Fourteen and Three Quarter

 Wow! I think today was the prettiest we've had in two months! I had met Dennis Brizzi and Hal O'dell outat the Goffinsville Park boat ramp and I snapped this shot as the sun came up - not a cloud in the sky and only a slight breeze - 50 degree temperature!

We made a short run over to Pumpkin Hill as the tide had just started out and with both anglers tossing float rigs and live shrimp, we worked a marsh bank. Although they were making excellent casts and getting good (albeit slow)drifts, we had not takers. We moved around the corner and tried the same tactic, but to no avail.

After a brief trip down to Broward, we set  up fishing under a pair of majestic Bald Eagles and switched to jigs and the shrimp, fishing on bottom, and this did the trick. Dennis picked up a couple of 14" plus Seatrout then Hal got in on the action and boated  one after the other. I released the anchor on the trolling motor and drifted back, stopping on occasion, and the duo caught Trout - just barely under the limit size - at every stop.  Dennis went close to the bank with a cast and had a stronger hookup, this one pulling drag, and when he brought it to the net we saw that is was a nice feisty Redfish. Just a bit later he did the same thing, further down the island, and BOOM! Another Redfish on. This one measured out in the Slot. (All fish caught today were released).

Our next stop was back at some docks in Nassauville. The tide had dropped and

the oysters were begining to show and I felt sure we'd get some good fish. That's what I get for thinking! Although Dennis put a fe more Trout in the boat, we had no Drum, no Sheepshead, and no Reds.

We moved down to Spanish Drop and fished the exposed shell bank. Dennis landed another Trout and after Hal went to the bank his jig had just hit the water when, BAM! Fish On!  Hal played it patiently and soon landed another nice Redfish. We fished another shell bank up the way, added one more keeper sized Seatrout, then called it a day, another great one to be fishing there at Amelia Island, Florida.  

Wind Blown

 

We already knew that the forecast called for 12-13mph winds but when we got to the boat ramp this morning it was blowing 15-16 and increasing! But brothers Mark, John, and Kevin Adams were game to get out on the water so we made a plan to hit spots where we would be somewhat sheltered.

The first one was  around at Eagans Creek - Mark and Kevin were tossing jigs and live shrimp up current to the bank and John was fishing a slip float out back. Mark had a couple of good bites and had one "ripping drag" for a bit but it thru the hook. Shortly after that Kevin hooked up and landed a hard fighting Black "puppy" Drum. 

We then ran down to Lanceford Creek and up into Soap and set up fishing fixed floats up near the shore. All three anglers were getting good drifts but with the current and a stiff wind, the fish didn't even have time to think about biting a bait as the float rigs blew by.

Our next stop was around on the back side of Black Rock and after fishing a small grassy island to no avail, and battered by the wind, we moved around into some real shelter, boy was it peaceful! With a change in  conditions we picked up some good fish. Mark landed a nice feisty Redfish and then a Trout while Kevin and John tallied some Trout catches. 

We could see rain coming around the corner and that, coupled with a long ride back right into the wind, prompted us to call it a day, and even though the weather was not so great, it was a good day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

The Trout

 Finally, a cool  morning that we had today! On the way to the boat ramp I noticed that the temperature
was in the high 40's which would make for a beautiful day to be out on the water here at Amelia Island, Florida.  I met Clint Davis and his friend Jim and Mary Jo down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and we made a brisk run up the Nassau River to fish some docks at Seymore's Pointe with jigs and live shrimp. The tide had been coming in for 3 hours and I hoped that we could get some fish under that dock but the water was already high and I had "thought wrong".  We fished another dock with only a nibble here and there - other than huge Mantis Shrimp that Mary Jo caught, then we moved on.

Our next stop was down at Twin Creeks, fishing some float rigs on the high and incoming tide. Jim got a good drift down the marsh line and "knocked the skunk off" when he caught and landed a nice hungry Seatrout. We fished there then moved on down to Spanish Drop and fished a bit with the floats and even the jigs, but to no avail. 

After a brief run down to Pumpkin Hill we set up with the wind to our backs

and were able to get perfect drifts and Rule #4 paid off!  All three anglers began to catch fish. Clint put a keeper sized Seatrout in the boat and shortly after Mary Jo had a hookup and, Fish On! She worked it to the boat and had a BIG Trout right......at.....the.....stern.....and......Fish Off!  Ouch! That was a nice fish!  Then was Jim's turn - whatever hit his live shrimp was Big. It ripped drag going south, then Jim slowed it down (or it took a rest), then it took off again, ripping drag, and it kept going taking the hook with it. We'll never know but it was surely a big Redfish. It could have been a shark but we haven't caught a shark in months. Redfish.   We moved won a bit and fished a shallower area and again put a good handful of Trout in the boat. 

After fishing up Pumpkin Hill,  over in Christopher Creek, then over in Jackstaff we finally realized that the water was just too high, so we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida 

We Weathered The Storm

 

After a week of nasty weather as tropical storm Eta crept thru we were finally able to get out today here at Amelia Island. I fished with Rick Cardinal and his son Zac and met them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp. Although we had some skies that were still overcast,  the high winds had dissipated to almost nothing. We eased over to outside of Tiger Island and set up fishing float rigs and live shrimp.  Although we had a bite here and there, we had no takers so we moved across the creek and continued our search. Zac put a handful of bait stealers in the boat  but that was it so we moved on.

After a brief stop in Bell River we made the run over to Lanceford Creek. Rick was drifting a minnow with the current and let his bait drift up next to a small grass patch and BOOM! He had a hookup! Rick played it patiently to the boat and landed a nice Slot Redfish. We moved on around to Soap Creek, stuck with the float rigs, and picked up a couple of hungry Seatrout and a couple of feisty Redfish.

We then made a long run around to and up the Bell River to fish some docks with jigs.  Zac got hot and picked up a couple of Trout, then Rick reeled in a feisty Red and a Mangrove Snapper. But it was Zac who hooked up with the big one. He was fishing fairly deep when he felt a "bump" and set the hook -Fish On! Zac worked it to the boat expertly and landed a nice  22" Slot Redfish.

 After a brief stop in Jolley we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Making It Work

 For those of you that follow this "report", we've had some cranky weather all month - a 'Nor Easter earlyin the month that really blew and for the last few weeks a lot of wind to deal with. On top of that we haven't had any real cold spells so the water temperature as of today was right at 77 degrees up on Lanceford Creek. We're picking up a handful of 14" Seatrout here and there and once in a while a "keeper" fish.

Today I fished with Robert Stetner and his buddy Doug when I picked them up out at the Oyster Bay Marina. We had some clouds in the sky, a sprinkle now and then and a breeze that picked up as the morning went along. Not an ideal weather day but these guys were ready to fish!  While we were in Soap Creek we fished a large marsh run out and quickly knocked the skunk off when Doug put a couple of Seatrout in the boat.

We moved around and fished a spot up Lanceford Creek to no avail, then came back towards Fernandina and fished a grass patch surrounded by submerged oysters. Robert went to the bank with

his first cast and almost immediately his float disappeared and he had a nice hookup. He landed a keeper sized Seatrout. Doug fished the grass patch, letting his float and live shrimp drift up next to it. We both saw the float slowly ease under the surface and Doug had a hookup This fish put up more of a fight than the earlier Trout and sure enough it turned out to be a feisty Redfish. 

After a 10 minute run up the Bell River we fished some dock pilings with jigs and shrimp. Doug put a few Seatrout in the boat, fishing off the bow, while Robert found a feisty Sheepshead and a Trout off the stern. We then buzzed around to the Jolley River and fished Snook Creek and here Robert found the first and only Slot Redfish of the day. 

We had been fishing in a steadily increasing wind and these two anglers were making it work. After fishing briefly on the outside of Tiger for a chance Flounder, we ducked in to behind Tiger and fished the logs. We were out of the wind, the sun was out, but the fish weren't biting! So we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

HUGE Tripletail Caught In The Backwaters of Amelia Island

 As you can see, as the sun rose over Goffinsville Park we were headed for a beautiful day! I had met Bob and Cindy Hice and Steve and Joy Hastings early and we made a quick jump across the river with plans to fish the far bank with float rigs and mud minnows. That first stop, even though these anglers were getting excellent drifts, produced zero bites. We moved further down the Nassau River and fished past Pumpkin Hill and here we did get some false starts with oyster shell catches, but then some real fish! Steve had a strong hookup and had it boat side when a nice fish threw the hook. But he went back in and pulled out a nice hungry Seatrout. 

We moved around the pointe and fished a flooded grassy island and again Steve picked up a couple of Seatrout. There was a little cove that I advised Steve to pitch to the back of, which he did with an excellent cast, but he had not a nibble. When he switched to the other side of the boat Cindy cast to the area, just shy of some sparse grass, and BOOM! Big fish on!  This fish took off and was ripping drag and heading deep and I thought

for sure, "Big Redfish". Then the fish started back to the marsh grass but Cindy kept the pressure on and worked it expertly to the boat. When I saw it flash to the boat I saw a Huge Tripletail! We netted the fish and measured it at 22.25" and weighed it at 9lbs - a fish tied for the biggest Tripletail ever landed on the Anglers Mark and one of only 7 caught on my boat in 16 years! Boy what a fish!

Seymore's Pointe was our next stop and here Steve, and Cyndi and Bob all tangled with and landed some Mangrove Snapper. We ran through Horsehead and fished the mouth of Jackstaff and picked up another Trout or two, then came back to Spanish Drop and fished jigs on the bottom. Bob added another Trout and both Cindy and Steve added Redfish to the catch. Most of the trip Joy acted as assistant videographer, coach and mentor to the other three anglers. With only one "keeper" in the boat we headed in and after that big 'ole Tripletail was cleaned, it filled up a gallon bag which made for another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida 

Slot Reds In The Amelia Island Back Waters

This young couple of anglers really got in to some fish today fishing the back waters of Amelia Island, Florida. I had met Dewey and Jenifer Lee out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp early this morning and we made a quick run over to Pumpkin Hill to fish some grass islands just as the tide started out. Jenifer got things going by catching a hungry Seatrout up near the grass with a float rig and live shrimp. We picked up a couple of more fish, battled with a Bonnethead Shark, then eased around the corner, back in the Nassau.

 The tide was just easing out and with these two anglers making excellent casts, it wasn't long before we caught fish. Dewey put a keeper sized Seatrout in the boat then as we were just about to pick up and leave, he had a strong hookup and, Fish On! The fish was big and ripping drag and immediately took Dewey from the stern of the boat to the bow then it went deep. But Dewey kept the pressure on, worked it patiently, then brought to the net a nice 24" Slot Redfish. We briefly fished Broward Island and Jenifer caught a feisty Redfish there.

 We then ran down the Nassau to Spanish Drop and fished a large double run out. The wind was picking up but we still had some good bites. Jenifer found her own personal fishing hole off the stern and put one Seatrout in the boat after another. She also caught a small Flounder to round out an Amelia Island Back Country Slam of Seatrout, Redfish and Flounder. But she wasn't done yet!

After fishing Twin Creek briefly we moved on. Our next and final stop was up at some docks at Seymore's Pointe and boy was it a good one! The duo put a handful of Mangrove Snapper in the boat, one of which was keeper size, then Jenifer battled a BIG fish that got up in the pilings and broke off. Dewey followed that up with a "Tournament Redfish" catch, one that measured at 26 7/8". He added a keeper sized Black Drum for his Slam, then Jenifer put a Black Drum in the boat for her "Grande Slam", and then she hooked up and expertly played another Slot Redfish to the boat. Before we knew it we had a "mess" of fish and with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Overcast Made It Nice

I fished this morning with Jean Ann (Sofi) Sofinowski and her fishing buddy Carolyn, meeting them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp. We had just a slight breeze and overcast skies which made for some very pleasant fishing. The tide had been going out for a couple of hours so we ran up to the Jolley River and fished the "bank", working float rigs down the bank with live shrimp as the oysters were just beginning to show.  I think the first "demo" cast we had a bite, a hookup, and a Sofi reeled in a feisty Redfish! That's the way to start a trip!

We slowly worked along that bank and both anglers landed  a handful of small but fun to catch Redfish. The Sofi, working off the stern of the boat and we could tell this was a bigger fish - it stayed up close to shore for a bit, and then rolled. But Sofi kept the pressure on, worked it out from the oysters, played it perfectly, and landed a nice 21.5" Slot sized

Redfish. We picked up a few more fish, one of which was a hungry Seatrout with a spot that had no pigment!

Our next stop was on up the Jolley where we switched to jigs and picked up a couple of more fish. The MOA produced nothing so we continued on around to the Bell River and fished some docks. We did get some bites there, but not takers. We were running out of time and wanted to fish the Tiger Logs so we made the run. Carolyn put a Mangrove Snapper in the boat, we landed another Trout, then we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Watermelon or Chocolate Covered Steering Wheel?

What would YOU rather have to eat?  A piece of watermelon or a chocolate covered steering wheel?  That was one of he questions posed by  young Ava as her parents Chanterelle and John and her older sister Alexa fished the back waters of Amelia Island this morning. I think I picked watermelon.

 We had met up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park early this morning and then ran over to Lanceford Creek and then up into Soap Creek to fish an outgoing tide with mud minnows (no shrimp today). It was a gamble - we do it every day - but it turned out not to be such a great one. These anglers were making excellent casts but we didn't get much more than a nibble.

We then bounced around to fish some docks  and this paid off. Chanterelle had put her bait out deep, between two pilings and she finally had a hookup, and, Fish ON!  This fish was pulling some drag and at first wrapped itself around a post. But Chanterelle kept the pressure on and when the fish came around we moved out to deeper water where Chanterelle played it expertly to the boat and landed a nice 21" Slot Sized Redfish.  We fished some more there,  moved up a couple of docks, then moved on.

Our next stop was around at Tiger Island where we had to creep in to the mouth at the last of an outgoing tide.  But we got around to the logs, still fishing jigs, and here had a hookup. Young Alexa reeled it in patiently and landed a keeper sized Flounder.  We then ran around to the Jolley River and fished the oysters as the tide started back in. John got on the board with a Flounder catch and a couple of Redfish catches. Chanterelle had switched to a float rig, drifting it along the edge, and picked up one more keeper sized Flounder.

We had seen dolphin, Rosette Spoonbills, Blue Heron's, Egrets, Osprey and wild horses on Cumberland Island and as we headed in, we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Adding Them Up

We didn't catch anything real big today, but if you added the variety of fish caught, it was almost like a marine biology class!  Flounder, Redfish, Seatrout, Jack Crevalle, Mangrove Snapper, Croaker, Stingray, Catfish...I may have missed one!  Laura and Lane Outler and their son Landon fished with me this morning and after running over to Tiger Island we set up and pitched jigs and live shrimp to the downed logs on the last of an outgoing tide. Laura got things started off early and pulled into a commanding lead on the "fish count" - she caught a keeper sized Flounder and a feisty Redfish.

Then Lane took over and caught a Jack Crevalle and a Croaker. Then all three began to catch fish - Mangrove Snapper, feisty Redfish, more Flounder, another which was of keeper size.  We fished the island thoroughly then ran up to the Jolley and fished the "bank" as the tide was coming in. Lane put a healthy Seatrout in the boat, we caught  a few Croaker that were keepable, then we continued on up the
river.

Our final stop was fishing some cut-bait and that paid off with another Croaker or two, a Stingray caught by Laura, and a Catfish caught by Landon.  The clouds had blocked the sun most of the trip, we had a slight breeze and it made for another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

Chasing the Prize

Back to "work" today, fishing out of Dee Dee Bartels Park where I met Mark and Jen Woodard and their daughter Lilli early this morning. We had a dead low tide so we scooted across the river and dipped into Tiger and fished the logs with jigs and live shrimp. Lilli's casting had improved since last month and she was really getting her bait up to the right spots. But it was her mom Jen who "knocked the skunk off" when she put a hungry Flounder in the boat, then added to that with a small Black "puppy" Drum.

 We fished up and down the bank and the three anglers caught more Drum, some small but feisty Redfish, a couple of Croaker, and a couple of more Flounder, one of which was of keeper size. Then Jen made it an Amelia Island Back Country Slam when she hooked up and landed a keeper sized
Sheepshead.

Our next stop was up at the Jolley where we ran way up the River and stayed with the jigs. We picked up another Redfish and a Whiting before we moved on to Snook Creek where we finally were skunked.

Coming back to the outside of Tiger, we fished some now flooded oysters to no avail, then buzzed thru Tiger and over to Bell where we setup for the final challenge. Lilli was vying for another GPK but it was dad who put the bigger fish-a Seatarout-  in the boat to take home the prize and bragging rights for another year. And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

Mixing It Up

I wrapped a five day stretch up fishing with Bob Howe, meeting him down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early. We ran up the Nassau River, stopped at Spanish Drop and Bob began casting a topwater gurgler with a 7w TFO BVK fly rod. Bob was making excellent casts as we worked along the flooding marsh grass  but he had no takers. We fished up to a large marsh run out, switched to spin rod and live bait and BOOM! He had a hookup. Bob played it perfectly, worked the fish to the back of the boat, let it run, then landed a nice hard fighting Jack Crevalle. We fished down the bank with the spin gear and picked up a couple of high flying Ladyfish.

Our next stop was around at Pumpkin Hill. We stayed with the spin/bait combo and fished the flooding mud flats with live shrimp but had no luck. After fishing a couple of spots at Pumkin, we motored back and into Christopher Creek where Bob switched back to the fly rod, this time using a 8w TFO BVK with a slow sinking shrimp fly pattern. Again, Bob was making excellent casts to the marsh grass and rocks and had one fish chase his fly as he stripped it in, but it just didn't take it.

Our final stop was over at Seymore's Pointe, fishing the rocks for Mangrove Snapper but they just wouldn't cooperate. We tangled briefly with a Ladyfish then moved on around the corner. After fishing an outflow, we called it a day, another great one to be out on the water and fishing hear at Amelia Island, Florida.

Fish'n For Keepers

We had another absolutely beautiful morning today when I met Kip McNeil, his dad Stephan, and their buddy mark up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp. The sun was out, we had a slight breeze, and a high and incoming tide. We made a quick run over to the Jolley River and set up to fish the "bank" with float rigs and live shrimp. Right off, Stephan hooked up and landed a feisty Redfish up near the bank then Mark followed that up with a large Bluefish catch. We worked along the bank and caught a couple of small Seatrout.

After moving further up the river with the tide we stopped and fish a small cove  and Stephan tangles with a hard fighting Bonnethead Shark which he landed expertly. We moved on up the river to Snook Creek and here Mark got in on the Shark action when he too hooked up landed a Bonnethead. As we eased along the bank we had bites here and there, caught a couple, then when Kip spotted a Redfish tailing up near the grass he made a pin point cast, waited patiently for the float to disappear and, BOOM! Fish on!  This fish boiled so we knew it was a Redfish then it went from bow to stern and out to deeper water. But Kip was up to the challenge and worked it to the boat to land a nice 22" Slot sized Redfish.

We came back to the outside of Tiger and fished some flooded oysters, caught a few Trout, then came back up to Tiger and landed a keeper sized Mangrove Snapper, then a whole lot of Trout. Our last stop was back towards Jolley, fishing a marsh run out and here, after Mark had put a winning Stingray in the boat, Stephan found a few more Trout, one of which was of keeper size.  We had a caught a whole bunch of fish and had a few keepers so we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

Not a Breeze

I fished with Doug Mackle, his granddaughter Montana, and her friend Thomas this  morning, meeting them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park early with plans to fish the very last of an incoming tide, then the outgoing. We made a quick run over to the outside of Tiger and set up to fish the flooded marsh grass with float rigs and live shrimp, and minnows. We had pretty good action with Thomas "knocking the skunk" off the boat early with a hungry Seatrout catch.  The trio of anglers caught a good handful of Trout, a nice Jack Crevalle that Montana put in the boat, and a Mangrove Snapper.

We then ran around to Bell River and set up alongside a point as the tide began peak and picked up one more Trout. After running up Lanceford we fished a grassy island to no avail, then dropped back and fished some dock pilings. Thomas landed another Seatrout and a Mangrove Snapper then Doug had the strongest hook up for the day. He played it perfectly but the fish had some smarts and found something to wrap
around on the bottom and, BAP! Fish Off. Ouch.

It was an absolutely beautiful day but there wasn't a lick of breeze out there today!

Our next stop was around in Soap Creek, fishing a large marsh runout where we had no luck. We fished along some oyster bars that were beginning to show, had some good bites, but nothing to show for it. After one final stop outside Tiger where we picked up one more Trout, we called it a day, another great on to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

A Pair of Catfish Bookend Variety at Amelia Island Fishing

I fished with the Mitchell family today, Ryan and Christina and their kids Lucy and Ryan IV, meeting them out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp early with plans to fish the last of an incoming tide in the marshes of Amelia Island. We made a quick run over to Pumpkin Hill and set up alongside a flooding marsh line to drift float rigs and live shrimp along the edge.  Lucy "knocked the skunk off" when she hooked up and landed a feisty Catfish!  This angling family then put a couple of high flying Ladyfish in the boat, then a Croaker, then young Ryan reeled in a nice keeper sized Seatrout (all fish caught
today were released).

 Then, after Ryan Sr had made an excellent cast to get a drift across a flooded oyster flat when, BOOM! Big Fish On!  Ryan kept the pressure on as the fish ripped across the flat for deeper water then handed the rod off to Christina and Ryan IV. They battled it up close to the boat then handed it off to Lucy to finish it off. Lucy worked it patiently to the boat and landed a big 4' Bonnethead Shark!  It was true teamwork and it paid off with a nice fish, some pictures and release.

After a brief break back at Goffinsville, we moved on down to Seymore's Pointe and tossed the float rigs to some rocks and sure enough, the Mangrove Snapper were In House. All four anglers caught and released the sneaky Mangroves, all of which were released. We then fished down at Spanish Drop where Ryan and Lucy battled a Jack Crevalle to the net, then Ryan IV finished it off with a Catfish catch by trolling a minnow out the back. We had a good variety of fish caught which made for a great day of fishing with kids here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Oversized Red Starts The Day

I fished this morning with Paul Clark and his longtime friend Dean, meeting them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We made a long run thru Middle River and around to Pumpkin Hill to set up near some flooded oyster beds on the last of an incoming tide. Both anglers were tossing live shrimp under floats and were getting "nibbles" hear and there, but no takers. I had just switched Paul to a mud minnow when his float disappeared and, BOOM! Float Gone and Fish On!  Paul played it perfectly, worked it out between some crab pot floats and got it into deeper water then the battle ensued.  The big fish went deep a few times, and I was calling "Shark" but when it rolled up behind the boat I was changing my tune!  Paul worked it to the boat patiently and soon landed a 29.75" oversized Redfish - boy what a fish!

We fished around the corner briefly then made the run back to Seymore's Pointe where we set up and caught a good handful of Mangrove Snapper, a few of which were legal.  We then moved down to Spanish Drop and picked up a couple of Flounder, one of which was of keeper sized. I tried the new Athens Drop spot but I guess the guess Tuesday fished it out!  But we had had some action early in the morning, it was a beautiful day, so we counted it as another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

Athens Drop

We nailed down a new spot today, Athens Drop, named after my guest anglers who are visiting from Athens, Georgia. I had met Jeremy Hobbs, his son Judah, and their friend Steven down at the Sawpit creek boat ramp and after making a short run up the Nassau River we stopped to fish Spanish Drop with jigs and live shrimp and mud minnows.  Judah kicked it off with a couple of feisty Redfish catches, a Seatrout catch, and a small Flounder catch. Then both Steven and Jeremy got in on the action, catching a few feisty Reds for themselves. We worked that bank thoroughly, caught a few more Reds, trout and
another small Flounder. Judah had a strong hookup, fought it to the boat patiently, and landed a nice Slot Redfish.

After moving up a bit we fished Twin Creeks where there was tons of bait getting "popped" then continued moving west and eased up along side a large shell bank that dropped off deep to 15' of water, the new "Athens Drop". Boom! Fish On!  a nice Slot Red was brought to the boat. Boom! Fish On!  Another Slot Red. Boom! Another Slot Red, Boom, Another Slot Red - we limited out on the Slot Redfish!  Jeremy decided to try a Gulp fluke and after he had bounced it off an oyster bed he had a strong hookup and brought to the boat a nice 18" Flounder.

We fished Seymore's Pointe and caught a good handful of small Mangrove Snapper, then finished up over in Jackstaff before we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Hot Start Early

Fishing with the Scott family this morning, Justin and Julie and their sons Porter and Noah, aftermeeting them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We had run up the Nassau River and made a quick stop at Spanish Drop to begin pitching live shrimp on jigs to the oysters that were beginning to show on an outgoing tide. It didn't take long before they were hooking up with feisty Redfish. Noah got it started with a catch then Porter, then Justin. We had a handful of those before Porter, on the bow, had a stronger hookup and, Fish ON!  Porter played it perfectly and fought it from the starboard side to the port, wore it out, and landed a nice 21" Slot sized
Redfish.  Julie took over the video duties while I netted the fish!  The fishing was so good we fished a bit of that stretch again and Justin added a keeper sized Flounder to the catch and then Porter put a keeper sized Seatrout in the boat.  Justin landed another keeper Flounder to top the box off.

We ran up to Seymore's Pointe and fished some docks, landed a small Mangrove Snapper then ran down to Pumpkin Hill and fished oysters. We fished the logs at Broward Island, the rocks back at Seymore's Pointe and the shell in Jackstaff but all we could do was feed the nibblers. It had been a good start for the day, we had some wonderful weather, so we still counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.