Kinda Cool Fishing

 It was 40 degrees when I came over the south end bridge and launched down at Sawpit with plans to meet Jason Ash and his long time buddy Adam for a half day of fishing. It was clear and cold with not much wind blowing as we then made our way up the intercoastal to turn into the Nassau and make our first stop along Spanish Drop. The tide still had about45 minutes to hit bottom but the oysters were almost fully exposed - we went with jigs and live shrimp to work that first bank. There wasn't much action but we did have one Red on for just a bit - it boiled up near the bank, ripped some drag, and threw the hook. After moving up to a large drainage we had pretty much the same thing - not much of a bite, except one that didn't take. 

Our next stop was up at some docks at Seymore's and here things heated up and the skunk was knocked off! Within a few minutes of fishing both Jason and Adam were hooking up with feisty Black "puppy" Drum - they were counting fish and ended u with a total catch of 10 with five of them being of keeper size. They also caught a handful of hungry Seatrout, and a grunt. 

After making our way down to Broward and setting up into the first of an incoming current the Redish bonanza began! They seemed to catch one after the other - Jason commented that he was getting a bite on every cast. Most of these fish were right at 17" but Adam did put a Slot in the boat. We moved down just 30 yards and BAM! Redfish On!  They again caught fish, one after the other. One keeper sized Seatrout was caught, it's mouth gorged with minnows. We moved down and fished with the Bald Eagles and picked up a few more Redfish, one of which was Slot Size.

We then made our way further up the Nassau and into a creek and worked the shallow bank. More Redfish were caught as we worked the bank, then Jason hooked up and fought to the boat the biggest Slot Red of the day. The duo had kept a fairly accurate "catch total" and as we headed out of that creek we finalized it with 37 fish caught for the day, not a bad way to spend a morning fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

These Girls Were On Fire

 I fished early this morning, meeting Patrick Tighe and his daughters up at Old Town Bait and Tackle at
sunrise and after easing out of Eagans Creek we made our way up and around to the Jolley River. We set up tossing float rigs and live shrimp and within seconds, the girls were catching fish -Seatrout and Redfish and Seatrout and Seatrout and Redfish. They caught for at least an hour. There were a couple of Slot sized Reds and keeper sized Seatrout in the catch, but all fish caught today were released.

We moved up the river, fishing a large outflow, and again, they stayed busy catching Seatrout. After fishing Snook Creek for just a short time we made our way around the corner and fished a bend in the river along some oyster beds with jigs. As we worked along the bank we weren't getting any bites but as we reached a gap between some oysters, BAM! It was fish catching time!  All three anglers put Redfish in the boat and they caught umpteen Seatrout. It was crazy how many fish we caught!

The weather had warmed, the sun was shining and once again, as we headed back to the ramp, we counted it as another great day to be fishing  here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Steady Catch'n On a Beautiful Day

 Boy what a beautiful day we had - sunny skies, cool temps, and only a slight breeze. I had met Will
Middleton and his father-in-law Pete Brown down at Sawpit Creek and we headed up the intercoastal, then up the Nassau to make our first stop at Spanish Drop. The tide had been going out for a couple of hours and the shell was showing as we eased along the bank tossing jigs and live shrimp. The duo had a few nibbles but no takers and I was beginning to wonder when, BAM! :Hookup! and BAM! a 2nd hookup -we had a double. Both anglers patiently brought to the boat a feisty Redfish and from then and for about an hour we were steady catching fish. Seatrout and Redfish - We had a couple of keeper sized Redfish and a few keeper sized Seatrout but all fish caught today were released. 

Eventually we moved up the river about a quarter mile, stuck with the jigs, and again caught a good handful of Seatrout. We then made or way around to Back River and switched to floats. Pete was on the stern and drifted long a couple of times and got fish both drifts. Will was on the stern - I saw something take his float under and it took off upstream. Will played it expertly and landed another keeper sized Trout.  We tried our luck over at some docks at Nassauville and this was the only place we got "skunked".

Around the corner at Seymore's Pointe we fished a dock and here they picked up Seatrout and a couple of Black 'puppy" Drum to round out their Amelia Island Back Country Slam of Seatrout, Redfish and Drum. Our final stop was down at  Broward Island, working the bank on the last of an outgoing, first of an incoming, and again they caught fish. They wee working that bank pretty good and caught Redfish and Seatrout. We lost count of the fish we caught but estimated 4-5 Slot Reds, a good dozen of smaller Reds, 5-6 keeper sized Seatrout to 17", and a good dozen of smaller Trout. 

It had been a beautiful day to be fishing and a great day to be catching here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Wind Couldn't Stop Us

 Boy what a temperature drop we had!  And with it came some strong winds - the forecast for this morning was 13mph at 7am but quickly rising to 17mph by 9am. But it was clear and sunny and the wind was out of the WNW and we had a plan!  I met Alex and Laura out at Goffinsville Park and as we left the dock we could see it was calm all along Nassauville rocks. We made our way down a ways and set up between two docks and began pitching jigs and live shrimp.

And the fish catching began!

Both Laura and Alex put some healthy Seatrout in the boat, many of keeper size and Laura added a keeper sized Mangrove Snapper. Then Alex had a strange bite - he hooked it up and Big Fish On!  Alex kept the pressure on and worked it up off the bottom and when it came to the net we saw that it was a 19.5" Sheepshead - big enough to move into 2nd Place in the Anglers Mark 2024 Bragging Rights Tournament - Sheepshead category(scroll down the right side of this report for standings). We threw back a whole bunch of small Trout. 

We then made our way around to Seymore's Pointe and fished a dock and here we got into some keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum. Alex and Laura caught one after another, with a Seatrout thrown in here and there, and Laura added another keeper Sheepshead.  They had an Amelia Island Back Country Slam of Seatrout, Sheepshead and Drum before we left.

Our final stop was up the Nassau and into a Creek and as we worked the bank Laura put the first Redfish in the boat (and made it a Grande Slam). They caught a couple more "feisty" Reds then Alex had a good bite -BAM!  Fish On!  He played it patiently, let it run, worked it in, and eventually landed a big 24" Slot Redfish, boy what a fish. 

Although it was a bit cool, it was very comfortable as we stayed out of the wind most of the morning and as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Bragging Rights Busted

 After debating whether to even fish today, and meeting under some dreary skies up at Old Town Bait and Tackle this morning, and easing down Eagans Creek with a fine mist on our faces, David and Michele Dannenfelser proceeded to have a pretty good day of fishing! We made our way over to the back side of Tyger and fished the logs - the first area produced only a nibble or two - but as we moved down the island and set up around a group of logs the bite got to hopp'n. David had made good cast over to the bank and within seconds, BAM!  He had a strong hookup. He battled it to the boat and landed a nice 21" Slot Redfish that had a Georgia DNR tag on it. Michele got in on the action after she got the hang of fishing a jig and shrimp on the bottom and picked up a keeper sized Seatrout.  She then put their secoind (and limit) Slot Red in the boat.  We found out we could fish those jigs out deeper and get Seatrout and after getting a handful, we moved on. 

We made our way up and around to the Jolley River and turned into the "bank" and switched to float rigs and the live shrimp on that lower incoming tide. This was just the ticket. Getting our cast up near the bank was rewarded with Redfish bites. Most were smaller (but feisty) but  one was in the Slot which was released to swim off. Again, another handful of Trout were caught, a couple of keeper size. They kept a couple of Trout but began to release the rest. Further up the river at "Snook Creek" we stayed with the floats and again we were busy catching fish. The current was faster here and the Trout were biting, and there were  few Reds caught, too. 

Back down the river we made a stop at Tyger Cut and here David found he could drift back into a "ripple" and get Seatrout. After making a short stop further down the river and fishing some "fishy looking spots", to no avail, we moved on. 

Our final stop, after running thru Tyger and around to the Bell, and over to a point of grass, we eased up to it and began to toss the floats. When David's float disappeared and his line began to run and his drag began to rip I was thinking, "oh boy, this is big"!  It was ripping towards what I knew was shallow water and big humps of oysters so we crossed our fingers and hoped!  David was up to the challenge and was very patient, and he needed to be because this was going to be a long battle. He worked the fish in, let it run, worked it in, let it run, pulled it out from under the boat, let it run. Every time we thought it was going to come in it would see the boat and take off again, ripping drag. But David kept that pressure on, stayed patient, and eventually landed on Oversized 35.25" bull of a Redfish - just barely bigger than the biggest of the year, but big enough to take over first place in the 2024 Anglers Mark Bragging Rights Tournament (scroll down the right side of this report for standings). Now that's the way to wrap up a great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Dawg Gone Good Fishing

 

Boy what a pretty day we had today - no real wind, temperature in the high 60's, and partly cloudy skies to greet us when I met Tim Parker and is son Wes out at Goffinsville Park boat ramp early.  And it was just a short run down the river to Broward Island where we set up to fish with jigs and live shrimp on  atide that was low and just coming in. Both Wes and Tim had bites then Tim had a take - he let him bite and then set the hook - the fish took off down the island and right into some tree branches! Ouch. Tim tried "sawing" him out of there, then released the bail in hopes he'd swim out - he did not. We moved the boat over close to shore and Tim worked him out and Fish On!  Tim played him expertly and eventually landed a nice Slot sized Redfish. After moving down the bank just a bit it was Wes's turn to battle the Slot Red- after he hooked him up he worked him slowly to the boat and we netted another nice fish.

We moved down the island and fished it back and picked up one more Slot Red before we moved on. Our next stop was back at some docks at Semore's Pointe, pitching the jigs and shrimp. The duo caught a good handful of Seatrout (1 or 2 of keeper size), a Black Drum, and a couple of small Sea Bass. We then ran thru Horsehead to Jackstaff "bank", switched to floats and drifted shrimp. Again, we got a good handful of Trout (maybe a keeper or two), and a couple of Bluefish. We then jumped around to Poteat Point and here Wes found a handful of Seatrout up over a shallow bar. 

Back thru Horsehead we came and down to Pumpkin Hill. Wes stayed hot tossing forward to get a few Trout (1 or 2 of keeper size), then we moved up to the point and drifted it, to no avail. But when we dropped back to a grassy island and worked back, they began to get Trout again. Tim had switched to his Patent Pending Temptation Bait grubs and they paid off big time. He matched Wes fish for fish tossing the artificial while Wes caught on the live Shrimp. We ended the day with their limit of 2 Slot Reds and 7 keeper Trout so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

The Hunt For Reds

 It was "Chamber of Commerce" weather today - clear, just a slight breeze to keep the bugs off, and just a bit cool as we ran down the river. I had met Ed Andrewlavage and his fishing buddy Chris down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and from there we made our way up the intercoastal and over to Poteat Cut to set up with float rigs and live shrimp on a tide that had been going out for about 2 hours. Both anglers began to toss their baits forward and it wasn't long before they were getting bites. Ed had told me that he'd like to get some Redfish - didn't want any Seatrout - and wouldn't you know, we caught Trout. 

Chris got hot early and landed a few "hungry" one's before he put a keeper sized one in the boat - we photographed and released all Trout today. Then Ed began to get a few, fishing off the stern. They added a Bluefish to the catch before we moved on. Just around the corner, over at Jackstaff, we eased along the bank, just beyond the White Pelicans, and caught a few Trout. Chris went up close to the grass and had a hookup, one that pulled some drag and "rolled" and, Redfish On!  Chris played it perfectly and soon brought to the net a feisty Redfish. Only minutes later it was Eds turn to battle a feisty Red to the boat. 

We ran thru Horsehead and down to Back River and drifted a bank. Chris did pickup one Seatrout but that was it. We crossed the river and drifted the floats and again, a Trout or two. Chris did have something take his bait, and his leader, and his float, and we never saw it again! We then made our way down the Nassau and fished a large drainage. Again, a Seatrout catch, but not much else.

Our final stop was fishing some docks at Seymore's Pointe. Both anglers stayed busy either catching fish ore losing bait. They added another keeper Trout - the biggest of the day at 18.5", a keeper sized 16" Black "puppy" Drum, and 5 keeper sized Mangrove Snapper. I kept count of the "keeper" Trout that we threw back and it was five. We had some outstanding weather and some good action so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

What A Mess O' Fish

 I stepped out this morning and it was drizzling rain and the flag was flapping in the wind and I was
thinking we may be in for a "blustery" day. But after launching down at Sawpit Creek and meeting Ed AndrewLavage and his wife Madonna, the rain ended and the wind never increased. We made a long run up the Nassau and down to Broward Island and set up on the north end to pitch jigs and live shrimp on a tide that had just started back in - it wasn't a very low tide though, the banks were almost covered. The duo of anglers got bites right off then Madonna hooked up and landed a hungry Seatrout. Then both angles had good some good catches of feisty Redfish, and a couple of small Mangrove Snapper.

We moved down the island and set up under a pair of Bald Eagles and pitched the bank. Again, they were hooking up and landing Redfish. Ed commented that they seemed to be about 15' off the bank. They added a keeper sized Seatrout then Madonna went up close to the bank, behind a stump, and B AM! Bigger fish on! She played it perfectly and worked to the net the first Slot Red of the day, one that measured 21". Only a few minutes later, after going up to the same spot, BAM! BIGGER FISH ON! This one was really ripping drag. Madonna battled it like a pro -worked it in, let it run, worked it in, let it run, then slowly brought a bulky 25.5" Slot Red to the net. Boy what a fish.  The commotion must have scared everything away, so we moved on. 

Our next stop was up at Pumpkin Hill, drifting floats. They caught a couple of small Seatrout and a hard fighting Jack Crevalle. We moved up to a point of grass and drifted the other side and this did the trick. Ed had made a good cast, gotten a good drift and when\ his float disappeared he tightened up and let the circle hook set. Ed played it patiently and landed a big 17" Seatrout. Both anglers drifted again and again and got more Seatrout, a couple of keeper size. Then Ed went back up close to the grass and had a Big hookup. This fish was ripping drag - it wasn't a Trout!  He played it for a good while, worked it in slowly, and landed a "tournament" sized 26.75" massive Redfish. Madonna got in some more drag ripping action when she hooked up and battle a Bonnethead Shark to the boat. 

We made a run over to Twin Creeks, drifted floats, added another Jack and a Bluefish to the cach total, then called it a day. As we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Trout'n

 I fished Friday running up to the annual Florida/Georgia football game - great weather for a great weekend!  I had met Brian Roach and his fishing buddy Jason down at Sawpit Creek. All week I had noted that the fish catching was really slow (non-existent) on the last of the incoming tide, which was what we had this day, so my "plan" was to run north up to a dock on the intercoastal and get there early before anyone beat us to it. Unfortunately, after the long run, there was a shore angler fishing off the dock in the "hole". Dang it. 

So ran back down the intercoastal and made it to Poteat Point and began to drift float rigs with live shrimp and luckily the Trout were biting. Brian got things started off and stayed hot catching a good handful of those "hungry" Seatrout, but we did get one that was of legal size. I noted that the water temperature was right at 74°. We moved over to Jackstaff and fished the "bank", working along it, and again picked up Seatrout. Jason got on the board, picking up a few Trout and a feisty Redfish. 

We then ran thru Horsehead and down to Pumpkin Hill to fish that last of the incoming tide. This hasn't worked too well during the first of the week but today it paid off. the duo stayed busy catching Trout, and a small Flounder for their Amelia Island  Backcountry Slam, and when we pulled up to the point and drifted the other side, I sensed a boredom with the Trout catching. Again, they weeded thru the shorts and picked up a keeper or two. After fishing the grass patch, we moved on.

Back to Seymore's Pointe to fish a large drainage. I can't remember if we got a Trout there but we had numerous "nibbles" that I felt sure were small Mangroves that won the battle (kinda like those mangy Dawgs did Saturday), and we moved on. Down the Nassau, stopping at Twin Creeks, we fished the two drainages. Both Brian and Jason were pitching to the "ripples" and it paid off with Trout catches. We may have added one more keeper sized fish here, and a couple of feisty Redfish

The final spot was at Spanish Drop, working the bank- More Trout, maybe another keeper (they ended the day with 5 keeper Trout, two were at 17") and another feisty Red or two. Brian battled a Bonnethead Shark to the boat before we headed back and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Weeding Thru The Trout

 Talking to Bob at the bait shop (Old Town Bait and Tackle) and comparing reports, we both agreed that there were a bunch of short Seatrout to be caught in the creeks and rivers. Then I met William and Dara Blalock early and we headed up and over to the Jolley River, turned into the "bank" and began tossing float rigs and live shrimp. The wind was so low we had an initial issue with the "no-see-ums" and as we worked the bank it looked good - it wasn't. We may have had one nibble but that was it. We dropped down the river and fished the point at Tyger Cut and noticed that we had almost zero current flow, and again, no bites. After moving up the river to Snook Creek and working that bank the two anglers did get into some hungry Seatrout, and by that time we were glad to have them. Although most were between 14"-4.75", we did get a keeper. 

We fished until the tide had started out then we made the run back to the outside of Tyger and set up on a point and here we had good action for a bit - hungry Seatrout, a couple of Bluefish, and a legal sized Flounder that we tossed back due to being out of season.  We added two more keeper Trout to the box. After running thru Tyger and down the Bell River, and up Lanceford Creek, we made our way to a grassy spot and worked it thoroughly. Dara hooked up almost immediately and expertly brought a feisty Redfish to the boat - it had 30 spots on it!  We released it, hopefully to be caught in the next AIGA Inshore Classic!  They caught another Trout or two, and another small Red before we moved on.

Fishing west of a dock both anglers were getting a nibble here and there when William's float slowly went under- he lifted the rod to set the circle hook and when the drag ripped a bit we were both hoping that finally we'd have a big Trout!  William worked it in slowly and it wasn't putting up much of fight until it got to the boat but then it got busy!  Th fish made a couple of runs up to the bow, underneath the boat, and back before William wore it out and landed a nice 24.5" Slot Redfish.

We finished up over at Soap Creek - fishing a drainage there was not shortage of those 14" Trout, then we moved up to a grassy island and picked up a couple more Redfish. We had started slow but had shad some good action with the Trout, and had a nice big Red in the box so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida, 

One Red But It Was a Big One!

The difference in the weather from yesterday to today was like night and day! Beautiful - clear skies, sunshine, pleasant temperatures, and just a bit of wind to keep things interesting.  I had met John Raker and his fishing partner Robert out at Goffinsville Park at 8:30 to give the tide a chance to turn around. We made our first run around to Seymore's Pointe and fished a large drainage with float rigs and live shrimp - the tide had just started out and the two anglers were getting slow drifts. It was only a matter of minutes before Robert had a hookup, he played it to the boat and landed a hungry Seatrout to "knock the skunk off".  Then both anglers were dueling with Mangrove Snappers and did get one nice sized keeper. Then John went long with a drift and sure enough, after the float had crossed a submerged oyster bar, BAM! His float disappeared and fish on! John expertly reeled it in and landed a keeper sized Seatrout.

We than ran thru Horsehead to the mouth of Jackstaff and worked along the "bank". Here, we could barely discern the outgoing tide. But even with not much water flowing, they did catch a good handful of "just undersized" Seatrout. We fished up a small creek off of Jackstaff, to no avail, then made the short run over to Poteat Pointe and worked along that edge. Robert picked up another hungry Seatrout right off, then we had a lull, then the duo caught another handful of those small, almost legal, Seatrout, and one  more that was a keeper.  We saw a ripple off of a grassy point and John placed his cast just north of it, let it drift and BOOM!  Big Fish on! It was ripping drag and running down the grass line, then came out deep and dug down, then boiled ot the top. John kept the pressure on, worked it in, let it run, worked it in, then landed a "tournament" sized 26.75" Slot Red, boy what a fish! And it was what turned out to be the only Redfish of the day!

After running back thru Horsehead we made our way down to the Back River and fished a bend of grass. They picked up another handful of hungry Seatrout, but no Reds today, and no Flounder like yesterday. We finished  up over at Nassauville catching 12" Mangrove Snapper to round out a mess o' fish and another great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Flounder Out of Season

 

It stayed dreary all day today - overcast, a bit windy, and somewhat cool. I had met William Blalock out at Goffinsville Park early and with it dark enough still to have the NAV lights on, we eased up river to fish Pumpkin Hill on a high and still incoming tide. I had hoped that we'd pick up some Seatrout - sometimes we do- but we had nary a bite all thru that last bit of tide.

We came back down the river and around to Seymore's Pointe and fished a large drainage, now with the tide going out and this did the trick. William was making excellent casts to a point of grass and began to get bites right off. He hooked few up an brought to the boat some fat keeper sized Mangrove Snapper. He found that he could drift a little longer and get Seatrout. The first nice one came off at the boat but William brought the next one to the net, a 17" keeper Trout. He added a few more smaller Trout and a few more Mangroves to get his limit, before we moved on. 

After running thru Horsehead and over to Poteat Pointe we drifted the grass and again picked up
Seatrout. Most of them were small but we did get another keeper to add to the box. Back over at Jackstaff "Bank" we found more Seatrout and a hard fighting Jack Crevalle and a feisty Redfish. We than ran back thru Horsehead and down to Back River and fished a bend and here we had some good action. "Hungry" Seatrout, then another of keeper size, another Jack Crevalle, and then, as William drifted his live shrimp close to the grass, he had a hookup. It wasn't fighting like the Redfish or the Trout or the Jack and we both guessed correctly - Flounder!  William expertly eased it to the boat and we netted a nice 18" fish. Unfortunately they are out of season so we photographed and released it. It may have been the next cast, or one or two afterwards when William had the same kind of bite, hooked it up, and brought to the net another big Flounder. 

We fished that spot out, used up all of our bait, then headed back to the ramp and counted it as another (albeit not so pretty) great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Big Reds In The Backwater

 You may have noticed that hurricane Milton messed me up last week - 4-5 canceled trips! But I was back at it today and what a way to come back to work! My theory is that the fish are "gorging" themselves, getting ready for winter - the fish catching today was on fire - hands down the best trip I've had all year!

I had met Ann Mastroserio and her fishing crew Dave and Rich out at Goffinsville Park on a tide that had been going out for a couple of hours and after running thru Horsehead and over to Poteat Point, we set up and drifted live shrimp under floats. Dave had the hot hand early, picking up one hungry Seatrout after another. Ann and Rich joined in catching a few then all heck broke loose! Rather than go into the gory details, this is how the morning went - recorded all the big fish....

Ann -24"  Slot Redfish  

   Rich - 21.5" Seatrout (ties for third biggest this year on the Bragging Rights board)                                       Dave - 26.5"  "Tournament" Slot Redfish                                                                                                            Rich -17" Seatrout                                                                                                                                            Dave- 28.5" Oversized Redfish                                                                                                                        Dave-25.5" Slot Redfish                                                                                                                                Rich - 23.25: Slot Redfish                                                                                                                                        Ann - 30.25" Monster Oversized Redfish                                                                                                    Dave - 23" Slot Redfish                                                                                                                                     Rich - 28.25" Oversized Redfish                                                                                                                       Ann - 25.75" Slot Redfish                                                                                                                            

There were numerous "rat Reds" caught during the day, a handful of hard fighting Jack Crevalle's caught, Dave got a Slam by putting a small Flounder in the boat and Rich got his Slam with a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum. Crazy great fishing day here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Big Jack Makes the Day

 We launched this  morning down at Sawpit under some really eerie skies -dark clouds as the sun came up- we were expecting rain but luckily never got it!  I had met Todd Johnson and his son Oliver early and we made a short run up and over to Spanish Drop n the Nassau, turned into a tide that had been coming in for a few hours, and began tossing float rigs and live shrimp. We worked the bank up to a drainage and as we got there the two anglers began to get fish. Todd was on the stern and had his float disappear and the drag started ripping then Oliver's float sunk and Fish On! We had a double! Both anglers moved around the boat as needed, working them in slowly, and then landed a Jack apiece, right at the same size.

We continued to work the bank and when Oliver's rod bent and his drag began to rip and the fish kept going I was thinking "shark"!  We had to chase the fish for Oliver to catch up his line - he worked it in, let it run, worked it in, and after a good battle landed what I think was the biggest Jack Crevalle of the year, and maybe ever, caught on the Anglers Mark. 

As we reached a point of grass Todd was casting beyond it and letting his float sweep around and this paid off with numerous feisty Redfish catches. He picked up one nice keeper sized Seatrout, then battled a big Red (it was a one sided battle - the fish bulled up into the grass, wrapped itself, and broke off) Ouch.  We then ran over to Pumpkin Hill and drifted the marsh grass where Oliver hooked, battled, and landed a 3' Bonnethead Shark. We fished three other areas there around Pumpkin Hill, but had nary a nibble. 

Needing some action, we made a stop between two docks at Nassauville and here they tangled with the Mangrove Snapper. When we left, the score was about 20-5, the Mangroves winning, but we had those five in the box. We jumped around to Seymore's Point, drifted the floats, and picked up one more keeper sized Mangrove, then finished up over at Poteat Pointe. The weather had actually been great, we had some good action early and late, so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

At Least One Picture Worthy Fish

 Finally, some beautiful weather! I met Brian Roach down at Sawpit Creek this morning early. We had some store-bought live shrimp and we cast netted about a dozen finger mullet then we headed up the intercoastal then up the Nassau to make our first stop at Spanish Drop. We turned into the current and began to toss float rigs on an incoming tide that had only been coming in for a couple of hours but the oysters were already covered. Brian was getting good casts and good drifts and picked up a small Jack Crevalle and a hungry Seatrout. 

We bumped down to Twin Creeks and fished it pretty good with the floats, caught a small catfish, then moved on. Our next stop was up at a dock at Seymore's Pointe where we switched to a jig. Brian worked some pilings good and I made a few tosses, but we had no nibbles. After making the run down to Pumpkin Hill we drifted live shrimp long. This produced a couple of crabs!  But Brian went real long with a drift and when his float disappeared he lifted and let the circle hook set and fish On!  Brian played it patiently and we could tell it was a good fish. I saw it come out of the water once - Brian worked it in and landed a big Seatrout that measured right at 19" - a "picture worthy fish" for sure! 

We fished that area pretty good, then made our way over to some docks at Nassauville where Brian caught a feisty Mangrove - we had more nibbles, caught another Catfish, then moved on. We tried our hand at Seymore's Pointe, fishing the rocks with floats, got some nibbles, then switched to jigsaand got more nibbles. and another......Catfish! Ouch!

We had had a beautiful day and had caught some fish so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Water Like Glass

 After a day off I was back fishing today, meeting the Johnson crew- Nathan and Hanna, Michael and Cole. We were leaving the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early, the water was like glass, and heading up the Nassau River, all the way around to Pumpkin Hill where we set up to fish float rigs with live shrimp, finger mullet, and a few mud minnows. It wasn't long before they were catching fish - small but feisty Redfish. Nathan and Hanna seemed to have the hot hand early and they could do no wrong. reeling one fish in after another.  Nathan finally had a strong pull, hooked it up, and patiently played a Slot Redfish to the net. 

We made a run back down the Nassau to a large drainage and switched to jigs. The "demo" cast produced a keeper whiting then they were all catching fish. It seemed that Michael and Cole gravitated to the jig setup - they both put Redfish in the boat, their perseverance paying off. The group added a handful of hungry Seatrout to their catch total, Hannah picked up a Black "puppy" Drum, Michael reeled in a keeper sized Flounder, and they all caught some Catfish and Jack Crevalle. 

We fished Spanish Drop and again caught some fish, but the bite was slowing down. After running thru Horsehead and over to Jackstaff "bank" we fished it again with the jigs, added a few more fish to the catch total, then headed back to the ramp, counting as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Changed Conditions

 I last fished Friday and we had an outstanding trip, catching Slot Redfish, Oversized Reds, keeper Trout
and a huge Flounder. But 4 days made a difference - we caught fish today and had to work for those, but we didn't get the massive fish last week. I noticed this morning the moon looked almost full and the wind was blowing out of the NE which made for higher tides than normal, and it seemed to come quicker. 

I had met Gordon Fowler and his fishing buddy Bill up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp early. We had a bait well of purchased live shrimp and I had cast netted a few dozen finger mullet. We eased out of Eagans Creek and then made a run up to the Jolly River and turned in to the incoming current at the "bank" and proceeded to toss float rigs with the live shrimp. Both anglers were getting good casts but we only got a few nibbles.

After running up the river to Snook Creek we again fished the floats. They both had some good bites, but no takers, and even one Redfish that "boiled" on a bait but didn't take it. Finally, Bill "knocked the skunk off" when  he hooked up and landed a fat Seatrout. After catching one more we moved on. Our next stop was back at the cut going thru Tyger and here we drifted the floats long along the bank, to no avail. We came out of the Jolley and worked along the outside of Tyger now tossing jigs and here we had a small flurry of catching. Bill caught a couple of the Trout and one small Flounder using the finger muillet and Gordon tanlged with some high flying Ladyfish.

We came back and ran thru Tyger and over to Bell River, fished that stretch for a bit, then ran uip Lanceford where Bill picked up one more Seatrout. After fishing around the corner at the final stop, we headed back to the ramp. We had fished 7 spots and had to show for it about (Maybe) seven fish but it was a beautiful day and another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Big Start Big Finish

 I fished with the Bailey boys, Douglas and his sons Anderson and Dylan and his father-in-law Glenan, meeting them down at Sawpit Creek boat ramp to wrap my week up. We headed out on a tide that had been going out for less than an hour, running up the intercoastal and around to Pompano Point where we set up with float rigs and live shrimp, with finger mullet in the live well as back up. 

We may have had a Ladyfish caught but then we definitely counted the "skunk off" when one of the crew landed a small but feisty Redfish. It seemed kinda slow, compared to yesterday - we had gotten a handful of those small Reds and a barely legal 19" Slot Red, and I was beginning to wonder, but then Dylan had made an excellent cast up between to twigs of sawgrass and BAM! Big Fish On! This fish was boiling and rolling and holding it's on, ripping drag and refusing to budge. But Dylan was up to the task, kept the pressure on, finally worked it out, let it run, worked it out, let it run, then worked it slowly to the boat to land a big 29" Oversized Redfish, boy what a fish!

The excitement had barely died down when Dylan went back to the same spot and BAM! Another big fish on!  He fought it valiantly - Glenan had a hookup off the stern that was ripping drag in the background, then was off - but Dylan's stayed on and he patiently brought to the net a nice 25" Slot Redfish. Then Anderson put a fish in the box- as he hooked up and fought it - I called "Redfish" but as it came to the boat we saw that it was a nice 18" Seatrout. Then Dylan hooked up and brought a 17" Trout to the net. All four anglers tangled with high flying Ladyfish and boated a couple of more small Redfish before we moved on. 

Over at Jackstaff "bank" we worked it slowly, easing into the current, tossing the floats, and here Glenan got in on the big fish action. He had a strong hookup and the fish headed west!  We all thought "shark" but just couldn't tell. Glenan fought it like a pro, went with up from stern to bow and back to bow and after a good battle landed a huge Jack Crevalle.  We then ran thru Horsehead and over to Pumpkin Hill, fished a stretch of still covered oysters, to no avail, then crossed the mouth of the river to fish a shallow bend and here the action heated up again. They added a good handful of those feisty Redfish to their catch total. 

After working Spanish Drop and picking up one more Redfish on a jig, we moved up to another drainage with plans to wrap things up. But this crew wasn't finished!  Anderson had gone to the shell lined bank with a cast and BAM! Immediately when it hit the water he was hooked up. He fought the big fish patiently and soon landed a nice 23" Slot Redfish. Anderson went back to the same spot, had a thump. and began to work it slowly in. We were speculating "oyster fish" up until it surfaced and then we saw that it was a huge Flounder!  Anderson slowly eased it in and we netted a big 20.5" Flounder, a fish big enough ot move Anderson into 3rd place in the Anglers Mark 2024 Bragging Rights Tournament-Flounder Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings).  We wrapped it up after that and headed back, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

The Elusive Big Earl

 I'm fishing out of Old Town Bait and Tackle all week due to trailer issues. I met Lewis Welch and his fishing partner Oscar up there this morning and we made a run over to the MOA again - I keep thinking that's it going to turn on - it didn't.  The duo did catch a couple of small Redfish on the last of an outgoing tide, but that was it. We bumped across the river and fished a bend with the jigs and mud minnows, working somem exposed oysters slowly. It took a while and I was beginning to wonder if this spot was going to be a bust but then BAM! They started catching fish. Small but feisty Reds were the order of the day, but then Oscar had a strong hookup, he set the hook, had his drag rip, then, Fish Off! Ouch. 

And that was when I learned about "Big Earl". Evidently he is big. And we just missed him.

Minutes later Lewis had a strong bite and this one ripped drag and boiled and we knew it was a nice
Redfish. Lewis fought it patiently, let it run, worked it in, let it run, and eventually landed a nice copper colored 23" Slot Redfish. It wasn't Earl, though.  Both Lewis and Oscar caught a good handful of smaller Reds there, a handful of fat but slightly under the keeper size Seatrout. Then, Oscar had one of those weird bites and after a second or two he set the hook and expertly brought to the net a keeper sized Flounder.  Lewis added one more Slot Red to the box. We were running low on mud minnows so we "left 'em biting" and came back down the river. 

We fished Jolley "bank" and picked up a another small Red and a Seatrout while I was cast netting for finger mullet, and had another near miss at Earl. We then bounced around to the outside of Tyger and fished the shallow bank and on the fist cast with one of the netted mullets, Lewis reeled in a small Flounder. We had a few misses at Earl along that stretch but evidently he is fairly elusive. 

We had had some good action earlier in the morning, had a few fish in the box, so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Crazy Action Packed Day at Amelia Island

 I wrapped my week up fishing with the Averbuch crew - Mark and his son Cutler and grandson Harvey- meeting them down at Sawpit Creek early today. We made our way up the intercoastal, up the Nassau, and made our first stop at Spanish Drop. As we worked the bank with jigs and live shrimp and a few mud minnows Mark got hot catching fish, making it plain that he didn't come fishing, he came to catch. He boated a feisty Redfish to "knock the skunk off", then hooked up a with a small Trout and another Red. Then the other two got in on the action and caught a good handful of feisty Reds. Mark had a strong hookup, battled it expertly, and landed the first Slot Redfish of the day, one of five that this team would catch. I was expecting a Flounder along here but they didn't cooperate.

We were really blowing thru the Shrimp so when we made our next run we made stop up near Seymore's Point and cast netted for  4-5 perfect size finger mullet. Then thru Horsehead we went and around to Jackstaff where we trolled into the current along the "bank". Again, this trio of Anglers stayed busy, catching another handful of small but feisty Reds. Harvey added to the variety when he hooked up and landed a keeper sized Mangrove Snapper (all fish but one were released today) ,then his dad Cutler battled to the boat the 2nd slot Red to be photographed and released. Somewhere along there we caught a respectable Jack Crevalle. But no Flounder. 

Back thru Horsehead we came and down the Nassau to Twin Creeks where we stuck with the jigs, but to no avail. After we bounced over to Nassauville and fished between two docks we had nothing, not a Red, not a Trout, not a Snapper, and no, not even a Flounder.

Our next and final stop was over at Pumpkin Hill and here we switched to floats with plans to drift the bank. Boy were we in for an awakening!  They caught a couple of the small Redfish, then Mark had a drag ripping bite. This was a big fish and when it boiled up we knew it was big. Mark fought it paitently, letting it run and rip that drag and after a good battle landed an Oversized 30.5" Redfish, big enough to move him in to 3rd Place in the Anglers Mark 2024 Bragging Rights Tournament -Redfish Category. (scroll down the right side of this report for standings). 

At that same time Cutler had a hookup and he was a battling #3 Slot Red to the boat. Young Harvey put a couple of Reds in the boat then Cutler added a nice 17" Seatrout. He and Mark both added Slot Reds to their catch total, making it number 4 and 5 for Slots for the day. With all that going on you would have thought we'd of got a Flounder!

But as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.