Quality Fish Makes For Bragging Rights Contender

You can't make the days any prettier! Sunshine, slight breeze, mild temperatures and a game plan for fishing! I met Olin Williams up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park and boat ramp for a "birthday" fishing trip.  The tide was still going out and I had a "plan" to hit different spots as it continued to drop and then come back in. First, we made a run over to Lanceford Creek with an hour to go in the tide and set up from a dock within casting distance of our jigs and live shrimp. Olin was making excellent casts to the pilings - we worked them thoroughly, then moved on along some exposed oysters teeming
with bait, but had no real bites. We made the run back to the mouth of Bell River and fished some more exposed oysters banks with the jigs and shrimp. We weren't there long when we had a strange bite, not much, then BOOM! Big Fish On!  Olin was on the rod and played the big fish masterfully. It made some long, deep runs, but Olin kept the pressure on. The fish went 'round and 'round the boat and after a good battle we landed a big 29.5" oversized Redfish - big enough to slide Olin into 2nd place in the Anglers Mark 2017 Bragging Rights Tournament-Redfish Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings). Now that's a nice fish! We went back to the jigs and shortly after that  Olin had another hookup. Not quite as big, but big! He worked it to the boat and landed a 19" fat Seatrout. Our next stop was around at Tiger Island. The conditions were absolutely perfect. The sun wasn't up over the trees, the tide was low and just creeping in, and Olin was making pinpoint casts to the pockets. And no fish. I couldn't believe it. So we ran around and up into the Jolley, fished a couple of oyster banks with float rigs then the jigs - had no bites, then continued on around to make a pit stop at the MOA. And wouldn't you know it. Boom, Trout. Boom, Trout. Boom, Trout. We had a good handful of Trout then it shut down completely. Our final stop was at some docks on Bell River and I think it was first cast when Olin hooked another Trout (All fish were released today). We found a couple of more out deep then called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Working for a Fish Bite

I fished this afternoon, too, meeting the Pleasant family - William and Shannon and their sons Alex and Benn up at the north end ramp at 2pm with plans to fish the first of an outgoing tide. We had live shrimp, Slip Float rigs, Cajun Thunder rigs, and jigs so we were ready! We made our first stop at a flooded oyster bank on Bell River and caught a couple of small Sea Bass. After running up Bell River further we fished some docks with jigs and Slip Floats and this produced a handful of small Seatrout - but  none of the nice
keepers we've been getting. Our next stop was around at Snook Creek in the Jolley River, going to back to Cajun Thunder rigs, and, no bites. We hopped down to the mouth of Jolly, fished the Bank, and caught baitstealers. Our last stop was over at Tiger Island and boy were the conditions were perfect.  The wind was blocked, the tide was fairly low, and the sun was going down. We fished and fished and fished  and finally, Alex put a hungry Seatrout in the boat. It was a beautiful afternoon and although the fish didn't cooperate, it was another great day to be out on the water here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Trout Flurry Wraps a Trip Up

We fished north again today, getting out early to fish the first of an incoming tide. I met Jeff and Jenny Key up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park and boat ramp and we made the quick run around to Tiger Island with a baitwell full of live shrimp. The two anglers were tossing jigs and shrimp to the shoreline and fishing them back slowly and it didn't take long before they began to get bites. Jenny got it started when she hooked up and landed a feisty Black "puppy" Drum then she put a keeper sized Seatrout. Jeff added another Drum then we caught a couple of more Trout out deep. Jeff
had made an excellent cast up into a pocket and when he had  a strange bite we all wondered what it would be - and sure enough, it was a keeper sized Flounder. We then ran around and up into Jolley River, fished a flooding marsh line, and I think it was Jeff's first cast with a float rig when he hooked up with another nice Trout. We eased up into Snook Creek where Jeff tangled with a couple of Bonnethead Sharks then we continued on to Bell River to fish some docks with jigs down deep. Jeff figured it out - he was dragging his shrimp so slow it was falling asleep, then, BOOM! He'd have a hookup and land a nice Trout. We caught fish until we got bored with it then made a final run around and to the outside of Tiger. Breaking out the float rigs, I think we may have had one more Trout. And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Bragging Rights Trout

I fished north today for the first time this week. It's kinda strange seeing boats out and around! I met Todd Johnson and his son Oliver at the City marina early and we headed north up to the outside of Tiger Island to fish an incoming tide with jigs and live shrimp. We had fished for just a short while when Oliver "knocked the skunk off" with a good hookup. He played the hard fighting fish perfectly and soon landed a nice keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum. We had bites here and there then his dad put a Drum in the boat. Just as we
were about to move on Todd said he had a fish playing with  his bait, followed it out to deep water, then it took it with a vengeance! FISH ON! This was a big fish. It was ripping drag so I assumed a Redfish but then it zigged and zagged so I questioned myself. Sure enough, when Todd had patiently tired it out, we netted a big 23" Seatrout, the biggest on the Anglers Mark this year. Todd took over first place in the Anglers Mark 2017 Bragging Rights Tournament -Seatrout Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings). We then made a run up to Jolley River and began fishing a flooding shoreline with the ever rising wind at our backs. Within minutes Oliver's float disappeared and he too had a big fish! Oliver worked him in like a pro and after a good battle, landed a big 19" Seatrout, boy what a fish! We slipped in to Snook Creek, caught our first Shark of the year, then ran around to Bells River docks where Todd jigged up another keeper sized Trout. After another run we went back to the floats and fished some flooded oysters and first cast, BOOM! Oliver had a Trout. After one more stop we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

WOOF! Woof! Woof! Woof!

Talk about a perfect day to be fishing! Sunny skies, a slight breeze, mild temps and two buddies getting out on the water for some Amelia Island back country fishing! I met Dale Bullard and his friend Jim down at the south end ramp and we made a quick run up the Nassau River to set up with float rigs and live shrimp as the tide just turned around and started back in. The two anglers were making excellent casts, expertly working the exposed oysters as we eased against the current, but it took a while to get a bite. Then, Jim had his float disappear and we had the skunk off the boat when he
landed a nice hungry Seatrout. He put a handful more of the Trout in the boat before we dropped down the river a 1/4 mile and started another pass. Dale had just made a beautiful cast up near the oysters, fished it for a while and as he started to reel it in a big fish rolled at his bait. Jim went in with his and within seconds, BOOM! FISH ON! This was a nice fish as it ripped some drag and put a big bend in the rod (see video below) Jim played it patiently and eventually brought it to Dale's waiting net. Boy what a fish!  Then shortly after that Dale had a strange bite - it was a fish - but it sure wasn't pulling like a Red or a Trout. Sure enough, after a good battle, Dale landed a nice keeper sized Flounder. Things seemed to slow after that so we ran down to Pumpkin Hill. I was expecting Trout like we'd been getting the last couple of days but Jim's first cast produced a 9-spot Slot sized Redfish. As we fished along some now flooded oysters Dale told a story about how another guide had a "Boat Dog" that would "woof" when it saw a float go under. Sure enough, the day was wearing on all of us and we began to miss a float go under now and then. I think Jim was watching Dale's float and Dale was watching Jim's float. Anyway, there was a "woof" now and then. Dale's float disappeared (woof) and he had another nice fish. He played it perfectly and landed another Slot sized 20" Redfish.  And finally we picked up a handful of keeper sized Seatrout. After hitting one more stretch, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Tournament Reds and Then Some

We continued to fish from the south end today when I met Gordon Williford and his sons Burton and Sutton down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. I decided to follow yesterday's game plan and fish the flooding oyster beds with float rigs and live shrimp. We set up down from a marsh runout and began to ease along the shore and it wasn't long before Burton "knocked the skunk off" with the fist fish of the day, a nice keeper sized Seatrout. Although we had a couple of more bites, we had no takers, so we bounced down the river and Redfish Spot Tournament!  We continued to fish that area for a while, fished some docks where Burton picked up a Mangrove Snapper, Gordon added the year's first Jack Crevalle, then we headed down to Pumpkin Hill and caught a good handful of keeper sized Trout.  Sutton added a keeper sized Flounder to round out his very own Amelia Island Back Country Slam of Redfish, Seatrout, and Flounder. And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
tried it again. We had crept up to Twin Creeks and drifted a few times through their mouths when we all saw something attack some bait over the oysters. Sutton was able to get in there first and within seconds his float slid under and, FISH ON! We knew right off that this was a big fish because it was ripping drag and had no intentions of slowing down. But Sutton kept the pressure on and patiently played the fish. The fish took Sutton to the bow and around the Starboard side and back to the Stern then it go back in the current so we removed the I-Pilot anchor and took up chase. After a good battle Sutton landed a nice 26.75" "Tournament Redfish", boy what a fish. This fish put Sutton tied for 3rd place in the Anglers Mark 2017 Bragging Rights Tournament-Redfish Category(Scroll down right side of this report for standings)  We had drifted way down the river and so we just picked up where we left off and good thing we did because in short order Gordon had a hookup and again, BIG FISH ON!  Gordon said it wasn't very big but I could tell the way it was running towards the shallows that it was big. But it was no challenge for Gordon who worked it in expertly and we soon netted another 26"+ Redfish - and this one had no spots - a sure winner in our

Thinning the Herd

We had a beautiful morning today with just a few clouds and a
slight breeze as the sun came up over Amelia Island. I met Rich Fairchild and his adult sons Travis and Troy down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and we headed up the Nassau River to make a quick stop at some marsh run outs on an incoming tide. We had a baitwell full of live shrimp and the three anglers began tossing them under floats up current and to the grass line. It was only minutes before Rich was hooking up with Seatrout. Then the tow younger anglers got in on the action and they were all catching. We weeded
through a good handful of smaller fish before we picked up a keeper sized fish and that's how it went for most of the morning. A handful of smaller fish then a keeper. Smaller fish, then a keeper. Once, Travis had strong bite and this fought differently and sure enough, when he landed it we saw that it was a feisty Redfish. We fished the Nassau for a good while then made a long run around to Pumpkin Hill and set up outside some flooding oysters. They immediately began to get bites then Rich had a super strong bite and, FISH ON! He worked the big fish patiently to the boat and
landed a nice, big, 20" Seatrout. This fish slid him into third place in the Anglers Mark 2017 Bragging Rights Tournament -Seatrout Category(scroll down right side of this report for standings)  Troy followed that one up with a big one of his own and again, a handful of smalls, then a keeper. We made one final stop in Christopher Creek and although the bite had slowed, Travis had one good one and again, FISH ON! He worked the fish slowly, letting the rod to the work and after a good battle landed another Redfish, this one in the Slot, making it another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Almost Like February

A week or so ago we had warm enough weather for me to be wearing shorts and flip flops and the water temperature got up over 70. But we had some cooler temperatures move in and the water temp has dropped down into the 60's and it seems the fish "bite" has fallen off, kinda like what we had in February. My theory is that with the water temperature moving up and down the bait fish haven't decided to move in and the Reds and Trout are confused! They're out hunting something to eat and we're out hunting them! Today was similar to yesterday, we caught a few fish but not much to brag about, and it wasn't the anglers. I met Scott Carter, his two sons Sammy and Benny, and their friend Harrison down at the Big Talbot Island Park boat ramp after lunch and we headed up to Jackstaff to fish an outgoing tide with the oysters already showing. The anglers were tossing live shrimp under floats and after hitting  a few runouts, Scott put a couple of hungry Seatrout in the boat. We ran through the marsh and fished some docks at Seymore's Pointe and here everyone got in on some action. Sammy picked up the first Mangrove Snapper up near the pilings then each of the boys were trying to get their jig and shrimp in the right place, and they each got fish if they were up close. We fished a second dock looking for bigger fish, found none, then ran down to Pumpkin Hill and set up along  a nice oyster bank. Rather quickly, Harrison put a nice Trout in the boat, but there were no more to be had. We fished Broward Island but the water was pretty murky, then we made a long run back to the Longpointe docks to get out of the wind. I rigged up some bottom rigs while the anglers pitched jigs to the pilings and when I got the bottom rigs finished we put them out and in quick succession, we landed a couple of Whiting. We had a handful of fish caught today, but we had to work for them, but it was still a great day to be out on the water here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Mangroves Moving In

We fished the south end again today -John Alderman and his sons John and Sam. We met early at the Sawpit Creek ramp and headed up the Nassau River and straight to Pumpkin Hill to catch the last of an incoming tide. The three anglers were tossing live shrimp under float rigs and they got bites right off. John Sr. knocked the skunk off when he put a couple of hungry Seatrout in the boat. We fished a good stretch of flooded oysters with a few bites but no takers then ran over to Christopher Creek to fish deep with jigs. Although we had some nibbles, we had no fish so we made our next stop back ast Seymore's Pointe, fishing some dock pilings. There were light bites happening and finally we picked up a small Mangrove Snapper. Later, we had a strong bite and this turned out to be a nice fish.  Sam played it patiently to the boat and soon landed a nice keeper sized Seatrout. One dock down, Sam made an excellent cast to the piling and picked up another Snapper, this one of keeper size.  After fishing Twin Creeks briefly, we headed in and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Like The Masters, The Leaderboard Tightens

Wow what a pretty day we had today! I fished with Steve Smith this morning, meeting him down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp on the last of in incoming tide. We made a long run up the Nassau River and around to Christopher Creek and eased in thru the shallow entrance with plans to fish jigs and live shrimp to the shore line. I don't think Steve had cast more than a few times when he had his first hookup, a nice feisty Redfish. After pictures and release Steve made a pinpoint cast back to the exact same spot and BOOM!
Another fish on! He played this bigger fish patiently to the boat and we netted a nice Slot sized Redfish. We worked the bank thoroughly, had a couple of good bites, and after one that swiped his shrimp, he went back to the spot and had a strong hookup and, FISH ON! This was a big fish. Steve worked him out from some dock pilings then let him run, ripping drag. After a good battle he landed a 24"+  five spotted Redfish. Now that's a nice fish! The tide was changing so we worked our way out and got thru the cut before it turned to mud. The outside of Christopher was looking pretty good so we switched to float rigs and the live shrimp. We hadn't fished more than a few casts and when Steve placed his rig up near some sparse marsh grass the float disappeared with a vengeance. This was an other big fish. It took Steve from the stern to the bow and around and back to the stern and we both were thinking "Redfish" but when Steve worked him to the surface we saw that it was a large Seatrout. After netting the beast we measured it to 21.5", a fish that puts Steve in first place of the Anglers Mark Bragging Rights Tournament -Seatrout Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings). We made a run over to Pumpkin Hill and fished some flooded oysters and first cast, BOOM! Fish On. Another nice 18" Seatrout. We worked up and down the bank and picked up one more keeper sized Trout and a couple of smaller ones, then called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.