Oversized Red and Plenty of Trout

 I was back to work today when I met Shawn Boggs and his daughters Mattie and Addison and their friend
Carlson down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. The weather stayed nice all morning, except that last hour got kinda hot! We ran up the intracoastal, then up the Back River and around to Pumpkin Hill where set up with float rigs and mud minnows, drifting them with the current on a high and incoming tide. We did a few drifts and had a couple of small bites then Mattie had a strong one - she caught up to her float and let the circle hook set and Fish On! She played it expertly to the boat and landed a nice keeper sized Seatrout for photo and release All fish caught today were released. 

Carlson followed her fish up with a big one! He had gone up to the bank and was drifting within a few feet of the grass and when ti was adjacent to that first island, BAM! That drag was ripping! Carlson kept the pressure on, worked it in, let it run, worked it in, and eventually landed a big Oversized 28.5" Redfish, boy what a fish. We moved around the point and worked that edge and picked up another Trout or two, then moved down to a grassy island where Addison patiently brought the first Flounder to the boat. 

Seymore's Pointe where we fished a large drainage and had a short flurry of Mangrove Snapper caught.
All were short of the 10", but it was nice to see a handful caught.  We ran thru Horsehead and over to Poteat Point where we stuck with the float rigs on an outgoing tide. These anglers caught a couple of Seatrout with at least one being well above the keeper sized limit. We finished the day back in Jackstaff, fishing with jigs and here we had another keeper sized Flounder caught, and a couple of big (17-18.34") Seatrout caught. All had caught fish, we had some big ones, and so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Boys Will Be Boys

We wrapped the week up fishing on a beautiful day! I had met my cousin Jim Garner, his brother in law Chipper and Chipper's kids Carter and Addie down at Sawpit Creek early this morning and after a quick safety orientation, we made our way up the intracoastal, all the way to Poteat Point where we went with float rigs and minnows and live shrimp. Those shrimp were almost worthless. I had thought I'd "mix it up" with some shrimp - I haven't fished with them in weeks, and now I knew why - the baitstealers had a field day. When later, I mentioned it to my wife she said (you dummy), "even I know you shouldn't be using shrimp this time of year". I could see she was thinking the "you dummy". 

Jim "knocked the skunk off" with a Seatrout catch and from then on all four anglers were getting bitesand fish. Jim and Addie found a nice Trout hole off the stern but Carter slipped in there a couple of times to get fish. Chipper was going up current from the bow and hooked and landed the only Redfish of the day. Addie put the first keeper Trout in the boat, a nice 17" fish.  We then came back to Jackstaff and fished a sand bar and I was expecting big things - we caught Trout there yesterday, but other than a feisty Black "puppy" Drum that Chipper caught,  we didn't get much else.. After running thru Horsehead and down to Twin Creeks we fished the outflow with jigs and the minnows and shrimp, again, to no avail. As there was a lull in the fish catching, we initiated the GPK Challenge - the biggest fish caught from now on would take home the prize! That thing changed hands five times!

The boys were trying hard to suppress their competitiveness, but Chipper set the standard quickly when he boated a 11.75" Seatrout. The GPK changed hands when Jim put a 12.5" Flounder in the boat, then later down at Broward Island Carter had a big hookup - he played the fish expertly and brought to the net a big 17" Flounder - the fish went into the box and the GPK went smoothly into his pocket! But it wasn't there long! His Uncle Jim was fishing off the stern, deep with a jigs and minnow and when he felt a strong thump and after a good hookset, he had a big Fish On!  Jim worked it in patiently and landed a big Oversized 20" Seatrout, boy what a fish! We were all thinking that that would surely take the prize but we were mistaken!

Our final stop was at Pumpkin Hill. They picked up a couple of smaller Trout then Carter tangled with a
nice Black Tip Shark and had him to the boat before the leader snapped, then it was Chipper's turn to battle a big fish. He worked it in, let it run, worked it closer, let it run, then brought to the net another Black Tip Shark that measured to the fork at 21.5" and the GPK was his! The back story was that while that Shark fight was going on, and the guys were competing for the GPK, the youngest angler - Addie was quietly reeling in another keeper Trout to take home to feed the family! We had caught a bunch of fish during the trip and had a few in the box and so as we headed back to the ramp, we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

We Stayed Busy Catching

 

I wrapped my week up fishing out of Sawpit Creek this morning. I had met Kyle Townsend, his girlfriend Mica, and his sister Olivia early and after making our way up the intracoastal and dipping in to Jackstaff we began to toss jigs and mud minnows to a small oyster lined drainage. We had a few nibbles but no takers so we crossed the creek and fished an exposed point, but again, no takers. The tide was right at dead low and I think that was making for some slow fishing. But as we worked up along an edge Olivia "knocked the skunk off" when she hooked up and landed a feisty Mangrove Snapper. Then it was Mica's turn - she had her rod bend over and after she set the hook, she got a few drag ripping pulls - Mica played it perfectly and soon boated a nice Jack Crevalle. 

We then made the run thru Horsehead and down to Broward Island to catch the first of an incoming
tide. That first area didn't produce so we moved down the way to fish a drainage and this did the trick. Kyle's first cast produced a hungry Seatrout and from then on we were getting bites and fish. All three anglers had their share of catches - small but feisty Redfish, Seatrout and Flounder. Kyle stepped into the role of "Flounder Man" - he had a good handful of them, mostly small but then we had a good one to the boat and I missed it with the net and it came off-Ouch! But Kyle was not to be deterred - he went back to the same spot and had a good hookup and this time we netted a good 16" keeper sized Flounder. 

Our next stop was up at Pumpkin Hill, switching to float rigs and the minnows. I was getting a little nervous - I was counting on the spot to pay off but the first few drifts didn't produce. But then Kyle, after going way long with a drift, had a hookup - he brought it patiently to the boat and landed an Oversized 19.75" Seatrout, boy what a fish! They continued to get smaller fish -small Trout, small Reds, and they also tangled with Ladyfish, then after Olivia had drifted by a small "cove" a dozen time, she had the hookup and Fish On! Olivia fought it to the boat, keeping that pressure on and after a few rips of the drag, she brought to the net a nice 21" Slot Redfish. We finished up the day around the corner where they caught more Seatrout, Redfish and Ladyfish. Those last few stops produced good action, we had a couple of nice fish in the box and so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Most of The Trout were Bigger

 

I kicked off the week fishing with Craig and Christina Jones this morning and we were in luck! The skies had a bit of cloud cover and with a slight breeze it was a very pleasant fishing day. We met down at Sawpit Creek boat ramp and with a tide that was already high and still coming in, we made the run up the intracoastal, then up Back River, skirting Black Hammock with a final stop up at Pumpkin Hill. The plan was to drift float rigs and mud minnows along the flooding marsh line. It didn't take long - just as few drifts, and BAM! Craig had a hookup that put a good bend in his rod. He played it perfectly and was bringing to the boat when Christina yelled, Fish On! We had a double! Craig his fish to the net- a hard fighting Jack Crevalle and shortly after Christina netted a hungry Seatrout. That was a good start! We had a few bites after that then we moved around the corner and drifted that side and had few bites. But we didn't have any takers until we floated with the current, tossing to the grass. Christina hooked up and landed a very nice 17" Flounder, then she caught an Oversized 19.5" Seatrout, then a keeper sized 17" Seatrout. 

When the tide hit the top we made a run back to Seymore's Pointe and fished a large drainage, to no avail, then we ran thru Horsehead and over to Poteat Point where we had a couple of big bites - one we felt sure was a Redfish when we saw his huge tail during a short-lived fight - he got up in the oysters and broke it off, ouch! Back around at Jackstaff we fished another point and here Christina put another keeper sized Seatrout in the boat. We fished back at the Nassau River - Twin Creeks and down at Spanish Drop, caught a couple of fish, then finished the day at a new spot where Christina got her "Amelia Island Back Country Slam" - she caught a small but feisty Redfish. We had some great weather, 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.

The Flounder Got Bigger

 Our first stop produced 3 keeper fish! I had met Cindy Gray who was hosting two of her grandsons, Alex and Henry, for a fishing trip this morning. We met down at Sawpit Creek early and made the run up the intracoastal then in to Jackstaff to make our first stop at a overflow - the tide was dropping and as we fished the mud flat began to appear. The anglers were tossing mud minnows on a  jig and Cindy kicked it off when she hooked up and landed a keeper sized Flounder. She then battled a hard fighting Jack Crevalle to the boat. (We tossed that back). We worked around a point and Henry got on the board when he hooked and landed another keeper sized Flounder, just a big bigger than his grandmothers. Before we left we moved back to our original position and here, fishing deep, Cindy hooked up and expertly played to the net a nice fat keeper Seatrout. 3 in the box at the first spot - not bad!

We ran thru Horsehead and then down the Nassau River with plans to hit the drainages as the tide ran out, and it paid off. We caught a few smaller Flounder then it was Alex's time to get on the board. He felt a bump, set the hook and Fish ON!  He played it expertly to the boat and landed the biggest Flounder of the day, one that measured right at 18" - a fish that put him in a tie for 3rd place in the Anglers Mark 2026 Bragging Rights Tournament-Flounder Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings). Henry had seen a Shark cruising the bank, put his bait out in front of it and BAM! That fish was ripping drag - it took Henry from the stern to the bow and from the starboard side then the port and then it headed south and BAP, fish off! Those Bonnetheads sometimes thumb their noses at our light tackle. 

There was a lull in the catching so we initiated the "GPK" challenge for the "first Redfish caught" and
that did the trick - Alex hooked up and landed a small but feisty Redfish. We ran down to Broward Island and fished the last of an outgoing tide, to no avail, then finished up at Pumpkin Hill. For the  last two days the tide has been extremely low and for the first time I've seen some coral like grass about 20' out from the bank -no wonder we get Seatrout there on high and incoming tides! We worked along that edge thinking surely there would be some fish along there and sure enough, BAM! Alex's drag was ripping! He played it perfectly - it rolled and we knew it was a Redfish - he worked it in and netted a nice 21" Slot Redfish. We had a good box full of fish, the weather had been beautiful and so as we headed back to the ramp we countedit as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Bragging Rights Times Two

 Where have the fishing reports been? It's kinda hard to write reports when the fish "catching" has been almost non-existent! I fished four trips Monday thru Wednesday - we caught a few - Jacks, and Catfish, and Ladyfish, and maybe a few small Trout and small Flounder. Yesterday morning we did get into some Redfish and caught about 8 of them, but the biggest one was about 14"!

But today was a highlight, hence the report! I had met brothers Bob Miller and Jim Bergert down at Sawpit Creek boat ramp early and we made a good run up the intracoastal to make our first stop at Poteat Point. The tide had been going out for about an hour so we had time to drift the floats and it paid off. After getting a couple of good bites, Bob had gone up against the grass with a good cast and as it drifted along with the current, BAM! That float was gone! Bob quickly tightened up the slack and let the circle hook set and the fight was on. The big fish went deep, then came to the surface and rolled and we knew it was a big Redfish. Bob kept the pressure on and when the fish headed for the grass - it got in in for a just a bit- Bob gently teased it out and fought it to the net and landed a thick 22.75" Slot Redfish- the Big Fish Skunk was off!

We worked up along the bank, tossing forward and with Jim on the bow, he had gone up to a point of grass and was letting his bait drift back (we were alternating between live shrimp and mud minnows) and he had his float disappear. Those earlier bites we'd had were good practice because Jim caught up to it quickly and it was his turn to have a big fish on! I almost thought it was a big Gar fish when I saw it flash in the water, long and fat, but as he worked it to the net I saw it was huge Seatrout. He successfully landed it and it measured right at 22.75", the biggest Trout of the year and it placed Jim squarely in first place in the Anglers Mark 2026 Bragging Rights Tournament-Seatrout category. (Scroll down the right side of this report for standings).

But Jim wasn't finished. Just minutes later he had another hookup - he played it perfectly and soon
brought to the net a 21.75" Seatrout, good enough for 2nd Place in the Bragging Rights Tournament. Boy those were some nice fish! We hit a number of other spots for the rest of the morning - caught some small Reds, small Trout, tangled with Ladyfish, and caught the first Mangrove Snapper of the year (it measured about 8") which was a highlight for me! Then we called it day and as we headed back to the dock, we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

A Fish So Big It Warranted A New Bragging Rights Category

 I knew that the Bragging Rights standings couldn't hold - we've had some big fish caught this year but
none of the Categories were headed by sizes that usually win for the year so I knew that sooner or later we'd get a big one. But first, we had a big one caught that I've never categorized - the big Black Drum. I think I've left it out because we could fish for those monsters in April and May and get 40,50, 60 pounders which would be tough to beat. But today we did get a 16 pound drum on my size 1000 reel and boy was it a battle!

I had met Fred and Chad Wammock up at Old Town Bait and Tackle early and we made along run up the Bell River to fish a deep bend with jigs and live shrimp on the last of an outgoing tide. I was looking for Seatrout and the spot didn't disappoint - the duo caught a good handful of them, one of which was of keeper size. . They also picked up a couple of Catfish so when Fred had a strong bite that was digging deep hard I thought for sure it was just going to be a massive Catfish, dang it. Fred stayed with it and patiently wore the big fish out and eventually worked it up where we saw it was a huge Black Drum - so big that we couldn't even call it a "puppy" Drum! It measured 31" and weighed 16lbs on my Boga. I created a "Special Appearance" on my Anglers Mark 2026 Bragging Rights Board just for this fish! Scroll down the right side of this report for standings. 

We then made our way around to the Jolley River and fished the MOA, but didn't have much luck there. After crossing over to JC's spot we did better. Much better. We hadn't fished the exposed shell long when it was Chad's turn to have the big battle. This fish was ripping line and when it rolled a couple of times we new it was a big Redfish and boy was it. Chad stayed with it and worked it in patiently and soon landed a 32.25" Redfish, which tops the Bragging Rights Board for Redfish caught this year. 

We fished down at the Jolley Bank where the duo picked up another keeper Trout and a keeper Black "puppy" Drum. After dropping back and fishing Tyger Point with floats and getting another Trout or two, we ended the day back at Tyger logs where they topped off the day by catching a hungry Flounder for a Grande Slam - Seatrout, Redfish, Black Drum, and Flounder. We had a beautiful day, had s few fish in the box, had caught some big fish for memories and so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Lady's Rule The Flounder Bragging Rights Board

 Looks like we've got Chamber of Commerce weather this week -clear, cool, and sunny with only a slight breeze in the mornings. Today I met Alex and Laura Winter down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp (Goffinsville Park is closed) and we ran up the Nassau River to Seymore's Point with a plan to fish some dock pilings on the first of an incoming tide. It wasn't a good plan. I'm not sure if we even got a legitimate nibble on our jigs and live shrimp. We then ran down to Broward Island to catch the first of the incoming there and were greeted by the Bald Eagles who kept a watchful eye over our fishing efforts. I think I heard them laughing - we didn't get a bite until Alex finally "knocked the skunk off" when he hooked up and expertly played to the net a feisty Redfish. 

We then made our way back down the river to Spanish Drop and switched to float rigs and on the first drift BAM! Laura had a hookup. She worked it in patiently and as it came to the net we saw that it was a big Flounder - it measured right at 18" and big enough to move Laura into the Anglers Mark 2026 Bragging Rights Tournament-Flounder category. The sole occupants of that category are lady anglers! We had a good flurry of bites there - Laura picked up a 17" Seatrout and a couple of Ladyfish while Alex added a 16" Trout and battled to the boat a big 4' Bonnethead Shark. We finished up back at Pumpkin Hill drifting the floats then we headed back to the ramp, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

March Madness Down To The Wire

 We had a beautiful morning today to kick off the week! I met David Vice and Robert Stettner up at Old
Town Bait and Tackle on a tide that had just hit high - the sun was up, we had clear skies, and only a slight breeze to keep the gnats off. After easing out of Eagans we made a run over to the outside of Tyger and fished a marsh line with float rigs and live shrimp as the tide started out. These anglers were getting good casts and good drifts but the fish didn't cooperate. We ran out and around and up to the Jolley and fished the "bank" and I think it was Roberts first cast when he had his float disappear and Fish On!  Robert worked it to the boat and landed a hungry Seatrout to "knock the skunk off".  We worked that bank, moved up to Tyger Cut and fished it with the floats, had just a nibble or two, then moved on up to Snook Creek where we eased inside and tossed jigs for a bit. 

Our next stop was around at Bell River where we fished some docks with the jigs and here Robert got hot - he caught and landed a feisty Black "puppy" Drum, a Sheepshead, and a Seabass. We worked up the river, pitching the jigs and David got on the board when he hooked and expertly played a couple of Seatrout. We made our way back towards Amelia, ran up Lanceford and into Soap and went back to the floats. David had pitched up behind an oyster island and as it drifted back it went under and David hooked it up. We were down to the wire in the "fish catch total" as March is wrapping up! As we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be out on the water and fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Came for the Catching

 I hope everyone had a great and Merry Christmas!  I was back fishing today with William and Dara
Blalock and boy what a crazy morning it was! Old Town Bait had run out of shrimp just as a I was pulling up so I made my way back south to Amelia Island Bait and Tackle and it seemed everyone with a boat was going fishing today - it was a zoo! But the staff at AIBT handled it with skilled efficiency - I was back on the road and back to Old Town to launch and meet the Blalock's. We eased out of Eagans Creek and made a run all the way up the Bell River where we pulled up at some docks and fished jigs and live shrimp deep on he first of an incoming tide. The duo had to weed thru the baitstealers but they put a good handful of Seatrout in the boat - most all were right at 14".  William hooked up and landed a feisty Sheepshead around one dock. We bounced down the docks and caught more Seatrout and one of them was of keeper sized, photographed and released.

We then motored over into the Jolley River and fished some still exposed shell beds with the jigs, then moved down to Tyger Cut and switched to floats. Both spots didn't produce a bite. On around the outside of Tyger, we worked the bank with jigs, William on the bow tossing forward while Dara worked the stern, fishing backwards and as Dara said, "she came for the catching" - she landed a good handful of Seatrout and an "almost legal" Flounder. 

We fished over at Bell River with the floats, Soap Creek with the floats where William landed the only Trout, then wrapped things up around the corner in Lanceford. The sun had shone all day, it had warmed nicely, and we had some good Trout action so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Christmas Came Early

 After a howling windy day yesterday, today was "picture perfect" - zero winds, and sunshine when I met William and Dara Blalock out at Goffinsivlle Park. The sun had just come up, the tide had started in about an hour earlier, so we made short run up the Nassau River to try our luck with jigs and live shrimp at Broward Island. These two anglers are always getting good casts and today was  no exception - they were tossing their jigs baited with live shrimp to the bank and letting that incoming current bounce the bati down the river bottom, and it paid off!  Dara hooked up off the stern and expertly reeled in a hungry Seatrout - the skunk was off!  We worked along the bank for a bit and picked up a handful of Trout, two of which were of keeper size. We moved down to the other end, fished under the Eagles, and picked up another Trout or two, and  one feisty Sheepshead.

Our next stop was way up the river where we found a small creek to dip into and work a shallow bank. Right off, Dara hooked up and landed the first Redfish of the day, then William went in behind a tree hanging over the creek and BAM! He hooked up, then Dara hooked up, we had a "double". They both landed Redfish. We worked along and had another Double hookup or two, then they landed a few Slot sized Reds, then we hit another spot where they put more feisty Reds in the boat It was worth the run  up there!

Back down at the mouth of Pumpkin Hill we switched to float rigs and drifted the bank, on each side of the point, but got not much more than a nibble. Back down the Nassau and around to Seymore's Pointe -we set up on a large drainage and drifted the floats. The tide was just trying to start out and it was slow for a bit, then the duo caught a few feisty Redfish. Then Dara had strong bite and this one was ripping drag. I was worried that it would dig down deep across a visible oyster bed in front of us but she worked it across and landed a bulky 23" Slot Red.  William got in on the action when he battled to the boat a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum. We had made a cast and dropped the rod into a rod holder when William yelled "fish" - that rod was bent over and ripping drag. Dara scooped it up and battled another 23" Slot Red to the net. Boy what a beautiful day, and we topped it off with an early Christmas present of a box full of good eating fish, so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.  

Zero to Sixty in about an Hour

 Finally, back to work today! And boy what a pretty day it was - sunshine, a bit cool, and no wind, water like glass! I met Frank and Joanne Wytiaz down at Sawpit Creek boat ramp this morning and we proceeded up the intracoastal, turned into the Nassau, and made a short run up to Spanish Drop where we started tossing jigs and live shrimp on a tide that still had a couple of hours of going out. That water was already way down- we could see banks of oysters that I haven't seen in a while, and I was expecting good fishing to kick things off. Boy was I wrong! We worked that first bank and only had a few nibbles, then moved up to a drainage and worked it - as we approached fish "blew out" of there - big wakes and I thought for sure we'd get a couple, but no, not a bite. We then moved up to Twin Creeks and worked that drainage as the tide began to hit bottom and finally Joanne "knocked the skunk off" with a nice feisty Redfish catch. 

We then ran further up the Nassau and fished some docks -the tide was still going out here - and fishing deeper, it paid off. The duo began to get Seatrout catches, one after the other, most in the 14" range, but every once in a while they would get a "keeper" sized Trout. We probably could have stayed there and caught fish but the tide had changed and had started back in and I had a spot in mind so we pulled up and made a short run. We backed the stern up to some pilings and began pitching to them and BAM! Fish On! Joanne had a good fish that was putting up a fight - she played it patiently and soon landed a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum. And from then it was a flurry of action, catching those puppy Drum. A couple were up in the 20" size and about to lose their stripes. We ended up with 6 keeper Drum at that spot, and tossed back a handful of smaller ones.

Down the River we went to fish some structure on the first of an incoming tide. Joanne had the first
hookup but as the fish ripped drag, off it came. But Frank went in there and in short order had the strong hookup -he battled it expertly, letting it run, working it in, letting it run, and then he worked to the net a nice 25" Slot Redfish. We dropped back a little bit and continued ot fish and the duo hauled in another keeper sized Trout, another huge Black Drum, a couple of small but feisty Redfish, a nice keeper sized Sheepshead, and a small Flounder. We had started slow but boy did things take off when that tide changed, so as we headed back to the ramp with a big box of fish we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Weeding Thru Trout For Elusive Redfish

 

I was back to work today after a fine Thanksgiving break - I met Jeff and Ande DeNight and their friend Dan down at Sawpit Creek boat ramp early. It was cool and cloudy, a little windier than I expected, but that died down a bit as we began to fish. We had run up the intracoastal, then up Back River and over to the Nassau where we set up on a point to drift float rigs on a tide that was almost high. Dan was first in the water and it paid off with a nice Seatrout catch. Jeff followed that up with another Trout catch and we were off to a good start!  We drifted that area, then pulled up and fished down another stretch - had some bites, then we picked up and moved.

Back at Seymore's Pointe we stuck with floats and drifted with an outgoing tide and this did the trick. All three anglers began to get Seatrout. Ande joined in and found a "hot spot" and picked up a good handful of those Trout. The trio weeded thru some small ones but every once in a while we'd get a "keeper" sized fish, the biggest being right at 17".  After running thru Horsehead and over to Poteat Point we worked a bank and here Dan, fishing off the stern, caught another couple of Seatrout. Jeff and Ande were making excellent casts forward into a pocket and getting good drifts but they had no takers. Back over in Jackstaff we switched to jigs and fished deep. Jeff had the hot rod, picking up another couple of Trout. 

We then ran back thru Horsehead, back down to Back River, fished a bank with the floats again, then ended our day back down the Nassau fishing the drainages with jigs and the live shrimp. Ande stayed with the float and got a Trout at Twin Creeks. We moved down to another drain and within a minute Jeff yelled, "Fish On" - his drag was ripping as the big fish boiled up. He handed the rod off to Ande to let her feel a big fish and she played the fish expertly, working it in, letting it run, working it in, until she brought to the net a "Tournament sized" bulky 26.5" Redfish, boy what a fish! We had good action with the Trout, some nice fish in the box, and a Big Fish battle so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Three Doubles

 The beautiful days just keep coming! And good fishing, too!  Today I ran over to Oyster Bay to pick up David Vice and his neighbor and friend David Williamson as the sun was coming up. The tide was high and coming in - we eased out of their marina and ran back down Lanceford and up the Bell to set up on a point of grass with plans to toss float rigs and live shrimp. There wasn't much current! We did get some drifts but they were slow, but we did get a few bites and caught a couple of small Seatrout. That was the story for the next couple of hours - small Trout

After running thru Tyger and around to the outside of Tyger we again tossed the float rigs and picked up another Trout or two, then a feisty Redfish. We made our way over to the Jolley River and worked the "bank" with the floats and caught a slimy Needlefish and a Bluefish. Further up the Jolley, as the tide started out, things picked up a bit. If we could have kept all the 14" Trout we caught we might have needed a bigger live well! But finally David W. hooked and landed a couple of keeper fish. 

Continuing on around thru the Jolley and into the Bell we eased up between two docks and switched to jigs and shrimp. David W. was on the stern, David V. was on the bow, tossing up close to the bank and letting it bounce down the bottom with the current and this paid off - there were at least three times when we had  "double" hookup - both anglers had fish on. David W. was going up to close to the bank and hooked and landed a few feisty Redfish, then he and David V. teamed up on the Seatrout, and they seemed to get bigger - we had a few that measured to 17". They slowly put a good box of fish together for dinner tonight.

After fishing a couple of places back near Oyster Bay we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Trout Guy and Redfish Guy

 Another beautiful day this morning, albeit a bit foggy -I had to run slow up the Back River to get to our first stop at Pumpkin Hill after meeting Walter Mann and his fishing buddy David down at Sawpit Creek boat ramp. But when we arrived at Pumpkin it was clear enough to fish so we began drifting float rigs with live shrimp on a tide that still had a couple of hours of coming in. David knocked the skunk off AND the rust off when he hooked up and landed the first fish of the day - a hungry Seatrout. And for the next hour the duo caught Trout - we lost count - with the biggest being right at 14.75".  We moved around to three or four places, catching Trout. They were fun to catch but we had none in the box, so we moved on.

Our next stop was back at Seymore's Pointe and this paid off. David was fishing off the stern and getting a good drift and he found a good Seatrout "honey hole" and boated a good handful of them with two of them being of keeper size. Walter was fishing off the bow and when he drifted by a grassy point he could almost count on Fish On!  His fish were feisty Redfish, the biggest being around 17" - fun to catch - one bent the stem of the float - but no keepers. 

We fished Littlefield for a bit, with no takers, then we then moved down the Nassau, stopped at Twin
Creeks and picked up one Trout on the float, then moved down to a large drainage and went back to jigs. The clock was ticking when Walter went up to some still covered oysters and when the fish hit we knew it was big - that drag was ripping!  It brought Walter from the bow back to the stern then dug deep and Walter had to be patient as he slowly worked it in, finally landing a bulky 25.5" Slot Redfish, boy what fish. David went to the same area with an excellent cast, had a strong take that ripped drag, but threw the  hook!  He went back and after a couple of casts had another good bite and Fish On!  David worked it in experlty and landed his first Redfish of the day and wrap things up. 

The day had turned out beautiful - it went from foggy to sunny, cool to comfortable, and we had a few good fish in the boat so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Cool Spell Brings Good Fishing

 Cool weather this week had us rescheduling trips for later in the month, but today we just waited to mid morning to meet up at Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp. After we got Mickey and Brandi Kelliher settled on the boat we eased down the creek to make our first stop at some dock pilings on a tide that had been coming in for a couple of hours. The move paid off - almost immediately Mickey was getting bites. He hooked up and expertly pulled a nice keeper sized Seatrout out from under a dock, then he had a subtle nibble, a hookup, and battled a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum to the net. We fished that spot for a bit and caught a few more Trout,  two of which were of keeper size, then we moved around to the other side and caught a couple of Redfish, one of which was just in the Slot.

Our next stop was over in Lanceford, then in to Soap Creek where we switched to float rigs. Mickey found that he could "drift long" and as his float got to the tail end of a grassy island, BAM! He'd get a hookup. After getting a few Trout there, we made a run back around to Tyger Island and fished the logs. First cast with a jig and BOOM! We had a hookup. This one ripped a bit of drag but as Mickey got it to the net we saw it was just "feisty" for a Redfish. After working the island for just a few minutes, we made the run back out of Tyger, headed northwest and eased up to the outside of Tyger and stayed with the jigs. We had no real bites, but we did blow out a nice sized Redfish laying on a point of grass. 

On up into the Jolley River we found a point to fish that had a submerged oyster bar out from it and here Mickey got hot catching small but hungry Seatrout. He even tricked Brandi into catching one, after making an excellent cast he asked her to hold the rod while he cleaned his glasses and  she had a hookup, and patiently brought another Trout to the boat. We fished further up into the Jolley, just past Snook Creek, then we headed back to the ramp. It had been clear, cool, but sunny and  we had some nice fish in the box so we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

What a Week! And a Great Day to Wrap It Up!

 Eight trips in six days will wear an old angler out! I finished up a long week of fishing and boating when I
met Jason Ash and his young son Anthony down at Sawpit Creek early this morning. It was Anthony's first trip with me, but not his first "saltwater" trip - he'd evidently fished in the Keys earlier. But he was out with his dad here at Amelia Island so we hoped to make the best of it, and boy did we! After running up the intracoastal and turning up the Nassau we made our first stop at a large drainage and began throwing jigs and live shrimp up current -the tide had been coming in a few hours. We didn't get much action so we moved down the Nassau and here the duo hooked up and brought to the boat a couple of hungry Seatrout and then a feisty Redfish. Skunk off the boat! We switched to floats and drifted those and got a few more Trout. Anthony caught on real quick to keeping is bail open, his hand a ready, and "slapping it shut" and reeling like crazy when the float went under!

Our next stop was down at Pumpkin Hill, again drifting floats on the last of the incoming tide, and this paid off big. We caught a couple of more Trout, one of keeper size, then, after Jason had switched to a mud minnow as bait, BAM! Big Fish ON!  He fought it off the bank as the drag was ripping and we knew right off that it was a big Red. Hoping for some "blackened fillets", Jason kept that pressure on and worked it slowly in, only to find when he landed it that it was a Big oversized 28.5" Redfish. After that fish it seemed to turn off from all of the commotion, so we moved around the corner and fished that stretch. Again, we got a couple of Trout then, after had gone loooonnnng with a drift, BAM! Another big fish on. Those Redfish fillets were on the back of our mind as he battled this one and once again, we were (somewhat) disappointed when we saw that it was another massive Redfish. This one was a brute that measured right at 30" and weighing over 9 lbs. Boy what a fish. Again, the bite turned off.

We moved BACK around the corner and fished that stretch again and here Anthony was getting a good
drift, saw his float disappear, and he slapped that bail shut and set the hook and, Fish ON! He fought the fish expertly and brought in a nice 18" Seatrout to add to the box and take home for a fish sandwich!  We had caught some good fish today, had a beautiful morning fishing as a father/son fishing team, so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

High Tides Make It Tough

 ..but the Trout did come thru for us this morning. I had met Sam Brown, his father Dennis, and Sam's girlfriend Tanley up at Old Town Bait and Tackle early this morning with a tide that was high and still coming in. It was a beautiful morning as we eased out of Eagans Creek then made our way up and around to the Jolley River where we eased into the "bank" to toss float rigs and live shrimp. 

Each stop we made today we tended to get a Trout, but only one, or maybe two at each location. Dennis had the hot hand early and picked up a few to jump out into a lead but then Tanley began to press him when she caught one deep on a jig over in the Bell River. Back towards Fernandina we were back fishing floats and when Tanley put the biggest Trout of the day in the boat to tie up the standings, Dennis got back in the action and caught a couple to re-assume the lead!

Over in Lanceford Creek the tide had finally started out and after much perseverance, Sam got oni the board with a nice Seatrout catch. That high tide had made it difficult, but we had a beautiful day and we'd put a few fish in the boat so as we headed back to the ramp, we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Bigger Trout Moving In

 

The wind we had yesterday was gone today, boy what a beautiful day to be out fishing!  I met Gene Burk and his fishing buddy Steve Stark down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early - the tide had been going out a couple of hours - and we made our way up the intracoastal, all the way up to Poteat Point where we set up with float rigs and live shrimp. It wasn't "on fire" but we did get a handful of fish - Gene put a keeper sized Seatrout in the boat (released) and then he handily boated a Slot Redfish. Steve got on the board with a hard fighting Bluefish - a big one for here in the backwaters of north Florida.

We then ran thru the marsh of Horsehead and up the Nassau to a point at Back River and stuck with the floats. It started off slow but got fast and furious for a while!  Steve got into a groove tossing to the marsh grass and letting the current take his bait along the edge and BAM! Fish On!  He put a good handful of Redfish in the boat, two of them Slot sized and one of those that measured right at 23".  As we drifted back Gene got in on the action and boated a couple of Reds and hard fighting Jack Crevalle and a small Flounder.

Our next stop was back at Littlefield where we switched to jigs. Just when I thought we were going to get skunked Gene had a good "thump" - he set the hook expertly and worked in a keeper sized (but out of season) Flounder. He went back in and as he got out deep he had a strong take and Big Fish On!  Gene kept the pressure on and expertly played a big 22" Seatrout to the net, boy what a fish! Steve added another big 18" Trout to the catch and they caught one more keeper sized Trout. 

Our final stop, where I had expected to get all our action -fishing some drainages along the Nassau - did'nt pan out. But we had some great weather, some good fishing, and some 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.

Personal Bests and Bragging Rights Entry

 I was back down at Sawpit Creek this morning meeting Dean Jensen and his sons Eli and Tyler early. We headed up the intracoastal then up the Nassau to make our first stop at the Spanish Drop area. The tide had been coming in a few hours so we went with float rigs and live shrimp and mud minnows. The shrimp were getting nibbles as expected but it was Tyler who "knocked the skunk off" when he hooked up and landed a feisty Jack Crevalle off the stern of the boat, caught on a mud minnow. Dean and Eli were using the live shrimp and sure enough, Dean had a strong bite and his line began to rip and Shark On! Dean played it expertly and after a long battle landed a 4' Bonnethead Shark for photo and release.

We fished further up at Twin Creeks, drifting the floats, but didn't have much action so we made the run down to Pumpkin Hill and drifted them there and this did the trick. Tyler hooked up and battled to the boat a feisty Redfish. His dad made the comment, "something bigger next time" but he didn't specify "in the Slot" - Tyler had another strong hookup and this fish was BIG!  He fought the fish for a good long time (the video below has a bunch of minutes edited out) - he worked it in, let it run, worked it in, and eventually brought to the net an Oversized 29.25" Redfish - his personal best! A few minutes later he and his dad had a double hookup - Dean expertly played his to the net - a nice Slot Redfish, and Tyler battled his to the net, a big Jack Crevalle, another personal best.

Around the corner Dean picked up a small Seatrout, then we fished a couple of sets of grassy islands where Eli got on the board with a hard fighting Jack Crevalle catch. We then made a good run back to Horsehead, thru it, and over to Poteat Pointe where we worked the grass line. Nothing much was happening until Dean hooked up - it seemed to be a strange fight-not digging deep like a Redfish, not hunkering down like a Flounder, but big enough to rip some drag. Dean stayed patient with it and slowly worked it up to the surface and we netted a huge 21" Seatrout, boy what fish, and big enough to move into 2nd Place in the Anglers Mark 2025 Bragging Rights Tournament-Seatrout Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings). 

We fished Jackstaff "bank" for a stretch then moved over to a grassy point where the creek has begun to cut thru - we caught a Redfish there yesterday and sure enough, Eli, fishing with a jig, hooked up another nice Redfish. He played it perfectly, letting it run when it wanted to, working it in, and soon landing another nice Slot Redfish. We had some great weather this morning, and 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.