and worked back along the bank and picked up a couple of Seatrout, one on shrimp and one on Contender Baits "Christmas Tree' grub. The water temperature was a little over 61, so it's warming up. We had a bit more action today than yesterday so as we headed in we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Go Big Early

We had another beautiful morning today when I met Bob Blalock up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park. Sunshine, no wind, and warming temperatures. The tide had just started in so we made the quick run over to Tyger Island and pitched jigs with live shrimp to the exposed bank. We worked down the bank with Bob making excellent casts to the pockets, had not a bite, then worked back. Finally, Bob had a faint "bump", set the hook, and knocked the skunk off with a keeper sized Seatrout catch. We continued to ease back along the bank and way out deep, BAM! Another good bite. We were speculating, "feisty Redfish" or big Seatrout, which is what we were hoping for, but then the fish stayed deep, then we thought maybe the drag was a bit loose as it ripped it off. But Bob stayed with it, worked it patiently, and eventually brought to the net a big Oversized 28" Redfish, boy what a fish! We snapped a quick picture and released it.

Our hopes were high as we worked the bank up and down, but alas, there were no more bites, which was a precursor for things to come. After running around to the outside of Tyger and fishing a small drainage to no avail, we moved around to the Jolley and worked the shell banks with jigs and shrimp. Again, not a bite. We travelled further up the Jolley and fished another shell bank and again, not a bite.

Our final stop was around at Bell River, fishing some docks. We switched to jigs and plastic grubs thinking that might help, but again, not a bite. We had fished deep and shallow, live shrimp and plastic grubs. We had even tried a float rig on occasion, but the fish just didn't want to cooperate. But as we headed in, the sun was shining and we had great memories of at least one BIG fish caught today so we counted it as another great day to be out on the water here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

First Flounder of the Year Nets a Slam

Boy what a beautiful morning we had today! Clear skies, no wind and temperatures getting up to "peel off the jacket" heights! I had met Frank Boehm and his two fishing partners Jack Severson and Pat Andreasen down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early and we ran up the intercoastal, turned into the Nassau and made our way up the River for about a half a mile, then turned into the current on the first of an incoming tide. We worked along a shell lined bank pitching jigs and dead shrimp(live shrimp has been scarce the last couple of weeks) and it didn't take long for Jack, on the stern, to hookup and "knock the skunk off" with a Seatrout catch. But, unfortunately, that was all we caught along that stretch.

We then ran further up the river and eased in between two docks and fished the pilings as the tide came in. We weren't getting any bites until Pat had a "bump", set the hook and worked in to the net - a nice sized 17" Flounder, the first of the year! An Osprey overhead kept watch over his fishing grounds.

After running down to Broward Island we set up and let the drigs drop down the river bottom and here we had a good flurry of fish catching.  All three anglers caught and landed Seatrout, with one of them being of keeper size right at 17". They also put a handful of feisty Redfish in the boat, one of which gave Pat his first Amelia Island Back Country Slam of Flounder, Seatarout and Refish. We were treated to a sighting of a Salt Marsh Mink, and minutes later, a Raccoon, then later, a Bald Eagle.

After fishing some docks at Nassauville to no avail, we ran through Horsehead and down to Jackstaff where we worked the bank. In a span of a minute, all three anglers had hookups and landings of Seatrout. And with that, we called it day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

We Found 'Em

 I wrapped  up my week fishing with Glenn and Patti Langford this morning. We had met down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early,  under cloudy skies, but warmer temperatures than the last few days. We made a long run up the intercoastal, over thru the Back River, into the Nassau, and down to Broward Island. It was a high and incoming tide but I wanted to try fishing the island deep. Both anglers were tossing jigs and live shrimp to the bank, letting it fall down the bottom, and waited for the "bump". Patti "knocked the skunk off" when she had a strong hookup. She played it perfectly and landed a feisty Redfish. I though, "oh boy, here we go!"  But nope, not another real bite. We moved down the island, passing a pair of Bald Eagles, and fished another stretch of the island, to no avail.

We motored back up the river and fished a shallow stretch of flooding bank, now floating live shrimp over the shell bottom and BAM! We had one hookup after another!  It was almost every drift. Many of the Seatrout were 14-14.5" in length but we put a good handful of keeper sized Seatrout in the boat. Glenn had a

good drift going, right up beside the grass and when a fish took his bait with a vengeance and his drag ripped, we knew he had a bigger fish. Glenn fought it patiently as it boiled up a couple of times (Redfish) and then he brought it to the net, a 20" Slot Sized Redfish. After briefly fishing a grassy island we moved on.

Our next stop was back at Seymore's Pointe where we drifted live shrimp under a float along a couple of grass lines. Although we had a couple of good "takes', we landed no fish. After motoring down the Nassau, we fished the mouth of  Twin Creeks, switching back to jigs. Patti hooked up quickly with another Seatrout. We landed a couple of more Trout as we worked the bank, then we headed in, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.