Fishing the day after Valentines you hope that the catching will make for a "sweetheart" kind of day, and today turned out to be pretty good! I had met William and Dara Blalock out at Goffinsivlle Park early and as I was launching I was treated to a really cool sunrise. The tide had been coming in for about an hour so we made our way up river to get in some "first of the incoming" tide fishing. Dara was on the stern and made an excellent first cast - William was on the bow and made an excellent first cast and BAM! It was William who had the hookup. He worked it to the boat and landed a nice feisty Redfish. William picked up a Seatrout shortly after that, then BAM! and his drag was ripping - this was a big one! William played it patiently, worked it in, let it run, worked it in, let it run, and eventually brought to the net an Oversized 27.75" Redfish.
We moved down the way about 30' and worked the bank with the jigs and shrimp and here Dara came alive and got on the board with a couple of Redfish and Seatrout catches. William added a couple too, then we moved further down the Island and worked back into the current and caught a handful of Redfish, one of which was in the Slot. There were a couple of more Seatrout caught with at least one of those of keeper size.
After running way up the Nassau we dipped into a creek and worked back into the current. The catching wasn't "on fire" but it was nice and steady. Dara did an excellent job of battling a 20" Slot Red to the net, and William added another Slot fish to the count. We caught and tossed a good handful of smaller but "feisty" Reds and a couple of Trout, one of being of keeper size.
We later fished some flooded shell alongside some marsh grass with float rigs and Dara found a Trout, then we fished one set of docks where William pulled a Trout out from behind the pilings. We had stayed busy catching fish the first three hours of the trip so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
I was back fishing today when I met Nick Burke and his fishing partner Sajia down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early. There was a bit of fog but it didn't affect the visibility so much that we couldn't make the run up the intercoastal and turn into the Nassau. We then made our way up to Seymore's Pointe to set up at a large drainage on the very first of an outgoing tide. I noted that the water temperature was in the low 60's. We baited up (fixed) float rigs with live shrimp and began to toss them up current to let them drift back and across a flooded shell bed. Sajia had never fished before, never cast a spinning outfit but she was a quick learner and was making excellent casts within minutes. And it paid off - she had a hookup and reeled in her first ever fish - a hungry Seatrout. Nick was fishing off the stern and found that he could let his float "go long" and eventually a Trout would pick it up. He had one chase it down and take the hook. Both anglers caught a handful of those hungry Seatrout before we moved on.
After running thru Horsehead we made our way over to Poteat Point and drifted the floats along that marsh line. We worked it pretty good but had no bites. We dropped back into Jackstaff, passing the White Pelicans and fished a drainage over there. Again, not bites. Back thru Horsehead we went and then up the Nassau to fish some docks, this time switching to jigs and live shrimp. The Trout were quick to pounce. Sajia had mastered the casting and caught a good handful of Seatrout, while Nick, again on the stern, found a nice "honey hole" of Trout out deep and he boated another handful. We left 'em biting - we probably could have stayed there and caught fish but we were looking for bigger ones.
We ran down to Broward Island passing under the watchful eye of a Bald Eagle and tossed jigs to the bank. The current was really running here but I think the baits were getting washed out too quickly. Further up the river and into a creek, the current wasn't so swift. Nick had the first strong bite - he played it perfectly and soon brought to the net a nice feisty Redfish. Shortly after that Sajia had a good bite. It ripped a bit of drag but Sajia was up to the task. She played it patiently and hauled in the biggest fish of the day, another Redfish. In her limited time away from studying for her Doctorate, Sajia enjoys tennis, archery and running, but now she can add "Angler" to her list of titles! The sun had come out, we 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.
We had a beautiful day today with sunny skies, just a light breeze and temperatures rising when I met Zach Peyton and his son Tyler and their friend RC up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp. We eased out of Eagans Creek and made a short run over to the outside of Tyger Island where we set up with float rigs baited with live shrimp. We were getting good drifts along the marsh grass on the first of an outgoing tide and were hoping for a Seatrout or Redfish but we had not a nibble.
We then ran thru Tyger, over to the Bell, down to Lanceford and made our way up it. It looked like there was an Outfitters convention going on at Crazy Mary's - it was surrounded, so we continued on around and fished a grass patch with the floats, to no avail. We fished Dave's Dock for just a bit, then made a short run over to Soap Creek and fished a large runout. I did have one good bite there - I missed it, dang it, then we fished on up the grass line a bit and but had no more bites.
These anglers were up for the challenge - we made a run back down Lanceford, then down the intercoastal to dip in behind Piney Island to fish some dock pilings as the oysters were just beginning to show, and this did the trick. After just a cast or two with a jig and shrimp we had a hookup. Tyler was on the rod - and he expertly worked it out from the pilings and to the boat to land a nice feisty Redfish, one that measured right at 17 7/8", just shy of Slot. We went back to the same spot and just minutes later had another strong bite. This fish tried to get around the pilings too. RC was on the rod nod now and he played it perfectly and brought to the net a nice Slot 22" Redfish. Minutes later, another "thump" and a hookup. Tyler was working it in but it was acting differently - when it dug deep I was wondering just what it was - Tyler worked it up and we netted a nice keeper sized 15" Flounder - we haven't seen a keeper Flounder in a while.
Our next stop was further down the intercoastal where we fished some structure deep with the jigs We had no bites so we moved on. We made a loooong run back up the river, up the Bell and over to some docks where we set up deep and tossed jigs up current. Zach got hot, hooking up a handful of Seatrout which he handed off to the boys to reel in. Those Trout rounded out an Amelia Island Back Country Slam of Redfish, Flounder and Seatrout. These guys had to work for them (just like all week), but they stayed with it and had a few fish to take home for dinner so as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Those low 40's water temperatures are coming up a bit, today we had it at 47 degrees. I had met Pat Andreasen, his son-in-law Bryan and grandson Mason down at Sawpit Creek early this morning and we made our way up the Nassau River on the first of an outgoing tide with clear and soon to be sunny skies. That cold water we've had has stunted the "fish catching" and today was no different. The trio of anglers were making good casts with float rigs, drifting them over some submerged oysters but we had no luck at that first spot. We ran thru Horsehead and over to Poteat Point and again got good drifts, but to no avail, not a bite.
Back thru Horsehead we came and after stopping at Seyrmore's Pointe, we decided to set up out deep and toss jigs and live shrimp. We worked a few docks and finally Mason "knocked the skunk off" when he hooked up and landed a Seatrout. We then made our way around to Nassauville and fished some docks with the jigs but again, no luck.
After a long run up the Nassau we fished some downed logs with the jigs. All three anglers put in the work and did catch up a handful of fish. Mason topped the board with two nice feisty Redfish and a keeper sized Seatrout. Bryan put a nice Redfish and a Seatrout in the boat. The sun had really started heating things up and I ended up peeling both layers of outwear off. It was a beautiful day, we 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.
I fished this morning with John Pellerin and his buddy visiting from Montana, another John. Although the sun was out when we met at 8:30 it stilled seemed awful cold, but that didn't last past the first run. We ran way up the Nassau and dipped into a creek and worked the bank on a tide that had been going out for about three hours. It was slow going but then John2 found a bit of a fishing whole when he hooked up and landed a couple of feisty Redfish. We moved down the bank an then John1 found his own fishing hole - he hauled in an "almost legal" Redfish then he had another subtle bite, set the hook and Fish On! This cold Redfish (the water temperature was 44) aren't putting up much of a fight - the just give up and come to the boat! Or maybe it knew it had met it's match? Anyway, John1 worked in a nice 23" Slot Redfish.
We worked that bank thoroughly and John2 got another "almost legal" Redfish before we moved on. We made our way back down the river to some docks at Nassauville and here John2 caught a hungry Seatrout deep. We fished Spanish Drop for a bit, working a shell bank, to no avail, then we fished some docks up at Seymore's Point, again to no avail. Those fish are either so cold that they are just hunkering down or they have moved off to find warmer waters. We had some great sunshine and fished some beautiful areas so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
I was remiss in looking at the weather forecast - I noted that the wind was going to be a manageable 11mph but I didn't look at the rain forecast - and we paid for it! I had met William and Dara Blalock out at Goffinsivlle Park boat ramp right at a high tide and we made our way over and thru Horsehead to make our first stop at Poteat Pointe with plans to drift float rigs and live shrimp. We had overcast skies and on occasion, just a slight mist, but the floats paid off when the duo began to pick up Seatrout. Most were just undersized but they did put one over 15" in the boat.
We then ran back thru Horsehead and over to a large drainage at Seymore's Pointe and again drifted the floats. Again, they caught Seatrout, most biting just as they passed over a submerged oyster bed. The sun came out and the temperature warmed and we were thinking "Rain"? Hah! After moving around the corner and down to Nassauville we switched to jigs and live shrimp and caught Seatrout deep in 20" of water. After getting another "just over 15" we were about to leave when William had a good strong thump and Fish On! He played it patiently and soon landed the biggest Trout of the day, one that measured right at 18".
After a run down to Broward Island we fished a couple of spots deep with the jigs, caught a few more Trout, then Dara put a feisty Redfish in the boat and a wayward Flounder (the first on my boat in about a month) - she had an Amelia Island Back Country Slam. There were some clouds building but we then made a long run further up the Nassau River and dipped into a creek and worked the bank thoroughly. This paid off when the duo began to hookup with Redfish. Most were in the17" range but we counted 5 Spot Reds caught (all Reds caught today were released)(I took the Trout home, thanks!). As we were fishing we could hear the wind beginning to roar, the temperature drop and then the rain came, and boy was it coming down! We all had rain coats on but our pants were soaked and water made it's way down into our boots. On the way back to the ramp it was blowing rain and it somehow made it down under my raincoat. I don't know about William and Dara but I was soaked! But we had stayed busy catching fish, down to the last shrimp, so as we eased up to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
We again had a forecast of some less than desirable weather and sure enough, we were greeted with overcast skies and blowing winds when I met the Paradise group down at Sawpit Creek- Raymond and Catherine, Harrison and Abby. But we had a plan to try and stay out of the wind as we ran up the Nassau River to fish a large outflow just north of Seymore's. These anglers began tossing float rigs and live shrimp and after just a few casts they had knocked the rust off and were catching fish. As the floats drifted over a submerged shell bed BAM! They'd have a hookup and would expertly bring in a hungry Seatrout.
Catherine, fishing off the bow, drifted close to a grass point that I knew had an oyster outcrop and she picked up a feisty Redfish then a hard fighting keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum to round out and Amelia Island Back Country Slam. The group added a good handful of the smaller Seatrout then Harrison hauled in a keeper sized Trout. After running around to Nassauville and fishing Littlfield with jigs, to no avail, we made a long run up the Nassau to fish a small Creek.
As we worked along the bank Catherine hauled in a Seatrout, then she hooked up and landed a feisty Redfish but as we worked along the bank I was thinking, "this is kinda slow". But then like a light switch, the bite turned on. Abby, who had persevered all day with her casting, had a strong hookup and this was ripping drag but the fish was no match for her "GenZi" - she worked it patiently to the boat and landed a nice Slot sized Redfish. Raymond had been "coaching them up" and joined in as the key Netman -scooping them up when I was busy unhooking fish. The group added 3 more Slot Reds to get their limit and a whole bunch of the smaller "rat" Reds.
Boy was it nasty running back -overcast, 17mph winds, whitecaps, and then a slight drizzle. But we had had some good action, had a good mess of fish in the box and as we eased up to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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,
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.
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.
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.
