Bragging Rights Flounder

I had a "ladies day out" today, fishing with Teresa Gaslin and her friend Kim Bates, meeting them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp on a blustery day. It was a tossup whether to fish because of the win, but fish we did! Our first stop was over at the Long Pointe docks and after fishing a good stretch Teresa had a "thump" then her line went heavy. When she tightened her line and set the hook she was into a fish fight and after a nice battle, landed a keeper sized Flounder to "knock the skunk" off the boat! After fishing a 2nd dock we made
the run up Nassau River and found a dock to fish. I think it was the first cast and we had a hookup. Kim played the fish patiently and soon landed a nice 17" keeper sized Seatrout. She went back to the same spot a few times more and when she thought she had snagged on the bottom, she stayed in "fish catching mode" and BOOM! IT WAS FISH ON! She played the fish like a pro and when it came to the top then made a mad dash to the bottom, Kim kept the pressure on and eventually landed a 21.5" Doormat Flounder which put here squarely in first place in the Anglers Mark 2015 Bragging Rights Tournament (flounder category-scroll down right side of this Report for standings). Boy what a fish! After hitting a second dock we moved around to fish Seymore's Pointe (and out of the wind). Kim put a feisty Redfish in the boat to round out an Amelia Island Back Country Slam then shortly after that Teresa had a strong hookup, and again, FISH ON! She played the fish perfectly and after a good battle and a couple of deep runs, Teresa landed a nice 21" Slot sized Redfish, another good fish! Our last stop was over in Jackstaff and although the tide was right for Seatrout, the wind was really buffeting us, so we called it a day, another great one to be fishing Amelia Island waters.

Quantity Counts

We had a beautiful crisp morning today, just a little chilly but sunshine and light winds and it was a great day to be out fishing here at Amelia Island. I met Victor Sherlock and his son Christopher down at the South End boat ramp as the sun came up and we headed up the Nassau River, making the long run to Broward Island to catch the first of an incoming tide. It was a good move because the two anglers began to get hookups almost immediately. Christopher knocked the skunk off when he landed a hungry Seatrout then both anglers put a couple of feisty Redfish in
the boat, including a 10-spotter that Christopher caught. They also had a good handful of Seatrout and Christopher rounded out an Amelia Island Back Country Slam when he put two Flounder in the boat, and almost a third! We fished the area for a while then ran back to the Horsehead area, switching to float rigs. I think it was our first cast and Victor hooked up with a Trout. But it was Christopher with the hot rod - he landed 5-6 Trout in one spot then picked up a handful as we eased along the now flooded shoreline.  They added a high flying Ladyfish and a few bait stealing Pinfish and Perch before we headed around to some docks at Seymore's Pointe to wrap the trip up fishing some docks. Although the bite had slowed to a standstill, the two anglers had a good quantity of fish catches to make it a great day of fishing here at Amelia Island.

Snakes, Crabs, Birds, Dolphin and Big Fish

I had the opportunity to fish this afternoon, too. Deborah White was treating her boyfriend Trent and her two kids Zoe and Broderick to an Amelia Island Back Country fishing trip so we met at the City dock, picked up some mud minnows, saw a handful of Osprey diving for fish and Dolphin cruising the tide line, then we headed up to fish the outside of Tiger on the first of an outgoing tide. After just a few casts Trent had a strong hookup and after working it patiently to the boat we saw that it was very nice 18" fat Flounder!
We worked the area thoroughly, picked up some baitstealers then Broderick landed a keeper sized Croaker and Trent put a feisty Redfish in the boat. We made a run up to Jolley River and fished some oyster beds both with the float rigs and jig rigs and even though the anglers had some good bites, we had no real takers. We also had a chance at netting a Blue Crab swimming by so we scooped it up, checked it out, then returned it to go on its way. Our last stop was back at Tiger Island but as we passing between Big and Little Tiger Trent spotted something in the water. We eased up
closer and saw that it was a HUGE Diamond Back Rattle Snake crossing between the two islands. We watched it slither up onto the mud and make its way towards the marsh grass. We fished the logs of Tiger and here things got hot! We had a strong hookup and young Broderick did an excellent job of working a big 23" Slot Redfish to the waiting net. Then Zoe caught not one, but two Slot Reds, 24" and 25" respectively with one of them having 11 Spots, a sure prize winner in any Spot Tournament. With that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing Amelia Island waters.

Brute of a Redfish

What a nice day today! I fished this morning with Brent Berger, his son-in-law Ray, and grandson Caleb. We met down at the City marina and headed north to fish the logs of Tiger on an incoming tide, one that had been coming in for a few hours. The three anglers worked the entire island and only had a nibble here and there but just as we were about to leave, Brent had a strong hookup, and FISH ON! But it looked as if the fish had gotten off after the initial bite - NO, it was still on! Brent fought the big fish patiently and after multiple deep runs,  landed a thick 25" Slot Redfish, boy what
a fish! We fished the same spot a while longer then headed up to Jolley River to fish some flooding oyster beds. Caleb had a good hookup and landed a hungry Seatrout. We hit another area and had numerous bites, all small, landed a handful of baitstealers, then made our way back to the outside of Tiger. Here, the anglers had numerous bites, picking up a handful of small Trout, Needle Fish, and Perch, then Brent put two keeper sized Trout in the boat. We hit one more spot, caught a few more Trout, then headed back, counting at as another great morning to be fishing Amelia Island waters.

Trout Bite Picks Up

The weather forecasters called for cloudy skies and very little wind today, and they got the wind prediction right! As it turned out it was clear, sunny skies for the fishing trip this morning when I met Stephanie Wren and her two sons Brandon and Logan down at the Atlantic Seafood dock on a high and incoming tide. We had a bait well full of fresh and fat mud minnows as we headed north to fish Jolley River and it's flooding marsh grass. Our first stretch of bank produced no real bites, much less a fish! So we headed further up
the river and after fishing for a short while Logan drifted his float and bait over a big oyster bed and had a strong hookup. He played the fish perfectly and soon landed a nice, keeper sized Seatrout. Brandon then drifted his bait further in, past a grassy point, and BOOM, FISH ON! He too worked the fish in patiently and landed an almost identical, keeper sized Trout (all fish were released today). We made a run back to the outside of Tiger, fished some flooded oyster beds, and picked up a couple more smaller Trout, a Bluefish, and some baitstealers. We crossed the river and as the tide
started out the fish bite picked up. All three anglers were getting bites and catching Trout. Stephanie put her first Trout in the boat and then followed it up with the biggest of the day. Both Brandon and Logan were catching fish but the water was running out from under us so we moved out to another spot. After getting another Trout on the float, I switched the two young anglers to jig rigs and minnows and right off they were catching fish. We picked up a handful more then called it a day, another great one to be fishing Amelia Island waters.

Snook at Amelia Island?

We couldn't have asked for a prettier day for fishing today...sunny skies, just a slight breeze, and temperatures in the high 60's to begin the day. I had met Marie George and her adult kids Claire and Colin down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp at daybreak and we headed north to the Horsehead area to fish the last of an incoming tide. We were only a few casts into fishing with float rigs and live shrimp when Claire put a hungry Seatrout in the boat to "knock the skunk off". We continued to fish a flooded marsh line, first one stretch, then the other and although we had a few small bites, we
had no takers. But these anglers were not to be deterred and as we pulled up to our second spot in Christopher Creek, Claire had a good hookup and after a nice battle, landed a feisty Redfish on a jig and shrimp combo. Then after Marie had made and excellent cast to a grass patch, she too hooked up, FISH ON! She played the fish perfectly and landed another feisty Red. Colin got on the board, getting  a hookup on his jig and shrimp and as the fish came to the boat I saw that it was not a Redfish, but surely a Seatrout. He battled the fish patiently and when we netted it I saw that it was a
wayward Snook! This is only the second Snook I've had put in the boat in 10 years, both caught about the same time of the year. I noted that the water temperature was 74 degrees. We continued to fish the area then ran back to Seymore's Pointe, fished some rocks with the float rigs and when the Mangrove Snapper turned on, all three anglers were pitting their skills against the sneaky fish. But they came out fairly well, putting about a dozen in the boat  before we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Catching and Amelia Island Slam

We did an afternoon trip today, taking advantage of the last of an outgoing tide and the first of an incoming tide. Jim Rifkin, his wife Jane, along with their nephews Travon and Mikey, met me down at the City marina and we made our way up to the Jolley River to fish a bank with oysters beginning to show on that outgoing tide. Travon and Mikey were tossing jigs and minnows while Jim positioned himself on the back of the boat with a float rig. Mikey "knocked the skunk off" the boat when he landed a nice feisty Redfish then Jim followed that up with on of his own. We fished
the entire bank then ran further up the river where Travon expertly landed a keeper sized Seatrout. Mikey put a Seatrout in the boat too before we ran around to the MOA where things heated up, somewhat. Mikey landed another feisty Red then Travon put another Seatrout in the boat then Mikey had a strong hookup that took his jig and zipped through the water, heading to the bow, taking Mikey with him, then back to the stern, boy what a fight! But the big fish was having nothing of it and after a good battle, it made sharp turn and, BAP! Fish off! Ouch! We ran back to Tiger Island,
fished it thoroughly, then Mikey put a keeper sized Flounder in the boat to round out the angler's Amelia Island Back Country Slam of Redfish, Seatrout and Flounder. We worked down the  island and again, Mikey got his chance at a big fish, FISH ON! He played the fish patiently and after a few strong runs deep, he landed a nice 22" Slot Redfish - now that's a nice fish! After putting one more Flounder in the boat we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Redfish Catching Heats Up

We had a beautiful morning today at Amelia Island, and the fishing was great too! I had met Pete Nolan and his friends Eric and Henry down at the City ramp and we headed up the Bell River to fish some flooded oyster beds just as the tide started out. The three anglers were getting bites on live shrimp and mud minnows (the minnows turned out to be the best bait) and picked up a good handful of Seatrout, along with another handful of "baitstealers".  We ran around to the outside of Tiger Island as the current picked
up and again found hungry Seatrout biting. Then, Henry said he had subtle bite, his float disappeared, and FISH ON! He played the big fish patiently as the drag ripped out and after a go od battle, landed a nice 22" Slot Redfish. We ran up to Jolley River, fished a large creek runout and picked up some more Trout. Then Eric landed another Redfish before we moved back to the mouth of Jolley, fishing the "bank" with the oysters still covered.  All three anglers began landing Redfish! Eric and Henry combined for double hookups-twice!  Henry put another Slot 18" Red in the boat then it was Pete's turn to hook a big one, and boy was it big! This big fish tried to stay up by the bank but Pete worked him out. Then it ran deep up near the bow then it got back in the current behind the boat. But Pete kept the pressure on, stayed patient, and after a good battle landed a big oversized 28" Redfish. What a battle! Then Pete followed that up with another 22" Slot Red. We ended the trip catching feisty Reds  that measured just under the slot, a great way to end a day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Fish Battles

We had a another nice morning greet us when I met Andrew Malen and his fried Katie down at the Atlantic Seafood dock today. We had postponed the trip until 8am to let the tide get started out and our first stop was at some flooded oysters on the outside of Tiger with the two anglers fishing float rigs and live shrimp. The baitstealers were in force but both Andrew and Katie landed a handful of Seatrout. We ran around to Jolley River and up to a large creek outflow where both anglers again put some Trout in the boat, including a nice 18" keeper sized one. Katie made an excellent cast
to the flooded grass and added a feisty Redfish to the catch. Then Andrew had a strong hookup, his drag ripped, he fought it patiently and, POOF, the fish was gone - it threw the hook! Shortly after that Katie had an even stronger hookup. This big fish took here around the stern and engine then up to the bow and around the trolling motor. Katie expertly worked the fish to the boat and there it was -a BIG Redfish!  But with one last quick turn, POP, the line parted and the fish was gone - the big one that got away!  We continued to fish, picked up a couple of more fish, then as the wind picked up, ran around to and behind Tiger Island and switched to jigs. Andrew caught a couple of Flounder here to round out the duo's Amelia Island Back Country Slam, then we made one last stop up in Eagans Creek where they caught a good handful of Trout and another keeper sized Flounder. With that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Bigger Trout

We had some nice weather this morning, for a change, and it was great to get out on the water with Barry and Matt Shelor to fish the south end of the island. We had some extreme high tides last week and I thought that was past, but as I launched two hours after the high, water was still way up in the grass. But we were set up with float rigs and as we ran north to the Horsehead area we felt comfortable we'd be catching some fish! Our first spot was up a small creek and here the two anglers had a couple of good bites but
no takers. We moved back into a larger creek with both Barry and Matt tossing their floats and live shrimp to the bank and BOOM! Barry's float disappeared with a vengeance, FISH ON! I was thinking "Redfish" the way it was bending the rod but as Barry worked it slowly to the boat we saw that it was a big Seatrout. He played it patiently and soon landed a nice 20" Trout!  Matt got in on the action, landing a Ladyfish then a couple of fat Seatrout, then Barry put another big one in the boat, this one at 18", then Matt put a keeper sized 16" trout in the boat. I had Matt switch to a jig/shrimp combo and he caught a couple of fish on that, too. We ran around to Seymore's Pointe, fished some rocks with little success, then moved around to a dock where we picked a up a few small Mangrove Snapper and a feisty Redfish. Our last stop was down at Broward Island and it was a good last stop! Both Matt and Barry caught a few Seatrout, a couple of Redfish, with one of Matt's being right at Slot Size, then Barry landed a Sheepshead to round out the duo's Amelia Island Back Country Slam. With that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.