Hot Fishing Picks Up at Amelia Island

We're into our summer weather pattern - warm and muggy in the morning and today we had overcast skies with expected thunderstorms later in the day.  I met father and son angling duo Josh and Noah Thompson down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and after a brief safety orientation, we ran up the Nassau River and all the way around to Broward Island.

When we got there the tide was still going out so we set up to fish at the mouth of large marsh run out. Noah was first in the water and within a cast or two he was first on the board, hooking up out deep with a hungry Seatrout. His dad got his jig and live shrimp into the water and he quickly caught a high flying Ladyfish. Then, we had a big "bump", a hookup and, FISH ON! Noah was on the rod and this seven-year-old-going-on-eight played the big fish expertly, taking his time and soon landing a big 20.5" Flounder - the biggest of the year. Noah had snatched first place in the Anglers Mark 2017 Bragging Rights Tournament - Flounder Category! (scroll down right side of this report for standings)

We continued to fish this one spot and continued to catch fish. A small (small) Redfish, another couple of Flounder, and a fat Seatrout. We dropped back to fish some logs and BOOM! Fish on. Fish Off. Ouch. But we hung with it and a cast or two later Josh put a nice Slot sized Redfish in the boat.

We hit a few spots along Broward then ran back to Pumpkin Hill and no longer had we begun to fish when Noah landed his "poor man's Tarpon" - a Ladyfish. Josh added a Jack Crevalle then Noah found a beat up Slot Redfish to add to the catch. Our last stop was back at the Horsehead, fishing some structure, and the two anglers finished up playing cat and mouse with Mangrove Snapper. I think it was an even match! With that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Squeezed In Some Fly Fishing

Wayne Lynn and I exchanged texts and phone calls yesterday and this morning, trying to determine if it was feasible to fish with the forecasted thunderstorms heading our way. We saw a window and took it, meeting up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp.

Myself, Wayne, and his brother-in-law Ernie headed over to Tiger Island to fish the logs on an incoming tide with 8w outfits and my "Live Shrimp Fly" - a weighted version made to resemble the color of a live shrimp. The two anglers traded off, tossing that fly  up and

down the bank, making excellent casts, getting a bump here and there, but no takers. We did see a huge Osprey hanging out in the trees above us.

We ran around to the Jolley River and fished a large marsh run out, switching to a black "Troy James Fly". This did the trick. In short order Wayne had a bump and a bite. He strip set the hook and patiently hauled in a small Flounder.  People seem surprised when I tell them we caught a flounder on a fly but it happens more often

than  you'd expect. I guess they  will eat anything!

I wanted to continue on up the Jolley but there was a huge thunderstorm heading our way so we headed back and when we came out of the mouth of the Jolley we were met by a Coast Guard gun boat who advised us to wait until a passing submarine had passed through. We headed their advice! We made one more stop over in Bell River but the thunderstorms were inching closer, so we called it a day, another great, albeit short, day on the water here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Using Up The Bait

Thank goodness for Mangrove Snapper this time of  year! We had an absolutely beautiful morning today to fish when I met David  O'Flynn and his friends Lucas and Ryan down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning. We headed up the Nassau River, spun around, and began to fish some flooding shell beds with jigs and live shrimp and minnows. The conditions were almost perfect but I don't know if the heavy rains or the full moon affected the bite because fish catching was slooooow. Lucas did find a high flying Ladyfish along the first stretch, and picked up another one as we bounced north up the river.

We made a run around and up into Christopher Creek, fished it pretty good, and finally the guy withthe hot rod, Lucas, hooked up and, FISH ON! He played it patiently and perfectly and soon landed a nice Slot sized Redfish, finally! We actually worked the same area twice, got no more bites, then ran down to Broward Island to fish the very last of an incoming tide, a tide that I don't normally fish there at the island.



But it paid off when David went in deep to the shore and BOOM! He had a  hookup. He worked the fish in slowly, kept the pressure on, and soon landed another nice Slot Redfish. We fished the island for a while, had a couple of bumps but no takers, then ran back towards the ramp, making one final stop at some structure.

We had all switched to float rigs and live shrimp and although it took a few minutes, the Mangrove Snapper went into a frenzy of biting and we blew through the bait, catching one after the other, most of them being of keeper size. As we hit bottom on bait I dug out some dead stuff I had from the day before and we blew through that, too. Although they weren't big, big fish (12"), it was fun to fish 'em and finally we ran out of bait, called it a day, and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Almost Too Big For My Light Tackle

We had three days of down time with the rain but got back to it today with beautiful weather. I met Allen Richardson and his grandkids Anna Claire and Walker down at the Big Talbot Island Park boat ramp and we made a short run up the Nassau River, stopping at Twin Creeks to fish a high and incoming tide. Although we had few nibbles on our live shrimp and  minnows, we had no takers so I let us drift with the current for a bit. Anna Claire had a strong bite, a good fight, and soon landed a high flying Ladyfish.

We hit Seymores Pointe at the very last of the incoming tide and had no bites so we continued on to Pumpkin Hill and eased along the bank tossing float rigs. Walker got on the board when he landed keeper sized Seatrout then Anna Claire hooked up and landed a hard fighting Jack Crevalle. We rounded a pointe, drifted with the slow current and Anna Claire had something take her bait and run, and keep going, spooling her to breaking pointe, now that was a good bite!  Then, just minutes later, Walker had a good bite. His drag begin to rip as the line came off. This time I was able to get the boat turned and chase the big fish to relieve some pressure. It was good, long battle on my light tackle, sized 2500 Shimano Stadics, but Walker was up to the task and after fighting the fish to exhaustion, we landed a big, BIG Bonnethead Shark. Boy what a fish!

Our next stop was over at Christopher Creek. We had just starting casting with jigs and shrimp when Allen made a cast and he said the minute it his bottom, BOOM! Fish On! He turned the hard work over to Anna Claire and she patiently worked in a nice 20" Slot Redfish. We worked the bank thoroughly, had no more real bites, made one stop at the mouth of Jackstaff  to pick up one more Jack, then called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Lucky Shirt, Big Red, and Almost a Shark

The breeze had picked up today, which wasn't such a bad thing, and coupled with some overcast skies, it was somewhat pleasant to be fishing the back waters of Amelia Island. I had met David and Nance Skroko up at the north end ramp early this morning and we headed up and over to the outside of Tiger to catch the very first of an outgoing tide. We had both live shrimp and mud minnows and we deployed them both on float rigs, up near some sparse grass. After losing our shrimp a couple of times to "baitstealers" David

had a strong bite and his drag began to rip as the line came off the reel, FISH ON!  And in the first 20 minutes of the trip!  David played the big fish patiently as it made run after run and after a good battle landed a nice 22" Slot Redfish.

We fished that area, bounced across a creek and fished the opposite side, then ran further up the north/east side of Tiger to fish a large outflow with jigs. No bites. We ran around to the Jolley River,

fished some still flooded oysters with float rigs but didn't get anything for 100 yards until David found a fat but hungry Seatrout.

Our next stop was further up the Jolley and we now were fishing exposed oysters. David was tossing the float rig but Nancy was throwing jig/shrimp combo. We had very few bites until, BAM! Something took Nancy's bait and ran with it. SHARK ON! The reel was screaming and Nancy kept the rod up and the pressure on and

just as I was thinking turn the boat and give chase, BAP! Fish off.
Boy what a fish!

We made one more stop around the corner, again fishing some exposed oysters and wouldn't you know, David's lucky fishing shirt paid off.  He hooked up, played, and landed another Slot Redfish. Then Nancy put two Black "puppy" Drum in the boat. And just as we were about to leave we had another strong bite. BIG FISH ON! Nancy was on the rod and she fought it and fought it through the multiple times that it made it's deep runs. But she was  up to the task and after an extended battle, landed an oversized 27.75" Redfish. Now that's a nice fish!  With that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Jolley Good Fishing at Amelia Island.

I'd have to day that the week ended above average with today's catch being the best of the week. I had met Rick Guyer and his two grandsons Riley and Tim up at the Dee Dee Bartels boat ramp early this morning and boy was the river calm - it was like glass! We headed north and towards St. Mary's, makin gone stop on the outside of Tiger Island.

Two anglers were tossing jigs and mud minnows while a third drifted a float and minnow. Just when I thought we would be

skunked at our first spot, Riley hooked up with his jig and quickly reeled in a rather large Flounder. Skunk off the boat! Whoohee!

We bounced around to Jolley River, found a nice shoreline and began to work along it with Float rigs. Riley again had a hookup, his float disappeared and he easily landed a nice keeper sized Seatrout. Then Rick got on the board. He said his float disappeared with a vengeance and then his drag began to sing, FISH ON!  I was real impressed how patiently Rick worked the big fish and after a good battle it paid off - he landed a nice 22" Slot sized Redfish. As we finished that drift we hit a mouth of a small marsh run out and all three anglers put small but feisty Redfish in the boat.

Our next stop was further up the Jolley - we fished another bank and by this time the oysters were exposed with the dropping tide. We had a mix of float rigs and jigs working. Again, just as I thought we might be skunked at this spot Tim had a good bite and again, BIG FISH ON!  He fought the fish valiantly, working the fish up with his rod and reeling down as he took in line. The fish went from starboard to port and back then got back in the current. But Tim was up to the task and eventually landed a big 24" Slot Redfish. Nice fish!

We bounced around to the MOA, picked a small Trout, then Rick made a pinpoint cast to some skittish bait and BOOM! Fish on. I was guessing Redfish the way it was ripping drag but as it got close to the boat we saw it was a big Trout. After netting we measured it to be 20"+.  We made one more adjustment across the river and Riley wrapped things up with the biggest Flounder of the day, and with that, we called it, another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Amelia Island Flounder Flurry

I headed back to the south end today, meeting Trey Dennard and his friends Maria, Anne and Mark down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp, located at the north end of Big Talbot Island Park. We launched at 7:30 and ran up the Nassau River - the water was smooth as a pond - and stopped at Twin Creeks to fish an outgoing tide with float rigs and mud minnows.

It didn't take long for the anglers to get bites. Maria was first in the water and I think it was her first real drift when, BOOM! Fish on!  It fought ferociously but she played it perfectly and after a good battle, landed a hard fighting Jack Crevalle. Then Trey got in on the action and landed a feisty Redfish. Mark followed that up with a keeper sized Flounder that bit his minnow as it floated over the back side of a submerged shell bed. From then on the anglers were getting bites, picking up a keeper Flounder now and then.

We bounced down to Spanish Drop and fished another run out and here both Mark and Maria put some big Flounder in the boat, then Maria added a nice Slot sized Redfish.   We made a stop up at Seymore's Pointe to fish for Mangroves but had no luck, bounced around to some docks where Trey proved adept at catching the Mangroves on a jig and minnow - and he found another Flounder, then we bounced over to Bubblegum Reef where Trey picked up a few more Mangrove Snapper.

After running through Jackstaff we fished the edges of a sandbar with Anne wrapping things up with a nice Jack Crevalle catch. With that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Dave's Lucky Purrito Fishing Shirt

Back to the north end today, launching from the Dee Dee Bartels Park and boat ramp. I met Aaron Self and his two sons Isaac and David early this morning at the last of an outgoing tide. We ran around to Eagans Creek and set up current from some dock pilings and pitched mud minnows on jigs. Isaac's first cast produced a small but feisty Redfish, knocking the skunk off quick! Thanks Isaac! We fished the docks thoroughly and later Aaron had a good bite and landed another feisty Red - this one bigger, but not quite "Slot".

We ran around and fished the mouth of the Bell River for just a few minutes at the very last of the outgoing tide and although the conditions looked ripe for some fish, we had no luck. We came back to Tiger Island, fished the logs just as the tide started in, but again, no real bites.

Out and around we came to run up to the Jolley River where we found a likely oyster bank with the incoming tide line visible. Young David had been "taking a short break" which involved a

quick nap but he finally decided to join in, this time tossing a float rig and minnow. When his float disappeared he was quick to lift the rod and make contact with the fish and he quickly reeled in a nice keeper sized Flounder. Later, his dad topped that fish with a Slot sized Red caught on the jig and minnow.  Then Isaac got in on the action and he too put a Slot Red in the boat.

David had on his "lucky shirt" - a Purrito - and it paid off. He hooked up and landed an even bigger Flounder then just as we were

about to call it day, he had a strong bite and, FISH ON!  He played the fish patiently and after a good battle, landed the biggest fish of the day, a nice 22" Slot Redfish. Now that's the way to wrap up a great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Catch'n a Mess at Amelia Island

It was  kinda nice today to have some cloud cover and just a slight breeze - it made for some pleasant fishing. I met Clay Thomas and his sons Carter, Grady and Logan down at the Big Talbot Island Park boat ramp this morning and we decided to try the mouth of Jackstaff as our first stop.





All four anglers were tossing live shrimp on a jig to the exposed bank on the last of an outgoing tide. Although we had one good hookup, it shook the hook and that was it. We crossed over the creek and fished a point and this did the trick. Clay "knocked the skunk off" when he found a fat and hungry Seatrout. Minutes later, he picked up another one. After one or two more bites, we moved on.

Our next stop was over on the Nassau River and within minutes of working an exposed oyster bank Clay had a strong bite and, FISH ON! This was a big fish and was ripping drag. I instructed the young anglers to get their lines in because the fish was running. We chased him with the trolling motor as it went from stern to bow and around and back to the stern. Clay kept the pressure on and after a good battle landed a big Jack Crevalle, boy what a fight!



We jumped down the river and began to fish float rigs up at some structure and all joined in catching Mangrove Snapper. Just like yesterday, they started small then got bigger and into the "keeper" sized range. All four anglers put keeper sized fish in the boat. Before the day was over, we had a good "mess" of fish and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Mangrove Bonanza at Amelia Island

After the long holiday weekend it was good to get back out on the water with some anglers! I met Greg Clody along with his son Sean down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning and we headed up the Nassau River to fish some very exposed shell banks on the last of an outgoing tide. We had some live shrimp  and the two anglers started off pitching jigs and shrimp to the oysters.


Although they both had some good "bumps", we had no real takers until we had just about finished our first pass. Later, Sean said he thought he'd hung up on the bottom but when his drag began to sing he knew he had a big fish on. And boy was it big! He played the fish perfectly and patiently worked it to the boat and while I took pictures his dad netted a big Jack Crevalle.

We moved on up the river, fished Bubblegum Reef to no avail, jumped over to fish some docks  and although the bite was slow, they did land a hungry Flounder and a small Mangrove Snapper. We made the run down to Broward Island and fished a perfect incoming tide, but we had no real bites, other than another Mangrove.


Our last stop was back at Horsehead and as the tide was half way up, we began to pick up some keeper sized Mangrove Snapper. And the bite turned in to a frenzy - these two anglers caught one after the other. Some were small but many were big and fat and well over keeper size.(all fish were released today). We worked through the bait and caught fish down to the last shrimp, then called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.