Bonnetheads Still in the Backcountry

Yesterday morning was some really tough fishing.  The Northeast winds had blown the water in and made the high tide even higher and we struggled to find a bite, much less to find a fish!  But yesterday afternoon as the water came out of the grass we found some fish.  The Raynor group had set up two boats through Captain Jeff  Crumpton and I was the lucky 2nd boat!  I had Anne Raynor, her sister Judy and brother in law Herb and their friend Mary on my boat and we pointed it south to fish the Horsehead area on the outgoing tide.  We found an oyster bank to cruise and when Mary hooked up with something big I thought "big Redfish".  But this fish kept going then held on the bottom and I knew it was a late season shark.  It was group effort landing the 3 foot long beast but these ladies were up to the task and after a long battle we landed the fish, snapped some pictures and threw it back.  Again, Mary had a strong hookup and a long shark fight insued.  And again the ladies landed an even biger Shark.  Then a third shark was caught by Anne and landed.   Three big Bonnethead Sharks were landed on light tackle by these ladies!  When Judy had a strong hookup I thought, "oh boy, here we go again", bu this fish, even though it was putting up a good battle, didn't hang to the bottom but zipped around the boat.  Judy played the fish perfectly and we soon netted a nice Jack Crevalle.  We made a move around to the Nassau River side of Horsehead, fished a nice runout, and here Anne pefected here jig fishing technique.  She landed three feisty Reddfish, a hungry Seatrout and a keeper sized Flounder.  We hit one more spot, caught a few baitstealers, then headed in, counting it as another great day to be out on Amelia Island waters!

Counting on Fingers and Toes

Boy, yesterday sure was a pretty day with the sun shining out on Amelia Island waters.  I had Fernandina Beach resident Bill Mooney and his son Cody meet me at the docks at 8:30am, just as the tide peaked, and we headed over to Lanceford Creek to fish some flooded marsh grass.  We only had a nibble or two so we made a run around to the outside of Tiger where Cody got the "skunk off the boat" by landing a hungry Seatrout. Bill followed that up with a hard fighting Bluefish.  We moved on up into Mantatee Creek and fished a couple of spots but had no real bites.  I next stop was on the south end of Tiger Island even though the anglers had a few nibble ( and one Whiting)  I was beginning to wonder if the day wasn't going to be made for "catchin".  But luckily both Bill and young Cody were out to have a good time and practiced their patience and it paid off!  The tide had dropped  and the logs were showing and the fish began to bite. BOOM! Fish on!  Boom! Fish on! Cody found a secret spot and landed a couple of feisty Redfish.  Bill picked up a Snapper and Cody landed another Redfish.  Then Bill began to catch feisty Redfish one after another at his spot and Cody joined him.  I had lost count of how many Redfish they had caught but Cody was keeping track of them as his dad told him he'd have to count on his toes!  Bill landed a nice Slot 25" Redfish and before we left Cody added a big 19" Sheepshead.  With that, we called it a daym another great one to be out on Amelia Island waters!

Dawg Gone Good Fish'n

I had another group of Georgia Bulldawg fans in for some Amelia Island fishing Friday afternoon. David Martinez, his son Garrett, and David's brother in law Jeff met me at the Atlantic Seafood boat ramp at 2pm and we headed up to the Tiger Island area to fish an incoming tide with a jig and shrimp combo.  It wasn't long before all three anglers were hooking up with feisty Redfish, Black "puppy" Drum and a couple of Sheepshead.  It was great fishing but when then we had a real strong hookup with drag ripping, FISH ON!   Young Garrett worked the fish patiently and after a good battle he landed a nice 26 3/4" just-under-the-slot Redfish!  The anglers added a couple of hungry Seatrout to the mix then we headed up to Jolley River to fish and exposed oyster bank.  The fish catchin heated up and the anglers landed a good amount of Seatrout and feisty Reds. We fished Snook Creek with no real bites then wraped the day up back at the outside of Tiger with a few more Trout on float rigs.  With that, we called it a day, another great one to be on Amelia Island waters!

Honeymoon Fish'n

Friday I had as guests Chuck and Sharon Sherrhouse, passing through Amelia Island on their honeymoon. We met early at the downtown Fernandina Beach marina and headed up to fish the outside of Tiger Island with float rigs and live shrimp on the first of an outgoing tide.  The two anglers picked up a few hungry Seatrout then we headed up to Jolley River where they picked up more Trout and had a good bite from feisty Redfish and a Sheepshead.  The couple continued to fish through the small ones and ended up taking a few nice keeper sized trout home to Lakeland.  What a great way to wrap up a new marriage and honeymoon here at Amelia
Island!

Georgia Florida Football Fishing

The Blalocks were back in town for the annual Georgia Florida football game this year and took in an Amelia Island backcountry fishing trip on The Anglers Mark.  This time William and Dara brought along William's parents Bob and Martha to round out a great group of anglers. The tide had just started in so we were fishing a jig and shrimp combo and our first stop was up at Tiger Island.  The anglers picked up a good  handful of hungry Seatrout and feisty Redfish and William added a keeper sized Flounder.  We soon ran to the Jolley River where they caught a few Trout and Martha hung a huge Gar Fish that wouldn't fit in the net!  We fished Snook Creek where Dara picked up a keeper sized Trout and William had  good strong Shark bite that just kept going.  We made our last stop in Bell River where we picked up a few more Redfish to round out another great day of fishing at Amelia Island!

Nice Slam at Amelia Island

I had Ray and Heidi Stone along with their brother in law Louis Fagre fishing with me last Thursday here at Amelia Island.  We met at the Atlantic Seafood dock down at the City marina at &:30 and headed north to fish Nissan's spot but had no real bites.  But when we made our way around to the outside of Tiger Island, it wasn't long before we had started getting bites and all the anglers were pulling in hungry Seatrout.  We made a run up to the Jolley River and here things heated up real good.  They were all catching feisty Redfish on a jig and shrimp combo when Louis hooked up with something big, FISH ON!  He played the fish perfectly and we soon landed a nice 23" Slot Red!  We conintued to fish and Heidi boated a keeper sized 19" Seatrout then Louis rounded out an Amelia Island Back Country Slam by  catching a nice 19" Flounder. We continued to fish the bank and at one time all three anglers had a Red in the boat - Triple Reds! We later headed in, counting it as another great day to be out on Amelia Island waters!

Pre Fishing Amelia Island

Bill Godek and his fiance Rachel had everything set up for their wedding, including a fishing trip today, just one day before they say their vows.  The couple were staying at the historic Fairbanks House which is just a few blocks from the Fernandina Harbor Marina.  I met Bill and Rachel early this morning even though we had overcast skies and forecasted rain.  But these two anglers were not to be deterred by a little rain! We headed out of the marina, pointed north, and ran up to Tiger Island to fish the logs with the tide having been coming in for about 2 1/2 hours.  Fishing with live shrimp on a jig, both Bill and Rachel began to catch fish.  Bill hooked ip early with a feisty Redfish and Rachel landed a Seatrout.  Then they both landed a few more Redfish.  We had the usual baitstealers - Snapper and even some rather large Pinfish.  Our next stop was up at Jolley River and with the water completely covering the oysters and up in the marsh grass, we switched to float rigs with about a 3 foot leader.  The wind had picked up a little bit and the anglers were casting into the wind. They got a few nibbles here and there and peresevered to pick up a few more hungry Seatrout, with Bill landing the largest of the day.  We rean further up into Jolley to "Snook Creek", fished it with jigs, but had no real bites.  Then we made a long run around to Lanceford Creek and fished a flooded grass patch to get another Trout or two, then made our last stop at Soap Creek where we picked up a couple of baitstealers and then  feisty Black "puppy" Drum to round out an Amelia Island Back Country Slam, and another great day to be out on Amelia Island waters!

Meeting The High and Incoming Challenge

I'd set up a fishing trip today with Chuck Butler and his two sons Trey and Trenton and I had already noted that there would be a "high and incoming " tide as we began fishing.  But these anglers were up to the challenge and we ended up catching some really nice fish.  Our first stop was at Temptation Cove where we fished with live shrimp under floats.  Young Trenton hooked up early with a hungry Seatrout and as he was reeling him in Trey had a solid hookup and a fish fight on his hands.  Trey patiently worked th fish in and we soon landed a nice keeper sized 18" Black "puppy" Drum!  Not long afterwards his dad Chuck landed one,
too. We made a run up into Lanceford Creek to fish some flooded marsh grass and here things really heated up.  Trenton had a huge bite that just kept on going!  All the anglers landed some hungry Seatrout then Chuck put a nice 17" keeper Trout in the boat.  Chuck had two good battles with big Redfish, one brief, and one extended when but the big Red got up in the grass and broke off. OUCH!  But Chuck was not to be deterred when again he hooked up.  This big Red also made for the marsh grass but Chuck was able to work him out slowly. After a
good battle we netted a nice 24" Slot Redfish!  We later checked out some flooded grass flats - saw no tailing Reds - then fished the logs of Tiger at the top of the high flood tide with no real bites.  Trenton landed a feisty Stingray then we move to the outside of Tiger to fish the first of the outgoing tide.  Both Chuck and Trey caught a few hungry Trout, Trenton had a feisty Redfish, then he wrapped up the day by landing a nice keeper sized Black drum.  With that, we called it a day, another great one to be out on Amelia Island waters!

Redfish Catchin

Boy what a beautiful day it was today!  I met Mark and Heather Adams at the Atlantic Seafood dock lat this morning, timed to fish the first of an outgoing tide.  We headed north and made our first stop outside of Tiger Island and tossed out some live shrimp under floats.  We picked up a couple of baitstealers and a couple of hungry Seatrout.  We then made a run up to the Jolley River to a large creek and fished as the tide swept out.  We only had a couple of mini bites but both Mark and Heather had spotted some tailing fish on the other side of large oyster bar.  We re-positioned ourselves and this turned out to to be the trick!  Mark had a strong hookup and after patiently working the fish, landed a nice Redfish!  I picked up a Seatrout then it was pure catching for a good while.  We landed a number of feisty Redfish and Mark caught a keeper sized Black "Puppy" Drum and also landed a Sandtrout which gave him an Amelia Island "Grande Slam", of sorts - Redfish, Seatrout, Black Drum, and Sandtrout.  We also caught a keeper sized Croaker and Whiting to go along with a few Pinfish and Perch - the ever present baitstealers.   We made a last stop behind Tiger and picked up a couple of more Reds as the tide eased to a halt, then headed in, counting it as another great day to be out on Amelia Island waters!

It's the Method

The Mannering family included a back country fishing trip in their family reunion activities this morning.  I had Matt Mannering and his son Mason and their Grandfather Bob and Uncle John meet me at the Atlantic Seafood dock at 7am and we headed north to fish the outside of Tiger Island on the first of an outgoing tide.  The anglers were armed with float rigs and live shrimp and began tossing to the grass line.  We had a number of nibbles and finally John got it started by landing a hungry Seatrout.  Matt got in on the action and he and John landed a few more Trout.  John tangled with a good sized Ladyfish and I as I was baiting a  hook I heard a drag begin to sing.  I looked up and saw Matt's rod bent over  and out beyond it I saw a big boil in the water, FISH ON!  Matt exclaimed that he saw the big fish come up and engulf his shrimp and the fight was on!  He played the big Redfish perfectly which tried a number of times to run under the boat but Matt wasn't having anything to do with that.  He kept the pressure on and eventually we netted the 29.5"  12lb fish!  Boy what a fish!  We fished the area for a while longer then made a run up to Jolley River and fished a large creek.  The anglers had no bites on the float rigs so we switched to jigs and shrimp and this did the trick.  All the anglers got in on the action, catching Seatrout after Seatrout with a couple of Croaker and Sanpper thrown in.  Most were in the 14" size but we had a few keepers toke home for fish sandwiches!   Our last stop was at a large marsh runout and here young Mason perfected his "method" and landed a Black "Puppy Drum" and a Flounder to round out his own personal Amelia Island Backcountry Slam.  With that, we called it a day, another great one to be out on Amelia Island waters!