30 Plus Fish

For three weeks now I've been able to answer the question, "Are you catching fish?" with a resounding YES! But there's not a whole lot of size to them. The same held true for today's fishing trip with Joanne and Steve Shap and their two grandkids Raymond and Lilly. I picked them up at the Oyster Bay Yacht Club and we motored around to Bell River to fish an oyster outcrop on an outgoing tide  - the oysters were already showing.  We were pitching float rigs and mud minnows but had no bites at all.

After running thru Tiger and around to the outside of the island, we again setup along some oyster beds and BAM! We started catching fish. Young Raymond was on fire, catching one feisty Redfish after the other. Joanne joined in and she too was putting fish in the boat with the help from Lilly. Steve picked up a couple if he could squeeze in a cast to the hot spot. These anglers also caught a few hard fighting Jack Crevalle and then Raymond had a good bite and this fish seemed bigger, and it was! He played it perfectly and soon landed a nice 17" Flounder.

Lilly had taken over First Mate duties and was hand delivering mud minnows when needed. She also was best Net Girl, netting the feisty Reds as they came to the boat. The bite eventually slowed so we ran around and up to the Jolley River, switched to jigs and added another handful of Redfish to the catch.   We made a brief stop at the MOA, caught a nice Catfish, then made our final stop across the river where Raymond finished up with a hungry Seatrout to round out his personal Amelia Island Back Country Slam of Redfish, Flounder and Seatrout. And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Last Cast: BOOM!

Although the weather report called for a high percentage of rain around mid day, we felt like we could get a half day of fishing in, so I met Cathey Grossman and  her friend Diane down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning and we headed up the Nassau River to make our first stop along the river with an outgoing tide. The oysters were already exposed so we went with jigs and minnows.

Both anglers were making excellent casts and it didn't take long

before we began to put fish in the boat. An wouldn't you know it, when Cathey hooked up, we knew it was a good fish by the way the drag was ripping. She played it patiently and soon landed a nice 21" Slot sized Redfish. From then on, both her and Diane caught fish - mostly small, but feisty fun-to-catch Redfish. Cathey also put a hard fighting Jack Crevalle in the boat.

We moved up river and continued to fish with the jigs and caught another handful of Reds. Our next stop was at some docks at

Seymore's Pointe and we added a couple of Mangrove Snapper to the catch before Cathey had another strong bite and FISH ON! But this fish was smart and made it's way into the pilings. Cathey kept the pressure on, then released the pressure, then tightened back up again and pulled the big fish away from the pilings. She kept the pressure on and soon landed a bigger 22" Slot Redfish.

We made a brief stop at Pumpkin Hill then made our way down to Broward Island and fished some logs. There was a bunch of bait being busted up near the bank but we had no takers until we called "last cast" and wouldn't you know it, Diane had a good bite. This fish was fighting hard and came to the surface and thrashed but Diane played it perfectly and eventually landed a fat 18" Seatrout, wrapping up another great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

The Fat Lady Sang

I was able to trailer my trailer boat today after getting my trailer repaired at Allens Pro Trailer Service out in Yulee. They did a great job and it was great to get back to my routine! I met Dennis Brown and his two sons Jeb and Sam up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park and boat ramp and we headed out early, running to the Tiger logs to fish the last 30 minutes of an outgoing tide.  These guys can fish!  I think the only jig we lost was one that I threw over a stump. They were tossing jigs and mud minnows and

although the catching wasn't on fire, they did pick up a good handful of small but feisty Redfish. Sam started it off, picking up two fish right away. Jeb landed a couple and once in a while their dad added a fish.  They were keeping an informal score and for most of the day, Jeb held "first place" in the quantity of catch, Sam was in a close second, and dad anchored the rear.

When the tide changed we ran up to the Jolley River and fished the

"bank" and again, the catching wasn't on fire but we caught fish. They added a couple of Jack Crevalle, a handful of small Mangrove Snapper, then all three put some keeper sized Flounder in the boat. Jeb added a fourth Flounder before we left.

Our next stop was up at the MOA and right off they began to catch fish. We had some big bites - Dennis put two big Catfish in the boat and Sam added another big one. We landed a small Sea Bass somewhere in there, a couple of hungry Trout, and another Red or two.  We bounced around to Snook Creek. Dennis and Jeb switched to float rigs while Sam stayed with the jig and it looked like the two young anglers were going to take the "big fish" catch of the day with Sam's big Catfish and a big Ladyfish that Jeb landed. But whoa was them. The Fat Lady was warming up when Dennis's float disappeared and, BOOM! Big Fish On! The Fat Lady began to sing.  You can always tell when it's a big Redfish when it tries to stay up near the oysters, rolls a time or two, then digs deep, ripping drag. Dennis kept the pressure on and slowly worked it to the boat, and after a good battle, landed a nice 24" Slot Redfish. Now that's the way to wrap up a great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

This Lady Can Fish!

We had the whole family out today, the Arnett family - David and Kim and their two daughters Abby and Bethany. We met at the Eagans Creek boat ramp and headed straight up to the Jolley River with a few clouds overhead to block the sun most of the day. Our first stop was at Jolly Bank, fishing jigs and mud minnows on the very first of an incoming tide. The bite started off "on fire" - all anglers were getting bites and landing fish.

Abby and Kim were on the bow and were catching feisty Redfish

and hungry Seatrout while David and Bethany were adding to the catch, too. About half way up that stretch the bite fell off somewhat, unlike yesterday where we caught fish all along. But these anglers perseverance paid off because Kim had a strong bite and this fish bent her rod and ripped the drag, FISH ON! She played it perfectly and soon landed a nice 22" Seatrout! This also put Kim in third place in the Anglers Mark 2017 Bragging Rights Tournament - Seatrout Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings)  Not that's a nice fish!

We ran up and around to the MOA and here the fishing got weird! The family caught a couple of big Catfish, a Redfish, a Seatrout and

then David put a Stingray in the boat. Crazy. We moved around to Snook Creek, switched to float rigs, and didn't have much luck until.....BOOM!  Kim's float disappeared and again, BIG FISH ON! This fish stayed up near the bank, rolled, and ripped drag. We knew right off that it was a big Redfish. Kim kept the pressure on and slowly worked the big fish to the net. David scooped it up and they landed a Slot sized 23" Redfish!

We made one last stop on the outside of Tiger and Abby got hot catching keeper sized Flounder. Then Bethany joined in and she too expertly landed a keeper sized Flounder. We made one quick stop at the mouth of Tiger to check out some Manatee that have been hanging out, then headed in, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Big Flounder Big Trout

Dennis Brizzi and his fish'n buddy Hal were back at Amelia Island today and I met them up at the Eagans Creek boat ramp early with plans to fish the very first of an incoming tide. Today, we ran straight to the Jolley River, turned into the slow incoming current, and began tossing jigs and mud minnows to some exposed oysters. I love it when a plan comes together!

These two anglers put one fish after the other in the boat, so much so that within an hour I was beginning to wonder if our bait would

hold out!  They caught small but feisty Redfish, Seatrout, and one high flying Ladyfish. The catching was fast and furious with a couple of "double" hookups. Finally, one of the Trout that Dennis caught turned out to be a nice 16" keeper size.

The bite was so good we turned around and did it again! This time we didn't catch so much but Hal did put two very nice 19" Flounder in the boat. We ran up the Jolley and switched to float rigs as the oysters were now covered. Not much was happening until we got a grass point where the incoming current split and after Dennis's first cast, BOOM! Big fish on! He worked it patiently to the boat, the drag ripping, and after a good battle landed a big 20" Seatrout. The duo picked up a couple of more Trout there before we moved on.

Our final stop was around on the outside of Tiger and we wrapped the day up with a couple of Seatrout, a Jack Crevalle and one more Flounder that "self released" at the boat. And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Everything But the Ktichen Sink

Thank goodness we have great weather these summer days so that we can get all the booked trips in! I met Ivan and Peggy Jaskinia up at the Eagans Creek boat ramp early this morning (after spotting a manatee AND an alligator near my slip) and we headed over to the logs of Tiger to try our luck with mud minnows and jigs on a low and incoming tide. Ivan and  Peggy worked the bank expertly but we had very few bites, one was a large Ladyfish (caught) until Ivan picked up a couple of small but feisty Redfish and a keeper sized Mangrove Snapper.  We fished it thoroughly then headed on, taking

it easy thru the cut to be on the lookout for the ever present Manatee.

We ran up to the Jolley River, turned into the incoming tide and went with float rigs and the minnows. I think we may have picked up one or two Trout along the way and a small Flounder. After running further up the Jolley and fishing  a now flooded marsh line the two anglers began to pick up fish. They had a "double" hookup of hungry Seatrout, one of which was right at 18", a keeper size, and then they had a couple of more Trout. Peggy hooked up, battled, and landed  a rare keeper sized Spanish Mackerel, then she added a hard fighting Bluefish to the catch.

Ivan wad fishing the bank closely and letting his float drift the marsh line with his bail open when it slowly disappeared. He lifted the rod tip slowly, set the hook, and FISH ON! This fish was big and it was so far back I thought surely Ivan would get spooled so we gave chase with the trolling motor and Ivan quickly took in line. Once we got close, Ivan kept the pressure on. The big fish rolled a few times up near the oysters but it was to no avail. After a good battle, Ivan landed a big, oversized 28.75" Redfish, with six spots! Boy what a fish!

We made one last stop out side of Tiger. Peggy caught another keeper sized Seatrout and a Flounder. Ivan added another Flounder, then wrapped things up with a good fight with a Jack Crevalle. And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

New Kid On The Boat

Well, the fishing catching seems to be getting a bit better! Today I fished with Tim Carson, Brandon Craig, and his daughter Aubree, meeting them at Eagans Creek with a tide that had been coming in for just a few hours. We ran around to Tiger Island to fish the logs with mud minnows and jigs. It took a while but finally Brandon heated things up when he put a couple of keeper sized Flounder in the boat. No Red and no Trout today.

We ran around, but puttered slowly thru the mouth of Tiger to keep a look out for manatee's, then up to the Jolly River with plans to fish float rigs against the incoming tide. In short order Tim put a hungry Seatrout in the boat, then Brandon added another keeper Flounder, this one about 18". We didn't get many bites until we were about to leave then both Tim and Aubree caught a Mangrove Snapper each and Tim added a couple of feisty Redfish.

We made a pit stop around the corner at a large marsh run out, on  hunch, and this did the trick. All three anglers were getting bites and all three put Flounder in the boat. Aubree and Tim added a couple of Trout then after Aubree had made an excellent cast and had began to ease her bait back to the boat, WHUMP! She had a good bite and FISH ON! She was battling her fish while Grandpa Tim was working in another Trout.  We got both of them in the boat, and Aubree's fish turned out to be the biggest Flounder of the day!

Our last stop was around at Bell River on some flooding oysters. Not much was happening until finally, one of our baits drifted up into a pocket of marsh grass and BOOM! Slot Redfish On! Tim worked him patiently to the boat and landed a nice 21" fish.  Shortly after that he had made a cast to another pocket and, BOOM! Another big fish. Time slowly worked him to the boat while Net Girl Aubree netted the fish, this one measuring at 22".  Now that's a great way to wrap up a day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Tarpon vs Mudminnow

Beautiful day today! It's a good thing those thunderstorms are holding off until the afternoons! I met Steve Frost and his son Blair up at the Eagans Creek boat ramp and we made a short hop over to Tiger Island to catch the last few hours of an incoming tide. You know the best way to "knock the skunk off" is to catch a nice Slot Redifsh? Well that's what Blair did, just a few short minutes into the trip. Tossing mud minnows on jig, Blair hooked up and played him patiently and after a good battle landed a nice 21" Slot fish. He put a few more fish in the boat and I don't think Steve had

quite woken up when BOOM!

I saw Steve's line tighten up and when he set the hook, the big fish headed to deeper water, ripping the drag.  I was thinking "huge Redfish" when out of the water came a high flying 100lb Tarpon! And, fish off - he threw the jig. It happened that quickly - both Steve and I were watching and I'm sure it woke the both of us up!  Steve began to catch fish!

We added a nice 18" Flounder to the box then ran around to Bell River to fish some flooding oysters with float rigs. Steve was on fire. He added a keeper sized Seatrout and another Flounder to the catch. We came back to the outside of Tiger and found that there was a ton of large mullet hanging around. We got a few bites, no taker for a while, then Blair hooked up and landed another keeper sized Flounder.

Our last stop was up at the Jolley River. The tide had started out and we drifted slowly with it, pitching float rigs to the grass, and the two anglers burned through bait, catching one Seatrtout after the other. Although most were in the 14" range, they added one more of keeper size. And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Father Daughter Fishing Machine

I had the pleasure today of fishing again with Steve Foss and his daughter Katie, meeting them at the Eagans Creek boat ramp early this morning. We went to Bell River first, to catch the last of an incoming tide. Steve was on the stern, tossing mud minnows under a float and in short order he picked up a keeper sized Seatrout. He followed that up with a Flounder and another couple of Trout.

We ran through Tiger and made a stop at the logs and here Katie
got on the board with a Redfish and small Flounder. We then moved around to  "manatee creek" and sure enough, we fished with the manatee hanging all around us. Katie picked up the pace and began to get one Trout after the other. Steve joined in and we had a good flurry of Seatrout catching action. There were a couple of times where a manatee swam alongside the boat!

After running up to the Jolley River we made our next stop at the "bank". I've been going past it all this week, waiting for the tide to get down. It was a good move! After catching a keeper sized Mangrove Snapper the two anglers landed a good handful of Trout and feisty Redfish.

Our last stop was up the Jolley and a deep bend and Steve wrapped things up with a hard fighting Jack Crevalle. The sun had gotten up and the heat was on, so we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Lot's of Fish

Folks ask me if the we're catching fish and I can honestly say, "yes, bunches...bet they're small". Today was the more of the same when I met Greg Adams, his son Chris and their friend Kent up at the Eagans Creek boat ramp. We headed over to Tiger Island, specifically "manatee cove", and set up fishing with float rigs and mud minnows on the first of an outgoing tide. It wasn't long before all three anglers were putting Seatrout in the boat. One after the other. Trout, Trout, Trout.

We were fishing out one size of the boat and watching manatee

lolling and rolling around behind us. The entire time we fished we had manatee coming up and blowing and rolling. How cool! But we had no keeper sized Trout so we ran up to the Jolley River, all the way to Snook Creek and began to fish some oysters that were beginning to show. We picked up a couple of small Redfish then, shortly after Greg switched to a jig, he hooked up and landed a nice keeper sized Flounder.

We ran further up the river and set up outside a large marsh outflow and really got into the small, but feisty Redfish. One after the other. Then Kent landed another keeper sized Flounder and Chris wrapped things up with a surprise, keeper sized Trout. We caught a bunch of fish and even though they weren't real big, we counted it as another great day to be fishing out on the Amelia Island waters.