Big and Bigger

John Allen and his family were making their annual visit to Amelia Island and made a point to get in an Amelia Island back country fishing trip on The Anglers Mark.  John and his son Andrew along with their friend, Gage,  met me at the Atlantic Seafood dock, downtown Fernandina Beach, at 7am, and we headed up the river to make our first stop outside of Tiger Island.  We had live mud-minnows and just a few live shrimp and with the tide high and going out, the anglers were tossing float rigs over some flooded oyster beds.  And got no real bites.  However, after making a second run up to the Jolley River, John was positioned in the stern of the boat and was fishing the bank  with intent, and it paid off because his float soon went under and his rod bent from a big fish, FISH ON!  He patiently played the big Red and after a good battle, we netted a nice 23" Redfish.  We continued to troll along the bank and both Andrew and Gage picked up some hungry Seatrout then Gage had a good hookup and boy was this fish big!  He worked the fish to the boat after a long battle and after netting and pictures, we found the Big Red to measure 26 7/8"!    Andrew later landed some keeper sized Trout to round out the trio's Amelia Island Back Country Slam and with that, we called it a morning.  We met later that afternoon down at the Talbot Island State Park ramp and this time they included John's nephew, Jacob.   There were thunderstorms to our west, so we made quick stop at the Longpointe docks then made a run up to Bubblegum Reef, but had no real bites at either spot.  The storms moved off so we ran down to Broward Island and though the fishing was slow, Andrew did find a hungry Trout.  We slipped in to Christopher Creek and the fishing (and catching) heated up.  Andrew had the hot rod today and boated three nice keeper sized trout while the others picked up some smaller ones.  I was a little surprised that we didn't catch any Red's here, but the Trout were fun to catch.  After another stop or two, we headed in with the sun going down, counting it as another great day to be out on Amelia Island waters!

Fishing Against The Wind

I fished yesterday afternoon and the wind had picked up making fishing very diffucult for my guests, David Jones, his kids Sam, Melissa, and Keith who also had along with them their Uncle Dave.  The weather was actually very nice, sunny with just a few clouds, but very breezy.  We hit Jolly River, fishing float rigs with live shrimp and soon found that trying to toss the wind-catching rigs to the grass line was very tough.  But the anglers persevered and we fished on!  Melissa was the first to hook up and reeled in a hungry Seatrout.  Later at a runout, Uncle Dave found another Seatrout, but the real bites were few and far between.  Sam found a Snapper near the logs of Tiger Island but although we were finally sheltered from the wind, the fish just weren't cooperating.  The good news is that all of the anglers casting improved over the course of the trip and  some new skills were picked up, and the family got to get out on the water together, making the fishing trip a success in some ways.

Birthday Double Slam

Lisa Alexander treated herself and her son Danny to a birthday back country fishing trip on The Anglers Mark yesterday morning.   After meeting up at Atlantic Seafood at 7am, we headed over to Lanceford Creek to fish the first of an outgoing tide.  The oysters were still flooded, but the anglers warmed up on some hungry Snapper around some dock pilings.  We moved on to the Jolley River and after using the Minnkota I-Pilot to "anchor" us at a creek run out, the fish catching heated up.  Both Lisa and Danny began to hookup with hungry Seatrout and feisty Redfish.  They were keeping a tally in a friendly competition and were staying neck and neck and at one time had a "double" with both anglers reeling in fish.  Lisa completed her inshore Slam when she reeled in a nice Flounder, then a little later,  Danny had a strong pull on his line, the fish stayed deep, but Danny worked him and we landed a nice, keeper sized Flounder to give Danny his inshore Slam.  I think they counted a total of 23 fish between the two of them and after a couple of more stops, we called it a day, another great one to be out on Amelia Island waters!

Trout and Reds. Trout and Reds

Quinton White and his daughter Stephanie and son Garrett fished with me this morning, meeting me at the Atlantic Seafood dock at 7am.  We had a high outgoing tide and with mud-minnows in hand, we headed to Jolley River to fish the grass pockets of an oyster lined bank with float rigs.  Our first pass produced a number of bites from hungry Seatrout and feisty Redfish.  We netted a number of fish before Quinton hauled in a keeper sized Trout.   The oysters were showing well above the water line when we made our second pass so this time the anglers were tossing jigs and mud-minnows, letting their baits get down to the bottom, and again, they hooked up with Trout and Reds, Trout and Reds, with a keeper sized Trout thrown in.  We made a run further up into Jolley and although the bite had slowed, the anglers added another keeper Trout, this one the largest.  Our last stop was at Tiger Island where we found one Trout to wrap up the day, another great one to be out on Amelia Island waters!

Flurry of Fish Catch'n

Callie and Keith Oswald were visiting Amelia Island on business, but took the time to get their young sons out on the water by scheduling a back country fishing trip on The Anglers Mark yesterday afternoon.  We headed north out of the Fernandina Beach City marina and with the tide high and just starting out, found a grass patch to fish some live mud minnows dangled under a float rig.  The wind had kicked up for some reason and made it very difficult to cast, so we moved around to Manatee Creek and tried the same.  Although we had a few nibbles, there were no takers, so we headed up to Jolley River.  The current was really flowing now and with the wind gusting, the anglers had a tough time, but they persevered!  Callie got things rolling by picking up a couple of Rays, then she had a good bite and reeled in a Flounder.  This must have opened the doors because all of the anglers began to catch fish.  Both Carter and Landon caught Trout and a whole bunch of Blue Crabs!   If we had wanted to have a Crab boil, we'd have a had enough!  The anglers added more Trout and a few feisty Redfish to round out an Amelia Island Backwater Slam!  The sun was headed down so we headed in, counting it as another great day to be out on Amelia Island waters!

Big Reds Keep on Coming

BJ and Jeanne Craig were taking a break by camping at Little Talbot Island Park and scheduled to meet me at Big Talbot boat ramp for a morning of backcountry fishing on The Anglers Mark this morning.  We headed up the Nassau River on the very last of an outgoing tide and stopped to fish one oyster outcrop that was loaded with moving bait.  BJ had one hookup with a high flying Ladyfish but that was all we found.  Our next stop was at Bubblegum Reef on the very first of an incoming tide.  I set the Minnkota I-Pilot to anchor just north of the structure and we began to toss mud minnows on jigs, letting them sink to the bottom before bumping them back.  It wasn't long before BJ had a strong bite and his rod bent, FISH ON!  He played the fish perfectly and when the big fish made a run at the stucture, he was able to turn him and keep him out in open water.  The fish took BJ from bow to stern and back but we eventually netted this "Tournament Red", a 26 1/4" beast!  We continued to fish the area, picking up a couple of more small Reds and small Trout when once again, FISH ON!  This one was even bigger and bulled down deep, but BJ kept the pressure on and after a couple of trips around the boat, landed a fatter, 26 3/4" Tournament Red!  We fished the spot for a while, then made a run to Broward Island to fish the exposed logs and stumps.  Here, the anglers picked up a couple of more "rat" Reds, a few small Trout and then a keeper sized Trout.  BJ had something on that was big and battled it for a good while, but this one was not to be!  After fishing Jackstaff Creek and picking up a few more fish, we headed in, counting it as another great day to be on Amelia Island waters .
 

Young Angler Big Fish

Anna Intraboona, her husband Wesley and their son Collin had set up an Amelia Island back country fishing trip on The Anglers Mark Saturday morning so we met at the Atlantic Seafood dock at 7am and headed up to the Jolley River to fish the incoming tide.  Collin is just 7 years old but already has the skills to do his own casting and catching!  We began to ease along the oyster lined bank, pitching jigs and mud minnows up to the edge and bumping it back slowly. Collin was the first to hookup with a hungry Seatrout, then Wesley added one, this one big enough to keep.  Wesley had a feisty Redfish and Collin hauled in a Blue Crab then Collin's rod doubled over, FISH ON!  He played the big fish all by himself and after a good battle, we landed a nice, 22" Slot Redfish!    Later, Collin was fishing a mud minnow under a gloat rig and when his float disappeared, he set the hook and had another strong fight with a Slot Redfish, this one measuring at 21"!  The anglers picked up a few more hungry Trout then we headed on up the river to fish on the bottom for Shark.  All of the fresh water from the recent tropical storms must have chased the Sharks out of the back country because we had no bites.  We made our last stop outside of Tiger Island and within a few minutes Wesley and Collin were trying to see who could get in the water fast enough with their baits because the Trout and Ladyfish were in a feeding frenzy!  Collin added another keeper Trout to the box, then we called it a day, another great one to be out on Amelia Island waters!

Father Son Duo Land Big Reds

Garvin and David Smith were visiting from the great state of Alabama and took in an Amelia Island backcountry fishing trip on The Anglers Mark Friday morning. We met down at the south end, just over the bridge at Big Talbot Island Park at 7am and headed up the Nassau River with clear skies, a slight breeze, and a rising tide.  We hit the logs of Broward Island first and although that incoming tide was perfect for the spot, we had no real bites, other than a rare Catfish!  Our next stop was a Bubblegum Reef and here David picked up a feisty Redfish on a mud minnow under a float, tossed up near the grass.  Once the tide covered the oysters I figured I could get into Christopher Creek and with the land mass blocking the wind, the anglers were free to comfortably fish the bank.  They soon began to pick up small, but feisty Redfish on mud minnows under floats, then David's rod bent over on a strong bite, and FISH ON!  He played the fish perfectly and after a good battle, we landed a nice 22" Slot Redfish!  Later, we were fishing a mud minnow on a jig down deep and something took it hard.  The rod bent and the drag ripped out!  Garvin fought this fish and it was a protracted battle on light tackle,  but the Shimano Stradic 1000FI was up to the task!  Garvin played the fish beautifully and we eventually landed it, to be measured at 27 1/4",  photographed, and released.  But this fish put Garvin in 3rd place in The Anglers Mark Bragging Rights Tournament - Redfish Category!  The anglers picked up a few more smaller Reds, a Snapper, and then we called it a day, another great one to be out on Amelia Island waters!

Big Reds Continue to Bite

Russ Henry and his family were visiting Amelia Island again for the Summer and scheduled a couple of back country fishing trips with me on The Anglers Mark.  We've been having some outstanding Redfish action with most of the the fish being in the Slot or even larger.  Russ and two of his sons Carter and James fished with me Thursday and although the two young men picked up a couple of rat Reds early, no more were to be had.  They caught some small Trout and a keeper sized Flounder then wrapped up the day with some high flying Ladyfish and drag ripping Shark bites.  We fished again Saturday evening and this time we made a run south to fish the Horsehead area.  The angling crew was made up of Russ, Carter and another son - Will.  We eased along the bank at Jackstaff and Carter picked up another Ladyfish, but we had no other real bites.  Later, we held the boat steady at Bubblegum Reef and Will hooked up and played a feisty Redfish, caught on a mudminnow under a float. Shortly after we had a hard hit and, FISH ON!  Carter worked the fish to the boat and we soon netted a nice 24" Redfish.  The wind picked up a little bit so we headed back to the marina area and fished some docks at Lanceford Creek.  The tide had just started in and we were tossing mud minnows on jigs up to the pilings when the rod bent and drag began to rip.  Will had a good battle that made  his arms sore, but he stuck with it and landed a "Tournament Red" - 26 3/4" in length!  With that, we called it a day, another great one to be on Amelia Island waters!

4th of July Redfish Bonanza

Chris Collins of the Macon, Georgia area had set up a Amelia Island back country fishing trip for his son Cameron and his son-in-law Dave Sauer this morning, so we met at the Fernandina Beach Marina and headed up to the Jolley River to fish the last couple of hours of an incoming tide.  The live shrimp have been scarce in the bait shops so we were once again using mud minnows under the float rigs.  The tide had covered the oysters as we started a troll of the bank and it wasn't long at all before Cameron picked up a nice Trout then Dave had a hookup that doubled the rod over and ripped the line out, FISH ON!  He played the fish perfectly and after a protracted battle, landed a huge, over-the-Slot Redfish that measured 28 1/4", putting him in first place in The Anglers Mark Bragging Rights Tournament, Redfish category!  I can't remember the last time that I stayed at one spot the entire fishing trip - I don't think I ever have.  But today was the day and the fish were hungry.   Cameron picked up a Slot Red then both anglers yelled FISH ON! and we had a double battle going on that soon produced two more Slot Reds!  Dave picked up a 19" Flounder and found another keeper Flounder later on.  All told, the anglers had five Slot Reds in the boat, not counting the oversized one that Dave released.  We were still looking for that keeper Trout to round out the Amelia Island Back Country Slam when Cameron hooked up, his rod bent, and drag ripped.  It was a big fish and we all thought that here's number six Slot Red but when Cameron got him to the net we realized that it was a large 20" Seatrout!  We picked up a few more smaller trout, then called it a day, another great one to be out on Amelia Island waters!