First Black Drum In A While

The wind died down just a tad today and it made for a great day of fishing with the Dowling boys - Alton, Chris, Devon and Elijah. We met up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park early and headed over to Tiger Island with plans to pitch the logs with jigs and live shrimp.  It was ideal conditions, the tide had just started back in, and these anglers were making great casts, but the fish just didn't want to cooperate.  I think we got skunked there.

Our next stop was up in the Jolley River and we worked the "bank" with float rigs tossed up near the bank. Alton got things started when he had a good hookup, played it perfectly and with Elijah's help, landed a nice, fat and feisty Redfish. Shortly after that Devon added another, then Chris followed that up with another.

After running further up the river we found another bank that was now flooding with the incoming tide and this did the trick. Alton
had found a "honey hole" and began to catch one Red after the other. Then he had a bite and this fish began to rip drag - it wasn't coming to the boat. But Alton kept the pressure on. The big fish rolled up at the surface then Alton slowly worked it to the boat and landed a "Tournament sized" 26.75" Redfish - boy what a fish! We fished that area for while and had a good handful of smaller Reds.

We ran a back towards Fernandina, slipped thru Tiger and over to Bell River and set up at a point of grass. Alton caught the only Seatrout of the day and then Chris had a good hookup. Again, this fish wasn't coming to the boat. He fought it patiently, from bow to stern and from starboard to port and after a good battle, landed a handsome 18" Black "puppy" Drum. We had another Red or two, a handful of small Mangrove Snapper, then we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Working the Fly Rod

With another hurricane sweeping by way out in the Atlantic, Amelia Island had some winds blowing

today - what a time to get in some fly fishing, right? That was the plan when I met Patrick Seidensticker up at the north end ramp and with a couple of the long rods and some spin gear for back up, we headed over to Tiger to take advantage of  the trees to block the 10mph wind.

Patrick was making excellent casts, pitching a couple of weighted fly patterns up between the logs and stumps. He was making excellent casts but it was difficult to keep the fly down in the deep

water. We switched back ad forth from fly to spin (and live shrimp) and after he got few bumps on the shrimp he went back to the fly and BAM! Fish on! Patrick eased the fish in slowly with his line hand and soon landed a nice Seatrout.

We worked up and down the bank, switching from fly to spin and found a Slot sized Redfish, a smaller Red and then Patrick hooked up with what we thought was going to be another Trout. It came up to the surface and thrashed but Patrick kept the pressure on and when we netted the fish we were both surprised to see a Snook!  This is only the 5th Snook I've had landed on my boat in the twelve years I've been guiding here at Amelia Island.

We hit some docks over at Lanceford Creek, caught a couple of Mangrove Snapper, fished a grass patch and added a Seatrout, fished Bell River, and ended up Eagans Creek to try and get out of the increasing wind. Although the wind made it tough, we still counted it a another great day to be out on the water here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Seatrout Surge

I had the pleasure of fishing with Bob Blalock again today, this time meeting him up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park and boat ramp - early this morning. The water was calm with just a slight breeze but the forecast called for increasing winds, so we made a quick run over to Eagans Creek with plans to fish some dock pilings before the tide got up. Fishing jigs and live shrimp, it only took a few minutes before Bob was putting fish in the boat. As he slowly bounced his jig back from the pilings, he had a hookup and landed a

nice keeper sized Seatrout. From then on we had good action, landing a big handful of Seatrout with most being around 14" but we did add another keeper, and Bob also put some nice, feisty Redfish in the boat.

When that slowed we moved further up the creek and fished a flooding grass patch and added a couple of more Trout to the catch, caught on float rigs and live shrimp. We then ran around to fish Bell River, stayed with the float rigs, but found only a small Mangrove Snapper. We poked our bow into some flooding marsh grass but saw no Redfish Tails then eased around to the outside of Tiger and worked the marsh grass. Although we had no real bites as we got to flooded oyster bed, Bob made an excellent cast into the wind and BOOM! His float was gone! When the fish ripped some drag on Bob's reel we knew that it had some size to it. Bob played it perfectly and soon landed a Slot sized Redfish.

Our next and final stop was up the Jolley River and boy was the tide high, being pushed by the NE wind. We worked a bank slowly and Bob had his bait stolen a couple of times then he "tightened it up" and began to land Seatrout after Seatrout. They were short (14") and fat and put up an excellent fight. It was a great way to wrap up another day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

The Hurricane Blew In Some Good Fishing!

Now that every thing has settled down from hurricane Irma, I was able to get out on the water with Adam and Patty Garner this morning, meeting them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park on the north end of the island. There were a few logs in the river as we ran, some docks  up in the marsh and a boat here and there washed up on a sandbar.

We made our first stop over in Bell River with plans to fish a flooding oyster bar on the last of an incoming tide. Both Patty and

Adam were tossing live shrimp under a float and although we had a bite or two, there were no takers.  We started to run around to the outside of Tiger but saw that we had a really good flood tide happening so we put the bow of the boat into some flooded grass flats look for tailing Reds. The first two spots were vacant but the third was the charm!  I saw a small tail popping up now and then so Adam and I got out of the boat and began to wade slowly to the fish. But as we inched closer we began to see more tails and BIGGER tails - a couple were some huge Redfish!  We tossed a

gold weedless Gator Lure spoon to a fish here and there, spooked a couple, but had a few excellent shots that they just didn't eat. After a while the water got too deep to see any fish so we continued on around to the outside of Tiger and went back to the float rigs.

Patty was the first to strike, and strike big she did! She  had a strong hookup and her drag began to rip, FISH ON! This fish was heading to Georgia! But Patty kept the pressure on as we turned and gave chase and after a good battle she subdued the fish and we boated a

big 4' Bonnethead Shark. And shortly after Patty caught her breath she had a another strong hookup. She was an old pro by now handily landed a Slot Sized 21" Redfish!

Adam had been filming and taking pictures and soon realized that he had better get on the ball! After we crossed over to Manatee Creek his rod heated up and he put a couple of hungry Seatrout in the boat then he too had a strong bite. Another big fish on! Adam played it expertly and worked the fish to the boat, landing another Slot 22" Redfish. We also picked up a smaller Red and a couple of smaller Mangrove Snapper.

Our last stop was up the Jolley River and although we didn't get many bites along the first bank we fished, we did see a wayward baby alligator (looking for a volunteer?) drifting down the river. We bounced across a creek mouth and found a "honey hole" of some Redfish. Adam pulled in 3-4 small but stout Reds out of one spot then Patty eased in with her cast and she too picked up a couple. Adam went further up the river and BOOM! Big Bite! Fish On! He played it patiently and put the third Slot Red in the boat, this one measuring at 25". The two tagged teamed a good handful of smaller Reds, sometimes getting double hookups, then we headed back to the ramp, counting it as another great day to be out on the water here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Mangrove Snapper Come Through

It appears today's trip may be my last before Hurricane Irma figures out which way she's going to head. I fished with Nick and Misty Irma, meeting them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning and after run up the Nassau River we eased in to Pumpkin Hill with plans to fish the still flooding tide with float rigs and mud minnows.  Both anglers were making excellent casts and we got nibbles right off. Misty got things started when she snagged one of the pesky fish, a small 6" Mangrove Snapper. We found no Trout
along the edge but as we repositioned along another flooded marsh line, they began to get more bites. The small Snapper were still there but they also landed a couple of Ladyfish then Nick hooked up and landed a feisty Redfish.

Our next stop was over in Christopher Creek, taking advantage of the last of that incoming tide, and here we switched to jigs and minnows. We worked the rocks and docks and finally, Nick hooked

up and landed a small Flounder. We treated to the sight of a flock of Rosette Spoonbills roosting on a downed tree.

We came out of the creek and back to Seymores Pointe and began fishing some rocks with the float rigs again. Although the anglers got a nibble now and then it took a while to begin to catch fish. I had just suggested that we move on and BOOM! It was like someone flipped a switch. They began to catch big, keeper sized Mangrove's - up to 14" and once they got the technique down, landed enough to fill out their bag limit - now that's a mess of fish!

After running through Horsehead we fished a small creek off of Jackstaff and here Nick added a keeper sized Trout (note the damage a predator did to its tail) and rounded out his personal Amelia Island Back Country Slam. And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Friends, Fishing and Football

Nothing like getting out of town and out on the water on the first NCAA football weekend. So friends Tripp Miller, Kevin and David all came in from Atlanta and spent the morning fishing with me before they took in some football games later in the evening. We met up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park and made a short run over to Tiger Island and fished the outside marsh grass as the tide turned out from a high.  The anglers were tossing mud minnows under float rigs and begin to get bites right off.
We picked up some high-flying Ladyfish and a couple of hungry

Seatrout.

We bounced around that area, caught more Ladyfish, a handful of Mangrove Snapper and another Trout or two then we ran up to the Jolley River and eased along the "bank" and found some feisty Redfish to tangle with.

Our last stop was further up the Jolley and as we eased along some now-exposed oysters, we began to pickup one Redfish after the

other. There wasn't a lot of size to them, but there were a bunch of 'em! It was fun to be catching and it made a great way to kick off the football season here at Amelia Island, Florida!

Snapper Infestation

Boy what a beautiful morning we had today. I had met Grant Hollenbeck and his son Alex down at the south end boat ramp and as we made our first run down to Pumpkin Hill the sun was coming p behind a large cloud and made an awesome view! There was only a slight breeze so the water was like glass and when the two anglers made their first cast with float rigs and mud minnows, you ought to know it, fish on! Alex worked it in and landed a hungry Seatrout!  I thought, "here we go"! And they caught fish for a good while,
except they were small Mangrove Snapper! It was crazy how many were present. We worked a bank good and may have picked up another Trout or two, but a lot of the Snapper.

We were so close to Broward Island so we popped down there, even thought it was still a fairly high tide, going out. We worked the bank with jigs and minnows, caught another couple of Snapper and then Grant put a feisty Redfish in the boat.

Our next stop was back down the Nassau River at Spanish Drop and here things picked up. Grant was getting Seatrout out deep, just beyond a ripple, then Alex joined in -  making excellent casts to the

bank - and he too picked up a fish or two, one of which was a high flying Ladyfish. We bounced down the river and then eased along some exposed oysters and here we found a good handful of Redfish. Alex was working it good and landed a few, one after the other. Then Grant had a pretty strong bite and a hookup. He handed off to Alex who reeled in the biggest Snapper of the day! And with that, we called it, another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Crabbin for Fish

I was back up north today, fishing with Brooke Jordan, Mike, Jimmy and Christian under some overcast skies. We left the Dee Dee Bartels Park and headed over to Tiger Island, setting up outside at a grassy point and first cast, BOOM! We had a strong hookup. Jimmy was on the rod and worked in a nice keeper sized Seatrout! Now that's the way to start a day!

We were fishing live shrimp under floats on an outgoing tide and the action was pretty constant. Most fish weren't big but these anglers all caught fish - Redfish, Seatrout, Ladyfish, Mangrove Snapper and Bluefish. Young Christion was making excellent casts from the bow and landed a couple of Seatrout and a Red.  Before we left we filled the baitwell full of finger mullet (large fingers!) and then headed up to the Jolly River to fish the "bank". It was excellent conditions but the fish didn't cooperate until we reached a large marsh run out and Jimmy picked up a couple of Redfish.

Our next stop was up at the MOA and here Mike's rod heated up - he too caught a couple of Redfish. I had put out a few crab traps and one was here so Christian hauled it up and there was a big blue crab, a stone crab, and a stingray in it!  We picked up two more traps - one had two rays and the other was empty (we better not rely on crabbing for a living!) then we made one last stop at Tiger Island where the anglers wrapped up catching some rather sizable Croaker. And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Copper Top

Back to "work" today! Yesterday was called off due to rain. I met John Feelisi and his fishing partner Bill down at the south end boat ramp very early - 6:30am - and we headed NW with, NO bait! I had rigged some top water lures and we tossed out a minnow trap as we passed a pool, then we made our way up to Seymores Pointe and began to fish some flooded oyster beds on a tide that had been going out for a couple of hours.

Although the bite was not "on fire" John did pick up a feisty Jack Crevalle when it busted his mullet colored lure. Bill was tossing one of my Zara Spook Jr's - White w/ red head but he switched to a gold Rattletrap w/ an orange belly at the next stop at Spanish Drop and this did the trick. mHe was on fire! First, he tangled with some hard fighting Jack Crevalle's with a couple ripping drag, then he began to pickup Seatrout. He landed a couple of smalls, then a "keeper" size, then an even bigger Trout.  We bounced up and down the bank, cvaught a few fish then tossed a cast net and got some nice finger mullet.

Our next stop was back at Seymors Pointe, fishing the docks and both anglers put keeper sized Mangrove Snapper in the boat. They weren't very big, but they made 10"!

We ran down to Broward Island, fished a run out and in short order John landed a nice keeper sized Flounder. After one good hookup that was surely a Slot Red that found it's way into some limbs and broke off, we eased down the Island, working the bank. Before we left, John picked up another Mangrove, then went back to a sandy beach and BOOM! Fish On! He worked the light tackle patiently and after a good battle landed dark copper colored Slot Redish - boy was it pretty! Note the old injury, probably a Dolphin bite.

After a brief stop at Pumpkin Hill, we headed in and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Gator Country

I wrapped up my week fishing with the Cervino family - Nick and Tara and their daughters Lila and Julia. We met down at the Big  Talbot Island Park boat ramp early this morning and then made the long run down to Broward Island to take advantage of the first of an incoming tide. All four anglers were tossing jig and mud minnows and within seconds were getting bites from small but feisty Mangrove Snapper. Lila "knocked the skunk off" when she landed one of them then every one was putting a fish in the boat - here and there.

We were looking for bigger fish so we eased down the island and set up again, but found the Snapper must be everywhere. The water was calm and da-dump. daaadump, daaaaaaadump - there was a gator just off the bow keeping an eye on us! He stayed with us the entire time we fished that spot. Finally, Nick had  good bite, a hookup and after he patiently played it to the boat, he landed a nice keeper sized Flounder.

We left the Gator and Broward Island and headed down river to

Pumpkin Hill and began fishing some flooding oysters with float rigs and minnows. We had to work our way past some Snapper then these anglers began to get fish. Seatrout after Seatrout after Seatrout. Many were just a tad bit undersized. Tara added a lone Sand Trout then Nick tangled with two hard fighting Jack Crevalle.
Lila was making excellent casts and Julia had picked up a rod and was making her own casts, too. She also kept everyone supplied with bait!

We made one last stop back at Spanish Drop and Tara wrapped

things up with another Flounder catch. And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.