2023: It's a Wrap with a Cold Send Off

 

Those high winds subsided over night but left us with clear skies and a 37 degree temperature this
morning when I met Mark Averbuch, his on Jared and grandson Max down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. The winds were expected to pick up later in the day so we had to go early, but it paid off anyway! All of us were wrapped up with layers as we made our way up the intercoastal  and then up the Nassau to make our first stop along a shell bank at Spanish Drop.

 

Fishing with jigs I was hoping that these anglers would pick up some Seatrout out deeper, and
maybe have a shot at a Redfish up close, but "hope" wasn't cutting it - we had no real bites. Rather than try another shell bank we headed on up to Seymore's Pointe and fished some dock pilings and here we were getting some bites, but no takers. It wasn't until we pulled out a bit and began making long casts to the shore that we began to get hookups. They weren't very big but we were glad to be catching Seatrout on the  jigs.

Our next stop was around at Littlefield's, still tossing  jigs and live shrimp on that incoming tide and we did have a couple of good bites.

I knew the wind was picking up so we made our way up the river and into a creek where we turned into the current and began working back and right off, BAM! Jared had a hookup. He played it perfectly but as he brought it to the boat it thru the hook, OUCH!  But he was not to be deterred. As we worked the bank they began to get fish, here and there, feisty Redfish, but fun to catch. Then Jared put a nice keeper sized Red in the boat then we hit one spot and it was like the gates were opened!  

I counted at least 3 "double hookups" that they had and even though Jared and Mark were putting fish in the boat, Max was hanging right in there with them. He even began to call it "easy" to hookup and fight the fish to the net. The trio caught their limit in Slot Redfish and threw back a couple of more  in the Slot. Jared added a keeper sized Seatrout and on the last a bait, a big mud minnow, Max landed the final fish, a hungry Seatrout. 

We had had a cold morning and a slow start, and a hot finish so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Amorous Bald Eagle, One Legged Herons, and Redfish

 I probably sound like a broken record but the weather has been playing havoc in the fishing trips. But today ae decided to squeeze in a trip before the predicted 4-6" rains came thru. I met Tom Kretschmar and his son Sam down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early and we made a beeline all the way around to Broward Island to take advantage of a tide that had been coming in for about an hour. The duo were tossing jigs and live shrimp at the first spot - we might have had a nibble, but no takers.

After moving down the island and turning into the current we began to work the bank slowly and this paid off. Tom knocked the skunk off when he hooked up and landed a sizable Whiting, then Sam had a strong bite battled to the boat a feisty Redfish.  Up above us was a pair of Bald Eagles getting "amorous" -  they had no shame!

They picked up another Red or two, then a Seatrout, then a Flounder to round out their Amelia Island backcountry slam. We then made a short run back to Nassauville and fished between two docks, again with the jigs and here Tom got hoy catching hungry Seatrout. After coming back to Pumpkin Hill we switched to float rigs and worked a flooding grass bank. Tom had a big one on for a bit but is as Sam who landed another Seatrout.

The tide was really getting up and rather than fish the grass we elected to run to the shelter of a creek and just a minute after we pulled up, Sam had a hookup. He played it expertly to the boat and landed a fat keeper sized Seatrout. We worked the entire bank, Tom on the bow and Sam at the stern. After Tom fished a small pocket Sam went in and Bam! Fish on! He brought it to the net and landed a feisty Red. He then followed that up with another. Again, sitting overhead we saw a Heron that looked like it only had one leg! Eventually it unfolded the other.

But the last pocket we hit was all Tom. He and Sam could go in side by side and the fish would eat
Tom's. He pulled out 4 Slot Reds and a couple of smaller Reds. And with that we called it a day, and as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

First and Last (spots)

 Hallelujah!  The bad weather finally let up and we were able to get out and do some fishing today!  I met Jason Ash and his buddy Tom up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp early - the tide had been coming in for about an hour and a half so we eased up the creek and found some dock pilings to fish with jigs and live shrimp. It took a few minutes then Tom "knocked the skunk off" when he hooked up and landed a hungry Seatrout. Then Jason, fishing a little shallower near the bank began to catch Redfish. He could make a cast up to one spot and BAM! Fish On!  He had brought a few to the boat before Tom took the "can't beat 'em join 'em" attitude and cast to the same area and caught fish too.. The duo ended up with a couple of Slot Redfish to go along with the dozen or so "Rat" Reds they landed. They also added another Trout or two one of which was of keeper size. Good start at the first spot!

We then made the run over to the outside of Tyger and fished a stretch of flooding marsh grass, had one small "bump", then moved on. Our next stop was up the Jolley River where we switched to Float rigs and the live shrimp. Both anglers were getting good drifts and picked up a couple of Redfish, one of which was in the Slot, then Tom had a good take and as his drag began to rip we knew, Big Fish On!  Tom kept the pressure on, played it patiently as it bulled up to the grass, worked it out, let it run, and eventually landed a big 26.5" "tournament" Slot Redfish! Boy what a fish!

After running on around to the Bell River we fished deep with jigs between some docks and found that we could hookup and land Seatrout out deep. They had a good flurry of catches and  put another keeper Trout in the box. Then they found that they could pitch closer to the shore and get feisty Redfish. Again, we had some great action at this last spot so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

We Ain't Skeered of No Stinkin Rain

That's NOT what Paula Eldridge said when I spoke to her last night, but more like, "we don't mind a little rain" after I gave her the forecast of 45% chance for our trip this morning.  So we planned to meet up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp - Paula and her husband Dean and their sons Malachi and Josiah. And wouldn't  you know, when I got up this morning and looked at the forecast it was a whopping 85% chance of rain. I made sure my raincoat was packed! 

We left Old Town and eased up Eagans Creek to set up between two docks and began to pitch jigs and live shrimp to the base of pilings and on Malachi's second cast, BAM! Big Fish On!   (and that set the tone for the next two hours). Malachi played it like a pro and kept that pressure on, worked it up from the bottom, let it run, worked it in, and landed an Oversized 28.25" Redfish, boy what a fish!

From then on we were catching fish. Dean seemed to have the "hot" rod, landing a couple of nice Slot Redfish, a keeper sized Sheepshead, a small Black "puppy" Drum, and a hungry Seatrout to round out his Amelia Island Backcountry Grande Slam. Paula got in on the action and hooked up and landed another Slot Redfish and after Malachi put a nice Slot fish in the boat, they had their limit! We also picked up a a handful of Croaker and a couple of Stingray.

After making the run up to the Jolley River we tried to fish the "bank" and even though it was difficult going, Dean had his float disappear and after lifting his rod to hookup, the fight was on! He worked it to the boat perfectly and after a good battle landed another Slot Redfish.

Further up the Jolley we fished the inside of Snook Creek, tossing the anchor over in the grass and fishing off the stern and it was almost immediate that these anglers were beginning to get bites. It was Josiah's turn to have the "hot" rod. He hooked up and when his drag began to sing we knew it was a Shark. Josiah played it patiently and after a good battle landed a hard charging Bonnethead Shark. But he wasn't done. About every other cast he had a bite, a hookup, and landed more Shark.

Dean put a couple of Catfish in the boat, one of them huge, and Malachi landed another fat Seatrout. After fishing back at Tyger Island, we headed in, suffering no more than a drop of two of rain all morning, so we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Fishing Can Be Wet

 

There were forecasted rains for today and when I met Russ Kesel and his sons Sam and Noah and Noah's girlfriend Alysa down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp we could see the big dark clouds barreling to us. But we were all up for fishing so we headed p the intercoastal, then up the Nassau, and made our first stop at Spanish Drop. After turning in to the current that had just started moving in about an hour earlier, we began to pitch to the bank with jigs and live shrimp. We worked the entire bank of shell but only had a couple of nibbles. 

A drizzling rain had started and the  SW wind was kicking at about 12mph so we decided to run up toSeymore's Pointe and that solved the wind issue. Casting back to some dock pilings were were able to get a little bit of action when Russ and Sam boated a couple of small Mangrove Snapper and Alysa hooked up and landed a Catfish.

We fished some rocks at Nassauville and here all four anglers got on the board catching Mangrove Snapper, first on jigs, but then we found that we could float a piece of shrimp up by the rocks and catch them that way. Unfortunately they didn't have any size to them.

But our next stop down at Pumpkin Hill paid off. The rain had finally slacked off and the wind had dropped just a bit. We were fishing long with the floats drifting with the incoming tide and we began to get big bites. Alysa had her float going long and when her float disappeared and she got that "clicky thing" turned over, she had a hookup and a fight on her hands! Alysa played it perfectdly and soon landed a nice Jack Crevalle. After moving around the corner all anglers did battle with some Bonnethead Sharks and landed more than we lost. Then Russ had a good hookup and we were thinking "Shark, again", but this fish never made the long run. Russ stayed with it, worked it patiently in, and landed a nice 24" Slot sized Redfish, boy what a fish. Then it was Alysa's turn to fight the big fish. After her float disappeared and she got that "clicky thing" closed, she worked it and landed a big 18" Seatrout.

We finished out the trip in that area, catching a couple of more Shark, some Ladyfish, and one more keeper sized Seatrout before we headed in and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Big Battles Early

 I fished yesterday morning with Tom and Theresa Gaslin, who were taking in an Amelia Island Backcountry fishing trip to celebrate their new status as fist time grandparents, congratulations! Although the weather forecast improved from the night before with a small chance of rain, the wind stayed the same, hovering between 12-16mph. After meeting at Old Town Bait and Tackle we got started just at the tide reached its peak. Our first stop was over at Bell River, fishing a flooded shell point, and it didn't take long before Teresa was tangling with a couple of high flying Ladyfish. 

When the tide started out we made our way around to the outside of Tyger and here things heated up when Teresa got into an extended battle with a 4' Bonnethead Shark. She played it perfectly and patiently and got it up along side the boat for a "leader touch" and release. We then made a run up to the Jolly and Snook Creek where it was Toms turn to battle the big Bonnethead. Again, he fought it valiantly and got it up to the boat so we could release it. But then, as we made our way across the creek mouth, Tom had a good bite as his float disappeared with a vengeance and when his drag ripped and the fish stayed close to the shore, we knew it was a Redfish. Tom played it perfectly and soon landed a nice Redfish.

Our final stop was around at some docks in Bell River, fishing the pilings with jigs and shrimp. Although we had nibbles here and there, we had no takers so we headed back. We had had some serious action early and with thoughts of grandkids lingering, as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Pulled Out a Amelia Island Back Country Slam

I fished north again today, meeting Scott Jones and his fishing team - Mathew and Andrew - up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp. We eased down Eagans Creek and made our way over to the outside of Tyger Island to set up tossing float rigs with live shrimp on the first of an outgoing tide. These anglers had made a good handful of casts and only had some small nibbles and I was beginning to get a bit worried when I heard Scott's reel "rip" and when I turned around and saw his rod bent I knew we hand a nice fish on. Scott said later he thought it was a nice Redfish but after expertly playing it to the net we saw that it was a big 22.25" Seatrout, boy what a fish, and big enough to move him into first place in the Anglers Mark 2023 Bragging Rights Tournament-Seatrout Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings).  

Then Mathew had a strong hookup and this big fish was half way to Georgia before it slowed down!
Mathew stayed patient, worked it in, let it run, worked it in, let it run, but eventually wore it out and brought it to the boat -a 4' Bonnethead Shark which we photographed and released.

We crossed over the creek and fished a large drainage and here Scott put a couple of Slot sized Redfish in the boat and Mathew added another big Seatrout to the catch total. After running up and around Tyger, we tried our hand with some jigs and minnows at a run out, tangled with a couple of Ladyfish, and moved on. We then worked Jolley "bank" with the float rigs, battled the Ladyfish, and picked up another nice Trout.

On further up, at Snook Creek, Scott went in close to the shore with a float rig and hooked up and landed the biggest Redfish of the day, one that measured right at 22". Andrew woke up and brought a few Ladyfish to the net in quick succession, Scott fought and landed a Bonnethead, then Mathew had a "bump", set the hook and reeled in a Flounder to round round out their Amelia Island Back Country Slam of Seatrout, Redfish and Flounder. After fishing the MOA for just a bit, we headed back to the ramp and 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 

Big Trout and Slot Reds

 I fished a "double" today, both out of Old Town Bait and Tackle. The morning trip was with the Wolke crew -Jos and his brother-in-law Renzi and his son-in-law Rob and friend Nick. We had a high and incoming tide so we fished float rigs most of the morning with live shrimp. All four anglers boated fish -Seatrout and Bluefish and the highlight was  a huge Seatrout that Nick battled to the boat. We ended the trip fishing some dock pilings with jigs and shrimp and caught a good "mess" of Black "puppy" Drum. 

The afternoon trip I fished with William and Dara Blalock and now the tide was down and still going out. We fished some dock pilings where Dara caught a hungry Seatrout, then we ran up the Bell River where Dara continued her streak with another Seatrout catch and a couple of Black "puppy" Drum.  I think William felt the pressure because at the next stop, the MOA, he had great cast, a strong hookup and then expertly played a Slot Redfish to the boat. From then on for about an hour we were catching fish. Dara took a turn at battling a Slot Red and at the same time, William reeled in a fat Seatrout. The duo caught another handful of feisty Redfish and a couple of more Seatrout. We moved across the river and worked a bank that seemed to be loaded with Sea Turtles, but Dara found her way thru to hookup and land another Slot Red. We fished outside of Tyger, behind Tyger and outside again then we headed back to the dock and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Kickoff With Big Trout

 I was finally back out at Goffinsville this morning, meeting High School classmate Daniel Rhodes and his "Brother-in-Law" Jeff as the sun came up. We made a quick trip down the Nassau River and set up alongside a flooded shell bank on the last of an incoming tide and began to toss float rigs and live shrimp. I think it was Jeff's first drift and BAM! He had a strong hookup. I was even thinking it was a Redfish the way it thrashed up near bank. But after Jeff patiently worked it to the boat we netted a big 19.5" Seatrout!

From then on we were catching fish - both Jeff and Daniel were getting good drifts and they each hooked up with big Trout, and a couple of undersized ones. We moved around the corner and drifted another side and again, had some Big Trout caught. One of them had to go back because we had our limit already of one over 19" per boat.  We fished some grassy islands, then came back around an fished a pocket, then moved on. 

Our next stop was back around Seymore's Pointe, fishing a large drainage. Both Daniel and Jeff had some good bites, but not takers, until finally Jeff hooked up and reeled to the net a keeper sized Mangrove Snapper. We fished Twin Creeks and caught a couple of Seatrout, then fished the rocks at Seymore's, to no avail, then Little Field, again, to no avail. 

The final stop was up the Nassau where we dipped into a small creek and fished the deeper part of the cut bank, tossing jigs and live shrimp. Jeff got us back into action when he battled a feisty Redfish to the boat, then Daniel wrapped things up with a nice Slot Redfish catch. We had some good action today and as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida 

Massive Redfish Obliterates Bragging Rights

 I wrapped my week up today, fishing north again with Craig and Christina Jones. We had met up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp and made our way out of Eagans Creek to make our first run over to the outside of Tyger Island where we set up fishing float rigs on a tide that had been going out for a couple of hours. I don't think we got a nibble! Our next stop was further up the island, at a small drainage where we switched to jigs and shrimp and it was Craig who "knocked the skunk off" with a nice Seatrout catch. And Christina, who had her lucky hat on, followed that up with a Trout of her own.

We then made our way around to the Jolley River and fished with the floats again and the oysters were just beginning to show. Other than a brief tangle with a Gar fish, we had no luck. Our next stop was up at the MOA and although we couldn't see the oysters, we could see the "ripple" so we stopped and fished anyway, going with the jigs. Christina had made a cast that I thought for sure was right smack into the oysters and when her rod bent I thought "hang up" but, nope, BIG FISH! The rod stayed bent over and the drag was ripping and the fish hung close to the shore - I thought for sure it would carry that line across the oysters and snap, but Christina worked it out into deep water and unbeknown to the fish, it was Had!

Boy what a battle! Christina would work it close to the boat then it would dive deep. We saw it "roll" once and knew it was a big Red. It finally got in the current behind the boat, Christina worked it up, then it would dive. I got the net under it once but it was too big! It dove again and the battle recommenced! Eventually we got it in the net and on the boat and it turned out to be a huge, bulky, 33.5" oversized Redfish - big enough to obliterate the existing 1st place in the 2023 Anglers Mark Bragging Rights Tournament-Redfish category! (scroll down the right side of his report for standings).

We made our way around to the Bell River, fished some docks, and picked up a hard fighting Bluefish, a Slot Redfish, and had a couple of other good bites. After fishing the MOA on a lower tide, and the logs of Tyger, we made our way back to the dock 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. 

High Tides and Low Tides

 It's amazing how different the fishing can be depending on the tides. This morning I met Warren Hearn and his brother-in-law Dave up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp. We had a tide that was already high and still coming in so we went with float rigs and live shrimp as the tactic. Our first stop was over on the outside of Tyger and almost immediately Warren had a hookup and after expertly playing it, landed a big Bluefish. Then Dave had a hookup, one that pulled a bit of drag, and he brought to the net a big 18" Seatrout. We bounced around all morning, drifting edges with the float rigs  and this duo caught a good handful of Seatrout and another nice Blue.

This afternoon we were fishing a tide that had been going out for a few hours. I had met Kay Hartinger and her partner Sue at Old Town and we made a long run up the Bell to fish some docks with jigs and shrimp. The first spot produced no fish but we got in closer between a couple of more docks and fished back to the pilings. Kay and Sue began to catch fish - hard fighting and feisty Black "puppy" Durm, some feisty Redfish, then Kay put a Slot sized Red in the boat.  We came back to the Eagans Creek area and fished some more dock pilings and  for two hours we caught Redfish, one after the other! Kay added a keeper sized Black Drum, then patiently played a 23" Slot Red to the net. Sue followed that up with a nice 21" Slot fish of her own. When the dust had settled I guestimate we had caught at least 25 Redfish, four of which were of legal size.  But not a single Trout, like this morning! Hah! As we headed back to the dock we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Winter Hanging On by its Teeth!

 After getting the boat ready this  morning I came back inside and put on a pair of long underwear! The temps were in the low 40's and I just didn't want to be cold today so I bundled up and met Bob and Jana Grimm out at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp. We had a nice clear, sunny day, cool, and a bit windy as we headed north and west to set up outside of Tyger Island with float rigs on the first of an outgoing tide. It didn't take long before Bob's float rig, baited with a lively live shrimp, disappeared and Fish On! Bob played it perfectly and brought to the net a nice 18" Seatrout. We had a couple of more bites but no takers, then we crossed over the creek and fished a few spots, then moved on. 

Our next stop was way up Lanceford Creek, fishing in a spot out of the wind. I saw Bob start to reel up his float rig then it took off in the opposite direction. He had a hookup! Bob worked it to the boat an landed a feisty Redfish. We ran back to Soap Creek and fished a large drainage with the floats then made our way down the intercoastal to fish some docks with jigs and live shrimp. And boy did this pay off! Almost immediately we were getting bites. Bob pulled in a couple of feisty Reds then Jana got in on the action and put the biggest Redfish of the day in the boat - a Slot Redfish.  We had some good action, catching another handful of Reds, battled with a big one that eventually wrapped himself around a piling and broke off, then we moved on. 

The final stop was further down the intercoastal, fishing some structure, and here we put two more feisty Reds in the boat. The sun had come up and warmed us up so as we headed back to the  dock we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Slight Uptick in the Fish Catching

 We've had a rough week! That cold air seemed to put a real damper on the fish bite but today there was a slight uptick. Yesterday, I fished two trips and it was slooow going. We did catch a few trout in the morning with John Frederick and his buddy Dan Forche, but that was about it. That afternoon I fished with the Lafave family - Josh and Sally and their two sons and even though they had excellent attitudes and a strong character of Perseverance, we were only able to land a fat Whiting. Both trips we were limited to fishing mud minnows. 

But today was a new day  when I met Glenn and Patti Lanford up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp. We headed out of Eagans Creek and made the run over to Soap Creek where we set up fishing float rigs and live shrimp and Glenn quickly knocked the skunk off with a hungry Seatrout catch. He followed that up with another.  After fishing some docks further up the creek we came back to the mouth of Lanceford and fished a run out and here Glenn put another Trout in the boat. 

Our next stop was down near Piney Island, fishing some dock pilings, but we had no luck. We moved further down the intercoastal and here Patti got on the board with feisty Redfish catch. Glenn added one as well. We moved up to a small drainage and again Patti put another Redfish in the net, and Glenn added another. 

Our final stop; was back at the mouth of Bell River and here Patti wrapped things up with a Bluefish catch and a Seatrout. Although we didn't "tear them up" we did have a bit of action, and it was a beautiful day so as we headed back to the dock we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Wind and Cold Couldn't Stop These Anglers

 I do believe it was windier and colder today than yesterday - and it just never seemed to warm up, until we headed back to the dock!  I had met Steve Roark, his son-in-law Andrew, and grandson Max up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park early this morning and the wind was already kicking. But we braved the weather and made a run down the intercoastal with a plan to fish some dock pilings on a tide that was going out enough to where the oysters were beginning to show. 

I think it was the second cast when, BAM! Fish On!  And Max was on the rod with his dad providing moral support, they worked it to the boat and landed a nice feisty Redfish. That's the way to start a fishing trip! We fished that dock thoroughly and all three anglers had good bites and got to tangle with fish.
Andrew was getting some good casts up under the dock and it paid off. He had a really strong hookup and when his drag began to rip we knew it had some size. It "boiled" once and I mistakenly called it a Redfish - nope, after a patient battle Andrew landed a big  4lb+ Black "puppy" Drum.  Steve had had a good bite out deep and shortly afterwards an "errant" cast to the general area by Andrew produced a big 18" Seatrout.

The bite slowed so we made the long run up the Bell River and fished some docks on a still outgoing tide, then fished another to no avail, then made a short run over to the Jolley and set up to fish the MOA, again, to no avail. We then ran up the Jolly, headfirst into the wind, and made our way around to Tyger Island to fish the first of an incoming tide. Here, Steve hooked up out deep and landed a hungry Seatrout. Both Andrew and Max  outsmarted a couple of "baitstealers", then Andrew wrapped things up with one more Redfish catch. And as we headed back to the boat ramp, the sun came out and warmed things up so we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

Temperature Swing

 Just when I thought Spring had sprung - I had even planted some vegetables - then we had a good rain and the temperatures dropped!  48 degrees on my truck gauge this morning. And after driving all the way down to Sawpit Creek boat ramp to find it closed, and driving back  up to Old Town Bait to launch, we got a late(er) start this morning. Luckily Michael Gard and his crew were flexible so I met him, his son-in-law Jesse, grandson Vaughn, and Vaughns good friend Bryce at Old Town and we headed out.

Our first stop was around at Tyger, fishing the deep bank on the first of an incoming tide - a good tide to fish it but the brisk NNW wind caused a few issues, and we had no real bites. We then headed down the intercoastal and fished some structure and this did pay off - Vaughn "knocked the skunk" off with a feisty Redfish catch, then Jesse had a hookup, fought it patiently, but it was not to be, Fish Off! But he went back with a similar cast and had a hookup out deep, and brought this one to the net, a nice hungry Seatrout. 

We made our way down to Seymore's Pointe, fished the pilings of one dock, then moved on around teh corner and fished between some docks, but to no avail.  After running further up the Nassau we dipped into a creek and fished the edge. Here, Jesse had another "bump", set the hook, and landed a keeper sized Seatrout. Our final stop was at the mouth of Pumpkin Hill, drifting float rigs. Jesse stayed with the hot hand and landed a couple of Trout and a small Bonnethead Shark, the first of the year on the Anglers Mark. We then made the long run back to Old Town and although it was a bit windy, 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. 

What Does a Pirate Call a Long Fish? GaaaaarrrrFish!

Although we expected a beautiful morning today, and although it was a bit overcast for most of it, the sun did win out and it turned out to be as expected, beautiful!  I had met Derek Wilson and his fishing buddy Tim down at Sawpit Creek boat ramp and we made a good run up the intercoastal, up the Back River, and around to Pumpkin Hill and set up with fixed floats drifting a shell bottom on the last of an incoming tide. And the plan paid off! Both anglers almost immediately began to get bites and catch fish- Seatrout. They were getting excellent casts and excellent drifts and caught a good handful of Trout with a couple of them being of keeper size. Tim had a weird bite, lifted his rod and, Fish On! We could tell by the bend in the rod that this fish was big - it made a flash when it saw the boat and began to pull drag. Tim was up for the challenge and kept the pressure on and after a couple of those runs, brought to the net a big 'ole GaaarrrFish! We photographed and released it.  

We bounced around that area hitting a few spots on the very last of high tide - had a few nibbles, but no real takers, so we moved on.

Our next stop was around at Seymore's Point, fishing a large out flow with the floats, but again, no real bites. We moved down the way and switched to jigs and fished deep- had a few nibbles, but no takers, so, we moved on. Around at Nassauville we stuck with the jigs and did pick up another Seatrout.

After making a run up the Nassau we dipped into a small creek and began working the bank as the tide started out with the jigs, fishing structure as we went. I was beginning to wonder if the run was all for naught when Derek had a hookup and Fish On! He played it expertly and brought to the net a nice feisty Redfish. From then on it was on fire for a good bit with a "double" hookup for good measure. Just about every fish measured right at 17.5-17.75", so none in the Slotm but fun to catch, nonetheless. We fished down to the last shrimp and finished with a Redfish and as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.