Trout Gone Wild

 I don't know what it was but we had a Trout explosion this  morning! I had met David Michael and his fishing buddies Cole and Kyle down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early and with the tide just have started in we decided to make the long run around and down to Broward Island to catch that incoming tide there. And boy did it pay off! First Cast -BOOM! Cole was on the rod and perfectly played a Slot Redfish to the boat. That 's a good start!

From then on the trio of anglers were picking up Seatrout down deep, many of which were (finally) of keeper size. Some were throw backs, but some were rather large -17"-20". We were tossing 1/4oz jigs up to the bank and letting the current drop the jig down along the river bottom. The bite was subtle and you had to be ready! David ended up putting the biggest in the boat, a 20 1/2" Trout, moving him in to first place in the Anglers Mark 2021 Bragging Rights Tournament -Seatrout Category(scroll down the right side of this report for standings).

We came back to some docks at Nassauville and this time pitched the jigs up current, let them fall, and then let the current drop them down the river bottom. Yesterday we had got one keeper Trout at this spot but today we got a good handful of keeper sized Trout.

After moving around to some more docks we switched to float rigs and tossed them up shallow. I was just about to leave when Kyle had something engulf his bait and the battle was on! Kyle worked it to the boat and landed another big Trout - this one 19 1/2", which moved Kyle into 2nd place in the Bragging Rights Tournament! We added one more keeper Trout then moved on. 

Our last stop was thru Horsehead, around to the mouth of Jackstaff, drifting float rigs again. We picked up a slimy Catfish but nothing else, so we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

Amelia Island Back Country Super Grande Slam

 I fished with the Owensby crew again today -Kevin and his son Jake, his father in law Doyle, and Doyle's  brother Ron. We met this time up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp early and on a beautiful morning, headed north and west. Our first stop was on the outside of Tiger and within minutes Jake had "knocked the skunk off" with a nice Bluefish catch. We had another couple of bites and I was thinking, "here we go". But alas, even though conditions were absolutely perfect, we had no more catches. After crossing over and fishing a grass line, and having a big Redfish roll at Kevin's bait,  but no takers.

After running around to Lanceford Creek, we set up outside a nice outflow and got good drifts,  but no takers. We then moved up into Soap Creek, fished it thoroughly, then made a run up to Bell River. Here things finally heated up a bit. 

Ron got on the board early with a nice fat Seatrout catch, then he hauled in a sneaky Sheepshead. The team of anglers added a couple of more Sheepshead, a Black Drum and a Flounder to the mix. We fished along some docks and picked up another Trout or two then moved around to another dock and tried our hand at jigging for some Sheepshead alongside the pilings. 

Our final stop was back towards town and here they added a Redfish catch and a Weadfish catch to round out a type of Amelia Island Super Grande Slam of Seatrout, Sheepshead, Black Drum, Redfish and Weakfish. Although we didn't have a  bunch of keepers we had a good variety and a great day out on the water here at Amelia Island, Florida 

Good Variety Here at Amelia Island In March

I fished with Tom and Betty Lane Owensby this morning, meeting them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park
early with plans to fish a tide that had been coming in for about an hour. We made our first stop around at Tiger, fished the logs, and picked up a few fish. Tom reeled in a couple of sneaky Sheepshead and a feisty Redfish, and a minnow. No kidding - he tossed out a jig and shrimp and brought back a minnow that was smaller than his bait! Betty had a good hookup and landed a hungry Seatrout. 

We then ran around to the Jolley River and fished
the "bank" and it was Tom who had the pleasure of tangling with a big Gar Fish! Crazy. I thought it was a big Trout when it hit a shrimp under a float rg up in the shallows. After fishing Snook Creek for a bit, we continued on around to Bell River and switched back to jigs. Both Tom and Betty hooked up with some nice sized Seatrout and Betty reeled in big Whiting to wrap things up. And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Heading South To Bubblegum Reef

 ....should be the title to a Buffet song!  When I met Fred Wammock up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park this afternoon the boat ramp was just crazy - and boats and kayaks and PWC's were buzzing around..so we decided to make the long run south to get away from it all. We made a brief stop behind Piney Island and fished some docks where Fred picked up a hungry Seatrout, then we continued on down the intercoastal to dip into Jackstaff. The tide was low and still going out as we worked the exposed shell bank with jigs and live shrimp but we didn't get a even a nibble. 

We ran thru Horsehead and around to the Nassau River and pulled up just shy of Bubblegum Reef with plans to drift floats and live shrimp along the exposed shell (yesterday we picked up a big Trout and Big Redfish in the same spot). But we didn't get much of a bite! We then pulled up to Bubblegum Reef and switched back to jigs and shrimp.

Fred had been making excellent casts all afternoon and his next pitch to the Reef proved to be on point and it paid off. He had a

"bump bump", set the hook and had a good battle with a nice keeper sized Sheepshead. We had a few more bites then we decided to ease to the outside of the Reef and set up current.

Dropping baits back proved to be the trick and led to a smorgasbord of fish bites. Fred reeled in another Sheepshead, then picked up a keeper sized Seatrout, then a keeper sized Mangrove Snapper, then he got into some nice Black "puppy" Drum - boating three that were of good size. He put one two more keeper sized Seatrout (the biggest was 16.5" before we moved on. 

Our last and final stop was down at Broward Island. The tide was right, the wind was blocked and boy was it beautiful!  Fred wrapped up with an Amelia Island Grand Slam by catching a feisty Redfish to go along with his Seatrout, Black Drum and Sheepshead. We headed back north and had a fly by by a majestic Bald Eagle and as we cruised back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Little bitty bite Little bitty bait and BIG fish

 

We had a beautiful morning today to fish with Jeff and Penney Parks. I met them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp mid morning to fish the first of an outgoing tide.  We made our first stop up the Nassau River where we fished float rigs and live shrimp. We had bites but no takers so we moved up the river a bit and did the same thing at Twin Creeks and this paid off. Penney found a "hot" spot and plucked a good handful of Seatrout out of there while Jeff cleaned up the rest.

Our next stop was up at some docks at Seymore's Pointe. We fished float rigs out an outflow then switched to jigs and shrimp to no avail. After making the run down to Broward our efforts paid off. Jeff was fishing a live shrimp on the bottom, letting the current sweep his bait

and he said, "I just had a little bitty bite..." and BOOM! Fish On!  The fight started out like a small fish but when it decided it was  caught, it grew up, ran deep and ripped the drag. We worked the boat out away from the logs and it then it was all Jeff applying the pressure. After a long battle and a lot of patience, Jeff landed a 29.75" Oversized Redfish, boy what a fish!  And shortly after that we picked up our first keeper Trout, 22' deep on the bottom.  Then Penney added a couple of keepers to the  box, fishing deep.  We fished the island pretty good, working the edge under the keen eye of a Bald Eagle, then made our final run.

Our last stop was back at "Bubblegum Reef" - we tried to fish the wreck but kept getting hung up so we eased back and drifted floats long along the now exposed shell bed. Penny had a good hookup, played it perfectly, and brought to the net the biggest Seatrout of the day - an 18" fish. Jeff followed her along the same edge with an "little bitty bait" - a "popcorn" shrimp - and had a hookup right along the shell -BAM- 
another big fish. We were hoping that this one would be in the slot but the longer he fought the more we knew that it too was going to be oversized and sure enough, after a good battle, Jeff landed another Oversized 28" Redfish!  We had to call it a day then, a great way to wrap up a good day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Wednesday and Thursday Trips

 I fished Wednesday morning with Chris Yarborough, his son Conner,  and his BIL Chris and nephew Magnus. We fished the outside of Tiger at a large runout with, jigs and live shrimp, but had no fish. We then  hit the Jolley, fished float rigs and live shrimp but again, no fish. After fishing Snook Creek to no avail, we ran to  Bell River, switched back to jigs and began to catch Seatrout deep! Birthday boy Conner got hot, an caught 6-7 Trout, while Magnus reeled in a "Bonus" fish, a Sheepshead, and then Seatrout. Later, Chris picked up a Trout. Conner coined a new slogan -  "Just Catch 'em"!

 

Yesterday afternoon I fished with Michael Boone and  his wife Ricki, meeting them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp. Our first stop was around at Tiger Island where Michael picked up a couple of Black "puppy" Drum and a feisty Redfish. Ricki tricked a sneaky perch to take her hook. We then fished the Jolley River with float rigs - had no real bites - then motored around to the Bell where we picked up a handful of Seatrout on jigs and live shrimp and 3" Storm shad baits.

This morning I fished south, meeting Lee and Emmett Kubersky down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We fished Seymore's Pointe a bit and picked up a Seatrout on a float rig, then fished some docks in Nassauville with jigs to no avail, then we ran back to Twin Creeks on the Nassau and had some good action catching Seatrout under the float as the tide was going out. Our next stop was down at Broward Island and boy did things "light up".  Our first cast produced a BIG bite and Fish On! Emmett was on the rod and he patiently fought it, working it in slowly as it made deep runs. Once in the net, the big Redfish measured at 26" - a fat "Tournament" sized Redfish. We went back to the same spot and BOOM! Bigger Fish on!  This fish stayed deep and ripped drag but Emmett was up to the task and eventually landed an Oversized 29.5" Redfish! And he wasn't done yet! Emmett caught and landed a nice 17" Seatrout (all fish caught today were released) and rounded out an Amelia Island Backcountry Slam with a Sheepshead catch.  And that wrapped a good two days of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida 

Perseverance And the Tide Flips The Switch

 After a terrible weekend of blowing winds, we were back to fishing today when I met Justin Palmore and
his son Will down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We made a short run up the Nassau and eased up to fish a shell bank as the tide still had a couple of  hours of going out. Both anglers were getting good casts up current with their jigs and live shrimp, but we had no takers. We moved up a quarter mile and fished a marsh run out and again, not a nibble. 

The tide had only an hour left of outgoing so we decided to fish some dock pilings with the jigs and shrimp. We were working the pilings good, getting a nibble here and there, but we had no fish. Ouch.

After making the run down to Broward we fished the last of the outgoing - no
bites. This was getting serious! Even the Bald Eagle perched in a dead pine was getting disappointed! We moved down the way as the tide turned, fished one area, moved to another and....somebody flipped a switch! BAM! Fish On! Justin worked it to the boat and landed a Slot Redfish. BAM! Big Fish On!  Will played it like a pro, worked it to the net, and landed a big "Tournament" sized Redfish - 26"!  BAM, another Slot Redfish. BAM, BIG FISH ON!  Justin fought it valiantly for what seemed like 20 minutes, brought it to the net -32" Oversized Redfish! This fish moved Justin in to first place in the Anglers Mark 2021 Bragging Rights Tournament-Redfish Category.   WHUMP! Will had a hookup deep, worked it in, and landed a nice 18" Seatrout. After that Will was in his "honey hole" and pulled out one 18" Seatrout after another. These fish moved Will into a tie for first place in the Anglers Mark 2021 Bragging Rights Tournament-Seatrout Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings) 

We threw back a handful of smaller fish, kept a handful of Slot Reds, and a good "mess" of Seatrout. It brought home - just keep on fishing 'cause you never know when the "switch" will flip and it will be another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

We had a B.A.D. Trip

 We squeezed in a fishing trip this morning - after last nights storm with high winds and rain and expected blow tomorrow and the rest of the weekend. I had met my cousin Jim Garner and his brother-in-law Chipper out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp early this morning. The wind was blowing the forecasted 12mph which we thought we could deal with and soon the sun came out to make for a beautiful day. 

After a short run around to some docks at Seymore's we set up to fish with jigs and live shrimp, tossing them to the base of the dock pilings on the last of an outgoing tide. The duo of anglers started off with a nibble here and there then WHAM! Jim had a hookup and a battle on his hands. The fish tried to get into the pilings but Jim applied the pressure, worked it out and fought it to the net - a nice 20" Black "puppy" Drum.  Shortly after Chipper followed that up with one of his one. He played it perfectly, worked it out from the pilings, and landed another nice 18" Black Drum.

A short while later Chipper had one chase his bait down, hooked up, and Big Fish On!  It was pulling hard and deep but Chipper was up to the task and fought it valiantly to the boat. We netted it, weighed it at 8.5lbs and measured it to be 24.5" - a Big Az Drum!

I know folks are catching the big Bull Drum right now, some weighing 50-60lbs and typically being caught in big reels and heavy line, but these fish we caught are being landed on size 1000 reels, 10lb test. It makes for a good fight!

We fished Broward Island for a bit and picked up a good handful of Seatrout, then came back to Nassauville Rocks and again caught a handful of Seatrout, one of which was of keeper size. The sun was up, the fish box had some nice fish in it, so we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

We Don't Show This Spot To Just Anybody

I don't often get the request to catch a "small" fish but the thought was that it'd be nice to take a couple of fish home for dinner and the real big ones would be too much. I had just met Tom Hardy and his long time fishing buddy Bill Dunn  up at Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp and we then eased down the river towards Eagans Creek to fish the first of an incoming tide with jigs and live shrimp. As you know, you don't want to take many folks to your favorite spot but sometimes you just gotta do it!

Within minutes the two anglers began to catch BIG Redfish. I kept a tally as they went:

Bill-26" Slot Redfish
Tom 29.5"  Oversized Redfish

Tom 26" Slot Redfish (w/ 16 spots)

Bill   30.5" Oversized Redfish 

Tom 23.75" Slot Redfish

Bill  25.5" Slot Redfish

Bill  18" Seatrout

Tom 26.5" Slot Redfish

Bill  28.5" Oversized Redfish

Tom  24.5" Slot Redfish

Bill's 30.5" Redfish moved him into 2nd place in the Anglers Mark 2021 Bragging Rights Tournament and Tom's 29.5" fish moved  him into third! (Scroll down the right side of this report for standings)

...and then we had a small "Rat Red" and small Seatrout!  Boy  what a morning of fishing. Then the high winds moved in and it all went to pot! But with all that big fish catching, when we called it a day, we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Breakout Day

 With the fish bite being "down" the last week or so we needed a day like today. I had met Dave Burkhartand his fishing  buddies Ed and Robert out at Goffinsville Park on a dead low tide. After a short ride over to some docks, we set up current and tossed jigs and live shrimp. It didn't take long before we got some action!  Dave was fishing deepest with a jig and he pulled in a few hungry Seatrout then Robert hooked up and battled a nice keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum to the boat. Then all three of the anglers were catching fish - Drum up by the docks and Seatrout out deeper. After fishing a second dock where we caught more Drum (we had a total of 4 keepers), we moved on.

Our next stop was down at Broward Island. The tide had been coming in for an  hour or two but it was worth a shot and it paid off. Ed had gone to the bank and

let his jig fall slowly with the current when, BAM! Big Fish On! Ed played it patiently and kept the pressure on when the big fish went deep. After a good battle he boated an Oversized 27.5" Redfish,  boy what a fish!

As we moved down the bank we got into more Redfish. Ed put a Slot Red in the boat then Dave battled a big one, in and out of some tree limbs, but he prevailed and put another Slot Red in the boat. We added a couple of more smaller Reds them moved down the bank where Ed caught a small Flounder to round out an Amelia Island Back Country Grande Slam of Seatrout, Black Drum, Red Drum and Flounder.

We then moved up to Pumpkin Hill and drifted float rigs where we picked up

some Seatrout, one of which was of keeper size. After fishing some more docks back at Seymore's Pointe where we added a couple of more keeper sized Trout, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

I Jumped the Gun

 In my last report I mentioned that the fish bite was on the uptick. But boy was I wrong. We had two really slow days, yesterday and today - I didn't have much to write about yesterday! And today, I fished with the Risko family, Tami and Toby and their two kids Vivian and Simon and it was slow for most of the morning.  We met down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and ran up the Nassau and around to Broward Island. The tide had been coming in for about 2 hours but I thought for sure we'd get there in time for a bit of a bite. I was wrong. We worked the bank up and down and had nary a nibble. However, we did get to see a majestic Bald Eagle fly by.

We then fished Pumpkin Hill, both sides of the pointe, with float rigs and live shrimp, to no avail. Our next stop was around at Seymore's Pointe and here perseverance prevailed. Vivian was drifting a float out the back, along a grass line, and had a good nibble that took her Shrimp. She went back to the same area with a good drift and BAM, she had a hookup. Vivian played the fish perfectly to the net and landed a fat hungry Seatrout. 

After that she

zeroed in and was ready when she had another bite, and caught another one. 

Up on the bow we were drifting the grass when we saw our float slooooowwwllly go under. After tightening the line we had a hookup and, Fish On! This was a big fish - it was ripping drag and heading East. But Simon was on the rod and he kept the pressure up. Simon made his way to the stern and the deck was cleared and the battle ensued. The big fish made a couple of deep runs, ripping the drag as it went, but Simon was up to the task and patiently brought it to the net - a nice 26" Tournament Sized Slot Redfish. 

Once we were back to fishing Vivian went back to her "spot" and had another Trout hookup. Her dad Toby jumped in there and caught another one before the bite slowed. We then made the run thru Horsehead, fished one more area, then called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Uptick In The Fish Bite

 

Another beautiful day with warmer temperatures, both air and water, seem to have helped with the fish bite. 

This morning I fished with Mark Richardson and his son Braden, meeting them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp. We fished Bell River, Soap Creek and Lanceford Creek with float rigs and live shrimp and picked up a Seatrout at each spot on high and rising tide. 

Just as the tide started out we had made the run up to Bell River docks and switched to jigs and shrimp and we had a "break out" catch. The father/son duo caught a good handful of Seatrout on the bottom, picked up a handful of small but feisty Sheepshead. They also added a feisty Redfish to the catch. We fished a couple of those docks and picked up more Trout.

This afternoon I fished with Tod Schroeder, his dad Dennis, and his daughter Alana, again meeting them at the Dee Dee Bartels Park. We quickly made the long run up the Bell and it paid off with some nice Seatrout catches on the bottom  on jigs and live shrimp. Alana topped the catch with the biggest Seatrout catch of the day - a 16"er.  We also had some small but feisty Sheepshead and a feisty Redfish.

We fished a bit in the Jolley River until the tide started back in then ran around and eased in to behind Tiger. Here the trio caught a few more Redfish, two of keeper size and again, Alana pulled out the biggest Redfish. 

Both trips caught fish and had some good action which made for another great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Blustery March Fishing at Amelia Island

 Although the forecast called for (finally) some sunshine today, it also called for winds beginning at 13mph and getting up to 17mph as the day wore on, which can sometimes make for a tough time fishing. And it did!  I had met Steve and Lara Bunkowske and their two angler kids Nate and Alex up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp early and with the wind already whipping, we headed over to Lanceford Creek to fish some dock pilings with jigs and live shrimp. Even though the boat was not cooperating in the wind, these anglers were able to get some good casts and finally it was Nate who outsmarted a wily Sheepshead, hooked it up and brought it to the boat to "knock the skunk off". 

We fished another dock to no avail, then headed over to Soap Creek and set upwind from an exposed oyster bed. Steve and Alex were on the stern pitching to the oysters and although we weren't getting many bites, Alex had the big hookup and, Fish On! Alex played it perfectly and worked it to the net to land a nice 21" Slot Redfish, boy what a fish!

We later fished Tiger Island logs on the first of an incoming tide, the best time to be there IMO, but it was not to be. The wind was affecting my boat handling and the anglers casts and the fish didn't want what we presented to them. But it was a beautiful sunny day so when we called it  day, we counted it as another great day to be out on the water here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Playing The Edges

After a couple of days of nasty weather we had a gorgeous day greet us this morning! Sunshine, clear skies and only a slight breeze and right about 50 degrees when I left the Dee Dee Bartels Park dock with Bob and CJ Bengston.  We flipped a coin - Tiger Logs or Lanceford Docks?  Then we headed over to Tiger Island and began fishing with jigs and live shrimp on the very first of the incoming tide. Both anglers were making excellent casts to the bank and letting their bait slide down the river bottom. We eased along teh bank and Bob had a brief hookup and the drag ripped and, fish off! Ouch. But he went back and minutes later it paid off with a hookup and Fish On! Bob played it perfectly and soon landed a big 26 1/2" "Tournament Sized" Redfish, right on the upper "edge" of being legal.

We continued down the bank and Bob added another Slot Redfish, this one with 7 spots  and legal at 18 1/2", just over the bottom "edge" of the Slot -he was playing the edges! As we worked back up the island both he and JC caught and landed a couple of "feisty" Reds, then it was CJ's turn to fight a big one! She had a good bite, set the hook then played it patiently to the boat and net. The fish measured at 23" - a  nice Redfish (all but one of these Slot Redfish were released).

After a run around to Lanceford Creek we fished some dock pilings where Bob outsmarted a feisty Sheepshead, then we fished Soap Creek with float rigs and picked up a handfull of hungry Seatrout. After fishing Bell River briefly, we made the run thru Horsehead, toured Cumberland Island and saw some wild horses, then the Fort, then headed in, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

23, 24 and 25

I fished again with the Soper Team - dad Larry and his sons Garrett and Dustin, but this time meeting them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp. Although the skies weren't as clear, the temperature was pleasant and we had a slight breeze that promise to keep the "no-see-ums" off!  We headed over to the outside of Tiger and fished float rigs along the flooded marsh line. Little did we know that it was going to be tough fishing today, but that first stop produced no bites. After moving over and fishing Manatee Cove with the floats and getting no bites, we moved on. 

Our next stop was over in the Bell River, fishing a pointe of grass, and again, no bites. Then around to Lanceford Creek to fish a seawall and a grassy island to no avail . Finally, after stopping at a dock and trying a jig and shrimp on a tide that had been falling for about an hour, we had a hookup!!  Dustin was on the rod and said the big fish slammed it!  He played it perfectly, even when the fish got up in the pilings, and he patiently worked out to a waiting net.

This nice Slot Red turned out to be 25" which added to their catch yesterday of a 23" Red and a 24" Red!

We moved around to Soap Creek where Garrett picked up a hungry Seatrout, then switch back to floats that produced nothing. Larry casually put a "baitstealer" in the boat before we called it a day, a rather slow one, but still a great day to be out on the water at Amelia island.  

From Fog To Sunshine And Good Fishing

 We had another outstandingly beautiful day today but it started out a bit foggy!  I had met Larry Soper and his sons Dustin and Garrett down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and as we headed up the intercoastal and rounded the corner to Jackstaff we hit a wall of fog and had to slow to a crawl.  But after easing in to the creek we dropped he trolling motor and began to fish the last of an incoming tide with float rigs and live shrimp. These guys were making excellent casts to the marsh grass but we had no takers. We crossed over to another edge and worked it with jigs and finally Dustin "knocked the skunk off" with a Seatrout catch. 

We ran thru Horsehead and around to some docks at Seymore's Pointe and set up, again fishing with the float rigs. As they drifted across a shell bed, Larry had a good bite and landed a hungry Seatrout. Then, after Garrett had made an excellent cast to a grassy point, BOOM! Big fish on!  The drag was ripping but he played it patiently and soon landed a nice 23" keeper sized Slot Redfish.  We fished a dock after that but had no luck then moved down a bit and here the action heated up and all three anglers were in on the action. 

Dustin pulled a big Black "puppy" Drum out, then Larry battled a 24" Slot Redfish to the boat, then Garrett added another big Drum to the tally. Larry found a keeper Drum off to the side while we were freeing up a jig. It was good fishing with the sun now out and what a beautiful  day!

After fishing the Nassau River docks for a bit, and then Spanish Drop, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Zero to Sixty

Boy what a beautiful morning we had today. It was sunshine, warming and just a slight breeze when a met Adam Mizell and his son Witt out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp for a "birthday" trip for Adam set up by his wife Carrie. We made a quick run over to Pumpkin Hill and fished a dead high tide with float rigs and live shrimp....and didn't get a bite. We eased around the corner and continued with the float rigs and again....no bites. Ouch.

After making the run to Seymore's Pointe we set up on the outside of an oyster bed where the water was beginning to come out of a bay as the tide started out, drifting the floats, and again, no bites. I eased back to fish some dock pilings where Witt began pitching jigs and shrimp. But Adam had stayed with the float and it paid off when his rod bent and his drag ripped, Fish On! I was thinking a small Redfish they way it was pulling but it turned out to be a nice 17" keeper sized Seatrout. Skunk off the Boat! Then Witt hooked up and landed a hungry Seatrout. He went back to the dock with an excellent cast and BOOM!                                                                      Big Fish On! Witt played it perfectly and after a good battle                                                                         landed a 18" Black "puppy" Drum.

We bounced down a dock or two and fished some more pilings. Witt landed another Drum and Adam doubled up with a feisty Redfish catch. Then Adam had another strong hookup and put a 21" Slot Redfish in the boat. He followed that up with another keeper sized Black Drum. Although we had started slow we had picked up speed fast!

Our next stop was down a Spanish Drop, fishing some exposed shell with the jig and shrimp. As we got to the end of a stretch I commented about the big oversized Red we had caught last week there and not minutes later, BOOM! Adam had a hookup. We knew the fish was big because it stayed deep, ripped drag, boiled once or twice then got back in the current and went long. But Adam was up to the challenge and patiently worked it to the boat where Witt did an expert net job to put it in the boat, boy what a catch - a 28" oversized Redfish, big enough to move Adam into 3rd place in the Anglers Mark 2021 Bragging Rights Tournament-Redfish Category(scroll down the right side of this report for standings). 

After working another bank where Adam picked up a keeper sized Flounder (and an Amelia Island Back Country Slam), we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Good Start and Weather Improving

 

After a huge storm overnight the weather was forcasted to improve as today wore on, and it did. When I launched the boat early the skies were overcast but as I prepped the boat at Dee Dee Bartels I could see the west winds blowing the cloud cover east over the island and clear skies followed. By the time me, Scott and Peggy Dunlap left the ramp it was clear and the sun was coming up. Although we had to deal with 14mph winds most of the day, at least we had sunshine!

Our first stop was around behind Tiger and the duo of anglers began to pitch jigs and live shrimp. We eased along the bank and it was Peggy that "knocked the skunk off" with a feisty Redfish catch. We continued moving down the bank and picked up two more Reds, one of which was of keeper size.

We then ran thru the wind, heading west and fished some docks up Lanceford Creek. Although our first cast produced a good bite, and a hookup, after a brief battle the fish threw the hook. OUCH.  Later, we had the same thing happen at another dock.  We fished a grassy island further down Lanceford, then made the run up to Bell River and finished out the day fishing deep on the bottom for Trout, to no avail. 

The day turned out to be real pretty so we left enough time to make a run by Cumberland Island and see some of the wild horses lazing in the sun, then we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Cool Morning Leads to Hot Fishing

 

It was kinda "cool" this morning when I launched - my truck thermometer showed 34 degrees, but there was almost no wind and the skies were clear. I had met Bob Kossman down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early and I while I was waiting on Bob to walk up I talked to two bank fishermen and they said they'd already picked up a few Seatrout on artificial grubs they were tossing. But Bob and I made the run up the Nassau River, around to some docks, and began pitching live shrimp on jigs. We fished it pretty good, had just a nibble or two, but no takers, so we moved back down the Nassau and fished some exposed oysters on the very last of an outgoing tide.  Bob did hookup and land one nice sized Whiting to "knock the skunk off". 

Our next stop was at some docks at Seymore's Pointe. We weren't getting any real bites until all at once, BAM! Bob had a strong hookup and  it was Fish On! This fish was ripping drag and had no plans of coming to the boat, but Bob kept the pressure on and eventually subdued and landed a big 22" Black "puppy" Drum, boy what a fish, and boy what a battle!

We moved down a dock or two and began pitching up under an old decrepit dock and soon we were catching an landing a good handful of feisty Redfish, one of which was of keeper size. I think every single fish came out of a 2 square foot spot!

After making the run down the Nassau to Broward Island we set up and began fishing our jigs up to the bank, letting them go to the bottom then as the current took them deeper, BAM! Hookup. Bob found a "honey hole" and landed a few keeper sized Seatarout to garner his Amelia Island Back Country Slam of Redfish, Black Drum, and Seatrout.  We fished further South for a bit and found another school of the Seatrout. These were small but fun to catch so as we wrapped it up, we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Dave's Day Out

 

We had a high tide today when I met Roger Pickett and his fishing partner David. I  met them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp and we headed over to the outside of Tiger Island and set up to fish Cajun Thunder float rigs with live shrimp, up by the marsh grass. Both anglers were making excellent casts as we worked the bank, but we had no takers. We then ran around and fished some marsh in Soap Creek to no avail. The tide was still up when we worked our way over into Lanceford Creek and again, no fish! I was beginning to wonder. 

After making a short run back to Eagans Creek, the tide had fallen a bit so we switched to jigs and shrimp and with the lower tide, this did the trick. David had a strong hookup and worked to the boat a nice feisty Redfish. He picked up another or two, then we had a Black Drum bite and Roger brought it to the boat - a keeper. We continued to fish that dock as the tide drop and did pretty good, catching feisty Reds, a couple of the "puppy" Drum, and Roger added a Seatrout to the mix. When things slowed we moved around to the other side and the move paid off. The duo landed a couple of the smaller Redfish, then David reeled in a keeper. Then he had a strong hookup and, Fish On! We could tell this fish was big - the drag was ripping and it was hanging on the bottom. But David was up to the challenge and subdued the fish and landed a big 23"  6lb+ Drum, boy what a fish!

We tried another dock for just a bit, then made the long run over to Bell River and up to some docks.
  We stayed with the jigs and shrimp and had a good flurry of Seatrout catches, all in the 14" range. When we ran low on bait we tried some artificial jigs and they caught fish too. Although we didn't get any Trout keepers, Roger and Dave each had an Amelia Island Back Country Slam of Redfish, Seatrout and Black Drum so we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.