Hot Start on a Cool Morning at Amelia Island

 We elected to go a little earlier t his morning, trying to catch more of that lower incoming tide, so I met William and Dara Blalock up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp before the sun came up. We made a quick run over to Eagans Creek and set up to fish some dock pilings on a tide that had already been coming in for a couple of hours. 

William had made a perfect cast up between the pilings and it paid off! Why is it that we're all of a sudden catching Flounder with the season closed! We could tell that it was a nice fish, but weird and sure enough, after William played it patiently, he brought to the net a nice 18" Flounder which we photographed and released.

Dara was fishing off the Port side, making good sidearm casts to the pilings, but a bit shallower and even though I had my back turned, I heard the tell-tell sound of some serious drag ripping! BIG FISH ON!  Dara was applying some gentle pressure trying to coerce the fish out from the pilings and later she said she felt here line "lock up"....but come loose and she had the fish out. She fought the fish expertly to the boat and landed a nice 26.25" Slot Sized Redfish. Boy what a battle and what a fish!  I felt the leader afterwards and it was all chewed up. Someone must be living right!

We continued to fish that dock and caught another feisty Redfish or two, and a couple of Seatrout, one of which was a little over 19".  We moved down and fished a grassy island for a bit and picked up a couple of Seatrout, then we ran out to Soap Creek and fished a stretch of flooding grass (and boy was it flooding). Here, Dara kept her hot hand and picked up some small Trout up near the grass. 

We made multiple stops after that, fishing a high and flooding tide, but had no real takers - the water was just too far up in the grass. But as we headed back, we had a few fish in the box and and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Trout Queen at Amelia Island

 

Back to "work" today after a nice vacation to the North Carolina mountains! I met Bob Blalock and his brother and sister in-law Tommy and Martha out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp. The sun hadn't come over the horizon as we left the ramp on the cool and clear morning. We made a quick stop around at some docks at Seymore's Pointe in hopes for some Drum, on a tide that had been coming in for a few hours. but we ended up catching a Seatrout and a small Sea Bass.

After running down the Nassau we pulled up to some flooding marsh
grass and began working the bank with jigs and live shrimp. Bob had made an excellent cast right up to the grass and BAM! Big Fish On!  This fish was a big AND feisty! It ripped drag, heading up current along the bank, then down current, then deep. We weren't sure what it was but finally it boiled up a couple of times and we knew it was a big Red. When it came to the surface it gave a wicked head shake, but Bob kept the pressure on and brought it to the net - a nice 25"+ Slot sized Redfish.

We worked that bank thru and had no additional bites, other than a couple of Catfish, then made the run back up river to Pumpkin Hill where we switched to floats and live shrimp. I think it was Martha's first drift and she had a hookup and expertly brought to the boat a hungry Seatrout. And from then on she worked up to a big lead in the fish count, catching a good handful of Trout. Tommy had  a good  battle with what turned out to be a nice Bonnethead Shark. This was another fish that took the bait and ran hard - I kinda hoped that the Shark had left the area with the cooler water, but nope - Bonnethead Shark. Tommy played it perfectly and brought it to the net for a photograph and release.

Fishing around the corner Bob landed another Trout, then we moved back to Seymore's to fish an outgoing tide - had  few bites, but no takers.We wrapped things up over at Back River fishing the first of an outgoing tide, then we headed in, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Flipped a Coin

 

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

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

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

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

Bite Picking up

 We had a little breeze and cloudy skies when I launched down at Sawpit Creek boat ramp this morning.  I've fished the last few days but there wasn't much to brag about! We've had some extreme high tides in the morning and unless you're going to the jetties or fishing the flooded marsh for tailing Reds, finding fish in the backwater has been tough. But today I had some eager anglers, Joanne and Frank Wytiaz who had a whole lot of optimism, and it paid off. 

After running up the Nassau River we  pulled up to a dock with the intent of fishing the pilings before that tide got up and began pitching jigs and live shrimp to the structure. They immediately began to get nibbles, then picked up a couple of bait stealers, then Joanne had a strong hookup, played it perfectly, and reeled to the net a nice 17" keeper sized Seatrout.

Shortly after that we had a strong hookup and boy was this weird! Frank was on the rod and this big fish pulled deep. I was trying to guess what it was and couldn't imagine it being a Redfish, but boy was a I wrong. Frank fought it from bow to stern, around the engine, back around the engine, back to the bow and around the trolling motor, and then back. Finally, a big 'ole Redfish boiled up! Frank stayed patient and worked it to the net and landed a Oversized 32" Redfish, big enough to move him into second place in the Anglers Mark 2022 Bragging Rights Tournament-Redfish Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings). 

Then it was Joanne's time to fight the big fish. Her fish was digging deep too, ripping drag, so I guessed wrong again, thinking "Redfish". But after a good battle, which Joanne expertly fought, a big Jack Crevalle was brought to the net.

We around and fished between two docks with the jigs and caught a couple of small Mangrove Snapper, then we made our way down the Nassau and set up alongside a flooded shell bed to drift float rigs and shrimp. Joanne went long on her first drift and caught a Seatrout, then as we worked the bank they would pick up more Trout. After moving around the corner they continued the pattern of catching a Trout here and there.

After running back down the Nassau and thru Horsehead we fished an seriously flooded edge and here Frank added one more keeper sized Seatrout to the box. The wind had picked up a bit but the sun was trying to peek thru so as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

No Credit Needed

Oh boy, what a beautiful morning we had today! I had met Chuck and Marca Benton and their daughter Kristin out at the Goffinsville Park as the sun came up - it was cool and clear and only a slight breeze. The tide was still coming in so we headed over to Pumpkin Hill and set up, drifting float rigs along a flooded bank with live shrimp as bait. All three anglers were getting excellent drifts but it was Marca who "knocked the skunk off" when she hooked up and landed a hungry Seatrout.  We worked that bank, getting  few nibbles, then moved around the corner, fished it, (picked up a colorful Blue Crab)(and battled a hard charging Bonnethead Shark) then moved down to a grassy island where Marca continued her "trout catching ways" by landing another.

I thought the tide might have started out over at Horsehead so we made our way there, cutting thru the marsh and pulling up at a large drainage to fish the floats. We were seeing a good bit of activity up by the bank, but we had no takes. Back thru Horsehead we went, then we made our way over to some docks at Seymore's, and fished a large bay drainage. Here, the trio of anglers had some good nibbles, some that took their float under, but none that actually took the hook. 

Our next stop was down by Nassauville where we switched to jig rods, but all we found were a couple of small Mangrove Snapper.

The tide had been going out for almost two hours at the "honey hole" so we made our way over and set up alongside  some marsh grass - the shell were still covered. I think it was Kristin's first cast and it had only drifted a few feet when it disappeared. Kristin lifted her rod and let the circle hook set and Big Fish On!  Kristen kept her rod bent and the pressure on and had a good battle on her hands. She played it patiently and after a good battle landed a fat 25.5" Slot sized Redfish.  

Marca went to a "cut" up ahead and BAM! She had a hookup. Her's was a "feisty" Redfih, smaller, but fun to catch, and this one had multiple spots. Chuck followed that up with an 18" Seatrout catch, then it was his turn to tangle with a Big Redfish. I heard his drag begin to sing and when I turned around his float was heading north, another Big Fish on!  And when we saw a "boil" we knew it was another big Redfish. Chuck played it perfectly, took his time, let it run, worked it in, and eventually landed bulky 26.75" Slot sized Redfish (all fish caught today were released). 

These anglers caught another couple of feisty Reds but the bite eventually slowed so we headed back to the dock and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Football Sized Redfish

 I fished south again today, meeting William and Dara Blalock out at the Goffinville Park boat ramp.  If I had to sum up the day, it was a "Jack" of a day! As the sun was coming up there was a lady at the dock who shot some pictures of us leaving the dock, heading over to the Horsehead area. At the first stop we had an incoming tide so we went with float rigs and the live shrimp, working the bank, casting in to the current. If we'd only known what would be par for the day - Dara hooked up and landed Jack Crevalle.William picked up a small Manrgrove Snapper, then we landed another Jack. We did have a Redfish boil out ahead of us, but he had other plans. This happened a couple of times throughout the day.

We came back thru Horsehead and fished Twin Creeks for a bit, first with the floats, then with some jigs and shrimp, had nibbles, some bites, but no real takers. Back up the Nassau we went, to Pumpkin Hill and here we had a good flurry of Trout, Jacks, Ladyfish, and Mangroves. Moving around a bit,  Still on an incoming tide, William found a big Trout up near the grass, one that measured right at 18" (all fish caught today were released).

Back down the Nassau we went, and around to Seymore's Pointe where the tide had started out.. Dara was on the stern, William on the bow, and they both were getting quick takes. Dara finally outsmarted them and hooked up and landed two nice sized Mangrove Snapper. 

Up the Nassau we went, Hah! There was a spot I wanted to fish on an outgoing tide and when we got there it was high,and started to ease out. We fished it thoroughly and tangled with Jack, Ladyfish and Needlefish. I was beginning to wonder but then William caught and landed two feisty Redfish in quick succession. We worked back up the bank and Dara made a pin point cast to a "cut" and BAM! That drag began to sing and I sure was happy! Dara played it expertly, letting it run and rip that drag, then she worked it in as her favorite "net guy" dipped it up, a 24.5" "football shapped" Redfish, boy what a fish!

And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Win Some Lose Some

We had  a beautiful morning today when I met Bob Miller and his brother Dan down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. The tide was high here and just starting out but when we reached our first spot after a 10 minute run, it was still at a standstill. We fished float rigs baited with live Shrimp and the two anglers almost immediately began to get bites. There were a lot of "bait stealers" to work thru, and I don't know if we've caught so many Ladyfish, but this duo persevered and got some nice fish. 

Dan "knocked" the (real) skunk off with a nice keeper sized Seatrout catch then Bob tangled with a drag ripping Redfish, one that he out fought and landed - a 22" bulky Slot Redfish. They caught and landed and tossed those Ladyfish then Dan put another keeper sized Seatrout in the boat.  As we were wrapping this spot up Bob had a huge hookup after drifting long and put up a good battle, but this big fish was not to be had and with a quick turn, BAP! The line parted.

We fished Twin Creeks for a bit and here we had our second line parting - Dan had hooked up with a big Bonnethead Shark and fought it expertly. I did get a hand on the fin but was out of position so Dan fought it a bit more until it too decided to part ways with we lowly anglers. Bob did battle a nice sized Jack Crevalle to the net.

Our final stop was over at some docks at Nassauville where they played cat and mouse with the Mangrove Snapper. Most of them were undersized but they did manage 4 keepers, two of which were probably the biggest I've had all summer.  And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

One Big Slot

 I was back to work today, fishing with a father/daughter team, Mark and Morgan Runyans. I met them  early down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and we made the run up the intercoastal, thru the Back River and around to the Nassau where we set up with float rigs and live shrimp on a high tide that had been going out for about 2 hours. The first "demo" cast produced a feisty Redfish and from then on we were catching fish. 

Both Morgan and Mark caught a handful of those juvenile Redfish and then they added a couple of high flying Ladyfish. We moved up and down the bank, picking up fish as we went. Then, as we moved up the bank a 2nd time Mark, after making an excellent cast to the bank, had his float disappear and, Fish On!  This fish wasn't coming in like the smaller Reds and when it boiled up at the bank we knew it was a big Redfish. Mark kept the pressure on and patiently worked it to the boat and after a good battle landed a nice 24" Slot Sized Redfish. We moved up further and Morgan had a nice hookup and landed a fat Seatrout, the first of the day.

Our next stop was further down the Nassau where we set up outside of a large marsh drainage, but nothing much was biting. We moved further down and fished another drainage, then a shell bed that was just beginning to show. Here Mark put a couple of Reds in the boat, then it was Morgan turn to fight the big fish. Here's took the bait and ran deep, ripping drag along the way. But Morgan was up to the task, applied the pressure, and followed the fish from bow to stern. After a good fight she brought to the net a big Jack Crevalle.

We fished some docks at Seymore's Pointe, had a few nibbles, caught a couple of small Mangroves, and had one big fish break us off on the dock pilings. Around the corner we switched to float rigs and picked up a couple more small Mangroves, then we finished the day down at Nassauville fishing the jigs where the duo picked up a keeper sized Mangrove. We had a had a big start, caught fish at most spots, and as we headed back we counted as another great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Not In My House

 I fished Friday with Mark Caldwell and his son-in-law, a trip set up by Mark's wife Shelly - to get them out on the water and away from the day-to-day grind, and boy did we catch some fish! After picking them up at Goffinsville Park, we headed down the Nassau River and picked a shell bed to fish on the very last of an outgoing tide. It didn't take long before the two anglers were catching fish - Jacks and small but "feisty" Redfish.  

Daniel had a strong hookup and this one was ripping some drag. Daniel played it perfectly, working from the bow back to the stern and then kept the pressure on until he subdued a hard fighting Jack Crevalle.

But up ahead of us we could see a Dolphin move in to the "honey hole" we were heading for and as it began thrashing about, busting Reds for it's breakfast, I thought for sure our fish catching was over. He eventually moved on, working up the river, so we eased onward. We still caught a couple of more smaller Reds but then Mark, after making a perfect cast to the backside of submerged bar, had a fish take his bait with a vengeance and, Big Fish On! It boiled up almost immediately so we knew it was a big Redfish. Mark played it perfectly and after long battle landed an Oversized 31.5" Redfish - big enough to move him into 2nd place in the Anglers Mark 2022 Bragging Rights Tournament-Redfish Category(scroll down the right side of this report for standings). We speculated that this Red was so big he must have told that Dolphin, "not in my house!".

We fished that stretch pretty good, then tried a dock up at Seymore's Pointe, to no avail, then came around and fished between some docks at Nassauville where the two anglers picked up a couple of big keeper sized Mangrove Snapper and a fat keeper sized Weakfish. I had saw on the weather report that the wind was going to pick up thru the morning and sure enough, they got it right!

Our last stop was over at Pumpkin Hill, drifting float rigs and after getting a Jack or two Mark had a hookup and he could tell by the fight that it was a different kind of fish than we had caught all morning -it was digging deep and hard. Needless to say, I was bit surprised to see a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum come to the net - we haven't seen on in a while! And with that, we called it day and as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Double Slot Redfish after Labor Day

 The Graff's were in town for a long week of relaxation and they took in an Amelia Island Back Country fishing trip the day after Labor Day. I had met Jim Graff and his wife Sarah and his daughter Casey down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning. The tide had just started out up at Nassauville so I made a bee-line for the "Spot". Maybe I should call it the MOA2? That might jinx it!

The trio of anglers set up with float rigs and live shrimp and began to toss their baits to the grass and were getting good drifts along the edge and it paid off. Almost immediately they were putting fish in the boat. They tangled with a couple of high flying Ladyfish then Casey "knocked the skunk off" with a feisty Redfish catch. Then her and Sarah doubled up, both with small but hard fighting Redfish. 

But it was after Casey had made a long cast forward, got a good drift, and BAM! Float gone and drag ripping! You can always tell when it's a bigger fish because it doesn't come right to the boat, and it almost always "boils" up, and this one sure did. Casey kept the pressure on and played it perfectly and after a good battle, landed a nice Slot sized 24" Redfish, boy what a fish!

We caught a good handful of Reds there, and Jim added a hungry Seatrout,and of course the Ladyfish, then we moved on, making our way back down the Nassau River and over to Twin Creeks. Again, we had good action early on the float rigs. Casey and Sarah were drifting long and picked up a couple of more Ladyfish, a Jack, and a couple of Seatrout while Jim, on the bow, switched to a jig and shrimp and caught a couple of Redfish on the bottom. Then it was Sarah's turn for the big fish. She had tossed her float rig up near the bank and it sure enough, the good cast paid off. Down went her float and zing went her drag -big fish on! Sarah worked it to the boat expertly, battle thru a couple of deep runs, and landed another Slot sized 21" Redfish.

After moving down  the river further Sarah caught a Flounder to round out an Amelia Island Back Country Slam while Jim stuck to catching Redfish. The sun was up and the bite was slowing and the Captain was getting hungry so we called it a day and as we headed back we counted it as another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Recipe of The Month: Redfish on the Halfshell

This recipe comes from one of my angler guests, William Blalock. His dad showed me pictures of the end product and it looked so good I had to track William down and get his recipe! 

2 large or 4 small red fish fillets on the half shell (skin left on one side)

Marinade:

1/4 cup- Worcestershire sauce

1/4 cup- extra virgin olive oil

1/4-1/2 -teaspoon- cayenne pepper (to your likeness 🔥)

1/4 tsp - dried thyme

1 Tbsp - paprika

Sea salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste

1 - sweet onion

1 - lemon

2 - whole garlic cloves

1 - bunch - parsley (approx. 1 TBS)

1/2- stick (unsalted/diced)- butter

- Lay red fish fillets in a bowl/ dish flesh side up.

- Pour marinade ingredients over the fillets, rub in

well, and set aside.

- Thin slice the onion, garlic, and half of a lemon.

- Squeeze the reserved half a lemon over the fish.

- Lay the thin sliced onion and garlic over the fish

and allow the fillets to marinade for 30 minutes.

- Preheat your grill to medium heat, and place the

fillets on the grill flesh side down, reserving the

sliced onions and garlic. (We sear ours on the

blackstone, then transfer to the Green egg).

- After the flesh side has nice color and grill

marks, turn the fillets flesh side up, and add the

reserved onion and garlic slices from earlier.

- Once fish has been cooking for a total of about 20 minutes, place a cast iron
sauce pan on the grill.

- Add in butter. Once it is half way melted, remove the pan from the grill and add parsley. Stir.

- Season sauce with sea salt to taste and a squeeze of lemon.

- Remove the red fish from the grill and pour sauce over the top.  Garnish the top of the fillets with thin sliced lemon, and enjoy!

* this is adapted from The BBQ

A Big One!

 

The Poon boys met me down at Sawpit Creek this morning for a half day of fishing the back waters of Amelia Island. Derek and his sons Zach and Tyler and I ran up the intercoastal, passed a huge flock of Rosette Spoonbills, dipped into Jackstaff and split of into a smaller creek just as the high tide began to move out. We were set up with mud minnows strung up under float rigs.  Zach  tangled with a couple of Ladyfish, and that was it.

After running thru Horsehead we headed down to Twin Creeks and fished the outgoing tide there, and again tangled with some Ladyfish. Our next stop was over at Back River, fishing a point of grass and here all three anglers got on the board. Tyler went long off the bow with a fine cast and hooked up and landed a feisty Redfish. Zach followed that up with one of  his own.

 We trolled forward and the drifted back to the point. Derek had made a good cast. let his float drift down alongside a submerged shell bed and then his float slowly went under. I saw Derek smoothly take his slack up, lift his rod, and set the circle hook and Fish On!  I was thinking "another feisty Rat Redfish" but then that rod bent over and the drag began to sing and BIG Fish On!  And boy was it a battle! Derek couldn't have played it any better though and after a few good rolls, a few good drag ripping runs, Derek brought to the boat a nice Overisized 28.5" Redfish. 

After fishing there for a bit, we ran down to Spanish Drop and worked that bank where this trio of Anglers caught a few more Redfish, a keeper sized Mangrove Snapper, and, more Ladyfish. We finished the day out at a dock at Seymore's Pointe where they added a couple of more keeper Mangroves, then we headed back, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Oversized Reds Keep Coming

 

I fished with the Hill trio today -Rob and his adult sons Alex and Robert -meeting them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early. We headed up the intercoastal, turned up the Nassau, and made our first stop at Spanish Drop. We were tossing float rigs and live shrimp to the flooded marsh grass on a high and incoming tide.

We worked along that first bank and in just a few minutes when Rob hooked up and landed a keeper sized Seatrout to "knock the skunk off" then Alex had a hook up and battled a hard fighting Jack Crevalle to the boat. Later he had made a good cast to a pointe of grass, saw his float slowly go under, set the hook, and reeled in a hungry Flounder.

A

fter a run further up the Nassau we pulled up at another grass bank and drifted our floats long with the incoming current. These anglers stayed pretty busy catching smaller fish, then Rob fought a big Jack to the boat then Alex had a strong bite and, Fish On! This fish was digging deep but then came back to the grass line and rolled and we knew - nice Redfish! Alex played it perfectly and after a good battle landed 21" Slot sized Redfish. We worked that area really good - fishing a pointe, fishing some grass islands, then we moved on.

Our next stop was along a grassy bank, the oysters still covered on a now outgoing tide. They got some good drifts but no takers then all of sudden we had Fish On! One rod went off and the big fish began to rip drag, heading north. Alex was on the rod and keeping the pressure on and....BAM! Rob had a big hookup - we had a "double" both anglers were battling big fish and it was Pandemonium! They were having to duck under each other, cross their lines, cross back, go to the bow, go to the stern, work around the trolling motor, work around the stern, all the time with their drags ripping! But it all worked out  - Alex landed his first - a 28.5" oversized Redfish, then Rob landed his, a 29" oversized Red. We quickly snapped pictures and released them. Boy what a battle!

Our last stop was back at Seymore's Pointe where we rounded out the day catching Mangrove Snapper, with a good handful of them being of keeper size. As we headed back to the dock we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.  

Nary a Trout Today

 I was out to Goffinsville Park today where I met Dennis Abercrombie and his dad Jay. We had a clear, sunny morning and a tide that was just hitting dead low as we headed up the Nassau River with plans to fish Broward Island. Our first stop was down at the south end where we tossed jigs and live shrimp. We worked a large drainage for a bit, then dropped down the island and here Jay "knocked the skunk off" with a nice Flounder catch. 

The tide began to turn and come back in so we moved down to the north end and fished deep with the jigs. Jay had made an excellent cast to the up current side of a stump and a he let it fall down the river bottom I saw the line go tight - Jay set the hook and, Fish On! Jay played it perfectly and after a good battle he wore out and landed a nice Slot sized Redfish (all fish caught today were released).

We came back to Seymore's Pointe and fished some  dock pilings and here Jay outsmarted some rather big, keeper sized Mangrove
Snapper. We fished down at Spanish Drop with float rigs and the duo of anglers caught Jack Crevalle, Ladyfish, a Catfish, and Jay battled a 12lb Bonnethead, which he landed and I gave a quick release. Dropping back up the river we continued to catch a fish here and there - Jacks and Ladyfish.

Our next stop was between some docks at Nassauville, fishing with jigs and live shrimp. We had Mangrove bites but the highlight fish was a nice Flounder that Dennis hooked up and landed. Our final stop was back at Pumpkin Hill, fishing floats, and we wrapped up the day with a large Bonnethead Shark that Dennis fought and landed. We had caught a good variety, but surprisingly, no Seatrout, but with the action we had, we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Big Start Nice Finish

 I was down at the south end today, meeting the Sorah team - Chris, his dad Ken and Bryce, the son/grandson. We headed up the intercoastal, turned into the Nassau and ran up the river a bit to begin fishing at Spanish Drop with float rigs on an already high and still incoming tide. The trio of anglers were tossing float rigs and live shrimp to the bank and we had a few nibbles here and there until Ken hooked up and battled a high flying Ladyfish.  I was debating in my mind whether to call that "skunk off"  but just couldn't quite bring myself to do it!

We moved further up the river and fished Twin Creeks, again drifting float rigs. Bryce had taken up on the stern and "drifted long" down a grass line and when he had a strong bite he tightened up and let the circle hook do it's thing and, Big Fish On! The way it ran deep we were all speculating "shark", but then it came back to the shore line and I saw a roll - could it be a big Redfish?

But then it went deep again, Bryce keeping the pressure on and we were thinking Shark again, but again, a roll! Bryce worked it to the boat and we soon saw it was a massive Redfish. Bryce played it perfectly and we soon netted a big Oversized 27.5" THICK Redfish, boy what a fish, and for sure, Skunk Off The Boat! Shortly after that Ken hooked up and landed a keeper sized Seatrout.

After that we were "running and gunning" - we fished down at Pumpkin Hill,

caught a couple of Jacks and Ladyfish, then fished back at Seymore's Pointe (to no avail), then I thought we'd wrap things up over at Nassauville, fishing with jigs. And here we had a nice flurry. Chris started it off with a nice 18" Flounder catch, then caught another, smaller one. The trio added a handful of Mangrove Snapper to the catch  with a couple being of keeper size, then Ken put a small Flounder in the boat and Chris added a nice 17" Trout to the box - a great way to end a good day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

An Education

 

After a weekend off I was back to "work" today when I met David Bolton and his daughter Katie out at his place on Lanceford Creek. We then made our way  back to the outside of Tyger Island and set  up fishing float rigs on a high and incoming tide. Katie "knocked the skunk off" and landed a feisty Bluefish to begin an "old salt" education of how to catch fish! But David wasn't going down without a fight and picked up hungry Seatrout before we moved on.

We motored around and up towards the Jolley but made a brief stop at a large drainage and switched to jigs and the shrimp, then moved on around to the Jolley. Here, Katie tangled with a high flying Ladyfish and hauled in a small Skate, then David had a Flounder right up to the boat. David found a nice pocket to drift his float and caught and landed a couple of more Seatrout.

 After running up the river we began fishing some flooded marsh grass, just short of Snook Creek and when Katie's float disappeared and the big fish began to rip drag, I knew right off that she had a nice Redfish. Katie played it perfectly, from stern to bow, and after a good battle landed a 22" Slot sized Redfish, boy what a fish! She turned around and caught one of the smallest Redfish I've ever seen on  hook, also! Katie had one more big bite along that stretch, a shark that took her bait and headed south - it spooled her and kept going, headed south.

After running thru the Jolley and around to the Bell we fished some docks and picked up a couple of small Mangrove Snapper, a small Catfish, and a small Sheepshead.

Our final stop was back at some docks at Eagans Creek, fishing the pilings on a lower outgoing tide. Katie had made a perfect cast and hooked up and landed another Slot Redfish, then David hauled one in, too. Katie put another miniature Redfish in the boat, then a large Black "puppy" Drum.  She wrapped up the day with one more Puppy Drum before we called it quits and as we headed back we counted it as another great day  to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.  

Solid Lead

We had an uncharacteristic(for the week) forecast for some winds today, 11-14mph which ended up being correct, and made for some challenging fishing. But we persevered, fished, and ended up with a fairly decent day of "fish catching".

I had met the Latino family down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning. Pete and Robin and their kids Marin and Jake were eager to get out on the water so we headed up the Nassau River and all the way around to Middle Marsh where we set up alongside some flooded marsh grass on a tide that had been going out for about two hours. I had fished this spot only once before but we had caught a nice Slot Redfish there. I wasn't feeling real confident when I

saw the west wind murkying up the water. Marin and Jake were out first with their casts, Marin on the stern and Jake on the bow and I think it was Jake's first drift when he had a hookup and a nice fish on! Jake fought the fish valiantly and soon landed a nice 21" Slot Redfish! That's the way to start a day! We fished that spot a bit, moved up to Pumpkin Hill and fished some edges there, then moved on. As I figured, that west wind was really making some mud along the shore.

We came back to Nassauville and tried to fish some rocks with the floats but the current was ripping so we moved around and fished some dock pilings, now out of the wind. Robin was helping out, coaching and encouraging as the other trio of anglers began to do battle with Mangrove Snapper. I think I'd have to say that Marin was making the best casts of all, but little did I now that Jake was keeping count of the fish caught! At one point he announced the total and with a solid lead, sat down to take a break from the action.

Pete finally had a solid hookup and this one was pulling some drag - no Mangrove this time. He played it patiently and soon brought to the net a nice 18" keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum. He and Marin caught Mangroves until it was time to leave and as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Heat Rising

Yesterday afternoon the forecast called for about a 50% chance of rain for this morning, but when I got up early it was down to about a 14%. We had already decided to chance it and it was all the better of a forecast. I met John Williams down at the south end ramp and he had his two kids, Hadden (8) and Ruth (6) along to help with the fishing!

We made a short trip up the intercoastal, then into the Nassau and began fishing a tide that had been going out for about 4-hours - the shell were showing. We began working a large drainage with jigs and live shrimp, and minnows but had no bites until we reached a corner of shell then John hooked up and, Fish On1  John played it perfectly - the fish fought up near the shore then headed down river but John was ready and followed it back to the stern. He patiently wore it out and landed a nice 23" Slot Redfish. 

Hadden moved up to the bow and began fishing the same spot and only minutes later he had a fish on. He had made an excellent cast and kept his line tight, felt the bump, set the hook and had a fish!  Hadden played it perfectly and soon landed a 20" Slot Redfish.

We moved down the river and fished Twin Creeks, had some bumps, but no takers, then we ran further up the Nassau and fished between two docks. Here, All three anglers boated some Mangrove Snapper, two of which were of keeper size. Young Ruth was casting on her own and was able to reel in one of these sneaky biters. We fished some pilings at another dock then made the run down to Broward and fished deep for a bit, to no avail. 

It had been getting hotter and hotter all morning but we made one last run thru Horsehead and fished the mouth of Jackstaff for a bit, then headed back with some cool breeze blowing. We had a few nice fish in the box so we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.  

Mud Minnows Lead To Bragging Rights

 

While I was cleaning fish yesterday my customer's son was trying to catch minnows off the dock with a dip net, so I dug out my minnow trap, added some Flounder skin, and gave it to him. He dropped it in by the ramp and as we were finishing up, he lifted it and had about 40 minnows caught! I dumped them in my live well, kept them cool and aeriated overnight, and bypassed the bait shop this morning for and early start.

I met Jeff and Penny Parks down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and we made the run up the intercoastal, turned into the Nassau, and made our way up river for a bit. We had a low tide that had been coming in for about an hour when I turned into the current and the duo of anglers began to toss their jigs and minnows to the exposed shell beds. We worked along that first bank until we reached a large drainage and then we began to get some action. Note, I had dug out one of the few left over Shrimp from yesterday, Jeff was fishing it off the bow and when he felt a "thump" he pause a bit, then set the hook and, Fish On! Jeff brought it to the boat and landed a nice 18.5" keeper Flounder. 

He went back to the same spot with a mud minnow and in short order, pulled out another Flounder. Then another! That had worked pretty good so we bounced down the river a bit, set up alongside some more shell beds, and worked back to a drainage. Jeff had made a cast to the middle of the drainage, worked it back a bit, but as he started to reel it up, BAM! The drag was ripping and, Fish On!  Jeff played it perfectly and soon landed a nice 22" Slot Redfish. Again, he went back to the same area and, BAM! Big fish on!  I thought for sure it was another Redfish (maybe we were in a school) but as he worked it to netting range I immediately saw it was a huge 24.5" Gator Seatrout, boy what a fish, and big enough to set the bar awful high in the 2022 Anglers Mark Bragging Rights Tournament-Seatrout Category(scroll down the right side for link to standings).

We moved further up the river, worked the bank, and here Penny got on the board. I was really impressed with her perseverance and it paid off. She had made an excellent cast to the bank, fished it down the "drop", stayed aware and when she felt a "bump", set the hook and she had her fish. She brought it to the boat patiently and landed a keeper sized 16" Flounder.

After "tinkering" with some Mangrove Snappers over at some docks we ran thru Horsehead and fished the mouth of Jackstaff where Penny kept up her streak - she landed a fat Seatrout then a high flying Ladyfish. The sun was up and it was getting hot so we pulled up the trolling motor and headed in, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

North to South

 We had an outstandingly beautiful day this morning, even kinda cool with spotty clouds blocking the sun on occasion. I had meet Trip Huey north, up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp and as we were pulling away, he mentioned liking to fish south when he was visiting the area, so we headed that way!

We did make a pit stop at the bridge and fished some jigs and live shrimp at a small drainage. Trip had a fat Sea Bass to the boat and later we picked up a Slot sized Redfish. We then continued on down the intercoastal, took the back way thru Horsehead, and pulled up at a dock to fish an incoming tide. Trip outsmarted a couple of small Mangrove Snapper but we had not big fish so we moved on.

Our next stop was down at Spanish Drop. The conditions were just right as the tide eased in and covered the shell lined bank. Trip was getting excellent casts and excellent drifts but we had no takers. We moved back up the Nassau, fished Twin Creeks and beyond, working the pockets and drainages, but again, not a bite.

After a short stop at Seymore's Pointe where we fished float rigs - Trip put a good handful of Mangrove Snapper in the boat - a couple of which were of keeper size - we made a the run down to Pumpkin Hill. The first stretch again looked good. Trip had good drifts but no takers. We moved around the point and again drifted the flooded grass and here Trip's float disappeared, and he was ready! He made the hookup and brought a fat Seatrout to the net. Just a few yards further east we fished a grassy island. Trip had made a cast over the island, kept his line tight, and BAM! Float Gone! This fish was ripping drag and when it made it's way into the grassy island I was thinking big Redfish. But then it began to show its true character and made some long drag ripping runs and after a good battle, expertly played, Trip brought to the net a 2' Bonnethead Shark. 

We ran thru a shortcut in Horsehead, fished some grass pockets for a bit, then called it a day, and made the run north, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.