Oh what a beautiful morning! If you've wondered where the reports have been, my two trips from last week got canceled due to the high winds. But we were back at it today when I met Allen and Lavern Webb up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp. The tide had been going out for about an hour so we made our way over to the outside of Tyger and set up to fish float rigs with live shrimp on that first of an outgoing tide. Both anglers had nibbles here and there but no real takers.
After bumping across the creek we again fished the floats and they had some good bites then when Allen went in to a shallow pocket, BAM! This fish took it right off and began to rip a little bit of drag and, Fish ON! Allen worked it patiently to the boat and landed a nice Slot sized Redfish. Skunk off the Boat!
We then ran up to the Jolley and fished the "bank" and no sooner had we trolled just a short bit both anglers began to get fish, one after the other - Redfish, Redfish, Redfish. Allen was tossing up current from the bow and getting fish as he float drifted over the exposed oysters while Lavern went long off of the stern and we found that her fish were biting at the end of her drift, and further out. They caught a good handful of the Reds and added one more Slot Redfish to the catch, and a couple of small Seatrout. One of those Reds that Lavern caught we tagged with a Gray Fish Tag, and I have recorded it here. It was the first fish that I have tagged for GrayFishTag and I plan to do more, but probably bigger fish.
We fished a couple of spots further up the Jolly and found another couple of Reds, then moved around to fish the MOA where Allen caught another Redfish on a jig and another Seatrout
Quick report...gotta go help set up a Fishing Tournament! Fished today with Kurt Ronicher and his friend Rick, and John Raker, meeting out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp. We fished some shell beds on the last of an outgoing tide, then ran down to Broward and fished the first of an incoming with jigs and mud minnows. That paid off! They landed four Slot Redfish, the biggest was 25", and a good handful of smaller feisty Redfish. Kurt was tossing a fly rod for most of the day, had a few bites, and caught one of the feisty Reds on a Dupree Spoon Fly.
We fished oyster beds, flooding marsh grass, more flooding marsh grass, and more flooding marsh grass, and caught a handful of small Seatrout, and one Blue fish!
It was a beautiful day and it was a great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Boy what a beautiful day we had! Sunshine, only a slight breeze, and just cool temperature to make it just right! I met Len Pelletier who had his son Scott and grandson Kevin with him to round out the fishing team. We left the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp as the sun was coming up and made our way over and around to the back side of Tyger to fish the "logs" with jigs and live shrimp and mud minnows. Len and Scott were fishing the shrimp and got nibbles regularly and eventually hooked up and landed small "baitstealers" - small Mangroves, Pinfish, Grunts, and Perch, and a wayward Sea Bass. Kevin, fishing off the stern, stayed with the mud minnows. He wasn't getting near the bites but as we reached the north end of the island, BAM! He said it hit it hard, and Fish On! Kevin played it perfectly and battled to the boat a nice 22" 4-spot Slot Redfish!
We then made our way around and on up to the Jolley River and turned into the "bank" and worked back, tossing float rigs to the flooding marsh. They stayed with the same baits all day, Scott and Len fishing the shrimp, Kevin fishing the minnows. We may have a had nibble along that stretch but nothing too big until Len hooked up and landed a hard fighting Bonnethead Shark.
After running further up the river, just past Snook Creek, we turned again into the current and worked along the bank, and that paid off. Both Scott and Kevin caught a feisty Redfish, then Scott put two Seatrout in the boat, one of which was "having a bad day" - it had recent wounds from something trying to eat it!
Our next stop was back on the outside of Tyger, working the bank on the last of an incoming tide with the jigs. I was looking for Flounder but when Scott had a strong "take" and is drag began to rip I felt like we had something else. It didn't make a long run like a Shark but it didn't "boil" like a Redfish so we had to wait - Scott played it patiently and worked it slowly to the boat and when it surfaced we saw that it was a big Redfish! He brought it to the net and it measured right at 25". Just minutes later Scott had another good bite and after a brief battle he landed a.....juvenile....Cobia! Hah! We don't see them very often in the Back water!
We had a beautiful day to fish and caught some quality fish so as we headed back to the dock we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
I fished two trips with the Walter Mann crew - he and his fishing partner Bobby Horston and Bobby's son Eric on Saturday morning. We meet up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp and headed over to the Jolley River. It was still "shorts" weather but the wind was already picking up. Running up the Jolley, we made our first stop at a point of grass on a high and incoming tide and fished float rigs with mud minnows. Walter picked up a a couple of Seatrout. We went further up the Jolley, fished Snook Creek Bank, then eased in to the Snook and switched to Jigs and the minnows. I think we did get a Mangrove Snapper and a Whiting on those jigs.
After the tide hit high we came back to the outside of Tyger and fished the very first of an outgoing and a caught a feisty Redfish right up in the grass. After running thru Tyger and around to the Bell and up Lanceford we fished a dock with jigs to the pilings and a float to the shoreline. Bobby was on the float and after working it around some pilings, BAM! Fish On! He played it perfectly and brought to to the net a keeper sized Seatrout (all fish caught these trips were released)
After fishing around the corner a bit, we headed back to the dock.
Today I met Walter and Bobby up at Old Town again, but it was NOT shorts weather! Luckily we had all paid heed to the weather forecast - windy and cool - and dressed accordingly. This time we headed down the Intercoastal to fish some structure on a tide that had been coming in a few hours. We pulled up and pitched jigs and live shrimp and caught a couple of Toad Fish, a handful of Mangrove Snapper, and a
feisty Redfish.
Continuing on, thru Horsehead and over to Seymore's Pointe, we fished a dock and here Bobby battled a hard fighting Jack Crevalle to the net. Then, down to Pumpkin Hill where we drifted floats along the flooding marsh grass. We had some nibbles, but no takers. We moved around the corner and continued with the floats, now at a grassy island and this paid off. Bobby had gone up to the grass with an excellent cast and when his float disappeared he began to crank, and crank! The fish was coming towards him! He caught up to it and the fight was on! It was pulling deep and hard but Bobby kept the pressure on and worked him from bow to stern and from port to starboard and finally to the net - a big 22.25" Seatrout! Which moved Bobby into a big tie for 3rd in the Anglers Mark Bragging Rights Tournament-Seatrout Category. (scroll down the right side of this report for standings).
We fished some rocks back at Seymore's and did battle with Mangroves (we won some and they won some), and Walter put a Grouper n the boat (the third I've seen this year). Then we fished Christopher Creek for a bit and then headed back up the Intercoastal, into the cool wind. But as we made our way to the dock we counted it as another great two days of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
It looks like we squeezed in today's trip before tomorrows nasty weather shows up. I had met Robert Stettner and his fishing partner David Vice out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp as the sun came up and as the weather channel had forecast, it was "Calm" - the water was like glass. We made a quick run over to Pumpkin Hill in an attempt to catch the very last of an incoming tide and sure enough, we still had some current running. Both anglers were tossing float rigs and mudminnows and letting them drift long and within minutes we had fish. They picked up a handful of Seatrout with two of them being of keeper size. Robert also caught and battled a big Jack Crevalle to the net for photograph and release. If I had to grade these two anglers, they were right at a C+!
We then ran around to Seymore's Point and fished a large drainage with the float rigs (we stayed with them the entire trip) and had a good many bites but no real takers. Our next stop, after running thru Horsehead, was over at Poteat Cut where we set up on a point and fished the now outgoing tide. This paid off - they caught Seatrout and Ladyfish, then Robert hooked up with a feisty Redfish and battled it to the boat. David went up to the grass with a good cast and BAM! Big Fish On! He played it perfectly and worked it patiently to the boat and net - a nice 22" Slot sized Redfish. They were up to a B+!
Back over to Jackstaff we went, and up a creek where we worked the grass line with the floats. They picked up one Redfish along the bank then we moved on. After another run back thru Horsehead we made our way down to the Back River and set up to fish. School was in! We were at the "Honey Hole"! We had non-stop action - I think I yelled "Double" a few times. At first it was Seatrout. David put a couple of keepers in the boat then Robert added a keeper to the box. David hooked up and landed a Slot sized 21" Red, then they caught more Trout, more feisty Redfish, another Jack, and Robert rounded out his Amelia Island Backcountry Slam with a Flounder catch. Then David had a strong hookup and this fish wasn't coming in. He played it like a Pro - like an upperclassman - like a Beta Club alumni! It pulled to the shell bank, and David worked it out and brought it to the net, a big 26" Slot Redfish! That one put us over the limit and had to go back after photographs.
We had had pretty good day of fishing and had ended with 45 minutes of fish catching and as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida and achieving Honor Roll status - A+ for the day!
Oh boy what a beautiful day today! I was really looking forward to getting out on the water after the temperatures dropped over the weekend and sure enough, cool, clear and sunny was waiting on us! I had met Seth Bush and his son Gates down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early and we headed up the intercoastal, all the way up to Poteat Cut with a plan that Seth would fish spin and bait while Gates tossed the fly on a high and outgoing tide. We baited Seth with live shrimp and started Gates off with a topwater Gurgler. It's hard to beat a live shrimp and Seth "knocked the skunk off" when he boated a couple of hungry Seatrout and tangled with a handful of Ladyfish. Although Gates didn't pick up a fish, he was getting excellent casts and had one "spit" at his fly.
We moved over Jackstaff and fished a couple of outflows, working the bank slowly, Seth on the bow with the bait, Gates off the stern with the fly. Again, Seth had the hookup and expertly landed a feisty Redfish. After running thru Horsehead and down to Back River we set up along a bank as the oysters were just beginning to expose. This time Seth was on the stern and drifting long along the bank, he picked up a handfull of the feisty Redfish. I released the trolling motor and let the boat drop back and Gates made a perfect cast to the shell bank and BAM! Fish On! He was fishing a crab pattern fly and it paid off. Gates played it perfectly and landed a nice Redfish. From then on both anglers were getting fish - Seth off the stern and Gates off the bow. Seth had a big one on, was working it slowly, but this fish had other plans, It made its way to the shore line and submerged oysters and BAP! Fish off! Later, Gates had a big one on the fly rod and the same thing happened, the tippet broke.
But shortly afterwards Gates made a cast up into a gap between two oyster beds and BAM! A fish took it and ran deep, then dug deep. Gates worked it up slowly, stayed patient, and landed a hard fighting Jack Crevalle.
We fished between two docks and Seth caught a couple or three Mangrove Snapper then we ran down to Spanish Drop and fished the bank. We were about to wrap things up and Gates made an excellent long cast up into the mouth of a drainage. As we worked it back, the fly came over a shell point and he had a hookup. The fish wasn't putting much of a fight, but was heavy, and sure enough when Gates worked it to the surface he had a nice keeper sized Flounder! Boy what a catch. And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fly fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
This morning was the first since last Tuesday - a week ago - that we didn't have high winds. What was with that? But this morning was perfect weather, just a slight breeze and overcast skies when I met Todd Johnson and his fishing buddy David up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp. The tide still had about and hour and a half of going out so we hit some docks to fish the pilings with jigs an mud minnows and live shrimp. The first dock I thought for sure we'd get fish and David did "knock the skunk off" when he hooked up and expertly landed a feisty Redfish. We had a couple of other hookups but they threw the hook. Before we left the area we moved down a dock or two and fished those pilings. Todd had the strong hookup this time and when it was ripping drag and trying to dig back into the pilings we knew it was a nice fish, Fish On! Todd kept the pressure on and worked it out of the pilings and eventually to the net, a nice 23" Slot Sized Redfish (with 8 spots)!
We then made the run over to Tyger Island and fished the "logs", working slowly along the bank as the tide started back in . We had great conditions and the perfect tide but not much luck. These two angles did reel in a few Mangrove Snapper and a wayward Black Sea Bass.
After making our way around to the Jolley River we worked back to Snook Creek, getting a few nibbles, but no real takers. But when we reached a point of oysters David had made a good cast up beyond the point and BAM! He had a hookup. I think David caught a handful of hungry Seatrout before Todd could get his rod unlimbered! We had hit a "Sweet Spot". They caught Seatrout and a handful of feisty Redfish and tangled with Shark and Gar Fish. And then they added a keeper Seatrout to the box.
Our final stop was back down the Jolley, fishing another point and again David's first cast produced a fish - a hungry Seatrout- and again, he hooked up with a couple of more BAM, BAM, BAM! Todd was fishing long out of the stern and found Seatrout and a couple of nice feisty Redfish. We tangled with one more Gar Fish here. We had found our 2nd Sweet Spot of the day! We had had some good action for the most part and as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
I knew it was going to be a pretty day, and it was, but I was also aware of the winds that have been battering us the last week and they were forecast for today, and sure enough, it was blowing! I met Ed Hill and his friend Tina out at Goffinsville Park and with my "plan" in mind, we ran down to Broward Island to try and fish the very last and first of an incoming tide. As we worked the bank, pitching jigs and live shrip to the bank these two anglers began to get bites. Ed "knocked the skunk off" when he hooked up and patiently brought to the boat a feisty Redfish. Then both anglers caught a couple of Reds, and...a Catfish!
We moved back down the river to Pumpkin Hill and fished a point, drifting float rigs with the current and wind. They caught another Redfish, Tina put a keeper sized Seatrout in the boat, then they both battled hard fighting Jack Crevalle. And they added one small Mangrove Snapper to the catch. After fishing a small grass patch we moved on - the wind was really kicking!
Our next stop was up between two docks, tossing the jigs and shrimp again. It didn't take long for this duo to find some Mangrove Snappers up under a tree and they quickly mastered the hookup. Although most of them were small, they did put two large one in the box. They also put a surprise in the boat - a small Gag Grouper!
The tide was really up, the wind was still blowing so we stayed in the lee of the land and drifted some float rigs to a point, then moved into Christopher Creek to try our luck. But the fish were done so we headed back to the ramp and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
When we talked last night we agreed to touch base this morning as to whether we really wanted to get out and fish with forecasted rains. And when I launched it was dark and stormy and pretty much stayed that way the entire day - all around us - north and south and east and west - but we never got wet! I had met William and Dara Blalock up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp and after easing out of Eagans Creek we made our way over to Tyger Island and set up on a corner of grass just as the tide started out.
We didn't know it at the time, but Dara's first cast was to set the tone for the rest of the day. BAM! She had a hookup on her float rig and mud minnow! She worked it to the boat and landed a keeper sized Seatrout. They had a few nibbles after that, then we drifted down the bank with the tide and we were beginning to think that first fish "jinxed" us but we hit a pocket and William reeled in a keeper sized Flounder, then both he and Dara caught a handful of Redfish, one of which was a small Slot sized. Things were picking up.
Working around the corner we found that if we fished the back side of some grassy points, where there was a bit of current, we'd get fish. This duo of anglers caught another few Redfish, two were in the Slot, and they caught a good 4-5 Flounder, one of which was keeper size. We switched to jigs and minnows and caught fish along that entire bank. The bite seemed to be best on the higher outgoing tide.
Our next stop was around at Jolley Bank, Dara fishing the stern with the float rig and William fishing the bow with the jig - and it appeared that the jig was the trick - William put a few Redfish in the boat, and another Flounder. We ran up a ways and fished a point with the floats and caught a couple of Seatrout, then further up the river we fished a large drainage. Here, Dara got hot with the float rig, drifting it long to a bend and "rift" in the water and BAM! Redfish. Bam! Redfish. Bam! Redfish. William was on the bow and picked up another keeper sized Flounder (William was the Flounder King today).
That last spot was pretty good for action and it was going to be hard to top but little did we know we were in for a 'Grande Finale"! We made our way around to the MOA, and set up down current and almost immediately began to catch fish. Dara was hitting the top of the oyster bar with her jig and shrimp and was catching one Redfish after the other. William followed her to the bank and caught a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum, then went deep and caught a keeper sized Seatrout. Then both anglers were catching Redfish. I think we had at least three "double" hookups. We fished until we ran out of bait then William put a little piece of shrimp on for "one last cast" and BOOM! Big Fish On! William played it perfectly and after a good battle landed a nice 25" Slot Redfish.
We had a good handful of keeper sized fish but most were thrown back and a only a few kept for dinner. and as we headed back to the ramp, we finally had a sprinkle but we still counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
We gambled with the weather forecast today - it was calling for winds up to 16-17mph and when I launched the skies were ugly with storm clouds. I was meeting Douglas and Cindy Bailey and their son Dylan up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp and we had decided that we'd give it a go and hope for the best, and I'm glad we did!
After running up the creek we set up current from a dock and pitched jigs and shrimp and minnows back to the pilings. Dylan got hot early and put a good handful of small Mangrove Snapper in the boat and then they hooked and landed a small Grouper! Then Douglas had a strong bite, set the hook and, Fish On! Douglas played it patiently and after a good battle landed a nice Slot Redfish. We fed a bunch of "baitstealers", too, while we were there.
We then made a run down the intercoastal and fished some rocks and here Douglas found a hole that had some feisty Redfish that he handily hooked up and brought to the boat. Then we had a good bite deep and as it ripped drag and we knew we had another big Fish On! Dylan was on the rod and did outstanding keeping it out of some structure that was behind us. He worked it slowly away from them but not too forceful and when he got it out deep; we know we had 'em. Dylan played it expertly and eventually brought to the net a Slot sized 22" Redfish.
After running thru Horsehead we found a dock to fish out of the increasing wind and again, this trio of anglers caught small Mangroves, but one of two were of keeper size. Cindy hooked up an landed a hungry Seatrout and Dylan added a Sea Bass to the catch. We then ran around to Nassauville and fished between two docks and again caught Mangroves, with Cindy putting the biggest of the day in the boat. Douglas was fishing deep but then hung up on some bottom and when he pulled it off, BAM! A big fish hit his bait. Douglas kept the pressure on and worked it up to land a big 21" Gator Trout, boy what a fish. He also added a small Flounder to his catch.
After fishing some rocks with float rigs and getting a couple of more Mangroves, we ran thru Jackstaff and fished some flooding marsh grass with the floats. They added a couple of more feisty Redfish to their catch total then we headed back to the ramp, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Today we caught Mangrove Snapper, Pinfish, Grouper, Seatrout, Flounder, Redfish, Ladyfish, Jack Crevalle, Bonnethead Shark and Needlefish - and almost the Kitchen Sink! I had met Jon Beall and his son Brian up at Old Town Bait and Tackle, and after running over to Lanceford, we fished a dock on the very first of an incoming tide with jigs and live shrimp. Just like I thought, they began to get "nibbles" on every cast and managed to hookup and land the Snapper, Pinfish, and a small Grouper.
We then made the run around to Tyger and fished the logs and here we had some success. Brian hooked up and landed a hungry Seatrout, then a small Flounder, then a nice keeper sized Flounder. They also picked up one small but feisty Redfish.
After running up to the Jolley, we turned into the current and fished the "bank" with float rigs and the live shrimp. They were getting good casts and good drifts and it paid off with a handful of Redfish catches. Brian added another Flounder to his catch, then had something big take his bait and, Fish On! The drag was ripping as it headed south but Brian kept the pressure on and soon turned it, brought it back to the boat, then followed up current for a bit, then settled in for a game of patience. After a good battle Brian landed a nice Bonnethead Shark. And then followed that up with an even bigger one.
Further up the Jolley we fished a bank and got into some Ladyfish, then finished up fishing a point. Jon had some good battles with Ladyfish and Jacks and put another feisty Redfish in the boat. We had some good action under some dark skies but as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
A Keeper Slam! I fished again this morning, meeting Glenn and Patti Lanford up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp. We made a short run up the creek and fished some dock pilings with jigs and live shrimp - the tide had been coming in for about an hour. Glenn made short work of knocking the skunk off when he hooked up and landed a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum - the first I've seen in months. Pattie had a Red to the boat but it threw the hook, then Glenn brought in another feisty Black Drum.
We made a way over to the Jolley River and fished the "bank", first with jigs where Patti fought to the net a feisty Redfish, then we switched to float rigs and picked up another couple of Redfish. They tangled with a couple of Jacks and Lady fish. After moving around to the outside of Tyger we went back to jigs and this did the trick. Glenn had a strong bite, hooked it up, and patiently fought
to the net a nice sized Flounder that measured right at 18". Both he and Pattie caught a few more smaller Flounder along that stretch. This duo of Nassau Sports Fishing Association anglers were looking for a "Slam" of Redfish, Flounder and Seatrout (to keep) and although we had a "slam" of sorts caught (Black Drum, Flounder, and Redfish), we only had one in the box!
Back up the Jolley we went to fish a flooded point of oysters. The bite started off slow and I was getting a bit worried but then they began to get bites. Pattie caught a feisty Redfish, then Jacks and Ladyfish, then a couple of Seatrout, then Glenn reeled in a nice 17" Seatrout, and then another 15'5" keeper sized Trout. So we ended up with the Flounder and Trout but were missing the Redfish for the "in the box Slam", but as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
I fished with the Stein girls today - Ellina, Emily, Liz and Erin - meeting them early down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. In addition to getting a break and visiting Amelia Island, they were also helping Erin celebrate a birthday! We ran up the intercoastal and turned into the Nassau and made our way up to Spanish Drop where we turned into the high, incoming tide and began to drift float rigs with live shrimp, and eventually mud minnows. I noted that the water temperature was 83.5 -still hot-still summer.
Sure enough, these lady anglers began to get bites and tangled with high flying Ladyfish, hard fighting Jack Crevalle, and we got to see a Bonnethead Shark track Erin's bait down and take it and, Fish On! Erin played it expertly and reeled to the net the Shark which was photographed and released.
We ran down to Pumpkin Hill and fished a stretch and again had some good action catching feisty Redfish, hungry Seatrout, Ladyfish, Jacks, a nice Mangrove Snapper, a big Bluefish, and a Croaker. We made a stop at Littlefields, switched to the jigs and caught a good handful of Mangrove Snapper, then made our way thru Horsehead, switched back to floats, and here Ellina picked up the biggest Redfish of the day, played it perfectly to the boat, and landed it for a photograph.
We ended the day with a .....Needlefish catch! Hah! But as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida
Judging by the amount of Ladyfish we caught today, and the variety of Jacks, Mangroves, Sharks and Pinfish, I'd say it is still Summer! I had met Bob Kossman and John Suebert down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early and we headed up the intercoastal and then up the Back River and around to Pumpkin Hill to set up along some flooding marsh grass on the last of an incoming tide with plans to drift float rigs along the grass. We were using live shrimp (the bait shop was out but I hear they were getting some today) and although the shrimp got bites on almost every drift, we had to deal with the high flying Ladyfish. Bob did battle a big Jack Crevalle to the net, which is always fun. After fishing around a point, we made a run over to a large drainage at Seymore's Pointe.
Both anglers were getting good casts and good drifts as the tide started out here and they picked up a handful of small Mangroves and then they each landed a couple of hungry Seatrout. We ran thru Horsehead and fished another drainage and here Bob battled a big Bonnethead Shark to the boat for a photograph and release. John had his float disappear slowly and after he reeled up and let the circle hook set, he patiently brought to the boat the first Redfish of the day. And again, both anglers picked up a couple of Seatrout.
We fished over at Poteat Cut briefly and again, John (the Redfish King) put another Redfish in the boat, and we then tangled with some more Ladyfish. Back thru Horsehead we went, back to Back River, and set up to drift the floats. The Redfish King found another couple of Reds drifting off the stern while Bob caught Jacks and Ladyfish. One of John's Redfish had 13 spots!
Our final stop was down at Spanish Drop, now fishing with jigs and shrimp. John was hooking up with small but feisty Redfish on almost every cast, but he mixed in a nice Jack Crevalle catch. Bob finished things off with another Shark battle -t was "foul hooked" which made for a tough fight, but Bob was up to the challenge and brought it to the boat for a quick release. We had had some good action most of the morning so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
...but just a fish battle! I had met Jack and Karina Drinkard, newlyweds, down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning and after running up the Intercoastal and dipping in to Jackstaff, we drifted with the last of an outgoing tide, tossing jigs and live shrimp. I think the "demo" cast produced a bite and a small Seatrout which Karina expertly reeled in.
We worked along that bank until the tide changed and picked up a hard fighting Jack Crevalle and a solitary Catfish. After running thru Horsehead we made our way down to Spanish Drop and began to fish into the incoming current, sticking with the jigs. The new fishing team hooked up and landed a couple of feisty Redfish, another Jack or two, and tangled with a couple of Ladyfish. Then Jack had a strong hookup up near the bank and when it made a big run I was thinking "big Redfish" but then, after a good few minutes it settled to the bottom and it had me guessing Shark.. but it never made that long run. I was hoping for a massive Flounder but it would have been huge! Jack couldn't have been more patient and fought it expertly, working it slowly, letting it run deep, and working it up again. Finally, after a good thirty minute battle, he was able to bring to the net a huge Stingray which we photographed and released. Boy what a battle!
We went back to that stretch and fished it again and here Katrina brought in dinner - a keeper sized Flounder and a keeper sized Seatrout. We then ran down to Broward Island and fished it with jigs where they added a couple of Mangrove Snapper to the catch and we finished the day drifting floats at Pumpkin Hill, catching some huge high flying Ladyfish. We had some good action thru out the day and as we headed back to the boat ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
I wrapped the week up today fishing with Chuck Butler and his sons Trey and Trent, meeting them out at Goffinsville early this morning on a tide that had been coming in a few hours. We headed down the Nassau and set up to initially fish jigs and minnows to the bank, but we had no luck. We then switched to float rigs and worked along a bank and after Chuck had let his float "go long", he had a take - he cranked up the slack, lifted his rod and let the circle hook do its jog. Chuck worked to the boat a fat Seatrout.
We then moved back up the river to Twin Creeks and fished that stretch for a while, then made a run back up the Nassau to fish a flooded point at Pumpkin Hill and this did the trick. After a few drifts the fish began to bite - the trio of anglers caught a small Redfish, a small Seatrout and tangled with bookoodles of high flying Ladyfish. Trey hooked up with something big which he played perfectly for a few minutes but eventually the big fish headed south and parted the line. Later, it was Trent's turn to have a nice fish on - this one for sure a Redfish - it rolled up in the grass, over the oyster beds and as their nature, probably buried it's nose in the shell and cut the line. After fishing the other side of the point, we moved on.
Our final stop was back at Seymore's Pointe fishing a dead high tide and right off the bat the anglers were dueling with Mangrove Snapper. The Snapper won a bunch but the anglers boated a couple of nice sized ones. Then we had a good hookup off the stern, but over near the shore. Trent was on the rod and worked it patiently to the boat to land a nice 20" Slot Redfish. After tinkering with the Mangroves a bit more, we headed back to the ramp and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
I had the Wytiaz's fishing today, Frank and Joanne, and we met up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp early. After running up and around and into the Jolley River we turned into the current at the "bank" and began fishing back to the pointe with float rigs and mud minnows on a high and still incoming tide. The two anglers were making excellent casts to the grass, letting it drift along the marsh line and in just a while we had hookups of small Seatrout and Ladyfish. Then, after Joanne had got a cast close, I heard her drag begin to rip and, Big Fish On! And boy was it a battle! This fish was doing its best to stay up in the grass and over the oysters. It boiled up a time or two, then I saw a huge tail and confirmed it was a massive Redfish! Joanne hung with it and began to work it out from the edge and when she got it out deep I felt sure we had it. She kept the pressure on during numerous runs, worked it close, let it run, then after a long and epic battle, brought to the net an oversized 35.5" Redfish, big enough to move Joanne into a solid lead in the Anglers Mark 2023 Bragging Rights Tournament -Redfish Category. (Scroll down the right side of this report for standings). Boy what a fish!
We then moved up the river and set up a point and drifted the float rigs and had a quick flurry of catches- Seatrout, Jacks, and Ladyfish. Joanne added a keeper sized 16" Seatrout to the catch. We moved further up the river and fished back into the current and here Frank got hot, real hot! He caught a couple of feisty Redfish up close to the grass, then Joanne added one, then Frank had a strong hookup and, Fish On! He played it perfectly, worked it to the boat, and landed a nice 23" Slot Redfish.
The tide had come to a standstill so we ran back to the outside of Tyger and fished a point as the now outgoing tide swept by. Again, we caught a couple of small Trout, small Reds, then a small Flounder, then Frank put a keeper sized Flounder in the boat and an 18" Seatrout.
Our final stop was around the corner, fishing a sand bottom for Flounder, but Frank found another nice Slot Redfish, this one measuring right at 21". They landed another small Flounder and Seatrout before we headed back to the dock and as we made the run, we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Captain Lawrence Piper is a fishing guide in Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island and is a licensed US Coast Guard charter boat operator.
I fished with the Averbuch crew this morning - Jared and his son Max and Cutler and his son Harvey. We met down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and headed north up the intercoastal then turned into Poteat Cut to fish a point with float rigs and mud minnows on an outgoing tide. It didn't take long before Harvey "knocked the skunk off" when he hooked up and landed a hungry Seatrout. We worked that bank thoroughly then moved on.
We made a quick stop over in a creek off of Jackstaff and here the dads let the young anglers have the floor and they wiped it - catching a good handful of feisty Redfish and Max added a hard fighting Jack Crevalle to the catch. After running thru Horsehead we made our way down to Back River and fished an edge and although it looked fishy, we had no real bites.
Down the Nassau we went, down to Spanish Drop and turned in to the current and worked the bank with jigs and minnows. When we got to a corner Cutler lit up, catching a couple of the Reds and a couple of Seatrout out deep. I didn't expect it but the wind picked up! We were getting buffeted pretty good so we ran up to Seymore's Pointe and got some relief and here the anglers added handful of Mangrove Snapper to the catch, and we also supplemented our bait by cast netting some nice finger mullet.
Our final stop was around at some rocks at Nassauville and here the anglers perfected their craft, dueling with the Mangrove Snapper. The Snapper would "win" about 6-8 times but the anglers would pull one out on occasion, getting good practice quickly setting the hook. But boy was it hot! We had caught some fish and a we headed back to the dock we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Captain Lawrence Piper is a fishing guide in Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island and is a licensed US Coast Guard charter boat operator.
It's been the norm all week - the fish are biting early, up until about 9am, and then the bite fall off, and the same happened today. I had met Tim and Crystal Hanley up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp and after easing out of Eagans Creek we made a run down to Lanceford and set up current from some dock pilings to toss jigs with live shrimp and mud minnows on an outgoing tide. Crystal was fishing shallow while Tim was fishing deep and deep paid off when Tim hooked up and expertly brought to the boat a big 19" Seatrout. They added one small Redfish to the catch before we moved on.
After running back and around the Tygers we pulled up at Jolley "bank" and began to work the exposed oysters and almost immediately Crystal began to get bites. She hooked up and landed a handful of feisty Redfish. They added a Jack to the catch then Tim had a strong bite and when we heard his drag began to rip we knew it was of some size. He played it perfectly and let it tire itself out and eventually brought to the net a Slot sized 22" Redfish.
We moved further up the Jolley and fished thru Snook Creek. Tim was tossing to the bank and Crystal was fishing a bit deeper - she hooked up and landed a small Seatrout then shortly after hooked up and landed a fat keeper sized Seatrout. After fishing the MOA unsuccessfully we motored around to the Bell and fished some docks and boy was it hot! The temperature, not the catching! After fishing just a bit we headed back to the ramp and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Captain Lawrence Piper is a fishing guide in Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, Florida and is a licensed US Coast Guard charter boat operator.
