Picked Up a Few Reds

I fished this morning with Tandy Morton and his buddy Tommy, meeting them out at the Amelia Island Yacht Basin and then heading south and into Jackstaff to fish a large marsh runout on the first of an outgoing tide with float rigs and live shrimp. The two anglers had a small bite here and there but no takers so we eased along the marsh grass, pitching as we went. Tandy said he saw a big wake, tossed his bait and had a really strong hookup, FISH ON! And just seconds later, Tommy had a hookup, too. Then Tommy's came off, but he quickly  baited while Tandy was fighting his fish and went back to the marsh grass and had another hookup! We had a double. Tandy patiently landed his fish, a nice 25" Redfish then Tommy put his in the boat, another Slot sized 20" Red. We finished that bank, fished another, found a big Stingray and a Bonnethead Shark, then ran through Horsehead and to Seymore's Pointe. I wanted to see if the Mangrove Snapper were still here, and sure enough, they were. The two anglers landed a handful of them, but they're still only about 8-9" long, too little to keep. We fished some docks after that, had no real bites, then crossed and eased along and old oyster bed. Tommy got hot when he put a keeper sized Trout in the boat, a big Jack Crevalle, and a big Ladyfish. Tandy got in on the action when he went to a float rig and caught one more Slot Redfish. After picking up a small Black "puppy" Drum, some bad weather moved in so we ran north and counted it a another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Another Banner Day of Fishing

After a long month of having to work for our fish, we've finally had some pretty good fishing days lately. I fished with Ryan and Jack Garner along with their friend Tom, meeting them out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp early this morning. We made a run through Horsehead and set up to fish the mouth of Jackstaff. Ryan had a topwater lure, Jack had a jig and shrimp and Tom took the stern with a float rig and shrimp. We fished a good stretch of bank but it was Tom who "knocked the skunk off" when he hooked up
and landed a nice keeper sized Flounder. All three anglers switched to jigs when fished a point of grass and Tom hooked up with a hard fighting fish, then Ryan did too, we had a double! Both played their fish patiently and eventually landed some nice Jack Crevalles. Before we left Tom landed a keeper sized Seatrout. We made our next stop over at some docks at Seymore's Pointe and here the fish catching really heated up. The trio put a good handful of Mangrove Snapper in the boat, Ryan added a Sheepshead, Tom got a feisty Redfish (making it a Grande Slam of Flounder, Trout, Sheepshead,
and Redfish) then Jack had a super strong bite, and FISH ON!  This was a big fish and took him from bow to stern and from starboard to port and back to the bow, and around again. It was a hard fighting fish but Jack kept the pressure on. After a good fight he landed a huge Jack Crevalle, one of the biggest landed on the Anglers Mark to date. We worked a few docks and picked up another Redfish or two, with one of them being of keeper size, then we crossed over to fish Bubblegum Reef. We had no real bites there but as we worked  down an old oyster bed Tom hooked up and landed another Slot Redfish. Then it was Ryan's turn at a big fish and we knew right off it was a big Red when it boiled up near shore. Ryan was real patient with the fish and let the rod do all the work and after a good battle, landed a "tourney sized" 26.75" Redfish, boy what a fish! We hit a couple of more shell outcrops, picked up another Redfish and a handful of Ladyfish, then wrapped the day up with a long battle with a 4' Bonnethead Shark. Now that's the way to end a great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida!

Fast Start, Good Variety, and a Slam

Charles Land and his friend Mike drove down late last night for an early morning fishing trip and we all were greeted with a beautiful day to wind down and get some fishing in here at Amelia Island. I met them at the City dock and we headed over to Eagans Creek to fish the last couple of hours of an outgoing tide. It didn't take long before Mike "knocked the skunk off" when he hooked up and landed a keeper sized Seatrout. The two anglers had some good bites for a good while, landing another Trout or two then Charles had a strange bite up near some oysters. This was a nice fish and
Charles kept the pressure on, working it patiently to the boat - and landed a keeper sized 18.25" Flounder, a big enough fish to move him into first place in the Anglers Mark 2016 Bragging Rights Tournament -Flounder Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings).  Mike had an even bigger bite up under some pilings but there was no stopping this fish - it went through the pilings and broke itself off - it didn't get big by being stupid! We worked an oyster lined bank and Mike picked up another keeper sized Trout then he found a keeper sized Flounder of his own.  Our next stop was over at Tiger Island and within minutes of fishing Mike found a feisty 3-spot Redfish to round out the duo's Amelia Island Back Country Slam and they also reeled in a small Black "puppy" Drum to make it a "grande" Slam! Our final stop was up at Jolley River and here they tangled with some large Ladyfish, the poor man's Tarpon. Charles put one more Trout in the boat then we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Going South For Big Fish

We switched it up today, fishing out of Goffinsville Park out in Nassauville. I met local resident Jeff Shiver early and we made our first stop down at Broward Island with plans to fish the downed logs with jigs and live shrimp. We worked the area thoroughly for about an hour but had no real bites, even though the conditions were right and it was a beautiful morning.  Our next stop was back at Horsehead, fishing some exposed old oysters and structure and this did the trick. Jeff started it off by hooking up and landing a
large Jack Crevalle - fun to catch - but not necessarily good to eat - unless you were on a deserted island! Shortly after that we had a strong bite and after a good battle, landed a thick 26" Slot Sized Redfish. And minutes later Jeff had another strong bite - he played it patiently and let the rod do all the work - and slowly worked in a big 21.5" Sheepshead, a fish that puts Jeff in a commanding lead in the Anglers Mark 2016 Bragging Rights Tournament - Sheepshead category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings).  Then he hooked up and played an even bigger Redfish, this one measuring in at 26.5", a "Tournament Red"!  We continued to fish the oyster bed and picked up a couple of more small but feisty Redfish then we moved over to fish some docks. The bite was almost immediate. Jeff reeled in some keeper sized Mangrove Snapper (the first of the year) and we also landed a 16" keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum.  After putting a good handful of the Snapper in, we moved over to another dock and BOOM! Another fish bite. Jeff put two more keeper sized Redfish and a couple of Snapper. Our last stop was fishing some rocks at Seymore's Pointe and again, Mangrove Snapper. It was a great day, almost a ":banner day", to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Fishing With The Dogs

We had another beautiful day today when I met Rick Cardinal and his son Zach down at the City marina. They brought along their two dogs for the ride and boy were they well behaved! We ran up to Tiger Island to fish the first of an incoming tide with jigs and live shrimp and just like yesterday, first cast, BOOM, Fish on! Zach patiently worked it to the boat and landed a nice keeper sized Seatrout! We fished the island up and down and the two anglers added a couple of Black "puppy" Drum then Rick had a strong bite that ripped his drag. He worked the feisty fish away from the logs
and soon landed a 9 spot Red Drum. They picked up another Trout or two then we ran around to fish Jolley River and the "bank", easing along the still exposed oyster beds, still tossing the jigs and shrimp Although both anglers were making excellent casts, we had no real bites so we continued on around to the Bell River to fish some docks. Tossing along side a floating dock we had a strange bite -Zach fought it patiently as it tried to go under the boat -and kept the pressure on, letting the rod to the work. After a good battle, he landed a big Stingray - not great to eat but fun to catch! We
worked up the dock and with Rick fishing out of the bow, Zach took the stern and that turned out to be the best choice. He found his own "honey hole" and began to hookup Trout on the bottom. A couple of them were of keeper size and a few were toss backs. The dogs were having a good time checking all of the fish out, and even the bait, but we called it a day - another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Work'n On A Slam

We couldn't have had a better morning -weather-wise, than today. Mild temperatures, slight breeze, and just a few clouds greeted me as I met Brad Phipps, his son-in-law Sam, and Sam's dad Steve down at the City marina. We made a run up to Tiger Island and I think it was Sam's first or second cast with a jig and live shrimp when he hooked up with a feisty Black "puppy" Drum.  And we thought "OK, here we go!"  It wasn't a wild bite that followed but the anglers did get some good nibbles. Sam added another Puppy
Drum then we made a run up to the Jolley River and fished the "bank", this time tossing float rigs from the bow while Brad unlimbered a fly rod at the stern. Brad started with a black sinking "fiddler" imitation then switched to a brown "gurgler", but had no takers - but the live shrimp didn't either! We ran further up into Jolley and eventually into Snook Creek, and again had bites then Brad had a strange bite and sure enough, after patiently playing it to the boat, he landed a keeper sized Flounder . We continued on around to Bell River and here Sam made it a Slam when he landed
a hungry Seatrout. Brad made an excellent cast with his jig and shrimp combo up under a dock and he said he felt the fish follow the bait out, bite and he had a hookup. This turned out to be and even bigger Flounder. Our final stop was around at the mouth of Bell River and both Steve and Sam landed some nice Trout before we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Recipe Of The Month: Kathy's Boiled Shrimp

I grew up in Fernandina Beach which is also known as "the birthplace of the modern shrimping industry" and I've eaten a whole bunch of boiled shrimp, cooked by myself and others. But the best boiled shrimp I've ever had is cooked by my sister Kathy and I finally got her recipe and here it is!

3lbs fresh, cleaned, deveined WILD CAUGHT shrimp
Two bottles or cans of beer
About 1/2 cup of ketchup
1tsp or so of salt
2 bay leaves
Water

Fill a large pot 3/4 full with water, add all ingredients except shrimp. When the water starts to boil, add shrimp. Cook about two minutes, test a shrimp - if not translucent anymore, maybe cook one more minute. Don't overcook!  Drain shrimp into colander. Chill until ready to eat.  Enjoy!

Jack Attack

Even though the weather forecast called for high winds today, it also called for sunny skies and mild temperatures so, we went fishing!  I met the Stein group, Zach and Emily, along with Joe and Ellina, down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp for an early morning run up the Amelia River with plans to dip into a small creek and fish float rigs and live shrimp on an outgoing tide. The wind was already over 10mph and rising, but these anglers were game and were slinging their rigs into the wind. We had one good bite at the
first stop before we crossed over he creek and eased along the shoreline. Zach had made a good cast up near the grass line when his float disappeared and, FISH ON!  This was a hard fighting fish and ripped some drag out, then it took Zach from the stern to the bow and around the trolling motor. But Zach kept the pressure on and soon landed a nice Jack Crevalle. Boy that was a fight! We ran through Horsehead and over to some docks at Seymore's Pointe. The ladies stayed with the float rigs while Zach and Joe took the stern and tossed jigs. Again, Zach hooked up, had a crazy battle, and landed another Jack. After he put one more of these hard

fighting fish in the boat, we began to work down the dock line. Ellina had a good bite and she too did the cirle around the boat, fighting a big fish. She played the fish perfectly and landed another big Jack Crevalle.  Zach went back to the float rig and worked the grass line while the others tossed jigs. He lost a couple of shrimp to nibblers then when his float went under again he was ready and firmly lifted his rod tip, and FISH ON!  This was a nice fish but wasn't making the runs like the Jacks. Zach worked the fish in patiently and landed a nice Slot sized 22" Redfish. Now that's a nice
(edible) fish! We thought we might fish on the other side of Seymore's  but the wind was really blowing. But we stayed long enough for Joe to get one cast up near the rocks and even as we were getting ready to leave he hooked up with a float rig and had his rod bend double. Joe kept the pressure on and slowly worked the fish in and eventually landed a nice feisty Redfish. We left that area right after that and went back to the other side of Seymore's and here Emily put the biggest fish of the day in the boat. It was another hard running, drag ripping fish and had no plans to be caught but Emily had it's number. Even though it wrapped itself around a piling, she kept the pressure on and after we got the rod handed around the piling she worked it out into deeper water and landed another big Jack,  now that was a battle! With that, we called it a day, another great (albeit windy) one to be fishing here at Amelia Island.

Monstrous Battle Nets Big Bonnethead

I fished today with the Pro Link group and I had Maria, Amiad, Luann and Bill on my boat. We had a pretty stiff wind blowing out of the south west so we made our first run over to Lanceford Creek with plans to fish some dock pilings. All four anglers were tossing jigs and live shrimp and we had some good luck there. Luann knocked the skunk off when she landed a fat keeper sized Seatrout (all fish were released today) then Amiad followed that up with a hungry Seatrout. We skipped down a dock and Amiad put a hard fighting Hammerhead Shark in the boat - only a few have been
caught on the Anlger's Mark. We made the long run down to Bell River and fished some more docks. All the anglers were getting nibbles then Amiad had a strong bite on the outside of a dock and FISH ON! He patiently worked the fish to the boat and we landed a nice 20" Seatrout. Our next and final stop was over in the Jolley River and here things really heated up. After all had a few nibbles, Maria had a strong hookup and her line went ZIP, ZIP, ZIP...a big fish on. She fought the fish hard, worked it to the boat and after a long battle that took her from bow to stern and from port to starboard...and back again, she finally got it boat side and we saw that it was a nice 4' Bonnethead Shark. But it was not to be. The shark made one final charge and snapped the line, OUCH! We got the lines back in the water and on Luann's first cast, FISH ON! Her line too zipped out and her rod bent double, another Shark. Luann put up a valiant fight and worked and worked and go the fish near enough to the boat for me to grab it and we all gave a cheer, fish landed!  After a nice group pic we released the Bonnethead to be caught another day. With that, we called it day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

We Got a Slam

I was back in the saddle today after a long Shrimp Festival weekend and had the pleasure of fishing with Jeff and Lori Anderson who I met down at the Big Talbot Island Park boat ramp on the first of an outgoing tide. We made the run up the intercoastal and dipped into Jackstaff to fish some still exposed oysters with mud minnows. Jeff was on the bow tossing a jig and Lori took the stern using a float rig. We eased along the bank and I think it was the first marsh runout when Jeff had a subtle bite - he tightened his line, waited,
and set the hook - FISH ON! I guessed what it was and after Jeff patiently played it to the boat my guess was confirmed, a nice keeper sized Flounder. And skunk off the boat! We fished one stretch, jumped over and fished a grassy point and after a few casts Jeff had another hookup, this one a fat keeper sized Seatrout. We made the run through Horsehead, set up current from a dock and began to toss jigs back to the pilings. Again, Jeff had the lucky rod and he hooked up and landed a feisty Redfish to round out his personal Amelia Island Back Country Slam. Lori was making excellent casts and getting a bite here and there but It just was not meant to be her day in the "fish catching" category. We fished Bubblegum Reef, Broward Island and another spot or two - had some good bites, but no takers, then we headed in, counting it as another great day to be fishing Amelia Island waters.